May 2016

May 30, 2016: Setting The Scene

The 5th annual Sadha Sanga Retreat in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina provided a wonderful opportunity for over 2,000 devotees from around the USA to associate through Krsna katha, kirtan and exceptionally wonderful prasadam. The well organised event elevated everyone to the transcendental platform!

Original video and comments on Facebook


May 28, 2016: It’s On!

The Sadhu Sanga Retreat 2016, in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, is on! Just under 2,000 devotees from around the USA have registered and are settling in for a special weekend of kirtan, kirtan and more kirtan. We held the first program this evening.

May 22, 2016: On way to Sadhu Sanga!

Passing through New York on my way to the Sadhu Sanga Retreat in North Carolina this weekend. Grateful for the chance to participate. Eager to see old friends, well-wishers, disciples, godbrothers and godsisters.

Original post and comments on Facebook


May 22, 2016: Iskcon Videos

Iskcon Videos presents “10 million views” a video project to promote spiritual activities of devotees around the world. Please view and share to get 10 millions views!

Original post and comments on Facebook


May 22, 2016: 999 Pictures

Thank you Ananta Vrindavan dasa for this album. I am posting it for the pleasure of my disciples.

Original album and comments on Facebook


May 22, 2016: Thank you for the wishes

My deepest gratitude to all who sent birthday greetings to me yesterday. I read each and every letter, offering and note. Please everyone, keep me in your prayers that I might render some valuable service to my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, in this lifetime.

Original post and comments on Facebook


May 20, 2016: New Lecture

“Love In Separation” a new lecture during our tour in Russia is available now on www.Narottam.com.


May 20, 2016: A Special Welcome

Last week In St. Petersburg, Russia we held an initiation ceremony welcoming devotees into our Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya, under the auspice of our beloved Srila Prabhupada. It was a joyous occasion which we celebrated with ecstatic chanting and dancing to the Lord’s holy names. All glories to the samkirtan movement of Lord Caitanya, presently flooding the great country of Russia with causeless mercy!


May 20, 2016: First Birthday Greeting

Surprisingly the first birthday greeting I received today was from the US Marine Corps. They wrote me an email that said, “Hello Swami! We at the Marine Corps would like to wish you a happy birthday today!” I appreciated they remembered me 47 years down the road and found it interesting that they addressed me as Swami.


May 17, 2016: City Of Culture

In Russia, St. Petersburg is known as a city of great culture. During our visit we added Krsna consciousness to the beauty of the city with chanting, dancing and feasting on nice Krsna prasadam. 

May 16, 2016: Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Apprearance Day Is Coming!

“May the finger-nails of Narahari, who are assuming a
reddish color and are thinking, ‘The enemy has only five
life-airs while we are tenin number, so how can the enemy 
win against us?’ protect you all!”

“They have become as reddish as a parrot’s beak due to
contact with the blood flowing like a river from the crevices
in the broken bones of the demon Hiranyakashipu. They
appear curved like the waxing moon on the second day.
May those fingernails of Hari, who assumed the form of
a lion, protect you!”

“May the fire born out of the friction of the teeth of
Hari’s saw against the chest of the demon purify you!
On the demon’s skin, this fire made the noise, ‘cata cata’.
His flowing blood created the noise ‘chama chama’. The
fire burning his fat made a loud, ‘dhaga dhaga’ sound,
while the fire burning his bones, created a loud cracking
sound, ‘kada kada.’”

[Translator’s note: Lord Nrsimha’s arm is compared
to a saw and the fingernails attached to that arm are
compared to the teeth of that saw.]

“Even his own fingernails are not able to look at the angry
face of Nrisimhadeva, made angrier by the slaughter of
Diti’s son in battle. That is the reason why these nails are
bent down [as if cowing away in fear]. May the sole hero
of the universe named Narahari (Nrisimha) bestow happiness
on you!”

“Fearing the destruction of his body, the enemy
[Hiranyakashipu] entered into Nrsimha’s nails. Nrsimha,
being astounded at this disappearing act, thought ‘Where
is he? Where is he?’ and looked everywhere. Not finding
him, Nrsimha said, “Oh! It was all in vain!” and banged
his palm [on the wall]. Thus the demon fell down like a
speck of dust on the ground. Seeing him like this, the
Lord laughed loudly. All glories to that Lord Nrsimha!”

“If I throw away the body of this enemy of the demigods,
then the oceans will overflow, the earth will drown in the
causal ocean, the lower planets will be destroyed, the
universe will be shattered into pieces and the heavens
will fall down.” Thinking like this, he kept bearing the body
of dead Hiranyakashipu on his lap. May that Hari, who
appeared as a lion, protect you all!”

[ Translated by Hari Parshad Das from the Subhita-ratna-bhandagaram, Nrsimha section. Compiled by Kashinath Sharma.]

Original post and comments on Facebook


May 15, 2016: Destination Russia – Kirtan In The Motherland

Srila Prabhupada once told Govinda dasi that in ancient Vedic times Russia was called the “Land of Rishi’s” because many yogis went to the frozen tundra’s of Russia to perform penance and austerities. These days Russia is being graced with Lord Caitanya’s mercy in the form of the chanting of Sri Krsna’s holy names. We witnessed this as we traveled to several cities in the Motherland where ISKCON temples are flourishing.


May 7, 2016: Every Corner Of the World

This afternoon we dove into an ocean of nectar in Yekaterinburg, Russia by chanting the holy names of Krsna throughout the city on a beautiful spring day. People clapped and waved as the kirtan party passed by. As devotees distributed books and prasadam I thought how pleased Srila Prabhupada must be to see the samkirtan movement spreading to every corner of the world.


May 3, 2016: Until We Meet Again

This morning we went on parikrama all the way around the sacred town of Vrindavan. After many years of circumambulating this holy abode many of the places, as well as the Vrajavasis who live here, are familiar to me. Tonight I leave for Russia, but I will carry Vrindavan within my heart wherever I go in service to my spiritual master.
“I wander over this earth meditating on Her, who is a moon shining in the rasa-dance arena, who is a host of bright lamps in Vrsabhanu’s palace, and who is the central jewel in the necklace of Goloka.”
sri rasa rangasya vikasa candrika
dipavalir ya vrsabhanu mandire
goloka cuda mani kantha bhusanam
dhyatvaparam tam bhuvi paryatamy aham
[ Narada Muni, Garga Samhita 1.8.12 ]