Every Town and Village
25 Aug 2022 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Govinda Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, adept on playing His flute, Brahma samhita, Govinda, Krishna, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock’s feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids.
The following is a nice description of Govinda: verse and purport from Srila Prabhupada’s Brahma-samhita, and a short excerpt from a lecture on the Srimad Bhagavatam.
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21 Aug 2022 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupada, Vyas-puja Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhagavata Dharma Discourses, Krishna, New Vrindaban, Srila Prabhupada, Vyasa-puja
Yesterday we celebrated Vyasa-puja here at New Vrindaban, it was a joyous event with many offerings of homage to Srila Prabhupada, and rememberances of his famous visit to New Vrindaban in 1972. It has been 50 years since his Bhagavata Dharma Discourse’s. The Vyasa-puja event was held on the top of the very same hill. It was a very nice event.
“The Bhagavata Dharma Discourses” which were held at New Vrindavan Farm Community in 1972. It was the third annual Janmastami Celebration held at New Vrindavan, and devotees poured in from everywhere, and even a New York Times Reporter appeared. “On the crown of a lovely green hill in the West Virginia contryside,” his article read, “under the aluminum roof of an open pavilion, the faithful gathered to chant the name of Lord Krsna and kneel at the feet of their spiritual master…A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.”
20 Aug 2022 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Guru & Disciple, Krsna Book, Vyas-puja, Vyasasan das Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhagavad-gita, Krishna, Krsna, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, Vyasa-puja, Vyasasan das
The Most blessed Event; Sri Vyasa-puja
Dear Srila Prabhupada
Please accept my most humble and heartfelt obeisance’s on this most auspicious day of your appearance. Although I am an unworthy disciple, full of faults, I approach you with the greatest appreciation, and utmost respect, for you are the greatest spiritual ambassador to spread Krishna Consciousness all over the world.
Thank you for coming to America, and bringing with you so many matchless gifts. Not only did you bring the message of Krishna and Lord Caitanya, but you brought with you music and art, Vedic medicine, the science of cooking vegetarian food, and the keys to a healthy and productive life, in the service of God. I may never have learned who is God, had you not appeared on our shores.
One of the very first books of yours I read, just a small book called the “Raja-vidya”, on the very first page, you gave the definite description of God. Although I had some conception of God from my early religious training, God is great, God is good, but no one could ever tell me who He was, what He looked like, where He lived, or what He does. But you could. On that very first page you gave the perfect definitive description of God.
“God possesses all opulence’s, the totality of knowledge, wealth, power, beauty, fame, and renunciation. When we find someone who possesses these opulence’s in full, we are to know that He is God…Only Krishna claims to possess them in totality.”
In time as I began to read from the Bagavad-gita As It Is, and the KRSNA Book, all my questions were answered. I came to know who God is, what He looks like, where He lives, what He does, and what is our relationship with Him.
It is interesting, but from the very first moment I saw a picture of you, on the back cover of the KRSNA Book, I knew, that at long last, I had found my spiritual master.
I fell in love with you from the very first moment I saw your picture. and I am still in love with you today. I have no words that convey the love that I feel , only to say, there is nothing that can compare.
Begging to remain in your service
Your unworthy disciple
Vyasasan das
07 Aug 2022 1 Comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada
I saw this on Facebook, and found it interesting.
Govinda dasi found some old Indian newspapers from the 1970s in her attic, in boxes, and one had an article about Srila Prabhupada written by an astrologer:
“Nobody can read this chart; if they say they can they are simply lying. This personality comes and goes at his own sweet will; he is not bound by anybody or anything. The stars are lined up perfectly—there is no question of karma. He is working directly under the will of God. And when he writes, his pen does not have in it ink. His pen has in it fire which will burn the ignorance of the whole world.”
16 Jul 2022 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Mukunda das Goswami, Prabhupada, Science of Self Realization, Srila Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, krsna consciousness, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada
The Science of Self Realization
Foreword By Mukunda Das
From the very start, I knew that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda was the most extraordinary person I had ever met. The first meeting occurred in the summer of 1966, in New York City. A friend had invited me to hear a lecture by “an old Indian svāmī” on lower Manhattan’s Bowery. Overwhelmed with curiosity about a svāmī lecturing on skid row, I went there and felt my way up a pitch-black staircase. A bell-like, rhythmic sound got louder and clearer as I climbed higher. Finally I reached the fourth floor and opened the door, and there he was.
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10 Jul 2022 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting, Chanting Hare Krishna, Sankirtan Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting Hare Krishna, Krishna, krsna consciousness, sankirtan, sankirtan movement, spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada
October 1966, Tomkins Sq. Park, Srila Prabhupada begins His Sankirtan Movement, sitting among the ‘hippies’ with no microphone, no harmonium, karatals, and mridungas, only a small ‘bongo’ drum and pure devotion……….
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29 Jun 2022 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting, Chanting Hare Krishna, Lectures Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chant Hare Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Krishna, Hare Rama, Krishna, Maha Mantra, mantra meditation, Srila Prabhupada
The Meaning of the Hare Krishna Mantra
Lecture on Maha-mantra New York, September 8, 1966
By His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Prabhupada: Now, some of you members have asked me to explain the meaning of this chanting, Hare Krishna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Now, this sound is transcendental sound, transcendental sound, incarnation, sound incarnation of the Absolute Truth. Just try to understand what is incarnation. Incarnation means…
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05 May 2022 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Govinda dasi, Hare Krishna Movement, Krishna Consciousness Movement Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Ananta Shanti, Govinda dasi, Krishna, Krishna consciousness, Mondokini, Russia, Russian Goverment, Srila Prabhupada
The following is a wonderful article written by Govinda Dasi and published in Dandavats in 2016. It was recently posted on Facebook. I thought this was an especially good time for presenting this once again.
Back in New York, in early 1967, Srila Prabhupada often sat in his room and slowly turned the world globe, studying the geographic demarcations of various countries on the Earth planet. He would sometimes say, “Brahmananda, you will go to Russia, Goursundar, you go to Japan, Rayarama, you will go to Europe…” and so on. Even though he had merely a handful of sincere American youths, most of them in their late teens or early twenties, he had big plans. Clearly, he wanted to open preaching centers in every country on Earth. His vision was huge–he planned to spread the Hare Krishna movement all over the world! But he was especially concerned about Russia.
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26 Apr 2022 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Chanting Hare Krishna, Krishna Consciousness, Music, YouTube Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting Hare Krishna, Krishna consciousness, Krishna Consciousness LP, music of the hare krishna movement, Srila Prabhupada
This is far and away my favorite album by Srila Prabhupada. If I could only have one album in my music collection, this would be it. Hare Krishna!
09 Apr 2022 Leave a comment
in Uncategorized Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, Srila Prabhupada
“Kṛṣṇa is within you. He is sitting within your heart as a friend, not as an enemy. Kṛṣṇa is always your friend. Suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām (BG 5.29). You are searching out friends to talk with, to joke with, to love. Kṛṣṇa is sitting there for that purpose.
If you love Kṛṣṇa, if you make friendship with Kṛṣṇa, if you love Kṛṣṇa, then your life will be successful. You haven’t got to search out any other friend. The friend is already there. Either you are a boy or a girl, you will find a nice friend within yourself.
That is yoga system, when you realize this friend. So this friend is so nice, as soon as you become little inclined to hear about Him, śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ—about Kṛṣṇa, not any other nonsense talks, simply about Kṛṣṇa — then Kṛṣṇa will be so pleased.”
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja Lecture, New Vrindaban, June 7, 1969
06 Apr 2022 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, KRSNA The Supreme Personality of Godhead Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Krishna, Krsna, Krsna Book, Srila Prabhupada
…Another day, when Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were playing with Their friends, all the boys joined Balarāma and told mother Yaśodā Kṛṣṇa had eaten clay. On hearing this, mother Yaśodā caught hold of Kṛṣṇa’s hand and said, “My dear Kṛṣṇa, why have You eaten earth in a solitary place? Just see, all Your friends including Balarāma are complaining about You.”
Being afraid of His mother, Kṛṣṇa replied, “My dear mother, all these boys, including My elder brother Balarāma, are speaking lies against Me. I have never eaten clay. My elder brother Balarāma, while playing with Me today, became angry, and therefore He has joined with the other boys to complain against Me. They have all combined together to complain so you will be angry and chastise Me.
If you think they are truthful, then you can look within My mouth to see whether I have taken clay or not.” His mother replied, “All right, if You have actually not taken any clay, then just open Your mouth. I shall see.”
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20 Jan 2022 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada, Yamuna devi Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Iskcon, Srila Prabhupada, Yamuna Devi Dasi
WHAT IS ISKCON?
Yamuna: Srila Prabhupada, although we are very happy where we are, we are prepared to go wherever you would like to send us in order to have your blessings.
Srila Prabhupada: You westerners are always so restless. Why can’t you stay where you are?
Yamuna: But we have been told that because we don’t have the association of devotees, we cannot make any advancement.
Srila Prabhupada: Association can be two or two hundred. But you must be compatible. If you are two and are compatible, you can go back to Godhead. But if you are two hundred and not compatible [his eyes open widely], then no one will make any advancement.
Yamuna: But Srila Prabhupada, some of the leaders are saying that we have lost your mercy because we left ISKCON and without your mercy there is no meaning to our lives.
Srila Prabhupada: ISKCON is where you are chanting the Holy Names of Krsna. That is ISKCON. (Yamuna Devi, A Life of Unalloyed Devotion).
Note: This is an instruction to Yamuna devi dasi, who is 100% devoted to Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada is ISKCON!
30 Dec 2021 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Art, Govinda dasi Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bhava, Govinda dasi, picture of vrndavan, Srila Prabhupada, Swamiji, Transcendental Art
A Painting Full of Bhava
by Govinda Dasi
Govinda Dasi: It was at that time, when Swamiji was recovering from stroke in Vrindaban, feeling great separation from Swamiji, that I designed a drawing of Krishna returning home from the forest with thousands of cows. It was indeed a special drawing, for though I had never seen Vrindaban, or even photographs of it, just from Swamiji’s many descriptions of Vrindaban, I was able to create a picture that did indeed look very much like Krishna’s Vrindaban.
While doing this drawing, I was seeing cows and cowlads in my minds’ eye for weeks! I selected one particular cowlad to be Swamiji, and sent him a copy of the picture, denoting that the cowlad on the far right of Krishna was my depiction of him.
Years later, this early drawing of Krishna’s Vrindaban was artfully colored in by some of the later BBT artists, and is still used today in many of the books and temples. It is a painting that is full of bhava. That is because it is Swamiji’s drawing – not mine. It is full of his devotion. Remember, I had never even seen Vrindaban. But he was able to convey it to me so perfectly that the mood of Vrindaban is indeed present in that picture!
And he was also able to guide me from within my mind and heart just how he wanted it done. This is the deeper, more spiritual, understanding of transcendental art. It doesn’t come from us; as artists, we have to open ourselves so that Srila Prabhupada’s devotion comes through us. This mood requires surrender of the arrogant and rebellious attitude that, “I am the doer.” Or, “I am the artist.“
11 Nov 2021 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back to Godhead, Bibhavati devi dasi Tags: American president, Back to Godhead Magazine, bhagavad-gita, Dhrstarastra, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam
This is an older article that appeared in Back to Godhead Magizine Vol. 11, No. 7, 1976, but is certainly still pertinent in todays culture. We have included the original pages in image form at bottom of post.
Curing the Crimes of a Lifetime
by Bibhavati-devi dasi
Adapted from Srimad-Bhagavatam, translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
With recent disgrace of an American president still fresh in our minds, it is interesting to read of a similar case in ancient times. Five thousand years ago, a blind king named Dhrtarastra dishonored his high post and caused the death of millions. His story is of special importance, even today, because he found an antidote to the crimes of a lifetime, and in his old age became self-realized.
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08 Nov 2021 1 Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Bhaktivedanta Manor, chanting Hare Krishna, George Harrison, Krsna The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Srila Prabhupada
George Harrison had a long relationship with Srila Prabhupada and his Hare Krishna movement.
Very early George became a devotee and used his money for Krisahna by, for example, paying the full cost of printing Srila Prabhupada’s, Krsna Book and by purchasing Bhaktivedanta Manor, ISKCON’s headquarters in England.
George also sang about Krishna in his music. The most famous George Harrison Krishna song is, of course, “My Sweet Lord,” but many of George’s other songs are about Krishna also.
In the 1990’s ISKCON had their first big reunion of the desciples of Srila Prabhupada at Bhaktivedanta Manor, the property donated to ISKCON by George, so naturally George attended.
Not that it was rare, George often chanted Hare Krishna with the devotees, but usually there is no film, no recording. Even in this case we see the security people at Bhaktivedanta Manor trying to stop our brave cameraman from capturing this special moment in history.
We have just discovered new archival footage of George Harrison leading a kirtan and chanting Hare Krishna at that Prabhupada Festival and here it is.
07 Nov 2021 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, disappearance day of Srila Prabhupada, free download, Srila Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada
Today we honor the disappearance day of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, with a half day fast and remembrance of his many glorious pastimes and achievements. We have included a very nice brief life sketch you can view or download.
At various times people have called him a scholar, a philosopher, a cultural ambassador, a prolific author, a religious leader, a spiritual teacher, a social critic, and a holy man. In truth, he was all these things and more.
Over five hundred years ago, Lord Sri Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Navadvipa, a village in West Bengal. The purpose of His appearance was to inaugurate the Sankirtana Movement, the Yuga Dharma for this age of Kali. He declared that the chanting of His holy names would spread beyond the shores of India to every town and village in the world. He predicted that His commander-in-chief would appear to accomplish this mission.
Yes… Srila Prabhupada appeared to fulfill this prophecy.
Srila Prabhupada – A Brief Life Sketch
click on link: srila-prabhupada
06 Sep 2021 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Books by Srila Prabhupada, Free Downloads, Gallery of Images Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, free downloads of prabhupada;s books, Krishna, krsna consciousness, Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam
This morning I had the good fortune to run across what appears to be a very good web page;
and the link to the page is; https://prabhupada.io/start
Although I don’t know much about who created this page, It appears to have a good selection of pre 1978 Books, music, photos, videos and much more. Very nice site and easy to navigate. I would recommend taking a look. Hare Krishna!
30 Aug 2021 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Free Downloads, Srila Prabhupada Tributes, Vyas-puja Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada Tribute 2021, Vyasa Puja
THIS IS AN OPEN VYASA-PUJA BOOK
OPEN TO ALL DISCIPLES OF
SRILA PRABHUPADA
click on link for a free pdf download
30 Aug 2021 Leave a comment
in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Spiritual Master, Vyas-puja, Vyasasan das Tags: A.C. Bhaktiveanta Swami Prabhupada, spiritual master, Sri Vyasa Puja, Srila Prabhupada, Vyasa-puja, Vyasadeva
by Vyasasan das
Dear Srila Prabhupada
On this most blessed and auspicious day, the celebration of your appearance; Sri Vyasa-puja, please accept my most humble obeisance’s at your divine lotus feet, and kindly forgive my offences.
On my 21st birthday I shaved my head, put on tilak and a dhoti for the first time. It was the day I decided to become a devotee with the hope of someday becoming your disciple. On the very first day of my adult life I surrendered to your instructions, following the four regulative principles and trying to chant 16 rounds of japa a day, with the hopes of someday becoming a worthy disciple. And in spite of my shortcomings, within a year, you initiated me and gave me the name Vyasasan das.
The Vyasasana is the sacred seat of Srila Vyasadeva, who is the original Spiritual Master because he compiled and disseminated the Vedic knowledge, and you are the bona-fide representative of Srila Vyasadeva. Therefore according to the Vedic system, on the birthday of the spiritual master the disciples and followers offer homage to you, by writting and speaking about your glories. This is the meaning of Vyasa Puja.
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24 May 2021 Leave a comment
in Back to Godhead, Devotee's, Guru & Disciple, Jayananda Thakur, Letters by Srila Prabhupada Tags: Back to Godhead Magazine, disappearance of Jayananda thakur, Jayananda, Jayananda das, Jayananda Thakur, Letters by Srila Prabhupada, Ratha-yatra, Rathayatra Festival, Srila Prabhupada
Today marks the disappearance day of my dear friend and God brother, Jayananda das. He was such a beautiful devotee, the perfect servant of our Srila Prabhupada, and friend to all. His death was glorious as stated in a letter to Ramesvara das shortly after his death:
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 our temples a day may be set aside for holding a festival in his honor, just as we do on the disappearance day of the other great Vaisnavas. (letter by Srila Prabhupada 77-05-11)
We have included some personal letters by Srila Prabhupada to Jayananda
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The Hare Krishna Movement 