March 2023

MARCH 2023

March 8th, 2023: Stimulation for Ecstatic Love pt 16

Dear devotees: With tomorrow’s lecture we continue our discussions on the birds of Vrindavan and how they assist in developing love for the Divine Couple.

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March 8th, 2023: Message for the Disciples of HH Kadamba Kanana Maharaja

Dear Disciples of HH Kadamba Kanana Maharaja,
Today your spiritual master has attained the spiritual world, or by the will of Srila Prabhupada he is continuing his ecstatic kirtans somewhere in this world to help liberate the fallen conditioned souls. Be that as it may, our world has gone a little darker today for a benevolent shining star in the dark age of Kali Yuga has left us. I feel your pain and loss. As he was your dear spiritual father, he was my dear spiritual brother. My prayer is that all of you will continue with the same enthusiasm, determination and taste for the holy names that your glorious spiritual master showed.

March 10th, 2023: Mother Ganges 

Taking a short break from our festival programs here in Rishikesh a few of us walked up a nearby mountainside where we came upon this breathtaking view of Mother Ganges flowing through the town. Ananta Vrindavan dasa took this classic photo.

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March 13, 2023: We Love the People

Dear devotees: We want to share with you the bliss of our Rishikesh Kirtan Festival this past week. It has proved to be more successful than we ever expected, due primarily to the enthusiasm of the many western spiritual seekers who have come to Rishikesh and participated in our programs. We have realised more than ever how Lord Caitanya gave us all the perfect formula for becoming Krsna conscious in this age, namely chanting the holy names, dancing in ecstacy and relishing Krsna prasadam!

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March 13th, 2023: Realizations from Rishikesh

Realizations from Rishikesh
“From Brahma’s realm atop the sky down to the lowly grass,
Illusion reigns in Maya-devi’s treacherous mass.
The truth, the truth, the only truth: the Name of Sri Hari.
The Holy Name of Sri Hari is surely all that be.”
abrahma-stamba-paryantam
sarvam maya-mayam jagat
satyam satyam punah satyam
harer namaiva kevalam
[ Kevalastakam, vs 2, by Nilakantha Goswami ]

March 15th, 2023: Srimad Bhagavatam 8.4.25

” My dear devotee, unto those who rise from bed at the end of night and offer Me the prayers offered by you, I give an eternal residence in the spiritual world at the end of their lives.”

[ Srimad Bhagavatam 8.4.25 ]

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March 15th, 2023: Stimulation of Ecstatic Love pt 17

Dear devotees: Tomorrow’s lecture ( Friday, March 17 ) is about the beautiful swans in Krsna’s pastimes!

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March 16, 2023: A Tale of two Rivers

For the past few weeks two sacred rivers have been flowing in Rishikesh: Mother Ganges and a river of bliss created by the fervent chanting of Lord Krsna’s holy names. Rishikesh is now floating in ecstasy!

Kindly click on the image to visit the album

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March 17th, 2023: Teachings of Lord Kapila

“In the beginning of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, we first address the internal energy of Krsna, Hare. Thus we say, ‘O Radharani! O Hare! O energy of the Lord!’ When we address someone in this way, they usually say, ‘Yes, what do you want?’ The answer is: ‘Please engage me in Your service.’ This should be our prayer.” ( Teachings of Lord Kapila, page 32 )

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March 23, 2023: Stimulation for Ecstatic Love PT 18

Dear devotees, tomorrow’s lecture ( Friday, March 24 ) is about Chakva and Chakvi, two love birds in Sri Vrindavan Dhama.

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March 23, 2023: Kirtan in Kathmandu!

Right after we concluded our festival program in Rishikesh I came with 20 devotees to Kathmandu, Nepal where we are doing harinam samkirtan and programs with the local devotees who have done an amazing service in making the people of this beautiful city so favorable to Krsna consciousness.

Kindly click on the image above to visit the album

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March 26th, 2023: Kathmandu and Beyond!

Traveling by Buddha Airlines, bus, car and on foot we traversed the beautiful Himalayan landscape, towns and cities of Nepal spreading good fortune everywhere we went through the chanting of Lord Krsna’s holy names!

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March 29th, 2023: Stimulation of Ecstatic Love pt 19

Dear devotees: This Friday’s lecture ( March 31st ) is part 19 in our mini-series on Stimulation For Ecstatic Love. We’ll discuss 3 more of Vrindavan’s birds which are very dear to Radha and Krsna.

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March 29th, 2023: Happy Rama Navami!

“When Lord Rämacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the king of this world, all bodily and mental suffering, disease, old age, bereavement, lamentation, distress, fear and fatigue were completely absent. There was even no death for those who did not want it.” [ SB 9.10.54 ]
Srila Prabhupada’s purport:
“All these facilities existed because of Lord Rämacandra’s presence as the king of the entire world. A similar situation could be introduced immediately, even in this age called Kali, the worst of all ages. It is said, kali-kale nama-rupe krsna-avatara: Krsna descends in this Kali-yuga in the form of His holy name — Hare Krsna, Hare Rama. If we chant offenselessly, Rsma and Krsna are still present in this age. The kingdom of Rama was immensely popular and beneficial, and the spreading of this Hare Krsna movement can immediately introduce a similar situation, even in this Kali-yuga.”

March 30th, 2023: River of Bliss!

As the days and weeks went by at our Rishikesh Kirtan Festival we were overwhelmed by the response. Each day the crowds got bigger and more enthusiastic.The kirtans created an atmosphere of such joy and happiness that some of our guests cancelled their ongoing travel plans to stay with us until the very end. Those were golden days to be remembered for many years to come.