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A song called Throw It Away, by the talented Abbey Lincoln, is a song I’ve often sung to call to the Spiritual World in times of distress… I would use the song (and its affect on me) to call to the ancestors to impart guidance and wisdom in times of material crisis – of which I’ve had my share.

I think about the life I live… I think about the things I lost, the things I gave away…
when I’m in a certain mood I search the house…
one night I found these magic words in a magic book

A magic book. Som

Lord Ram constructed a bridge to Lanka across the Ocean. Lord Ramchandra does not require a bridge to cross over the ocean, he is God, but in order to glorify his followers, good devotees like Hanuman and others including the little squirrel, Lord Ramchandra constructed a bridge to Lanka across the Ocean. Lord Ram gave them a chance, they simply chanted ‘Jai Shri Rama’ and threw stones into the water and the stones started floating, such is the potential of the holy name.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprab

A document prepared by the Child Protection Oversight Committee (CPOC), which outlines the key points of ISKCON’s newly adopted Enhanced Approach to Child Protection, was just released.

As the first official document issued by the CPOC, it aims to address and clarify concerns and attempts to provide accurate information while promoting transparency. Child protection and care is the responsibility of every member of ISKCON. A preventative approach based on good governance, independence, accountab

Guru Prasad Swami, GBC Chairman, greets Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group. Image courtesy of Business Today.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and the Adani Group have initiated the Mahaprasad Seva program at the Maha Kumbha Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The program, running from January 13 to February 26, is designed to distribute sanctified meals, known as prasadam, to the millions of pilgrims who attend this large religious gathering.

A Partnership of Se

Mayapur Master Plan office is excited to announce the launch of a project focused on deepening our Connection with Sri Mayapur-dhama. This project is inspired by the vision of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada for the development of Sri Mayapur-dhama.

Explore the Digital Gateway: www.srimayapurdhama.com (Mobile-friendly)

Vision

Srila Prabhupada said, “My idea is to attract people of the whole world to Mayapur.” This project is an initiative to help fulfill that vision by

This is for all of our preachers in the Far East. May it give them more preaching information to use in their location to help convince people of their connection with Vedic culture.

Bharatvarsha’s beginnings go back to a very long way in time and it is almost certain that the results or influence that is seen today around the world, in the main, were not achieved by military expeditions or conquest, but by peaceful trading and religious teaching, and thereby all the more permanent. This is esp

Today, Makara Sankranti, is the anniversary of the grand opening of Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari’s temple in Juhu, Bombay—after many years of intense struggle by Srila Prabhupada and his devotees.

And Makara Sankranti is significant for other momentous events as well. The auspicious day of Makara Sankranti, which falls in the Krishna paksha of Magha mas, this year the month of January, marks the sun’s entering the zodiac sign of Capricorn, or Makara. Although in ancient times all Sankrantis were obs

A look at what the Srimad-Bhagavatam has to say about time, a concept that has challenged philosophers for centuries.

Time is a little difficult to define. Philosophers and theologians have tried for at least twenty-five centuries. Albert Einstein remarked, in the midst of slightly more esoteric statements regarding physics, that time was what his wristwatch measured. St. Augustine said that he knew what time was as long as no one asked him to explain it. And sounding a note of frustration in

“Fake News” is in the news, everyone seems to be or pretend to be worried about it. A news or an information or a story or a data is considered “fake” when the truth is suppressed and is manipulated to suit a certain narrative. Political parties, journalists, twitter warriors, social activists today do not hesitate to spread fake news to further their agenda. Thinking people are up in arms and are vociferously demanding to check the menace of fake news.

It is good to be concerned about the fake

One of Srila Prabhupada’s evening darshans at New Vrindaban in 1976 on the front lawn where Sankirtana Das and his wife now live.

In 1976, in New Vrindaban, I attended an evening darshan where Srila Prabhupada spoke about presenting the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita to companies and workplaces. One devotee asked, “Why would the companies invite us to do that?”  Prabhupada replied, “Tell them that if they study the Bhagavad-gita, their work will improve.”

This was a time before motivational semi

JANUARY 12th: Thousands of firefighters are still battling blazes in the Los Angeles area, which has seen 16 fire-related deaths, 100,000 residents under evacuation orders, and an estimated 12,000 homes, businesses, and other structures destroyed. ISKCON devotees are among the evacuees; it’s unknown how many may have lost homes in the tragedy.  ISKCON New Dvaraka in Culver City, which includes Govinda’s Restaurant and Gift Shop, as well as the Bhagavad-gita Museum and Srila Prabhupada’s Quarters

This auspicious day marks the transition of the sun into the Makara (Capricorn) rashi, symbolizing a fresh start, enlightenment, and the victory of light over darkness.

The Vedas glorify Makara Sankranti as a time when acts of charity bear immense spiritual merit. It is said that giving in charity on this day brings blessings not only to the giver but also uplifts the entire family line. Srila Prabhupada beautifully emphasized the importance of seva and charity as essential acts of devotion,

Monday morning may not be the most buzzing time in an ashram.  That is my observation in some locations I go to.  The previous day, Sunday, might do a little more than usual wear and tear on brahmacharis (monks) residing on the premises.  At 4:30 AM, present along with myself, is Hansarupa, and my assistant, Kavi, is the priest of the altar. Eventually though, one by one, others appear that makes us family.

Hamsa plays great mridanga and I love to sing, taking the lead on most of the songs.  Tha

Gauranga Das preparing meals at the Mega Kitchen set up during the Kumbh Mela.

The Netra Kumbh 2025, inaugurated on January 5, 2025, during the Maha Kumbh Mela—a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage event held every 12 years—aims to deliver exceptional eye care services to millions of pilgrims and local residents. 

With over 12 million visually impaired individuals in India, many of whom suffer from preventable blindness due to a lack of awareness and resources, Netra Kumbh strives to

Svaha Devi Dasi in her Florida home. Photo courtesy of Detroit News.

This week, a committee led by the Vice-President of India unanimously selected three influential Indian-Americans for the 2025 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award. One of the three recipients is Svaha Devi Dasi (Dr. Sharmila Ford, PhD), wife of TOVP Chairman Ambarisa Dasa (Alfred Ford). This is the country’s  highest honor for Indians living overseas.

Svaha Devi Dasi, recognized for her exemplary community service, hails from a Beng

If I had one wish, I would wish to see you
I wish to see your skin as fresh as the dew
I wish to see Your beautiful black locks,
curling on your hair like the night
I wish to see your hands
that have so much might.
I wish to Your blue aura, even though you are black, I see blue
Lord! When I look at you, I shall see blue
Blue like the vast oceans, holding millions of souls
Your strength holds me up. You are my my pillar, my pole.
I wish to see you, the real you, plain and true
Your elegant smile, and radian

LCVS retreatants on harinam in France.

ISKCON London is happy to announce the relaunch of the London College of Vedic Studies (LCVS) with fresh, innovative ideas and courses, keeping the community at heart and driven by the community to fulfill their requests for various courses. 

Due to staffing limitations, LCVS was dormant for some time, but with our new team of devotees, we are trying to revitalize the college, offering community support and care through facilitating courses and workshops to