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Raghunatha dasa Gosvami used to reside on the bank of Sri Radha-kunda. At the time Radha-kunda was just a small pond of water, and therefore sometimes Raghunatha would meditate on enlarging the kund. Then he would chastise himself for desiring something which would require a large amount of money.

Around this time one very wealthy Seth underwent great austerity by walking to Badarikasrama in the Himalayas. Arriving there he very reverently worshiped Sri Badrinarayana and offered much wealth at H

By Shyama Rasika Devi Dasi

Three years ago, the dedicated organizers at Senior Connection of Montgomery County— a non‑profit offering volunteer‑based, escorted transportation to seniors over 55 in Montgomery County —welcomed an innovative suggestion by Shyama Rasika Devi Dasi and Nikunkja Ras Das (disciples of Radhanath Swami and members of ISKCON of DC): what if a chartered coach trip could take our Montgomery County seniors to New Vrindaban in West Virginia?

The organizer welcomed the idea ent

Siddhanta das (ACBSP), well-known producer of the Memories of Prabhupada series, has launched a new video project entitled Lessons from Letters. The series highlights the personal correspondence between Srila Prabhupada and his disciples during the formative years of ISKCON.

In the 1960s and 70s, long before email or instant messaging, letters were the primary means of communication with ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya. Disciples often wrote to Prabhupada with philosophical questions or practical conce

As a family therapist, I counsel people both within and outside the Hare Krishna movement. I recently received an e-mail from a young woman devotee who was unhappy in her relationship with her abusive husband but was conflicted about leaving him.

“Maybe it’s good that I feel bad about myself,” she wrote, “because that will help me develop humility.”

This wasn’t the first time I had heard this logic.

The Bhagavad-gita teaches that humility is essential for spiritual progress. Unfortunately, devo

Frequently asked Questions on Mentoring
 

When I was initiated in 1975, Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter to my temple president at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, asking him to make sure I followed all the rules. He wrote:

13th November, 1975

My dear Prabhavisnu das,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated and accept upon your recommendation the following as my initiated disciples….I also accept the following as twice-born brahmanas and their threads and mantra sheets are

From Back to Godhead

At the same time, many

“Sripada Madhvacarya took his birth at Udupi, which is situated in the South Kanarada district of South India, just west of Sahyadri. This is the chief city of the South Kanarada province and is near the city of Mangalore, which is situated to the south of Udupi. In the city of Udupi is a place called Pajaka-ksetra, where Madhvacarya took his birth in a Sivalli-brahmana dynasty as the son of Madhyageha Bhatta, in the year 1040 Sakabda (A.D. 1119). According to some, he was born in the year 1160

I am very grateful to be with all of you, thank you for being here. Bhakti Vinod Thakur has written that the difficulties endured in his service to the Lord, for the pleasure of the Lord, is his greatest happiness.

“Material life is when we put the flickering pleasures and securities of the mind and the senses in the center of our lives, our decisions, our aspirations, our goals are according. Spiritual life or true bhakti is when we put the pleasures of God or Krishna in the center of our lif

Also known as Dussehra, Vijaya Dashami is the celebration of Rama’s victory over the demon Ravana. The story of Rama’s killing of Ravana is found in the Ramayana. Vijaya means victory and dashami means tenth and so Vijaya Dashami is the victory on the 10th lunar day.

If the Nava Ratris are a time of purification and the attainment of spiritual powers and wisdom, the Vijaya Dashami celebration, which follows the day after the last Nava Ratri in the fall is the culmination of that time of purifica

I wish to offer my gratitude to everyone who has so kindly assembled today on this auspicious occasion of Dussehra. Today all over the world there are millions and millions of people celebrating this day. But like most spiritual occasions not so many know why? – It is a characteristic of kali yuga that even very sacred things are perceived very superficially. Often times religious festivals of all religions are more of an opportunity for some sort of social entertainment than for genuinely cult

Shri Madhvacharya appeared in 1238 A.D. near Udupi, Karnataka in South India. He was considered an incarnation of Vayu (wind god). He had an unusually strong physique and extraordinary intellectual power.

Once a fierce Bengali tiger attacked Madhvacharya’s sannyasa disciple, Satya Tirtha. Madhvacharya wrestled the tiger and sent him away with his tail between his legs. Madhvacharya took diksha at age five, sannyasa at twelve and left home.

He appeared with a mission to fight and defeat Sankara’

We read from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto Nine, Chapter Ten: “The Pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Ramacandra.”

TEXT 20

te ’nikapa raghupater abhipatya sarve
dvandvam varutham ibha-patti-rathasva-yodhaih
jaghnur drumair giri-gadesubhir angadadyah
sitabhimarsa-hata-mangala-ravanesan

TRANSLATION

Angada and the other commanders of the soldiers of Ramacandra faced the elephants, infantry, horses, and chariots of the enemy and hurled against them big trees, mountain peaks, clubs, and arrows. Thus the soldi

Lord Vishnu imparted the knowledge of reaching Him to four great personalities – Lakshmi Devi, Lord Shiva, Sri Brahma, and the four kumara. These four personalities imparted the knowledge to four great devotees who started the four Sampradayas. Lakshmi to Ramanujacharya – Sri Sampradaya, Shiva to Vishnuswami – Rudra Sampradaya, Brahma to Madhvacharya – Brahma sampradaya and the four Kumaras to Nimbarka – Kumara Sambradaya.

Today is the appearance day of Sri Madhvacharya. Madhvacharya (acarya me

The statement from ISKCON Communications said, “September 28, 2025 – The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) extends heartfelt condolences to the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the passing of their President and Prophet, Russell M. Nelson. His life was marked by exceptional service both in medicine and in sacred leadership. Before his full-time church ministry, he was a world-renowned heart surgeon and medical researcher, serving as director of

Following its debut earlier this month, ISKCON’s new documentary The Hare Krishnas: The Challenges of Succession and Leadership has received an enthusiastic response from devotees and friends worldwide. Released by ISKCON Communications in partnership with Karuna Productions, the film was created to mark the 60th anniversary of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s arrival in the United States—the historic moment that launched the Hare Krishna movement’s global mission.

What makes this r

The festival of Dussehra, also known as Vijaya dashmi, is one of the fascinating festivals of India and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm. According to the great scripture, the Ramayana, Lord Rama performed chandi-puja (holy prayer). This was carried out in order to invoke the blessings of Durga for the killing of Ravana, the ten-headed demon king of Sri Lanka who had abducted Sita, wife of Lord Rama.

Durga divulged the secret to Rama on how he could slay the great Ravana. Hence upon vanqui

From September 5–7, 2025, over a hundred ISKCON leaders from across the United States and Canada gathered at ISKCON of Houston for the annual Leadership Conference. With the theme “Growing with Purpose,” the three-day event blended meaningful association, organizational vision, and practical leadership skills. The atmosphere was one of unity, shared mission, and commitment to Śrīla Prabhupāda’s vision.

ISKCON Houston provided unparalleled hospitality during the visit under the leadership of the

By Bhava Prabha Dasi  

On June 27-29, 2025, Gita Nagari Farm in Port Royal, Pennsylvania, hosted a weekend-long 20th Tirobhava of His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami. The event drew many devotees from around the world for three days of ecstatic kirtan, absorbing classes, heartfelt reflections, and more to celebrate the life, teachings, and lasting influence of a spiritual master known for his fearless service and deep dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

Friday’s program began with the first