By Mona Garimella
Sunday, September 1st, ISKCON of Richmond, located in the heart of Virginia, USA, celebrated its grand temple opening with a commemorative yajna, kirtan, cultural performances, and encouraging talks from devotees from all over the country.
There has been a strong ISKCON initiative in Richmond for over a decade. It was incorporated in 2012 under the guidance of former GBC member Bir Krishna Goswami and now Anuttama Dasa, the current GBC leader. ISKCON Richmond holds a unique
By Syama Mohini Devi Dasi
On a blissful day filled with devotion and joy, ISKCON Phoenix (Arizona, USA) enthusiastically celebrated the auspicious occasion of Radhashtami. The event drew over 300 devotees, all eager to take part in the celebrations. The temple was abuzz with activity, love, and an overwhelming sense of community as everyone joined together to glorify Srimati Radharani.
The preparations for Radhashtami began well in advance, as enthusiastic devotees worked tirelessly to ensure
From Back to Godhead
The Golden Avatar delivered the gold standard of spiritual practices for this age.
In general, people like gold. It represents wealth and success. A golden age refers to an era of goodness and plenty, acknowledged in Greek, Roman, and Indian cultures. If you have everything, you were born with a golden spoon in your mouth. The Golden Rule is the epitome of cosmic justice or fairness: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. As the saying goes, “As good as gold.”
By Atma Tattva Das
For over 15 years, Premkishor Das has been a pivotal force in organizing the Festival of India (FOI) and the Festival of Colors in Thunder Bay, Ontario. In addition to his role as a physician and manager of temple services at ISKCON Thunder Bay, Premkishor has made notable strides in creating a centralized platform for Krishna Conscious artists globally.
In a recent interview, Premkishor recounted his journey of establishing an ISKCON artist database, a project born from his d
In a social media post from Radhapriya Devi Dasi who serves as secretary to Mahatma Das, she said, “After routine testing, Mahatma Das’s doctors discovered a significant blockage in his arteries, requiring urgent surgery. To prevent a potential heart attack, they have scheduled the heart surgery for Monday, September 23, from 7 am to 12 pm EDT in Gainesville, Florida.
We kindly ask for your prayers for a smooth and successful procedure and recovery. During this time, he requests that no messages
My last two days was spent with member of TOVP which stands for “Temple of Vedic Planetarium.” It was indeed pleasant for me passing time with an American, an English-man and a South Indian. And I being Canadian by birth made it interesting. I shouldn’t forget our driver - Indresh Gaur, a Punjabi Canadian. We are a good chemistry. Our cause is one and we all happen to be more accurately spirits from a deeper point of view. Culturally we are bonded by Krishna.
One sign of true unity is when a
There are many valuable lessons to be learned by leaders who want to resolve conflicts between two parties amicably. It requires a great deal of spiritual maturity, patience, respect for both parties, mode of goodness to deal with issue etc.
On being pleased with both parties
SP writes : “When the Lord came, He was pleased with everyone; therefore it is stated here, krtsna-prasada-sumukham. The Lord knew that even the offensive doormen were His pure devotees, although by chance they committed a
From Back to Godhead
Can the investigation of God through the method of Krishna consciousness really be called scientific?
God: The Evidence; The God Delusion; God: The Failed Hypothesis; The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. Apparently, writing about God is the latest rage among scientists, both theistic and atheistic. Many of these authors have also been invited to speak to college crowds, and they are causing quite a stir. But is this really the best way to appro
There was no time in the history of computers when they have been used for better purposes than todays. Previously, a home computer was long time employed for entertainment, thus becoming a tool for a wasted life. Nowadays, under the restrictions imposed by the pandemic to social gatherings, more important or uplifting activities took shelter in the virtual space. Giving in this way to the computers an opportunity to nurture our higher nature. Lots of courses, webinars, spiritual classes or kir
By Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Questions about INATTENTIVE CHANTING and answers by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura from his books:
Q. What is the main impediment blocking one from developing attachment for chanting?
A. If one gives up all the offenses in chanting, but remains inattentive, he can never develop attachment for chanting. (Sajjana Tosani 11/1)
Q. What are the various definitions of inattention while chanting?
A. O Lord! All anarthas are produced when we do not pay attention to our chanting. Th
By Kardama Muni Dasa
Bhadra Rupa Dasa, Ph.D., led an ensemble performing two of his own compositions inspired by the Gita Govinda of Sri Jayadeva Goswami to welcome Dr. S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of the Government of India. Members of the Geneva Indian Community, UN officials, and international diplomats, counted at 300 or more, were invited and present, along with Swiss news media. The Minister was in Geneva to dedicate the newly built Permanent Mission of India, which houses
The Kadamba Foundation recently released its inaugural annual report in a September 16th press release. The report reflects on its first year of activities and achievements since Kadamba Kanana Swami’s departure on March 9th, 2023.
According to the press release, “The report highlights the Foundation’s ongoing mission to publish, promote, and distribute spiritual music, books, and other media while managing copyrights, royalties, and translations across multiple languages. Among its key accompli
What an absolute blessing it is to have the company of three great souls who have given everything to the cause of constructing the largest Vedic temple in the world. Visiting us in Southern Ontario are Jauanivas, Sunanda and Braj Bilas, all stationed in the headquarters of Iskcon in Mayapura in West Bengal. The project, “Temple of Understanding” TOVP will be in its completion in 2026. The trio have come for fund raising and the target today in this endeavour was our community in Oakville, jus
From Back to Godhead
When Krishna leaves Vrindavana to become the ruler of a great kingdom, He remains the same Krishna, the treasure of His devotees’ hearts.
The Krishna deity worshiped at the Hare Krishna temple in Los Angeles, where I live, is named Dvarakadhisha, “the Lord of Dvaraka.” Dvaraka is the pristine island Lord Krishna rules in His adult years. (Although Krishna lived in Dvaraka when He was present on earth five thousand years ago, Dvaraka exists eternally in the spiritual world.
1 Sri Narada said: Asked by whom, and for what reason did Lord Krsna, the master of the universes, come to the earth? O best of the knowers of the Vedas, please tell.
2 Sri Narayana Rsi said: In ancient times, during the Varaha-kalpa, bearing a great burden and filled with grief, the earth took shelter of the demigod Brahma.
3 Accompanied by hosts of demigods, who were all unhappy at heart to be so troubled by the demons, she went to the assembly of Brahma, which is very difficult to attain.
4
By Lilasuka Dasi
ISKCON in North America is growing by leaps and bounds. Child protection needs to grow along with it. At the very beginning of Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada stated, “The protection of children gives the human form of life its best chance to prepare the way of liberty from material bondage” (SB 1.8.5, purport).
We want to thank the ISKCON centers across the U.S. and Canada who are increasing their contributions and enabling the Child Protection Office to add much-needed sta
By Savitri Devi Dasi
We are pleased to invite you to the hybrid Bhakti-vaibhava course at the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE). From September 19th to October 30th, 2024, we will delve into the sacred teachings of Canto 2 of the Srimad Bhagavatam through a verse-by-verse study.
This seminar will be available both on-site in the holy land of Vrindavan and online, allowing you to participate according to your convenience. The course will be enriched by the association of senior devo
Why did people get out and start walking along the free way? Why do some young folks get out of the car on that normally busy road to have a game of volley ball right there? Why did dozens and dozens of motorists go to the roadside creek for a #1 or #2 ?
A traffic jam ! People got desperate. It was an accident, death included, that held westbound traffic for over three hours along the 401 Highway near Brighton, Ontario. Mahadev, Annapurna and I were crawling, or at least, the van was. For mys
Determination is vital either in material or spiritual life. This determination exhibits a devotee’s hankering and sincere desire for attainment of the perfectional stage of devotional service. Lord Brahma, the original first living being was entrusted with the service of engineering the material world, based on the raw ingredients provided by the Lord, under His direction and empowerment. In the course of his creation, Lord Brahma faced five obstacles, from which we too can derive lessons that
By Satyaraja Dasa
How a leader in Indian shipping helped deliver the message of Lord Chaitanya to the western world.
In 1965 the Scindia Steam Navigation Company was one of the oldest, largest, and most respected shipping establishments in India. Its cargo consisted generally of food, clothing, farming equipment, and medical and educational supplies, which were packaged in boxes, cases, pallets, and barrels. In August of that same year, however, one of its cargo ships carried a passenge
