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We will be away for a couple of weeks, but leave you with this beautiful image of Lord Sri Krishna and a short book entitled “Prabhupada”
click on link to veiw or save Prabhupada
Hare Krishna!
16 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, B. G. Sharma Art, Founder-Acarya, Free eBooks, guru-tattva, Krishna, Krishna Consciousness Movement, Srila Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya, Hare Krishna, janmastmi, Krishna, Lord Sri Krishna, prabhupada, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, The Hare Krishna Movement
Vyasa Puja 2014
15 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Festivals, Founder-Acarya, ISKCON, Iskcon Bangalore, The Hare Krishna Movement, Vyas-puja Tags: 2014 Vyasa Puja, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, devotee offerings, Iskcon, ISKCON Bangalore, Krishna consciousness, Nandotsava, Srila Prabhupada's appearance day, The Hare Krishna Movement, Vyasasana
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For most devotees of The Hare Krishna Movement, Vyasa-puja is the most important festival of the year. It is the day we honor the appearance day of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The Founder-Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON – The Hare Krishna Movement).
Srila Prabhupada, was born on the day of Nandotsava (the day after Janmastami, the Birth day of Lord Sri Krishna), in 1896.
I ran across this nice offering book of last years homages, from the ISKCON Bangalor devotees. This is a nice example of Vyasa-puja offerings. Click on link below to view or save.
The Birth of Lord Krishna
15 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Festivals, Janmastami, Krishna, Krsna Consciousness, Krsna God, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, birth of Lord Krishna, Janmastami, janmastami festival, Krishna, Krsna, Krsna Book, Sri Krishna Janmastami, Srimad Bhagavatam
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With the advent of Lord Krsna’s birthday celebration (Janmastami) rapidly approaching, it seemed fitting that we do a post on the birth of Lord Krsna. So the following is the entire third chapter from the Krsna Book entitled “The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa”.
…As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, the Lord says that His appearance, birth, and activities, are all transcendental, and one who understands them factually becomes immediately eligible to be transferred to the spiritual world. The Lord’s appearance or birth is not like that of an ordinary man who is forced to accept a material body according to his past deeds. The Lord’s appearance is explained in the Second Chapter: He appears out of His own sweet pleasure. When the time was mature for the appearance of the Lord, the constellations became very auspicious. The astrological influence of the star known as Rohiṇī was also predominant because this star is considered to be very auspicious. Rohiṇī is under the direct supervision of Brahmā. According to the astrological conclusion, besides the proper situation of the stars, there are auspicious and inauspicious moments due to the different situations of the different planetary systems. At the time of Kṛṣṇa’s birth, the planetary systems were automatically adjusted so that everything became auspicious. ( from Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Chapter 3)
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The Beauty of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī
13 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krsna Consciousness, Nectar of Devotion, Radha Krishna, Rupa Goswami, Srimati Radharani Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swmai Prabhupada, Nectar of Devotion, Radha, Radharani, Srimati Radharani
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…The beauty of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is described as follows: “Her eyes defeat the attractive features of the eyes of the cakorī bird. When one sees the face of Rādhārāṇī, he immediately hates the beauty of the moon. Her bodily complexion defeats the beauty of gold. Thus, let us all look upon the transcendental beauty of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.” Kṛṣṇa’s attraction for Rādhārāṇī is described by Kṛṣṇa Himself thus: “When I create some joking phrases in order to enjoy the beauty of Rādhārāṇī, Rādhārāṇī hears these joking words with great attention; but by Her bodily features and counterwords She neglects Me. And I even possess unlimited pleasure by Her neglect of Me, for She becomes so beautiful that She increases My pleasure one hundred times.” A similar statement can be found in Gīta-govinda, wherein it is said that when the enemy of Kaṁsa, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, embraces Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, He immediately becomes entangled in a loving condition and gives up the company of all other gopīs. (from Nectar of Devotion Chapter 44)
Advanced Knowledge
12 Aug 2014 1 Comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna Consciousness, Nectar of Instruction, Rupa Goswami, Upadesamrta Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, fruitive workers, jnanis, knowledge, liberated by virtue, lord hari, nectar of instruction Srila Rupa Goswami, NoI 10, Srila Prabhupada, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Upadesamrta
Continuing with our series on the Nectar of Inststuction (Upadeśāmṛta), we are posting Text 10, the very important instructions given by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī on advanced knowledge of the higher values of life.
…The gopīs are exalted above all the advanced devotees because they are always totally dependent upon Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gopīs, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the most dear to Kṛṣṇa. Her kuṇḍa [lake] is as profoundly dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa as this most beloved of the gopīs. Who, then, will not reside at Rādhā-kuṇḍa and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings [aprākṛtabhāva], render loving service to the divine couple Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda, who perform Their aṣṭakālīya-līlā, Their eternal eightfold daily pastimes. Indeed, those who execute devotional service on the banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa are the most fortunate people in the universe. (The Nectar of Instruction Text 10)
Lord Balarama’s Appearance Day
10 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, B. G. Sharma Art, Balarama, Festivals Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appearance day of lord balarama, bala, Balarama, brother of Krsna, full moon day, Krishna's elder brother, Lord Balarama, original spiritual master, Purnima, Srila Prabhupada, vaishnavas
Lord Balarama’s Appearance Day
Lord Balarama is Krishna’s elder brother and His appearance day takes place on the full moon day (purnima), two weeks before Krishna Janmashtami. Krishna and Balarama were the darlings of Vrindavan/ Vraja. Together They would spend the day enjoying the company of the cowherd boys in the forests of Vraja. Their wonderful pastimes are related in the tenth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which Srila Prabhupada also translated as The Krishna Book. Lord Balarama is also considered the original spiritual master and His worship is therefore most important for Vaishnavas.
Lord Balarāma has two weapons, a plow and a club, from which He takes service when they are required.
(from Kṛṣṇa Book Chapter 65 Lord Balarāma Visits Vṛndāvana)
…In the Upaniṣads it is stated, nāyam ātmā bala-hīnena labhyaḥ. The purport is that one cannot attain the supreme platform of self-realization without being sufficiently favored by Balarāma. Bala does not mean physical strength. No one can attain spiritual perfection by physical strength. One must have the spiritual strength which is infused by Balarāma, or Saṅkarṣaṇa. Ananta, or Śeṣa, is the source of the power which sustains all the planets in their different positions. Materially this sustaining power is known as the law of gravitation, but actually it is a display of the potency of Saṅkarṣaṇa. Balarāma, or Saṅkarṣaṇa, is the source of spiritual power, or the original spiritual master. Therefore Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, who is also the incarnation of Balarāma, is the original spiritual master. And the spiritual master is the representative of Balarāma, the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who supplies spiritual strength. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta it is confirmed that the spiritual master is the manifestation of the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. (from Kṛṣṇa Book Chapter 2: Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Womb)
Some Day the Tiny Soul Will Want to Get Out of Illusion
09 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in Back to Godhead, Soul, Spiritual Life, The Hare Krishna Movement, Vishnujana Swami Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, Bhagavad-gita 2.59, BTG, His Holiness Visnujana Svami, illusion, illusory energy, mercy of the Lord, neophytes, regulative principles, soul, Spiritual Life, the Hare Krsna movement, vairagya, Visnujana Swami
Some Day the Tiny Soul Will Want to Get Out of Illusion
Instructions to the devotees of the Hare Krsna movement
given in New York City, March 31, 1974
by His Holiness Visnujana Svami
Excerpted from Back to Godhead Magazine 1974 Vol. 1, No. 65
…As soon as one gets the association of the bhakti-vedanta, the pure devotee or spiritual master, and hears from his lips the nectarean waves flowing just like the wonderful River Ganges, these waves enter his ears and his heart and purify him. Thus he is freed from the seeds of contaminated material desires. When he hears sufficiently, his intelligence becomes satisfied, and he agrees to act on the instructions of his bona fide spiritual master. The more he acts on these instructions, the more he becomes freed from past bad habits and the conditional responses of this material world. Thus his conditional association is completely vanquished. This, of course, is where he achieves a spiritual taste (ruci) and spiritual strength (vairagya).
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Resident of Krishna Loka
07 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Mukunda das Goswami, Spiritual Master, Spiritual World Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, Krishna Loka, letters by prabhupada, liberated person, Lord Caitanya, Mukunda dasa, resident of Krishna Loka, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada
…Unless one is a resident of Krishna Loka, one cannot be a Spiritual Master. That is the first proposition. A layman cannot be a Spiritual Master, and if he becomes so then he will simply create disturbance. And who is a liberated person? One who knows Krishna. It is stated in BG, fourth chapter, anyone who knows Krishna in truth is immediately liberated, and after quitting the present body, he immediately goes to Krishna. That means he becomes a resident of Krishna Loka. As soon as one is liberated he is immediately a resident of Krishna Loka, and anyone who knows the truth of Krishna can become Spiritual Master. That is the version of Lord Caitanya. So to summarize the whole thing, it is to be understood that a bona fide Spiritual Master is a resident of Krishna Loka. (Letter to Mukunda June 10, 1969)
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Madhudvisa dasa (ACBSP) Departs
07 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Madhudvisa das (ACBSP) Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Australia Sankirtan, feild for dancing, letters by prabhupada, Madhudvisa dasa, Madhudvisa Swami, Michael Morrissey, sankirtan, Srila Prabhupada
…I have no objection if you feel like going to Australia for heading up the Sankirtana party there and managing things in general….You can go to Australia, there you have got enough field for your dancing. (Letter to Madhudvisa dasa April 26, 1972)
Work on the world’s tallest Krishna temple at 210 metres will begin on Janmashtami, August 18, on 70 acres of land in Vrindavan
06 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in Iskcon Bangalore, Madhu Pandit das, Temples, The Hare Krishna Movement Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Chanchalapathi dasa, Indias tallest temple for Krishna, ISKCON Bangalore, largest religious structure in India, Madhu Pandit dasa, sacred edificice, Sri Krishna, Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, Vrindavan Mathura district
Vrindavan to have India’s tallest temple for Krishna
“Just like we have got a tendency to construct a skyscraper building. As in your country, you do. So you should not be attached to the skyscraper building, but you can utilize the tendency by constructing a big temple like skyscraper for Krishna. In this way, you have to purify your material activities.”(Srila Prabhupada in a class in front of the samadhi of Srila Rupa Gosvami in Vrindavan, Oct 29th, 1972)
“This is Krishna conscious vision: ‘Oh, there are so many skyscrapers. Why not construct a nice skyscraper temple of Krishna?’ This is Krishna consciousness.” (Srila Prabhupada lecture in Bombay, Feb 25th, 1974)
VRINDAVAN/MATHURA: A 210-metre-high temple is soon going to change the skyline of Vrindavan in Mathura district. The project, whose foundation stone will be laid on March 16, has been conceived by Madhu Pandit Dasa, president of ISKCON, Bangalore, and will consist of a grand temple of Sri Krishna at its centre and many other interesting elements around it. Poised to be the tallest and largest religious structure in India, the monumental temple, named the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, with a footprint of about four and a half acres and a built-up area of 540,000 square feet, will integrate elements of modern architecture with traditional Indian temple architecture.
for more images of temple go to; Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir
Soul Slokas
05 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavad-gita, Soul Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Arjuna, Bg2.12, Bg2.30, bhagavad-gita, boyhood to youth to old age, dehino smin yatha dehe, eternal soul, ever existing soul, for the soul there is never birth or death, Krsna, krsna consciousness, reincarnation, science of the soul science of self realization, soul, soul passes into another body, soul slokas, Srila Prabhupada, unborn
This morning I was thinking about the soul and its eternal journey. So I went to Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is and found some of the important slokas that pertained to the subject of the soul.
As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change. (Bg. 2.13)
For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain. (Bg. 2.20)
As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones. (Bg. 2.22)
The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind. (Bg. 2.23)
The Nectar of Devotion Lectures
03 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna Consciousness Movement, Lectures, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Devotion, Photos by Gurudas Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pabhupada, active service, bhakti is explained, bhakti means service, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, devotional service, Gurudas, Krsna consciousness movement, Nectar of Devotion, photos by Gurudas, Pradyumana das, scientific and authorized movement, Srila Prabhupada
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..utilize everything for the purpose of Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Most scientific and authorized movement. Trying to place people in his original, constitutional position and cooperate for the service of Kṛṣṇa. That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.
…So bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu is to taste the mellow of serving Kṛṣṇa. That is the science of serving Kṛṣṇa. Therefore we have named this book, “Nectar of Devotion.” It is summary study of bhakti-rasa, the mellow, the transcendental mellow which one can taste. Everyone is tasting. Otherwise he cannot work. So yat karoṣi yaj juhoṣi. Kṛṣṇa says, “Whatever engagement you may have, kuruṣva tad mad-arpaṇam, do it for Kṛṣṇa.” Don’t take the result yourself. Give it to Kṛṣṇa. Then you’ll taste the rel…, relish the mellow, transcendental mellow, bhakti-rasa. And then you’ll be happy. (The Nectar of Devotion Lectures Vṛndāvana, October 17, 1972)
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Hari Nama
01 Aug 2014 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, hari nama, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Haridas Thakur, Srila Prabhupada diaries, the beginning, transcendental sound
…It is all Grace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Haridas Thakur said that the transcendental sound of Hari Nama would even purify the heart of birds and beasts. Today this statement of Thakur Haridas is corroborated. These American can not understand even a word’s meaning of the Sankirtan and yet they were so much attracted? It is all Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s power (from The Beginning, Srila Prabhupada Diaries 1966)
The Hare Krishna Movement 