Blog

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura makes one statement which is a statement that should not be taken cheaply. He says that, “Generally, the vows of initiation are so powerful that they will be successful even if they are not followed perfectly.” Now that is not an excuse to not follow the vows perfectly. We cannot proceed as if, “That is interesting. Now I don’t have to be so fanatic.” No, that is not the meaning of that statement from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. The meaning i

I was trying to make a point by abruptly striking just one branch of a spruce tree. Suddenly, hidden in that limb of the tree, with all its sub-branches and twigs, came a cloud of golden pollen.

My dear friend and godbrother, Ugresh, was astounded to see that pollen, appearing as a light powder, suddenly manifest. “Stay away then, if you have allergies,” I recommended. Indeed, he does have that, acting up from time to time. Now is one of those times.

That gust I brought on to create that cloud

By Radhapriya Chawla

The pandemic is heavily affecting ISKCON devotee communities around the world as there is lack of resources and access to medical equipment and facilities especially for those in rural devotee communities such as Mayapur and Bangladesh. Over 7000 devotee families in Mayapur and Bangladesh are struggling to feed and take care of their families because of the situation. It is heart-wrenching to see these devotees suffering, leaving their bodies, having no access to any basic

The Ministry of Education invites devotees to a symposium designed to bring together via Zoom/Online with the global ISKCON-members involved in Education:

Dear ISKCON educator and leader,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We are delighted to inform you that the ISKCON Ministry of Education, will be hosting its 2nd Annual virtual Global Symposium of Education “Viplavah 2021” on July 29th 7:00 PM CDT/ July 30th 5:30 am IST until Aug 1st 2021 via the Zoom/FaceBoo

Dear Devotees,

With a very heavy heart we would like to inform that on May 27, 2021 (Pratipat & Appearance tithi of Sri Narada Muni), H. G. Mahaprabhu das left his body. He was a very good health and spirits till his last breath and finally left due to a cardiac arrest, at his home in Mumbai.

Mahaprabhu Prabhu had joined ISKCON at Mumbai on the inaugural day of the Juhu Temple in 1978. Since then he was involved in serving as a legal advisor for various matters of ISKCON India. In his initial y

Are you looking for a summer internship? ISKCON News is holding its first-ever internship program this June - August 2021. This is a great way to get some work experience on your CV/resume and do some seva with a group of other youth - FULLY ONLINE - about 5-10 hours a week with three meet-ups scheduled.  ALSO, we have MORE THAN JUST WRITING POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 

• Marketing Assistant
• Advertising Assistant
• SEO/Data Analytics Assistant
• Social Media Manager Assistant
• Writers: news briefs, features

Today His Grace Mahaprabhu Dasa (Sri R. K. Maheshwari), my dear friend and Srila Prabhupada’s staunch devotee, passed away at his home in Khar, Mumbai. To honor his sacred memory, here is an excerpt from my book I’ll Build You a Temple: The Juhu Story about Mahaprabhu’s first visit to Hare Krishna Land, on the occasion of the temple’s grand opening, January 14, 1978.

One of the first-time visitors, a lawyer, R. K. Maheshwari (later initiated as Mahaprabhu dasa), later remembered hearing about t

By Acarya dasa, All-India Padayatra leader

The Indian government extension of the country’s second Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown has determined that the All-India Padayatra will currently remain in Bharkawada where the padayatris recently celebrated Ramanavmi. Fortunately, we are still staying at the Panchmukhi mahadev temple on the outskirts of the village and are still doing our programmes.

When we were performing sankirtan not long after the Ramanavmi festival the police came and all the vi

He also understood Sudama hid within his clothes a bundle with some rice that he was too ashamed to show. The Lord inquired, “Have you brought a gift from home for Me? I greatly value any gift from saintly devotees. A cup of water makes Me smile, though I could drink an ocean. A fruit or flower pleases Me, when offered in devotion.” Despite this clear encouragement, Sudama was ashamed to give his gift to Krishna in this opulent domain. Lord Krishna knew Suddma’s pure affection had no price, so

FIVE YEARS, ELEVEN MONTHS and a lifetime of unexpected love

VISAKHA DASI a memoir

Essay by Annette Murphy

(Aditya Varna Devi Dasi)

How beautiful on the mountain are the feet of those who bring good news

(Isaiah 5:27)

Through her sharp camera lens and with the point of her pen Visakha Dasi takes us on a roller coaster ride through the near 6 years, of her life from 1971 to 1977. Something extraordinary happened to this self-confessed, proud atheist. A Darwinian, which was as she points out the i

By Madhava Smullen 

Deep Leap, a new Youtube series from Bhaktivedanta College of Radhadesh, Belgium, is responding to the “overwhelming need” amidst ISKCON devotees for applied philosophy, with authentic solutions to modern challenges. The series of short clips will deliver concise messages based on scripture and the examples of saintly persons, that viewers can apply practically in their lives.

As well as hearing about how the Acharyas and great saints in the Srimad-Bhagavatam practiced Krish

Is it not the most divine form of communication
A way of expression, a marvelous supplication
An urge from the heart due to a hurt or a wound
A cry so desperate from feeling so ruined
A call for help as if lost in dense jungle
Seeking signs for a way out of the tangle
Prayer can be a request for strength, hope, courage
It certainly transcends any mundane verbiage
But special requests do not alone constitute prayer
Prayer should not only refer to events of despair
Not just reserved when life app

I am writing this to hopefully stir some practical steps to re-ignite a better place for the oxen.

Lord Caitanya told Chand Kazi that the bull is like our father because he helps us produce grains ***vrisha anna upajaya tate tenho pita*** CC Adi 17.153. I am sure we have quoted that or paraphrased it in our presentations about the importance of the cow and the bull and that they should not be killed. Do we really believe it is relevant for society? For Lord Caitanya it was a significant argumen

A Montreal group of Russian speaking origin occupied the late morning on a zoom call. My assignment was on the topic of “Memories of Prabhupada,” referring to my own recollections of our reverent guru. Despite my lack of preparedness for the presentation, the listeners were so attentive and appreciative. The translations done for Ukrainian and Russian folks did not hamper the presentation. One woman confessed, “You made us feel close to him.”

A second group tuned in from the Central Asia area,

This is the beautiful prayer and poem to Lord Narasimha that Kusakratha Prabhu has written.
Sri Narasimha Palana Prarthana
Dedication
Sri Sri Nrsimhadevesa
palana prarthana stavam
gurave Prabhupadaya
Gauravenarpayamy aham

To my spiritual master His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada this Sri Nrsimha Palana Prarthana is respectfully dedicated

Text 1
Koti koti vadanah prapalakam
Koti koti vadanah khalantakam
koti koti vadanah Nrsimhakam
koti koti vadanas to santu tam

Millions and mil

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada gave the following Kavacha for the protection of sannyasis he had send to the west:
Sri Nrisimha Kavacha of the Trailokya Vijaya in the Samhita of Brahma
1. Sri Narad Muni said: “My dear father and lord, master of the Universe, lord of the multitude of demigods headed by Indra, kindly tell me the kavaca mantra of Lord Nrsimha, the incarnation of Visnu. O master, reading this kavaca aloud, a learned man will become victorious throughout the three worlds

Today is Nrsimha-caturdasi, the appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva. The appearance and activities of the Lord in the world are a great mystery. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita (4.9) Lord Krishna says:

janma karma ca me divyam
evam yo vetti tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam eti so ’rjuna

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

To under

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written five beautiful prayers in “Sri Navadvipa Bhava Taranga” for receiving the mercy of Lord Narasimha. These prayers are certainly assurance to all sincere devotees that the worship of Lord Narasimha is purely in the line of aspiring love and devotion to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. Those prayers are as follows.
e dusta hrdaye kama adi ripu chaya
kutinati pratisthasa sathya sada raya
hrdaya-sodhana ara krsnera vasana
nrsimha-carane mora ei to’ kamana
Within my sin

Me? Bath Lord Nrsimhadev?

It was about 2002 when we kept a photo of Radha Madhava and 8 Sakhis on our wall, desiring to come to Mayapur. When we arrived here and first came to the temple for darshan, we were surprised they were wearing the same multi-coloured set that they had worn in our photo. When we told Jananivas Prabhu, he smiled and said “They’re greeting you.”

The magic of the Deities’ loving reciprocation in this unique abode is wonderful.

One time we bought a crystal necklace with lar