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Mayapur Academy formally inaugurated its International Diploma in Deity Worship on October 23, 2026, welcoming students from around the world for systematic training in Deity worship.

According to the Academy’s Facebook announcement, Jananivas Dasa, Pancaratna Dasa, and other senior devotees attended the inauguration, shared realizations, and offered encouragement and blessings to the incoming students.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/mayapur-academy-inaugurates-international-deity-worship-di

Bahulastami marks the appearance of Sri Radha Kunda and Sri Syama Kunda.

After Lord Krishna killed the bull-demon Aristasura, the gopis (cowherd maidens) teased that He had incurred a reaction of sin and needed to cleanse Himself. Krishna struck the ground with His heel to summon all the sacred rivers, creating Syama Kunda.

Srimati Radharani and Her gopis then excavated a nearby pool with their bangles, which was filled when the holy rivers asked to enter Radharani’s service, forming Radha Kunda

Kartik is very auspicious for spiritual advancement. Another name for Kartik is Urja-vrata. Urja means power. The supreme power, the original power, is Srimati Radharani. So Urja-vrata, or Kartik-vrata, is for Srimati Radharani. Many important pastimes took place in the month of Kartik. On the full-moon night, Sri Krishna played upon His flute and enjoyed the rasa-lila, which is considered the best of His pastimes. Also during Kartik, Krishna saw that the residents of Vrindavan were preparing to

The Sacred Glories of Radha Kunda

The holy city of Mathura holds a position of spiritual supremacy over Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because it is where the Supreme Lord appeared. Yet, even greater than Mathura is the transcendental forest of Vrindavana, renowned for the divine rasalila pastimes of Lord Krishna. Superior to Vrindavana is Govardhana Hill, uplifted by Krishna’s divine hand and the site of His many loving pastimes. But above all, the superexcellent Radha Kunda reigns suprem

By Madhusudana Visnu Das

There are some pastimes of Krishna that astonish us by their grandeur.

There are others that quietly and softly enter the heart.

The meeting of Krishna and His childhood friend Sudama belongs to the second kind.

There is no battlefield. No demon is slain. No mountain is lifted.

A poor brahmana simply walks to Dvaraka carrying a small bundle of chipped rice.

And Krishna receives him.

Yet within that seemingly simple meeting, the Srimad-Bhagavatam reveals something extraor

Bringing Mahaprabhu’s Life to a New Generation:

A Biography for Seekers and Devotees

by Punya-sravana dasa

More than five centuries after Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu began his sankirtan movement in Bengal, his life continues to offer a compelling answer to a question that confronts devotees today: How can the teachings of bhakti reach people who have never encountered the Vaishnava tradition? A new biography, The Mystical Journey of Chaitanya: Revolutionary Pioneer of Bhakti Yoga, scheduled for wor

Words can scarcely capture the glory of Her Grace Shanti Rupa Mataji, an exalted Vaishnavi whose entire life was a radiant offering at the lotus feet of Guru, Gauranga, and the Vaishnavas. Where can I begin, and where can I possibly end, in glorifying a soul whose every thought, word, and action was dedicated to devotional service?

As I write these words, I am seated in Mataji’s home, awaiting the arrival of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, and Srimati Subhadra Devi for tomorrow’s Ratha Yatra in

Visakha Dasi, Temple President of Bhaktivedanta Manor, delivered an inspiring address at this year’s Diwali celebration at 10 Downing Street , attended by Prime Minister Andy Burnham MP, and other distinguished guests. Drawing upon the ancient wisdom of the  Bhagavad-gita , she highlighted how the lights of Diwali symbolise the knowledge that dispels darkness within our hearts. Quoting Chapter Six, Verse 32 , she encouraged everyone to develop genuine empathy for the suffering of others, regardl

By Mukunda-Anghri Das

Devotees of ISKCON Taiwan organized an event from October 9 to 11, 2026, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of ISKCON’s founding in 1966 by its Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

Around 100 devotees from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines attended this joyful event at a beautiful mountain resort near Taichung City, Taiwan.

Three special guests kindly graced this event with their presence: Srutikirti Das (ACBSP), Prabhava Das (ACB

By Atma Tattva Das,

After 25 years of monastic life, S.B. Keshava Swami returned to the classroom in a bid to deepen his knowledge and further empower his endeavors to share wisdom that breathes.

Earlier this year, Keshava Swami addressed Harvard Divinity School’s Dean’s Leadership Forum in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on leaders’ inner lives. The venue carried significance: the Cader Room, where ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada had lectured more t

Statement from the ISKCON Governing Body Commission on Srila Prabhupada and the Role of Gurus in ISKCON

The ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) passed several resolutions during its Mid-Term General Meeting 2026 regarding the need to better educate ISKCON devotees with “a clearer understanding and articulation of, the qualification and service of all gurus, and their relationship with ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the ISKCON society, and

Appearing as the son of a king, Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura (Shri Thakura Mahasaya) showed all the bodily symptoms of a mahapurusha (an exalted divine person). He had long arms, a deep navel, golden-complexion, beautiful eyes shaped like lotus petals.

In school, he was a sruti dhara (able to memorise whatever he hears) Although he quickly mastered Sanskrit and the Vedas, he hankered to serve Krishna. He was a lifelong brahmachari.

By the mercy of the Holy Name Gaura-Nitai, Narottama became detac

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, whose picture we have here on the cover of the book Prarthana, one of the books he wrote, is a great acharya, spiritual teacher, in our Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual heritage—one of the great acharyas of our sampradaya, particularly after the time of the Gosvamis. The Gosvamis were the direct disciples of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. There are six who are famous, but there are others who were also present during that time, such as Bhugarba Gosvami and Lokanatha Gosvami.

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

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

We began our Karttika Parikrama 2026 with a visit to the local temples in Vrindavan. After circumambulating Srila Prabhupada at his samadhi, we made our way to the Bhaktivedanta Swami Goshala, which was personally established by His Divine Grace. Next, we headed to Kaliya Ghat, the site where Krishna subdued Kaliya. Behind Kaliya Ghat we paid our respects at the Samadhi of Srila Prabodhananda Goswami. Our journey then took us to the New Madan Mohan Temple, built after the original temple was des

So these file cabinets here that are the photographic ones, they’re full of images that have been generated over the decades by the BBT. It started out as a simple file cabinet with just a few black and white pictures. The photographs were essentially generated for Back to Godhead magazine. So they were mostly in black and white and then later on as color was developed.

So in this area we have in the ISKCON pictures we have the magazines, the books, other publications that were used for the phot

Earlier this month, on Sarva Pitru Amavasya, a Pitru Shanti Yajna was held in Gaya, India, giving thousands of people the opportunity to honor their departed ancestors by sponsoring Srimad-Bhagavatam sets and other books by Srila Prabhupada. Organized by Sriram Das, the yajna began at 8:00 am IST and was broadcast live on Hare Krishna TV and YouTube, with hundreds joining online from different places, including the UK. Gaya is one of India’s most important sites for performing ancestral rites, p

Vaishnavi Ministry North America is marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October with a campaign to help devotees recognize abuse, support those affected, and make ISKCON communities safer. Produced through its Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention Program, the campaign’s educational graphics identify warning signs and emphasize that religious teachings cannot justify abusive behavior.

The materials reinforce the Governing Body Commission’s position that domestic abuse is indefensible and