Summer has arrived here in the Northern Hemisphere, and along with it, wonderful festivals centered on Krishna. This month’s newsletter has information about these festivals. You may also notice that Krishna.com has an increasing amount of video content. We’ve found that one of the easiest and most appealing ways to share knowledge and at the same time entertain all of you is through Live Shows and Video Blogs. We hope you enjoy all of the new uplifting content Krishna.com is proud to present this month. Read on, and become lost in the magnificent world of Krishna.
Your servants,
The Krishna.com Team
Ratha-yatra, or the Festival of Chariots, is a joyous event that has been celebrated for thousands of years in the Indian holy city of Jagannatha Puri, and more recently by Hare Krishna devotees in cities around the world. In many major cities throughout North America, this event is held during the summer and is known as the Festival of India. These festivals feature a Ratha-yatra parade along with traditional and classical Indian entertainment, including Bharat Natyam and Odissi dance, kirtanas and bhajanas, as well as dramas based on great ancient histories like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. June kicks off the major Festival of India tour with parades in Atlanta, New York City, and Detroit. For a complete schedule of June, July, and August Ratha-yatras, visit the Festival of India Tour website.
“First he announces the coming storm with the distant sound of thunder, then the approaching stormclouds with flashes of lightening. And then the Master of all Mysticism, Suspense, and Esthetics, after wonderfully preparing the scene, brings what the plants, trees, animals, frogs, and I are waiting for - the rain, which comes down in torrential downpours in a deafening roar, bringing everything to a stop. Wow!” Krishna.com invites you to come and enjoy a pleasant read about Lord Krishna’s majestic power in Karnamrita Dasa’s latest column.
For your listening pleasure, Krishna.com brings you Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita in audio format. The riveting story of Srila Prabhupada’s life will make you wonder how the world has largely missed this saint who recently walked among us. As a sociological, philosophical, or religious study, Srila Prabhupada’s life story stands tall as a unique contribution to millions of people and to the world. You can purchase a copy of Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, 2 Volume Set, replete with full color illustrations at the Krishna.com store.
Recently, the eighth annual Festival of Inspiration was held in New Vrindavan, West Virginia. Saturday night of the festival, hundreds of devotees from around the world gathered in the temple for a mega devotional chanting session, or “Maha Nama-Yajna.” There was a huge fire yajna (sacrifice) with Vedic mantras being chanted, along with kirtans led by Achyuta Gopi Dasi, Sachinandana Swami, and Radhanatha Swami. Here is the first video of the Nama Yajna. second video | third video
Krishna.com has teamed up with Bhakticollective.com to bring you some of their columns. Read Kaustubha dasa’s posts on a painting called “Brahma Honors Krishna” and an excerpt from its commentary; his explanation on the meaning of the track “Hey Gopal” from As Kindred Spirit’s Nectar of Devotion Album; and an interesting discovery about the khol, or mridanga drum. Bhakticollective.com is an independent website with resources on bhakti-yoga. For more postings and articles, visit The Bhakti Collective: Devotional Arts & Discussion.
Have you been tuning in to the Live Shows throughout the week? Well, if you haven’t, you’re missing out on some wonderful stories about Vaishnava saints. Don’t worry, though, because we’ve been recording them and putting them under the Video Blogs section for you to watch later. If you tune in during the Live Show, you’ll have the added advantage of being able to ask questions via the chat room and have them answered live. So make sure to check Krishna.com Live on Mondays, 8:00 P.M. EST / 1:00 A.M. GMT, for stories about Lives of the Vaishnava Saints with Chaturatma Das. Watch previous episodes: Narottam Das Thakur | Srinivasa Acarya and Madhavendra Puri
Watch a pleasing slideshow of pictures depicting Lord Krishna’s birth and childhood pastimes. The slideshow is also accompanied by a beautiful soothing bhajan.
Planning to go to India anytime soon? Visit our Travel page and read up about it. The Travel page features information on Six Holy Places in India. All of these locations are very important and sacred to devotees of Lord Krishna, especially His birthplace of Vrindavana.. Under the Vrindavana section we invite you to read A Comprehensive Guide to Vrindavana Dhama. We hope that after reading about these wonderful places you become inspired to visit.
Krishna.com is proud to be associated with Friends of the BBT, a new organization established to help devotees of Krishna throughout the world become more directly involved in the work of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.