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dipika.org |
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dipika.org |
October 2003
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Govardhana
Puja In Mayapura
Jaya
Srila Prabupada!
The
Deity's Eyes:
In my humble opinion, these articles reveal a caveat— a serious trend to be taken with caution. Specifically, the articles raised two very weighty issues. One is the epistemology we are supposed to use in gaining knowledge about the Absolute, and the second one is the problems encountered when translating from Sanskrit or Bengali into English. First of all, what is somewhat disturbing in both articles is that neither of the authors bothered to quote Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He probably made statements (whether implicit or explicit) in his writings, or even verbally, about this issue. Yet the authors are silent about it. The crux of the problem in not quoting — or approaching — Srila Prabhupada is an epistemological issue that may have, or already has, detrimental effects on Srila Prabhupada's movement in other areas of concern such as guru/disciple issues, the so-called female-guru issues, the women issues, the family issues, our managerial policies, etc., etc.
No
Vraja-bhakti in Bhagavad-gita? In "Battlefield Fancy," Danavir Goswami asserts that Swami B.V. Tripurari’s commentary, Bhagavad-gita: Its Feeling and Philosophy, should be avoided because it has eight flaws: Gita Opportunism, Impertinent Over-Stepping, Sahajiya, Tenth Canto Opportunism, Infidelity, Misinterpretation, Rasabhasa, and Mayavada. His main point is that it is wrong to describe Bhagavad-gita in terms of Vraja-bhakti. In this response, I will address some preliminary objections, establish the precedent for drawing Vraja-bhakti from certain verses of the Bhagavad-gita, document quotations from Srila Prabhupada that explain Vraja-bhakti in terms of Gita verses, address Tripurari Maharaja’s mood in writing his Gita commentary and the propriety of writing another commentary on Bhagavad-gita, and give a brief refutation of each of Danavir Goswami’s eight main points. Panchatattva Installation Online From Pancharatna das prd@pamho.net Posted October 27, 2003
Take Part in the Historic Panchatattva Deity Installation Now Online at www.Panchatattva.com On behalf of the Sri Panchatattva Pratistha Mahotsava (Installation Festival), we are happy to announce the launching of the www.panchatattva.com website. Learn how you can immediately receive the unlimited mercy of the Supreme Lord and His eternal associates through your participation in this once-in-a-lifetime event. On February 23, 2004, as a gift to Srila Prabhupada for his 108th birth celebration, his followers from around the world will install seven-foot-tall Panchatattva Deities in Sri Mayapur. Blue Eyes, Dark Eyes By Ananga Manjari Devi Dasi Posted October 27, 2003 Dear Vaisnavas, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. In regards to the discussion about the color of the eyes of Srimati Radharani and Lord Krishna, I have found the following quote from the book Krsnahnika Kaumudi by Srila Kavikarnapura (translated by Bhanu Swami and edited by Mahanidhi Swami), page 5:
Sri
Giri Govardhana Ki Jaya!
Autumn
in Mayapur
Special
Accommodations Posted October 24, 2003 Only $1 per day ISKCON Mayapur has arranged accommodations for about 5,000 devotees in existing guesthouses and some near by Gaudiya Math guesthouses. We plan to build more kutirs like the Gauranga huts for 1,000 more devotees. This new unit will be called Prabhupada Village. Each room will accommodate four devotees. Each devotees will have to pay $1 per day to stay in these kutirs. A group of less than four will have to share the room with others. Men and women will have to stay in separate rooms. Posted October 24, 2003 International Society for Krishna Consciousness Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada A very Special Celebration On the 108th Birth Year of Srila Prabhupada After 500 Years The Magical Reappearance of the Yuga Avatars Sri Panca Tattva Mayapur Festival Brochure, Part 2 Posted October 24, 2003 This article also contains The Glories of Navadwip Dham and Shri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya Detailed Festival Schedule: 19 Feb - Arrival of Devotees at Sridham Mayapur 20 Feb – Festival Inauguration 21 Feb - Deities installation Adhivas A Storm Brewing over the Battlefield By Umapati Swami Posted October 23, 2003 Some e-mail has come in objecting to Danavir Maharaja's article "Battlefield Fancy," so I may have to print some articles in defense of the book that Maharaja criticized. I would like to post the ground rules as to what can and cannot be printed on dipika.org in this regard. First, some background. I did not know the book was written by Tripurari Maharaja. Maharaja is not a member of ISKCON. He has his own institution, and he is free to write as he sees fit for his followers. He does not interfere in the affairs of ISKCON, and the ISKCON policy has been to offer him the same courtesy. Danavir Maharaja did not mention the name of the author in his review because he was only interested in defeating a philosophical point of view that he fears may be creeping into ISKCON.
Utah:
Festival of Lights
Saturday, October 25, 2003. 6 pm Indian Festival of Lights & Thanksgiving (Two Festivals Rolled Into One) Krishna Temple, Diwali or Deepavali (Row of Lights), a composite festival, runs for three consecutive days and is celebrated throughout India. The festivities include an early morning bath, drawing of sacred diagrams on the floors, new clothes, and elaborate food, followed by firecrackers and illumination in the evening. Often, the houses are whitewashed to mark an auspicious beginning, and sweets are distributed among family, friends, and merchants. Diary
of a Traveling Preacher Posted October 22, 2003 "He lives forever" September 1 - 15, 2003 "Remember the Pantheon?" the woman said. "And all those architectural wonders?" "Yes, of course," her husband replied. "The only thing we missed was the Coliseum. This time it's a must." "O yes," she said. "All my life I've wanted to see the Coliseum." "All your life you've wanted to see the Coliseum?" I thought. "Surely life is meant for more than seeing relics of the past. You're old now. You should be more concerned about your future, about life after death."
Please
Pray for Vedanga October 15 – I have just learned that Srila Prabhupad's only disciple in Norway, Sripad Vedanga Prabhu, will undergo a heart bypass operation this Wednesday in a hospital just outside our capital, Oslo. Vedanga Prabhu joined the mission of Srila Prabhupad in 1973, and became his initiated disciple the year after. He served in his Divine Master's mission for many years in India and Europe, before retiring to a more secluded life in Norway.
Photos by Vrindavan Lila Devi Dasi Comment by Padmalocan Dasa Posted October 20, 2003 Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! This is the most beautiful moon of the year, the night when Krishna performed His Rasa-dance. Hare Krishna! Some
by Speculation, Posted October 20, 2003 Bhagavad-gita As It Is 3.3 First Edition: The Blessed Lord said: O sinless Arjuna, I have already explained that there are two classes of men who realize the self. Some are inclined to understand Him by empirical, philosophical speculation, and others are inclined to know Him by devotional work. Second Edition: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O sinless Arjuna, I have already explained that there are two classes of men who try to realize the self. Some are inclined to understand it on empirical, philosophical speculation, and others by devotional service. House in Vrindavan Posted October 20, 2003 For rent / long lease A beautiful guest house (Prabhupada kutir). A two-bedroom house with self-contained kitchen, bathroom, spacious veranda, lots of open space, nice gardens, safety compound wall, 24-hour sweet water. A seven-minute walk from ISKCON Krishna Balaram Temple on Delhi Road (opposite Nandanvan, Ramanreti). Quiet and serene, away from noise, dust, and crowded streets. Telephone optional.
Alachua:
Srimati Radharani
Photo submitted by Premananda Goura dasa Mayapur:
Bhaktivinoda Text and photos by Vrindavan Lila Devi Dasi Posted October 17, 2003
Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day was celebrated sweetly in Mayapur. It was a bright sunny day. Various devotees spoke in glorification of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. At around 12 noon, bhoga was offered to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and after that, we had puspanjali and arotik, followed by maha-prasadam distribution. New! Srila Prabhupada Video DVD Set By Nrsimhananda dasa Posted October 17, 2003
The much-awaited new set of 23 Prabhupada DVDs is now available. They have been authored from the original recordings at ITV studios and are real DVDs [not DVD-r's]. The DVDs will play on any DVD player or computer equipped with a DVD drive. They are in NTSC format but will also play on PAL DVD players. There is no region code, so they will play anywhere in the world. SPDVD Set $99 - Order on-line at www.itvproductions.net The set includes nearly five unreleased hours of new classes, kirtans, and bonus programs that are not included in the VHS or VCD set. New footage includes many kirtans led with Srila Prabhupada. Footage edited from previous programming has been restored. DVD authoring makes all the material conveniently accessible. Vedic Arts: New Children's Books By Syamasundara das Posted October 17, 2003 Dear Maharajas and Prabhus, Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. We have passed another milestone by adding another three new titles to our Krsna-conscious children's books. As you know, Vedic Arts has already produced nearly 75 titles over the last few years. Our new titles are as follows: By Premananda Goura Das Posted October 17, 2003 Dear devotees, Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. It is amazing to see and hear all the prajalpa that is going on in and around ISKCON today. What a waste of time! The bottom line is that deviations are going to exist, always. Even when Srila Prabhupada was present, there were people going against him. Mayapur: Lord Vamanadeva's Appearance Day Text & photos by Vrindavan Lila Devi Dasi Posted October 13, 2003 Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! On September 8, we celebrated Lord Vamanadeva's Appearance Day. Srila Prabhupada personally told Jananivasa Prabhu how to celebrate this occasion. He said that a boy, preferably five or six years old, should be dressed up as Vamanadeva and the devotees should perform full worship to this form of the Lord with puspanjali, arati, and offering of food.
Kartika
in New York ** The Month of
Kartika: Damodara Festival at Sri Sri
Radha Govinda Mandir ** Dear Devotees and Friends, Throughout this special month, devotees commemorate the pastime of naughty Lord Krishna's being bound with ropes by mother Yasoda. Devotees offer lamps daily and sing the Damodarastakam prayers. From Danavir Goswami Posted October 10, 2003 I am concerned about a new translation and commentary of the Bhagavad-gita advertised via email and the internet. Note this version is not produced in ISKCON or by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. The promotional materials tell of the new Gita's "charming" attempt to interpret Krsna and Arjuna's dialogue prior to the battle of Kuruksetra in terms of "Vraja bhakti." Please pardon me for not explicitly identifying the author and the title of this new book, as I prefer to address the philosophy that they espouse. Looking for Madhusudana Dasa By Shyamasundara Dasa Posted October 10, 2003 Dear Vaisnavas, Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am looking for Madhusudana Dasa, disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Anyone with information on his whereabouts or how to contact him please contact me at: Shyamasundara.acbsp@pamho.net Your humble servant, [Article complete on this page]
Padayatra
America Report, August 26-28, 2003 (from The Diary of a Padayatri) We went 15 miles and slept at the James River. It was 105 degrees with the heat index. A lot of poison ivy. Not too much interaction, too hot for people to be outside. On the 27th, we stopped on 522. Very busy. Another Hare Krsna festival on the side of the road. Many people stopped to inquire, bring water, take darshan. Everybody got prasadam. Families came with their kids to pet the horses. Mr. Howard came with his daughter to invite us to their farm.
Mayapur
Radhastami: Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Here are some photos of Radhastami day and night darsan. These outfits were made by the hands of the community devotees under the supervision of Jananivasa Prabhu, Kesavi Mataji (day outfits) and Ramadevi Mataji (night outfits). From Varnadi Dasa Posted October 6, 2003 Hare Krishna. This is in response to your question on Dipika, about the color of the Deity's eyes. Both Radha and Krishna have dark blue eyes. Texts 26 and 45 of Bilvamangala's Krishna Karnamrta state: "When will Krishna cast upon me His sidelong glances, which are as dark blue as the blue lotuses growing in the Yamuna and tremulous with waves of mercy? And when will my heart find ineffable joy in the playful notes of His flute, which are more cooling than the moon held on the head of Siva, Cupid's enemy?" Diary
of a Traveling Preacher By Indradyumna Swami Posted October 6, 2003 August 17 - September 1, 2003 "A Sweet Raincloud" It took 50 devotees three full days to break down our festival at Woodstock. By the time we left, not a soul could be seen on the huge field. As we drove away, I thought back on the success of our festival. Most of the 500,000 people who had come to Woodstock had passed through our site at some point and experienced the blissful world of Krsna consciousness. We rounded the last turn onto the main road, and I looked back. I felt empty inside. I would have to wait a full year to experience such a great yajna again. "The fortunate town of Navadvipa remains on the earth. The seashore remains. The city of Jagannatha Puri remains. The holy names of Lord Krsna remain. Alas! Alas! I do not see anywhere the same kind of festival of pure love for Lord Hari. O Lord Caitanya, O ocean of mercy, will I ever see Your transcendental glory again?" [Srila Probodhananda Saraswati, Sri Caitanya candramrta, Chapter 12, verse 140]
Chandan
Yatra in Germany Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Please let me share with you a few impressions from our recent Chandan Yatra festival at Narasimha-Ksetra. The inauguration of the festival took place on Friday evening [August 22] in the form of a fire yajna invoking all auspiciousness and blessings and diminishing the demoniac influences of those adverse to the worship of the Lord. On Saturday morning, about three kgs of sandalwood pulp were applied on the body of the Lord, and the result was indeed overwhelming. If you doubt my words, please have a look at the attached photo. Padayatra America Report, August 10, 2003 By Avadhuta Siromani Dasa Posted October 3, 2003
August 10, 2003 (from The Diary of a Padayatri) Mr. Bill arrived at 3 PM, and by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one of the horses seemed to match Kana. His name is Balaji, commemorating Sri Balarama's appearance day (yesterday) and His distinctive strength. Our friend Bill Howard is appreciative of our endeavor to do Padayatra, and he has helped to the point that he drove 14 hours without charging us anything to exchange a horse that was already paid for and brought one of his prized horses that he would have never sold. The horse has been pulling high competition for two years with a record of 8,000 kilos. Radhastami in Mayapur Text by Padmalochan Das, Photos by Vrindavan Lila Devi Dasi Posted October 1, 2003 Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! On the 4th of September, we celebrated Radhastami in Mayapur. It was a very beautiful day, and there was a lot of Radharani-katha. It was also the Appearance Day of Srimati Visakha Devi. From Gadadhara das Posted October 1, 2003 Dear disciples, friends, and well-wishers of H.H. Tamal Krishna Maharaja, My name is Gadadhara das, and I was in the Florence Gurukula in the '80s. My father, Sevananda das, was one of the photographers of Villa Vrindavana. In the beginning of the '80s my father took some pictures of Maharaja in Italy. We have just recently found these beautiful pictures, and we thought it would be nice to share them with all of the devotees. I hope you will greatly enjoy Maharaja's association through these pictures.
For Women, By Women A Satsang Highlighting the Heart Especially for followers and well-wishers of Srila Prabhupada Friday, Oct. 10th, Saturday Oct. 11th, Sunday Oct. 12th New Vrindavan Community in the Appalachian Foothills of West Virginia |
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