Today marks the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu otherwise known as Gaura Purnima. We will honor it today with a fast till moonrise followed by a feast. The following post is a beautiful biography on Lord Caitanya, written by Stephen Knapp.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
by Stephen Knapp
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu [pronounced Chaitanya] (February 27,1486 to 1534 A.D.) was born in Navadvipa, Bengal, on a full moon night during a lunar eclipse. It is typical for people to bathe in the Ganges during an
Today as we are celebrating the appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu we are further reminded of the great senapati bhakta Srila Prabhupada who Lord Caitanya foretold would take the sankirtana movement everywhere.
…Lord Caitanya foretold the coming of an empowered devotee who would take the sankirtana process everywhere: “I want to flood the whole world with the chanting of the holy names. I will personally preach and flood India with harinama sankirtana, chanting of the holy names. And My
“Thus in the year 1407 of the Saka Era [A.D. 1486], in the month of Phalguna [February-March], in the evening of the full-moon day, the desired auspicious moment arrived.” (CC Adi.13.89)
Discussions regarding astrology, that is jyotish shastra, are found in many places in the writings of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. But in only one place is a full horoscope recorded in some detail, and that is the chart of the Supreme Lord Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu’s birth det
(This is Part Two of a historical record written by Jyotirmayi Dasi in 1998. You may read Part One of the article here: http://iskconnews.org/women-in-iskcon-in-prabhupadas-times-part-one,6071/)
After the first six years of the movement, at the beginning of the 1970’s, a first change took place, which of course was not contested by anyone. Instead of being mixed in the temple room without any distinction of sex, men and women devotees were separated and were placed on each side of the temple ro
It’s been seven long years since kirtan band The Mayapuris released their debut album “Mridanga,” hitting the top five in the iTunes World Music chart.
The Mayapuris were one of the original second generation ISKCON groups to bring Gaudiya Vaishnava kirtan to the forefront of the burgeoning mainstream kirtan scene.
Since their debut, others have continued to forge the path, with Madi Das and his Bhakti Without Borders charity album winning a Grammy nomination.
Inspired by Madi’s achievement, th
In Vancouver, Canada, a group of young professionals have established a unique and non-sectarian Krishna conscious outreach program, with no goal to convert visitors.
Instead, the focus is on finding out what needs people have, fulfilling those needs, and building caring relationships.
The group of ten first and second generation devotees behind Kirtan Vancouver includes a school teacher, a holistic nutritionist, one member who works in the financial sector, and another doing their Masters in c
MY PRESSING QUESTIONS IN LIFE: Examining my heart, how are my material attachments still impeding my full practice of bhakti, or causing me to remain a mixed devotee? What do I want in my heart of hearts, and how is that causing me to act, or not act? In deep honesty, what truly moves and inspires me? As a result, what do I actually want to be absorbed in, demonstrated by my consistent thoughts and actions? What types of people I do think about or are attracted to in my daily life? Who do I wan
Body is an important medium to serve Lord krsna in the material world, so it's necessary to take care of the body and keep it healthy. But however natural, pure and healthy lifestyle and diet you may be having there will be circumstances in life when you will have to get admitted to hospital or you will be asked to give rest to the body. Because it's a nature of the world that one who is born he has to go through other 3 stages(miseries) of life that is old age, disease and death. One can skip t
During the earthquake, back in 2011, in the temple, pujari Sevananda Das had just finished offering midday arati, and several devotees were singing kirtan when intense tremors began shaking the three-foot marble deities of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurachandra violently.
Sevananda held tightly onto Them to protect Them, but Their Lordships were flung off the altar, taking Sevananda with Them. The heavy wooden altar followed, flying through the air and crashing on the ground, barely missing Sevananda.
“Lyi
About this time of the year most Indians traditionally let their hair down and indulge in throwing bright colored powders and scented water at one another as they celebrate Holi, the festival heralding the onset of spring.
Until some years ago in the United States, only the Indian-Americans were seen celebrating the festival at their homes, or gathering in small groups in neighborhood parks, flinging ‘gulal’ or colored powders at each other and chanting ‘holi hai’. Amused non-Indian bystanders
The vision of Srila Bhaktivonde Thakura is fulfilled!
In 1885, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote: “Very soon the unparalleled path of hari-nama-sankirtana will be propagated all over the world… . Oh, for that day when the fortunate English, French, Russian, German, and American people will take up banners, mridangas, and karatalas and raise kirtana through their streets and towns. When will that day come? Oh, for the day when the Western fair-skinned men, from one side, while chanting ‘Jaya Saci
By Harinarayana Das
The Boyong Kedhaton carnival and the Adeging Kutha Sala dance celebrated the 272nd anniversary of the city of Surakarta on Saturday. Around 700 carnival group, 135 dancers and 35 musicians participated in the festivities and entertained the crowds along Jalan Jendral Sudirman (General Sudirman Street). Lord Jagannath and His chariot team were also one of the participants who were invited to take part in the carnival. This ratha yatra was the closing one for the three series
By Nila Kamal das
On the 8th of March 2017, on the most auspicious day of Amalaki Ekadasi, HH Subhag Swami Maharaj awarded the sanyas order of life to HG Hari das, now Bhakti Ananda Hari das Goswami in Jagannath Mandir, Rajapur.
Bhakti Ananda Hari das Goswami was born on the 6th of March 1953 in a village named Chandamleikai, Asaam (North East India). Born in a traditional Manipur Vaisnava family, he was a devotee of Lord Krishna from his very childhood and always listened to Krishna katha when
Akincana Das is now Bhaktijivana Vrajananda Swami.On 1st march H.G. Akincana Das took Sannyasa from H.H. Bhakti Gaurava Narayan Swami in ISKCON Vrindavan. His name is now Bhaktijivana Vrajananda Swami.
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
Today, myself and several devotees met with His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini, the reigning King of the Zulu Nation in South Africa. Ruling over 11 million people King Goodwill plays an important part in South African politics and culture. We had a long discussion about social cohesion and how to unite the diverse ethnic peoples of the country. We agreed that the ultimate solution is a spiritual one, where the people of South Africa understand their common bond is that they are all children
1. One should never kick cows, for one who does so will have to suffer in hell for a hundred lives. Cows are the abode of all auspiciousness. For this reason, they always deserve worship.
2. Bullocks should never be struck harshly with a goad or whip.
3. One should not proceed through the midst of cows.
4. When cows are grazing or lying down, one should not disturb them in any way.
5. When cows are thirsty and are refused water [ because a person is obstructing their access to a water tank or
We are all in a material situation and I sum it up as, “Sometimes you are on top of the elephant and at other times, the elephant is on top of you!” That is material life, it is not going to always be easy but we must protect our spiritual life and try to do something to stand up for Krsna consciousness.
Nothing is easy; therefore first we have to work on our own conviction. We have to understand why we are doing this. The better you understand this, the more convinced you are.
I like the story
Naperville, IL – ISKCON, Naperville is pleased to announce the construction of new temple starting this May 2017.
Work begins on construction of a new temple at ISKCON Temple of Greater Chicago in Naperville (www.iskconnaperville.org)
Bhumi Puja – Ground-breaking ceremony
The auspicious Bhumi Puja (ground-breaking ceremony) is scheduled to be held this year on Sunday, May 21st beginning at 9am CST. New construction commences thereafter with the goal of achieving completion of Phase I by January
Vani Devi Dasi remembers…
“At six years old it can be hard to appreciate what goes on around you, yet I remember quite clearly. I was asked to ‘assist’ Auntie Yamuna in the kitchen for a raw feast she was preparing—stuffed red peppers with a mock cream cheese filling, various types of raw soaked rice salads, a raw pie topped with beautiful light and fluffy whipped macadamia cream, and various other preparations, each unique in flavor, color and ingredients. It was my first experience being utte
