June 21st, 1976 was a normal day at the Pittsburgh International airport until a group of Krishna devotees from New Vrindaban, dressed in an odd combination of dhotis or saris with large rubber farm boots, appeared. Commuters stared open-mouthed as the fifty-strong crew exploded into a cacophonous burst of chanting, mridanga drums, and gongs in front of the arrival gate.

They were there, of course, to greet their beloved guru Srila Prabhupada, who appeared presently, effulgent and regal with hi

For the pleasure of their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Pancatattva, Nrisimha Dev and His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, Mayapur Local Preaching (MLP) held a ‘Summer camp’ on 13-14th June. More than 200 Bhakti Vriksha devotees participated in this program. On 13th morning, devotees arrived from different places like Krishnanagar, Dhubulia, Bhaluka, Srirampur etc. at ‘Gita Bhavan’. They stayed for 13th & 14th and on 15th morning they returned home after having breakfast Prasadam.

Most of the

“Ratha Yatra on the eve of Ramadan”

How would you describe the moment where devotees from all the different locations in a country come in a spirit so enthusiastic just to celebrate Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannatha, a moment where people from different faiths join the devotees and chant and dance so blissfully, a moment where you begin to admire the wonderful mercy of Srila Prabhupada and feel so indebted to him for giving us Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra, Their Chariots and the Ratha Yatra fest

“Cultural Awareness Through Drama”

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Bhaktivedanta Manor’s main drama group. It has been led chiefly by Jaya Krishna Das and Dwarka Puri das but over the years a great many other devotees of all ages and backgrounds have participated and given much of their time.

Disciples of Srila Prabhupada pioneered the first dramas at Bhaktivedanta Manor during the early 1970’s. By 1985 the baton had gradually passed onto the next generation and The Bhaktivedanta Pl

4 friends had assembled together to discuss what inspires each to practice devotional life.  Out of the 4, one was a celibate monk, 2 others were householders living with their wives and one was although a married person but had lost his wife. So the discussion began.

1^st friend: I decided not to enter into a family life so that I can devote my entire time for the Lord.   I do not have any material responsibility so each and every moment I try to spend in nurturing my spiritual life.

2^nd friend: W

In this episode with Nandapriya Prabhu we hear...

• Why did he not tell other devotees in Georgia that he was translating the books?
• How he hand-bound the books in his home.
• What is was like to be part of the first Russian devotee trip to India.
• How he found time to translate Caitanya Caritamrita when he had a full-time job as an oncologist.
• What inspired him to create his album The Red Dust of Ekachakra?
• How he wants to preach about Krishna consciousness through his music.
• What his definition is of succ

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

If you are passing through thorns, you must be very careful. Otherwise the thorns will get stuck up with your garment, and you will be inconvenienced. It is said in the Vedas, ksurasya dhārā niśitā duratyayā¹. Just like we shave with a razor – the razor is very sharp. So if we can carefully handle the razor, we get our cheeks very clean and the business is done. But

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

When we speak of Krishna, we mean God. Everyone has some vague idea of God, but no clear idea. Therefore God descends to show what He is. If we speculate on God, someone will think one thing, and another person will think another. This is the result of speculation. But if God Himself comes and shows Himself as He is and speaks about Himself, that is perfect knowledge. This Krishna consciousness movement is spreading that

Before the onset of Mahabharata war, Krishna gave opportunity to both Arjuna and Duryodhana to exercise their free will. Both had to choose either Krishna or Krishna’s Narayani sena (army). Not just this, Krishna had declared that he would not fight but his powerful army would fight during the war. Arjuna made up his mind and Duryodhana was also not confused. At the end both were happy. Arjuna without any hesitation choose Krishna and Duryodhana was jubilant because he got the mighty Narayani Se

Soon will be Guru-purnima. Srila Prabhupada has explained that the system of honoring the spiritual master is current in all sections of Vedic followers. In the Mayavadi (impersonalist) sects, the disciples offer respect to the spiritual master every year on Guru-purnima. And in the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya, the disciples offer homage annually on the appearance day of the spiritual master; this occasion is called Vyasa-puja, because the spiritual master represents Vedavyasa, the empowered in

A living entity is happily the part and parcel of the Lord, and thus his natural function is to render immediate service to the Lord. - Bhagavad Gita As it is, Preface

By Srigarbha das

With over ten thousand people taking part, this year was the biggest ever Ratha Yatra held at Netrakona, Bangladesh. Jagannath ballav Temple, ISKCON Netrakona celebrated its 8th Jagannath Ratha Yatra festival from the 14th till 22th of July with grand success.. Around 8 years back this centre started with only three brahmacharis- Jayram Das, Tulsi Das and Anantadev Das, simply distributing Srila Prabhupada books. No facilities for accommodation, practically going hungry at time

By Parijata Dasi

It’s always wonderful to get special visitors to Mayapur, and this time we had the opportunity to welcome again His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja’s sister, Leslie Elizabeth Bauer from the U.S.A. on July 12th.

After a grand tour of the TOVP she expressed how overwhelmed with emotion she was and moved by the sheer size of the project. Being an interior decorator herself, she was particularly impressed with our detailed workmanship overall and specifically the accuracy of the carve

By Sunanda Das

The TOVP management Team has recently made an important decision to hire the assistance of a world-leading Project Management Consultancy (PMC) company, Cushman and Wakefield, to partner with them for the completion of the TOVP by the proposed 2022, Gaura Purnima time-frame.

This is a standard practice in the Construction industry for projects of this extraordinary size and complexity, and essential for the timely and budgeted work ahead now that the temple superstructure is fini

The saintly king Yudhishthira Maharaj said, "Oh Keshava, what is the name of that Ekadasii that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Ashadha (June - July)?
Who is the worshipable Deity for the auspicious day, and what is the process for observing this event?
Lord Sri Krishna replied, "Oh caretaker of this Earthly planet, I shall gladly tell you a wonderful historical event that the deva lord Brahma once narrated to his son Narad Muni.
"One day Narad Muni asked his father, 'What is

Karma Yoga means dedicating your work To Supreme Krishna or Adi Vishnu. Bhakti yoga means performing devotional service for the pleasure of Vishnu/Krishna.How Karma Yoga can become Bhakti Yoga.

If we perform our karma without hesitaion and worry about results and dedicate the results to Vishnu. While doing our duty what we need is the intelligence,resources etc.We cannot escape from it. So Do your duty and dedicate your intelligence, your action to Vishnu then it automatically becomes Bhakti Yoga