From Back to Godhead
Sri Brahma-samhita is one of the oldest Vedic scriptures, and it is accepted by Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu (an incarnation of Krsna Himself who appeared 484 years ago) as the essence of Vaisnava (Krsna conscious) philosophy. The first verse of the Fifth Chapter of Sri Brahma-samhita reads: “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
Who or what is God? In our modern world, when we observe the amount of energy consumed by all of the other topics that fill our lives, this question is given almost no consideration or thought whatsoever. As such, we are burdened with so many frivolous misconceptions of God, the Supreme.
For the most part, this lack of attention to the true nature of God is due to the misconception that we cannot know God. Although there is certainly truth in thinking that total knowledge of the Infinite is not
The first time I met Yamuna devi, my life changed forever.
I was in Saranagati for the Christmas holidays in 2000 having a reunion with my closest childhood friends. We were all in our early twenties, and having recently finished our university education and started work, we spent our time together recalling our childhood activities. One day we decided to have kirtan, but in a rather irreverent way, mocking the showy, elaborate vocal and instrument style we had all absorbed growing up in ISKCON
A spiritual gathering in ancient India yields sage advice for our age of skepticism.
“Once, in a holy place in the forest of Naimisharanya, great sages headed by the sage Saunaka assembled to perform a great thousand-year sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Lord and His devotees. One day, after finishing their morning duties by burning a sacrificial fire and offering a seat of esteem to Srila Suta Gosvami, the great sages made inquiries with great respect.”—Srimad- Bhagavatam 1.1.4
When I tel
From Back to Godhead
Why Krishna’s holy names are the greatest treasure.
Some people fantasize about accumulating immense wealth and dream of what they would buy if they only had enough. To them, happiness hovers elusively on the other side of that new car, that big house, that diamond necklace.
While many of us will say, “Money can’t buy happiness,” do we really believe it? If not money, what is the solution to our hankerings? What is the greatest treasure that will bring true happiness? And h
By Sukanti Radha dasi
“Anyone who carries Krishna within himself, constantly, can go anywhere and turn the place into a sacred pilgrimage.” – Letter to Rupanuga, July 03, 1968 In the streets of the UK and Ireland, devotees transform ordinary book tables and spaces into vibrant altars, embodying a deep sense of devotion and spiritual commitment. These tables, carefully adorned, symbolise more than just a place for distributing literature; they represent a sacred space honouring Krishna. Creating
In late December, the School of Bhakti hosted
Gita 2099 with His Holiness S.B. Keshava Swami. From 6.30pm, over 650 devotees, families, friends, and community guests gathered to explore how the Bhagavad-Gita can guide us through the future.
Before the programme, Maharaj warmly met the 2025 Gita Life students, adults and children alike, including those who had travelled from as far as Poland. He presented certificates, and a group photo marked a meaningful moment for many.
The evening opened with
I came because it was Lila Shakti that was there. I don’t think she was initiated yet. I wanted to hear the man that was responsible for the movement, and I wanted to see what was going on. Who captured my daughter? Not that she didn’t need capturing. But when we walked into the temple, that was my husband and I, the sun was coming through the window and shining on this man. He seemed to be engulfed by the sun, like the sun was purposely coming just for him. Mind you, I was not a believer at tha
By ISKCON Prison Ministry
*In this world we spend hundreds of gallons of blood to bring a person out of the clutches of maya*
Once some devotees were sent to establish a preaching center in Bengal. They worked day and night, equipping it as a beautiful temple. When Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati arrived to install the Deities, he was very pleased and asked about one brahmacari who had worked hard on the preparations.
The disciples told him, “Master, he became entangled with a lady. We rebuked h
By Atma Tattva Das,
In 1975, a small band of determined devotees in apartheid South Africa faced a task that seemed almost impossible: bringing His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to their country. Fifty years later, as ISKCON South Africa celebrates the golden jubilee of that historic visit, one of the movement’s earliest pioneers, Riddha Das, reflects on the challenges, miracles, and mercy that shaped the beginning of Krishna consciousness in the nation.
Born in Durban in 194
By Atma Tattva Das,
When life slowed in 2020, and routines stumbled, Dr Nivedita and her husband Prathap found themselves in a rare stillness. Dr Nivedita, with a PhD from Oxford and a career in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and Prathap, working across IT and fashion supply chains, had long followed the rhythm of modern enterprise. But when COVID-19 paused everything, the couple asked a different question: “What is the purpose of life?” she remembered. “We saw people losing their lives so easil
Matchless Gifts has announced a design competition inviting artists and devotees to create the official artwork for the historic storefront’s merchandise during ISKCON’s 60th anniversary year. The sacred pilgrimage site at 26 2nd Avenue in the Bowery is where Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada first gathered followers to chant the Hare Krishna mantra and founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1966.
The selected design will be featured across all official
By Dina-Palika Devi Dasi,
Karuna Care Association invites you into a six-week transformational journey in a course entitled Karmic Pattern Rewiring: Six Weeks to Better Relationships with Sri Radha Govinda Dasi. Many people try to improve their relationships by changing partners, circumstances, or surface behaviors. This course begins somewhere deeper—within the nervous system, karmic memory, and the inner relational capacity that quietly shapes who we attract, what we tolerate, and how we love
The air in Sridham Mayapur is changing. We are entering that sacred window of the year where the spiritual energy intensifies, beginning with the fragrant Sri Radha Madhava Pusya Abhishek and leading us into a season of unparalleled devotion.
Among these pearls of festivities, one shines with a particular mercy: Sri Nityananda Trayodasi.
In just a few weeks, we will celebrate the appearance of Lord Nityananda Rama. He is none other than Lord Balarama Himself—the original Guru, the embodiment of
Gopala Bhatta Goswami was a young lad of seven years when he met Mahaprabhu in Sri Rangam. Mahaprabhu travelled for two years in South India, and during his trip he visited Sri Rangam.
While visiting Sri Rangam, Mahaprabhu was invited to stay in the house of Venkata Bhatta. Venkata was the head priest of the Sri Rangam temple, which is the headquarters of the Sri sampradaya of Ramanujacarya.
During His stay in Sri Rangam, Mahaprabhu converted the entire family of Venkata Bhatta from Sri Vaisnav
Shri Ramachandra Kaviraja was the disciple of Shrinivasa Acharya Prabhu and the very intimate friend of Narottama dasa Thakura. His father was Chiranjiva Sena and Mother Shri Sunanda. Chiranjiva was originally an inhabitant of Kumara nagar but after marrying the daughter of Shri Damodara Kavi he moved to Shri Khanda.
“Chiranjiva Sena was a pure Devotee very much loved by Narahari Sarkar and the other residents of Shri Khanda. He was extremely learned in all matters and his wife was very chaste a
For Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s appearance day I thought to read a verse and purport about him from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Ten, “The Branches of the Caitanya Tree”:
TEXT 105
sri gopala bhatta eka sakha sarvottama
rupa-sanatana-sange yanra prema-alapana
TRANSLATION
Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, the forty-seventh branch, was one of the great and exalted branches of the tree. He always engaged in discourses about love of Godhead in the company of Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami.
PUR
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi,
On November 24–26, 2025, more than 2,000 devotees from across Myanmar gathered in Myitkyina to witness the historic inauguration, marking a momentous chapter in the nation’s Krishna consciousness movement. This first ISKCON temple in Kachin State marks a spiritually historic moment, as it is located in the region where Krishna Consciousness first began to flourish in Myanmar.
The celebration brought together senior spiritual leaders, government dignitaries, an
By Venu Madhav Das,
On December 1, 2025, ISKCON Kurukshetra observed Gita Jayanti with a large gathering of 2,000 devotees and visitors, commemorating fifty years since His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s historic visit to Kurukshetra on December 1, 1975. The annual celebration became an occasion to reflect on Srila Prabhupada’s enduring desire to see Kurukshetra emerge as a global center for the study and practice of the Bhagavad-gita.
The Gita Jayanti program began with the
