By Khonika Gope-Kumar
[Translated and abridged from the Bengali Book “Gauda Mandal Parikrama: The Holy Tirthas in Bangladesh” by Patita Uddharan Das Brahmacari. Publisher: Hare Krishna Publications, ISKCON Swamibag]
A lot of Bengali devotees lament that even though A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada instructed a number of his senior disciples to preach in Bangladesh, he personally never visited Bangladesh. However, devotees would be happy to know that Prabhupada’s Guru, Srila Bhakti Sidd
Nestled in the wooded hilltops of the Appalachian Foothills, New Vrindaban is a favorite destination for thousands of pilgrims every year. Varsana Swami’s new photo book is an invitation to realize and enter its deeper, magical dimensions of Sri Dhama. It offers a tangible glimpse of this enchanted realm, not easily seen with the naked eye.
Imbibing Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, Varsana Swami has been carving out landscapes throughout New Vrindaban since 1972. His heart is
At the ISKCON North American Temple Presidents’ Meeting this January, one of the major points of focus was Integrating the Next Generation Youth, with practical steps taken to involve the next generation in ISKCON temples at all levels.
ISKCON Youth Minister Manorama Das called the move “encouraging” and said he felt happy that prioritization was finally being given to this topic.
Around thirty-five temple presidents, GBCs and support office leaders gathered for the Meetin
There are many devotees in Wellington serving in various capacities, such as Devamrta Maharaja’s disciples doing harinama, book distribution and running the Bhakti Lounge
Ambarish Maharaja is a leader of namahatta and bhakti vrksa programs. Every Friday he has a namahatta program in a hall at Lower Hutt. I was able to attend the Bhakti Vrksa at his home on Saturday afternoon.
By Muralimohan dasa
Continuing the successful model of doing a one-day padayatra every month, the ISKCON Ahmedabad devotees celebrated this year’s first padayatra on January 13. Padayatra began at 8am at the Boot-Bhavani temple with forty-five devotees, Srila Prabhupada, and the beautifully dressed Sri Sri Nimai-Nitai and headed for upmarket Bakeri City in Vejalpur, where the devotees performed sankirtan and distributed Bhagavad-gitas to the neighbourhood’s well-informed residents. Magnetized
By Shyama Darshani dasi
Stepping out of the bus, the salty ocean air hit me in a wave. Tampa Bay was host to the Gasparilla Pirate Festival this January afternoon. Every way I looked I saw red and black. Young and old were all dressed in costume. Amidst this crowd was the Lord of the pirates – Jagannath Swami on His chariot!
Lord Jagannath’s devotees were no less dressed up. Eighty youth from ISKCON Alachua wore bright, vibrant, colored-coordinated outfits with Harinam chaddars draped over thei
Govardhana is enchanting… and simultaneously educational. At every turn there is a lesson to learn. While pacing the peaceful perimeter path yesterday, a street vendor suddenly announced: “Monkey seva! Monkey seva!” It was an invitation to feed the mischief-making monkeys that had congregated. “Monkey seva is my thing” I thought, “I’ve been feeding this monkey-like mind for lifetimes!” Some nuts for our furry friends today, but the inner monkey has to diet. Walking a little further we encounter
By Chaitanya Charan Das
Suppose we accidentally take a drink that acts like poison for us in our particular health condition. As soon as we realize what we are doing, we will immediately stop drinking it and take some antidote.
When we gain spiritual knowledge, we understand that sensual indulgence acts like poison, even if it tastes initially like nectar (Bhagavad-gita 18.38). Despite understanding this, we still succumb to sensuality because our conditions or conditionings highlight the initi
By Sacinandana Swami
When we start our devotional practices it is possible to keep them up for a while out of a sense of duty. For a while it is possible to practice devotional service mechanically out of a sense of “I have to do this.” But in the end we are not machines! We cannot practice for a long time, if we only do it mechanically, and not experience the taste of it. We can only continue steadily if we get a genuine taste for it – the sweet and relishable taste of bhakti.
You must know t
“Bhagavad Gita As It Is – Thai and other books by Srila Prabhupada ordered/bought (50 plus) and soon to be in display for sale/distribution in Dev Mandir (biggest Hindu temple in Bkk. Thailand)”
We have had good relations with the Dev Mandir (biggest Hindu temple in Bangkok) located in Sausincha since the beginning. The annual Jagannath rath-yatra in Bangkok which is generally held on the adjacent Sunday of the Jagannath rath-yatra in Puri ends in the Dev Mandir in Bkk. The temple authorities
By Byron Kyle
Have you ever been on a road trip and knew where your destination was but didn’t know exactly how to get there? You switched on Google maps and got directions but closer to your destination, you felt you knew a better way and ignored the GPS only to get lost and ultimately added thirty minutes to your trip.
I find spiritual life to be much the same. We naturally want to be controllers in our in lives. We sometimes ignore instructions and do things our own way. When we do this we h
Over eighty ISKCON youth and next generation devotees participated in the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates in Tampa, Florida on January 26th, bringing Lord Jagannath and the Hare Krishna Mantra to an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 revelers.
This was devotees’ second year participating in the parade, which is part of the massive Gasparilla Pirate Festival with a host of events themed around the legend of mythical Spanish Pirate José Gaspar.
The effort was organized by Bhadra Das
By Jonathan B. Edelmann
This phenomenal world or material world in which we are placed is complete in itself because the twenty-four elements of which this material universe is a temporary manifestation, according to Sankhya philosophy, are completely adjusted to produce complete resources which are necessary for the maintenance and subsistence of this universe. There is nothing extraneous, nor is there anything needed. (A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)1
An understanding of God’s relations
“Persons who hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly and are always taking the matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa manifested in their hearts within a short time.”-Srimad Bhagavatam 2.8.4
Absorb yourself in the necatrean topics for full three days- either by being in Mayapur or listening online- a perfect way of meditation for Gaura Purnima festival.
You can also serve prasada to all the vaisnavas during Sravan Utsava Mela.
| Sravan Utsava – 2019 | ||
| 28/02/2019 | ||
| Timing | ||
Question: To a certain degree, we may want to become pure devotees, but how can we make this desire more solid?
Srila Prabhupada explains that everything moves by taste, because if there is no taste, then it is very difficult to do anything. Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.16 says: śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasya, vāsudeva-kathā-ruciḥ, syān mahat-sevayā viprāḥ, puṇya-tīrtha-niṣevaṇāt.
We should serve the vaisnavas and in that way, we will get the taste to hear about Krsna. Once we have taste to hear about Krsna,
ISCKON Adelaide celebrated its 6th Annual Rath Yatra on the 26th of January, 2019 as part of the Australia Day Parade. After years of trying to have its own ratha, they finally procured a decrepit one from ISKCON Perth. As the chariot (chassis of an old truck), was too big and dilapidated, planning, reconstruction and restoration of the chariot began in earnest fashion as soon as it landed in Adelaide. The chariot had to be downsized too as the council had set legal limits on its height at 4.2
By Jayabhadra devi dasi
THEME: EMPOWERING THE VAISHNAVIS
While in Jagannatha and Mayapur yatras in December 2018, I prayed to Lord Jagannatha, “O Lord, I am not doing any service these days. My spiritual master, Lokanath Maharaja, wants me to work hard preaching for the ISKCON Girls’ Forum (IGF), but I am not making much effort. Please guide me O Lord!” Then I thought of arranging a retreat for young women somewhere in the Vidarbha region to share our views and inspire us for the IGF preaching.
By Mukhya devi dasi
Thirty-nine Temple presidents including 4 GBCs and Support Office leaders met in a perfect facility just down the road from the Potomac Temple. Rockwood Manor was warm and cozy providing big meeting rooms, a nice prasadam room and serving area, and comfortable private and double occupancy rooms within the facility Even with the cold weather, it was sunny and afternoon break walks encouraged intimate conversations and healthy fresh air.
We were completely supported by our
Q: How did you first come into contact with ISKCON?
MK: I met a book distributer three years ago in Cape Town while on a family holiday. When I returned to New Zealand, I started university in Wellington where I began visiting Bhakti Lounge, ISKCON’s outreach center there.
Q: What attracted you the most?
MK: The philosophy attracted me the most. I was really looking for answers and a way to lead a meaningful life. I would attend weekly interactive Bhagavad-gita classes, and I was so happy to fi
