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By Bimal Krishna Das

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Shivraj Singh Chauhan, visited ISKCON Ujjain on 6th October. He was greeted by a large group of devotees chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. As he stepped out of his car, he became so inspired by that kirtan that he also started dancing. His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami garlanded His Honourable Chief Minister and welcomed him.

Since the temple Darshan was closed, both proceeded to a private meeting where His Holiness informed the C

By Anuttama Dasa

Ujjain, India; October 11—Zonal Supervisors, an important leadership role created by the Governing Body Commission (GBC) to improve management in ISKCON around the world, was the first topic of today’s GBC meeting. Working directly under an individual GBC member, a Zonal Supervisor assists that GBC member by supervising a number of temples and projects within a particular geographical zone.

Currently most GBC members directly oversee all the temples in their zones. Some GBC mem

Out this Kartik, Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha is back with yet another publication in the Subodhini series – CAITANYA SUBODHINI MADHYA LILA – I (Chapters 1–13).
Readers will move further from the Adi-lila, having studied the tattvas of the Lord as well as a glimpse of the childhood pastimes of Lord Caitanya, to His latter pastimes. In this edition, Caitanya Subodhini will take the readers through the overview of the post-sannyasa pastimes of Lord Caitanya – from His travels towards Jagannatha Puri,

Samhita Press is a new, devotee-run publishing house with focus on literature that promotes universal ethics and values, ‘simple living, high thinking’ lifestyle, peace and compassion, respect for the nature, and love for humanity. Promoting cultural and spiritual titles, Samhita Press released their first children’s books earlier this week, The Story of Gajendra, Elephant-King and rhymed story The Walking Monk, both by Anna Milagrits, known among the devotees as Ananda Rupa devi dasi. 
The Sto

Death is that grand test that determines our next destination. Srila Prabhupada once said that ISKCON teaches the Art of Dying. In Srimad-Bhagavatam, we can see that Bhismadev has set the best example of how to prepare oneself for that moment.
The quality of life determines the destination after death.
In Bhagavad Gita there are numerous references that claim that 
that the aim of life is to be absorbed in thoughts of Krsna at the time of death and thus perfect one’s life.
anta-kāle ca mām eva

By Anuttama dasa

Ujjain, India—The second day of the Governing Body Commission (GBC) Mid-Term Meeting began with a report of a one-year study of how to improve the effectiveness of GBC meetings.

Members were presented with a 94-page document or “Meetings Manual,” and a second 23-page guide on “Decision Making.” Both texts were drawn from research conducted by the GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT). In preparing the manuals the SPT underwent a detailed analysis of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings on

HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj was born in Canada and holds a BA in Oriental fine arts history from the University of British Colombia. He joined the Hare Krishna movement in India in 1970. Initiated in 1971 by Srila Prabhupada, he took sannyasa vows in 1984. Bhanu Swami was personally instructed in the art of Deity worship by Srila Prabhupada, and within ISKCON he has become an authority on the topic.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj has been a GBC member since 2003. His zonal assignments cover South India, and

By Kadamba Kanana Swami

We tend to put the spiritual master on a scale to see how much weight he has. In our minds, we all do this. We weigh people. This one is light-weight Guru, heavy-weight Guru or medium-weight Guru. Srila Prabhupada is the Guru of all, I am part of the Guru Paramparaand this system has been established by Krsna Himself. It is not just a relationship between the Guru and the disciple where the Guru has to do all the work.

At the time of initiation, the disciple hands over h

Hare Krishna Dear All,

5th October marks the beginning of a very special and auspicious month of the year – Kartika month. The month of Kartik is also called Damodara month.

In this sacred month, puja, giving in charity, bathing in the Yamuna and all other religious activities are much greater than at other times of the year.

The month of Kartika is the best of all months, and it is in this month that many special festivals like Dhan-Teras, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Duj, Tulsi Vivaah and var

By Anuttama Dasa, ISKCON Minister of Communications

Ujjain, India, October 9—ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) began its “Mid-Term Meeting” this morning in Ujjain, India. Approximately thirty GBC members, and fifteen other leaders and guests will be meeting in this historic and holy city for nine days, until October 17.

The Mid-Term Meeting is usually held during the month of October, while the location varies from year to year. Previous meetings have occurred in Europe, the United State

By Sukanti Radha devi dasi

Dear Devotees , Supporters and Well Wishers

A special TOVP World Tour is now being organized, carrying with it Lord Nityananda Prabhu’s divine lotus shoes and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s sitari (helmet) from the Mayapur Chandodaya Mandir, accompanied by His Grace Jananivas Prabhu HG Ambarisa Das, HG Svaha Mataji and His Grace Vraja Vilas Das to 9 European Countries.

This is the first TOVP Europe Tour opening the door of opportunity for every devotee to participate in this once

By Subhag Swami

Madhu means sweet. It means honey. Krishna is also called Madhu. In this material world there is one type of honey and in the spiritual world there is also a type of honey. The sweet honey in the spiritual realm is the real honey which we should hanker for. In this material world there is Kandarpa (Cupid) but in the eternal world, Madan (Cupid) is Krishna and everyone is attracted by Him.

The holy name and Krishna are non different. Even great personalities such as Brahma chant

From Back to Godhead

By Bhayahari Dasa

Are we simply puppets, helplessly manipulated by the strings of our past activities?

I look on with dismay as the tow truck drives away with the wreck that used to be our car.

“It’s all right,” my wife tries to console me. “Probably some bad karma.”

I consider her words. She has just mangled our car by driving it into the rear end of a truck, and she seems quite eager to let destiny take responsibility for her actions. I wonder if it’s really bad karma, or

By Yadubara das

Srila Prabhupada stayed in Tirupati for three days, and the highlight of that trip was a special early morning darshan at 2:00 a.m. I remember it was just a very mystical atmosphere, entering the Deity room by torchlight and then coming in front of Lord Venkateshwara and the pujari waving the ghee lamp to illuminate His form. It was wonderful to see Srila Prabhupada gaze in reverence upon his Lord.

Source : http://www.dandavats.com/?p=51810

Varnasrama Dharma is the society of Vaisnavas in their conditional stage.’ (Bhaktivinod Thakur in Sajjan Toshani)
A 3-day seminar on Vedic Sociology was held at ISKCON Juhu under the aegis of IDVM-India on 1st – 3rd of October 2017. The seminar was given by His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaj. Posters of the event were displayed in the temple premises. Information about the same was also circulated on social media. There was a lot of excitement amongst devotees for the seminar.
The first

By Padmapani das

Our dear Godsister, Saradiya devi dasi, departed from this world on Sri Krishna Saradiya Rasayatra to be with her eternal father, Srila Prabhupada. Her sincerity and love for Srila Prabhupada is unparalleled. May we follow in her footsteps.

(Saradiya dancing for Srila Prabhupada, San Francisco, 1968)

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada very kindly accepted me as his disciple in the beginning of January 1968, giving me the name Saradiya Devi Dasi, “servant of t

By Madhava Smullen

ISKCON Youth prepare to go out on Harinama in Las Vegas. Harinama on the strip will be a major focus of the new temple.