The story of Kubja, also known as Trivakra (one who's bent in three places), is something our morning sadhana crew is delighting in. Verse 10.42.10 from the Bhagavatam, goes like this in relation to the story. The hunchback Kubja said, "Come, O hero, let us go to my house. I cannot bear to leave you here. O best of males, please take pity on me, since you have agitated my mind."
The background to this message is that Krishna and brother Balarama entered the city of Mathura. On the way to delive
A recent short documentary released by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) explores the unlikely and inspiring journey of the Srimad Bhagavatam to Antarctica, the most remote continent on Earth.
Antarctica, the Earth’s southernmost continent, is primarily covered by a massive ice sheet that holds about 70% of the world’s fresh water. Despite being home to various life forms, like penguins and seals, no permanent human population resides on the continent year-round. Instead, Antarctica hosts a rot
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
Founded in 2016, the Govardhan Skill Centre, an initiative of Govardhan EcoVillage (GEV), is filling a massive gap among rural and tribal residents by providing educational and employment opportunities.
The institution was conceived by HH Radhanath Swami and has been operating under the leadership of HG Maithili Priya Devi Dasi (Mrs. Maithili Desai), the Sri Nityananda Educational Trust, and APAR Industries Ltd.
The Govardhan Skill Centre, as an educational in
Everyone remembers 9.11, that fateful day of the twin towers in New York coming down. That will be etched in our memories for a long time. It was an event that more or less worked an era, of a new milenia that would be wrought with confusion and conflict. I believe that unless one adopts the mindset of what is outlined in the Gita, for instance, cultivating divine qualities (Chapter 16), clear thinking cannot take root. May the world become blessed with the chance to look at that choice of goodn
On September 7th, devotees participated in an online Vyasa Puja broadcast from the Matchless Gifts storefront to celebrate His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. The year’s event was hosted by Candrasekhara Swami with the help of a team of devotees and included offerings from over 20 senior devotees in person and worldwide.
The annual Vyasa Puja held at 26 2nd Avenue began as a yearly in-person gathering organized by Romapada Swami. Later, Candrasekhara Swami became its host and
The Mayapur Institute has recently released its Winter Semester courses (October 2023-February 2024) that will be available onsite in Sridham Mayapur or online.
Since the time of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Mayapur has been a place for learning Gaudiya Vaisnava scriptures. Previous acaryas, especially Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura and Srila Prabhupada desired to reestablish Mayapur as an international center for spiritual education related to sastric studies. Based on the vis
By Sukanti Radha dasi
In our everyday devotee life, communication helps us build relationships by allowing us to share our experiences, needs and helps us connect to each other.
Good communication in our ISKCON society will help us in decision-making and planning, ease out efficient service strategies, facilitates efficient co-ordination, maintain managerial efficiency and thereby promote co-operation and peace.
With this in mind the Euro RGB- ISKCON has recently launched a new Internal Communic
By Radha Mohan Das
ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor, the spiritual sanctuary donated by the Beatle George Harrison in 1973, celebrated a historic milestone this week after hosting the Temple’s 50th annual Janmashtami festival.
The festival featured live music, performances, clothing, jewelry, food, and craft stalls, a children’s play area, a beautifully hand-decorated forest depicting scenes from Lord Krishna’s childhood pastimes, with the beautiful shrine adorned with flowers and sacred figures of
By Thomas Haribol
Insider Travel, with over 8 million followers on Facebook, published their 2023 roundup of the 40 most beautiful places to visit in the US, and Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold is on this prestigious list. Their recommendations are selected, in part, from a wide variety of travel sites and visitor reviews of must-see locations that span the US coast to coast.
Most of the 40 places recommended are natural sites like the California Redwoods, the Kenai Fjords of Alaska, or Acadia Nati
Written by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami in 1958,
Published December of that Year in Gauḍīya Patrika,
The Magazine of the Gauḍīya Vedānta Samiti.
Verse 1.
I am sitting alone in Vṛndāvana-dhāma
In this mood I am getting many realizations.
I have my wife, sons, daughters, grandsons, everything,
But I have no money so they are a fruitless glory.
Kṛṣṇa has shown me the naked form of material nature,
By his strength it has all become tasteless to me today.
yasyāham anugṛhṇāmi hariṣye tad-dhanaṁ śanaiḥ
“I
By Krsangi Radhe Dasi
It is with gratitude and deep sadness that ISKCON extends their heartfelt condolences to the Family of Prince Buthelezi, the Zulu Nation, and followers of Prince Buthelezi, Founder and President Emeritus of the Inkatha Freedom Party.
ISKCON’s relationship with Prince Buthelezi dates back over four decades, wherein he helped secure the land on which the beautiful temple of Sri Sri Radha Radhanath in Durban was built. He was also a special guest at the temple opening on Oc
By Phuspitaa Naaidu
On September 2nd, in a remarkable display of devotion and cultural unity, residents of Batam, Indonesia, witnessed the Jagannath Ratha Yatra festival. As part of the esteemed Indonesian Cultural Week, known as “Pekan Budaya Indonesia,” this festival illuminated the depth of tradition and the spirit of togetherness, surpassing the expectations of the organizing committee. You can watch a beautiful video about the celebration here.
“Pekan Budaya Indonesia,” the Indonesian C
Our greatest problem is that we have turned away from Krishna. This one action has turned into our existential dilemma. We are lost servants. But strangely we think, at least unconsciously, that it is Krishna who has abandoned us. Only when we become eager to meet Krishna again, and serve Him with body, mind and heart – as eager as a drowning man is eager to breathe again – can we attain our spiritual success. Real love, however, will only flow when we move out of the center and put Krishna the
From Back to Godhead
The ideas of the Western philosopher Kant come close to the concept of dharma.
For some, duty is a dirty word—we want to do what we want to do. Period. To hell with duty. But let’s consider this more seriously: What is duty, and should I be concerned about it? Clearly, duty means different things to different people. And yet it’s not uncommon to wonder: What am I meant to do? Is there a reason I was put on this earth?
Duty is a term loosely applied to any action or course o
During the September 6th Krishna Janmashtami festivities at ISKCON NYC, Jenifer Rajkumar, a member of the New York Assembly, 38th District, presented an official proclamation that honored the NYC’s Harinam Sankirtan devotees for their many years of service to the community. Their mission, according to their website, is “the propagation of harinam-sankirtan (the congregational chanting of the holy names of God) in the streets and subways of New York City daily for as many hours as possible.” Thi
On September 6th, BBC Radio 2’s Pause for Thought episode was entitled “My Spiritual Inspiration” and presented by devotee Nimai Devi Dasi (Nima Suchak). Her reflection, an homage to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, was part of the week’s theme, “To Go Boldly.”
“Prabhupada was fearless because of his conviction in the teachings he had received from his own guru…For his bold journey was one which changed the course of my life and of thousands of others,” said Nimai.
Nimai De
My Story and Ode to Srila Prabhupada
Born into dense illusion, one of countless conditioned souls;
doomed to endless births and deaths while playing different roles.
My life a hell that made no sense, trying drugs I took my chances;
searching faces on streets and buses, hoping to find someone with answers.
Religion as I knew it seemed a total farce,
and the diet of dead animals weighed heavy on my heart.
So, trapped, I studied different books, became an avid reader:
Leary, Huxley, Buddhism, a s
It is wrap up time for my visit to B.C., and I am receiving all kinds of gifts (such as a watch) that I'm not worthy of, a pack up lunch for the plane, hugs and goodbyes of all sorts and kinds. Satyabhama has been so sweet with daily unch during my stay here, and her son, Arjuna, in his teens, offers comic relief. Vishnu Priya pops by for gifts too, and Makunda Madhava, who offered me teabags of valerian for my insomnia, stood there to hear my testimony on how this substance worked for me for t
By Thomas Haribol
ISKCON NYC Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir is undergoing extensive renovations as part of its Transform Campaign. The ambitious initiative is restoring, in part, some of the original features of the Brooklyn building while creating a more welcoming facade to engage the increasing foot traffic in the neighborhood. The new elegant large front doors will bring more light, and hopefully visitors, to the growing and engaged spiritual community. The second-floor renovations include a l
