The Winter Solstice
Today marks the winter solstice, or the day with the fewest hours of sunlight during the whole year. The good news is that after today (Dec. 21 at 6:03 p.m. EST) the days will begin getting longer.
The Winter Solstice
21 Dec 2014 Leave a comment
in Time Tags: 2014 winter solstice, Sun, to stand still, Tropic of Capricorn, Winter Solstice
Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Entrance in Dvaraka
09 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Dvaraka, Srimad Bhagavatam Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Dvaraka, Krsna's attraction, lamp offered to sun, Lord Krishna, maya, presence of the sun, self-sufficient, Sun
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In one of our previous posts entitled “Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Transcendental Conchshell” we were describing Lord Krsna’s entrance in Dvarka. This post is a continuation from that chapter, describing the citizens presentation and prayers to the Lord. Very nice!
The citizens arrived before the Lord with their respective presentations, offering them to the fully satisfied and self-sufficient one, who, by His own potency, incessantly supplies others. These presentations were like the offering of a lamp to the sun. Yet the citizens began to speak in ecstatic language to receive the Lord, just as wards welcome their guardian and father.
…Lord Kṛṣṇa’s attraction is so powerful that once being attracted by Him one cannot tolerate separation from Him. Why is this so? Because we are all eternally related with Him as the sun rays are eternally related with the sun disc. The sun rays are molecular parts of the solar radiation. Thus the sun rays and the sun cannot be separated. The separation by the cloud is temporary and artificial, and as soon as the cloud is cleared, the sun rays again display their natural effulgence in the presence of the sun. Similarly, the living entities, who are molecular parts of the whole spirit, are separated from the Lord by the artificial covering of māyā, illusory energy. This illusory energy, or the curtain of māyā, has to be removed, and when it is so done, the living entity can see the Lord face to face, and all his miseries are at once removed. Every one of us wants to remove the miseries of life, but we do not know how to do it. The solution is given here, and it rests on us to assimilate it or not. (Excerpted from purport SB 1.11.10)
…Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, being the primeval Lord, the Supreme Truth, is compared to the sun. Without Him all our knowledge is either false or partial. The opposite of the sun is the darkness, and similarly the opposite of Kṛṣṇa is māyā, or illusion. The devotees of the Lord can see everything in true perspective due to the light disseminated by Lord Kṛṣṇa. By the grace of the Lord the pure devotee cannot be in the darkness of ignorance. Therefore, it is necessary that we must always be in the sight of Lord Kṛṣṇa so that we can see both ourselves and the Lord with His different energies. As we cannot see anything in the absence of the sun, so also we cannot see anything including our own self, without the factual presence of the Lord. Without Him all our knowledge is covered by illusion. (Excerpted from purport SB 1.11.9)
Full Text and Purport More
ISKCON vs Radha Damodar Mandir
28 Jun 2011 2 Comments
in Radha Damodar Mandir Tags: India, Iskcon, Radha Damodar Mandir, Sri Nirmal Chandra Goswami, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Prabhupada's Bhajan Kutir, Sun, Vrindavan
ISKCON vs Radha Damodar Mandir
By; Sri Nirmal Chandra Goswami
Jun 27, 2011 — Vrindavan, India (SUN)
The writing of this notice to the devotees has been a long time waiting. Due to the mercy of Sri Sri Radha Damodar and now having email and Internet access, I am able to send out this information for the contemplation of sincere and thoughtful devotees.
Since past five years the court case in India, ISKCON vs Radha Damodar Mandir has been going on. The case originally filed by ISKCON is primarily to solve the question as to who is the legal owner/proprietor of the rooms at Radha Damodar Mandir known as “Srila Prabhupada’s Bhajan Kutir”.
As you know, Srila Prabhupada resided in these rooms for several years before he went to America and established ISKCON. In Srila Prabhupada’s own words, it was by the mercy of Radha Damodar that he was successful in the West.
A few months before the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada in 1977 the worship in Prabhupada’s bhajan kutir began, and after Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance, ISKCON continued paying rent to Radha Damodar Mandir and the puja of Srila Prabhupada continued.
Winning a Battle Only to Lose a War
03 Jun 2011 2 Comments
in Iskcon Bangalore Tags: appointed successor, battle over Iskcon Bangalore, GBC, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON Mumbi, Madhu Pandit, Rohith Kaushik, Sun
Winning a Battle Only to Lose a War
By; Rohith Kaushik
Jun 02, 2011 — UK (SUN) —
It’s time to realize that we as ‘ISKCON’ — The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, meaning every single one of us wherever in the world we may be — as a whole, are now being looked down upon as a bunch of people that ultimately get as low as anyone else when it comes to money and land. The so-called ‘spiritualists’ who once advised people to be materially detached are themselves fighting over a mere 7 acres of mortal land! What do you think the reaction of the next person we preach to in Bangalore is going to be?
There is a new episode in the Bangalore drama unfolding every day, ever since the High Court has pronounced its verdict. Local news channels are relishing every bit of the sensationalism ISKCON has managed to create. Everyone from beggars to politicians are talking about ISKCON and its “scandals”. People are obviously making a mockery of everything we’ve stood for.
Before anyone starts to feel happy or sad about the Bangalore situation, we must all take a step backwards and see for ourselves if this whole endeavor was worth anything all. Did ‘we’ – meaning Srila Prabhupada’s followers – ultimately in the process of professing the highest knowledge available – win over our enemies, namely Kali, the Mayavadis and the likes? I think not! It’s quite the contrary.
We have taken our disagreements from a spiritual platform right down to the street in front of the common man, where the point of our disagreement is well beyond their capability to even comprehend. The general public in this age of Kaliyuga are not intelligent enough to figure out how passionate the two parties are about their beliefs and devotion to Krishna and their respective Gurus. The public is probably happy deep down somewhere to know that even such exalted spiritualists are ultimately no different from themselves – they’re also after what everyone else is – Money! How comforting… And of course, who doesn’t like to talk about some new sensational gossip.
Battle Over ISKCON Bangalore
11 May 2011 2 Comments
in Diksha, Iskcon Bangalore, Siksa, The Struggle for Truth Tags: Bangalore court case, direct written order of the Founder Acharya, Founder Acarya, GBC elected representatives, ISKCON Bangalore, ISKCON News, Nara Narayana Visvakarma, Srila Prabhupada, Sun
Sometime back there was a News article posted on ISKCON News entiltled “Bangalore Splinter Group Wins Court Case”. And a rebutal letter written by Sriman Nara Narayana Visvakarma Prabhu, which we think is still relavant today, as the battle continues…”
Although Bangalore represents a minority of ISKCON it is actually uniquely faithful to the direct written order of the Founder Acharya of ISKCON that the GBC be elected representatives of the temples, not unaccountable dictators with despotic powers.
Comments on ISKCON News Article
By: Nara Narayana Visvakarma
Apr 21, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — On April 20, 2009, ‘ISKCON News Weekly’ published an article entitled, “Bangalore Splinter Group Wins Court Case. “Bangalore, INDIA – In the latest development in the longstanding feud between the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)”
Both parties are ISKCON, the Bombay faction deviated from the teachings of the Founder Acharya by creating a group of self-appointing managers who even claim ecclesiastical power and who wield illegal dictatorial powers over the innocent membership of ISKCON.
The actual GBC is meant to be an elected body representing the heads of the independent temples who the GBC are meant to represent. The Bombay ISKCON GBC as well as the Bangalore GBC were created by the Founder Acharya of ISKCON in 1970. Since that time, few temples besides Bangalore and their 28 affiliate temples have recognized the elected status of the GBC, and have actually held GBC elections. The GBC suing Bangalore, has not legal status to exist, and has clearly deviated from the charter under which they were created in 1970.
Bangalore is being sued for obeying the order of the Founder Acharya of ISKCON. Nothing more and nothing less.
“…and a breakaway group of devotees who took over the prominent ISKCON temple here, a City Civil Court issued a ruling in favor of the splinter group on Friday, April 17. The decision seems to be a blow to ISKCON and its leadership in India, although sources close to ISKCON leadership in India indicate that the organization plans to appeal the decision.”
Although Bangalore represents a minority of ISKCON it is actually uniquely faithful to the direct written order of the Founder Acharya of ISKCON that the GBC be elected representatives of the temples, not unaccountable dictators with despotic powers.
Direct Shelter
30 Apr 2011 Leave a comment
in Devotee's, Diksha, Maha Mantra das, Siksa Tags: Founder Acarya, Hare Krishna Philosophy, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Lord Krishna, Maha Mantra das, prabhupada, Sun
Direct Shelter
By Maha Mantra das
When I visited my first ISKCON centre many years ago and began to show an interest in the Hare Krishna philosophy and lifestyle, I was welcomed in with open arms and congratulated on my willingness to break away. I was told how, contrary to popular belief, it was actually society at large who were doing the brainwashing. It was further explained that the Krishna’s were not some dogmatic religion, and that the Movement was ‘calling-out’ modern society for keeping the masses in darkness and oppressing people’s rights to free-thought, free-speech. I was impressed with the courage and questioning/challenging spirit of the devotees. So it’s nice to see that spirit alive and well in Dhira Prabhu’s latest thoughtful article, and I’m sure my mum will be very pleased to know that I have not, in fact, joined some dangerous cult that muzzles it’s members if they dare speak up…. right?
As a newcomer to the temple, I was quickly introduced to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, even though he had physically left the world some 10 years prior. I was taught his pranams that I recited daily, shown how to offer my food to his picture, and encouraged to repose whatever love or devotion I had in His Divine Grace as my link to Lord Krishna.
The Hare Krishna Movement 