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The first-ever online youth girls camp for unmarried girls of India will be held on December  18th- 16th, 2021. This virtual event was originally to take place earlier in 2020 when the pandemic hit the world. 

This event is an excellent opportunity for youth girls struggling with peer pressure and the inability to balance both studies and Krishna consciousness. Besides focusing on the aspect of balancing life, they will also address the period of transition from youth to womanhood. 

This event i

December 22, 2021—The Governing Body Commission (GBC) of ISKCON today passed a resolution amending a 2019 law affirming that qualified Vaisnavis, or women devotees, may under certain conditions, initiate disciples (give diksa) within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Of the 28 voting GBC members present for the tally, the vote was 18 in favor, 2 opposed, and 8 abstentions. In other words, 64% of GBC members voted in favor of the proposal.

The earlier 2019 Law resolved that “Va

Here is a great and easy idea for the Christmas Marathon. One of the brahmacaryas here in San Diego, Govardhana prabhu, came up with it. He puts together three soft-bound books (Gita, Science of Self-realization, and Chant and Be Happy), and puts a Christmas bow around them.

He slips a temple invitation card underneath the ribbon. He then stacks up these sets on his table. The key is people walking past his table and seeing all these nice gift packs arrayed.

His presentation is “Give the Gift o

During this holiday season, the Bhaktivedanta Players performed their first pantomime drama in Bhaktivedanta Manor’s new Shree Krishna Haveli. Based on the classic tale written by Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol“, the Players’ parody was laced with its own Krishna Conscious ingredients,  and still retained the powerful messages of promoting faith, morality, and charity.

The show was directed by Jaya Krishna das, and it was written by Radha Mohan das.

Krsna is suhrt. He is our dear-most friend. Prabhupada said that Krsna is our best friend and the devotees responded, “No Prabhupada, you are our best friend! We do not know Krsna; we only know you!” Prabhupada then explained, “No, Krsna is your best friend because He is omniscient and knows everything, whereas I do not and may disappoint you.” The quality of omniscience means that Krsna knows the deepest desires within our hearts. He knows everything and as a result, He will never disappoint us

Sarva Rasa agreed to join me for an evening walk down by the greenhouse enclave. This was after a full day of his teaching and then catching up with the final portion of a reading of the Gita in the temple. Today marked the anniversary of Arjuna hearing the timeless truth from the mouth of Krishna Himself. It was aural reception divine.

In any event, it was time to just get outside and let nature do what it would wish of us. As is common, nature is a teaser. Within minutes of our start, clouds b

My Guru Mahārāja, my spiritual master, used to say that you have to select a spiritual master not by seeing but by your ear, but by hearing. And you don’t select a spiritual master who has got a very good hair or beard or some very beautiful feature, ‘Oh, he is a very good, nice looking.’ No. You must hear. Tad viddhi praṇipātena (BG 4.34). Śruti. The whole process is śruti. The Vedas are called śruti. The ear has to aural reception.”
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, New York, August 12, 1966)

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In the mood of visiting the Dham when you can't physically go to the Dham, GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT) is bringing the Dham to you. To honor the upcoming Lord Nityananda's Appearance Day, urging you all to fire up your phone or computer and join us on a special tour to the Birth place of Lord Nityananda with Chandan Yatra Das.

About Chandan Yatra Das
Chandan Yatra Das is disciple of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj. He live in Canberra, Australia. Since 2009, he has travelled to various Holy D

1. We are put to test and trial in this world. Only those who attend the kirtana of the devotees can succeed.

2. Every spot on earth where discourses on God are held is a place of pilgrimage.

3. Possession of objects not related to Krsna is our main malady.

4. Let me not desire anything but the highest good for my worst enemies.

5. As dalliance with the body in luxury increases, so wanes the spirit of service of the Lord.

6. Those favored by God find their paths set by thorns.

7. There is no pe

I am overjoyed to hear that your enthusiasm for chanting is increasing. As our contaminations are removed by chanting, the Lord’s form, qualities, and pastimes will be revealed to us in the holy name. There is no point in making a separate effort to artificially remember the Lord’s form, qualities, and pastimes. The Lord and His name are one and the same. This will be understood clearly when the coverings in your heart are removed.

By chanting without offenses you will personally realize that a

By Khusboo Basan

Yamuna Devi Dasi was a pioneer and a true inspiration in ISKCON. Dedicating 45 years of her life in the service of Guru, Krishna,  and Vaishnavas. She was known for a number of services such as leading kirtanas in India in front of thousands and publishing vegetarian Indian cookbooks, which won many awards.

Born Joan Campanella, Yamuna Devi came to ISKCON in September 1966 through her sister, and it was then that she met her spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada.

In August 1968 Yam

Once you were in the body of a very small child

Then you grew up to become a little wild

Your body as a youth showed all this passion

When people carry on in a certain kind of fashion

And then you took the body of a man

Energy went to responsibility as you plan

Then before long your body gets old

You then exit to enter another life of gold

The body will perish but you will not

What I tell you is very good food for thought

The soul is immortal, it will persist

It cannot be injured by sword or by

1. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instructions in Sikastakam, “param vijayate Sri-Krishna -Sankirtanam” is the only motto of the Gaudiya math.
2. The Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna is the only enjoyer. Everyone and everything else is the object of his enjoyment.
3. Anyone who does not serve Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is ignorant and a killer himself.
4. To learn to tolerate is one of the most important responsibilities of those living in the math.
5. Rupanuga devotees offe

Madhava Smullen is synonymous with ISKCON News. For the last 14 years, he has been the main storyteller for the global ISKCON Community for the news site. 

As a Staff Writer and administrator he started and managed some of ISKCON New’s social media pages (back when social media had just become a thing!) and has written more than 2,000 articles over the years, chances are, he may have written about a project or person you know! 

"I especially loved writing in-depth, uplifting stories about inspir

By Madhava Smullen 

A brand new Crossways Hare Krishna Restaurant has opened in the heart of the busiest part of Melbourne, Australia, serving inexpensive all-you-can-eat vegetarian and vegan meals to the Melbourne community. 

The restaurant opened on Monday, December 6th, with Melbourne temple president Aniruddha Das cutting the ribbon in a low-key celebration. 

Crossways has a major fan base, and people lined up outside as the restaurant was about to open. 

The familiar face of Lord Jagannatha

Planets have been making alignments with the moon as of late. During my evening walk this night I could see when the clouds were not covering. I spotted the moon and also a companion, another heavenly body situated on either side of the moon. I’m quite sure one was Saturn, however, I’m not sure about the other. This unique line up of luminaries reminded me of descriptions of planetary adjustments; when planets queued up at the time of Krishna’s birth. That day is called Janmasthami.

During my st

By Ravi Ramgoolam

"I want that you all my students shall very vigorously try for this book distribution."  Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Kirtiraja -- Vrindaban 27 November 1971

Mahotsaha Das has proven that the words of our founder Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are still living strong in the hearts of many.  Our beloved Srila Prabhupada’s heartfelt call to all his students of Bhakti Yoga to push vigorously for book distribution is amazingly still being carried down

By Madhava Smullen

With this holiday season upon us, devotees from Alachua as well as from Gainesville’s Krishna House, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine participated in the St. Augustine Christmas Parade in Florida on December 4th.

Hare Krishna devotees were the first part of the parade in 2012, for which they received the first prize trophy for best float. After receiving a trophy in 2013 as well, they have participated annually since only missing three years including 2019 and 2020.

The parade

It was a full day of rain and I’m not used to this, but such is nature.

Special about today, though, is that it’s the birthday of Vrnda. Who is Vrnda? Well, she’s a very sweet and intelligent woman who is doing a lot for this movement. She has an incredible devotional and legal head and is most helpful in so many capacities, most of all acting as the zonal secretary for our North Zone here in North America. She assists me in my GBC responsibilities. GBC stands for Governing Body Commissioner.

It

Yoga is often misunderstood as merely breath control, asanas or exercises; for some it is about practising some rules and regulations based on morality and for others it is cultivation of scriputral knowledge. But the real purpose of Yoga is to fix our mind on the Supreme.

According to Bhagavad-gita, yoga can not be practiced unless we practice mind control. An uncontrolled mind restricts the soul from reaching its natural blissful state, which a practioner is trying to acheive through yoga.

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