The day known as Aksaya-tritiya occurs on the third (tritiya) day of the waxing moon in the month of Vaisakha. Every second of this blessed day is completely auspicious, and so there is no consideration of any one period (muhurta) being better than another. Aksaya means “inexhaustible”; anything a person undertakes on the day of Aksaya-tritiya is bound to succeed, especially the performance of devotional activities, which guarantee inexhaustible benefit.
It is said that Aksaya-tritiya is the
Krishna Conscious devotees have been visiting the border cities of El Paso and Juarez to preach at various yoga centers since the early 1970s, but they now have a permanent presence in the city thanks to a flourishing home program run by a dedicated grihastha couple Krishna Charan Dasa and his wife, Jasmine Kim Fong. It’s called the New Nilachal Bhakti Yoga Community, and it is the temple home of Jagannatha, Balarama, and Subhadra.
A Not-So-Chance Meeting
In 2010, Krishna Charan (then Alfredo G
“You are distributing this knowledge, so you become immediately recognized, very dear servant, very confidential servant of Krsna. He says personally. [Bg. 18.69]. “Amongst the human beings those who are doing this preaching, nobody is dearer than these persons to Me””
“To be quickly recognized by Krsna, this is the short-cut process. He never says those who are sitting in a secluded place meditating or chanting, doing nothing. He never says that “They are My very dear devotees.” But those who
Like every day, I circumambulate the temple so many times, and that’s how I got my walking in today.
In the temple room, a very handicapped late teen fell with his walker, but got himself up like a hero.
Two schoolteachers came to see the temple and watched our rehearsal. “Are you professional?” asked one.
One person found a source of oat milk, which I humbly requested, and delivered cartons of it.
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami spoke about jealousy. Instead of envying one who is excellin
Today Is The Appearance Day of Sri Gadadhara Pandita!
Rādhārāṇī had said one time that She would like to be in a male body. so she could associate with Kṛṣṇa without any inhibition. Therefore, as a result She came in the form of Gadādhara. And always remained in the association of Kṛṣṇa. When He was in Navadvīpa, and after that when Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī, Gadādhara Paṇḍita also went to Nīlācala Jagannātha Purī.
Gadādhara Prabhu in Jagannātha Purī, He would r
Sri Kavi Karnapura states in Gaura Ganodessa Dipika that in Vraja lila Gadadhara Pandit is the daughter of King Vrsabhanu-Srimati Radharani. Gadadhara Pandit served as Lord Gaura’s chief assistant during His Navadvipa-lila. Sri-Sri Radha Krishna in Vrndavana appear as Gaura-Gadadhara to perform pastimes in Navadvipa in the forest groves beside the Ganges.
shri-radha-prema-rupa ya pura vrindavandeshvari
sa shri-gadadharo gaura-vallabhah panditakhyakah
nirnitah shri-Svarupair yo vraja-lakshmitay
By ISKCON Mayapur
gadadhara-paṇḍitadi — prabhura nija-sakti
tan’-sabara carane mora sahasra pranati
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the internal potencies of the Lord, of whom Sri Gadadhara Prabhu is the foremost.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 1.41)
Sri Gadadhara Pandita is one of the five Panca-tattva, who along with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acarya, and Srivasa Thakura descended to this world to teach pure devotional service and spread the chanti
In this material world, relationships are short-lived. Growing up many people have said to each other that they will remain together forever, but due to providence such relationships hardly last for years. But such a scenario was unseen in the life of Gadadhara Pandit. He was the most intimate companion of Mahaprabhu and was very dear to Him [Mahaprabhu].
Gadadhara Pandit was born in the village of Beleti Gram in the Chittagong district (modern Bangladesh) in the year 1486 AD. His father was Ma
Gadadara Pandit was a childhood friend of Nimai and both were students in the same ‘Tol’ or school. Gadadhar’s parents Madhav Mishra and Ratnawati were natives of Chattagram district but later on moved to Navadwip. Gadadhara Pandit was born in Navadwip.
In the Gaura-ganodesa-dipika, verses 147 through 153, it is stated: “The pleasure potency of Sri Krishna formely known as Vrindavaneshvari Srimati Radharani is now personified in the form of Sri Gadadhara Pandit in the pastimes of Lord Chaitany
On 25 January 2023, I was on book distribution in the basement parking area of a West Auckland mall. Books were going out slowly, and I noticed it was not as productive as the previous day at the same spot. As time went on, I was praying to Krishna, “Please send someone who can take books.”
Around 5 p.m. I was about to finish, but I thought I should stay a bit longer. A few minutes later, a white van stopped some distance from where I was standing, and the driver got out. As soon as I saw him,
By Thomas Haribol
Fifteen members of the New Vrindaban community recently participated in an intensive four-day Devotee Care Education and Training Course led by Jai Nitai Dasa and his wife, Bhava Bhakti Devi Dasi. Previous to their Devotee Care service, the presenters served in the ISKCON London temple for 25 years. Fourteen of those years, Jai Nita served as Temple President.
The course is a ministry of Devotee Care International, an initiative of the GBC. Its goal is to “embed the culture o
His conclusions rest heavily on a thin surface of guesswork.
Real evidence supporting his theory is in short supply.
Over the past 150 years, the expanding role of science in almost every sphere of life has produced a revolution in ideas—a revolution epitomized by Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Although never proven more than a theory, it is accepted by millions as fact. In discussing the influence and implications of his theory, I shall suggest an alternative explanation of evolution th
By Thomas Haribol
On March 30th, the “Building Peace around Ancient Cultures” forum was held in the Legislative Palace of San Lázaro in Mexico City, coinciding with the Rama Navami festival. The Federal Commission for Culture and Cinematography organized the joint gathering, chaired by Deputy Carlos Francisco Ortiz Tejeda, in collaboration with NIOS (the North American Institute of Oriental and Classical Studies). NIOS is an educational research institution at the service of ISKCON and was fo
By Chandni Raj
New Mayapur in Central France is working to implement Srila Prabhupada’s vision for rural farm communities where devotees can live in harmony with nature, while addressing the climate crisis. The aim is to build a Vedic village as outlined by Srila Prabhupada, where earth and her natural resources are protected, which is in perfect harmony with the modern day need for sustainability. Implementing his ideas for community living, based on Vedic wisdom, gives a lasting solution to w
I feel great. The weather is just perfect and I’m getting my avocados. What more can I want?
The only thing that becomes a bit heart pressing is the absence of some of the swamis I used to meet. My dear friend, Kadambha Kanana Swami (Dutch born) passed away last month stricken with cancer. He was a regular feature at Durban’s Chariot Fest and was loved for his classes and chanting, but his presence is no more.
I also recall being here during the time when another beloved monk, Bhakti Tirtha Swa
The following conversation between His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and some of his disciples took place in October 1975 during an early-morning walk in Durban, South Africa.
Srila Prabhupada: Man came from the ape. So why is man not coming from the ape now?
Disciple: It only happened once, and that was enough to start the whole thing.
Srila Prabhupada: Only once? Another rascaldom! We see the flowers and fruits are coming every season. Why once? This is dogmatic. Do we h
By Devakinandana Das and Devasri Radhika Devi Dasi
The following letter from two ISKCON legal experts explains the current effort to seek input from ISKCON devotees worldwide in formulating a Constitution for ISKCON. ISKCON News encourages all devotees to open the link, review the draft, share their thoughts, and help build the foundation for our society’s future.
ISKCON Constitution – Your Chance to Participate!
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of the Int
Sadhana (spiritual exercise) is so vital for achieving the human obligation. For traditionalists, such daily practice begins before the sun peeks over the horizon. That time of the day is so conducive for meditation and prayer. One thing I’m so grateful to our guru, Prabhupada, for is this morning program which includes a one-hour hearing or speaking from the Bhagavatam. Today it was my turn to deliver and conduct a Q&A on the topic of the honey which comes from the focus on the divine feet of
Since we don’t hear of a demon named Madhu in Krishna’s pastimes, why does Arjuna address Krishna as “the killer of Madhu”?
Madhusudana. The name always seemed curious to me. Where did it come from? In the Bhagavad-gita, one of our most sacred texts, Krishna is referred to as Madhusudana, or “the killer of the Madhu demon,” no less than five times (1.35, 2.1, 2.4, 6.33, and 8.2). And yet, Krishna didn’t kill a demon named Madhu. I looked through the vast storehouse of Krishna’s pastimes over an
By HG Radha Mohan Das
The Law Department of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is pleased to announce its third annual Global Law Conference, which will be held from May 19 to May 22, 2023, at Bhaktivedanta Manor near London, UK. The Conference will address critical legal issues encountered by ISKCON and the worldwide community of devotees and friends of Krishna.
The ISKCON 2023 Global Law Conference will bring together devotee attorneys and legally minded devotees an
