By Pradhana-gopika Dasi
Nimai Pandit Das, one of the frst devotees in Italy after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance passed away on November 13th at the age of 71.
"He was someone who never stepped back," says Parabhakti Das, temple president of Villa Vrindavana, near Florence. "He was always available, and we could count on him. Nimai Pandit was not only the treasurer, but also the secretary of the temple board of Villa Vrindavana for almost 30 years. He was a broad-minded person and able t
By Kadamba Kanana Swami
Written by Harsarani devi dasi
After a very bumpy ride on the bus, Day 7 of the Vrindavan parikrama led us to Sunhera at the Sudevi Sakhi Temple. It was not arranged for us to be here but somehow the driver took a different turn. Sudevi is one of the eight principle varistha gopis. This temple was very small but quaint with a painted courtyard.
As we all stumbled out of the bus, we were welcomed by streaming heat from the sun that penetrated down to us. It was a clear bl
By Giriraj Swami
In the first verse of the Bhagavad-gita, the low-minded king Dhrtarastra asks his secretary, “O Sanjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kuruksetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?” Kim akurvata: “What did they do?” Srila Prabhupada says that this is a foolish question. The two armies had gathered to fight, so what is the question of what they did? Srila Prabhupada gives the example that if someone sits down before a plate of foo
I am pleased to learn that the International Gita Festival is being organized by ISKCON in December, 2018 at New Delhi to celebrate the profound relevance of Srimad Bhagavad Gita in the contemporary world.
Encapsulating the wisdom of our several millennia old civilization, the Gita holds the vision for fulfilling the true meaning of existence of each and every human. Its teachings transcend the confines of language and cultures. The whole humanity has woken up to receive and appreciate the enli
By Hridaya Caitanya Prabhu
We’re spirits inside material bodies. If we do something about our own spiritual life—like find out who we really are and what we’re meant to do—life can only improve. We generally prefer consciousness to unconsciousness, except during surgery. Putting zero effort into finding our true identity and purpose while keeping our bodies and minds pleasantly occupied is like always stopping for gas but never eating. What good is keeping our car’s fuel tank full if we’re starv
By Kamala-sundari Dasi
We may find ourselves in need of a “get away” from time to time, to abandon the chaos and search out a serene environment to de-stress body, mind, and soul. Circumstances do not allow us to up and leave when we feel the need. So, wouldn’t it be wise to make our home that place of tranquility? Being unable to relax in our own home is a peculiar scenario.
What would we say is the current focus and activities at home? To sit in front of the TV, munching on snacks, whilst fix
Question: Prabhupada told us to “Chant Hare Krishna and Be Happy”. I have been chanting the maha mantra since two years and I am following the rules and regulations but I am still very unhappy. I guess that there is a problem somewhere with me. My life is a mess. Krishna gives me too many tests which I can’t handle. I have been struggling with my spiritual life and I am tired now. I am helpless.
I was engaged with a devotee for 1 year and we were planning to get married after our studies. Recen
Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.12.15 Speaker: HH Varshana Swami Location: ISKCON New Vrindaban
agnau gurav atmani ca sarva-bhutesv adhoksajam bhutaih sva-dhamabhih pasyed apravistam pravistavat
TRANSLATION: One should realize that in the fire, in the spiritual master, in one’s self and in all living entities-in all circumstances and conditions-the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, has simultaneously entered and not entered. He is situated externally and internally as the full controller of eve
Bhakti takes two forms in this world. On the one hand the form of activities you perform with body, voice and mind, and on the other hand the form of feelings. These devotional feelings are the inclination to serve Krishna in a favorable way, in other words giving pleasure to Him. The feelings of bhakti-bhava also include eagerness, gratitude and being moved by genuine love.
Just yesterday I developed another feeling: urgency. This is what happened.
I was on parikrama around Govardhan Hill,
By Giriraj Swami
In the first verse of the Bhagavad-gita, the low-minded king Dhrtarastra asks his secretary, “O Sanjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kuruksetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?” Kim akurvata: “What did they do?” Srila Prabhupada says that this is a foolish question. The two armies had gathered to fight, so what is the question of what they did? Srila Prabhupada gives the example that if someone sits down before a plate of foo
[Eight Verses Glorifying Srila Prabhupada]
by Sriman Kusakratha dasa, inspired by a Sanskrit poem, with versification by Dravida dasa
1) sri-sri-navadvipa-para-pradipah sandipyamanah satato bhuviha cetas-tamo hanti hi yasya yatnat tam kirtayamah prabhupadadevam
The transcendental lamp of Navadvip, Gaurangadev, He took with great endeavor ’round the world the souls to save Who long had dwelt in darkness, never chanting Krsna’s name , the vast renown of Srila Prabhupada I now proclaim.
2) sri-
Prema Sarovar
Overlooking from the high steps of the spectacular Prema Sarovar, we gather to commence another day of meditations together. Maharaj begins with an ecstatic explosion of kirtan that gets all the devotees on their feet. It comes to a close, or so it appears, till Maharaj starts round two; such nectar!
As we all gaze around to appreciate the beauty of Prema Sarovar, Maharaj comically reminds us, “This beautiful architecture is
By Dhirasanta Das Goswami
Once when the Kurukshetra war was declared, Duryodhana sent messengers to every part of the globe to seek the assistance of various kings. But Krishna was so powerful that He warranted a personal request. Also Duryodhana knew that Krishna was the main support of the Pandavas, and if Duryodhana could get His assistance, then the Pandavas would stand no chance in winning the war. Arjuna also thought of Krishna, so both of them decided to go to Dwaraka.
When Arjuna arriv
By Sivarama Swami
With proper guidance, anyone can turn ordinary food into a spiritual substance.
The phenomenon of something changing from material to spiritual is an extraordinary one, but it is something we as devotees are involved in daily—often several times a day. It happens when prasadam (unoffered food) becoming prasadam, or food sanctified by the Lord.
When I was a new devotee in Montreal, we arranged a program that was to be given on campus at McGill University. The leaflet advertisin
By Parasuram dasa
This was our 32th Kartik Padayatra tour of Vraj, (the 12 forests of Vrindavan.) Usually in the Western World we go on Harinam, preaching to people who know nothing about Bhakti Yoga, or the Supreme Lord Krishna. Most people are not even vegetarian and have never heard of our principles of devotional service.
However when you go on Harinam in Vraj, it’s a different ball game, these people love Krishna and the Holy Name. They are certainly not ordinary people. The Vrajabasis a
By Damaghosa das
This is a short summary about the life of Sukadeva das (ACBSP)
I have known Sukadeva das since the early 1970’s where he was TP in Seattle Wa USA.
We have been great friends for all those years and later as he traveled from LA Calif to our farm in Wash several years in a row to lead our Janmastami/vyasa puja festivals.
He joined the movement in LA California back in 1969 and was formally initiated personally by Srila Prabhupada who gave him that name because he could see that h
By Satsvarupa Das Gosvami
Writing the last chapter of the Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita was an intense experience for me. Prabhupada was teaching “the final lesson,” and I relived the day-by-day remembrances of being with Srila Prabhupada and serving in his ISKCON movement in the final days leading up to his disappearance. Those days were like a drama unfolding. Would Prabhupada stay with us? What would we do without him? And again I felt the grief at his departure. I was also reminded that Prabhu
By Madhava Smullen
On June 15th, the center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where a Namahatta group met for many years became an official ISKCON temple.
The following Sunday June 17th, new GBC Anuttama Das met with the congregation, officially announced the center as ISKCON of Harrisburg, and introduced himself, the new temple board members, and new temple president Anasuya Dasi.
The largely Indian congregation had previously been running a Namahatta group since 2003, and renting various halls to
Vrinda Kund
We greeted the beautiful Vrinda Devi deity who was looking out over a small, but powerful, Vrinda Kund (bathing ghat). The green parrots of Vrindavan are said to be the messengers of Vrinda Devi, who debate among themselves whether Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead or whether Srimati Radharani is, in fact, Supreme since She completely controls Krsna.
Vrinda Devi is the stage manager of the Lord’s past times and she makes all
By Sadbhuja Das
Finishing work on the exterior of the temple continuous at full pace with marbling of the walls and Jaipur sandstone windows. Detailed decorative design work has also commenced in the Chatri Tower Wings. The waterproofing of the Utility Room is also almost complete, as are the Nrsimhadeva and Planetarium wings.
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