By Kāla-Svarūpa Dāsa
Earlier this month, ISKCON News published a post entitled “Prabhupada’s Silicon Sutras: When 18 Years of Vision Meet the Speed of Now,” generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and submitted by Visnu Murti Das, Founder of Vanipedia. The following opinion piece is a response to that post.
Recently, an article was published on ISKCON News describing the integration of the AI tool Gemini into Vanipedia. The article, generated by the LLM itself, announced that the tool will
Following the intensity of the December Marathon 2024, we in the snowy world of Michigan began looking for a new target market for our “family business”—book distribution. We stumbled upon a massive market that was hiding in plain sight: Amazon.
Through our year-long efforts, we have successfully pushed Srila Prabhupada’s magnificent translation almost to the top of the charts. Now, we need your help to finish this race and claim the #1 spot. (Read to the end to find out how!)
When we first look
For years the Wellington temple has organized a weekly program in a community hall in Lower Hutt. Many of our devotees live out that way so it is a convenient arrangement.
I always go there when I visit and it is a pleasure seeing all the enthusiastic devotees and their families. The program starts with arati and kirtan and the children lead Nrsimha prayers afterwards. This is followed by class and prasadam.
Source: https://ramaiswami.com/lower-hutt-weekly-hall-program/
In Vraja there was a dancer named Candrahasa who was very expert in the tasting of rasa. In Chaitanya-lila, he became Jagadisa Pandit who also took great pleasure in dancing for the Lord. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 143)
Jagadisa Pandit is considered to be simultaneously both Nityananda-shakha and Chaitanya-shakha, a branch both of Chaitanya as well as Nityananda in the desire tree of devotion. He was born in the town of Gauhati (Pragjyotishpur) in modern Assam.
His father’s name was Kamalaksha Bh
By Giriraj Swami
Today is the disappearance day of Srila Jiva Gosvami, one of the Six Gosvamis of Vrndavana, direct disciples of Lord Chaitanya. Srila Prabhupada writes, “Srila Jiva Gosvami composed and edited at least twenty-five books. They are all very much celebrated . . . After the disappearance of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami in Vrndavana, Srila Jiva Gosvami became the acarya of all the Vaisnavas in Bengal, Orissa, and the rest of the world, and it is he who used to guide them
“Sri Jagadisa Pandita is the savior of the world. He distributes the nectar of love of Krsna just like a dense mass of dark clouds in the sky distributes rainfall.” [C.C. Adi 11.30]
Sri Jagadisa Bhatta took his birth in the region of Gauhati. His father’s name was Sri Kamalaksa Bhatta, who was the son of Bhatta Narayana, who hailed from Goyghar Bandyaghata. Both the mother and father of Jagadisa were very devoted Visnu-bhaktas. After his parents passed away he came with his wife to live on the
Appearing as the nephew of Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis, Srila Jiva Gosvami displayed all the charming features of a maha-purusa (divine person). He had lotus eyes, a high nose and forehead, broad chest, long arms, and a radiant golden body.
Srila Jiva Gosvami was the direct disciple of Srila Rupa Gosvami
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Ten describes the branches of the tree named Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
TEXT 1
sri-caitanya-padambhoja-
madhupebhyo namo namah
kathancid asrayad yesam
svapi tad-gandha-bhag bhavet
TRANSLATION
Let me repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the beelike devotees who always taste the honey of the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If even a doggish nondevotee somehow takes shelter of such devotees, he enjoys the aroma of the lotus flower.
PURPORT
Srila Jiva Gosvami (CC Adi 10.85)
In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (195) it is said that Srila Jiva Gosvami was formerly Vilasa-mañjari gopi. From his very childhood Jiva Gosvami was greatly fond of Srimad-Bhagavatam. He later came to Navadvipa to study Sanskrit, and, following in the footsteps of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, he circumambulated the entire Navadvipa-dhama. After visiting Navadvipa-dhama he went to Benares to study Sanskrit under Madhusudana Vacaspati, and after finishing his studies in B
As we come to the close of another year, the TOVP Team extends heartfelt wishes to all devotees around the world. May this New Year be filled with spiritual inspiration, divine protection, and ever-deepening devotion to the Supreme Lord.
We pray that Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Sri Pancha Tattva, and Lord Nrsimhadeva bless you and your family with good health, prosperity, and unwavering enthusiasm in devotional service. May you continue to advance on the path of bhakti and immerse yourself in the unl
Meet my friend Steve. We first met in December 2016, on my very first visit to Southampton during Srila Prabhupada’s Book Marathon. Each year we stood opposite one another, us distributing books & Steve managing the carousel ride.
Steve was always kind & would always check in on us throughout the day. Without fail, each year I would enthusiastically ask Steve to take a Bhagavad Gita. And every year, just as firmly, he would decline, explaining that he couldn’t read or write.
Each time I would te
Vasudeva Das, a longtime ISKCON filmmaker known for his work with BhakTV, has spent several decades documenting devotional life through film. In 2016, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2nd Vaisnava Film Awards Festival in Mayapur, an event he co-organized with Nrisimhananda Das.
Recently, Vasudeva Das announced the release of his newest feature-length documentary, Around The Hill: The Giriraja Parikrama, which explores the sacred tradition of circumambulating Govardhana Hil
From 20th to 30th November 2025, Govardhan EcoVillage (GEV) became a place of deep learning, reflection, and heartfelt association as the GBC College hosted its 11-day in-person residential for leadership training. Leaders enrolled in the Zonal Supervisor Course and the Leadership Training Course came together from many parts of the world, including Reunion Island, South Africa, East and West Africa, Ghana, the United Kingdom, Mayapur, Australia, India, Canada, the United States, Toronto, Brazil
Premanjali, an Australian devotional singer, is reshaping the global kirtan movement through soulful music rooted in bhakti and spirituality. Blending ancient Indian traditions with a contemporary global sound, her kirtans are resonating across cultures, inspiring devotion and mindfulness worldwide. Watch how music becomes a bridge between faith, identity, and global connection.
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116881
The journey highlights sacred places of Navadvipa connected to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates, emphasizing the spiritual power of congregational chanting (sankirtan) as the yuga-dharma.
The pilgrimage begins at Yogapitha, the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, whose appearance inaugurated a spiritual revolution meant to uplift all souls regardless of background. It then focuses extensively on the life and mission of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who restored the purity and dignit
Iskcon Vrindavan’s devotee Udhav prabhu met a tragic drowning incident. Out of nine devotees, five missing. Four rescued. Nine devotees visited Guwahati for devotional program and yesterday after program they went to river Brahmaputra for bath but swept away by strong river current. Out of five missing one devotee is Udhav Prabhu of 24 hour kirtan team of Iskcon Vrindavan. His body is not yet recovered by NDRF.
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5 people swept away in Brahmaputra still missing in Assam; 4 others rescued:
By B
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted an Interfaith Roundtable at Number 10 Downing Street, bringing together leaders and representatives from diverse faith communities to promote dialogue, understanding, and unity across faiths. The event served as a platform for shared reflection on recent challenges—and a broader commitment to combating division and hatred in British society, with
Starmer is urging faith leaders to champion cohesion and mutual respect. ISKCON leaders Visakha Dasi, Pr
By Atma Tattva Das,
On November 25, 2025, devotees gathered at ISKCON Midrand for the opening of a facility that many described as long overdue. The new End of Life Care Room, developed by Devotee Care South Africa under the regional leadership of Jayananda Das, marks a turning point in how the South African devotee community supports its members in their final days.
The vision did not appear suddenly. It began almost a decade ago, when a devotee care workshop in 2019 inspired Jayananda and othe
We were warned of an oncoming snowstorm. Collingwood, our destination, is often dumped by winter weather rages coming from Georgian Bay. It is what makes this town a popular ski resort area. By our good fortune only a few white flakes had left less than a powdery look over the landscape.
Shri Lochana Dasa Thakura was a disciple of Shri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, a dearest associate of Lord Gaura Raya.
“My hope of hopes is to be near the lotus feet of Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura and serve him with my very life. The cherished desire of the fallen Lochana Dasa is to be allowed, by Narahari’s grace, to sing the glories of Lord Gauranga. My Lord is Shri Narahari Thakura, I am His servant. Bowing before him I beg for his service. This is my only aspiration.” (Lochana Dasa, Chait
