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“The residents of Vrindavan are more glorious” – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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“The residents of Vrindavan are more glorious” – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

Last week, Indradyumna Swami traveled to Sochi, Russia, situated on the Black Sea. He was accompanied by his dear friends and travel companions, Caturatma das and Badahari das. Caturatma das went on to narrate a video describing Indradyumna Swami’s visit to Sochi in Southern Russia.

Even while he is traveling all over Russian, Indradyumna Swami is thinking of Vrindavan and his heart remains there. He quoted on his Facebook page:

“I pray that I may engage in the service of the moving and non-moving residents of Vrindavan. What are Brahma and the other demigods in comparison to them? The residents of Vrindavan are more glorious. They are very dear to Vraja’s king. Their forms are eternal, spiritual and full of nectar. Their glories are limitless. They are the root that sprouts into the bliss of the Upanisads.”

[ Vrindavan Mahimamrita, Sataka One, verse 61 ]

And just a few days prior, Indradyumna Swami quoted in a Facebook post:

“I’ve spent many days in Vrindavan! I’ve chanted Radha’s name!’ Only these words will be my strength as I fall deep into hell due to my karma.”

[ Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati, Vṛndāvana-mahimāmṛtam 9.84 ]

Translated by Hari Parshad Das from the Sanskrit available at Gaudiya Grantha Mandira. Printed in Issue 376 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindhu, published by Gopal Jui Publications.

Please check Indradyumna Swami’s Facebook profile for updates regarding his Russian Tour. Actually, in several Facebook posts, Indradyumna Swami recounts the inspiring nature of his ongoing Russian tour with Badahari das, Caturatma das, and others.

The excerpt above, spoken by Caturatma das, came from a video on Indradyumna Swami’s youtube channel.

For more on Indradyumna Swami’s transcendental travels and lectures, please visit Indradyumna Swami’s facebook and his lecture site at Narottam. On Indradyumna Swami’s official Youtube Channel, you can find many kirtans and classes from his ongoing Russian tour.

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“Cooperation Between the Devotees” in Yekaterinburg, Russia – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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“Cooperation Between the Devotees” in Yekaterinburg, Russia – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

On Wednesday, in a video describing Indradyumna Swami’s travels to Yekaterinburg, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami, Caturatma das, Bhakti Rasayana Sagar Swami (Indradyumna Swami’s sannyasa disciple), and Badahari das described the glories of the devotees in this part of Russia.

Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Swami said:

So for me this Yatra, Yekaterinburg, is quite special because I spent a number of years here and I know many devotees. And I think the special feature of this community is that there is no particular leader who is organizing and managing everything. They work in collaboration with each other, because there are so many senior devotees. And I think it’s [a] really wonderful example of what Prabhupada wanted to see, cooperation between the Devotees. And together, they do a lot of wonderful things. And there are many independent thoughtful devotees here who realize that the most important thing in Krsna consciousness is relationships with each other. That’s why this Yatra is so successful.

Indradyumna_Swami_Yekaterinburg

Look at Indradyumna Swami’s Facebook for updates regarding his Russian Tour. Actually, in several Facebook posts, Indradyumna Swami recounts the inspiring nature of his ongoing Russian tour with Badahari das, Caturatma das, and others.

The excerpt above, spoken by Caturatma das, came from a video on Indradyumna Swami’s facebook page. On Indradyumna Swami’s official Youtube Channel, you can find a kirtan with Indradyumna Swami and Badhari das in Yekaterinburg.

For more on Indradyumna Swami’s transcendental travels and lectures, please visit Indradyumna Swami’s facebook and his lecture site at Narottam.

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The Mercy of the Spiritual Master – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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The Mercy of the Spiritual Master – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

Sometime around 2003-4, I slept more than necessary. My wife, Rasika Siromani dasi always tried to wake me up and I wouldn’t get up easily. So one time she complained to our spiritual master, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami Maharaja about it. Maharaja generally doesn’t take sides in such not-so-critical disputes between husband and wife. In that particular instance, he was somewhat in a jovial mood and he also saw how Rasika was sincerely trying to help me by making me get up early to do my spiritual practices properly.

So he said “Govinda Caran: Whenever Rasika wakes you up, you have to get up. This is my instruction to you”. I had to obey it. For many years, that instruction helped me. Now her complaint is that I don’t sleep enough! Such is the mercy of the spiritual master! Indradyumna Swami Maharaja ki jaya!

[ Govinda Caran das ]

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The Russian Tour Continues in Yekaterinburg, Russia – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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The Russian Tour Continues in Yekaterinburg, Russia – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

This past week, in a video describing Indradyumna Swami’s travels to Yekaterinburg, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami, Caturatma das, Bhakti Rasayana Sagar Swami (Indradyumna Swami’s sannyasa disciple), and Badahari das described the glories of the devotees in this part of Russia.

Chaturatma das said:

As Indradyumna Swami was saying, this temple community is quite successful and we particularly see that during the kirtans. The enthusiasm with the devotees as we’ve experienced all over Russia is just contagious. For me, personally, Yekaterinburg’s been particularly nice because while traveling through Siberia Vaisnavas were there and it was very good association but I didn’t know very many of them. One here, two there. Coming to Yekaterinburg where we’ve been so many times and where so many of these devotees are regular participants in the Polish tour, I know many of these devotees, so it’s like coming home.”

Look at Indradyumna Swami’s Facebook for updates in his Russian Tour. Actually, in several Facebook posts, Indradyumna Swami recounts the inspiring nature of his ongoing Russian tour with Badahari das, Caturatma das, and others.

The excerpt above, spoken by Caturatma das, came from a video on Indradyumna Swami’s facebook page. On Indradyumna Swami’s official Youtube Channel, you can find a kirtan with Indradyumna Swami and Badhari das in Yekaterinburg.

For more on Indradyumna Swami’s transcendental travels and lectures, please visit Indradyumna Swami’s facebook and his lecture site at Narottam.

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The Thriving Devotees of Yekaterinburg, Russia – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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The Thriving Devotees of Yekaterinburg, Russia – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

This past week, in a video describing Indradyumna Swami’s travels to Yekaterinburg, Indradyumna Swami described the city of Yekaterinburg and the mood of the Devotees there.

Indradyumna Swami described that Yekaterinburg, Russia, is a major city in the Urals in the middle of Russia. Founded in 1723 by Peter the Great, the city was named after his wife. Yekaterinburg is sometimes described as the window to Asia, just as St. Petersburg on the western side is the window to Europe. The city is an important economic center, and there are 1.5 million people there.

Indradyumna Swami said that the temple there was started in the early 1990’s. In those days, the devotees had a very large Gurukua with over 300 children in it. There is still a Gurkula there. In the temple community, there are 500 initiated devotees and they have a congregation of over 1,000 members. It’s a small, beautiful temple with Gaura-Nitai Deities. Indradyumna Swami added that they devotees also maintain a farm with 12 cows and two vegetarian restaurants.

Indradyumna Swami ended by saying:

Like many of the places we are visiting on our tour throughout Russia, the community is thriving. Krsna consciousness is very successful in this country and we are very glad to be here, associating with these very enthusiastic, very blissful devotees in Yekaterinburg. Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Indradyumna Swami_Yekaterinburg

In several Facebook posts, Indradyumna Swami recounts the inspiring nature of his ongoing Russian tour with Badahari das, Caturatma das, and others.

The excerpt above came from a video on Indradyumna Swami’s facebook page. On Indradyumna Swami’s official Youtube Channel, you can find a kirtan with Indradyumna Swami and Badhar das in Yekaterinburg.

For more on Indradyumna Swami’s transcendental travels and lectures, please visit Indradyumna Swami’s facebook and his lecture site at Narottam.

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The Inspiring Devotees of Barnaul, Russia – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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The Inspiring Devotees of Barnaul, Russia – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

In a video describing Indradyumna Swami’s travels to Novosibirsk and Barnaul, Caturatma das described the enthusiasm of the devotees in Barnaul in Siberia, Russia.

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He describes that Barnaul, Siberia is the capital of the Altai mountain region in Siberia. The city itself is over 300 years old, and as you enter the city, one of the oldest cathedrals is perched high on the hill overlooking the city below with a beautiful view of the surrounding plains. In the city is also one of the largest convents to be found in this part of Russia. Situated between two rivers and not far from the mountains, Barnaul became a great port of industry. Most of the culture in the city is connected to the church and the religious institutions found here. However, two of the universities rank among the top hundred in the entire country of Russia. The winters there? They are very cold! Indradyumna Swami, Caturatma das, and Badahari das can be seen all bundled up below:

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Caturatma das mentions that there are 200 devotees in the ISKCON center in Barnaul. They are working very diligently. There are 7-8 brahmacaris that live in the center and carry out the daily devotional seva to try to prepare it for being a full residential facility for ISKCON. Daily, he mentioned, the devotees go out on preaching activities. They have a traveling sankirtan party that visits all the villages in the Altai mountain region. They also maintain a thriving local restaurant and teaching out to the interfaith group there through yoga and astrology activities. In this way, they bring a wide variety of people to Krishna Consciousness. Caturatma das mentions that the devotees chant and dance with such fervor, such devotion. He said:

It gives real proof to the fact that Srila Prabhupada built a house that the entire world could live in, even here in Siberia. We feel very honored to be among these devotees and simply hope this is the first of many visits. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In a facebook post describing the visit to these two cities, Indradyumna Swami wrote:

Memories of the blissful kirtans we had with these Vaisnavas shall remain forever within our hearts.

Last week, Indradyumna Swami said in a video that Srila Prabhupada really set the standard in this regard. Prabhupada visited Moscow in the early 1970’s and that seed has just gone on to grow into a beautiful tree producing so many fruits and flowers of beautiful Devotees.

In several Facebook posts, Indradyumna Swami recounts the sweetness and inpiring nature of his ongoing Russian tour.

The excerpt above came from a video on Indradyumna Swami’s facebook page. On Indradyumna Swami’s official Youtube Channel, you can find a lecture Indradyumna Swami delivered in Barnaul. One of the kirtans Indradyumna Swami led in Barnaul is available also.

For more on Indradyumna Swami’s transcendental travels and lectures, please visit Indradyumna Swami’s facebook and his lecture site at Narottam.

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The Wonderful Devotees of Irkutsk, Russia – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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The Wonderful Devotees of Irkutsk, Russia – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

In a video describing his recent travels in Irkutsk, Russia, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami discussed there are about 500,000 people in the city itself, which used to be a major trading post between China and Europe. ISKCON, Indradyumna Swami mentioned, has been present in the city since the early 1990’s. There are presently a little more than 300 active Devotees there and a large congregation as well. The Devotees have constructed a beautiful temple there, and they have a Gurukula and a daycare center for little children.

The Russian government imposed restrictions on what they call “new religious movements” which has made preaching in these areas difficult, Indradyumna Swami admitted. He said that in most of our centers and most temples in cities there is no harinam or book distribution allowed, and foreign missionaries cannot preach or teach the public. They can only inspire the devotees already there at the local centers. So that is a setback, Indradyumna Swami mentioned.

However, some of the temples in some of the cities have good relationships with the government and they are allowed to do a little harinam. One such place is the city of Irkutsk. The Devotees there go on harinam three times a week in the winter and in the summer, every day. Indradyumna Swami said he is very impressed with the Devotees there, and he said:

“When I come to places like this, the remote areas of Russian and Siberia, the devotees are so wonderful I feel like I am coming to get association.”

Indradyumna Swami said that Srila Prabhupada set the standard in this regard. He came in the early 1970’s to Moscow and that seed has grown into a beautiful tree producing so many fruits and flowers of beautiful Devotees. All glories to these Devotees!

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In several Facebook posts, Indradyumna Swami recounts the sweetness of his ongoing Russian tour.

Excerpt came from a video of Indradyumna Swami available on his official youtube channel.

For more on Indradyumna Swami’s transcendental travels and lectures, please visit Indradyumna Swami’s facebook and his lecture site at Narottam.

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Sweeter than the Sweetest Mango – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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Sweeter than the Sweetest Mango – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

In a video describing his recent travels in Vladivostok, Russia, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami discussed how inspired he was to find the Russian Devotees so enthusiastic. Indeed, they go on harinam 365 days a year! In several Facebook posts, Indradyumna Swami recounts the sweetness of his ongoing Russian tour.

In the lecture, Indradyumna Swami describes the sweetness of preaching in Russia. In the video, he says:

“Prabhupada was speaking with one devotee about his upcoming trip to Moscow, Russia. This was in the early 70’s. And that Devotee was saying, ‘Prabhupada, don’t go to Russia now. It’s snowing in Moscow. You should stay here and rest in Hawaii and enjoy the mangoes.’

Then Prabhupada famously said, ‘Preaching in the snows of Moscow is sweeter than the sweetest mango.’ So that’s why we come here. And this is our pleasure, to continue the mission of our Spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupada.”

Indradyumna_Swami_Badahari

Excerpt came from a video of Indradyumna Swami available on his official youtube channel. Also, check out a recent lecture Indradyumna Swami gave in Vladivostok called “Don’t Jump Ship.”

For more on Indradyumna Swami’s transcendental travels and lectures, please visit Indradyumna Swami’s facebook and his lecture site at Narottam.

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The Glory of the Siberian Devotees – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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The Glory of the Siberian Devotees – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

In a video describing his recent travels in Siberia, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami spoke about what inspires himself, personally, to keep preaching in remote parts of the world.

Indradyumna Swami said, “I keep a letter that I printed out that Srila Prabhupada wrote to my dear Godbrother Prabhavishnu das in the early 1970’s. At that time, Prabhavishnu was preaching in England and he wrote a letter to Prabhupada in the winter telling Prabhupada the results of the preaching and sharing with him some of the austerities involved at the time and Prabhupada wrote back this wonderful letter, which for me is like a mission statement. And when I come to places like this or other places around the world where it’s a little difficult, I take that letter out sometimes and I read how pleased Srila Prabhupada is when we do these austerities for him. I’d like to read it to you. I have it here it front of me. Prabhupada writes to Prabhavishnu das:

“I can understand that it is not an easy matter to travel extensively over long periods of time without proper food, rest, and sometimes it must be very cold there also, but still, because you are getting so much enjoyment, spiritual enjoyment, from it, it seems like play to you. That is the advanced stage of spiritual life, never attained by even the greatest yogis and so-called jnanis. Let any man see our devotees working so hard for Krishna, and let them say they are not better than any millions of so-called yogis and transcendentalists, that is my challenge. Because you are rightly understanding through your personal realization this philosophy of Krishna consciousness, therefore in such a short time, you have surpassed all the stages of the yoga process to come to the highest point of surrendering to Krishna. That I very much appreciate. Thank you very much for helping me in this way.” (January, 1973).

All glories to the Siberian Devotees! All glories to our beloved Srila Prabhupada!

In the video, Indradyumna Swami describes how the devotees in Siberia go out on harinam three times a week in the Winter and every day in the Summer.

Siberia_Harinam_Indradyumna_Swami

Excerpt came from a video of Indradyumna Swami available on his official youtube channel.

For more on Indradyumna Swami’s transcendental travels and lectures, please visit Indradyumna Swami’s facebook and his lecture site at Narottam.

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Freed by Transcendental Sound – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

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Freed by Transcendental Sound – Indradyumna Swami Nectar

In a class delivered at the Bhaktivedanta Manor in June of 2017, His Holiness Indradyumna Swami spoke on the power of transcendental sound vibration. His class was inspired by the 22nd verse of the fourth chapter of the Vedanta Sutra, in which it is stated that one is freed (“not fenced in”), by transcendental sound.

In the lecture, Indradyumna Swami goes on to explain that actually, we are liberated from material life when we encounter and absorb transcendental sound: sabda brahma. By contrast, repeated hearing of mundane sounds, which are almost unlimited, condition and bind us to matter, to this material world. In the class, Indradyumna Swami uses the example of starting the day by listening to a melancholy song versus an upbeat positive song or versus listening to a heated political debate. Those different sounds enter our consciousness and change it and affects our day moving forward. So does transcendental sound and discourse.

Indradyumna Swami

In his class, Indradyumna Swami quotes from Narottama das Thakur’s bhajan “Hari hari! Bifale” the line “golokera prema-dhana, hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana”. This line, Indradyumna Swami explains, indicates that the sankirtan movement and the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra (the great chant for deliverance) has not come from this material creation.

So chant as often as you can!

Class delivered by Indradyumna Swami at the Bhaktivedanta Manor in June of 2017.

For more on Indradyumna Swami’s transcendental travels and lectures, please visit Indradyumna Swami’s facebook and his lecture site at Narottam.