AGNIDEVA PRABHU. KIRTAN GOING ON NOW VIA ZOOM.
This 3min video was recorded at 2pm NZ time. 100 devotees are participating in the zoom call.
Today, HG Agnideva prabhu, the legendary kirtaneer, departed this world to return to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, to continue his service eternally.
He will be missed by thousands of devotees.

Video: click here

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117919

We are saddened to announce the passing of His Grace Agnideva Dasa on April 28th at 8:34 PM MDT in Salt Lake City, Utah, following a severe stroke he suffered on Sunday after Caru Das’s memorial service in Spanish Fork.

According to a post by Anuradha Dasi, “He was surrounded by a room full of devotees, with 99 devotees joined on Zoom—godbrothers, godsisters, senior devotees, and well-wishers. Kirtan continued throughout, creating a deeply peaceful and sacred atmosphere. The nurses and doctors present were visibly moved, standing in quiet amazement at the beauty of the moment.”

Agnidev was a senior disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, receiving initiation in 1974. He was a renowned kirtaniya, preacher, and recording artist whose devotional music inspired devotees worldwide for decades.

A small local ceremony and cremation are planned for tomorrow morning in Salt Lake City. We will share confirmed timing and any additional details as they become available.

We are also gathering a fuller biography and appreciations, which will be shared on ISKCONNews.org.

Agnideva (far right) reaching out to Srila Prabhupada, who is distributing prasadam.

Source: https://iskconnews.org/his-grace-agnideva-dasa-departs-in-utah-following-a-stroke/

By Mahatma Priya Das

Dear devotees,
With a heavy heart, we share that at 8:34 PM Mountain Time this evening, at the hospital in Salt Lake City, we said goodbye to our beloved Agnidev Prabhu.
He was surrounded by a room full of devotees, with 99 devotees joined on Zoom—godbrothers, godsisters, senior devotees, and well-wishers. Kirtan continued throughout, creating a deeply peaceful and sacred atmosphere. The nurses and doctors present were visibly moved, standing in quiet amazement at the beauty of the moment. We sincerely apologize to those who experienced the technical difficulties during the call. In a way, we couldn’t help but smile, remembering how Agnidev would often joke about not being a “tech person.” Still, we are deeply grateful to all of you who stayed with us and remained present in spirit. The cremation is planned for tomorrow in Salt Lake City, Utah. between approximately 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. It will be a small, local ceremony. We will share confirmed timing and any additional details as soon as they are available.
Thank you for your prayers, your presence, and your love.
Hare Krishna.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117914

The Saint in the Streets: Honoring the Disappearance of Sri Jayananda Prabhu

The global ISKCON community pauses to honor the disappearance day of one of its most beloved pioneers: Sri Jayananda Prabhu.

While many of the great acharyas we celebrate appeared centuries ago in the sacred land of India, Jayananda Prabhu’s story took place in the modern West. Yet, his pure devotion, unmatched humility, and absolute surrender to his spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, earned him the eternal title of a true Vaishnava saint.

Srila Prabhupada himself proudly declared, “Everyone should follow the example of Jayananda. I am very proud that I had such a nice disciple.”

The “All-American Boy” Finds His Calling

Born as Jim Kohr, Jayananda was the picture of the “all-American boy.” He was handsome, strong, and highly educated, holding a degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University. Yet, despite his bright material prospects, he felt a deep, empty space in his heart that a standard career could not fill. He ended up driving a taxi in San Francisco, searching for a deeper meaning to life.

In 1967, his search ended when he read a small ad in a local newspaper about a swami from India holding kirtans in a storefront. That swami was Srila Prabhupada. Jayananda attended, and from the moment he saw Prabhupada and heard the Holy Names, his heart was captured. He became one of the very first disciples to join the pioneer San Francisco temple.

The Embodiment of Humility and Hard Work

Jayananda Prabhu did not seek high positions, honor, or praise. He found his absolute joy in the background, executing the most physically demanding and humble services.

He was famously known as the driving force behind the very first Ratha Yatra festivals in the West. Jayananda would spend months in a warehouse, working tirelessly to construct the massive wooden carts for Lord Jagannatha. He would source the wood, weld the metal, and stay up all night making sure everything was perfect for the Lord’s pleasure.

But his service didn’t stop there. He was expert at everything:

He would wake up before everyone else to clean the kitchen and wash dishes.

He would drive his old taxi to earn money to support the temple.

He would personally go out to the flower markets at dawn to beg for leftovers to decorate the temple.

He had no false ego. Whether he was talking to a wealthy donor or a homeless person on the streets of San Francisco, Jayananda treated everyone with genuine, loving respect. Because he was so completely free of pride, people were naturally magnetized to him and, consequently, to Krishna.

A Glorious Departure

In the late 1970s, Jayananda was diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Even as his physical body grew weak and painful, his consciousness remained toweringly strong and completely fixed on Krishna. He spent his final months actively planning the New York Ratha Yatra festival from his hospital bed.

When Jayananda Prabhu left his body on May 1, 1977, Srila Prabhupada was deeply moved. He instructed that Jayananda’s disappearance day should be celebrated every year just like that of any great ancient Vaishnava acharya. Prabhupada confirmed that because of his pure, selfless service, Jayananda had directly returned to the spiritual world to be with Krishna.

Carrying on the Legacy of Jayananda Prabhu

Jayananda Prabhu proved to the modern world that pure Bhakti is not about where you are born or how much scripture you can memorize—it is about the sincerity of your desire to serve.

As we remember him today, let us pray for a fraction of his mood:

Seek Humble Service: Look for the services that no one else wants to do, and execute them with love.

Chant Sincerely: Let us increase the quality of our rounds today, remembering the intense love Jayananda had for the Maha-mantra.

Sri Jayananda Prabhu ki jai!

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117917

The Supreme Lord appeared as Narasimha to protect His dear devotee Prahlada from the persecutions of his demoniac father, Hiranyakashipu.

By performing severe penances, Hiranyakashipu had received a benediction from Lord Brahma that he could not be killed by any living entity created by Brahma (whether demigod, demon, human being, or animal), within or outside a residence, during the day or at night, on the land or in the sky, by any weapon and from any entity – dead or alive.

Endowed with this special benediction, Hiranyakashipu became extremely powerful. He conquered all directions and established his supremacy over everyone else. He was inimical towards Lord Vishnu and His devotees.

On the contrary, his son Prahlada was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu from the beginning of his life. Hence, Hiranyakashipu made several attempts to kill his son in different ways, but every time, the Lord rescued him.

Finally, the Lord assumed a unique half-man half-lion form (this form is neither a human being nor an animal) by emerging from a pillar. He killed Hiranyakashipu in the evening (neither day nor night), in the doorway of the assembly hall (neither within nor outside any residence), keeping the demon on His lap (neither land nor sky) and tearing the demon’s body to pieces with His nails (neither by a weapon nor by any entity – dead or alive).

Thus, the Lord effortlessly killed Hiranyakashipu while satisfying all the conditions of Brahma’s boon. Through this wonderful pastime, the Supreme Lord showed that no one can surpass His intelligence. If the Lord wants to kill someone, nobody can save him and if the Lord wants to save someone, nobody can kill him.

Source: https://ramaiswami.com/narasimha-chaturdasi/

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.22-34. Los Angeles, May 27, 1972,
720527SB.LA

Prabhupada: So today, appearance day of Lord Nrisimhadeva. Lord Nrisimhadeva appeared on this Nrisimha Caturdasi on account of His devotee, Prahlada. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata, abhyutthanam adharmasya [Bg. 4.7]. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca dushkritam, sambhavami yuge yuge [Bg. 4.8]. The Lord appears with two purposes. Paritranaya sadhunam: just to give protection and rescue the devotees, and to kill the demons, vinasaya ca dushkritam. So Prahlada Maharaja, five-years-old boy, his only fault was that he was Krishna conscious. He was devotee of Krishna. That was his only fault. And the father was so unkind to a child, even five years old. He could not excuse, “Oh, let this boy do whatever, chanting Hare Krishna.” No. The demons are so much against God consciousness that even at his home he would not allow his own child to become God conscious. This is demoniac civili… So you’ll find many critics, many enemies, because you are making progress in Krishna consciousness. So the demons are always against this Krishna consciousness movement. That is the whole history. Just like Lord Jesus Christ, he was crucified. What was his fault? He was preaching God consciousness, that’s all. This society is so cruel. So Prahlada Maharaja was tortured in so many ways. The torturing methods, I think you will find as you will see in today’s picture, how Prahlada Maharaja was tortured.
So one day, Hiranyakasipu… After all, he was his son. Affection was there. So one day, Hiranyakasipu asked the boy,

prahradanucyatam tata
svadhitam kincid uttamam
kalenaitavatayushman
yad asikshad guror bhavan
[SB 7.5.22] So he asked his son, “My dear son, what you have learned? The best thing, what you have learned from your teachers, so you kindly let me know.” So Prahlada Maharaja informed that “I have learned like this.” What is that?

sravanam kirtanam vishnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam

iti pumsarpita vishnau
bhaktis cen nava-lakshana
kriyeta bhagavaty addha
tan manye ’dhitam uttamam

[SB 7.5.23-24] Tan manye ’dhitam uttamam: one who is engaged in the matter of hearing about Vishnu, sravanam kirtanamvishnoh. We are engaged in hearing and talking and chanting about so many things non-Vishnu. Just like you’ll find thousands of, millions of different types of magazines sold in your country, in all countries. Some of the magazines are sex literature, some cinema literature, some this literature, that… So many different types. There is one paper I have seen, “Diabetes Literature.” There are many patients of diabetes, so they have formed a society, “Diabetic Society.” I have seen it. (laughter) And there are many diabetic patients, they are being hoaxed, that “You pay two dollars per year, and you get all information how to protect yourself from diabetes disease.” So in America two dollars is nothing, but it is collecting millions and millions of dollars, Diabetic Society. Diabetic magazine. So that sort of hearing and chanting is not needed. We are not interested in all these magazines, because we are followers of Prahlada Maharaja. He’s our acarya. He’s guru. Prahlada Maharaja’s guru is Narada, and Narada is also our guru. Narada is guru of Vyasadeva. So we are a branch, but the original guru is Narada, Brahma-sampradaya. So Prahlada Maharaja is also a disciple of Narada Muni. So he teaches that sravanam kirtanam vishnoh [SB 7.5.23].
We have to hear and talk and chant about Vishnu. Sravanam kirtanam vishnoh smaranam pada-sevanam. To remember Him always, to worship His lotus feet, pada-sevanam. Arcanam, temple worship, to keep the Deity nicely worshiped, offer foodstuff, arati, this is called arcanam. Vandanam, offering prayers. Just like we offer prayer, govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami **. These are prayers. There are so many prayers. Kesava-dhrita buddha-sarira, keshava-dhrita narahari-rupa. These are all prayers. This is also part of devotional service.

sravanam kirtanam vishnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam…

[SB 7.5.23] Arcanam vandanam dasyam. To be always in service of the Lord, dasyam; sakhyam, to make friendship with Him, to consider Krishna as your friend. He says… Even if I do not say that He’s my friend, He says, “I am friend of everyone.” Suhridam sarva-bhutanam [Bg. 5.29]. He’s friend of everyone. We don’t want His friendship, but He wants our friendship. He wants us to go back to home, Godhead; we don’t want. So He is more anxious to take us, exactly like the father is more affectionate than the son. That’s a fact. So He’s the supreme father. So He wants that we may be happy, and therefore He comes to show us. He sends His representative, son. He leaves behind Him books so that we may go back to home, back to Godhead. So, sakhyam. He’s always sitting with me, within my heart. I am in the heart, and Paramatma is also within the heart as friend to give me advice that “Why you are bothering in this material world? Please come back to home, back to Me.” This is going on. Sakhyam atma-nivedanam. Atma-nivedanam means fully surrendered. So there are examples of devotees who, sarvatma-nivedanam. Just like Bali Maharaja. He gave everything to Krishna, even his body, everything, whatever, his kingdom, money, everything.
So Prahlada Maharaja says, iti pumsarpita vishnau bhaktis cen nava-lakshana. All these items means hearing. Hearing about Vishnu, chanting about Krishna, giving everything to Vishnu, offering prayers to Vishnu, offering arcana, temple worship, Vishnu. In this way Prahlada Maharaja summarizes that “Anyone who is doing like this, everything about Vishnu…” iti pumsarpita vishnau bhaktis cen nava-lakshana, “this nine kinds of different devotional services,” kriyeta bhagavatay addha, “directly to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,” tan manye ’dhitam uttamam, “I think he is the best learned man in the world. He is the most learned.” Tan manye ’dhitam. “He has studied everything very nicely.” Actually, that is the fact. Jnana, knowledge Knowledge means to know Krishna, God, and the Vedic injunction is, yasmin vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavanti. If you understand the Supreme Lord, then you understand everything. You haven’t got to study differently different subject matters. Just like we sometimes talk of science, of astronomy, economics, politics. We talk sometimes. But we are not going to, or we didn’t study all the subject matter separately. But in course of our studying Krishna consciousness, we know something of everything. So Prahlada Maharaja says, tan manye adhitam uttamam: “One who is engaged in these nine kinds of devotional services directly…” So Prahlada Maharaja recommends, kriyeta bhagavaty addha tan manye ’dhitam uttamam.

nisamyaitat suta-vaco
hiranyakasipus tada
guru-putram cedam rusha
prasphuritadharah

As soon as he heard, “Oh, what this nonsense boy is speaking?” he became so angry that sphuritadharah. When one becomes angry, his lips vi…, I mean to say, jumps. What is called? Quiver, yes. So he became so angry that it is said, sphuritadharah. (He) immediately called his teacher. He’s king… Because he thought, “The rascal teachers, they have taught him like this. I have entrusted the boy to the teachers, to brahmanas, and they have taught this Krishna consciousness. So call him. Otherwise, how is that this small boy, five years old only, he’s talking just like a great saint? So call his teacher!”

brahma-bandho kim etat
te vipaksham srayatasata
asaram grahito balo
mam anadritya durmate

Hiranyakasipu became bitterest enemy of Vishnu because his brother Hiranyaksha, he was killed by Vishnu taking the shape of Varaha. You know the story. Since then, Hiranyakasipu was bitterest enemy. “Oh, He has, Vishnu has killed my brother. So He is my greatest enemy.” So he won’t hear anything about Vishnu. Any Vishnu devotee, he will punish him, even his own son. That was his policy. So he immediately called him, the teachers, and addressed him,

brahma-bandho kim etat te
vipaksham srayatasata
asaram grahito balo
mam anadritya durmate

So here… Teachers are generally brahmanas. Not generally. To become teacher is the business of the brahmanas. Brahmana means they have got six kinds of… Everyone must have livelihood. This material world is that you must work; otherwise you cannot get your livelihood. That is the law, whatever you may be. So the brahmanas’ means of livelihood, six things: pathana pathana yajana yajana dana pratigraha. Pathana means he must be a very learned scholar, study the Vedic literature, and must teach others also. That is brahmana’s business. And in that way, whatever the disciples bring, that is his income. No salary, no contract, that “If you pay me hundred dollars or five hundred dollars weekly, then I can teach you.” No. There is no such contract. Teaching is free. It is the business of a brahmana to give free education to everyone. Now, it is the… Just like in our institution, I am your teacher, but there is no such contract that you have to pay me. But you pay me more than anything. So pathana pathana, that is the means of livelihood of brahmana. And kshatriya, they are kings. They can levy tax of the citizens because they are giving protection from being hurt by others. Kshatriya means one who gives protection (to) a man being hurt by others. That is the real root meaning. Kshatriya. And vaisya means they should, krishi-gorakshya-vanijyam, they should engage themselves in producing foodstuff, foodgrains, krishi, protect cows. Especially gorakshya. As the king is meant for giving protection to the man, similarly, a vaisya is supposed to give protection to the cows, or they keep cows and produce milk products. They are vaisya. And sudra, simply service. So these are the different types of employment of different kinds of social order. And a king, the king has to see that everyone is employed. Not that hundreds of people are unemployed, and government has to give welfare, subsidy. Not like that. The king’s duty is that everyone is independently earning his livelihood. That is king’s duty.

So here the teachers are addressed here brahma-bandho. Brahma-bandho means a person who is born by a brahmana father but is not acting as a brahmana. He’s called brahma-bandho, dvija-bandhu. Dvija-bandhu, one who is born of a, actually born of a brahmana father, but he’s not acting as a brahmana. So Hiranyakasipu addressed the teachers brahma-bandho, not brahmana. “Because you are untrustworthy. I gave you, I entrusted you with my son to be taught, and you have taught him this Krishna consciousness. So against my will…” He says practically, brahma-bandho kim etat te vipaksham srayatasata: “I entrusted my child for being educated by you, and you have instigated him to speak in favor of my enemy, Vishnu? Vishnu is my enemy. How is that?” Asaram grahito balo mam anadritya durmate. “This rascal boy, he does not care for me, and he has learned this Krishna consciousness, and you have taught him. How is that?”

santi hy asadhavo loke
durmaitras chadma-vesinah
tesham udety agham kale
rogah patakinam iva

“So I think these demigods who are followers of Vishnu, they are coming in disguise and poisoning my son by teaching Krishna consciousness, and you did not take care of him. So what is this?” Then the teachers replied,

na mat-pranitam na para-pranitam
suto vadaty esha tavendra-satro
naisargikiyam matir asya rajan
niyaccha manyum kad adah sma ma nah

They said, “My dear King, don’t think we have taught him like this. It is not… I know, it is not our duty to teach him against your will. But his Krishna consciousness is not due to our teaching; neither somebody is coming in disguise and teaching him.” Na mat-pranitam na para-pranitam. “He is neither taught by us, nor by anyone else.” Suto vadaty esha tavendra-satro. Indra-satro. The enemy… The Hiranyakasipu is the enemy of the demigods; therefore he is addressed as Indra-satro. As he addressed the brahmana, brahma-bandho, so they retaliated also, that “You are enemy of the demigods.” Naisargikiyam, “By nature he is doing that. We try to forbid him. We try to stop him chanting Hare Krishna, but still he’s doing.” Matir asya rajan niyaccha manyum kad adah sma ma. “You don’t be angry upon us. We never did it.” So… “He is, by his own nature he chants, he preaches, he’s doing all this.”

gurunaivam pratiprokto
bhuya ahasurah sutam
na ced guru-mukhiyam te
kuto ’bhadrasati matih

Then he again asked his son, “Now I understand that your teacher has not taught you all these things. You rascal, where you have learned all this Krishna consciousness?” (laughter) Abhadra. Kuto abhadrasati matih: “Wherefrom you got this rascal wisdom? Tell me.” So this is the position, you see. Even father becomes enemy. Now, Prahlada Maharaja is replying. Prahlada Maharaja is replying,

matir na krishne paratah svato va
mitho ’bhipadyeta griha-vratanam
adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram
punah punas carvita-carvananam

[SB 7.5.30] “My dear father, don’t be afraid. It is not a thing to be taught.” Matir na krishne. “Nobody can become Krishna conscious,” matir na krishne parato, “being taught by others,” matir na krishne paratah svato va, “or by mental speculation or thinking oneself,” mitho ’bhipadyeta, “or by making conference meeting, religious meeting, conference.” No. Three things. One thing is to learn Krishna consciousness by speculative method, self-realization. Just like so many people are very much interested that “Why shall I go to a guru? I can realize myself. I shall meditate.” So that is called svatah. And paratah means by others’ instruction. And mitho, mitho means by assembly. So who? Now, griha-vratanam. If one is griha-vrata… There are two things: grihastha and griha-vrata, or grihamedhi. “So those who are griha-vrata…” because he is pointing out his father’s position, that he’s griha-vrata. He has no other business. He simply wants to get money, hiranya. Hiranya means gold, and kasipu, a nice apartment. That’s all. So he says that griha-vratanam, “If one makes it his point to remain in a comfortable home life, for him, either by speculation or by teaching or by meeting, he’ll never develop Krishna consciousness.” Griha-vratanam. Then what is their position? Now, adanta-gobhir visatam tamishram: “They are unable to control their senses, and as such, they are entering into the darkest region of material existence.” Punah punas carvita-carvananam: [SB 7.5.30] “Their only business is chewing the chewed.” They have no other ways. Griha-vratanam, those who want to be happy materially, actually they are chewing the chewed. Material happiness means sex life, ultimate, utmost, topmost happiness. So people are simply trying to, how to utilize this sex life in so many ways, in pictures and in… I do not wish to discuss. In dancing, in club, in so many ways. Because they cannot control the senses. The same thing, same thing, the same sex life in different way. Sometimes a naked dance, sometimes in this way, sometimes in that way. Therefore it is called punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. I have heard that some people go to Florida and they spend fifty thousand dollars per week for organizing naked dance. So naked woman he has seen so many times, but still he spends more money to see it in a different way. That is called punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30], “chewing the chewed.” So persons who are too much attached to sense gratification, and they have made it their conclusion that “We shall be happy within our family life or this social life…” Vidyapati sings, tatala saikate vari-bindu sama suto-mita-ramani-samaj(?). Our society means… Society, friendship, and love. There must be woman, must be children, suto-mita-ramani-samaje. So there is some pleasure, undoubtedly. Otherwise, why people are working so hard to stick to this position? Vidyapati sings that tatala saikate vari-bindu sama suto-mita-ramani-samaj(?). There is undoubtedly some pleasure, but that pleasure is so insignificant that it can be compared: a drop of water on the desert. Desert, if you want to utilize desert to make it a garden or productive field, you have to pour water. The whole ocean water you have to pour there. Now, if somebody says, “All right, you want water. Now take this one drop water,” then what it will do? Similarly, our heart is hankering after so many things. We are hankering… Actually we are hankering after Krishna, but we do not know. We are trying to satisfy our hankering in so many ways in material life. Actually we are hankering after Krishna. Just like a small child, it is crying. It cannot express, but it is wanting the mother’s breast feeding. So you cannot stop him crying unless it is transferred to the mother. Similarly, actually we love Krishna. That is a fact. Because we love Krishna… Therefore you, who did not hear even the name of Krishna, say, four or five years ago, why you after so much Krishna? This is the proof, that actually we are after Krishna. This Krishna consciousness movement is being accepted in Western countries by the younger generation. Why? Because every one of us, we love Krishna. But it is now covered by maya. We have to simply take out the covering, maya; then we are Krishna conscious.
That is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrita,

nitya-siddha krishna-bhakti ‘sadhya’ kabhu naya
sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya

That Krishna consciousness is not an artificial thing, that we are making some propaganda on Krishna consciousness, publishing some books, magazines, and our preachers are going place to place. No, there are so many propaganda is going on. But they are not so effective. And our, what means we have got to make propaganda? We simply make this propaganda, “Please chant Hare Krishna.” That’s all. Of course, we do sincerely. So if we propagate sincerely and seriously, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu has ordered, yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krishna’ upadesa… [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. We must be sincere. Then, if we canvass, “Please chant Hare Krishna,” it will be effective. It will be effective. The business is not very serious or very difficult. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krishna’… “Anyone you meet, you simply request him about hearing about Krishna.” So… But if one is so much covered by materialistic enjoyment, it takes little time. It takes little time. Otherwise, automatically there is love for Krishna, and sravanadi-suddha-citte…

Therefore Prahlada Maharaja says, sravanam. If we hear about Krishna constantly, through realized souls, not professional—if we hear, satam prasangan mama virya-samvido [SB 3.25.25]—then automatically, our dormant Krishna consciousness come out. So Prahlada Maharaja says, therefore, that “Those who are determined to become happy within this material world, they cannot be raised to Krishna consciousness either by personal teaching or by making conference or by mental speculation.” That is not possible, because he is determined. So our duty is that we should know that in the materialistic way of life we shall never be happy. This is called knowledge. And vairagya. So this vairagya and knowledge is not so easy. Prahlada Maharaja says, adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram: it is not possible. That means he assures his father, “Don’t be worried. You will never be Krishna conscious. (laughter) Because your only aim is to stick to home and money and women. Therefore rest assured, you’ll not be … It is not that a person like you will be raised to Krishna consciousness.” Then? How you have done? The next question should be: Why they are sticking to this materialistic way of life? That is answered by Prahlada, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi vishnum [SB 7.5.31]. “These persons, those who are so much materially attached, they do not know the ultimate goal of life is Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu.” That is actually the ultimate goal of life. We are here in this material world, forgetting Krishna, to enjoy, to lord it over the material nature. Everyone is trying to become the lord, master of material… That is struggle. Nobody can become lord or master of this material world. But that struggle to become master, they are taking it happiness. They are taking it happiness. That is the nature of persons who are influenced by the modes of passion. They’ll work hard, and that will, they will take it is very good, pleasing. Because they do not know that the… Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi vishnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. They are hoping against hope to become happy within this material world. That is the whole history. Take the history, any history, modern history. There are so many empires: the Roman Empire, the Carthaginian Empire, the Greek Empire, the British Empire recently, Hitler’s Nazism, and so many. For some time they become very powerful. Just like Hiranyakasipu, he’s now very powerful. He’s thinking, “Nobody can…” Now today he’ll be killed. Kesava-dhrita narahari rupa is coming. So this demonic civilization will never be successful. That’s a fact. But they are so fool, they do not see even historical evidences. So many empires failed. The Roman Empire failed, the British Empire failed. Still, somebody is trying to create another empire, another, different empire. Just like your President Nixon, he’s trying to influence all other nations under his control. Why? Of course, I should not speak all these things. There may be criticism. But that is the way, going on. That is the way. We can understand. We can understand politics, economics, everything, but we do not bother about. But our aim is that this way of life, to increase materially happiness, it will never be successful. That is our conclusion. We are not fools that we have given up everything for advance in Krishna consciousness. Because we know that this, this way we shall never be happy. It is not possible. That is explained by Prahlada Maharaja. These rascal people who are so much materially attached… Krishna also says in the Bhagavad-gita,
bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam
tayapahrita-cetasam
vyavasayatmika buddhih
samadhau na nigacchati

[Bg. 2.44] Those who are too much attached, bhoga, material enjoyment, aisvarya, material opulence … Bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam tayapahrita-cetasam. Persons whose heart has been misled by this kind of civilization, they cannot take to Krishna consciousness. Therefore to become too much materially opulent is a disqualification for attaining Krishna consciousness. It is a disqualification. Because they don’t care. Just like in our temple, not very rich men, they are coming, because they (say,) “What is this nonsense, Krishna consciousness? We have got everything. These boys, they haven’t got to eat anything; therefore they are chanting Hare Krishna on the street. That’s all.” They think like that. “They’re needy. All right, they are needy. Give them some money.” That’s all. They don’t like to take anything from us because the same business, matir na krishne paratah svato va. They’ll never understand, because their aim is grha-vratanam. They want to be happy… Although they are seeing there is no happiness, they never can be happy, still… This is called punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30], chewing the chewed. One, the sugarcane, is chewed by somebody. It is thrown away. And if somebody else comes and chew it again, what juice he will have it? So punah punas carvita… Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi vishnum [SB 7.5.31]. Durasaya ye durasaya vishaya vasi (reads Sanskrit commentary) tantraya karanam te hi vishnum na viduh. Tatra hetu svasminn eva arthe purushartha yesham tesham gatim gramyam. Na tu te ’pi guru pati syat vishnu jnasyasi tatra bhak bahir vishaye bahavo yesham te bahir arthas tann eva guru tena mantra silam yesham te.

So one who is fixed up in this conclusion, that “We shall become happy with this materialistic way of life,” they cannot take to Krishna consciousness. And they do not know also that our ultimate goal of life is Krishna, Vishnu. Then why it is so? Now, andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te ’pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah. They have become blind. They are blind themselves, and they are also led by blind leaders. The leaders, at the present moment, leaders, they say that “Why you are going to church? Why you are going to temple? If you want your bread…” Just like in Christian religion you go to church, “O God, give us our daily bread.” But the atheist class, they are propagating, “For bread, why you are going to church? You make industry, you make business, and you get bread.” But actually… We were just talking that there are so many unemployment. Our Karandhara prabhu was… No. Who was talking? Syamasundara. Syamasundara said that the computer… What is called, computer? It can do thousands of men’s business. So they have discovered this machine. That means thousands of men will be unemployed. That is actually happening in your country due to so many machines. Now, take for example, formerly… You have seen the picture, Krishna, Vrindavana picture, Krishna’s father transferring Krishna. They were going on bullock carts, no motorcar. You have seen the picture. So formerly, transport was bullock carts. The cows and the bulls, the bulls were employed for agricultural purpose, for drawing the carts. So there was no necessity of motorcar. Now you have got motor, motor-tractor. You don’t want the bullocks. Therefore kill them. How you can utilize them? Therefore you must have slaughterhouse to kill them. And as soon as you kill them, then you have to eat them. So this is the, I mean to say, entanglement. If you kill, then you become responsible for being killed. The subtle laws…

Therefore, without knowing our ultimate goal of life is Vishnu, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi vishnum… [SB 7.5.31]. That is our interest. The human form of life is offered by nature after so much evolutionary process. Just to understand Vishnu, God, this is the only business. But instead of attending our real business, we are trying to be happy in other ways. Then you can say that “If we are engaged in real business, then how the economic question will be solved? We have to work.” That’s all right, you work. But work simple. Why you have invented so much botheration? Work is there. If you have cows and if you have got land, then you till the land, get grains, and there is milk, there is fruit, there is flower. Anywhere, you can live peacefully. Whole economic question is solved. And because we have forgotten, we have missed the real point, that our life is meant for God-realization. We are simply increasing botheration. Punah punas carvita. Adanta-gobhir vishatam tamisram. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. The leaders are blind; we are also blind. So they are advising that “If you want to solve your economic problem, why you are going to church? Why you are going to temple? Come here, increase business, industry. Take loan and start business.” That’s all. This is going on. But actually, the more we are trying to mislead this people… Because they are thinking it is all right. They are… That the social condition is becoming more and more grave. That’s a fact. We are trying to solve one problem, but many other problems are coming because we do not know what is the ultimate goal of life. Because we are missing the real point.

Therefore Prahlada Maharaja said, na te viduh svartha-gatim hi vishnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. These rascals, they are thinking that by so-called economic development, by exploiting material resources, we shall be happy. That is not possible. The best example your country has given. You have exploited the material resources, and other countries are also following, but where is the happiness? Instead of happiness, there is “hippyness.” (laughter) So still, they have no eyes to see that “Where we are going?” Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. Because we cannot control our senses, we are driving, we are being pushed towards the darkest region of material existence, very hard to leave. Darkest region means that we are going to become animals next life. Because this is animalistic civilization. Nature gave us the opportunity to realize God, but God-realization is meant for human being. The human being, if he does not realize God, he’s simply engaged in animalistic way of life—eating, sleeping, mating—then nature will call, “All right, sir, again become animal.” Punar mushiko bhava: “Again become a mouse.” You know this story? Punar mushiko bhava. There is a story. There is a very nice story. One rat, mouse, he came to a saintly person. Everyone comes to saintly person for some blessing, you see. Real blessing they don’t want. Some material blessing. Real blessing, Krishna, they don’t want. If you give him some blessing that “You become very rich man and…” These are all very well, this. So this mouse also came and begged the saintly person, “Sir, I am in difficulty. If you give me some blessing?”
“What is that?”
“The cat chases after me always. I’m very unhappy.”
“So what do you want?”
“Now, if you make me a cat, then I can get relief from this thing.”
“All right, you become cat.” So he became cat.
So after few days, again he comes. “Sir, again I am in trouble.”
“What is that?”
“The dog is chasing me.” (laughter) Don’t laugh, hear seriously. “Dog is chasing me.”
“All right, then, what do you want?”
“Now, make me a tiger.”
“All right, you become a tiger.”
So when he became a tiger he was staring on the saintly person like this.
So he asked, “Why you are staring upon me? You want to eat me?”
“Yes.”
So he again curses, punar mushiko bhava: “Again you become mouse. Again you become mouse.”

So that is our position. We are advanced in civilization. Now we want to kill God. So we are again going to be uncivilized, to remain in the forest and to remain naked. Actually, they are practicing that: nature’s way. So again they are going to be aborigines. And that is being practiced. They are going to the forest, they remain naked. So actually, punar mushiko bhava: “Again become mouse.” Civilized human being means God conscious, happy life, no trouble, no enviousness, everything happy, no hard labor. Why hard labor? Everything is there. You just employ your little intelligence, you get sufficient food by grains, by fruits, by flowers, milk. There is no difficulty if we remain in our own way. So that is the difficulty, that we do not know that our ultimate goal of life is God-realization. Then God has got all arrangement. You cannot produce fruits and grains in factory. They are given by God. Why? That “You eat them and be Krishna conscious, chant Hare Krishna.” But we don’t want that. We want slaughterhouse, unnecessarily. Actually, if you go to the store… There are so many stores. How many stores are selling only meat? It is not possible. Ninety-nine percent fruits, vegetables, grains you are taking, and maybe a little percentage of meat. So why you cannot give up this little percentage? If you think that meat is very palatable, why don’t you live on meat? Russia is also trying like that. That has become the fashion. In Moscow, it was very difficult to find out nice grains. With great difficulty Syamasundara used to spend two hours daily to secure these things.

So this is the problem. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi vishnum durashsaya ye bahir-artha maninah [SB 7.5.31]. They are trying to be happy by the arrangement of these material activities. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te ’pisa-tantryam. They do not know that the material nature is so strong that you cannot get out of it unless you are prepared to suffer more and more. If you take to natural life and live peacefully and take to Krishna consciousness, that is your real life. And if you simply increase botheration and problems, then you’ll have to suffer. That is the position of modern civilization. Actually, superficially we see that material advancement of material science, people have got so many machines, so many facilities. But actually, they are in trouble. Just like I gave you one example: the computer machine. It can work for thousands of men. So thousands of men means the thousands of men must be unemployed. And especially in your country, they are taking advantage of this machine because the salary is If you want to pay to the worker, a big, big salary. So they want to save. They are taking machine, and they think they will save money, so many workers. But the workers are becoming unemployed. The government has to give them welfare. The government will tax. That’s all. (laughter.) Government will not give money, welfare, from government’s pocket. The government will increase your taxation. So you are…, you stop payment by importing some machine, now you have to pay that money to the government. This is called entanglement. This is a crude example. I don’t say that you stop all this business, but the material world is like that. You want to solve something; instead of solving, you’ll create so many problems. This is material life. Because our life is not meant for solving problems and creating problems. Our life is meant for understanding God. Then everything is all right. But that you have given up.

na te viduh svartha-gatim hi vishnum
durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah
andha yathandhair upaniyamanas
te ’pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah

[SB 7.5.31] They do not know that you cannot go an inch beyond the stringent laws of material nature. That is not possible.
Then the next question is that how… People are not interested in Krishna consciousness, and then, they are misled by blind leaders. So how, what is the solution? That is Prahlada Maharaja saying,

naisham matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprisaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-’bhishekam
nishkincananam na vrinita yavat

Therefore one has to take shelter of a pure devotee. That is the only solution. He says, naisham matis tavad urukramangrhim. The beginning was that “They are not interested in Krishna consciousness.” Then how to become Krishna conscious if that is the solution? Then Prahlada Maharaja says, naisham matis tavad: “So long one does not approach a pure devotee,” mahiyasam nishkincananam, “great personalities, who has no more any material interest,” nishkincana, “and takes the dust of his lotus feet on the head…” Naisham matis tavad urukramanghrim: “So long one does not approach such personality, there is no possibility of becoming Krishna conscious.” Naisham matis tavad urukramanghrim. As soon as one approaches the pure devotee and takes the dust of his lotus feet and puts it on his head, immediately, anartha apagamah, he’ll be freed from all this nonsense. That means he’ll forget this idea that “Materially we can advance.” This is the process. So we have to approach a nishkincana, who has nothing to do with this material world. His only ambition is to serve more Krishna. And if somebody approaches him and takes the dust of his lotus feet, then he can understand. Mahiyasam pada-rajo-’bhishekam nishkincananam na vrinita yavat. (aside:) Our time is over? All right.

So in this way Prahlada Maharaja talked with his father, and the father became more angry. Instead of taking the lesson … Murkhaya upadesa hi prakopaya na santaye. If you teach lesson to a foolish person, he’ll be simply angry. He’ll not take your lesson. How it is so? Payah-panam bhujanganam kevalam visha-vardhanam. If you keep a snake and if you want to make friendly behavior with him, that, “My dear snake, don’t bite any more. I’ll give you milk and banana. You eat here and stay here nicely,” he’ll not… His poison will increase, and one day he will… There is a story in the Hitopadesa: one day, one… The same thing. So payah-panam bhujanganam kevalam visha-vardhanam. So these are lessons, stories. So his father, Hiranyakasipu, became more and more angry. So one day… Because after all, son and father… The son was simple boy. So one day he said, “Prahlada, I shall now kill you. I shall see how your Krishna saves you.” So immediately, Prahlada was seeing to the pillars of the hall. He was king. So Hiranyakasipu asked him, “Is your God, Krishna, in the pillar?” He said, “Yes, sir. Yes, my father, He is there.” So immediately, with anger he broke the pillar and Nrisimhadeva came out.
Now we can honor Him. (end)

(Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.22-34. Los Angeles, May 27, 1972. )

Srila Rupa Goswami mentions some of the benefits of worshipping a Nrsimha shalagram sila in his book, Padyavali:
“A tulasi leaf offered to the lotus feet of the Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of murder. Water that has washed the lotus feet of the Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of theft. Foodstuff offered to the Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of drinking liquor. Sincere surrender to the Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of adultery with the wife of the spiritual master. Association with the devotees of the Nrsimha shalagram sila destroys the sin of offenses to the devotees. This is the extraordinary glory of the Nrsimha shalagram sila.”

[ Srila Rupa Goswami: Padyavali, Verse 116]

On May 1, 1977, the day before the festival honoring the appearance of Lord Nrisimha, Srila Prabhupada’s dear disciple Jayananda Dasa passed from this world. 

Shortly thereafter, Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter, “Jayananda’s death is glorious. . . . He has left his body very wonderfully, and he has been transferred to Vaikuntha. . . . Everyone should follow the example of Jayananda. I am very proud that I had such a nice disciple. If possible Jayananda’s picture should be hung in the ratha [festival chariot] of Lord Jagannatha, and in all of our temples a day may be set aside for holding a festival in his honor, just as we do on the disappearance day of the other great Vaisnavas.”

Jayananda Prabhu was one of Prabhupada’s first disciples in San Francisco, the site of ISKCON’s second temple. During his years of dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada, he inspired many, many people, devotees and non-devotees alike.

Jayananda was the all-American boy. Handsome, strong, intelligent, born in a more than middle-class family, Jayananda (Jim Kohr) took a degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University. With a background like that, it is surprising that Jayananda ended up as a cab driver in San Francisco. Karandhara once asked him why he didn’t get a better-paying job. “I didn’t fit in with the upper class crowd,” he said.

Always introspective in nature, Jayananda felt empty and unsatisfied within himself during his college years. He would often say that he was “never happy” before joining Krishna consciousness. His depression was almost suicidal when, in 1967, he read a small article in a San Francisco paper, about an Indian Swami who had come to the Bay Area to propagate the chanting of the names of God. Jayananda recalled feeling a “ray of hope” when he read that article. Thinking the Swami may have something to offer, Jayananda made up his mind to attend the Swami’s lectures. 

Srila Prabhupada’s early lectures in the Bay Area were mostly attended by hippies, and Jayananda was one of the only “straight” people there. Jayananda later recalled that, “I wasn’t much of a religionist, but I was attracted to Srila Prabhupada.” He was especially fond of attending the early morning lectures because at that hour, most of the hippies would be in bed. On some occasions Jayananda would be the only guest listening to Srila Prabhupada speak from the Bhagavatam.

Srila Prabhupada was always fond of Jayananda, and sometimes he would invite his budding disciple to take prasad with him in his room. “Srila Prabhupada would cook prasad and serve me,” Jayananda recalled. “He didn’t say anything – he just kept feeding me, and I kept eating.” Jayananda soon donated his life savings of $5,000 to Srila Prabhupada to help His Divine Grace print the Bhagavad-Gita As It Is. As more and more devotees joined ISKCON in the Bay Area, Jayananda continued to work as a cab driver and supported the Temple by contributing all of his earnings.

Jayananda knew how to attract people to Krishna consciousness with the prasadam weapon. When a new devotee came, for example, Jayananda would see to it that he was sumptuously fed with prasadam. When Jambavan Das was just becoming a devotee, Jayananda would bring him a plate of prasadam so big that he thought he could never eat it all. When he finally did finish the plate, Jayananda immediately put an identical plate down before him. “I can’t eat that,” said Jambavan. “Srila Prabhupada said that we should eat ’til we waddle like a duck,” said Jayananda. Jambavan would finish the second plate.

Another example of his attachment to Krishna consciousness is Jayananda’s love for kirtan (chanting). Jayananda was always eager to take the whole Temple out on hari-nama chanting parties. He had a special attraction for chanting in the streets. Whether kirtan was held in the temple or in the street, Jayananda could always be seen dancing and chanting enthusiastically.

Of all the processes of Krishna consciousness, Jayananda was most attached to preaching. Whether it was during the Sunday feast, while making incense runs, or while building Ratha-yatra carts, Jayananda was always trying to find some person with whom he could share his ecstasy in Krishna consciousness. His preaching was very simple and easy to listen to. “We just have to keep chanting and have faith in the Name.” “We just have to chant and take prasadam. Srila Prabhupada is so kind to give us such a simple process.”

Humility was certainly Jayananda’s most prominent quality. He treated everyone as his superior, even new devotees. He avoided praise like the plague. Devotees got to know that if they wanted to be around him, they’d better not praise Jayananda. Otherwise he would simply leave. He was very special, and yet no one paid any special attention to him. That was just the way he liked things.

Jayananda would use his personal charm with people to get them to give everything free or at a discount for Krishna. Without spending huge sums of money, he would personally collect nearly all the bhoga, flowers, lumber, paint, and everything else needed to put on Ratha-yatra each year.

Although he was a senior devotee and could have had anything he wanted, he always dressed in old dhotis and work clothes which he’d buy for one dollar per set at the Salvation Army thrift store.

Jayananda’s final meeting with Srila Prabhupada took place in New York City at the 1976 Ratha-yatra. When Prabhupada arrived at the airport, Jayananda drove the car to pick him up. Prabhupada was sitting in the back seat and he asked, “Who is driving?”

The devotees said, “This is Jayananda.” “Oh, I know Jayananda,” said Prabhupada. “He gave me $5,000 to print my Bhagavad-Gita.”

The ultimate expression of Jayananda’s fearlessness came at the end of his life when he was diagnosed with leukemia and cancer of the lymph glands. Even in his last few months in L.A. temple, Jayananda never succumbed to fear or self-pity.

The festival managers will readily admit that, without Jayananda’s presence, the first Ratha-yatra festival in L.A. would not have taken place in 1977. Thus he proved that by engaging in devotional service, one transcends even the fear of death.

Source: https://www.ramaiswami.com/

“My Dear Jayananda,

Please accept my blessings.

I am feeling very intensely your separation. In 1967 you joined me in San Francisco. You were driving my car and chanting Hare Krsna. You were the first man to give me some contribution ($5000) for printing my Bhagavad-gita. After that, you have rendered very favorable service to Krsna in different ways. I so hope at the time of your death you were remembering Krsna and as such, you have been promoted to the eternal association of Krsna…as you were hearing Krsna-kirtana, I am sure that you were directly promoted to Krsna-loka.

janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah

tyaktva deham punar janmanaiti man eti so’ rjuna

(BG 4.9)

Krsna has done a great favor to you, not to continue your diseased body, and has given you a suitable place for your service. Thank you very much.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Breaking the Bonds of False Fatherhood’”

– Letter to: Jayananda, Bombay, 5 May, 1977

Sriman Jayananda Thakura left his body in full glory during the auspicious time of brahma-muhurta on May 1, 1977, listening to a tape of his beloved spiritual master chanting in his ear, and with a maha garland from Lord Jagannatha cradling his neck and resting on his chest. Srila Prabhupada remarked that “Jayananda’s death is glorious,” and instructed all the devotees from all over the world to commemorate the auspicious disappearance day of Jayananda Thakura as we do for the other great Vaishnava saints in our Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya. He also instructed that Jayananda Thakura’s picture be placed in the Ratha-yatra cart of Lord Jagannatha, and to this day, a picture of this Vaishnava saint is always seen on Lord Jagannatha’s cart.

Jayananda Thakura, formerly known as Jim Kohr, was born in a good, upper middle-class family and was a strong, handsome and intelligent man. Even though he got a degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University, he surprisingly ended up being a cab driver in San Francisco, and when asked why he didn’t get a better-paying job, he’d say that he “didn’t fit in with the upper class crowd.”

Jayananda Thakura was always introspective and compassionate by nature. His sister Gaynelle Kohr Pietrangelo recalls the one time when they went on a family holiday to the beach in California, Jim (Jayananda Thakura) spent hours on the beach picking ticks and fleas off a homeless dog because he simply “couldn’t stand to watch its suffering.”

During his college years, Jayananda always felt unsatisfied within himself. He felt empty and dejected to the point that his depression became almost suicidal. He later frequently stated that he was “never happy” before joining Krishna consciousness. In 1967, when Srila Prabhupada was in the Bay Area, Jayananda Thakur came across an article in the San Francisco paper about an Indian Swami who had come to the Bay Area to preach and spread the chanting of the names of God. This gave young Jim the feeling of a “ray of hope”, as he recalled it, and he decided to attend the Swami’s classes. He very much preferred and enjoyed the early morning classes with the Swami, and would sometimes be the only person there in the morning Bhagavatam class.

It was quite apparent how fond Srila Prabhupada was of Jayananda Thakura. Srila Prabhupada made a comment once during an initiation lecture in San Francisco in 1968. Chuckling, he said “Jayananda looks like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu…Yes. He was tall and stout and strong, Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”He would constantly ask for Jayananda Thakura when he came to the temple, and sometimes even make repeated requests for his disciple. When finally located in some distant place, engaged in service, Jayananda Thakura would refuse to go, saying “No. I can’t go to see him. I’m too dirty. I’m too fallen.” Srila Prabhupada would sometimes invite his budding disciple to take prasadam with him in his room. Jayananda Thakura recalled, “Srila Prabhupada would cook prasadam and serve me. He didn’t say anything – he just kept feeding me, and I kept eating.”

Jayananda Thakura’s humility was true and genuine – everyone who associated with him knew that it was his most prominent quality. He’d stay back after festivals to do work so others could go see Srila Prabhupada. He would let others lead kirtan, do arati and give class, and would do menial work like cleaning toilets, taking out garbage, washing dishes or fixing cars and sankirtana buses instead because he felt himself unworthy. Once a new boy came to the temple to help out and he was directed to Jayananda Thakura, who was taking out the garbage. He told the boy, “I’m the garbage man around here. For years I’ve been watching garbage men carry out trash, and now Krishna is giving me a chance to do this for Him.” The boy helped Jayananda Thakura collect the garbage and take it to the garbage dump, and he later became a devotee. He recalled thinking, “If the garbage men at this temple can be so blissful, just imagine what the rest of the devotees are like!“

Jayananda Thakura was always very conscious of Krishna being present in everything. Whenever a little prasadam would fall on the ground, Jayananda Thakura would bend down on all fours and lick it up – to him, prasadam was worshipable. He was well known for always being very enthusiastic to cook, offer and distribute prasadam on a grand scale. Whether he was out buying bhoga, or arranging park permits, or going out on Harinama, or working on the Ratha-yatra carts, he would always carry some prasadam with him and distribute it to everyone. He even said “prasadam” in a special way that would make whoever he was speaking to want to immediately take it.

Jayananda Thakura’s glories are endless, and it was obvious that he not only understood the philosophy but realised it as well. Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter to Jayananda Thakura in September of 1967 saying, “Your service attitude for Krishna and your sincere attempts at being advanced in Krishna Consciousness will work with you and make your life more and more glorious and a happy state. I’ve been very glad that you are appreciating by yourself the effects of sincere Krishna Consciousness. I’ve nothing new to instruct you, the same old instruction namely constant chanting and attentively hearing the transcendental vibration Hare Krishna is the only process for self realization in this age. In San Francisco while you were driving your car and I was sitting by you hearing your transcendental vibration, this very sincere attempt has enriched your consciousness and my only instruction is that you may constantly do this habit without fail.”

In 2012, a memorial for Jayananda Thakura was established in Sri Rajapur Jagannatha Mandir in Sri Mayapur Dhama, where he is honored by all who visit. His Grace Prahlada Priya Prabhu (ACBSP) donated Jayananda Thakura’s jacket and it is kept in Jayananda Thakura’s samadhi.

Sriman Jayananda Thakura was, as many devotees say, ISKCON’s first saint. He exemplified the qualities described in the Bhagavad-gita:

“For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Pritha, for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.”
(Bhagavad-Gita 12.6-7)

“One who is not envious but who is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor, who is free from false ego and equal both in happiness and distress, who is always satisfied and engaged in devotional service with determination and whose mind and intelligence are in agreement with Me –he is very dear to Me.”
(Bhagavad-Gita 12.13-14)

All glories to Srila Jayananda Thakura!

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=61612

In this lecture, Guru Prasad Swami Maharaj explains the famous verse from Chapter 8 of the Bhagavad-gita: “Whatever state of being one remembers at the time of death, that state one attains in the next life.” He teaches that a person’s consciousness at death determines the next destination. If one remembers Krishna at the final moment, one can attain a divine spiritual state. If the mind is absorbed in material thoughts, one remains bound to material existence.

He gives the example of Maharaja Bharata, who became attached to a deer and remembered it at death. As a result, he took birth as a deer in the next life. This shows that the thoughts cultivated throughout life naturally arise at death. Therefore, one must practice Krishna consciousness daily rather than hoping to remember God only at the final moment.

Maharaj describes death as the “final examination” of life. Just as students study and are tested at the end of a course, spiritual practice is tested at death. The body is temporary and constantly declining, but the soul is eternal. Real intelligence means preparing for the soul’s future, not living only for bodily maintenance.

He addresses the common excuse that family duties, business, and responsibilities leave no time for spiritual life. To answer this, he gives the example of Bhaktivinoda Thakur, who managed family life, government service, extensive writing, and deep devotional practice. This proves that spiritual life is possible when one has sincerity and discipline.

Finally, he explains how to remember Krishna constantly. By understanding that everything belongs to Krishna, one can see the world as His energy. Just as seeing a national flag reminds one of the government, seeing creation should remind one of the Creator. In this way, daily life becomes connected with remembrance of Krishna, leading to success at life’s final moment.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117912

In this talk, HG Amogh Lila Prabhu explains that the real strength of any company, organization, or family is not money, technology, or buildings, but people. Human beings should not be treated merely as “resources,” but with dignity, care, and respect. He says people usually do not leave organizations—they leave bad bosses or unhealthy relationships. Therefore, managing relationships is essential.

He explains that IQ (Intelligence Quotient) alone is not enough for success, because intelligent people can also misuse their intelligence. EQ (Emotional Quotient) alone is also incomplete, because overly emotional people may lose focus and balance. Therefore, SQ (Spiritual Quotient) is necessary, as it helps manage both IQ and EQ. Spirituality gives a person steadiness, compassion, and proper judgment.

Prabhuji also warns that many people sacrifice relationships in pursuit of career success and wealth, but later end up lonely. A large house, money, and status mean little if there is no family warmth, love, or companionship. He quotes the idea that some people are so poor that all they have is money.

Using simple examples, he says grapes sold in bunches are more valuable than scattered grapes. Likewise, united people have greater strength and value. The sticks of a broom clean only when tied together; separately they become useless. Unity creates power.

He further explains that all kinds of people are needed in life. Some people encourage us, some add joy, and some criticize us. Praise gives inspiration, but criticism gives improvement. Both are valuable.

Finally, he says relationships do not die naturally—they are murdered by ego. The mentality of “Why should I bend?” destroys families, friendships, and teams. Humility, willingness to adjust, and letting go of ego are the real keys to maintaining healthy and lasting relationships.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117909

Agnidev Das, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada, was admitted to the hospital overnight after suffering a severe brain stroke. He is currently unresponsive and has no movement in his arms or legs.
Doctors have indicated that no further medical interventions are available, and are focused on keeping him comfortable.
Devotees are requested to please offer prayers for Agnidev Das and to share this message with others.
Devotees are also requested not to call his wife, Krishna Presthaya Devi Dasi, as she is managing a great deal at the hospital.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117904

By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi, 

Some journeys begin with certainty while others begin with questions that refuse to be silenced—and for Ujjvala Radhe Devi Dasi, known professionally as Dr. Uma Pallavi Pothu, it was the latter. 

What began as a sincere search for answers has blossomed into a life of extraordinary purpose, where intellect, faith, and service meet with compelling strength. Today, as a psychologist, author, Bhakti Shastri teacher, and counselor at ISKCON Hyderabad, she has spent over two decades carrying the timeless wisdom of the Vedic tradition, thereby transforming inquiry into illumination for countless others.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/a-vaishnavis-journey-from-questions-to-service-and-spiritual-leadership/

Hare Krishna Dear Devotees & Well-wishers,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

As we continue through the sacred days of Narasimha Navaratri, the anticipation is building with just **2 days remaining** before the divine appearance of **Sri Narasimhadeva**, the protector of the universe.
Yesterday, April 27th, was truly unforgettable…
The beginning of the Sri Lakshmi Narasimhadeva Parikrama was simply magical as the Lord rode on His Simha Vahana.

As the Lord came out to give His merciful darshan, devotees eagerly gathered to receive His blessings. The path was decorated with vibrant rangolis. The Lord made several stops along the way, gracefully parading across the campus, accepting offerings and arati from devotees—just as is the cherished tradition here in Mayapur, and the sound of kirtan created a deeply spiritual and uplifting mood.
It truly felt like a moment of grace, simple, powerful, and unforgettable.

Sri Lakshmi Narasimhadeva Shobha Yatra (April 27–29)
For three auspicious days, Sri Sri Lakshmi Narasimhadeva continues to bless all devotees through His **grand procession (Shobha Yatra)**, riding on three divine vahanas:

Gaja Vahana – Elephant carrier
Garuda Vahana – Garuda carrier
Simha Vahana – Lion carrier
Each day offers a unique darshan and a chance to connect more deeply with the Lord.

April 28 (Dvadasi): Maha Sudarshana & Narasimha Yajna
On this sacred Dvadasi, the powerful **Maha Sudarshana Yajna** along with the **Narasimha Yajna** will be performed.
These yajnas are performed for:

Protection from obstacles and negativity
Spiritual purification and strength
Invoking divine blessings for all

We warmly invite you to take darshan and be part of this sacred offering.

April 29–30: Narahari Nama Kirtan
Continuing the celebrations, we will have **non-stop Narahari Nama Kirtan**:
10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (both days)

Let us come together and immerse ourselves in the holy names, creating a space of devotion and joy.

A Loving Invitation to Serve
These sacred festivals are carried out through the devotion and support of the Vaishnava community.
If you feel inspired, you can offer your seva by contributing towards:

Yajna arrangements
Bhoga offerings
Decorations and festival seva
Supporting kirtan and devotee services

Every offering becomes a direct service to Sri Narasimhadeva.

Donate Now: https://www.mayapur.com/festivals/Narasimha-Caturdasi

As we approach this divine appearance day, let us take shelter with sincerity and faith.
May Sri Narasimhadeva protect and guide us always.

With prayers and gratitude,
Gopijanavallabha Das
Haribol

Source: https://www.mayapur.com/en/blog/just-2-days-to-go-welcoming-sri-narasimhadeva

Today is Rukmini-dvadasi, the appearance day of Srimati Rukmini-devi. There have been wonderful festivities all day, beginning with the special darshan of the Deities in Their flower outfits, and just now a wonderful abhiseka. During the abhiseka I really felt like I was in Vrindavan. There was so much devotion, spontaneous devotion—every time the pujaris poured another substance on the Deities, there would be gasps and cries of ecstasy and approval. It was really wonderful. And that is life in Krishna consciousness—somehow being captivated by Krishna, the beauty of Krishna, manifest in His deity forms, His holy names, and His words and descriptions, the revealed scriptures. We want, somehow or other, to be absorbed in Krishna, and that absorption, encouraged by all these different activities, will cleanse the heart naturally and make us happy.

In terms of tattva (ontology), Krishna is the Absolute Truth. From Him everything emanates. He is the cause of all causes.

isvarah paramah krsnah
  sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah
anadir adir govindah
  sarva-karana-karanam

“Krsna, who is known as Govinda, is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin, and He is the prime cause of all causes.” (Brahma-samhita 5.1)

Once, on a morning walk here at Cheviot Hills Park, I asked Srila Prabhupada, “We say that Krishna is the origin of all, but sometimes people question us, ‘You say Krishna is the origin, but what is Krishna’s origin?’ What should we answer?” And Prabhupada replied, “You should tell them that according to our information, Krishna is the origin of everything and has no origin, but if you find someone or something that is the origin of Krishna, we will worship that person or thing—but until then you should worship Krishna.”

So, Krishna is the origin, but in terms of tattva, there are two basic categories: vishnu-tattva and shakti-tattva. Krishna is the source of all Vishnu forms, beginning with Balarama (Krishna’s first expansion), Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha—so many expansions on the side of the energetic (Vishnu). Similarly, there are so many expansions on the side of the energy (shakti), and the first is Srimati Radharani. From Her expand so many gopis in Vrindavan, so many queens in Dvaraka, and so many Laksmis in Vaikuntha.

krsna-kanta-gana dekhi tri-vidha prakara
  eka laksmi-gana, pure mahisi-gana ara
vrajangana-rupa, ara kanta-gana-sara
  sri-radhika haite kanta-ganera vistara

“The beloved consorts of Lord Krsna are of three kinds: the goddesses of fortune, the queens, and the milkmaids of Vraja, who are the foremost of all. These consorts all proceed from Radhika.” (Cc Adi 4.74–75)

Of all Krishna’s queens in Dvaraka, Rukmini-devi is the principal. Ultimately, she is an expansion of Srimati Radharani. All of Rukmini’s qualities are present in Radharani, though Radharani manifests some qualities that Rukmini doesn’t.

Many of Rukmini and Krishna’s pastimes are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam, and they are relishable and instructive. When I first read the story of Rukmini and Krishna in the Krsna book, I thought that it was the most wonderful story—one that could make a fabulous movie, with romance, suspense, chivalry, adventure, and a truly happy ending. I thought, “This is amazing. You get everything in Krishna consciousness—but completely pure and spiritual.”

Rukmini was the daughter of the king of Vidarbha, and when sages and saintly persons visited the royal palace, they would glorify the transcendental beauty, prowess, and character of Krishna. Sages knew Krishna to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and so they were pleased to glorify Him. And because He was acting as a ruler, kshatriyas were also pleased to speak about Him. By hearing about Krishna, Princess Rukmini became attached to Him (we could say she fell in love). She had never met Him, but just by hearing about Him she developed great faith, attraction, and love for Him and decided that He would be the perfect husband for her.

This is instructive for all of us, that if we hear about Krishna without envy we will also become attracted to Him. Of course, Rukmini was a very pious, religious, pure-hearted girl. In fact, she was an expansion of Srimati Radharani. But because she was pure and religious and cultured, hearing about Krishna had an especially powerful effect on her heart. In the same way, if we lead pure lives as ordained by scripture, as taught by Srila Prabhupada, when we hear about the beauty and qualities and pastimes of Krishna, we will also become attracted.

Thus Rukmini, a most qualified princess, became attached to Krishna, the most qualified prince, and decided to marry Him. But her eldest brother, Rukmi, was envious of Krishna and forbade her marriage with Him. Instead, he arranged her marriage to his friend Sisupala, who was practically from birth envious of and antagonistic toward Krishna.

Other than Rukmi, all Rukmini’s family members and well-wishers, including her father, favored her match with Krishna. And Rukmini, Krishna’s eternal consort, could not think of marrying anyone else. Later, she told Krishna that only a woman who had not relished the fragrance of the honey of His lotus feet could accept someone else as her husband or lover. Any other suitor would be a “living corpse”—a bag covered with skin, whiskers, nails, and hair and filled with flesh, bones, blood, stool, mucus, bile, and air. “The aroma of Your lotus feet,” she averred, “which is glorified by great saints, awards people liberation and is the abode of Goddess Laksmi. What woman would take shelter of any other man after savoring that aroma? Since You are the abode of transcendental qualities, what mortal woman with the insight to distinguish her own true interest would disregard that fragrance and depend instead on someone who is always subject to terrible fear?” She insisted that she would depend only on Krishna, who has an eternal, blissful, spiritual form.

Understanding the entire situation, Rukmini, in a bold move, sent a message to Krishna through a trustworthy brahman, expressing her heart’s desire to have only Him as her husband and suggesting how He could steal her away from the assembly at her proposed marriage the following day.

Rukmini was so beautiful and attractive that not only Sisupala but many kings and princes desired her. That is what we experience in the material world: Pretty much everyone looks at us as objects to exploit and enjoy, however sweetly they may act or speak. For example, at the end of almost any phone call to a large business, the company’s rep will ask, “Is there anything else I can do for you?” It’s all scripted. The ultimate purpose is to get your money, but they ask ever so politely, “Is there anything else I can do for you today?” Underneath it all, people want to get something from you for themselves. They want to exploit your body, your mind, or your resources. They are just like the lusty kings and princes hovering around Rukmini.

In that delicate predicament, that awkward situation, Rukmini reached out to Krishna, cried out to Him to save her. That was the only recourse she had, and ultimately that is the only recourse any of us has. We are in an ocean surrounded by sharks ready to devour us, and the only one who can save us is Krishna.

daivi hy esa guna-mayi
  mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
  mayam etam taranti te

[Lord Krishna says,] “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who surrender unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” (Gita 7.14)

Rukmini surrendered herself to Lord Krishna with utter, complete sincerity, and the Lord reciprocated and delivered her. Sometimes we also pray to Krishna, but with some duplicity. We want Krishna’s help but at the same time still desire to enjoy materially, without Krishna. There is a saying about soldiers in combat: “There are no atheists in foxholes [pits dug for cover from enemy fire].” There are no atheists in foxholes because someone in extreme danger will naturally pray to God, knowing intuitively that only God can save him. But after he has been saved from his immediate danger, the person will tend to forget God and again think, “I’m the controller, I’m the enjoyer, I’m the proprietor,” and return to his ordinary, self-centered, inauspicious way of life.

Princess Rukmini was completely sincere. She wanted only to serve Krishna, and nothing else. Nothing else would satisfy her. And so she concluded her message to Krishna:

yasyanghri-pankaja-rajah-snapanam mahanto
  vanchanty uma-patir ivatma-tamo-’pahatyai
yarhy ambujaksa na labheya bhavat-prasadam
  jahyam asun vrata-krsan chata-janmabhih syat

“O lotus-eyed one, great souls like Lord Siva hanker to bathe in the dust of Your lotus feet and thereby destroy their ignorance. If I cannot obtain Your mercy, I shall simply give up my vital force, which will have become weak from the severe penances I will perform. Then, after hundreds of lifetimes of endeavor, I may obtain Your mercy.” (SB 10.52.43)

Now, one could argue that yes, Rukmini wanted Krishna, but along with Krishna she got a beautiful palace—there are descriptions in the Bhagavatam of the extraordinary opulence of Dvaraka—and so many nice children and servants and maidservants, and so much affluence. Actually, there is no harm in opulence as long as Krishna is in the center. The main thing is that Krishna should be in the center. A chaste and faithful wife—this is another instruction from the narration of Rukmini and Krishna in the Bhagavatam—will follow her husband. If he is in an opulent position, so be it; or if by circumstances he falls into a poor condition, still she will stay with him. And sometimes it happens that the poor husband, by the grace of Krishna, becomes opulent.

One example is Sudama Vipra. He was Krishna’s friend from when they were students in gurukula, in the ashram of Sandipani Muni. Sudama was a peaceful and learned brahman, detached from sense enjoyment, and he ended up being very poor. Krishna was a prince, the husband of the goddess of fortune, and He naturally ended up being supremely opulent. One day, Sudama’s wife, weak from hunger and distressed (more for her husband’s sake than for her own), implored him, “The Supreme Lord Krishna is nearby in Dvaraka. He is a personal friend and is compassionate to brahmans. Please approach Him, and He will surely give you, a suffering householder, abundant wealth.”

Sudama was not very keen on asking for something material from Krishna, but he did like the idea of seeing Him. In accordance with proper etiquette, he wanted to bring some gift, and he asked his wife if there was anything in the house he could take. They had nothing, so she begged four handfuls of flat rice from neighboring brahmans, tied it in a torn piece of cloth, and gave it to her husband as a present for Lord Krishna. Thus Sudama set out to Dvaraka, constantly thinking of Krishna.

When Lord Krishna caught sight of the brahman, He immediately stood up, went forward to meet him, and embraced him with great pleasure. He seated him very nicely on His own bedstead and washed his feet, while Queen Rukmini, the divine goddess of fortune herself, personally fanned the poor brahman. After some affectionate, philosophical talks about their times in service to their guru, Krishna asked His friend, “What gift have you brought Me?” Sudama felt so ashamed and embarrassed, he simply remained silent and bowed his head. Then the Lord, who knew everything, snatched the flakes of chipped rice tied in the old cloth and exclaimed, “What is this?” He ate a palmful of the rice, but when He was about to eat a second, Queen Rukmini caught hold of His hand and said, “One palmful is enough.” According to Visvanatha Cakravarti, she was thinking, “If You eat all of this wonderful treat Yourself, what will be left for my friends and servants and me?”

Rukmini told Krishna, “This is more than enough to satisfy You. Your pleasure alone assures Your devotee of opulence in this life and the next.” In Krsna (Ch. 81), Srila Prabhupada comments, “This indicates that when food is offered to Lord Krsna with love and devotion and He is pleased and accepts it from the devotee, Rukmini-devi, the goddess of fortune, becomes so greatly obliged to the devotee that she has to go personally to the devotee’s home to turn it into the most opulent home in the world.”

Sudama spent the night in Lord Krishna’s palace, and the next day, after being duly honored by the Lord, without having asked Him for any material benefit, he set off for his home. Walking along the road, he felt blissful, satisfied just by the Lord’s darshan. And he thought that the merciful Lord, considering that if he suddenly became rich he would become intoxicated with material happiness and forget Him, had not granted him even the slightest wealth.

Thus the brahman eventually reached home. In place of his former meager residence, however, he found a celestial palace with beautiful gardens and servants and maidservants. And when Sudama’s wife came forward to greet him, she looked just like the goddess of fortune herself. Without Sudama’s having asked Krishna for anything, and without Krishna’s having told Sudama that He would give him anything, He gave him more than Sudama or his wife could ever have imagined. And Sudama never forgot Lord Krishna. He concluded:

kincit karoty urv api yat sva-dattam
  suhrt-krtam phalgv api bhuri-kari
mayopanitam prthukaika-mustim
  pratyagrahit priti-yuto mahatma

“The Lord considers even His greatest benedictions to be insignificant, while He magnifies even a small service rendered to Him by His well-wishing devotee. Thus with pleasure the Supreme Soul accepted a single palmful of the flat rice I brought Him.

tasyaiva me sauhrda-sakhya-maitri-
  dasyam punar janmani janmani syat
mahanubhavena gunalayena
  visajjatas tat-purusa-prasangah

“The Lord is the supremely compassionate reservoir of all transcendental qualities. Life after life may I serve Him with love, friendship, and sympathy, and may I cultivate such firm attachment for Him by the precious association of His devotees.

bhaktaya citra bhagavan hi sampado
  rajyam vibhutir na samarthayaty ajah
adirgha-bodhaya vicaksanah svaya
  pasyan nipatam dhaninam madodbhavam

“To a devotee who lacks spiritual insight, the Supreme Lord will not grant the wonderful opulences of this world—kingly power and material assets. Indeed, in His infinite wisdom the unborn Lord well knows how the intoxication of pride can cause the downfall of the wealthy.” (SB 10.81.35–37)

Firmly fixed in his determination by his spiritual intelligence, Sudama remained absolutely devoted to Krishna, and without avarice, he, with his wife, remained in the opulent position awarded them by Him. Being completely purified by constant remembrance of the merciful, affectionate Lord Krishna, Sudama attained the Lord’s supreme abode.

So, we are not against opulence, and we are not for poverty—we are for Krishna. Sometimes, however, opulence can be an impediment. We may be tested: “Do I want Krishna more or maya more?” And sometimes poverty, in a way, can be an impediment. But whatever is destined for us will come to us. We don’t have to bother about it. It is ordained. Some people are rich automatically, and some people are poor. It is ordained. Whatever happiness is due to us will come, and whatever distress is due to us will come, but the main thing is Krishna, to have Krishna, to make Krishna—the Deity of Krishna, the holy name of Krishna, the pastimes of Krishna, the philosophy of Krishna, everything Krishna—the center of our lives. And if Krishna, the husband of the goddess of fortune (and Rukmini, the goddess of fortune herself) wants, He will give us more facility to serve Him. That is what He did with Sudama Brahman. Knowing that the brahman would not misuse the facility, that he would remain a humble, devoted servant, Krishna gave him everything.

So, if we worship Rukmini-Dvarakadisa and make Them the center of our lives, we may enjoy some of Their opulence. New Dvaraka itself is quite opulent, so we are already enjoying some of Their opulence. But material opulence is incidental, because material things without Krishna will not make us happy. The real thing is Krishna. Only Krishna can make us happy, and with Krishna we will be happy—with or without material things.

Today’s festival is wonderful because it infuses us with thoughts of Krishna, inspires our attraction for Krishna. That is why Srila Prabhupada established this temple, installed the Deities, and trained the devotees, so that they could always be busy with Krishna, busy for Krishna, and by association, inspire and teach others also how to be absorbed in Krishna. Among the main processes in the present age of Kali, the foremost is the chanting of the holy names: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. So let us chant Hare Krishna, dance, feast on krsna-prasada, and be happy in Krishna consciousness.

Hare Krishna.

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Rukmini-dvadasi, May 14, 2011, New Dvaraka, Los Angeles]

Source: https://girirajswami.com/blog/?p=17992

On 16th March 2026, Sahibabad witnessed a historic milestone—the grand inauguration of the ISKCON Sahibabad temple, where Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra were installed amidst Vedic rituals, ecstatic kirtans, and the heartfelt devotion of thousands.
This is one of the twenty ISKCON temples within the Delhi region.

Sahibabad is the name for a group of industrial, residential and commercial areas within the jurisdiction of Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (Vasundhara Zone)[1] in Ghaziabad District of Uttar Pradesh, India. It touches the borders of Delhi, Noida and City Zone of Ghaziabad and constitutes a part of the Delhi National Capital Region.The atmosphere was electrified with conch shells, mridangas, and the chanting of the Hare Krishna mahā-mantra, as the Lord of the Universe entered His new palace.

The story of ISKCON Sahibabad began in 2003, when Ms. Usha Rani Khanna Mataji gifted the land through a formal Gift Deed, in the divine presence of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj,former Chairman of the GBC. This act of heartfelt devotion planted the seed for a spiritual lighthouse in Sahibabad.

Shreshtha Golokhe Prabhuji played a pivotal role in realizing the ISKCON Sahibabad temple. His support and service during the foundational years helped transform a vision into a vibrant spiritual reality.

Why Sahibabad? The Value of a Temple in an Industrial Town

The opening of ISKCON Sahibabad is more than a spiritual event—it is a cultural and social transformation for the city. Known as a bustling industrial hub, Sahibabad is home to thousands of laborers and factory workers whose lives are often marked by long hours and little respite. Srila Prabhupāda once wrote that laborers should “chant Hare Krishna and push the buttons of machines,” reminding us that spiritual life is not separate from daily work but can sanctify it.

Temple President Sachinandan Prem Das has announced initiatives that directly address this vision:

• Harinam Sankirtan & Free Food Distribution: Regular programs will bring the holy name and prasadam to thousands of laborers, offering both spiritual nourishment and physical sustenance.

• Seminars for Industrialists & Managers: Special workshops will guide leaders of production houses in applying Krishna consciousness principles to management, ethics, and community welfare.

In this way, ISKCON Sahibabad bridges devotion with daily life—uplifting both workers and leaders, and infusing the industrial town with spiritual values.

A Royal Palace for the Lord

The temple itself is a marvel of devotional architecture:

• Ceiling: Depicts Navadha Bhakti—the nine processes of devotional service.

• Temple Hall: Vietnam marble flooring radiates elegance and purity.

• Side Walls: Korean marble adorned with paintings of Krishna’s four life stages.

• Altar: Engraved with all 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita, merging scripture with worship.

• Exterior: Built with red stone, symbolizing strength and timelessness.

The deities of Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra—standing three feet tall—are the largest in the entire NCR region, making Sahibabad a rare and magnificent destination for darshan.

A Collective Offering of Love

The inauguration was graced by eminent ISKCON leaders including HH Guru Prasad Swami Maharaj, HG Devakinandan Prabhu, HG Sundar Gopal Das, and many others. Their presence reminded devotees that ISKCON Sahibabad is part of Srila Prabhupāda’s global mission.

The celebration included:

• Ceremonial Entry with abhishekam, flower showers, and melodious kirtans.

• Community Participation where families, youth, and elders joined hands in seva.

• Prasadam Distribution to over 3,500 devotees and guests, turning the event into a feast of unity.

A Spiritual Heartbeat for Sahibabad

The temple now offers daily darshan of Radha Madanmohan, Gaura Nitai, and Jagannath deities, along with seva opportunities such as Nitya Seva, Sadhu Bhojan, and Gita Daan. Beyond worship, it promises to be a center of culture, learning, and community transformation.

Closing Reflection

The inauguration of ISKCON Sahibabad is not just the consecration of a temple—it is the awakening of a spiritual heartbeat for the city. With Lord Jagannath’s smiling glance now permanently gracing Sahibabad, the community has gained a sanctuary where devotion, culture, and learning converge.

For an industrial town, this temple is more than a place of worship—it is a spiritual lighthouse, guiding workers, families, and leaders toward eternal service and love for the Supreme Lord.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117773

Nimai dasi: A group of Leicester devotees are taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge in a bid to raise funds for the renovation of ISKCON Leicester, one of the city’s most notable historic buildings.

The 22 `dads and lads’, including the Temple’s Head Pujari, will embark on the mission on 24th April, 2026, aiming to summit the highest peaks in Scotland, England, and Wales within 72 hours. Together, they hope to raise £20,000 to support the ongoing restoration of the landmark temple in Leicester City Centre.

The challenge was inspired by Ananda Hari Das who runs a skin clinic in the city.

Ananda Hari previously completed a climb in Snowdonia with friends in 2020. That experience sparked the idea of taking on the Three Peaks Challenge. this time with a charitable purpose.

“This project to renovate ISKCON’s building in the heart of the city centre was important for us all,” he said. “We like the thought of pushing our limits to serve Radha Madhava’s stunning temple.

“This isn’t just a renovation; it’s a transformation. We’re contributing to the future use of the building, which will be a spiritual sanctuary a vibrant space for Krishna’s festivals and public events, and a historic gem for generations to come.

“This building is a cornerstone of our city’s heritage and identity. We’re enduring 72 hours of gruelling trekking to ensure this space remains a thriving resource for ISKCON’s activities and everyone in Leicester. The climb will be tough, but with support, we can restore this landmark to its former glory.”

Built in 1874 by renowned architect Joseph Goddard, the Grade II* listed former bank building is recognised as an important part of Leicester’s architectural heritage.

It was acquired by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 2011. The building is currently being restored into a community centre and heritage hub,

Pradyumna Das, President of ISKCON Leicester, said: “It is now 15 years since we acquired the building. After investing in renovations in 2016, we completed a full overhaul of the original roof at a cost of £1.1 million. We are now ready to develop the ground floor, including the Grand Banking Hall, into a community hub for wellbeing, celebration, and heritage.

“Though we can’t all join the team, this challenging effort is a welcome contribution to our fundraising, and we are deeply grateful for their support.”

The group is encouraging the community to get behind the challenge and support their efforts to preserve and revitalise one of Leicester’s most treasured historic buildings.

For more information, to donate, and to follow the challenge, see:

https://gofund.me/487d3ef0d
 
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117757

This year’s annual 12-Day Matching Fundraiser is focused on helping to open the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium on Srila Prabhupada’s 50th Disappearance Anniversary, November 1, 2027. The Grand Opening celebrations will continue for three months as our beloved Mayapur Deities are relocated into Their new palace home. Please consider sponsoring a Prabhupada 50 KRSNA Ring, an exact replica of Srila Prabhupada’s personal KRSNA ring, or give a donation of any amount. Payments towards existing pledges will also be matched (go to the Pledge Payments page). The auspicious Akshaya Tritiya day begins the fundraiser on April 19, and Nrsimha Caturdasi is the final day on April 30.

This auspicious window is known for spiritual growth, charity, and multiplied blessings—making it the perfect time to give back and make a meaningful impact.

Giving during this sacred time is said to bring endless spiritual benefits (akshaya punya)—and now, your contribution goes twice as far.

Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117900

By Atma Tattva Das, 

On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, ISKCON UK has formally recognized the UK bus tour as an official national initiative, marking a significant step forward in youth outreach and coordinated preaching efforts nationwide.

The announcement follows a sustained period of planning and consultation led by organizing members, including Eka-varna Das, who described the process as one of alignment with established standards.

“For us, the journey to approval was really about aligning with the standards already set within ISKCON by the GBC and UK leadership,” he said. “The main challenge was bringing everything together, taking all the ideas, structures, and requirements, and compiling them into one clear, cohesive proposal that met those standards smoothly.”

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/uk-bus-tour-receives-official-recognition-opening-new-chapter-for-youth-outreach/

Her Grace Saudamini Devi Dasi, a beloved disciple of Srila Prabhupada and the wife of Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu, passed away in the sacred dhama of Sridham Mayapur, at approximately 1:00 AM IST on April 26, 2026.  In Philadelphia, she departed during yesterday’s 8 hour kirtan.

After more than fifty years of dedicated service in the West, she and her husband moved to Mayapur in 2024 to spend their final years in the spiritual atmosphere of Lord Caitanya’s birthplace.

For decades, from the early 1970’s to 2014, Mother Saudamini was a foundational pillar of the ISKCON Philadelphia temple and community, where she lived and served with great devotion as the Head Pujari, Vice President, and Mother of the community.  While her husband served the movement through global leadership and scholarship, she was the heart of the temple’s worship, dedicated to the meticulous care and service of the presiding deities, Sri Sri Radha Saradbihari, Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra, and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. In the midst of many outside influences, together they served very hard to keep ISKCON Philadelphia a Srila Prabhupada centered Temple.

She was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1971.  Both she and Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.  They passed up their professional and personal aspirations to take up a life of austerity serving full-time in Srila Prabhupada’s movement, where, in addition to their full-time services, they raised three children, Radhikika, Yudhistira, and Rupa.

We will hold a memorial service at ISKCON Philadelphia on Sunday, May 3, at 3 pm, where devotees and friends will share memories and offer Holding it next Sunday will give us time to get the word out to family, god-family, and well-wishers. We encourage all devotees in the Philadelphia community to attend and offer their respects, glorify, and learn about this important devotee in our Temple’s history.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/remembering-her-grace-saudamani-devi-dasi/