The Bhagavad-gita is the main source-book on yoga and a concise summary of India's Vedic wisdom. Yet remarkably, the setting for this best-known classic of spiritual literature is an ancient Indian battlefield.
At the last moment before entering battle, the great warrior Arjuna begins to wonder about the real meaning of his life. Why should he fight against his friends and relatives? Why does he exist? Where is he going after death? In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krsna, Arjuna's friend and spiritu
Sankirtan story from the beginnings of Australian ISKCON April 1972
In April 1972, the Melbourne City Council in Australia began a Campaign to try and move the Hare Krishna devotees away from the City streets. This struggle with the Council would continue on for another three years.
Not only were we now continuously harassed on the streets by Council, we were also harassed in our own Temple with middle of the night Police raids looking for devotees who had never paid their fines for Chanting on th
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Gita Jayanti marks the day when Lord Sri Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to His dear devotee Arjuna in the middle of the battlefield of, what is still known as Kurukshetra in North India. Traditionally this day is celebrated in India with chanting of verses from Bhagavad Gita, offering of oblations in fire sacrifices (yajna) and distributing prasad to devotees.
In recent days, after the revolutionary preaching on the teachings of Bhagavad Gita by ISKCON’s founder-acharya Srila Prabhupada, G
I'm starting to realize that I don't belong here. As I look at myself and everyone around me, ranging from my family and friends, to the random people out in the world, all I see are souls trapped in material bondage. Except the difference with me is that I see it and I know that this shouldn't be the case. I thank Krishna's mercy and grace for this realization.
Everyone else is always striving after sense pleasure. Majority of people chase after money, because after all, when abused, this gives
Over five thousand years ago, Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, discussing the fundamental principles of life. The Gita lucidly explains the nature of consciousness, the self and the universe. It contains both the essence of India's spiritual wisdom and the answers to questions that have been posed by philosophers for centuries.
Today, that same Bhagavad-gita has been translated to numerous languages and is read by millions of people around the world, revered in academic circles, and
Lecture on Gita Jayanti - Krishna's Moods in the Gita by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu on 02 Dec 2014 at ISKCON Chowpatty
(HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu is a celibate spiritual teacher (brahmachari) at ISKCON, Pune. He has done his Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering from the Govt College of Engg, Pune. He is a member of ISKCON's topmost intellectual body, the Shastric Advisory Council.)
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December 1, 2016, cinema Ponrepo, Prague 1. The cultural program on the occasion of this year’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Hare Krishna movement (1966-2016). During the evening, the audience could listen to traditional mantras and bhajans performed by musical groups Venu Gopal, to appreciate the beauty of traditional temple dance Bharata Nátjam performed Rasabihari Devi Dasi, watch the documentary “50 years of enjoyment out of loyalty,” taste the specialties of Indian vegetaria
The entrance way to New Vrindaban, along the start of the famed Aghasura Road.
Excerpted from an article written by Cintamani Dasi and previously published in the Brijabasi Spirit, October 1985.
It was May 9th, 1969. Before coming to New Vrindaban, Srila Prabhupada visited the Columbus, Ohio center. By some inconceivable good fortune I met him and was initiated. After breaking open the storehouse of love of God in Columbus, Krishna sent Srila Prabhupada to New Vrindaban to bless the ground wi
When the principles of the mode of goodness becomes our second nature, this is the point where you begin to enjoy spiritual life. Spiritual life is very nice! We are chanting and having nice association and we are very happy.
But this is not all. Still we must sacrifice, we must do whatever we can to save condition souls. You may say, “Well, you know, they’re very sinful, very fallen and I don’t know if I can associate too much with those people because I might fall down. It is better to stay s
Prabhupada said, “This is Vaishnava. A Vaishnava is kind to every living entity. Not this squishing business.”
Sukadeva: Prabhupada said that you have to become like the bumblebee and not like the fly and Prabhupada proved it by his own example.
Once Nara-Narayan—who does not sing like a nightingale—was in the temple room singing and Prabhupada said, “Who is that singing?”
Karandhar said, “It’s Nara-Narayan, Srila Prabhupada.”
Prabhupada said, “Hmm, he keeps very good time.”
Once Hari Sauri’s a
A visit to ISKCON Kurukshetra – 30th Nov, 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: During correspondence I read a letter from Bhagavata dasa about Bhuvanesvara. Money was scarce. Prabhupada gave the same recommendation he had given in so many letters. Building was not as important as prasadam distribution and kirtana. If there was money, we could build later. From TKG’s Diary
By Praghosa dasa
Congratulations to Tarakanatha Prabhu and all his team for securing this wonderful new property in the heart of Cardiff which will serve as the main ISKCON temple in Wales as well as ISKCON’s headquarters there. Wales has produced many wonderful devotees over the years, so it is very encouraging to now see the yatra itself develop and expand in the way that it is.
By ISKCON Sankirtana Leaders Team – India
This December, devotees in India face a unique challenge in distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books. Due to recent actions taken by the Government of India viz., the demonetization of large currency notes, everyone here is literally in a cash crunch, whether or not one is a millionaire as per the bank accounts. And distributing books in such a scenario could be tough if we follow the usual techniques of hand to hand distribution on streets, or at doors, w
There’s not a more charming or mysterious place in the universe than Govardhana Hill in Vraja Mandala. Apparently, the word is spreading because nowadays, during Karttika season, millions of pilgrims come here to perform parikrama.*
[*Literally, “parikrama” means “walking around.”] Only by the mercy of the Vaisnavas have I been allowed to stay for a while here in this magical place under the shelter of the Bhaktivedanta Ashrama, nestled at the base of Govardhana Hill, presided over by HH Keshav
Giriraj Swami: Srimad-Bhagavatam contains a discussion between Dharma, in the form of a bull, and the Earth, in the form of a cow. Eventually he asks her, “The so-called administrators are now bewildered by the influence of this age of Kali, and thus they have put all state affairs into disorder. Are you now lamenting this disorder? Now the general populace does not follow the rules and regulations for eating, sleeping, drinking, mating, etc., and they are inclined to perform such anywhere and
On September 23rd, 2016 Radhanath Swami spoke to a packed house at the Nancy Tessman Auditorium in Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah on the message “Redefining Happiness”.
George Pratt, a well known local Attorney coordinated the event and gave the opening address. Caru Das, president of the Utah Krishna Temple gave the introduction.
After an enchanting kirtan led by Jai Krishna & his band, Radhantha Swami signed copies of “The Journey Within”.
Visitors which included dignitaries from all walks of
The Namas Te India restaurant chain in Norwich has distributed no less than 10,000 copies of The Higher Taste. Restaurant manager Mr Vijay Jatani and his family became devotees through the local Nama Hatta (meeting) group. They have two vegetarian restaurants in the city and over the last five years they have distributed the books as complimentary gifts to their customers.
One of the annual events at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, in the UK, is the Ayurvedic retreat, conducted by Dr Vasant Lad. Hailing from Maharashtra in India, Dr Lad is one of the foremost authorities in Ayurveda and comes from a long line of practitioners. Ayurveda is the Vedic science of healing that incorporates medicine, diet and herbology. Ayurvedic practices even featured in the Ancient epic Ramayana, specifically when Sushena ordered Hanuman to retrieve the Sanjivani herb to revive Laxman from
Resistance to surrender comes from maintaining material attachments even after receiving so many instructions on this subject matter. This is what holds us back! But how do we overcome this obstacle? We do so by being brave in Krsna consciousness, by being brave to choose for Krsna. We cannot just be ordinary devotees and just let our spiritual life go along. No, we have to be brave to do something special for Krsna. This is what is required! Let us try to be the exception. Let us not be of ave
