His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada’s Appearance Day, Lecture

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur

Today is the Appearance Day of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, the spiritual master of our Srila Prabhupada. So we honor this event with a lecture given by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s appearance day festival given in Mayapur, February 8, 1977.

…We should become intelligent. And to make us intelligent, Kṛṣṇa comes, Kṛṣṇa’s devotees come, some messenger comes. And Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura is one of the messengers of Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And not only he preached, but he trained up many disciples to preach this Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. So by his grace we are also endeavoring to do something. This is called paramparā system.

So we should take advantage of this Vaiṣṇava mission. Our Guru Mahārāja Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, he is Vaiṣṇava, cent percent Vaiṣṇava.
…Vaiṣṇava means he doesn’t want any material profit or material opulence or material reputation.

But in the material world everyone is busy for three things—material profit, material reputation, and material adoration.

This is not Vaiṣṇava’s business. Vaiṣṇava never cares for all these things. Vaiṣṇava is always thinking how to do good to the suffering humanity.

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Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day Lecture

Lord Nityananda

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…Balarāma means guru-tattva. Balarāma represents guru. Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ. If we want to understand Caitanya Mahāprabhu, if we want to understand Kṛṣṇa, then we must take shelter of Balarāma. Nāyam ātmā bala-hinena labhyaḥ. This bala-hinena labhyaḥ, this Vedic injunction, means “Without the mercy of Balarāma you cannot understand, you cannot realize your spiritual identification. So that Balarāma comes as Nityānanda Prabhu.”

…So if we want actually peace of mind, if we actually want to be free from this material fatiguement, then we must take the shelter of Nityānanda Prabhu. Nityānanda Prabhu is the strength, spiritual strength. And without spiritual strength you cannot approach Kṛṣṇa.

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Appearance of Lord Nityananda Tomorrow

Nityananda

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We just wanted to remind our readers that tomorrow is the appearance of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. It is recommended that one fast till noon tomorrow, in honor of Lord Nityananda’s appearance, and for spiritual benefit.

Appearance of Advaita Acharya

Advaita Acharya

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In honor of the Appearance day of Advaita Acharya we share this short biography of the live and pastimes of this great vaisnava acharya.

Sri Advaita Acharya’s Appearance Day
February 16, 2013

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Kumbh Mela 2013

Kumbh Mela 2013 in Allahabad

Kumbh Mela 2013

The World’s Biggest Religious Festival

The Kumbh Mela, believed to be the largest religious gathering on earth is held every 12 years on the banks of the ‘Sangam’- the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. The Mela alternates between Nasik, Allahabad, Ujjain and Haridwar every three years. The one celebrated at the Holy Sangam in Allahabad is the largest and holiest of them.

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Kṛṣṇa Rāsa-yātrā

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Today is a very auspicious day on the Vaisnave Calender, as it marks the end of Kartika, the end of Caturmasya, the Full Moon (Purnima) of the Month of Damodara, the Krsna Rasa-yatra, the Marriage of Tulasi & Salagrama, and the Appearance of Nimbarkacarya.

Just a word about Krsna Rasa-yatra from the Vaisnava Calendar …”The purnima or full moon of Damodara month is the second full moon of the autumn season, and rasa lila is again celebrated. This second rasa yatra is celebrated more in Bengal, whereas the first one is celebrated more in Vrndavana.

On this day one should perform full worship of Radha and Krsna with many flowers, and place them in a rasa mandapa surrounded by the gopis.”

In honor of all the auspiciousness, we are posting a chapter from Srila Prabhupada’s Kṛṣṇa Book entitled “The Rāsa Dance: Introduction”. Hare Krishna!

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Marriage of Shalagrama and Tulasi

Marriage of Shalagrama and Tulasi
(Tulasi-Saligram Vivaha)
Written by Sri Padmanabha Gosai

Shri Vasishthaji said that what I have heard in ancient times from Lord Brahma about the marriage of Tulasi I will now describe according to what is written in the Narada-pancaratra. First one should plant Tulasi either in the house or the forest, and after three years one may perform her marriage. The auspicious times when one may perform the marriage of Shalagrama and Tulasi are described as follows. When the sun is moving in the north, Jupiter and Venus are rising, in the month of Kartika, from the Ekadashi to the full moon in the month of Magha, and when constellations that are auspicious for marriage appear, especially the full moon day. – First one should arrange a place for sacrifice (yajna-kunda) under a canopy (mandapa). Then after performing shanti-vidhana, one should install sixteen goddesses, and do the shraddha ceremony for his female maternal ancestors.

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Worshiping Govardhana Hill

Brajabasi is Worshiping Govardhana Hill with obeisances

Today we celebrate Govardhana-puja with a chapter from Srila Prabhupada’s Krsna Book, entitled “Worshiping Govardhana Hill”

Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter 24

Worshiping Govardhana Hill

While engaged with the brāhmaṇas who were too involved in the performance of Vedic sacrifices, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma also saw that the cowherd men were preparing a similar sacrifice in order to pacify Indra, the King of heaven, who is responsible for supplying water. As stated in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, a devotee of Kṛṣṇa has strong and firm faith in the understanding that if he is simply engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental loving service, then he is freed from all other obligations. A pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa doesn’t have to perform any of the ritualistic functions enjoined in the Vedas; nor is he required to worship any demigods. Being a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one is understood to have performed all kinds of Vedic rituals and all kinds of worship to the demigods. Just by performing the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies or worshiping the demigods, one does not develop devotional service for Kṛṣṇa but one who is engaged fully in the service of the Lord has already finished all Vedic injunctions.

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24 Hour Kirtan

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The 24 hour kirtan will take place on November 3 & 4, 2012.

for more information you can contact

Lilasuka dasi
Communications Director
ISKCON New Mathura Vrindaban
3759 McCreary’s Ridge Road
Moundsville, WV 26041
phone: 304-843-1600 ext. 106

Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir Kartika Parikrama Schedule

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Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir Kartika Parikrama Schedule
by Deena Bandhu das

Kartika is glorified in the Puranas as very special for making spiritual advancement and the best place to be in Kartika is Sri Braja Dham. In fact this month is known as Damodar, since in the middle of this month, the Lord performed His very enchanting Damodar Lila. Kartika month also represents Radharani, and devotees perform special austerities to gain Her favor.

With great happiness in our hearts, we invite everyone to join in the auspicious Kartika Festival in Vrindavan. We have organized a wonderful variety of parikramas to the Holy Places of Krishna’s pastimes in Braja for all of you.

Almost daily, we will be going by bus leaving in the morning and returning in time for lunch around 3 PM, unless otherwise noted. Sometimes we will also join up with Lokanatha Swami’s Braja Mandala Parikrama and enjoy the association of the many devotees who will be wandering around Braja on foot. Tickets will be available from the newly renovated Welcome Center next to the temple, and all of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and accompanied family members are free!

The 17th of November is the Holy Disappearance Day Festival of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and we extend a warm invitation to all to come and commemorate this sacred occasion with us in Sri Vrindavan, where His Divine Grace is sitting in Samadhi. Leading up to this day, every evening, senior disciples will be relating their memories of Srila Prabhupada. One day before, we will take Srila Prabhupada in the very same palanquin from 1977 for a grand Sankirtan Procession past all the Goswami temples in Vrindavan.

Parikrama Schedule More

Double Decker Sankirtan; Toronto

Double Decker Bus Tour of Toronto

The 40th Anniversary Reunion Weekend at Toronto’s Hare Krishna Center “Sri Sri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha Mandir” was held from Aug. 31-Sept. 2. It was great fun, and in addition to the many activities such as the Slideshow, Remembrances, Kirtans, Lunch Banquet and Dinners, Remembering Srila Prabhupada, Celebrating Sri Sri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha, there was the amazing Historic Double Decker Bus Tour of Toronto. The Sankirtan was amplified from speakers on both bus’s, and was enjoyed by all!

Krishna Janmastami

Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! he
Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! he
Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! rakṣa mām
Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! pāhi mām
Rāma! Rāghava! Rāma! Rāghava! Rāma! Rāghava! rakṣa mām
Kṛṣṇa! Keśava! Kṛṣṇa! Keśava! Kṛṣṇa! Keśava! pāhi mām

Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 7.96)

Today, here in the Western half of the World, we are celebrating Janmastami: the appearance day of Lord Sri Krishna. So let us take advantage of this auspicious day and hear, chant, and remember the pastimes of the Lord. Hare Krishna!

Janmāṣṭamī
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Appearance Day Lecture
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Montreal, August 16, 1968

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The Appearance Day of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Janastami

…The appearance of Kṛṣṇa is the answer to all imaginative iconography of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone imagines the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead according to his mode of material nature. In the Brahmā-saṁhitā it is said that the Lord is the oldest person. Therefore a section of religionists imagine that God must be very old, and therefore they depict a form of the Lord like a very old man. But in the same Brahmā-saṁhitā, that is contradicted; although He is the oldest of all living entities, He has His eternal form as a fresh youth.

…”O dear Lord,” the demigods continued, “You are unborn; therefore we do not find any reason for Your appearance other than for Your pleasurable pastimes.” Although the reason for the appearance of the Lord is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (He descends just to give protection to the devotee and vanquish the nondevotee), actually He descends for His pleasure-meeting with the devotees, not really to vanquish the nondevotees. The nondevotees can be vanquished simply by material nature. “The action and reaction of the external enregy of material nature (creation, maintenance and annihilation) are being carried on automatically. But simply by taking shelter of Your holy name–because Your holy name and Your personality are nondifferent–the devotees are sufficiently protected.” The protection of the devotees and the annihilation of the nondevotees are actually not the business of the Supreme Personality of Godhead when He descends. They are just for His transcendental pleasure. There cannot be any other reason for His appearance.

Excerpts from; KRSNA, The Supreme Personality of Godhead
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Volume 1, Chapter 2

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Sri Krishna Janmastami 2012

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Krishna Janmastami

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Sri Krishna Janmastami is quickly approaching, and will be celebrated on August 9th, this year. For those of you who want to follow, it is recommended that you fast until Midnight. We would also encourage you to visit the nearest Hare Krishna Center and partake in the festivities.

Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter Three

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.

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Sri Krishna Balarama Ratha Yatra Queens, NY

Sri Krishna Balarama

Sri Krishna Balarama Ratha Yatra on Sunday, August 5, 2012!

The devotees of Queens invite all to come and celebrate our annual Ratha Yatra parade. It will begin at 1:00 pm sharp from the corner of Liberty Avenue and 123rd Street, and will continue all the way to our Mandir at 111-14 101 Avenue at 3:00 pm, followed by a Festival of India until 8:00 pm. Free sumptuous prasadam will be served all day long and we will have a full afternoon packed with dramas, dances, bhajans, devotional talks
and fun for the entire family.

Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir
111-14 101 Avenue
South Richmond Hill, New York 11419
website: http://www.krishnabalaramanyc.org

For more info, please contact:
Sunandana Das: 917-604-1085 ; sunandanadas@hotmail.com
Govinda: 347-480-5357

Balarama Jayanthi

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Balarama Jayanthi
Appearance of Lord Balarama
Aug. 1, 2012

Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir,
Serving the mission of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
India Heritage Foundation
1235 Reamwood Avenue
Sunnyvale California 94089
United States

Nṛsiṁha-caturdaśī The Appearance day of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva’s Appearance Day

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.5.22-34 Lecture
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Los Angeles, May 27, 1972

So today, appearance day of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva. Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva appeared on this Nṛsiṁha Cāturdaśī on account of His devotee, Prahlāda. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata, abhyutthānam adharmasya [Bg. 4.7]. Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtāṁ, sambhavāmi yuge yuge [Bg. 4.8]. The Lord appears with two purposes. Paritrāṇāya sādhūnām: just to give protection and rescue the devotees, and to kill the demons, vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām. So Prahlāda Mahārāja, five-years-old boy, his only fault was that he was Kṛṣṇa conscious. He was devotee of Kṛṣṇa. That was his only fault. And the father was so unkind to a child, even five years old. He could not excuse, “Oh, let this boy do whatever, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa.” No. The demons are so much against God consciousness that even at his home he would not allow his own child to become God conscious. This is demoniac civili… So you’ll find many critics, many enemies, because you are making progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So the demons are always against this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. That is the whole history. Just like Lord Jesus Christ, he was crucified. What was his fault? He was preaching God consciousness, that’s all. This society is so cruel. So Prahlāda Mahārāja was tortured in so many ways. The torturing methods, I think you will find as you will see in today’s picture, how Prahlāda Mahārāja was tortured.

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Festival of India 2012 Schedule

Festival Of India 2012 Summer Tour

2012 Proposed Tour Schedule (Up-dated March 21, 2012)

March 7———-Gaura Purnima
*March 17 and 18———-Miami, Florida, Ratha-yatra and Festival of India
April 2———-Washington D.C., American University, Festival of India
April 4 and 5———-University of Maryland; College Park, Festival of India
May 2———-Washington D.C., George Washington University, Festival of India
May 4———-University of Maryland, Baltimore, Festival of India
May 19———-Jacksonville, Florida, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
*May 26 and 27———- Baltimore, Maryland, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
June 2 and 3———-Atlanta, Georgia, Pani Hati/Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
*June 9———-New York City, New York, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
*June 24———-Chicago, Illinois, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
July 4———-Washington D.C., Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
*July 7 and 8———-Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
*July 14 and 15———-Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
July 17———-Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
*July 21———-Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
July 22———- San Francisco, California, Ratha-yatra
*July 28———-Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
July 31/August 1———-Las Vegas, Nevada, Harinam Sankirtan & Book Distribution on the Strip
*August 5———-Los Angeles, California, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
August 9———-Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Sri Krishna Janmastami
August 10———-Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja
*August 18 and 19———- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
*September 1, 2 and 3/Labor Day Weekend———-Seattle, Washington, Ratha-yatra/Festival of India
September 15 & 16———-Boston, Ratha-yatra/Srila Prabhupada’s Commonwealth Pier Arrival Fest
*September 22———-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania–Ratha-yatra/Radhastami
October 20———-Potomac, Maryland. Sri Ramacandra Vijayotsava Festival
*These cities/dates are Confirmed
Hare Krishna

Pasted from http://www.festivalofindia.org

First Ever Ratha Yatra Festival in Las Vegas

Maha Harinam

Join in for hours of blissful chanting & dancing on the world famous Las Vegas Strip!
When: Friday, April 21, 6-9 PM
Meeting place: Govinda’s Center at 5:30 PM or the Excalibur outdoor parking lot at 6:00 PM
Harinam route: on Las Vegas Blvd. from Excalibur to Bellagio and back from Paris to MGM.

Ratha Yatra Parade

First ever Ratha Yatra in Las Vegas! 
Please note: Ratha yatra is a part of the Henderson Heritage Parade and Festival.
When: Saturday, April 22, 9:30-11 AM
Start of the parade: Water St. & Ocean Ave. in Henderson, Water Street District, Map & Directions
Parade route: on Water St. from Ocean Ave. to Atlantic Ave.
What happens after the parade: Heritage Festival organized by the City of Henderson will follow the parade and will include live entertainment, international food booths, dance and cooking demonstrations, craft booths and more!
Please visit Govinda’s booth from 10:00 – 7:00 PM. We will be distributing prasadam, books and Indian gifts.
See us on the Henderson Amphitheater Stage at 1:30 PM performing live kirtan and classic Indian dance.

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