Hacha Puri and the Peace Formula!
Govinda Swami: Saci, Vrindavan Kirtan, and I arrived in Moscow yesterday afternoon.
On a chilly Moscow afternoon we were warmly received by Radha Raman Giridhari, Sri Rupa Manjari, Sarasvati, and Master Baladev.
We then travelled from west Moscow to south to the home of Nandi Mukhi and Radha Preyan to spend the night. They are Georgian devotees that date back to the early, early days of ISKCON during the Soviet Union.
They are both from well-to-do families dur
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Harikesa das: I had been cooking for Prabhupada for a long time, but I reallyhad a hard time making chapatis because we were always in places where there were no proper stoves. To make a good chapati you need a gas stove at leastor coals, and here we are in Mauritius and I'm cooking in a closet on a one-burner electric stove that didn't even have enough power to boil water and I have to make a full meal that he likes up to his standards. So Prabhupada was complaining and complaining about the c
Draupadi. Her admirable character is revealed in the most humiliating incident of her life – her disrobing by the wicked Dushasana. Though victimized in body, she refuses to be victimized in her heart. Her exceptional character transforms the lowest point in her life into the highest point. The incident in which she is the most dishonored, she emerges as the most honorable.
On that dark day, her period has just ended and she has emerged after bathing, wearing a single cloth before she puts on h
By Madhava Smullen
The Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.13.13 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.”
Srila Prabhupada encouraged devotees to act on this, writing in a 1977 letter, “I want that every respectable person has a full set of Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrta in his home.”
Last year, several temples in North America and India launched a Bhadra Purnim
By Rukmini Devi Dasi
The ultimate anxiety for every parent is how their child will fair in the world. Srila Prabhupada’s mother wanted him to study in London and become a barrister, akin to the current day I.T. specialist who scores a job in the USA. However, Srila Prabhupada lovingly describes how his father’s ambition differed. Gour Mohan De wanted Abhay (Srila Prabhupada ’s birth name) to be skilled in mridanga and the art of knowing and sharing the sacred scripture, Srimad Bhagavatam. As an
At a recent farewell gathering for a departed Vaisnava, God brothers spoke. One sannyasa-guru Godbrother said that his Godbrother has gone Back To Godhead. Another sannyasa-guru Godbrother said that his Godbrother has gone to take another birth in Krishna or Gaura-lila, which seemed to put a dampener on things. Are they saying two different things?
They are both right. They are both saying the same thing in different ways. One is a simple conviction and the other is more elaborate. Srila Prabhu
By Saci Sundari Dasi
On September 15th, Ratha Yatra was celebrated with great fervor in Sofia, organized by ISCKON. For the first time in the country’s history, the Indian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Ms. Pooja Kapur inaugurated the cultural festival.
During the course of the day, hundreds of people poured in the prestigious Borisova Gardens to enjoy the flavors of India and Krishna-consciousness have to offer.
There were Indian dances, bhajans, yoga, painting, henna, saree tying, cuisine, b
Dancers, chanters, comedians, musicians, food, parade, images and friendship were all spot-lit by the sun, wind and clouds at the Chariot Fest in Philly. The procession went down the main artery which is named after Ben Franklin.
This is the city of Brotherly Love, or Bro Prem if you want to Sanskritize it some. Lots of love leaked out of the chariots, numbering three, as they rolled down and around, to finish at the Museum of Art, near the steps where the famous Rocky Balboa trained for the c
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2018, Durban, South Africa, Human Relationships Lecture)
Krsna is always showing us the next step in our spiritual lives. So if it is clear that the next step is that you should be doing more, then we should take that step. If you feel, “Krsna is showing me that the next step is to develop love for him“, then do it!
You have these karate movies where the young karate character come out and makes all these moves and he is going really fast on all sides. But then an o
By Kadamba Kanana Swami
You cannot become saintly by declaration, “From this day on, I will be saintly!”
Good luck, this sounds like a New Year resolution to me. Usually, such resolutions break down quite soon; if not on the first of January then definitely on the second. So ultimately, it is recommend that we try to cultivate good qualities; saintly qualities. This can be done by making a conscious effort while we are engaged in devotional service, so thereby we are purified by this process of
The UK yatras were out in full force for the World Holy Name Festival (17 – 24th September) this year.
The week kicked off with Kirtan Fest in Leicester, where the holy names were chanted throughout the weekend. This year’s festival was made extra special as it was celebrating the 35th anniversary of Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s installation, and that the Grade II listed temple was able to welcome new guests as part of Heritage Open Day, where historic buildings in the city open their doors to visit
Dear Devotees
Pamho Agtsp.
We r happy to inform all Devotees that H H Bhakti Rasamrita Maharaj with his team has compiled a new book "Basics of Bhagavad Gita". This book is published by BBT.
This book is apt in giving out to any one for introducing them about Gita..and also a beautiful guide book for devotees as well for their understanding of Bhagavad gita as it is.
This 248 page book with beautiful colour photos and illustrations is available in our book godown only at 130 rs. Pls contact
While waiting at the dentist’s for a cleaning, I picked up the most recent issue of “Reader’s Digest,” and I read with interest an article, “Finding Zen: A Former Worry Wart Speaks Out.” The topic was worry, anxiety, stress, and the author spoke with a visitor from Australia who had this amazing calm energy. “I asked her what her secret was, and she told me that she practised Vedic meditation, a type of silent transcendental meditation rooted in Ayurvedic tradition in which you repeat a mantra
By Kadamba Kanana Swami
Our goal is to use the time that we have to deepen our lives. When devotees meet, it is not that we are just looking for some spiritual inspiration. Festivals where devotees come together are for lasting advancement. It is for transforming ourselves. The idea is that when devotees meet during festivals, it is not some form of entertainment or some mere questions and answers. No, it is about some deep genuine exchange and this is an opportunity to go deeper in our commitm
“Bless Up!” said the fellow, which I mistook for, “What’s Up!”
“Not too much,” I replied.
“No, I said, ‘Bless Up!’”
“We can all use some blessings!” I responded.
He was cool about it, smiled and kept walking.
What else about the walk? Oh, yes, there were three of them munching away—three skunks—a family, I suppose. They like bugs in the grass and were calmly going about their business, oblivious to the monk standing very close. They are city wildlife, quite used to us crazy humans.
Now,
By Rama Vigraha Dasa
From Back to Godhead
To say that most politicians are incompetent, and in many cases downright dishonest, isn’t very controversial. We’ve all read about their blunders, their tricks, and their schemes. So the aim of this article is not to give proof of their failure to bring about world peace and prosperity; it is rather to show that the root cause of their incompetence is selfish materialism, and that the remedy is the re- spiritualization of society through the worldwid
A few years ago, while pursuing my postgraduate studies at USM in Penang, I happen to glance over the front page of the local newspaper to read the following headlines in large capital letters: WANTED: LEADERS. The statement was being made by the then Prime Ministry of Malaysia who was expressing his dismay at the lack of leadership within his country, especially in the context of educational institutions who seemingly were not able to produce highly qualified leaders. Not only was he pointing
Hundreds of Hare Krishna worshippers are set to walk the streets of Ilford town centre escorting a wooden chariot carrying three religious dieties.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) will be holding its annual “Festival of Chariots” on Sunday, September 30.
The procession will disembark from Redbridge Town Hall, in High Road, at 12pm and end in Melbourne Field, in Valentines Park, Cranbrook Road.
Raj Nagulapally, one of the event organisers, said: “It goes back to tho
By Kadamba Kanana Swami
When is the perfect time to take initiation from one’s spiritual master?
I do not know if there is a perfect time for someone to take initiation. I compare it to jumping into a pool. You know, first you put your toes in and go, “I don’t know. This is too cold for me. I’m not ready to go in there.” But then you start to think, “No, come on now. Jump! Jump! Jump!” And at some point, you finally have to jump! Before you take initiation, you must be able to for at least for
By Giriraj Swami and Sri Prahlada dasa
In honor of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America, we shall sing the poem he wrote on the ship Jaladuta as he arrived in the Boston harbor.
Song [translation]:
1: My dear Lord Krsna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me.
2: But I guess You have some business here. Otherwise, why would You bring me to such a terrible place?
3: Most of the population here is covered
