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A time filled with love, devotion, and gratitude.

After going through the intense summer and a humid monsoon, we in India perceive sarat, or autumn, as one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. According to the vedic calendar, Sarat falls during the months of Asvin and Karttika, of which Karttika carries special significance because it is favored by Lord Krishna.

Everyone loves certain foods, drinks, clothes, and music, and Lord Krishna is no exception. In fact, we ha

DIWALI FESTIVAL: 10th October. 1968,
(Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Hamsadutta dasa written from Seattle., Letters book Vol 1. p.549.)

Diwali ceremony can be observed in the temple by illuminating 100’s of candles, indifferent parts of the temple, and offering a special Prasad to the Deity. This ceremony was observed by the inhabitants of Ayodhya, the Kingdom of Lord Ramachandra, while Lord Ramachandra was out of His Kingdom due to His 14 years banishment by the order of His father. His young

The meanings of Dipavali, its symbols and rituals, and the reasons for celebration are innumerable. Dipavali celebrates Lord Rama’s glorious and long-awaited return to His Kingdom of Ayodhya after his fourteen long years of exile in the forests.

It commemorates Lord Krsna’s victory over the demon Narakasura who had kidnapped and terrorized the gopis of Vrndavana. Before the evil Naraka was finally killed by Bhagavan Krsna in the presence of Satyabhama, he begged pitifully for mercy; thus, upon

Compiled by Mother Gandhari dasi Ayurvedic Lifestyle and Bhakti Yoga Instructor

Diwali comes from the word Dipavali which has two words dipa means light and avali means carrier. Therefore Dipa or Diya (1) signifies ‘coming to light’. In the Vedic Literature it is mentioned: “Tamasa Ma, Jyotir Gamaya” means ‘Do not remain in Darkness, Come to Light’, meaning ‘come to spiritual awareness or awakening’.

In the Bhagavat Gita Chapter four verse seven and eight Lord Krsna says: ‘yada yada hi dharmasy

“Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, quoting from the Vaisnava-tosani of Srila Sanatana Gosvami, says that the incident of Krsna’s breaking the pot of yogurt and being bound by Mother Yasoda took place on the Dipavali Day, or Dipa-malika. Even today in India, this festival is generally celebrated very gorgeously in the month of Kartika by fireworks and lights, especially in Bombay.” —Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.9.1 purport

“My dear Krsna, Yasoda took up a rope to bind You when You committed an offense

On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, I share with you a description by Smriti “Baby” Warrier (later initiated as Sravana dasi), whose family were tenants at Hare Krishna Land in Juhu, of how when she was a child she and her brothers wanted to set off fireworks, and how Srila Prabhupada responded.

One Diwali, in the evening, Mother Kanta was in the women’s ashram above our flat and we were outside setting off fireworks. It was around 9:00, and I guess she wanted to take rest, but we weren’t fin

We wish you all a happy Diwali. Diwali, or Dipavali, marks the end of the year, and by the year’s end we want to pay our debts and rectify our relationships—and then try to do better the next year.

The Vedic literatures inform us that in the present age, Kali-yuga, the recommended process for self-realization, or God realization, is the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. Lord Krishna appeared about five thousand years ago and spoke the Bhagavad-gita, and at the end of the Gita (18.66), He

भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक

अध्याय दस श्रीभगवान का ऐश्वर्य

तेषां सततयुक्तानां भजतां प्रीतिपूर्वकम् ।

ददामि बुद्धियोगं तं येन मामुपयान्ति ते ।। 10 ।।

तेषाम्– उन;सतत-युक्तानाम्– सदैव लीन रहने वालों को;भजताम्– भक्ति करने वालों को;प्रीति-पूर्वकम्– प्रेमभावसहित;ददामि– देता हूँ;बुद्धि-योगम्– असली बुद्धि;तम्– वह;येन– जिससे;माम्– मुझको;उपयान्ति– प्राप्त होते हैं;ते– वे।

भावार्थ : जो प्रेमपूर्वक मेरी सेवा करने में निरन्तर लगे रहते हैं, उन्हें मैं ज्ञान प्रदान करता हूँ, जिसके द्वारा वे मुझ तक आ स

भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक

अध्याय दस श्रीभगवान का ऐश्वर्य

मच्चित्ता मद्गतप्राणा बोधयन्तः परस्परम् ।

कथयन्तश्च मां नित्यं तुष्यन्ति च रमन्ति च ।। 9 ।।

मत्-चित्ताः– जिनके मन मुझमें रमे हैं;मत्-गत-प्राणाः– जिनके जीवन मुझ में अर्पित हैं;बोधयन्तः– उपदेश देते हुए;परस्परम्– एक दूसरे से, आपस में;च– भी;कथयन्तः– बातें करते हुए;च– भी;माम्– मेरे विषय में;नित्यम्– निरन्तर;तुष्यन्ति– प्रसन्न होते हैं;च– भी;रमन्ति– दिव्य आनन्द भोगते हैं;च– भी।

भावार्थ : मेरे शुद्ध भक्तों के विचार मुझमें वास करते हैं,

Against the breathtaking backdrop of Nepal’s majestic landscapes, hundreds of matajis from diverse nationalities gathered for the 2024 International ISKCON Mataji Retreat. The multi-day event brought together devotees of all ages, creating a vibrant tapestry of spiritual fellowship and cultural exchange.

The retreat featured daily philosophical discussions and classes centered on Krishna consciousness, allowing participants to deepen their spiritual understanding while forming meaningful connect

In this October 2024 update, Vraja Vilas Prabhu shares the latest developments in the construction of Lord Nrsimhadev’s wing, highlighting remarkable progress. The flooring of the Nrsimhadev temple hall is complete, featuring a stunning design using red jasper, yellow Vencia, Baroda green, Vietnam white, and Roso Alicante from Spain, crafted by Sadhvi Dasi and Rangavati Devi Dasi under the direction of Swaha Mataji. The altar is nearly finished, with a beautifully designed prali arch and final

By Atma Tattva Das

Bavisha Moonasar, also known as Balai Devi Dasi, is a high school teacher in Cape Town who leads the Ekhaya High School Preaching Program. This program aims to introduce students to Krishna consciousness. It has transitioned from informal discussions to structured weekly gatherings, allowing students to explore spiritual concepts and ask questions. The initiative encourages students to engage with spirituality in a structured format.

“The kids are inquisitive. They’re very spi

Govardhan EcoVillage (GEV) has been featured in a Faiths for Biodiversity report released at the 16th annual Conference of the Parties (COP16) meeting going on now in Cali, Colombia. 

Thousands of world leaders are gathered in South America for the biodiversity-themed meetings, the first major biodiversity summit since the 2022 adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). 

The report, entitled “UNITING FOR NATURE: Faiths at the Forefront of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiv

By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi

Bhakti Kids, an initiative by ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry (CDM), has announced the Bhishma Panchaka Challenge from November 11th to 15th. Led by Gourangi Gandharvika Devi Dasi, this event aims to engage children, youth, and families in a spiritual celebration that not only deepens their connection to Lord Krishna but also offers a fun and meaningful way to end the sacred month of Kartika.

The last five days of Kartika, known as Bhishma Panchaka,

Folks on the trail called “Hunter’s Bay” were really sweet. The sun was out. It was a Sunday. Weather was perfect. On top of that, a long weekend works for everyone. Being Thanksgiving in Canada brings out the best in everyone.

Who do we give “thanks” to anyway ? Nature ? The Universe ? Or can we go more specific ? God ? The Supreme ? The Creator ? Bhagavan ?

भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक

अध्याय दस श्रीभगवान का ऐश्वर्य

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते ।

इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विताः ।। 8 ।।

अहम्– मैं;सर्वस्य– सबका;प्रभवः– उत्पत्ति का कारण;मत्तः– मुझसे;सर्वम्– सारी वस्तुएँ;प्रवर्तते– उद्भूत होती हैं;इति– इस प्रकार;मत्वा– जानकर;भजन्ते– भक्ति करते हैं;माम्– मेरी;बुधाः– विद्वानजन;भाव-समन्विताः– अत्यन्त मनोयोग से।

भावार्थ : मैं समस्त आध्यात्मिक तथा भौतिक जगतों का कारण हूँ, प्रत्येक वस्तु मुझ ही से उद्भूत है। जो बुद्धिमान यह भलीभाँत

Gauranga Prabhu announces preparations for the Kartik Yatra 2024 in Mayapur, hosted by ISKCON Chowpatty with His Holiness Radhanath Swami. Taking place from November 1-6, the event includes a large pandal (tent) set up to seat over 12,000 devotees. The pandal is being readied for Katha (spiritual discourses) and Kirtan (devotional singing) during the yatra. The narrator expresses gratitude to ISKCON Mayapur’s co-directors and their teams for organizing the event’s facilities, including extensiv

By HH Jayapataka Swami

These photos capture a series of moments from the sacred celebration of the Kartik month in Mayapur, a significant spiritual event observed by devotees. Known as the month of **Damodara**, Kartik is a time for heightened devotion, prayers, and offerings to Lord Krishna. The atmosphere of devotion is beautifully depicted in the album, where devotees of all ages are seen holding lamps, symbolizing their prayers and reverence.

Throughout the images, we see individuals immersed in the traditional la