No work of spiritual literature has ever been revered as much as the sacred Bhagavad Gita; which not only continues to inspire Indians even today, but also remains admirable even to this day in the western countries.
Mr. Terence, a guest who read the Bhagavad Gita at a motel in CA commented “ I got my first Gita in a hotel room and ever since I read the first verse my life has been ever increasing in Krsna Consciousness. Life is a journey back to Krsna. Peace… Thank You!”
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An old Farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bhagavad-gita. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way that he could.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagavad-gita just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagavad-gita do?”
The Grandfather quietly
By Karnamrita Das
The irony doesn’t escape me
that I couldn’t leave Vrindavana
even if I wanted to. I ponder my life.
So many devotees want to visit
and here I’m on an extended stay
first for 11 months and now 5 more.
I know it is special mercy for me
yet, it is the toughest love ever
though I can still smile at my plight.
I am externally “in” Vrindavana
though far from eternal lila here
and the self-forgetfulness of love.
As usual I have to face my shortcomings
and yet also see my good fortune
ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) has released the minutes from its February 11th to 22nd Annual General Meeting in Mayapur, West Bengal (which took place before the Coronavirus pandemic).
Among them are several important resolutions.
1. The GBC resolves to provide a group called the SABHA with the resolutions they have passed, as well as tabled and rejected proposals. Formed in August 2017, the SABHA provides checks and balances on the authority of the GBC, and course correction for i
Kirtan Space, an online educational effort that started in 2016, has been revamped and will offer a free ten-week foundational kirtan course on Youtube starting May 25th.
“During this time, when you may be not working and may be stuck at home, is a good opportunity to learn a new instrument,” says director Balaram Nityananda Das.
Balaram has been steeped in sacred music, or kirtan, since childhood, studying it while in gurukula in Mayapur, West Bengal, and later spending time with the renow
I rarely see residents coming or going from their condos across from the castle called Casa Loma but one man did peep out of his stately place and noticed Nimai and I walking. It was a gray-haired out-going fellow, a Jewish doctor with roots from Hungary. He was curious.
“You’re Hare Krishna! I don’t know too much about it. You live there on Avenue Road? Really, you live there?” The conversation went on for quite the while and we left our new friend with an invitation when it’s all over
Bhakti Learning will extend their “Stay at Home Offer” on its online Krishna conscious program for children, for another month. The new end date for the Stay At Home offer is May 24. The April batch of “Stay At Home” subscribers will automatically receive an extension of an additional month of curriculum. New subscribers are invited to join us. For more information visit www.bhaktilearning.com
On the 1st of May, Bhakti Learning delivered its third round of content to full subscribers. This mont
By Sanjaya Gohil (Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK.)
“When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa incarnated Himself at Vṛndāvana, He took pleasure in becoming a beloved son of such a vaiśya family. Nanda Mahārāja was a big protector of cows, and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, as the most beloved son of Nanda Mahārāja, used to tend His father’s animals in the neighboring forest. By His personal example Lord Kṛṣṇa wanted to teach us the value of protecting cows.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda (Light of the Bhāgavata, Text 9)
Over the last few years, we ha
By Madhava Smullen
Devotees from the Five Truths Pancha Tattva Center in Omsk, Siberia organized a Srimad-Bhagavatam online marathon, in which the translations of all 18,000 verses were recited over ten days, from April 10th to 19th.
The marathon, which aimed to inspire devotees and benefit the world during the current dark times under a global pandemic, was entitled Spiritual Victory in Seven Days. This time period was also set to be the original length of the event, based on how long it t
We shall read from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto Five, Chapter Eighteen: “The Residents of Jambudvipa Offer Prayers,” from the series of prayers recited by Prahlada Maharaja to Lord Nrsimhadeva. Text 8 is a very important prayer, or mantra, and in it many words are repeated twice. When something is repeated twice, it gives great emphasis. For example, one might say, “It is a terrible, terrible thing.” The repetition of “terrible” is for emphasis.
TEXT 8
om namo bhagavate narasimhaya namas tejas-teja
This is a poeticized version of the standard translation for these prayers. I do not know who translated them originally, but the translation is included after the poeticized version.
Sri Nrsima Kavaca
1,2) Invocation
And now I shall recite the hymn once spoken by Prahlad,
Sri Nrsima-kavacha, which the learned souls applaud.
Of prayers it is most pious, and its transcendental sound
resolves the greatest problems and protects one all around.
This hymn bestows all opulence of which one may be
- Ahobilam: A place in Andhra Pradesh where the Lord killed Hiranyakasipu and saved Prahlad. The Lord washed His hands herewhich were stained with blood after He killed Hiranyakashipu (pond is still red today and known as rakta kunda; stones there are known as Rakta Kunda silas). Nine forms of Lord Nrsimhadev are worshipped. According to the Caitanya-Caritamrita, Lord Caitanya Himself visited Ahobilam. The nine forms are-
Bhargava Nrsimha- located near a scared pond where Bhargava Ram perform
"What is the value of a prolonged life which is wasted, inexperienced by years in this world? Better a moment of full consciousness, because that gives one a start in searching after his supreme interest." - Srimad-bhagvatam 2.1.12
THE WINNER OF HEARTS
Today is the disappearance day of His Grace Jayananda Prabhu. He left his body, a day before Narasimha chaturdashi in the year 1977. Jayananda Prabhu is an example of a perfect devotee whom every devotee should follow. Born as Jim Khor, Jayana
Today is Rukmini-dvadasi, the appearance day of Srimati Rukmini-devi.
“The beloved consorts of Lord Krsna are of three kinds: the goddesses of fortune, the queens, and the milkmaids of Vraja, who are the foremost of all. These consorts all proceed from Radhika.” (Cc Adi 4.74–75)
Of all Krishna’s queens in Dvaraka, Rukmini-devi is the principal. Ultimately, she is an expansion of Srimati Radharani. All of Rukmini’s qualities are present in Radharani, though Radharani manifests some qualities tha
Lord Narasimha, The Supreme Refuge!
Lord Narasimha, also known as Mahasimha,
appeared on the Earth as Ugrasimha,
feared by many, mighty and puny.
The Lord emerged from the pillar,
appearing in the form of a fearsome killer,
with the upper half of a ferocious lion's head,
and the lower half of a human's body.
The Lord's roarings and shrills,
made everyone run hither and thither,
except Prahlada and Hiranyakashipu,
who never anticipated such a miracle and grandeur.
Hiranyakashipu, the undaun
Sri Nrisimha Caturdasi festival is one of the most magnificent festival celebrated in Sri Mayapur. Sri Sthanu Nrisimhadeva in Mayapur is the most worshipable and dear deity for many around the world ,as the supremely merciful Lord in Mayapur continues to manifest His wonderful pastimes protecting devotees worldwide.
At no other time in modern history has the protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead for His devotees been needed as now. Due to the worldwide Corona virus pandemic temples
I embrace that quote by Plato, “Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.”
Plato, Socrates and the host of Greek philosophers reflect so much on what echoes Vedic wisdom. In fact they had respect for the ways and thoughts of the culture east of them.
Here’s a verse from the Bhagavad-gita that resonates the similar tone of Plato. Krishna states in verse 3.26 to do with karma yoga: na buddhi-bhedaṁ janayed ajñānāṁ karma-saṅginām joṣayet sarva-karmāṇi vidvān
Srila Prabhupada: “Jayananda’s death is glorious. It is very good that he had stated, what is the use of such a useless body, better to give it up. He has left his body very wonderfully, and he has been transferred to Vaikuntha. I have already sent a condolence letter for publication in Back To Godhead. Everyone should follow the example of Jayananda. I am very proud that I had such a nice disciple. If possible Jayananda’s picture should be hung in the Ratha of Lord Jagannatha, and in all of ou
From Andrew Hallum San Marino, California January 27, 1990
Dear Oakwood High School Classmates and Friends,
I want to tell you about my Christmas vacation trip to Durban, South Africa. This letter is about one of our classmates, Jim Kohr.
While in Durban on December 29 and 30, 1989, I attended each day the Hare Krishna Festival of the Chariots being held on the beachfront. To give you an idea of the size of the festival, they fed 52,000 plates of food on the first day. It was vegetarian food an
Jayananda would often show a playful mood. He wasn’t just all work and no play. He would often say things and do things that reminded us that service to Krishna was fun and spontaneous, and just as Krishna has an amazing sense of humor, so do His devotees have a lively sense of humor.
There’s an old-time devotee here in New Vrindavan, very nice devotee, named Brikasanga das. As Jayananda had many devotees who assisted him, sort of being like Jayananda’s sidekicks, like Murli-Krishna and Indrana
