From Back to Godhead
After years searching and struggling, she finally found the right place to develop the natural connection she felt with God.
It was the third day in the hospital. The IV was still in my right arm. As I gazed through the window, a few leaves, colored yellow and red by the season, fell from a nearby tree. It was a beautiful fall day in Montreal, I was twenty, and I was trapped in here. How did it come to this?
I was raised in a middle-class, French Canadian, Catholic family
From Back to Godhead
A look at Lord Caitanya’s “Eight Instructions” and their relevance to japa, the individual practice of chanting Hare Krishna.
A friend once told me this analogy about spiritual life: a flock of geese share strength by flying in a V formation, but if one goose goes down, the others can’t help. Similarly, though seekers of enlightenment help each other, success ultimately depends on personal effortand the kindness of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna.
Krishna’s kindness appears i
It’s still early morning, the sun is starting to rise over the horizon, and it’s reddish—it reminds me of Srimati Radharani’s tilak upon Her beautiful broad forehead. And the glowing of the sun, the rays that it casts everywhere, paint the village nearby and the field in front of me a golden color.
There are flowers everywhere, and those flowers are growing in tall grass, knee-high grass, which sways to one side and then another. It’s like the way the Brijbasi’s sway under the winds of their pr
Deena Bandhu Prabhu: Please join us in prayers for a dear friend, Ananta Shakti Prabhu. who left us Dwadasi evening surrounded by devotees in England. A kind sensitive soul who was dedicated for over four decades serving though his art touching the hearts of many devotees. Ananta was tottaly dedicated to the mission who loved the devotess and expressed this deeply through his humility. May Srila Prabhupada take him in his arms and lead to the Lotus feet of the Lord!
Source: https://www.dandavat
HOUSTON, TX — On Saturday, October 3rd, 75 devotees gathered with joyful enthusiasm in Houston, to celebrate the 61st anniversary of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s historic arrival in the United States. Organized by the Houston Harinam Sankirtan group as part of their weekly street chanting program, the landmark occasion took to the local waters on a riverboat in League City, Texas echoing the momentous 1965 Jaladuta voyage that brought the teachings of Lord Chaitanya to
By Yogesvara Gopinath das
On Sunday, 4 October 2026, approximately 3,500 people gathered in Ilford, East London, to celebrate the Ratha Yatra of Their Lordships Sri Jagannatha, Sri Baladeva and Srimati Subhadra Maharani.
The festival began at Valentines Park, where the beautifully decorated Ratha cart set off towards Ilford High Street, passing through Ilford Station. As the chariot moved through the streets, devotees led the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, followed by the beautiful rec
By Atma Tattva Das,
A screening of Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All drew approximately 250 people to Suncoast CineCentre in Durban, South Africa, in September. Hosted by ISKCON Durban as part of the movement’s 60th-anniversary commemorations, the in-person event attracted an audience largely new to ISKCON, according to project leader Smita Krsna Das, with responses indicating greater appreciation of Founder-Acharya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada
bhattacaryah sarvabhaumah purasid gishpatir divi
Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya was formerly Brihaspati, the guru of the gods.
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 119)
Sarvabhauma’s Scholarship
When Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami lists the branches of Sri Chaitanya, after listing those devotees like Paramananda Puri and Svarupa Damodar who came to join the Lord in Jagannath Puri, he enumerates those Bengali devotees who were already living in Puri when the Lord arrived there and who then met him for the very fi
It was an auspicious day on the calendar. I was fortunate to capture that magnanimous moon over the river at Russell. Fortunate too, under the moon and coming sun, a marriage is taking place at the local farm known as the Kadamba Farm.
The lucky couple, Ajit and Ananga Manjari, are to be wed. And it was executed by my driver, Nityananda, in country style under an arched canopy. Friends and family gathered under that shelter to hear, see, smell and later taste what a marriage event offers. I m
An Urgent Effort to Preserve an Artistic Legacy
Recent critical damage to the F.A.T.E. Diorama Museum’s Changing Bodies exhibit made one thing unmistakably clear: this historic exhibition needs urgent attention.
The truth is, all of the exhibits have serious damage. Some figures have broken fingers, others have cracked ankles, the hair and beards are deteriorating, the scenes are falling apart and the clothing and jewelry need repair. In addition, the sound and audiovisual systems require improv
The highlight of our visit to Skopje, Macedonia, was our Soul Culture Festival, held in the city’s main square.
The evening featured a Ramayana drama, an inspiring philosophical talk, beautiful dances and uplifting kirtan. We also gifted the guests traditional saris, adding a special cultural touch. The audience relished every moment!
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=119761
It was my idea to have Yadubara, a seasoned film maker, come to be a presenter at the MANTRA retreat held in the Yogashala for our 9th Annual. He kick started this year’s gathering of Krishna Conscious men at 4 pm. It was heart warming. The content covered some of the early days in Mumbai (then Bombay) when our Founder Acharya, Prabhupada, inspired so many westerners into this culture. Well, his slide show and explanation was worth it.
Apart from the special service he has rendered for over 52
Mukunda Maharaja visited the temple for Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day! Sunday 6 September 2026. Everyone was very happy to see Maharaja, after months of temple absence due to recovery.
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=119743
Recently, after almost 10-15 years, we had the opportunity to organise Ratha Yatra in Sheffield. The mercy we experienced through this festival has truly melted our hearts.
The seed of this dream was planted on Radhastami 2025, during a house programme, when HG Tribhangananda Prabhuji inspired us to organise Ratha Yatra in Sheffield. Within just a few minutes, he gave us so much confidence and encouragement that we began to believe that this dream could become a reality.
We are only a handful of
By Atma Tattva Das,
Twenty-five devotees representing projects in nine countries gathered September 11–13 for the 15th European ISKCON Farm Conference at Goloka Ecofarm in Pontinvrea, Savona. The three-day, in-person meeting brought farmers, cow-protection practitioners and community representatives together around sustainable agriculture, self-sufficiency and practical cooperation. By the end, participants were developing plans to extend the annual gathering into a year-round network for train
He turned 80, the senior most resident of our ashram. Jai Sri hails from St. Thomas, Ontario, joined the Krishna movement in Tennessee decades ago, and came back to Canada to spend years in Toronto’s branch to serve our deities. Whenever a pujari (priest) couldn’t make it for their scheduled service they would call Jai Sri, and in a very detached mode, would agree. “I’ll take care of it,” was his surrendered attitude. He is a bit frail these days and can’t ride a bike anymore. It would just be
How can we ensure that our spiritual movement remains a potent force for global welfare rather than just a secular administration? In this deeply reflective interview for the "Books are the Basis" week, His Grace Tapan Mishra Prabhu, Global Minister for the ISKCON Ministry of Education, shares a powerful vision for the future of our society.
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=119712
Dear Devotees,
After spending several months on life support, Prabhu has made the profound decision to discontinue the machines that are sustaining his physical body. He is presently at the VA Hospital in Los Angeles, where local devotees are coming together to be with him and surround him with the transcendental sound of the Holy Names. Sankirtana is being performed at his bedside, offering him the sacred association of devotees and helping his consciousness remain lovingly absorbed in Krishna
By Chaitanya Charan das
Answer Summary: Yes, if by ‘spiritual’ we imply open-mindedness and by ‘religion’ close-mindedness. No, if by ‘spiritual’ we refer to a state of consciousness and by ‘religious’ a process to achieve that state of consciousness.
Answer: The intention underlying this desire to be ‘spiritual-not-religious’ is laudable, but its application is questionable. Usually the intention is that we should be broad-minded, not narrow-minded. That intention is fine, but is the underlying
By Yudhisthira Dasa
This may not resonate with everyone, but on a metaphysical or non-material level, which includes the process of developing Krishna Consciousness, this topic is foundational. It includes accepting that we are not only lovable as souls but also that we are loved and have never, not even for a moment, ever not been loved. We are always loved. It has never stopped since the beginning of our eternity, a very long time ago.
Yes, unconditional love is all around us, waiting for u
