By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi,
Students from Our Little Vaishnavas school in Mayapur recently hosted their annual children’s market day, turning classroom lessons into real-world business experience. Through small booths and creative projects, the children practiced entrepreneurship while embracing Srila Prabhupada’s vision of self sustenance, learning teamwork, responsibility, and practical life skills along the way.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/young-entrepreneurs-bring-prabhupadas-vision-to-life-at-mayapur-school-market-day/
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Larry Taylor Park in Fort Charlotte was a decent green space with winding trails. The creek running through appears to be the home of wood storks, while the trees existing along it get some massages by plenty of squirrels. Signs warn walkers about alligators, and especially not to feed them — in one location we are told to be cautious about swarms of bees.
At the entrance, two members of Jehovah’s Witnesses sat chatting with their literature to the side. One woman, a pedestrian with her dog and a smile, remarked, “Well then you are sober. The prayer beads, the whole works.” She was referring to me. My companion, Subha Vilas Govinda, had regular clothes like all the other park browsers, casual and comfortable (since we’re on the topic, few people dress smart or even formal, these days).
After a modest but health-driven breakfast prepared by Manjulali, all three of us headed for Tampa to the home of Venkat and Nurani. Subha had asked if I could do sloka with the kids. The story of demon Aghasura was selected for me. Okay, here we go.
“Once the Lord desired to go early in the morning with all His blank .”
The kids loved it, and participated like anything. This was followed by a podcast. Throughout the day here and there, guests attending sent in their questions which I would answer. So just before departing from a lively program, we answered the questions that were fairly common such as, “How did you come to Krishna Consciousness?” and “How did my name Bhaktimarga come about?”
I am grateful to represent Prabhupada at these evening functions. What a good time we have!
Source: https://www.thewalkingmonk.net/post/mainly-in-tampa
Q.
Dear Bada Haridas,
I led my first kirtan yesterday evening! I was wondering what is the role of the kirtan leader? I know that practically speaking they are playing an instrument and singing the mantra for the group to repeat, but what is their job spiritually?
I felt a little bit nervous to take on the task at first and was wondering if you could share some of your wisdom in that regard. Hare Krishna!
A.
Glad to hear you are leading kirtan. Thank you for asking such a nice question and for taking it so seriously. (Serious doesn’t mean it’s not blissful!)
We could speak about kirtan for a long time. There’s way more to it than it may seem. Briefly, the kirtan leader’s role is to help people connect with Krishna and you can’t do that if you’re not connected. So really the focus is internal. Try to be present in the moment, hearing attentively, sincerely calling out, asking for service and purification, singing for Krishna’s pleasure, thinking of the Lord, and begging for mercy. Chanting is all about re-establishing our relationship with the Lord.
As the kirtan leader it is best to be in the mood of serving the devotees. When Krishna is pleased, as Supersoul within their hearts, He pleases them, and that’s how we serve them. It’s not a show, or a performance.
Srila Prabhupada wrote, “The principle of chanting is to glorify the Lord and not to attract a crowd. If Krishna hears nicely then He will ask some sincere devotee to gather in such a place.” Letter to Subala, November 12, 1967.
Another important thing to remember is that a good kirtan happens by the mercy of the Holy Name alone. We can’t “make it happen.” We can sincerely call out (like a child crying for it’s mother) but it’s up to Him if He will appear or remain hidden. We have to try our best to serve, but we’re completely dependent on His mercy. So kirtan is a dynamic process of experiencing Krishna’s reciprocation in different ways. It’s never the same twice. It’s a discovery process.
Still, the more we actually love Krishna, the more He will want to come to us during kirtan.
One practical point: Try to sing melodies that are fairly easy for people to repeat. At the same time, try to make it musically pleasing and appropriate for the crowd and the circumstance.
Hope this helps. Thank you again. All the best. Hare Krsna!
Your servant,
Bada Haridas
—-
Part Two
When Krishna hides
Q.
You were saying we can call out to the Lord and sometimes He can make Himself known, whereas at other times He may remain hidden. What were some experiences you have had in situations like these?
A.
Krishna is present in His Name. He is there when we are chanting. Sometimes when we chant, by His mercy, we really feel His presence. We know He is there and the kirtan becomes very wonderful. I experience this in different ways, never quite the same. The Lord in His deity form, Srila Prabhupada, or other spiritual personalities, appear in the mind. Sometimes spiritual feelings arise.
Although Krishna is always there, sometimes we don’t feel His presence. He keeps Himself hidden, and I feel like a stone and the chanting seems empty. Krishna does this so that we will examine our heart and, with greater humility and sincerity, call out to Him. It’s not automatic or mechanical bliss, there is a reciprocation going on. Somehow, we need to chant and hear. But that is our time to be with Krishna and we need to be aware of what is happening in our relationship with the Lord.
If this seems like too much work sometimes, you can always go back to the basic instruction of chanting and hearing, and bringing the mind back to being present with each mantra. This is the basic instruction Srila Prabhupada gives and we don’t have to over think this. Chant with the tongue and hear with the ears. But it is natural that, as the mind settles down and you become absorbed in chanting, devotional feelings come.
Your servant,
Bada Haridas
Freedom from painful impediments
In Kingdom of God, there is no hunger, thirst, birth and death, old age, disease, etc. Thus without these sufferings that draw our consciousness in the material world, keeping us absorbed in sorting out problems of life in material world, one can simply focus on service to Supreme Lord without any impediments.
Freedom from material desire
The Vaikuntha residents while travelling in their Airplanes condemn the fragrance of Madhavi flowers in ponds, which indicates that they don’t care for insignificant sense gratification in comparison to the joy they derive in Lord’s service. The only desire the Vaikuntha-vasis have in their hearts is eternal loving service to Lord and nothing else. They have no desire even for Mukti, what to speak of Bhukti or Siddhi. Such purity of desire renders one’s heart clean, fit and offerable to Supreme Lord.
Freedom from craving for opposite sex
Sex life is eulogized as the ultimate in the material world and it is being promoted everywhere especially in the modern times through media, bill-boards, sensuous movies, love songs, romantic novels etc. Even though the devotees of God practice devotional service and develop higher taste, still the attraction for opposite sex keeps lingering in one’s consciousness thus weakening one’s determination to serve the Supreme Lord whole-heartedly. In Kingdom of God, though Vaikuntha men and women are extraordinarily beautiful, they have no attraction for sex life due to attraction for Lord’s service. This is a great hope to aspire for a sadhaka.
Freedom from envy
Material world is characterized by Envy, cut-throat competition, craving after position power and political influence over money, followers, property etc. Such mentality burns the heart of living entity creating enmity between man and man, family and family, state and state, one country and another. In Vaikuntha, all living beings joyfully serve the Supreme Lord without any envy for Him and without any malice for the special living entities like Tulasi or Bumble bee who attract Lord’s special mercy. Even as practicing devotees envy, like a disease of heart, does not allow us to appreciate other devotees’ good qualities. Vaikuntha gives us hope for a healthy heart devoid of envy and prejudice.
Easy benedictions in lord’s service
In Vaikuntha, one gets an Airplane made of Lapiz lazuli simply by bowing down to Lord only once! On the other hand, if a man in the material world wants to give up a scooter and go for purchasing a Santro car, one has to do some hardwork to earn money. There are kalpa vriksha desire trees in spiritual world which provide anything one may desire to engage in Lord’s service. Thus spiritual world is a great hope to give up futile hard material endeavours that one is forced to do in material world, for making two ends meet. Lord’s service is the only activity and all facility is provided for it.
No prestige or status issue
Even beautiful goddess Laxmi, dressed and decorated with costly garments and ornaments, engages in sweeping marble floors, while twirling lotus on her other hand. This she does, to gain the favor of Lord Visnu, to please Him. In the material world everybody wants to show off their greatness, as someone possessing money, position or influence. Spiritual world is filled with people, whose hearts swell with love for Lord’s service without any reservations, even upto Laxmiji, who is Lord’s consort. Such freedom from false prestige, renders our minds free of burden of want for respect from others. Thus one can remain happy, joyful and peaceful in Lord’s service without material ambitions.
Quotes from Radhanath Swami
1) From letters
-
“The culmination of all our preaching efforts is when a sincere soul experiences his or her spiritual home when they visit our temple. I cannot overestimate the great importance the service, which you have accepted as a guest receptionist. I am most indebted to you for taking this service so seriously. Any person who ever visits our temple should feel so personally welcomed that they feel they have made a true friend. A devotee who genuinely is concerned with their spiritual lives. The beauty of the temple may attract people to come, but it is the hospitality of devotees, which will attract them to sincerely hear the divine message of Srila Prabhupada.” (Dated 16th July, 1998)
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“For many years I dreamt of having a first class Guest Reception Department. You are so kindly fulfilling that dream. Each and every congregational devotee, guest and temple devotee should be lovingly greeted with sweet words, folded palms, literature, caranamrita and prasadam. Make them feel that they have finally arrived in their eternal home at the lotus feet of Krishna. Your goal should be to treat people so nicely that they will come back again and again. To those who wish to hear, offer them a sitting place, and graciously discuss Hari-Katha. To those who wish only Darshan, graciously encourage them to receive causeless mercy of the Lord. When possible, take names and offer them to our database. Offer services to those who are sincere according to their spiritual needs. The overall spirit of our temple should be established by this wonderful service.” (Dated 15th May, 1999)
-
“Thank you very much for your sincere service. We should not be attached to the results but rather we should be attached to pleasing Lord Krishna and the devotees by our honest efforts. May Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu bless your devotional
service.”(Dated 14th Oct, 1999)
-
From Lectures
-
Guest is considered to be someone who is sent by Krishna. When guests come to our temple, Sri Radha Gopinath Temple, its Prabhupada’s temple and every single devotee who has faith in Prabhupada. We are the caretakers of this temple. Not only the department of Guest Reception but everyone, everyone should be eager and anxious to receive any guest that comes to the temple in such a way that they feel Prabhupada’s love for Krishna. No one should walk in these doors without feeling Prabhupada’s love for Krishna and Prabhupada’s love for them. And how will they feel that? Through us, through how we treat them, through how we speak to them, through how we respect and honor them. We are the vessels, we are all representatives. They are coming to Radha Gopinath’s personal guests. As Srila Prabhupada’s guests into their house. And we are the servants. If a rich person has a guest and the butler or maid or the servant of the house mistreats them, they will be cast away. So it is everyone’s duty. Any guest that comes, from India, from abroad should give them, whether we have lot or little, that is not important. It is the spirit of affection, spirit of respect, the spirit of servitude. (Lect. dated 12.1.03, SB: 4.21.4)
-
Actually in our temple, Sri Sri Radha Gopinath temple, We should try to adopt the spirit. We should know that this is Radharani and Sri Gopinath’s home. This is the home of Lord Nityanand Prabhu, Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Srila Prabhupada is the caretaker, he is teaching us how to take care of their home. We have been quoting Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. So anyone who comes through these doors of this temple, we should know they are special guests caring to visit the Supreme Personality of Godhead and it is expected of us to give them such hospitality, without discrimination, what their material status in society may be. They should be given affectionate loving words. They should feel wonderful. Srila Prabhupada explains this principle is so important. When a guest comes to the house of a king, he gives them royal treatment, but even if you are very poor, if you give that person a little straw mat, a little water and affectionate words, you will completely satisfy him, or her. So this must be established, when people come they should be welcomes with affectionate words. They should be given a nice explanation of the Deities. They should be given some nice Krishna Prasadam. They should feel by the by the love and behavior of the devotees towards them that they have entered into Vaikuntha, the spiritual world. S owe should try to establish this principle, as far as possible. And not only for guests but even for devotees, the residents who live here, even congregational devotees when they come they are also like guests. We should feel like that, we should try to welcome them with great affection, make feel very happy, comfortable, give them love of Vaishnava and this type of exchange will bring about the real presence of Krishna. Because Krishna is revealed through the loving exchanges of devotees, through this process He is pleased to make His presence known to the world. (Lect. dated 5.9.95, SB: 1.13.9, #767)
II) Personal Instructions
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“Treat every guest as a special friend of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath.”
-
“Everyone should love you.”
(This means when guests come to our temple, they should feel free to express their feelings. They should feel that they are meeting a real friend. They should develop very god relationships. It is not that only when they come to the temple they open their hearts, but when they go back, they should be calling by phone to us and we should also be calling to them.)
-
Try to maintain Vaikuntha atmosphere in the temple.”
(What is Vaikuntha atmosphere? It is spiritual world, which is free from anxiety. So when guests come to our temple they should not feel any anxiety. Therefore resident devotees should be expert in making them comfortable by sweet words, by some prasadam, taking care of their basic needs. The Temple-hall and the whole surrounding should be neat and clean. Everything should be kept at proper places. There should not be dirty things lying here and there.
In Vaikuntha, the mood of the devotees is to become the servant of the servant and put the Lord in the center. This mod should be reflected through one’s words, behavior and dealings with other devotees, between the departments. When the guess see devotees quarreling or having conflicts with each other, they carry these impressions with them & they remain in their minds throughout their lives. (First impression is the last impression). They will never forget. Therefore every resident should be extremely careful in the presence of newcomers, although he or she may not be directly engaged into this service.
Srila Prabhupada also said that his temples are in Vaikuntha, so it is the duty of everyone to create that Vaikuntha atmosphere in the temple.)
-
“Better one moon than thousands of stars”
(This means that one should not be hankering to make everyone devotee, but to understand each person & guide them according to their level. Quality is important than quantity. Also one should be attached to the results of one’s service.)
III)Question asked by H.G. Krishnanaam Prabhu to H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj
H.G. Krishnanaam Prabhu: Maharaj you mentioned about serving devotees. Sometimes we find that we would like to serve devotees but somehow the resources that are available with us is not adequate to serve them. The resources that we have we.., when we try to use them for serving devotees, we find that actually since we are not able to serve them it becomes a disservice to them. So in that case what should one do?
His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj: The 1st thing you should do is give an example so I have a clear understanding of your question
H.G. Krishnanaam Prabhu: Let us say that some devotees want to stay at our house but the place that is there or the facilities that are there in the house is not adequate to service all the devotees. But the situation sometimes is that somehow the devotees because of either a festival in the temple or some other necessity there is, the devotees need to be accommodated. But since the facilities are not adequate we find that we feel that actually providing them accommodation is actually becoming a disservice. So in such a situation should we accommodate the devotees even in those conditions or should we accommodate fewer devotees. This is just an example Maharaj can be extended to other things also.
His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj: Krishna Consciousness everything should be done in a very personal way. What I would recommend that you consider is – what is best for the persons. If there is another accommodation available, where those people can be treated much nicer and more comfortable, then you should arrange for them to go there. If there is no other accommodation, and they will just be crowded in the Mataji’s ashram or the brahmachari ashram which for many people is very difficult, even your house not upto the standard you would like may be far more comfortable than what that would be or then any other alternative. So if it is within your means to accommodate them, it may be second-class by your standards but every other alternative of everywhere else is third or fourth class then you are doing on behalf of Radha Gopinath congregation you are doing the best that can be possibly be offered to him under the circumstances. If you can somehow or other make it of a higher quality of course that is better. So our consciousness should be according to the means that we have. We should try to do the best possible service we can to make the devotees the most happy, comfortable and situated in Krishna Consciousness. If it is not too difficult for you to accommodate an over crowded people you should simply like this – think will they be more happy overcrowded in my house or somewhere else.
Rather than only thinking – Am I doing the best that could be done. We should be thinking – Are they getting the best they could possibly get. And you should just try your best. And generally devotees, it is the spirit of hospitality that they appreciate more than spacious facilities. When People come from other places they are not expecting so much materially. But when they are treated with respect and with love, and they see their hosts are very attentively trying to please them and help them even though they have very little, devotees are overwhelmed by that. They are very very happy. So it is that spirit to please that is the most important part of hospitality. Facilities are secondary. Does that answer your question?
Hare Krishna !!!
A story from
Krishna,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
by His Divine
Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The King of Vidarbha, Maharaja Bhismaka, had five sons and a young daughter known as Rukmini. Many saintly persons used to visit the King’s palace, and from them Rukmini obtained information about Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Simply by hearing about the opulences of Krishna, she desired to surrender herself to His lotus feet and become His wife. All the relatives of King Bhismaka agreed that Rukmini should be given in marriage to Krishna, and after hearing how Rukmini was a reservoir of all transcendental qualities—intelligence, liberality, exquisite beauty, and righteous behavior—Krishna Himself decided that she was fit to be His wife.
However, Rukmini’s brother Rukmi arranged for her to be married to Sisupala, a determined enemy of Krishna. When the black-eyed, beautiful Rukmini heard of this settlement, she became very morose. But, being a king’s daughter, she could understand political diplomacy, and therefore she decided to take immediate steps to acquire Krishna as her husband. After some deliberation, she wrote a letter to Krishna and entrusted it to a brahmana
messenger. Without delay, she sent him with her letter to Krishna’s capital city of Dvaraka.
Reaching the gate of Dvaraka, the brahmana
informed the doorkeeper of his mission. and the doorkeeper led him to Lord Krishna, who was sitting on a golden throne. After the messenger was duly greeted according to his brahminical status, he carefully read Rukmini’s letter to the Supreme Lord:
“My dear Krishna, O infallible and most beautiful one, I have heard of Your transcendental qualities. I may be shameless in expressing myself so directly, but You have captivated me and taken my heart. I am an unmarried girl, young in age, and You may doubt the steadiness of my character. But my dear Krishna, since You are the supreme lion among human beings, the supreme person among persons, any girl not yet out of her home, or any woman of the highest chastity, would desire to marry You, being captivated by Your unprecedented character, knowledge, opulence and position.”
“I know that You are very kind toward Your devotees. Therefore I have decided to become Your eternal maidservant. My dear Lord, I dedicate my life and soul unto Your lotus feet. I have selected Your Lordship as my husband, and I request You to accept me as Your wife. You are supremely powerful, O lotus-eyed one. Now I belong to You. It would be ludicrous if what is enjoyable for the lion is taken away by the jackal. Therefore I request You to immediately take care of me before I am taken away by Sisupala. Please come here and catch hold of my hand so that I may not be touched by Sisupala and his men.”
Lord Krishna was very pleased to hear Rukmini’s statement. He shook hands with the messenger and said, “My dear
brahmana,
I am very glad to hear that Rukmini is anxious to marry Me, since I am also anxious to get her hand. I can understand that Rukmini’s brother has arranged her marriage with Sisupala in a spirit of animosity toward Me. So I am determined to give him a good lesson. Just as one can bring forth fire from ordinary wood by proper manipulation, similarly, after dealing with the demoniac princes, I shall bring forth Rukmini like fire from their midst.”
When Krishna heard that Rukmini’s marriage was scheduled for the following day, He decided to leave for the kingdom of Vidarbha immediately. He ordered His driver to harness the horses to His chariot and prepare for the journey, and they started at once. Within a single night they rode one thousand miles to their destination, the town of Kundina.
Krishna’s elder brother, Lord Balarama, soon received the news that Krishna had left for Kundina accompanied only by a brahmana,
and that Sisupala was there with his ally Jarasandha and a large number of soldiers. Suspecting that they would attack Krishna, Balarama took strong military divisions of chariots, infantry, horses and elephants and rode to the precinct of Kundina.
Meanwhile, inside the palace, Rukmini was expecting Krishna to arrive. But when neither He nor the
brahmana
messenger appeared, she became full of anxiety and began to think how unfortunate she was. She thought, “There is only one night before my marriage day, and still neither the
brahmana
nor Krishna has returned. I cannot understand this.”
Being the Supersoul of all living beings, Krishna could understand Rukmini’s anxiety, so He sent the
brahmana
inside the palace to let her know that He had arrived. When Rukmini saw the brahmana,
she was elated. She smiled and asked him whether or not Krishna had come. The brahmana
replied, “The son of the Yadu dynasty, Sri Krishna, has arrived!” He further encouraged her by saying
that Krishna had promised
to carry her away without fail. Rukmini was so thrilled by the brahmana’s
message that she wanted to give him in charity everything she possessed. However, finding nothing at hand suitable for presentation, she simply bowed down and offered him her humble respects.
When King Bhismaka heard that Krishna and Balarama had come, he invited Them to see the marriage ceremony of his daughter. He arranged to receive Them and Their soldiers in a garden house. As was the Vedic custom, the King offered Krishna and Balarama honey and fresh washed cloth.
Meanwhile, Rukmini came out of the palace to visit the temple of the goddess Durga. Rukmini was dressed very beautifully, and as she proceeded toward the temple, she was very silent and grave. Her mother and girl friends were by her side, and she was surrounded by royal bodyguards. In this way she entered the temple and offered her prayers to the deity. Ordinary people pray to Durga for material wealth, fame, strength and so on. Rukmini, however, desired to have Krishna for her husband, and therefore she prayed to the deity to be pleased with her and bless her. Then she caught hold of the hand of one of her girl friends and left the temple, accompanied by the others.
All the princes and visitors who had come to Kundina for the marriage were assembled outside the temple to see Rukmini. When the princes, who were especially eager to see her, caught sight of Rukmini leaving the temple, they were struck with wonder. Indeed, they thought she had been especially manufactured by the Creator to bewilder them! She appeared to be just a youth not more than thirteen or fourteen years old. Her body was well constructed, the middle portion being thin. The beauty of her green eyes and pink lips was enhanced by her scattered hair and different kinds of earrings, and around her feet she wore jeweled lockets. All in all, the bodily luster and beauty of Rukmini, which was specifically intended to attract the attention of Krishna, appeared as if painted by an artist perfectly presenting beauty following the description of great poets.
Although the princes gazed upon her beautiful features, she was not at all proud. Her eyes moved restlessly, and when she smiled very innocently, her teeth appeared just like lotus flowers. Expecting Krishna to take her away at any moment, she proceeded very slowly toward her home. The motion of her legs was just like that of a full-grown swan’s body, and her ankle bells tinkled very mildly.
The princes assembled there were so overwhelmed by Rukmini’s beauty that they almost became unconscious, and they fell from the backs of their horses and elephants. Full of lust, they hopelessly desired Rukmini’s hand, comparing their own beauty to hers. Srimati Rukmini, however, was not interested in any of them. In her heart she was simply expecting Krishna to come and carry her away. As she adjusted the ornaments on the fingers of her left hand, she happened to look upon the princes. Suddenly she saw that Krishna was among them. Although Rukmini had never seen Krishna before, she was always thinking of Him, and thus she had no difficulty recognizing Him.
Ignoring the other princes, Krishna immediately took Rukmini and placed her on His chariot. He then proceeded slowly, without fear, taking Rukmini away exactly as a lion takes a deer from the midst of jackals. Meanwhile, Balarama appeared on the scene with the soldiers of the Yadu dynasty.
Jarasandha, who had previously been defeated many times by Krishna, began to roar, “How is this? Krishna is taking Rukmini away from us without any opposition! What is the use of our being chivalrous fighters? My dear princes, just look! We are losing our reputation by this action! It is just like a jackal’s taking booty from a lion!”
All the princes, led by Jarasandha, then became very angry at Krishna for kidnapping Rukmini. They stood up and properly armed themselves with their bows and arrows. However, as they began to chase after Krishna on their chariots, horses and elephants, the soldiers of the Yadu dynasty turned and faced them. Terrible fighting between the two belligerent groups ensued. The princes opposing Krishna were all very expert fighters, and they shot their arrows at the Yadu soldiers just as a cloud splashes the face of a mountain with torrents of rain. Determined to defeat Krishna and recapture Rukmini from His custody, Jarasandha and his companions fought with Krishna’s army as severely as possible. Rukmini was seated by Krishna’s side on His chariot. She became fearful when she saw the arrows of the opposing party raining onto the faces of the soldiers of Yadu, and she looked at Krishna, grateful that He had taken such a great risk alone. She felt very sorry. Krishna understood, and He encouraged her with these words: “My dear Rukmini, don’t worry. Please rest assured that the soldiers of the Yadu dynasty will kill all their opponents without delay.”
Lord Balarama and the commanders of the Yadu soldiers did not tolerate the defiant attitude of Jarasandha’s army. They started to strike them with their arrows. As the fighting progressed, the princes and soldiers of the enemy began to fall from their horses, elephants and chariots.
Read more: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116389
In 1973, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), arranged for several of his disciples to go to Mayapura, West Bengal, to study the traditional art of putul (dollmaking). These unfired clay figures are composed of raw materials gathered from the riverbank of the Ganges, traditionally created for holiday festival worship and then submerged back into the Ganges at the end of the season.
Inspired by his guru, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, who conceived of the theistic exhibition by using putul figures to depict the pastimes and teachings of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Prabhupāda envisioned diorama exhibitions as a staple in ISKCON.
“I want very extensive doll exhibits in every center. My Guru Mahārāja used to spend lots of money on doll exhibitions on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. So I am sure that if we make doll exhibitions very prominent, many tourists and visitors will throng in our temples.”
—Letter to Jagadīśa, September 14, 1974
After a year of training, the team returned to the West and established the First American Transcendental Exhibition (F.A.T.E.) in the ISKCON Los Angeles “New Dvārakā Dhāma” community. The exhibition officially opened for the Janmāṣṭamī festival in 1977. F.A.T.E., now the Diorama-museum of Bhagavad-gītā, consists of eleven diorama exhibitions that survey the spiritual teachings spoken by Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna in the Gītā.
Thereafter, F.A.T.E. studios created a second diorama museum for the Fisher Mansion in Detroit. Additionally, the team, which had expanded exponentially to include sculptors, painters, costume designers, mold makers, electricians, and architects, produced numerous projects — including sculpting the Pañca-tattva deities for the Laguna Beach and Hawaii temples, and the Kṛṣṇa-Kāliya deity for the Fiji temple.
Several of the original F.A.T.E. artists have come together to personally oversee and execute the museum’s restoration. Through this campaign, they are restoring and preserving Śrīla Prabhupāda’s vision for spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness through visual storytelling.
The Restoration Project
Since its opening almost 50 years ago, the Diorama-museum of Bhagavad-gītā has undergone several minor restorations to repair figures and update audiovisual components. Recently, the Changing Bodies exhibit suffered critical damage, sparking a grand renovation project to:
Repair dioramas
Repair and update architecture
Revamp audiovisual technology
Reconfigure lighting
Replace outdated electrical components
Secure exhibits in a climate-controlled environment
50th Anniversary
The restoration project seeks a grand reopening in the summer of 2027 to celebrate the museum’s 50th anniversary.
The Diorama-museum of Bhagavad-gītā of the Los Angeles New Dvārakā Dhāma community is the first diorama museum produced by ISKCON. It is the only diorama exhibition personally supervised and directed by Śrīla Prabhupāda, who visited the F.A.T.E. studio and the museum during its development. The museum also contains the first life-size murti of Prabhupāda, now a fixture in every ISKCON temple.
The Diorama-museum of Bhagavad-gītā is the heart of New Dvārakā and sets the gold standard for ISKCON theistic exhibition.
In addition to restoring and upgrading the exhibits, an exhibition catalog is being produced to honor the F.A.T.E. artists and narrate the museum’s unique story within the history of ISKCON’s arts and culture.
The 50th anniversary is both a culmination of restoring the exhibition and preserving its history, and a mark of a new era of community engagement and artistic tradition in ISKCON.
By Lila-sakti Devi Dasi,
On November 30th, 2025, the ISKCON New Goloka community in Hillsborough, North Carolina, joyfully gathered at the site of our new temple foundation to mark a significant milestone in the ongoing expansion of our sacred space. The moment reflected our commitment to better serve our loving congregation, to welcome all sincere spiritual seekers, and to expand our outreach operations in the mood, mission, and service of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Kurmadeva and Ananta Sesa were lavishly worshipped and invited to reside in the new temple foundation, supporting the throne of our presiding deities of New Goloka Dham, Sri-Sri Radha Golokananda.
Strategically located in a North Carolina suburb, at the intersection of the Triad and the Triangle, New Goloka Dham has witnessed tremendous population growth in the last 15-20 years. Humble beginnings in the early 1980s established the powerful presence of the first Radha-Krishna temple in North Carolina, and from there, the temple and community have grown through friendly, tireless, and patient cultivation.
More recently, the post-COVID pandemic brought out the need to connect (or reconnect) with what is most important in life, creating the impetus within our growing community to reach out and share the valuable gem of Krishna consciousness with others. Conversely, many sincere souls are reaching in and are finding their way to New Goloka Dham to immerse themselves in Bhakti through chanting, hearing, and feasting. Our aim now is to increase capacity, efficiency, and safety, and, most importantly, invite everyone to chant, dance, and be happy.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/new-goloka-dham-rises-to-embrace-a-growing-spiritual-community/
In the last thirty or forty years, the rapid pace of technological progress has been dazzling. I still remember my first desk-sized computer, with its massive 20 megabytes of storage, its MS-DOS operating system with the old C: prompt, and the modems that emitted a kind of high-pitched banshee wailing. Ah, those were the days. Now, the phone in my pocket is a thousand times more powerful, and my laptop can handle tasks unimaginable back then. With AI, it seems the sky is the limit. Soon, we’ll all be sitting in the sun with our feet up as robots jump to our remotely issued commands and do everything. Sounds wonderful, but is it actually increasing our happiness? Personally, I find that the onslaught of information, news and social media simply increases my anxiety levels. I need to unplug every so often to recover my peace of mind. I’m seriously considering deleting all my social media accounts and trading my smartphone for something a lot dumber.
Maybe that’s a bit drastic, and I’ll probably find it hard to do, but I do think the exponential growth of technology has its downsides. First of all, where is it all going to? Do we have any specific goal in mind, beyond making life easier? What shall we do with our easy lives? I don’t know about you, but I find sitting around idly rather boring. Is a life of pure recreation fulfilling? I once took a three-month vacation with my true love, complete with sun, sand, and surf, but by the end, I couldn’t wait to get back home. It comes back to the first point of spirituality: we are spiritual beings meant for spiritual happiness. No matter how much pleasure we indulge in, we are never satisfied, and eventually it becomes jaded and even nasty.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/a-vulture-like-civilization/
All the while that I’ve been in Florida for the last five days, I have been keeping up with my regular Zoom classes on the subject of the Gita. One of the Thursday attendees is Arjuna from Tampa, yet he is not virtually with me today, but physically. He is my driver to Tampa, and then Sarasota, the place of sandy white beaches and the legacy of the Ringling Bros. Circus. Through our driving, I could see that Florida is very flat like the topography of the Netherlands, which I traversed last October.
In America, there are freeways and tollways in every direction, and friendly people. The final destination for Arjuna and I was Sarasota at a household of Russian-speaking Americans, typically more blonde than the Hispanic and Indian folks of the last few days. Yes, Krishna is for everyone.
Now, what was the message I was to get out to these folks, a modest group of twenty-five or so? It was suggested to speak about the walking, the why, the where. So I obliged. I found the group was quite open, yogis, new age, thoughtful. They were curious, why would anyone put on so many miles?
“Well, I’m a monk, and long-distance walking is the type of things monks do. We go by the model, ‘Simple living, high thinking’.”
I explained that I combined my marathon for inspiring others and doing something for my inner development. As I met people through these last few days, I was informed of the one hundred monks walking from Texas to Washington D.C. for the purpose of peace. Anyways, these years I’ve invested in padayatras, walking events is for improvement on some level and my listeners were gently getting it.
Source: https://www.thewalkingmonk.net/post/talking-about-walking
Discovering Spiritual Knowledge
It all began with meeting a young lady, who is an astrologer. She prepared my natal map and gave some recommendations as far as what I should and should not do. First of all, she recommended to switch to a vegetarian diet. The reason for that is because I was born on Caturdasi. It is a must for people who are born on this day to be engaged in spiritual practice. Otherwise, consequences can be really harsh. I became interested. Actually, I had always been interested in spiritual living. The astrologer and I had a long conversation and I would have loved to talk more, but I had to leave for Milan, so time was limited. That is why I asked her if she could recommend any books. She told me about Radhanath Swami’s “Journey Back Home” book and also about “AGHORA, At the Left Hand of God” [book by Robert Svoboda]. The first book was about Lord Krishna and the second one was about Lord Shiva. The first one was about piety and the second book was about death. I read both of them. I was so inspired by Radhanath Swami! I love sincere people, I love it when they freely talk about the auspicious things – which are the most important things for me! “Journey Back Home” inspired me to the point that I downloaded the Maha mantra and later cried all week long. I had such a deep realization that it is hard to explain. I had a feeling as if I had been waiting for this mantra my entire life. So that whole week I just kept listening to it and crying, listening and crying. Later, I came to St. Petersburg and visited the [ISKCON] temple. That is when I realized I did not want to leave. That is how it all began.
I had a feeling as if I had been waiting for this mantra my entire life. So that whole week I just kept listening to it and crying, listening and crying. Later, I came to St. Petersburg and visited the `{`ISKCON`}` temple. That is when I realized I did not want to leave. That is how it all began.
There is a general perception that the modeling industry is far from goodness and that it has been vulgarized. In your Instagram profile, you expressed gratitude to a number of people and shared that your path was different. Could you please tell us more about that?
I agree that modeling is far from goodness. At the same time, I think it all depends on a person. If you see the negative in everything, then you will be surrounded by the negative. Similarly, if you see positivity in everything, then you will be surrounded by the positive. That is number one. Number two, spiritual practice plays a big role. Since I discovered it, my surrounding has changed dramatically. In the same manner, my work clientele has changed as well. I started attracting vegetarians, people who were interested in spirituality, and spiritually practicing people. As you can see, everything depends on us. If we know how to think and act right, then we can survive even in this kind of environment. I do not consider my work to be bad. Good things exist everywhere, and I do my best to maximize them. However, I cannot say that I want to be a model for the rest of my life. Actually, I have much more exciting plans for the future.
What are your plans for the future, could you please share?
Based on my natal map and my inner feelings, I realized that I wanted to work in the beauty industry – in the most general sense of it. I would like to help make this world better and more beautiful. This has to do with people, both the inner and the outer beauty. I am still trying to find out what else I can contribute, what else I can learn. The thing is that I am not good at anything else other than modeling (laughing). But it is never late to learn.
When I just came to Krishna consciousness, there were other people with me, who have already found their spiritual masters by now. But my path is just starting now. Due to having a very active lifestyle, I am behind. Gone for two months, then back for one month, then gone for two months again, and then back for one month again. When I travel, I usually listen to audio lectures, but that is not enough. Association with devotees is very important and that is what I am lacking. So, my pace is slow, one step at a time. Of course, my hope is that someday a spiritual master will find me and I will find him. As for right now, it seems I am not ready for this.
You travel a lot and meet a lot of people, do you think they are interested in any philosophy? Do you get to talk to them about anything?
Absolutely! That is yet another reason why I love my work, as it gives me multiple opportunities for preaching. When you are simply out there with a japa bag, everybody wants to come up to you, and that is a good reason for a half an hour conversation! What’s this bag? What are beads? What is japa? The last trip to Hanjoy, China turned out to be very special. Many people became interested in karma: how it is created, how to avoid bad karma, and how to improve one’s karma. I was so happy to tell them about that! While I am still new to this and there are many things I do not know, it is so cool when you know an answer to a particular question. That is how I get to preach while I am out traveling. At the same time, there are people who refuse to accept this philosophy, but I do not force them to be engaged in a conversation, because it is our personal business – to accept or not accept it.
What would you like to wish to our readers?
Read the Hare Krishna Lifestyle blog! I would like to wish the readers to find time for inspirational articles and keep looking for your unique life path, spirituality, and heart. The most important is to be a Human, regardless of your religion.
The goal of every religion is to teach people how to actually become Humans.
Correction and Translation: Svetlana Hrupkova
Photos: Rupavati Kesavi
Recently I was in New York attending an initiation ceremony. As I watched the new devotees, young and old, take their vows, I reflected on my own beginnings.
Over 35 years ago I sat before the fire and took the same vows. I am grateful to still be practicing. Later that day I heard a talk which shared 4 reasons why devotees sometimes give up the process of Krishna consciousness, the one they once started so enthusiastically. Turning them into positives, here are 4 things, if we do them well, that can bring us success in our spiritual endeavor, which is to awaken love for Krishna and live to in congruence with that wholesome truth.
1) Humility – the heart of a spiritual practice is humility, accepting the fact that we can’t succeed alone, we need help. As the years go by we gain knowledge and spiritual insights and feel our relationship with Krishna deepening and sweetening. This is a good thing. It means the process, the practice, is working. However, we may also grow the weeds of pride, making us feel like the big cheese in the spiritual community. We should watch out for those thoughts and throw them out the window. We are as big as our gratitude to, and utter acknowledgement of the role, of our spiritual teachers and fellow devotees in our spiritual journey. Anything other than that will trip us up and cause us to struggle.
2) Offenses – when we hurt, disrespect, or in any way short change other devotees of the Lord, we are offending. It can be by speech, by action, or by inaction. In any number of ways, offending brings clouds of discontent to our life. If we are feeling discouraged, or have little taste for our daily chanting, we can often trace it back to offending others. We may compound that by blaming everyone else but ourselves. Press the pause button. Slow down. Go for a walk alone or talk to a trusted spiritual advisor. Recognise the grip offensive or negative attitudes may have over your way of living in the world and change it. Small offences can build up over time so be careful to treat everyone with affection and care. After all, they too are trying their best to serve the Lord.
3) Sanga – sanga means association, a gathering of those interested in spiritual subject matters. Make sure you have time in your week to be together with devotees to hear and chant about Krishna, to serve together or to have meaningful conversations. When we have good friendships with other devotees it not only makes the good times better, but we have support and love when we are facing difficulty. Who we ‘hang out with’ shapes who we become. Find good Krishna devotee association and make time in your life to be with them. It is one of the most essential aspects of a successful spiritual practice.
4) Knowing the Path – this last one is perhaps the one we might neglect the most. Life, and also spiritual life, is full of ups and downs. When times get rough we might think – “Krishna, what’s going on? I’m serving you and why are things not going my way?” When we expect difficulty, and expect to be challenged as part of the growing process, the purifying process, we are ready for it when it comes along. Oh, there you are – now what am I to learn from this? What I am to change or grow into?
When we make a commitment to the practice of Bhakti Yoga, to following strong principles and compassionate teachings, we make a commitment to make ourselves better. Such a practice has the potential to bring us extraordinary results, beyond even our wildest imagination. Don’t sell yourself short. Dive into the deep end, swim with courage, and honor the wisdom of those who have gone before us. If we do, we’ll make it to the end in one piece (and more).
The Secretariat to the Co-Directors of ISKCON Mayapur has issued an urgent advisory warning devotees and well-wishers about an ongoing room-booking scam targeting pilgrims planning to visit Mayapur during the upcoming festival season.
According to the notice, fraudsters are falsely offering accommodations in Prabhupad Village, Isodyan, Gada Bhavan, Conch Bhavan, and Gita Bhavan through a fake website and WhatsApp communications. In several reported cases, scammers have contacted devotees by phone or WhatsApp, offering discounted room rates—sometimes claiming up to a 30% reduction for ISKCON life members—in order to solicit advance payments.
ISKCON Mayapur officials have reported the matter to the appropriate authorities. However, they note that legal processes take time before fraudulent websites and accounts can be blocked. In the meantime, devotees are strongly advised to exercise caution, verify all accommodation bookings through official ISKCON Mayapur channels, and avoid making payments based on unsolicited messages or unofficial links.
The Mayapur administration has requested that this warning be widely shared so that devotees can be protected from financial loss and inconvenience during their pilgrimage.
Issued January 2026
Secretariat to the Co-Directors, ISKCON Mayapur
Source: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-mayapur-issues-warning-on-room-booking-scam-ahead-of-festival-season/
By Sunanda Das,
On February 11, 2026, the TOVP will reach its next milestone: the Grand Opening of the Lord’s Yajna Shala in the TOVP gardens. Only yajnas for the Lord’s pleasure will be executed in this facility on a daily basis, continuing this long-standing seva since 1986.
Constructed of granite, marble, and brick, this ornate and beautifully designed structure will house an enormous Yajna Peeta (sacrificial fire arena) wherein daily yajnas to the Lord will continue in perpetuity.
108 sponsorships for the first yajnas on February 11 are now available. Sponsors who are present in Sridham Mayapur on this occasion will have access to seating in the Yajna Shala.
Take the opportunity to sponsor a yajna today, or one of the many other seva options on this historic occasion. Visit the Yajna Shala Campaign website page for more information.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/tovp-yajna-shala-grand-opening-yajna-sponsorships/
What was most astounding about my visit to this area is the occurrence of a long lost important document being suddenly found! That document I’ve been missing for years (maybe 25) was an actual book, a volume of letters compiled from our guru, Prabhupada. A woman from the community said, “Is this recognizable to you?” And from her hand to mine was that book I thought was stolen, a book that had broken up my set.
“Where did you get this? It’s precious.”“In a stack of our books in a communal stash,” she indicated.“How is this possible? I come to another country where this treasure made its way. Thinking I’ll never recover it, here is my signature, property of . . . (I wasn’t even known as a walking monk at the time of signing) and the Toronto address is there.”
I thanked her dearly for retrieving this. “You don’t know how much it means to me.”
It was second night of a charming kirtan chant, only tonight we had no drum, except for Devala’s innovative percussion half-filled with water preserve glass, and the use of a guitar, flute, and piano. Those who came to Vasantas and Ram Narayan’s received repeat groups from yesterday’s gathering. We had one of those bhakti blasts.
Overall the day was great. I harvested some oranges and had some homemade bread from Janaka, a disciple and head cook of the local Alachua temple. I played a fun game with an armadillo, couldn’t get a shot of him, but down the road took a pic of his dead brother.
The auspicious day of Makara Sankranti, which falls in the Krishna paksha of Magha mas, this year the month of January, marks the sun’s entering the zodiac sign of Capricorn, or Makara. Although in ancient times all Sankrantis were observed and celebrated, Makara Sankranti is of special importance, as it also marks the beginning of the auspicious six-month period of Uttarayana, the tithi of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s sannyasa and of the descent of the Ganges on this earthly planet.
After the Kurukshetra war, when Bhishmadeva was lying on a bed of arrows and was preparing to leave his body, he was waiting for the sun to enter into Uttarayana, which is considered to be an auspicious time, and therefore it is understood that he left his body on the auspicious day of Makara Sankranti while beholding the beautiful face of Lord Krishna in the holy place of Kurukshetra, also known as Dharmakshetra.
This glorious day also marks the descent of Mother Ganges, after the austere penances performed by King Bhagirath with the aspiration to free his ancestors from the curse of Kapila rishi, who, falsely accused by the sixty thousand sons of King Sagar for stealing the sacrificial horse actually stolen by Indra, cursed them to go to the nether regions. After being pacified by their prayers, he proclaimed that their only means of salvation would be if the Ganges would descend from the heavenly planets to the earth and down to the nether regions. Then, by being purified by her, they would be freed from the curse. After the penances of King Bhagirath, the most purifying Mother Ganges came down to the earth on the day of Makara Sankranti, and this descent of hers is still celebrated in the form of Ganga Sagar Mela, when numerous pilgrims go to the Sagar Islands in West Bengal and bathe in the holy confluence of the Ganga with the ocean.
Another significant event that took place on this date is the acceptance of the sannyasa order by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for the purpose of preaching and propagating the path of devotional service and delivering the fallen, conditioned souls in this Age of Kali. It was on this day that Mahaprabhu left behind His widowed mother and His young wife in Mayapur and, in the village of Katwa, left the grihastha ashrama. Shaving His beautiful locks of hair and donning saffron cloth, He accepted sannyasa from Sri Keshava Bharati. As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one of Mahaprabhu’s opulences is that He is the most renounced, and thus there was no need for Him to accept the renounced order of sannyasa. But seeing the faultfinding nature of the people and understanding that if He accepted the life of a renunciant, the general populace would be able to give Him proper respect and refrain from committing offenses at His lotus feet, He decided to do so. Thereafter, He inundated the universe with Krishna-bhakti, and it is due to His causeless mercy that today we are able to tread the path of devotion under the guidance of and following in the footsteps of His followers.
anarpita-carim cirat karunayavatirnah kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasam sva-bhakti-sriyam
harih purata-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandipitah
sada hrdaya-kandare sphuratu vah saci-nandana
“May that Lord who is known as the son of Srimati Sacidevi be transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has descended in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most elevated mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love.” (Cc Adi 1.4)
Makara Sankranti is also the anniversary of the grand opening of Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari’s temple in Juhu, Bombay—after many years of intense struggle by Srila Prabhupada and his devotees.
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
Source: https://girirajswami.com/blog/sri-makara-sankranti
According to Vedic scriptures, in the past age, in Satya Yuga lived a king named Sagara, King of Oudh, the 13th ancestor of Lord Ramachandra. He performed a holy yajna, the Ashwamedha yajna or horse-sacrifice 99 times.
This ceremony consisted of sending a horse (the symbol of his power) around the world challenging all to arrest its progress. If the horse returned unopposed, it was understood to be an acceptance of the supremacy of the king.
When King Sagara made preparations for the 100th sacrifice, Indra, the King of heaven, who had himself performed the ceremony a 100 times, jealous of being displaced by this new rival, stole the horse and concealed it in a subterranean cell, where the sage Kapila (incarnation of Lord Vishnu) or Kapila Muni, was absorbed in meditation, oblivious to all happenings of the external world.
Sagara’s 60,000 sons traveled far and wide to find the stolen horse. At last, they found it near the ashram of the great sage. Believing the sage to be the thief, they assaulted him. The muni, upon being aroused, opened his eyes, understood the situation and cursed his assailants, who were immediately burnt to ashes and sentenced to hell.
On hearing this, King Sagara went to the sage and begged for his mercy. The sage, at first turned a deaf ear to his plea, but later told that the princes would gain enlightenment if their ashes were washed by the holy waters of the heavenly river Ganges.
For two generations, attempts were made to bring the Ganges down to the earth from the celestial regions but all efforts proved futile. A prince of this dynasty, Bhagiratha, pleased the gods, and with the help of Lord Shiva, brought Ganga down to earth. His forefathers’ sins were washed away and the people had the opportunity to wash away their sins as well.
From then on, Gangasagar, near the ashram of the sage Kapila, has been a holy place of pilgrimage at the junction of the river and sea. It is auspicious, especially during Maker Sankranti, to come here and free the soul from earthly sins.
As per Vedic scriptures, Lord Balarama the eternal brother of Lord Krishna, also visited Ganga Sagar. In Gaura Lila, Lord Nityananda also visited this place. As per the Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Kapila is still residing here.
Source: https://ramaiswami.com/ganga-sagara-2/
Dear Beloved Devotee and Well-Wisher,
May Lord Śrī Krishna and Mother Ganga shower their blessings upon you.
Wishing you a blissful, auspicious, and prosperous New Year 2026.
At the divine confluence of the Bay of Bengal and Mother Ganga rests Gangasagar Dham—celebrated in the scriptures as a holy tīrtha that can wash away the accumulated sins of innumerable lifetimes.
During the annual Gangasagar Mela on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, millions of sādhus and tīrtha-yātris travel great distances—many walking for days, some sleeping beneath the open sky, others elderly, fragile, hungry, thirsty, or physically exhausted. Yet all of them come with one profound aspiration: purification of the heart, spiritual upliftment, and the hope of receiving the Lord’s mercy in this holy dhām.
Scriptures narrate how King Bhagirath brought Mother Ganga to earth and liberated his forefathers. Gangasagar, further sanctified by the intense tapasya of Lord Kapila Muni, is described in Vedic śāstra as a sacred place where bathing on Makar Sankranti bestows peace, prosperity, auspiciousness, and liberation from material suffering.
On this very day, the Sun enters Uttarāyaṇa—a supremely auspicious moment that even Bhīṣma Pitāmaha waited for before leaving his earthly body.
Across India, this festival is celebrated under many names—Poush Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri, Magh Bihu, Uttarayan, Khichdi, Pedda Panduga—yet everywhere its essence remains one: charity, compassion, purification, and devotion.
ISKCON Gangasagar Seva Camp
This year once again, ISKCON Gangasagar is setting up a devotional seva camp on the banks of Mother Ganga to lovingly serve thousands of pilgrims with:
Hot, nutritious prasādam
Shelter and resting facilities
Spiritual association
Medical care
Gītā-dāna and vastra-dāna
Drinking water and sanitation
Compassionate assistance
This divine mission can be accomplished only through the generous support of devotees and well-wishers like you.
The Glory of Bengal
The Vedic Center for Culture & Education
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Founder-Ācārya: His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Address:
Hare Krishna Land, Road No. 5, Near Helipad
Village, PO & PS: Gangasagar Coastal
24 Parganas (South), West Bengal – 743373
Contact:
iskcongs@gmail.com
97353 33511 / 98744 37164
www.iskcongangasagar.com
About the Pilgrims
During the Mela, pilgrims arrive weary—often elderly or ill, many having walked barefoot for miles. They seek:
Hari-kathā
Harinām-saṅkīrtan
Blessings and guidance
Prasādam and drinking water
Medical assistance
A moment of spiritual refuge
Your support offers nourishment, relief, dignity, and upliftment to thousands.
The scriptures declare:
“Tīrtha-kurvanti tīrthāni sādhavaḥ”
It is the saintly devotees who sanctify the holy places.
Serving pilgrims is therefore serving the Lord Himself. As Krishna assures in the Bhagavad Gītā (9.26):
“Patram puṣpam phalam toyaṁ…”—even a leaf offered with devotion is lovingly accepted by Him.
Seva Requirements for Gangasagar Mela 2026
To organize the ISKCON Gangasagar Mela 2026 Seva Camp, we humbly require ₹50 lakhs, covering:
Prasādam distribution
Accommodation and kitchen setup
Sanitation and drinking water
Vastra-dāna & Gītā-dāna
Medical assistance
Volunteer services
Prasādam Seva Goal
1,50,000 pilgrims
₹30 per prasādam plate
(Rice, dal, sabji, pickle/halwa)
Served from early morning till midnight
Special Donor Facilities (First Time Ever)
Sponsor 7,000 meals (₹2,10,000 and above):
AC Super Deluxe Guest House accommodation
Donor banner display
Opportunity to personally serve pilgrims
Sponsor 1,000 meals (₹30,000):
VIP Tent accommodation (common toilets)
Donor banner display
All donors receive:
Personalized appreciation letter
Sealed bottle of Holy Ganga water
Sanctified prasādam packet
A Humble Appeal
Imagine an elderly pilgrim who has walked for two days…
A mother shielding her child from icy winds…
A sadhu relying entirely on the Lord’s mercy…
When such pilgrims receive warm prasādam, shelter, water, or even a gentle smile—that moment becomes your seva. The Lord sees it, and Mother Ganga lovingly witnesses it.
With Gratitude
On behalf of ISKCON Gangasagar, we sincerely thank you for your trust and support. With folded hands, we invite you to join this sacred mission of compassion and devotion.
Please support according to your capacity.
For assistance:
Shri Sundar Govind Das – 97353 33511 / 98744 37164
iskcongs@gmail.com
May Lord Kapila Muni and Mother Ganga bless you and your family with devotion, protection, prosperity, and spiritual happiness in the New Year.
Your insignificant and ever-grateful sevak,
Shri Sundar Govind Das
Temple President
ISKCON Gangasagar International
Tax Benefit
All donations toward annadāna are eligible for 80G tax exemption (India).
http://www.iskcongangasagar.com/gs-mela-2026.html
Ganga Sagar Mela is a festival observed especially at the confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bangal. Kapilasrama, the asrama of Lord Krsna's incarnation as Kapiladeva, the son of Devahuti, is located at this place. The festival Commemorates King Bhagirathi's bringing the River Ganges down from the celestial planets to the ocean and the lower worlds. In Ganga Sagar Mela, over 6 lakhs pilgrims assembled to take a holy dip at the place of confluence of river Ganges on the Makara Sankranthi day.
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi,
The Krishna Center for Empathic Communication, an online platform under the guidance of Bir Krishna Das Goswami, is conducting a ten-week online course series beginning on January 18 that examines communication and relationships through the framework of Empathic Nonviolent Communication (ENVC). The first course in the three-part series, titled “Seeking Harmony Within & Without: Become Your Own Best Friend,” is being held over ten consecutive Sundays from January 18 through March 22, with an additional session scheduled for March 29. The live sessions take place from 3:00 to 5:00 pm Central European Time.
Bir Krishna Das Goswami began offering Empathic Communication seminars internationally in the 1990s. After studying sociology and relationship dynamics and attending Nonviolent Communication workshops conducted by Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg, he developed Empathic Communication as an approach adapted for devotional settings. Over time, he organized extended workshops and trained devotees to serve as facilitators.
‘Seeking Harmony Within & Without: Become Your Own Best Friend’ takes inspiration from Srila Prabhupada’s teachings in The Nectar of Instruction, where he emphasizes that the Krishna consciousness movement progresses through loving relationships among devotees. According to facilitator Madhuri Radhika Devi Dasi, the program examines how harmony in relationships is connected to how individuals relate to themselves, rather than focusing on changing others.
She explained, “Becoming one’s own best friend means learning to listen inwardly with honesty and care, and honoring what is true and vulnerable within. When this inner relationship strengthens, its effects are often reflected in how we communicate with others.”
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/ten-week-program-on-empathic-communication-and-relationship-harmony/
