Parishad: Sri Vasudeva Datta Thakur

Feb 26, KUALA LUMPUR (MON) —

vraje sthitau gayakau yau
madhukantha-madhuvratau
mukunda-vasudevau tau
dattau gauranga-gayakau

In Vraja there were two singers named Madhukantha and Madhuvrata. They appeared in Chaitanya lila as Mukunda and Vasudeva Datta, who were singers in the society of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 140)

Sri Vasudeva Datta was born in the Chittagong district of modern Bangla Desh, in the village of Chanhara, which is under the jurisdiction of the police station named Patiya. This village is situated ten kosas, or about twenty miles, from the village of Mekhala where Pundarika Vidyanidhi made his home. Mahaprabhu’s associate Mukunda Datta was Vasudeva Datta’s brother.

Youth class

BY MATHURA LILESVARI DEVI DASI

Feb 25, KUALA LUMPUR (SUN) - HG Gaura Chandra das (RNS)  delivered a wonderful interactive class to the youths last Sunday in Sri Jagannatha Mandir. The topic given to prabhu was Chanting Hare Krishna. The entire class was very well planned and he started by explaining the importance of chanting and why we should chant. Prabhu explained how everyone in this world are looking for one thing - HAPPINESS and in the material world, no matter what we may have we will end up in distress. Only by turning to the Lord and engaging ourselves in His service will we ever get the HAPPINESS or BLISS. He quoted Srila Prabhupada’s analogy that says that a man in the material world is like a fish out of water.

Dola-yatra, Holi & Gaura Purnima

BY SADHUSANGA.COM

Feb 25, JAGANNATH PURI, ORISSA (SUN) — Free download.

Here in Jagannatha Puri, tiny cashew and mango buds are beginning to blossom, their fragrance filling the atmosphere. Migrating birds have returned after a brief winter, and off-shore breezes constantly carry the sound of sea waves rhythmically washing onto the beach.

This atmosphere inspires the Lord to perform various lilas: Dola-yatra (swing festival), Holi (throwing colors), and of course, the full moon day is Gaura Purnima. Srila Rupa Gosvami’s Vidagdha-madhava 1.10 describes: “Springtime had arrived, and the full moon of that season inspired the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is complete in everything, with new attraction to meet the beautiful Srimati Radharani at night to increase the beauty of Their pastimes.”

Timeless Ritual

BY HUGH AND COLLEEN GANTZER

Feb 25, VRINDAVAN, INDIA (THE HINDU) — The Lat Maar Holi is an enactment of an incident from the life of Lord Krishna.

Colours of Tradition: Women dancing in the forecourt of Baldeo temple
[Photos by Hugh and Colleen Gantzer]

IT was go-dhuli time in the Braj. In the twilight, cattle plodded home across the scrublands of the Braj, raising pollen-clouds of dust: go-dhuli is, literally, “cow-dust” time. Such pastoral metaphors are typical of the heartland of Uttar Pradesh with its long historical associations with herds-people. About 3,500 years ago, their Aryan ancestors, migrating down from the steppes of Asia, discovered these lush meadows. When they settled here they called this green terrain “Braj Bhoomi”: Land of the Encampments of Herdsmen. From these growing encampments, usually occupied by one extended family, came the term gotra: literally cattle-pen. To prevent the genetic dangers of endogamy, they established the tradition that one could not marry within one’s own gotra. Significantly, the dominant clan here was not any of the martial Rajputs, but powerful herds-people: the canny Yadavs. One of the great Yadav chieftains was Lord Krishna.

Natural Disasters, Extreme Weather

BY JAYASRI RADHA DEVI

Feb 24, DENVER, COLORADO (YOURHUB) — The Vedic Viewpoint and Other Spiritual Perspectives.

There are four kinds of miseries described in the Vedic literature. One is miseries caused by other living entities, such as; people, bugs, animals, reptiles, etc. We can just reflect on how many pains we have encountered by others. Then there are the miseries caused by the body, which is self explanatory. The third is miseries caused by the mind, which can be the most terrible suffering for so many people. And last there are miseries caused by the Devas or Higher angel, also known as demi-gods. They are empowered by God as superintendents of the material world. They control the weather and the all natural disasters.

The Vedas describe that due to an abundance of sinful activities caused by human beings, the Devas create severe weather patterns such as extreme heat or cold and drought or flooding and heavy winds, etc. Severe weather is not caused by global warming as many are led to believe.

There are four major pillars of sinful activities. One is consumption of intoxications, the second is meat eating (and all unnecessary killing), the third is illicit sex (sex outside of marriage) and the last is gambling. As long as people are committing these four major sins, we can expect all kinds of miseries presented by these higher angels.

Seva International Inaugurates Temple, Rebuilt After Tsunami

Feb 23, POOMBUKAR, TAMIL NADU (HPI) — On the morning of December 26, 2004, giant Tsunamis unleashed by a massive undersea earthquake in distant Sumatra lashed coastal areas across South and East Asia causing death and destruction on a massive scale. Millions of people were affected. Whole communities were destroyed with several thousands in India and Sri Lanka killed and left homeless without adequate food, water and shelter.

Sanjay Jagatia, Public Relations Coordinator for Sewa International said “as well as providing initial relief, Sewa International took up the challenge to provide both short and long term rehabilitation in two of the worst affected countries - Sri Lanka and India. As part of our rehabilitation work Sewa International, along with its partner organizations, undertook massive rehabilitation activities in the tsunami-hit areas of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Batticoloa District of Sri Lanka and has built houses, community centers, vocational training centers, schools and orphanages. All of these projects were completed from generous donations that we collected in the UK.”

ISKCON Mangalore Takes out Ratha Yatra

[Photos by R.K. Bhat]

Feb 17, MANGALORE, INDIA (SAT) — The Mangalore unit of ISKCON organised the 4th Annual Sri Krishna Balarama Ratha Yatra Festival here on Saturday 17 Feb 2007, at PVS circle to give people a live experience of a peaceful and joyful life.

At the inaugural function Vice President of ISKCON temple Pandith Madudasaji, Bangalore was present.

After the special pooja and distribution of Prasadam, the Rathayatra was flagged off at 5.30 pm near the PVS junction. The ‘Ratha’ passed through the Navabharath Circle, Hampanakatta Circle, Townhall, Central Market, Car Street and Alake, Mannagudda areas and culminated at the ‘Sanghanikethan’ at 8.30 pm. The function concluded with ‘Bhajans’ and ‘Vishesh Pooja’ and distribution of Prasadam.

Chinese And Hindu Temples Merge in Singapore

Feb 16, SINGAPORE (HPI) — The Sri Veera Muthu Muneswarar Temple is one of a kind as it is the first Hindu temple to merge with a Chinese temple in Singapore. “Merge with” in Singapore’s religious context means that due to land constraint, the authorities request that all existing smaller scale temples now in close proximity, whether Chinese or Hindu, be placed on the same property with separate sanctums.

Sri Veera Muthu Muneswarar Temple was the first in Singapore to have a Chinese temple and a Hindu temple under the same roof.

The temple history started 40 years ago when the temple was first erected under a small shelter with the Chinese Deity Lord Tua Peh Kong (God of prosperity) and Lord Sri Veera Muthu Muneswarar as main Deity.

Prabhupada Padma-vakya - Feb 16

February 16, 1975, Mexico City
Bhagavad-gita 2.16
“The more you chant this maha-mantra, or the transcendental vibration Hare Krsna, you become purified. Then you can understand what you are.”

 
 

February 16, 1976, Mayapur
Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.9
“You cannot maintain even one wife, but He maintained sixteen thousand wives in sixteen thousand palaces and in sixteen thousand expansion of form. Everyone was pleased.”

 

Parishad: Sri Isvara Puri

Feb 15, KUALA LUMPUR (THU) — Disappearance Day of Sri Isvara Puri.

Ishvara Puri was born in the town of Kumara Hatta on the full moon day of the month of Jyestha to a family of Brahmins hailing from Rarha. Kumara Hatta is in the 24 Paraganas district about two miles from the Halisahar train station. The town is also important for Gaudiya Vaishnavas because Srivas Pandit and his brothers moved here after Mahaprabhu took sanyassa because they were unable to tolerate all the painful reminders of Him in Nabadwip. Their home is not far from the place in the Mukhopadhyaya Para neighborhood where Ishvara Puri was born.

Ishvara Puri’s birthplace is popularly known by the name “Chaitanya Doba.” The word doba means “a pool of water”. When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu passed through Kuymara Hatta on His way to Puri, He showed respect for His spiritual master by picking up some earth from the place of his birth, wrapping it in his cloth and taking it with him. Thousands of pilgrims have since followed His example, thus forming a pit that has since filled with water.

Vijaya Ekadasi

 Feb 14, KUALA LUMPUR (WED) — Vijaya Ekadasi is honored today.

Yudhisthira Maharaj said, “Oh Lord Sri Krishna, O glorious son of Vasudeva, please be merciful to me and describe the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna (February-March).”

Lord Sri Krishna replied, “Oh Yudhisthira, Oh king of kings, gladly I shall tell you about this great fast, known as Vijaya Ekadasi. Whoever observes it certainly achieves success in this life and the next. All the sins of one who fasts on this Ekadasi and hears its sublime glories are eradicated.

Narada Muni once asked lord Brahma, who sits on a lotus flower about the Vijaya Ekadasi. Sri Narada said, ‘Oh best of all the demigods, kindly tell me the merit one can achieve by faithfully observing Vijaya Ekadasi.’ Narada’s great father then replied, ‘My dear son, this oldest of fasting days is pure, and it nullifies all sins. I have never revealed this to anyone until today, but you can understand beyond any doubt that this Ekadasi bestows the result indicated by its name… (Vijaya meaning Victory).

Nityananda Trayodasi on YouTube

BY CHAITANYA LILA DASA

Feb 12, USA (MON) — Please enjoy this wonderful video on YouTube, with a nice electronic track powered by Chaitanya Lila das and Sachimata devi dasi.

Srimati Radharani’s Mercy

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

Feb 7, KUALA LUMPUR (WED) — From an email received from Aishwarya Kumar.

Over the years, devotees have looked forward to praising a photograph of Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar, the Deity manifested from the heart of Srimati Radharani. Since photography in the temple is strictly prohibited, they usually go back to their hometowns sad, and at the same time carrying their apple of the eyes in their hearts. For the first time in the world, photographs of the most beautiful Deity are now available on the Internet for anyone to browse through. You can now have darshan of Their Lordships and be blessed on the official site of the temple.

Our Eternal Guide

 

Feb 7, KUALA LUMPUR (WED) — Today is the most auspicous Appearance Day of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur.

The following address was given as a lecture before the members of the Sri Gaudiya Math, Bombay, and was later published in the “Harmonist” in l936, on the Appearance Day of His Divine Grace Om Visnupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura.

saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri caranaravindam

“In the revealed scriptures it is declared that the spiritual master should be worshiped like the Supreme Personality of Godhead and this injunction is obeyed by pure devotees of the Lord. The spiritual master is the most confidential servant of the Lord. Thus let us offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of our spiritual master”.

Gentlemen, on behalf of the members of the Bombay branch of the Gaudiya Math, let me welcome you all because you have so kindly joined us tonight in our congregational offerings of homage to the lotus feet of the world teacher, acaryadeva, who is the founder of this Gaudiya Mission and is the President-acarya of Sri Sri Visva Vaisnava Raja Sabha-I mean my eternal divine master, Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya, Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja.

The Asta-sakhis at ISKCON Tirupati

BY AISHWARYA KUMAR

 Feb 4, BANGALORE, INDIA (SUN) — Please enjoy the attached photo of the first darshan of Sri Sri Radha Govinda.

Tirupati Grand Opening - Part 2

BY DEENA BANDHU DAS (ACBSP)

Feb 1, TIRUPATI, INDIA (SUN) — Today is Nityananda Trayodasi and Jayapataka Swami was giving a nice class on Lord Nityananda in the enormous pandal on a land adjoining the eastern side of the temple that the Tirupati municipality has let the temple use. That was interrupted by an announcement that the auspicious muhurta was finishing soon, so we should come for the final yajna. So we tried to make our way back to the temple, but they had only opened a small way between the properties that two people at a time could fit through. Then you have to make your way through the Raja Gopuram, which was also quite narrow considering the crowds. Before you entered the Raja Gopuram gate, there was a small canal of water running where your feet were washed before entering.

Making our way to the yajna shala, we saw that the head Tirumala priest, Sri Padajiyar had again graced the occasion with his presence along with many assistants. The final offerings were done, while the South Indian music ensemble played on. Then the different sections of brahmanas chanted hymns from the different Vedas, again the Sama Veda hymns being the most notable. From there we made a procession into the temple that was now decorated outside with concentric loops of garlands of orange marigolds, red roses, white mums, folded green mango leaves, and yellow marigolds. The crowds were overwhelming, they say that over 7,500 registered devotees were there, what to speak of the public!

Parishad: Sri Narottama das Thakur

Feb 2,  KUALA LUMPUR (FRI) — The Appearance Day of Sri Narottama das Thakur.

akumara-brahmacari sarva-tirtha-darshi
parama-bhagavatottamah shrila-narottama-dasa

A brahmachari for his entire life, Narottama Das visited all the places of pilgrimage. He was on the highest platform of devotional achievement. (Bhakti-ratnakara 1.256)

Narottama Thakur was Campaka Manjari in Krishna-lila. Eternally assisting Rupa Manjari in her service to Radha and Krishna, Campaka Manjari had mercy on the conditioned souls of this earth and appeared as Narottama in the village of Kheturi, about twelve miles from Rampur Bowaliya in the Gopalpur subdivision of Rajshahi district. This took place on the full moon day of the month of Magh sometime around the middle of the 15th century of the Shaka era.

Narottama was born on the Maghi Purnima. From that day on he thrived and grew like the waxing moon.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 1.281)

Tirupati Grand Opening Day - Part 1

BY DEENA BANDHU DAS (ACBSP)

Jan 31, TIRUPATI, INDIA (SUN) — We arrived early on 29th Feb. for the ecstatic inauguration ceremony of the beautiful ISKCON Temple in Tirupati. After almost four hours of driving from Madras as we entered the city, we were greeted by a colorful billboard with Srila Prabhupada smiling and welcoming all the devotees. This is one thing I noticed on my first visit to Tirupati, the wonderful Prabhupada Consciousness of the devotees here. All throughout the city, the temple campus, everywhere was Srila Prabhupada’s picture. All the signs, billboards, invitations, only had Srila Prabhupada’s picture and the picture of the Deities. We finally reached what can easily be described as the most beautiful temple in ISKCON. Resting on an enormous pink lotus flower was the very ornate powder blue South Indian temple with all decorations highlighted in gold.

We quickly checked into our spacious new guesthouse room with reddish brown marble floors and maintenance-free beige tiled walls. After getting settled, we rushed up to the third floor veranda to watch the installation of the kalashes on the Vimanam, or roof over the altar. What a sight with the Tirumala Hills, an incarnation of Ananta Sesa, coiled in the background. Green forests rose steeply on the sides, reddish sheer rock cliffs bursting out above them and billowing clouds rising up to the bright blue heavens. Against this backdrop the priests and devotees were performing the rituals above the gold painted Vimanam that is considered to be as worshipable as the Deities resting beneath.

Krishna 3-D Animated Feature Film DVD and Game CD

BY NRSIMHANANDA DASA

Jan 30, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — ITV has obtained 300 sets of the new Krishna 3-D Animation DVD and the Krishna game-packed CD, etc. The package contains:

1. FILM DVD
2. CD ROM GAME
3. FRIENDSHIP-BELT
4. DESK STANDEE
5. NIGHT GLOW TATTOO
6. FEATHER (BOOK-MARK)
7. EXCLUSIVE STICKERS

 

KRISHNA: Get set for a unique event in Hindi Cinema history, the 1st 3D animated Hindi Feature Film on “Krishna” (Duration approx. 105 mins.)

KRISHNA, a richly animated, musical feature film tells the story of Lord Krishna’s birth, his childhood spent in Vrindavan and his slaying of Kamsa, the evil ruler of Mathura. The film features various adventures of his childhood, including his clashes with demons like Putana, Trinavrata, and many more. This animated feature also brings to life Lord Krishna’s pastimes like stealing butter, Rasalila, and defeating Kamsa.

Over centuries Lord Krishna’s life stories have entertained and inspired several generations of children and grown-ups. His pastimes are a great source of inspiration and shall entertain, inspire and attract everyone.

The Music
The film features melodious music and songs composed by Rajendra Shiv. The soundtrack of the film features leading singers of the industry like Kailash Kher, Sonu Nigam, Sukhwinder Singh, Sunidhi Chauhan, Alisha Chinai and Kumar Sanu. The haunting compositions have an everlasting flavour and shall definitely appeal to all. The background score by Bapi-Tutul lifts the scale of the film further, thus enhancing the viewing pleasure.

The CD ROM games will absorb the attention of children hour after hour. They are all related to Krishna’s pastimes.

The peacock feather bookmark will remind them of Krishna. The stand up cutout figure of Krishna will watch over their activities. The glowing tattoo’s (washable), friendship belt, and stickers will keep childrens’ minds thinking of Krishna.

This shrink-wrapped combination pack was skillfully put together with love and devotion. Makes a great gift, especially for children.

KSC5 - $29.95 plus s&h ($5 US, $11 overseas) www.itvproductions.net, ph 310-455-3195 address: ITV, PO Box 556, Topanga, CA 90290 Visa. MC, Amex, checks, M.O.’s , accepted.