HARE KRISHNA DEVOTEES OF ISKCON

The Lord’s Message Goes to America

2020-10-02T21:29:00.000+05:30

This article, “The Lord’s Message Goes to America" was published in a local Bengali daily - Dainik Basumati , August 13, 1965, in Calcutta, India.

The Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, prithibite ache yata nagaradi grama. That prophecy is going to be fulfilled now! Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami, a resident of Vrindavana, has translated the Srimad Bhagavatam into English in sixty volumes with word-to-word meaning and purports. Before this great work could be appreciated by his countrymen, people from far off America have expressed their admiration of his supernormal achievement and have invited him so that they may meet him in person and acquaint themselves with his work. Hence he is departing from Calcutta for New York this 12th (sic) day of August.

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Dainik Basumati,Calcutta, India,1965-08-13

Hare Krishna sect eyes NYC Center

2020-10-02T21:06:00.000+05:30

This article, "Hare Krishna sect eyes NYC center" was published in The Albuquerque Tribune, August 2, 1973, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

NEW YORK - The Hare Krishna sect - the chanting, bell-ringing, saffron-gowned young devotees who have become an eye-catching fixture on the streets of New York, in other American cities from coast to coast, and in Europe - has become so successful that it is on the verge of buying an expensive Manhattan property for its new international headquarters and New York center.

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Albuquerque Tribune,New York , USA, 1973-08-02

Memory of the day- are reading my books

2020-10-02T20:23:00.000+05:30

Adisekar das : He had the sankirtan leaders of that time from Bhagavan's zone a little meeting with us. First he congratulated the devotees for the results. And he asked the first question, I think the only question he asked us, and he said, "Are you reading my books?" Then Brighupati said, "You know, Prabhupada, we don't have much time, we don't have time to read." Then I heard, I was near, Prabhupada said, "What is the use?" I could see he was deeply hurt. It was a major priority. Our life was to be used to investigate this message, these books, these thousands of hours of work. So, of course, we were distributing, but then Prabhupada was more interested whether we were reading his books.

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Srila Prabhupada Uvaca by Srutakirti das

Anecdote of the day- Krishna will surely have to make Prabhupada's words true

2020-09-29T13:43:00.000+05:30

Jagat Shaksu Dasa : When kirtan was over, Prabhupada said the prema-dhvani prayers, and then he told us, "It is very nice that tonight we have with us these two Prabhus," indicating the Gaura-Nitai Deities. "There is a very nice song. Can you please follow me?" and Prabhupada started to sing Locana dasa Thakura's very beautiful song, parama koruna, pahu dui jana nitai gauracandra, saba avatara-sara siromani, kevala ananda-kanda. But when Prabhupada said the first two words, parama koruna, his voice choked and he couldn't sing anymore. He closed his eyes and put his head back on the vyasasana, and we saw tears gliding down his lotus face. The room was completely silent. I don't know how long that lasted, but it was like an eternal moment entered the temple room. Everything was still in ecstasy, watching the pure devotee have such a wonderful experience of his love for Gaura-Nitai. Then gradually Prabhupada came back to external consciousness, although he was still affected by spiritual emotions, and he said, "Parama koruna, so merciful. In this dark age of Kali-yuga, if Krishna incarnated to kill the demons, practically nobody would be left. In Kali-yuga, the demonic spirit and the devotee spirit is in the same body. So Lord Chaitanya didn't kill demons, He killed the demonic spirit by the sankirtan movement and by the association of devotees." At the end he said, "You are very fortunate. Now you must make others fortunate too. If you chant 16 rounds, follow the four regulative principles and preach, I assure you in this same lifetime you will see Krishna face to face." Some people may say, "Well, generally it takes more than one lifetime to see Krishna face to face." But because Prabhupada made that promise, Krishna will surely have to make Prabhupada's words true.

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Memories-Anacdote of a Modern-Day Saint by Siddhanta Dasa

Memory of the day - Janme Janme Prabhu sei!

2020-09-29T13:19:00.000+05:30

Adisekar das : It was a serious, not so easy path, a path of spiritual emancipation. The more I learned, the more I understood it may not be finished in one life. So I asked him if when I leave my body and I'm not a pure devotee, in my next life is it you who is going to be my spiritual master. Prabhupada reflected and he said, "You don't have to worry, all the arrangements are already made. Every day you are chanting janme janme prabhu sei." That was important for me, the relationship with this person is eternal, it's not going to be broken. I try my utmost all my life but then if something happens, is he going to be there in the next life? Prabhupada said yes. That was very, very important for me.

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Following Srila Prabhupada Remembrances by Yadubara Dasa

Memory of the day - she gave up everything for Krishna!

2020-09-28T13:54:00.000+05:30

Satarupa dasi : I became Miss Denmark, and that propelled me to a career as a model. I became the most expensive model in London and Paris and I was working every single day for Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire. In 1974, I had a cover of Paris Match, which is a big newspaper, and it was sold in 24 countries with my cover with a sari on and the line was "I left everything for Krishna." There were four pages inside - me making garlands in front of the Deities, dancing around Tulasi, dancing and chanting Harinam in front of the Eiffel Tower. So when Paris Match came out, of course they sent it to Prabhupada in Bombay, where he had it on his desk for one week. He would say to the people coming, "She gave up everything for Krishna, now you should do the same thing." Prabhupada would be preaching like that.

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Following Srila Prabhupada Remembrances by Yadubara Dasa

Chants, Flowers for the Swami

2020-09-27T22:45:00.000+05:30

The spiritual leader of Krishna Consciousness was spirited away in a Cadillac taxi at Honolulu Airport yesterday afternoon.

A reporter tried to interview A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami - spiritual master of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness - but the swami was shielded by a cordon of devotees through the baggage-claim area and into the waiting taxi.

The swami appeared to have arrived without luggage.

Incense trailed in the wake of the group of about 20 persons who greeted him. Drums sounded, and the chants ensued.

IN THE CENTER of the wailing chanters stood the swami, in traditional robes, with plumeria leis piled high onto his shoulders.

He has a regal bearing, chin uplifted and a benign smile crinkling his face.

In the taxi he crossed his hands, as if in prayer. On his fingers were two large rings. Alongside on the seat lay a ripe mango, a gift from one of the faithful.

Members of his flock tossed leis onto the antennas of the taxi.

As he sat in the taxi, his followers knelt on the side-walk.

Then three attendants got in the Cadillac, and it left.

A few minutes later, the chanters got into two small trucks and followed.

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The Honolulu advertiser, Hawaii, USA,1970-08-08

Hare Krishna Movement "New kind of old-time Religion"

2020-09-27T22:27:00.001+05:30

This article, "Hare Krishna Movement: New Kind of Old-Time Religion" was published in Messenger Inquirer, August, 1, 1971, in Owensboro, Kentucky.

NEW YORK - (NEA) - Unable to find peace in their mundane pursuits of sin, sex, drugs and Blood, Sweat and Tears, many American youths today are turning to God for solace. The movement is looked on with approval by most adults, who take comfort and satisfaction from their children's recognition of acknowledged spiritual forces.

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Biography A- uncompromising appearance at New York Harbour

2020-09-27T21:05:00.001+05:30

On September 19th, the Jaladuta sailed into New York Harbour and docked at a Brooklyn Pier at Seventeenth Street. Bhaktivedanta Swami saw the awesome Manhattan skyline, the Empire State Building, and like many millions of visitors and immigrants in the past, the Statue of Liberty. He was dressed appropriately as a resident of Vrindaban. He wore kanthi-mala and a simple cotton dhoti. He carried a japa-mala and an old chaddar. His complexion was golden, his head shaven, shikha in the back, his forehead decorated with the Vaishnava tilaka. He wore pointed white rubber slippers, not uncommon for sadhus from India. He was possibly the first Vaishnava sannyasi to arrive in New York with uncompromised appearance.

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A view of Boston's commercial area

2020-09-27T20:47:00.000+05:30

Bhaktivedanta Swami had to pass through immigration and customs in Boston. His visa allowed him a three-month stay. Captain Pandia invited Bhaktivedanta Swami to take a walk into Boston, where the captain intended to do some shopping. They walked across a footbridge into a busy commercial area with old warehouses, office buildings, bars, tawdry bookshops, nightclubs and restaurants. Bhaktivedanta Swami wrote a poem that he titled Markine Bhagavata-dharma - Teaching Krishna consciousness in America, in which he said, "…but I do not know why You have brought me here…But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place?"

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Thoughts of acceptance by America for Krishna Consciousness movement began

2020-09-27T20:26:00.002+05:30

After a thirty-five-day journey from Calcutta, the Jaladuta reached Boston's Commonwealth Pier at 5:30 A.M. on September 17, 1965, to stop there briefly before proceeding to New York City. Srila Prabhupada was wondering how the people of America would accept the Krishna consciousness movement.

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Indeed it was Lord's Mercy for a calm Atlantic crossing

2020-09-27T19:58:00.000+05:30

During the voyage, Bhaktivedanta Swami sometimes stood on deck at the ship's rail, watching the ocean and sky and thinking of Chaitanya Charityamrita', Vrindaban dhama and the order of his spiritual master to go preach in the West. The ocean voyage of 1965 was a calm one for the Jaladuta. The captain said that never in his career had he seen such a calm Atlantic crossing. Bhaktivedanta Swami replied that the calmness was Lord Krishna's mercy.

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Fearfulness vanished after a dream of Lord Krishna

2020-09-27T19:32:00.001+05:30

On the night of the second day, Bhaktivedanta Swami had a dream. Lord Krishna, in His many forms, was rowing a boat, and He told Bhaktivedanta Swami that he should not fear, but should come along. Bhaktivedanta Swami felt assured of Lord Krishna's protection and the violent attacks did not recur. The Jaladuta entered the Suez Canal on September 1 and the Swami visited the city of Port Sa'id with the captain.

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The painful sufferings during journey

2020-09-27T19:15:00.000+05:30

By August 23rd the ship had put out to the Red Sea. The Swami suffered seasickness, dizziness, headache, no appetite and vomiting. The symptoms persisted but it was more than seasickness. The pains in his chest made him think he would die at any moment. In two days he suffered two heart attacks. He tolerated the difficulty, meditating on his mission, but after two days of such violent attacks he thought that if another were to come he would certainly not survive.

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A complimentary ticket of a regular cargo carrier

2020-09-27T18:21:00.000+05:30

The Jaladuta, under the command of Captain Arun Pandia, whose wife was also aboard, left at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, August 13, 1965. It was a regular cargo carrier of the Scindia Steamship Company but had one passenger cabin aboard which was occupied during the voyage from Kolkata to New York in August and September 1865, by Sri Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami, whose age was listed as 69, and who was taken on board bearing "a complimentary ticket with food."

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Prayer to Guru before his departure for America

2020-09-27T18:06:00.000+05:30

A week before his departure for America, Bhaktivedanta Swami travelled to Mayapur to visit the samadhi of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. He prayed for his spiritual master's blessings and requested him to pray that Krishna protect him.

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Personal interview with Mrs morarji

2020-09-27T17:49:00.000+05:30

Bhaktivedanta Swami, however, was fixed on going. When a subsequent appeal through Mr. Choksi did not convince Mrs Morarji, the Swami demanded a personal interview with her. It was granted and the Swami presented his emphatic request. He was unstoppable and finally Mrs. Morarji agreed to send him on one of their ships.

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Request through Mr choksei to sumati morarji to send him to USA in 1965

2020-09-27T17:34:00.000+05:30

By 1965 Bhaktivedanta Swami had published the third and final part of the first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. To pursue his goal of travelling to preach in the West, he requested Sumati Morarji, the head of the Scindia Steamship Company, who had given him a large contribution for printing Volume One of the Bhagavatam, to send him on a Scindia ship to the USA. This request was made through her secretary, Mr. Choksi. Mrs Sumati Morarji said he was too old and that it was better he remained in India and complete the Srimad Bhagavatam.

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Rupa Goswami's encouraging words to Srila Prabhupada

2020-09-27T17:11:00.000+05:30

Srila Prabhupada had told Gopal Ghosh about the anecdote when he got the idea for ISKCON. It is where Srila Prabhupada did his own bhajan and many times Sri Rupa and Sri Jiva Goswami's appeared to him in his dreams. Once, when he was staying at Radha Damodara temple, before coming to America in 1965, while honouring prasadam, Srila Prabhupada was looking out of the window when suddenly Rupa Goswami's appeared before him and spoke encouraging words, "Maharaja, don't worry about anything. Go ahead and travel to the West and preach. Just preach the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the chanting of Hare Krishna. You will be successful. I guarantee you because I will be right there with you all the time."

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Lal Bahadur Shashtri received Srimad Bhagavatam from Swami in 1964

2020-09-15T21:38:00.001+05:30

In June 1964, Bhaktivedanta Swami got the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Srila Prabhupada gave the Prime Minister a copy of the his first volume of Srimad Bhagavatam. A photographer took a picture. The Prime Minister smiled at the book. The next day, Bhaktivedanta Swami wrote to the Prime Minister and he soon received a favorable reply, personally signed by the Prime Minister.

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Initially started with daily travel from Vrindaban to Delhi and back the same night to stay

2020-09-15T21:21:00.000+05:30

For a long time Abhay had wanted to take shelter of Vrindaban and now he found residence in the Vamshi Gopalji temple. His purpose remained the same: he would write Back to Godhead and deliver it to the printer in Delhi. He would take the morning train into Delhi and, having nowhere to stay, return to Vrindavana the same night.

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First volume of Srimad Bhagavatam

2020-09-15T21:02:00.000+05:30

Bhaktivedanta Swami began to translate the Srimad Bhagavatam on the advice of his friend. Since he had left home, Srila Prabhupada had no income and was maintaining himself by selling Back to Godhead. He approached Hitsaram Sharma in 1962 and requested him to publish the book. With his help, the first volume was published, followed by the second part. Sales from the first volume financed the printing and publication of the second. People were appreciative of the book and even the American Embassy purchased eighteen copies.

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Moved to Radha Damodara temple in Vrindaban, In 1962

2020-09-15T20:39:00.000+05:30

In July 1962, Bhaktivedanta Swami moved to Radha Damodara temple in Vrindavana. It was a small room, 7x15 feet, with smooth plastered walls and floor of uneven sandstone squares. Without moving from his room, he could look into the temple and see a portion of the altar. He could also see the black marble Deity of Vrindavana chandra that Krishnadasa Kaviraja had worshipped hundreds of years ago.

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Getting committed to finish the work in 7 years if Lord wishes

2020-09-15T20:18:00.000+05:30

It was during this time that Srila Prabhupada worked on his first three volumes of the Bhagavatam. He gauged that the project he was embarking on, to translate the twelve cantos of the Bhagavatam, would eventually be at least sixty volumes. He thought he might finish it in seven years, "If the Lord keeps me physically fit then in the fulfillment of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada's will I could complete this work."

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Beginning of the Srimad Bhagavatam

2020-09-15T19:56:00.001+05:30

Bhaktivedanta Swami returned to Delhi, living in a free room at a Radha Krishna temple in Chippiwada, near the printing and paper capital of India, Chandni Chowk. He could live in Vrindavana or Delhi and with renewed enthusiasm he picked up some donations and began publishing Back to Godhead. At the same time he began his translation and commentary of Srimad Bhagavatam.

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