Month of Kartik Just a Few Days Away!

As many regular spiritualists of the Hare Krishna tradition know, the month of Kartik is just a few days away (beginning on Saturday, October 3rd). The natural charms of autumn are enhanced by the season of Kartik: the lunar month that falls across October and November.

This month is described as especially dear to Krishna, and sincere spiritualists keep it sacred through acts of devotion and vows of austerity aimed at increasing their spiritual strength and drawing closer to Krishna. (Click here to learn more about the month of Kartik)

At the Hare Krishna temple, every Sunday Feast during this very special month will be highlighted with sublime festivities. Of note, we will collectively sing the Damodarastakam prayers, which celebrate one of Krishna's most endearing pastimes. (Click here to see a clip of part of the Damodarastakam prayers being sung during Kartik last year)

The month will also feature amazing festivals and the opportunity for us to dive deeper in our spirituality! We hope you can join us every Sunday at the Hare Krishna temple during this auspicious month.

As a special treat, you can view a wonderful animation of the Damodarastakam prayers (complete with lyrics and translation) below:

Flashback Photo - 1984

This edition of ISKCON Toronto's Flashback Photos features a very special local sannyasi (monk) receiving his "sannyasa initiation" (spiritual vows). It shouldn't be too hard to guess who this is, but we still encourage comments for those who would like to venture a guess!

Initiation involves a sincere spiritualist taking to specific vows and also taking instruction from a spiritual master. Sannyasa initiation (an advanced stage of initiation) is a right of passage that very few special souls take on and it involves one leading a renounced life of spiritual study, sharing and meditation!

(Photo Courtesy of Radha Krishna devi dasi)

Join Our Gita Classes Every Friday Evening!

Did you know that Friday evenings at Toronto's Hare Krishna temple feature inspiring and interactive Gita classes? The classes are part of the Bhakti Sastri certification program and take place every Friday from 6:30pm to 9:00pm. We have currently just finished Chapter Three and will be beginning Chapter Four this week!

If you have ever wanted to study the Gita in an interactive environment with fellow students, then do not pass up this opportunity to be part of these amazing classes.

If you would like to officially sign up for the classes, please click here. Signing up is not mandatory so you can feel free to just come to the classes! If you have any questions about the weekly Bhagavad-gita classes, please feel free to email us!

Deity Darshan: Sunday September 27, 2009

Sunday Feast Recordings - September 27, 2009

The Sunday Feast recording can be viewed by clicking the image below.

As a reminder, the recordings from our weekly live web broadcasts are stored on our ISKCON Toronto Video Archive Blog.

Sankirtan this Saturday!

Once again it is time to go out on Sankirtan! The GTA Sankirtan Team is very happy to invite everyone to the Monthly Sankirtan Festival (MSF) on this coming Saturday, September 26th (a.k.a Sankirtan Saturday!)

Sankirtan is a Sanskrit term which means the congregational chanting and sharing of the names and glories of Krishna, which is the recommended process for spiritual success. In the Hare Krishna tradition, sankirtan is associated with sharing our spiritual culture with the public via the timeless books, translated by Srila Prabhupada.

Sankirtan Saturday Schedule:
4:30-8:00am: Morning program (not mandatory but recommended)
8:00-9:00am: Srimad Bhagavatam Class
9:00-9:30am: Breakfast
9:30-10:30am: Practice drill
11:00-2:00pm: Street Sankirtan
2:00-2:30pm: Maha Harinam

The nice thing about being part of the MSF is that it is not simply restricted to coming out on book distribution. There are various avenues where you can help contribute to make this event a success! Whether it be helping to prepare prasadam (sanctified vegetarian food), spreading the word about the event, helping out with logistics, being part of the harinama team (who will sing the Lord's names) or just being a friendly face who wants to watch everyone else, we encourage everyone to please come out! This is a golden change to participate in the transcendental service that is so dear to Srila Prabhupada!

Please sign up on the form below and don't hesitate to contact us with any comments or questions at toronto.sankirtan@gmail.com.

Click here to register for the Monthly Sankirtan Festival!

Deity Darshan: Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sunday Feast Recording - September 20, 2009

The recording for this week's Sunday Feast can be viewed by clicking the image below.

As a reminder, the recordings from our weekly live web broadcasts are stored on our ISKCON Toronto Video Archive Blog.

Toronto's Govindas Featured in NOW Magazine!

As many of our readers know, Toronto's famous Hare Krishna Temple recently re-opened Govindas to the public. While initially open just for lunch hours, Govindas has now officially expanded it's hours for lunch and dinner.

NOW Magazine, a very popular Toronto weekly newspaper, recently highlighted Govindas in their Restaurant Review section and had nothing but positive things to say! Click here to read the little blurb about Govindas or read the review below.

Go Go Govinda’s - The least pretentious and perhaps most inexpensive eatery in Yorkville, Govinda’s (243 Avenue Road, at Roxborough, 416-922-5415) has reopened in the Hare Krishna temple. Closed for renovations, the cavernous hall now sports a new marble floor and a truncated though still tasty vegetarian Indian lunch and dinner spread. The price? An eight buck donation, $5 for students Monday to Saturday, and free as part of the group’s Sunday Feast.

"Double-Decker Harinama" Hits Toronto!

Toronto is currently the centre of the world stage as the internationally-famous Toronto Film Festival takes the city by storm. Celebrities and fans alike are running around downtown, starry-eyed and cameras in hand, celebrating movie-madness!

So what better backdrop than this for Toronto's Hare Krishnas to hit the streets in their own unique style? Celebrating "World Holy Name Week", the Hare Krishna temple chartered a double-decker bus on Saturday, September 12, 2009! With a boosted sound system aboard and led by HH Bhaktimarga Swami, the bus cruised it's way around all of Toronto's hotspots, with devotees chanting, singing and drumming much to the delight of the public!

Like a party-on-wheels, the kirtan (chanting) brought smiles to everyone on the streets! Check out the pictures from this incredible event below:

Deity Darshan: Sunday, September 13, 2009

Sunday Feast Recordings - September 13, 2009

The Sunday Feast recording can be viewed by clicking the image below.

As a reminder, the recordings from our weekly live web broadcasts are stored on our ISKCON Toronto Video Archive Blog.

Get Ready for a Busy Weekend Ahead!

This weekend will be filled with lots of activities for the Hare Krishna Temple!

On Saturday, September 12th, ISKCON Toronto will observe “World Holy Name Week,” a celebration of the spiritual practice of chanting the holy name. Celebrations will be taking place around the whole world. Toronto's contribution to global celebrations will comprise of devotees travelling on a double-decker sightseeing bus performing harinama (public singing, drumming and chanting) and distributing packets of prasadam (sanctified vegetarian treats) in major tourist sites throughout the heart of Toronto! Unfortunately, space is limited and tickets have already sold out.

The Hare Krishna temple will also be participating in the 25th Annual Vegetarian Food Fair on September 11-13th. This is the largest event of its kind in North America. Govinda's Vegetarian Club will be serving Prasadam as part of the diverse cross-section of vegetarian cuisine. Additionally Gaura-Shakti, Toronto's kirtan yoga group will be performing on Saturday at 3:30 pm and Sunday at 6:30pm.

On Sunday. the youth will be running the Sunday Feast program. That means they will be cooking, singing, serving and lots of other things for the entire congregation. To make this a success they will need volunteers for cooking, serving, and being part of the kirtan! For more information please contact psenatoronto@gmail.com.

Sunday Feast Recordings - Sept 6, 2009

The recording for this week's Sunday Feast can be viewed by clicking the image below.

As a reminder, the recordings from our weekly live web broadcasts are stored on our ISKCON Toronto Video Archive Blog.

Deity Darshan: Sunday, September 6, 2009

Revisiting Radhastami Celebrations!

It was a special Thursday evening on August 27, 2009 as devotees congregated at Toronto's Hare Krishna temple to celebrate the appearance day (birthday) of Srimati Radharani, the eternal consort of Lord Krishna. Five thousand years ago, when Lord Krishna came to this planet to perform His pastimes, Srimati Radharani also appeared.

Festivities began with a lively kirtan led by Krsndadas Kaviraja das and continued with a wonderful class given by Subha Vilasa das. The class focused on the story of Srimati Radharani's appearance five thousand years ago. Following the class, the famous bhajan (song) Sri Radhika Stava was sung.

As many regular congregation members know, Radhastami holds special significance to Toronto devotees. It was on Radhastami in 1972 that our Deities, Sri Sri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha were installed in Toronto! Taking a trip down memory lane, the program then continued with Praharna devi dasi speaking about some of the memories of that amazing day 37 years ago! As she spoke, a slideshow was played showing pictures from the installation (you can view the same presentation below).

The highlight of the program was the traditional opening of gifts for Srimati Radharani. Every year, devotees offer gifts to Srimati Radharani and they placed on the altar and are then opened for Her amidst a jubilant atmosphere.

As the gift opening ceremony winded down, the final arati of the evening, led by Yajna Gauranga das, took over and the temple room was rocking! By this time in the evening, although a Thursday evening, the temple room was bursting at the seams with devotees and the atmosphere was electric!

Radhastami usually marks the final grand festival of the summer as things quiet down until Kartik (coming in October). It was a fittingly larger-than-life festival and smiles were abound as devotees celebrated a very special birthday for Srimati Radharani!

Pictures from Radhastami Celebrations (Click here for Downloadable Deity Pictures):

Slideshow of 1972 Installation of Sri Sri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha (Along with Vintage Pictures):