Summary
The lecture describes the early days of ISKCON in New York City, specifically the first temple established at 262 Second Avenue in the Lower East Side. The text focuses on Srila Prabhupada’s interactions with a group of young Americans who were seeking spiritual enlightenment and the challenges of introducing Krishna Consciousness in a secular, counter-culture environment. The text provides insight into the cultural context of 1960s America, the importance of chanting the Hare Krishna
By Thomas Haribol
Often when I offer a lamp in this spiritually-charged season of Kartik, I am reminded of a time years ago when I was seated next to a woman on a plane who was visibly distressed and quietly weeping. I said to her, “You seem really upset. Is there anything I can do to help?” She said through her tears, “I’m approaching ninety; I will die soon and cease to exist.” “What do you mean?” I inquired. She told me that, in her understanding, souls only continue to exist after death i
By Aseem Krishna Das
On October 11, 2024, a magnificent Gaur-Nitai Shobha Yatra was organized in Karnal, Haryana. This grand procession saw the participation of thousands of people, all coming together to celebrate and express their devotion to Sri Sri Gaur-Nitai.
The deities of Sri Sri Gaur-Nitai, standing in a joyful, dancing posture, were placed on a beautifully adorned chariot that was carried throughout the city. The atmosphere was charged with spiritual energy as the holy names of the Lo
When Gurudas recently came to visit, he gifted me with his latest book, “The Swami - Who Rocked the Worlds” which is a photographical essay presentation of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I wanted to share with you all on excerpt of this work entitled, “Morning Walks.”
Walking in the early morning with Swamiji was a special treat. He would share random subjects of wisdom, sometimes picking up on something that interested him in the environment.
Walking by his side, I felt secure. He w
भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक
अध्याय नौ परम गुह्य ज्ञान
यान्ति देवव्रता देवान्पितृन्यान्ति पितृव्रताः ।
भूतानि यान्ति भूतेज्या यान्ति मद्याजिनोSपि माम् ।। 25 ।।
यान्ति– जाते हैं;देव-व्रताः– देवताओं के उपासक;देवान्– देवताओं के पास;पितृृन्– पितरों के पास;यान्ति– जाते हैं;पितृ-व्रताः– पितरों के उपासक;भूतानि– भूत-प्रेतों के पास;यान्ति– जाते हैं;भूत-इज्याः– भूत-प्रेतों के उपासक;यान्ति– जाते हैं;मत्– मेरे;याजिनः– भक्तगण;अपि– लेकिन;माम्– मेरे पास।
Summary
In the video titled “Realizations After Surgery” Mahatma Prabhu reflects on profound realizations he experienced after undergoing surgery. He shares how, prior to the operation, he had prayed to Krishna to help him not just intellectualize Krishna Consciousness but to deeply feel it. After the surgery, he felt a significant change, becoming deeply emotional and appreciative. He found himself moved by the devotion of others, often crying when speaking about Krishna, the devotees, and the
The speaker explores the spiritual psychology of fault-finding and how it arises from a sense of personal failure in spiritual life. The story of Daksha, a devout Brahman who criticized Lord Shiva, is used as an example of someone who reacted to their perceived failings with anger, criticism, and grand gestures to conceal their shortcomings. The speaker argues that this kind of behavior is a result of the mode of passion and ultimately leads to unhappiness. They contrast this with the mode of
By Atma Tattva Das
On September 28th, 2024, the vibrant streets of Soweto came alive with the joyous sounds of Hare Krishna chanting as devotees and members of the local community gathered to celebrate the 17th annual ISKCON Soweto Rathayatra Festival.
This year’s event was a spiritual spectacle and a heartfelt commemoration of His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami, a central figure in the festival’s creation and an inspiration to the community.
Mahaprabhu Dasa, the Temple President of ISKCON Soweto
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
An online workshop called Small Is Powerful, led by Mahatma Das, will be held in two groups on November 22-23, 2024, and November 30-December 1, 2024. This workshop, offered in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Russian, will guide participants in exploring how humility and self-honesty shape and influence their spiritual journey.
Srila Prabhupada always stressed the importance of humility as the foundation for gaining knowl
At a tiny hamlet, Echo Bay
As I ambled along the way
Out of a shallow ditch
Emerged a man, not rich
Appearing a trite unkempt
Tarnished teeth, but of good intent
He wanted to share a fine message
Something I had come to cherish
The gist is what he had to say
“When I wake up I speak to the day
Like a person I know
It gives me energy to go
‘Day! Whatever you have for me
I beg for the strength to be
In the arms of your adventure
And anything you may render
Help me to go through the hours
When m
Kartika month is observed this year from 16 Oct – 14 Nov , the most important month in our calendar, as it is very dear to Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. Just as there is no yuga equal to Satya-yuga, no scripture equal to the Vedas, and no place of pilgrimage equal to the Ganges, so there is no month equal to Kartika. During the Kartika month, millions of devotees worship Damodara Krishna with ghee lamps and devotional bhajans, glorifying His playful childhood pastime of stealing yogurt. And traditiona
भगवद्गीता यथारूप 108 महत्त्वपूर्ण श्लोक
अध्याय नौ परम गुह्य ज्ञान
अनन्याश्र्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते ।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥ 22 ॥
अनन्याः– जिसका कोई अन्य लक्ष्य न हो, अनन्य भाव से;चिन्तयन्तः– चिन्तन करते हुए;माम्– मुझको;ये– जो;जनाः– व्यक्ति;पर्युपासते– ठीक से पूजते हैं;तेषाम्– उन;नित्य– सदा;अभियुक्तानाम्– भक्ति में लीन मनुष्यों की;योग– आवश्यकताएँ;क्षेमम्– सुरक्षा, आश्रय;वहामि– वहन करता हूँ;अहम्– मैं।
भावार्थ : किन्तु जो लोग अनन्यभाव से मेरे दिव्यस्वरूप का ध्यान कर
On October 15th, 2024, Visakha Devi Dasi, Temple President of ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor, was invited to speak at the latest event by the UK Women’s Faith Forum(WFF). The gathering, held in Parliament, hosted over 50 women of faith from various organisations and six parliamentarians. ISKCON devotees Braja Vadhu Dasi and Nimai Dasi are also members of the WFF.
Nimai Devi Dasi, who was involved in organising the event, said, “On the first day of National Hate Crime Awareness Week, the Women’s Fai
I had just returned home from a full day of outreach. Yet once I stepped inside there was a sweet couple - very inquisitive. She is Caucasian and he is Punjabi. The Toronto Sunday Open House had completed, so things were relatively quiet, but this particular couple whom I saw were immersed in their own outreach, thirsty for knowledge. They were milling through the books on display in our kiosks in Govinda’s Dining Room. They eventually made their way to the upstairs quarters where I was just pr
Narottama Dasa Thakura wrote many devotional songs about the spiritual master, the Devotees, devotional service, the six Goswamis, Gaura-Nityananda and Radha-Krishna. Although composed with sweet melodies in simple Bengali language, Narottama Dasa’s songs give shastric siddhanta and devotional inspiration.
Srila Prabhupada often sang these bhajanas. Considering them non-different from Vedic shastra, He quoted them in his Bhagavatam lectures. Prarthana and Prema-bhakti-chandrika are Narottama’s
About Sitala Devi
Sitala dasi moved into the ISKCON temple in Detroit, Michigan in 1970, and was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1971. The first years of her devotional life, were spent in daily Harinams, book distribution, preaching programs, cooking, sewing and transcribing of Srila Prabhupada tapes. She also assisted in opening temples in Cleveland, Ohio and Bloomington Indiana.
In 1973/4 she moved to France where she was engaged primarily in Deity services in Paris and New Mayapur. In 197
Darshan From Sri Vrindavan Dham on the Disappearance of Narottam Das Thakur.
Class By HH Lokanath Swami
(1)
je ānilo prema-dhana koruṇā pracur
heno prabhu kothā gelā ācārya-ṭhākur
(2)
kāhā mora swarūp rūpa kāhā sanātan
kāhā dāsa raghunātha patita-pāvan
(3)
kāhā mora bhaṭṭa-juga kāhā kavirāj
eka-kāle kothā gelā gorā naṭa-rāj
(4)
pāṣāṇe kuṭibo māthā anale paśibo
gaurāńga guṇera nidhi kothā gele pābo
(5)
se-saba sańgīra sańge je koilo bilās
se-sańga nā pāiyā kānde na
By Srila Narahari Chakravarti (excerpted from Sri Narottama Vilasa)
I take refuge at the lotus feet of Lokanatha Prabhu, who is completely indifferent to the pains and pleasures of this material world. His mercy was fully realized only by the great scholar Narottama dasa. All glories to Narottama dasa Thakura, the beloved disciple of Lokanatha Goswami. How the illustrious Narottama took his birth in the house of Krishnananda Datta, the elder brother of Sri Purusottama, I dare not discuss el
Sri Narottama Das Thakur
NAROTTAMA VILASA
By Narahari dasa
Translated by Dravida Das
THE FIRST VILASA
Oh! Supreme Lord Visvambhara, You are the husband of the goddess of fortune, and my eternal friend. Only You are capable of distributing the wealth of love of Godhead. You are known as kindhearted to those who depend upon You, therefore, oh Lord, please shower You kindness upon me.
I worship Sri Lokanatha Prabhu, who is fully surrendered to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha Vinode. He is the life
By Sri Nandanandana
Narottama Dasa Thakura was a lifelong brahmacari. He visited all the holy places and the was the best of pure devotees. On the banks of the Padmavati river, in the town of Gopalpura lived King Krsnanda Datta. His older brother was Purusottama Datta. The wealth and fame of these two brothers was beyond compare. King Krsnananda’s son was Sri Santosa Datta. In the month of Magha, onthe day of sukla-pancami, Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura took his birth. Seeing many auspicious omens
