“Prabhus,” the temple president said, “I have incredible news. I have just been told, without any room for doubt or question, the following. A pure devotee is amongst you!”
Vaishnava das, a faithful servant of Srila Prabhupada, for many years serving as temple president in a temple community of devotees, had just returned from a visit to a nearby hut which an older sannyasi had chosen as his base for his writing in preparing for his next preaching tour duties.
He had approached him with heavy h
When we ask ourselves the question ‘Why do we exist?’ we begin the search for meaning in our lives. If we accept that we exist not just in this life span, but beyond, that question brings us to face the very core of ourselves.
The answer that the teachings of Bhakti give us is that we exist to be in relationship with the source of our existence. That is, we are part of Krishna eternally, exist eternally and the deepest and most satisfying part of our being is to exchange pure love with Him. Thi
Ananda Vrindavana Devi Dasi: As we approach Janmastami, Krishna’s birthday, we’ll be thinking of what to give. It’s a birthday celebration after all and everyone’s invited. The guest list is unlimited and when it’s a birthday we think of expressing our love with a gift.
Each of us has a unique and personal relationship with Krishna. Our world is not just me, myself and I. It’s me, the world, and Krishna. And still, this is our story as we are the main player. Everyone else is a supporting cast
Sadbhuja Das: Recently, we were visited by one of the best custom-made fountain manufacturing companies in the world from Germany, Oase Living Water.
They have made over 100,000 fountains worldwide, both commercial and residential, most custom-made to suit the size of the water pond and its effect on the surrounding area. Using sophisticated, high tech software programs, their designs can create illuminated and multi-colored water jets that appear out of nowhere, and luminous, leaping water dis
From Back to Godhead
Fulfilling our duty as parents requires taking care of our children’s spiritual needs.
As the mother of ten children, I am often asked, “How do you fulfill your family responsibilities and still make progress in spiritual life? When do you find the time to serve God?”
“It’s a matter of vision,” I reply. “I realize that I can serve God by caring for my children and husband with love and respect.”
Being a mother and wife is my duty, and I don’t distinguish it from my service
The all blissful Supreme Personality of Godhead is eternally young and not plagued by any imperfections, not plagued by an old cranky body and not ugly either. Some incarnations of God are certainly not the most beautiful. It is said that various incarnations of the Lord have different qualities of the Lord. Maharaj Pritu had the pālana-śakti, he was empowered with the power to protect the earth. Mohini-murti and Balarama represent the beauty of the Lord. Nrsimhadev is the protector of the devo
For the past 42 years, on the first Sunday in August the LA Hare Krishna Temple (ISKCON) hold a parade and festival at the famous tourist destination of Venice Beach, California. The festival is called Ratha Yatra – The Festival of the Chariots.
Whilst thousands enjoy the day’s festivities, few will see the days, weeks and months of planning that take place behind the scenes to create this event.
Among the numerous departments responsible of bringing this festival to life, are the flower team.
L-R Sri Advaita, Sri Nityananda, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Gadadhara, Sri Srivasa
(jaya) sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda
sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Lord Krishna enjoys by manifesting Himself as the Spiritual Masters, the devotees, the diverse energies, the incarnations and the plenary portions in the form of the Panca-Tattva. The Panca-Tattva are all
Hare Krsna
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada
May Lord Balarama, who is the master of Goloka, who is the supreme controller of all controllers, and whose fame is spotless, protect me. May Lord Balarama, who on His head holds the earth as if it were a single mustard seed, protect me in this world.
May Lord Balarama protect me when I am surrounded by many armies. May Lord Balarama, who holds a plow, always protect me in battle. May Lord Balarama, who holds a club, a
We are gathered here on the most auspicious occasion of Lord Balarama's appearance day at the lotus feet of the Deities of Sri Sri Krsna-Balarama. Lord Balarama is considered the original spiritual master. As the first expansion of Krsna, He is the first servant of Lord Krsna. And He fulfills the two functions of the spiritual master: to engage in service to Krsna and to give knowledge of Krsna.
Once, in Calcutta , Srila Prabhupada raised the question, "What is the duty of the spiritual master?
Sunday, 26th August, 2018 is the day of the divine appearance of Sri Balaramji, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. On this day the practising vaishnavas observe fast (even from water) till noon (1200hrs).
Lord Balarama is the adi-guru, the original spiritual master. In Chanitanya Lila, Lord Balarama appears as Lord Nityananda, the bestower of mercy to even the most fallen conditioned soul. Therefore his appearance as the son of Rohini and Vasudeva is celebrated by devotees with great jubilation
Chaitanya Charan das: It is because Krishna enjoys rasa in different ways with different people. So just like Krishna is God, but Mother Yasoda sometimes chastises Krishna, she ties Krishna, threatens him. Why does she do that? Because that’s the way Krishna rejoices in maternal rasa with her. She is in that relationship. So Krishna enjoys a fraternal rasa with Balaramji. Although Balaram is at one level non-different from Krishna but He is also His own Person. And when Krishna wants to do some
For most of the Croatian people (or as they call themselves, Hrvati) when it comes to defining their origins and tracing their ancient roots they turn towards the land of Iran and Persia. According to academia the name Hrvat comes from Hrovat which comes from the Slavic Horvat which originates from the Indo/Slavic Harvat and which is ultimately traced to Persia and the name Harahvaiti.
Harahvaiti however, is the corrupted name of Sarasvati, the great Vedic Goddess, the Mother of Sanskrit, the g
Since we’re just a month away from the World Holy Name Festival, we’re presenting ideas for temple Presidents and devotees to make the most of this spiritual event.
Harer Nama, harer Nama harer Nama Eva kevalam
Kalau nasty Eva Nasty Eva nasty Eva gatir anyatha
Around 500-years ago, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had given us the ultimate instruction which was to chant as it is the only mode of deliverance from this material world. In a month’s time, ISKCON’s World Holy Name Festival will give each and
I am pleased to know that a special souvenir is being published by ISKCON-India on the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami celebrations. ISKCON has been leading a spiritual transformation of the humanity by illuminating the world with the wisdom and grace of Shri Krishna’s philosophy. Its members have been serving the humanity through its numerous philanthropic missions underlining the non duality of service to God and humanity. I convey my best wishes to the whole ISKCON family, as it prepares
Brief history:
During the stage program of the inauguration, Smt Usha Bhardwaj w/o Late Sri Gopal Bhardwaja revealed that they met Srila Prabhupada for the first time in 1972 in Australia and their faith grew in spiritual life upon receiving personal care and affection from him. They became the first life members in Australia and felt inspired to contribute in building a temple at Bahadurgarh, their homeland(on the borders of Delhi and Hariyana, India). To them, however, Srila Prabhupada did no
The Indian State of Haryana witnessed the grand opening of it’s first Iskcon temple. Fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s desire of twelve Temples in Delhi NCR His Holiness Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaja ji has taken the target exceedingly beyond that. Under his guidance has come up a Majestic, Regal, Grand Palace Temple in Bahadhurgarh ; a busy town of Haryana.
This temple has a beautiful history of its umbilical chord attached to Srila Prabhupada. The Land where this great architecture stands has been
From Back to Godhead
In a former age, God’s empowered incarnation employed extreme measures to deal with an extreme situation.
Sectarian and political disputes are common not only today but occurred even during the time of Sri Parashurama, an empowered incarnation of the Supreme Lord who appeared several ages before Lord Ramachandra, millions of years ago. The kings at that time, proud of their strength and fighting for absolute power, revolted against the spiritually advanced sages, who gen
“Regarding Jhulan Yatra Ceremony, during these five days the Deities’ clothing should be changed every day, and there should be nice prasadam distribution and sankirtana as far as possible. If you are able to do it, a nice throne may be constructed on which the Deities can be placed. This throne may be swung gently during kirtana. That will be very good, and surely the Deities will enjoy the function.”
– Letter to Jayapataka, Los Angeles, 1 August 1969
For the last 33 years, an enthusiastic gro
Gunagrahi das Maharaja Health Update.
** Important health report of ss Gunagrahi Maharaja *** Hare Krishna devotees please accept my obeisances, all the glories to Srila Prabhupada I hope you are very well. As everyone knows Maharaja was doing during these last 8 months, a very austere Ayurvedic treatment which consisted mainly in the taking of liquid mercury and 10 liters of water per day and in which, every 15 days, we would check with the doctor the Maharaja’s health and to renew his medici
