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By Madhava Smullen

The Bhadra Campaign, flooding the world with spiritual wisdom in the form of full sets of Srimad-Bhagavatam, keeps going from strength to strength.

Launched in 2017, the campaign is inspired by the Srimad-Bhagavatam verse 12.13.13, which states, “If on the full moon day of the month of Bhadra one places Srimad-Bhagavatam on a golden throne and gives it as a gift, he will attain the supreme transcendental destination.”

It’s also driven by Srila Prabhupada’s instruction in a 19

I walked around the block. It was a great victory going at it — three times in one day. Well-masked in the temple room, which I hadn’t visited in days, I offered my respects to the deities of Krishna. I sat down and read from the purport of the book, Bhagavatam: Canto 11, chapter 2, text 54. It was beautiful; worth sharing.

“When the moon rises, the expansion of its rays drives away the distress of the sun’s fierce heat. Similarly, the cooling rays emanating from the lotus nails of the Personal

ISKCON Latin America and the Caribbean would like to invite you to join them in a first-ever online kirtan event: “Nama Sankirtan.” The online event will take place all day on May 22nd. 

In a dynamic effort to join together to glorify Srila Prabhupada and Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the devotees from Colombia, Peru, Panama, Mexico, Guyana, and many other countries will come together to chant the holy names. Nama Sankirtan Latin America and the Caribbean is an effort to create stronger relationsh

The glories of Pancavati-tirtha at Nashik are enumerated in Valmiki’s Ramayana in the Aranya-kanda and in Sri Garga Samhita, “Twice as sacred as the mud of the Ganga is the dust of Citrakuta. Ten times more sacred than that is the dust of Pancavati-tirtha”. Lord Balarama and Lord Nityananda came to this place and visited all of the Tirthas. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu during His South Indian tour also came here to Panchavati, Nashik and He went along the river Godavari back eastwards. Lord Caitanya

Earth Day, 2021: Virtual Events & Environmental Films

Earth Day is an annual worldwide event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG (formerly Earth Day Network) including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries.

This year, the motto of the UNESCO-organized event is “as the world returns to normal, we can’t go back to business-as-usual.” The three-day event will

Video: Click here

Japa meditation – Do not disturb. Personal meeting with Krsna in progress!

It is devotional service that is opening up the spiritual dimension for us. In devotional service, every activity we do here is in the material world however simultaneously it has eternal spiritual benefit, or one can say that it is simultaneously connecting us to Krsna. Not only is there eternal benefit, but Krsna Himself is giving us that benefit. Krsna is personally getting involved in our lives and

English was not her first language and she also struggled with my Sanskrit name. However, she properly pronounced the “Swami” part. The best she could come up with for my first name, Bhaktimarga, was “beautiful.” So, there you have it, “Beautiful Swami.” It was a sweet flattery. She also made mention of my intense orange top.

It was a Zoom call and Beautiful Swami was on the panel with other spiritual leaders represented by Catholicism, Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Protestant and Hare Krishna. We

Oh, how I miss green! How I miss us — groups chanting together in that outdoor or indoor space. Every day I reminisce.

My isolation will end on the coming Monday but it still won’t be normal. Regardless, we learn from our guru, Prabhupada, that whatever the circumstance, make it bhakti-centric.

So, I do my best. I spent quite the time today clarifying an issue. It was rumored that I was taken to the hospital. The calls came in. There is nothing further from the truth. As long as we touch an ele

By Madhava Smullen

Bhagavat Seva, an ISKCON Silicon Valley project with the motto “Distributing Ancient Wisdom Through Education” is offering online Sunday School, and using the course fees to distribute full Srimad-Bhagavatam sets. Coordinators also hope that the program can be replicated by devotees in their local areas first nationwide, and eventually internationally.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/bhagavat-seva-sunday-school-uses-course-fees-to-distribute-bhagavatam-sets,7760/

There are few North American fellows stepping up for the renounced title, sannyas. We have a queue of people from Eastern Europe and India but it is rare to find on the list of candidates anyone from the western frontier taking this esteemed position.

It has been a long road for Ekalavya, born and raised in New York City in what he calls “the centre of Kali Yuga”. To go from being a talented street musician who discovered monks in Cork, Ireland to be awarded the new name of Sri Krishna Chaitany

An old brahmin priest lived in a holy place, at an ashram, with his seven disciples. There they worshipped some very old and famous Deities of Radha and Krishna. Many people would come to see these Deities and make donations for Their worship.

The guru, however, was growing weak due to old age. He knew it was time to soon leave his body, but did not feel confident to hand over to his disciples the entire service of these Deities.

One day a pilgrim donated a large ruby to the Deities.

I think it

According to Winston Churchill : “If two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary.”

The Lord has designed each of His human masterpieces uniquely, therefore the individuality of every living being is a fact. Hence disagreements are a part of everyday life. We are engaged in a casual conversation or trying to perform service in the temple. And suddenly a divisive hot-button issue comes up. How do we navigate the tension when there are drastically different perspectives? Is it possib

Here is a statement by Prahlāda Mahārāja, one of the twelve authorities, regarding the distinction between a devotee and a brāhmaṇa expert in karma-kāṇḍa, or Vedic ritualistic ceremonies. There are four varṇas and four āśramas, which divide human society, but the central principle is to become a first-class pure devotee. It is said in the Hari-bhakti—sudhodaya:

bhagavad-bhakti-hīnasya

jātiḥ śāstraṁ japas tapaḥ

aprāṇasyaiva dehasya

maṇḍanaṁ loka-rañjanam

“If one is born in a high family like that

Lord Nrsimha roars loudly and causes others to roar. With His multitudes of arms, He tears the demons asunder and kills them in this way. He is always seeking out and tormenting the demoniac descendants of Diti, both on this earth planet and in the higher planets, and He throws them down and scatters them. He cries with great anger as He destroys the demons in all directions, yet with His unlimited hands He sustains, protects, and nourishes the cosmic manifestation. I offer my respectful obeis

On the 21st of this month we will celebrate the birthday of Ram. This is my latest poetical rendering. It is in his honour.
 

Ram possesses all the qualities of a superhero

Royal traits of ultimate prince, monarch or pharaoh

Reverent to all, eager to help and listen

With a service attitude acting on what’s given

His build is admirable, countenance grave

A task he’ll tackle meant only for the brave

He never moves suddenly at a reckless whim

No wonder his father, the emperor, adores him

Ram is a h