Photos by Gurudas

Today we share with you some of the early photography of my dear friend and God brother, Gurudas Prabhu.

Photos by Gurudas

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George Harrision and the Devotees

george harrison with devotees

 

This is a classic photo from the early days of the Hare Krishna Movement in England.

Photos by Gurudas

Photos by Gurudas

Walks with Srila Prabhupada in San Francisco

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada with Disciples

Music by Yamuna

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Yamuna Devi: A Life of Unalloyed Devotion

Yamuna Book Cover

This link to pre-ordering the book “Yamuna Devi A Life of Unalloyed Devotion” by Dinatarine devi, appeared in my email box this morning. I thought I would share it with all of you as well. I went ahead and pre-ordered the two-set edition at the 20% discount, using my pay pal account. You can follow the link below to do the same and visit the books website.

Yamuna Devi A Life of Unalloyed Devotion
by Dinatarine Devi

Autobiography Now Available!

Now available for pre-ordering, at 20% discount, the long awaited autobiography of Yamuna devi dasi, one of Srila Prabhupada’s earliest disciples. Learn more about the book, “Yamuna Devi: A Life of Unalloyed Devotion” and how you can reserve your copy now. This and sample pages and chapter layout may be found by going to the book’s website: Pre-order Now

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Janmāṣṭamī; Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Appearance Day Lecture

Srila Prabhupada

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Today, being Janmastami, we thought we should include a lecture given by Srila Prabhupada on Janmastami. The following lecture given on August 16, 1968, in Montreal Canada, is very sweet and reminiscent of how this society grew in a very personal and organic way. With Srila Prabhupada inviting his students and guests to speak on their realizations of Krsna, and Krsna Consciousness.

…So today is that auspicious day, Janmāṣṭamī, when Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared five thousand years ago in India, Mathurā. Those who are Indian ladies and gentlemen present, they know very well where is Mathurā. It is about ninety miles south of New Delhi. Mathurā is still existing and it is eternally existing. Kṛṣṇa appeared in Mathurā in His maternal uncle’s house in a very precarious condition. That birthplace, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s birthplace, is now maintained very nicely. One who goes to India, they see.

So anyway, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared on this planet five thousand years ago. Now Kṛṣṇa says, janma karma me divyam [Bg. 4.9]. Divyam means “not ordinary.” It should not be understood just like we take our birth. Kṛṣṇa does not take his birth like us.

…So we shall invite today to speak about Kṛṣṇa from our students, as well as all the members who are present here. So I shall request Janārdana to speak something about his realization of Kṛṣṇa. (pause) All right. Let him speak.

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Srila Prabhupada’s England Visit

Srila Prabhupada Bury Place Morning Walks

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Srila Prabhupada’s England Visit
by Kulashekara Das

The journey with Swami Prabhupada has been the most satisfying aspect of my life. His values of life has given a new dimension to the world and has helped people in all the facets of life.

Advent

In the late 1960’s I first came in contact with practitioners of the Vaishnava tradition. Several American disciples of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada had arrived in the UK to establish a Radha Krishna Temple.

I was quite impressed with the depth of Vedic philosophy and especially with the chanting of the Holy Names of God. Almost overnight I quit my entire Rock n Roll lifestyle and my job and began my life as a Brahmachari. I soon found myself living at John & Yoko Lennon’s eighty plus acre estate – “Tittenhurst” and ended up staying there for six months.

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Govinda

The Radha Krsna Temple Album

The verses 30 and 32 from the Brahma-samita are sung in the morning Srngara Arati in all ISKCON temples, while the first track of the 1970 album “Radha Krsna Temple” is played. Srila Prabhupada enjoyed this track very much and was so moved that he said that this track will play at all ISKCON temples for the Srngara Arati. As a result, no one ever leads kirtan for this song, as it is played through that track.

Govinda
The Radha Krsna Temple Album
Sung by Yamuna devi
Produced by George Harrison

veṇuṁ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣam-
barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam
kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobhaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

veṇum—the flute; kvaṇantam—playing; aravinda-dala—(like) lotus petals; āyata—blooming; akṣam—whose eyes; barha—a peacock’s feather; avataṁsam—whose ornament on the head; asita-ambuda—(tinged with the hue of) blue clouds; sundara—beautiful; aṅgam—whose figure; kandarpa—of Cupids; koṭi—millions; kamanīya—charming; viśeṣa—unique; śobham—whose loveliness; govindam—Govinda; ādi-puruṣam—the original person; tam—Him; aham—I; bhajāmi—worship.

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.

aṅgāni yasya sakalendriya-vṛtti-manti
paśyanti pānti kalayanti ciraṁ jaganti
ānanda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

aṅgāni—the limbs; yasya—of whom; sakala-indriya—of all the organs; vṛtti-manti—possessing the functions; paśyanti—see; pānti—maintain; kalayanti—manifest; ciram—eternally,; jaganti—the universes; ānanda—bliss; cit—truth; maya—full of; sat—substantiality; ujjvala—full of dazzling splendor; vigrahasya—whose form; govindam—Govinda; ādi-puruṣam—the original person; tam—Him; aham—I; bhajāmi—worship.

I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose transcendental form is full of bliss, truth, substantiality and is thus full of the most dazzling splendor. Each of the limbs of that transcendental figure possesses in Himself, the full-fledged functions of all the organs, and eternally sees, maintains and manifests the infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane.

Apple Records; The Radha Krsna Temple

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Letter to Yamuna

(click on photo to enlarge)

Dear Yamuna,

Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter of January 18, and studied the contents.

The picture of your Radha Krishna deities is very good. They appear to be like the Radha Govinda deities of Mullick Thakur which I used to see from my childhood.

Yes, go on with your program. Live a simple life. Take a little milk and food grains, chant Hare Krishna and worship Sri Sri Radha Krishna deity, that’s all. That will make you perfect.

Hoping this finds you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Smte. Yamuna devi dasi
Sri Sri Radha Vanabehari Mandir
Murphy, Oregon 97533
ACBS/sdg

Srila Prabhupada’s Transcendental Sweetness and Beauty

Srila Prabhupada with Yamuna Devi

As many of you already know, Her Grace Yamuna devi dasi, one of the first disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, departed on the morning of the auspicious day of Saphala Ekadasi. She is well-known for her glorious contributions to the Iskcon society and the world at large. She has authored many fine award winning books on Vegetarian cooking, and is famous as a kirtan leader, and for her beautiful singing of the Govindam Adipurusham prayers that we hear and chant daily in all of the Hare Krishna Centers throughout the world. We offer her our respectful obiesances.

The following is a Presentation to the GBC, on “Women in ISKCON”, March 2000

Srila Prabhupada’s Transcendental Sweetness and Beauty
Presentation by Yamuna devi dasi

What a week of Vaisnava sadhu-satsanga this has been! I leave the richer, having exchanged with my family members, old and new, Godbrothers, Godsisters, nephews and nieces. While I feel most unqualified to speak to you today, I am honoured and privileged to join my Godsisters in voicing my concerns as a woman in ISKCON.

As the GBC body, all of you are responsible for establishing Srila Prabhupada’s legacy, which, in these difficult and turbulent times, is at stake. One realm of that legacy – the rapport Srila Prabhupada established with his Vaisnavi disciples – is the topic of our discussion today, because over the years since his disappearance it has been largely forgotten. Perhaps my personal service and association with him, along with his later guidance and instructions, offer some insights in this area.

As a strong and independent young woman I met Srila Prabhupada in 1966 and took initiation in 1967. Had Srila Prabhupada demanded conformity to orthodox roles for women as a condition of surrender, I, along with many of my Godsisters, would probably not have joined ISKCON. That he did not is testament to his spiritual vision. He lovingly encouraged and engaged us in the service of the sankirtana movement, and he consistently revealed himself to be panditah sama-darsinah – equal to all.

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108 Imporant Slokas from the 1972 Bhagavad-gita As It Is

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The Hare Krishna Cookbook

Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas

Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1972 Edition “Online”

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Srimad Bhagavatam Online

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Raja-Vidya the King of Knowledge

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Important Slokas from the Brahma-samhita

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Slokas from the Sri Isopanisad

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Prayers By Queen Kunti (Slokas)

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Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender (Slokas)

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A Short Statement of the Philosophy of Krishna Consciousness

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July 9th Letter

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The Hare Krishna Explosion

Reference Material/Study Guide

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