The Boat Festival has its roots in Goloka Vrindavan, the spiritual eternal realm. One of the boat pastimes is described in detail in Gopal Champu by Srila Jiva Goswami. One day the gopis, loaded with pots full of yogurt and butter, came to the banks of Manasi Ganaga, wishing to cross the river. They met a boatman who gladly agreed to help. When the boat was already far away from the bank the boatman stopped rowing, saying that He was too hungry. The gopis gave Him whatever food they had in thei
The video features a brief interview with two long-time devotees serving in the Hare Krishna temple community in Hong Kong: Shereimony and Suchandra, both disciples of their spiritual teacher. They discuss what inspires them in Krishna consciousness and how they deal with challenges.
Shereimony explains that her greatest inspiration comes from associating with other devotees and participating in congregational singing (kirtan). Although studying scripture is valuable, she feels that direct assoc
The Most Wonderful Day of the Year!
The most wonderful day of the year is fast approaching: Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja day! Please sharpen your pencil or boot up your keyboard and let your love and appreciation flow for the most wonderful personality, whom we’re so fortunate to have as our eternal master.
Written homages are due by May 1, 2026. You will note that this deadline is later than usual, so please also be aware that NO homages will be accepted after this date!
Please email homages t
As the global ISKCON community prepares to celebrate the appearance day of its Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, devotees around the world are invited to submit written homages for inclusion in the 2026 Srila Prabhupada Vyasa-puja Book. Organizers have announced that submissions are due by May 1, 2026, noting that the deadline is later than usual this year but emphasizing that no homages will be accepted after this date. Offerings should be emailed to vphomag
A major artistic project is underway for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) in Mayapur, featuring a series of large-scale devotional paintings depicting the pastimes of Lord Nrsimhadeva. The video highlights an ambitious effort to produce 16 detailed paintings that narrate the dramatic story of the Lord’s appearance and the deliverance of His great devotee Prahlad Maharaj. The narrative sequence begins with the well-known episode of the four Kumaras cursing Jaya and Vijaya, and concludes
When I saw the young man sweeping the leaves from the temple court yard, I was actually also in the midst of cleaning. He was very particular about picking up every last bit of the organic matter, the dried leaves fallen from two bael trees. I was chanting japa at the time, pacing my steps on the tiled floor, going for an internal cleanse. I was a trite envious of him. He was doing a more successful job than I was. I just had to take a photo of him,
Being that we are on the eve of Chaitanya’
Srila Srivasa Pandit, the fifth member of the Panca-tattva, appeared in Srihatta, West Bengal, about 30 years before the appearance of Lord Gauranga. Srivasa Pandit lived in Navadvipa before the advent of Lord Chaitanya.
Living the traditional brahminical life, he and his younger brothers, Srinidhi, Sripati and Srirama, worshipped Lord Krishna, performing devotional service and bathing thrice daily in the Ganges. On his order, they moved to Navadvipa and began to associate with the senior and re
Srivasa Thakura, one of the members of the Pancha-tattva, lived in Navadvipa-dhama in Mayapur, near the residence of Jagannatha Misra and Sacidevi, where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared. Later, when Lord Chaitanya began His sankirtana movement in Navadvipa-dhama, He and His other most confidential associates would meet at Srivasa-angana, the home of Srivasa Thakura, and have kirtan throughout the night. The kirtans at Srivasa-angana were ecstatic, and only the most intimate devotees of Sri Ch
Srivasa Thakura, one of the members of the Pancha-tattva, lived in Navadvipa-dhama in Mayapur, near the residence of Jagannatha Mishra and Sacidevi, where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared. Later, when Lord Chaitanya began His sankirtana movement in Navadvipa-dhama, He and His other most confidential associates would meet at Srivasa-angana, the home of Srivasa Thakura, and have kirtan throughout the night. The kirtans at Srivasa-angana were ecstatic, and only the most intimate devotees of Sri Ch
By Niranajan And Jayapataka Swami
Today being the Disappearance day of our most beloved HH Sridhar Swami Maharaj we thought of remembering one of Srila Prabhupada’s favorite sons, his Samadhi is in Mayapur next to the Samadhi of HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaj, and Srila Prabhupadas Pusya Samadhi.
HH Niranajan Swami Maharaj remembers the Jolly Swami:
There are many things more we could say about Sridhar Maharaja. He was a very wonderful devotee and the w
The mission statement of HH Sridhara Swami (1995) is very inspirational:
“My mission is to serve my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, with all my heart and soul… .
“To achieve this goal has now become my only reason for living. Out of a great sense of debt for his having shown me the path, I want to become a sharp instrument to be used by Srila Prabhupada in his mission of flooding the world with love of Krishna.
“I will strive to achieve excellence in all
Ecstatic kīrtans and nectarean discourses on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. All night long this was the typical sight observed in the house of ŚrīvāsaPaṇḍita. Why was ŚrīvāsaĀṅgan chosen? What was its specialty? Dive below to know more.
With hands folded and head finely tilted to its left stands the tall deity of Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita – the fifth member of the Pañca-tattva – at the alter in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur. Hailing from Śrīhaṭṭa[modern day Sylhet], he was the second among the five sons of his father Śrī Jaladhar
By HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami
Today marks the most auspicious anniversary appearance of Srila Srivasa Pandit or also known as Srila Srivasa Thakura and it also coincides with the anniversary disappearance of one of our Commanders in Srila Prabhupada’s army – Srila Prabhupada is our General – HH Sridhara Swami.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi Lili chapter 7, entitled, Lord Caitanya in Five features, text 15
ei tina tattva, — ‘sarvaradhya’ kari mani caturtha ye bhakta-tattva, — ‘aradhaka’ jani [
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a personal relationship with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu? To talk with Him face-to-face, and have loving exchanges with Him? It’s not something we can speculate about or artificially induce. But we can hear about such loving exchanges, learn from them and become attracted and attached to entering into them as a humble servant of the servant. Today, let’s visit the world of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His very dear associate and servant, Srivasa T
We human beings have always searched for happiness, which means we know we’re not happy.
Discontent burns within us, but we search for fulfillment outside ourselves.
We’re taught that we’ll feel complete when we get the right things.
But we’re left wanting more things.
The gap between us and true happiness is wider than ever.
But closing that gap is easier than we think.
The secret is simple: Selfless Service.
By giving we grow and enjoy without limit.
Giving service to our divine source nouris
Bhakti Brihat Bhagavat Swami, introduces a series of classes about the Pancha Tattva leading up to Gaura Purnima, beginning with the glories of Lord Nityananda. He explains scriptural verses from the Chaitanya Charitamrita describing how Lord Nityananda is the same divine expansion as Balaram, who previously appeared as Lakshman, the younger brother of Lord Rama.
In the Ramayana pastimes, Lakshman served Lord Rama with great devotion but often suffered internally because, as the younger brot
The talk focuses on the nature of spiritual leadership, especially within a devotional community. The speaker explains that true leadership is not about power or control but about service. A real leader wants others to become better than themselves and works to help people grow, become happier, and move closer to Krishna. Leadership is rewarding but also difficult, mainly because it involves guiding people with different personalities, ideas, and backgrounds.
One major challenge for leaders is
By Rukmini Devi Dasi
Radha Krishna Records, the historic record label owned by ISKCON London, is celebrating its 16th year and has released a new album designed for introspection and contemplation amidst the clamor of the modern world. This stripped-back offering primarily features acoustic guitar and bansuri flute, intentionally crafted to bring the sung mantras to the forefront.
The album, entitled Mantra Vibes London, marks the start of a new series. The “Mantra Vibes” project may visit your
By Prema-vilasini Devi Dasi,
Ranjit Dasa was born on August 31, 1945, in Pretoria, South Africa. He moved to England after graduating from college and later went to a farm near Vancouver, Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. He was initiated there in 1974 and saw Srila Prabhupada four or five times, including in San Francisco, Vrindavan, India, Dallas, and England.
His main service in Nelson was Sankirtan, book distribution, and chopping firewood. From there, he briefly went to Dallas, TX in 197
At 7 AM, I was at the clinic for the virechana. It involves (after some Vedic mantras) consuming a cup of herbal laxatives. Yes, this was the day I will purge – a major clean out. After an hour of a gentle swallow of the purgative, bowel movements are supposed to happen. Well, that is not a lie. Bowel motions are very apparent, almost every hour. With seven as the golden number (it was 7 bulls that Krishna fought), I came to the end result. No pun intended when I say “end result”. I felt quite
