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On Tuesday, August 15, 2017, ISKCON Baroda observed the auspicious appearance day of Lord Krishna, Krishna Janmastami, in the usual grand manner.

The Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar Mandir was elaborately decorated with flowers. More than four hundred banana trees were erected throughout the temple and temple compound. Also there were festoons and flags installed at various
places in the temple compound.

All in all, the scene was grand!

As anticipated, thousands of citizens of Baroda flocked to ISK

BBC Radio: Musician Jahnavi Harrison explores why chanting the name of God can be such a powerful devotional practice.
Drawing on her own Hindu tradition, she recalls hearing her parents chanting and how important it became to her from an early age. “The name of God,” she explains, “is said to be the panacea for whatever ails the mind, body and soul. It was the ever present soundtrack to my life - night, day, birthdays, funerals, weddings and road trips.”
Her experience at a Christian school al

Vaisesika Das: After someone dies, friends and loved ones suddenly remember the deceased person’s good qualities, how important the person actually was to them, and so on.
“You don’t know what you’ve got ‘till it’s gone.”
Because this world is unpredictable, one should personally appreciate people while one has the opportunity.
Don’t wait.
Appreciate now.
“Your appreciation of devotees like Upendra and Ananda is super excellent. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us this lesson—one who appreciates

I see two distinct aspects of humility: dependence on Krsna and acknowledging one’s faults. A strong personality may be better at the former and have more trouble with the latter. 
 
But there are healthy and unhealthy ways of being strong. So depending on how balanced a person is, they could also at least act humbly, even if they tend to be domineering by nature. If they work on themselves, they could also restrain their critical side.   
 
There is a saying that it is often easier to act your

[This wonderful lecture was one of the last given by HH Gour Govinda Swami, before departing from this world]

Mayapura: February 21, 1995 – Srimad Bhagavatam 4.18.33 – 36

gunadhikam mudam lipsed

anukrosam gunadhamat

maitrim samanad anvicchen

na tapair abhibhuyate

Translation: Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified than himself he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when he meets some

Active Listening

Adapted, with permission, from The Art of Teaching, by HG Bhurijana Prabhu

Who Owns the Problem?

The first step in trying to solve a problem is to identify who owns it, because you need to approach the situation differently if you own the problem or not. The owner is whoever is tangibly and concretely affected by the problem.

If the problem belongs to the other person, it is appropriate to listen, trying to understand exactly what is going on. If you own the problem, the counse

With growing Krishna consciousness all over the world ISKCON has been instrumental in bringing many souls under the shelter of Lord Sri Krishna with its Philosophy, Kirtans, Prasadam, etc.,  however the villages and tribes located in remote areas remain unaware of the good fortune in Kaliyuga.

An initiative was taken by devotees from ISKCON Pune and with dedicated efforts and Krishna’s mercy a new preaching centre ”Bhagavad Darshan Prachar Kendra” was established in Bodhan village, Telangana.

I

“Missing? Misplaced? Stolen!” I felt the blood rush to my head as I realized with horror that someone had sneaked into my room and taken off with my laptop.

It was 3.45 am at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. I was at the guestroom of the ISKCON temple, waiting for the ride that would take me to the airport for my flight to Panama. Shanta Vigraha P, the devotee who had coordinated my visit there and who was to drive me to the airport, had been slightly delayed. Meanwhile, I had thought of usi

With growing Krishna consciousness all over the world ISKCON has been instrumental in bringing many souls under the shelter of Lord Sri Krishna with its Philosophy, Kirtans, Prasadam, etc.,  however the villages and tribes located in remote areas remain unaware of the good fortune in Kaliyuga.

An initiative was taken by devotees from ISKCON Pune and with dedicated efforts and Krishna’s mercy a new preaching centre ”Bhagavad Darshan Prachar Kendra” was established in Bodhan village, Telangana.

I

It was a beautiful sunny New York afternoon, with a slight cooling breeze and the familiar scent of incense wafting out the front door of the 26 2nd Ave storefront, the birthplace of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness by the Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Amid the hustle and bustle of the city’s rush hour, disciples and grand-disciples made their way to the tiny temple, nearly completely hidden by scaffolding of surrounding construction pr

My most beloved Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my most humble obeisances at the dust of your divine lotus feet on this most auspicious occasion of your 121st Vyasa-puja celebration! All glories to Your Divine Grace!

This humble homage is an offering of an entire book dedicated to you, Srila Prabhupada. This book entitled Bombay is my Office: Memorable days with Srila Prabhupada in Bombay will be launched on the grand occasion of the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Radha-Rasabihari Templ

I have written several articles on vows and feel that any discussion on vows wouldn’t be complete without addressing sexual restraint. Plus, men often ask me how to control sexual desire and I felt that to do justice to this question I would need to write an article.

I am approaching this issue mainly from the male perspective (obviously because I am a man and also because the scriptures approach it more from that perspective). Still, although men and women are wired differently and thus respon

Citraka dasa: A distinguished astrologer, after studying your personality declared that you were a person capable of building a home in which the whole world could live peacefully.
And as a matter of fact, in due course of time, you did create that house which now exists, open for all. It is like an extension of the original abode of the Lord, Goloka Vrindavana.
It is not a physical space, ashram or farm community. It is a reality existing in sound. It is the sound which originally emanated fro

My Vyasa-puja Offering to Srila Prabhupada.

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my humble, prostrated obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace, to your powerful love, mercy, and Krishna consciousness.

Last month your spiritual granddaughter Smriti “Baby” Warrier (now Sravana Dasi) lost her son in a tragic accident at the railroad. When I wrote to offer my condolences, I was wonderstruck by her reply:

“Thank you for your kind blessings and prayers for our son

Ambarisa Prabhu:

From Srila Prabhupada Tributes:

“I remarked one time on a morning walk with you, that materialists were always looking for the bright side. You said gravely that ‘there is no bright side in the material world.’ You are that bright side, Srila Prabhupada. You are the sun which is bringing light to this place of darkness. We only beg for your continued mercy. We are in so much need of the compassion you brought so many years ago. Please engage us in your eternal seva [service].”

Sri Krsna Janmastami
A Talk by Giriraj Swami
September 2, 2007 Ojai, California

We read from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto Ten, Chapter Two: “Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Krsna in the Womb.”

TEXT 18

tato jagan-mangalam acyutamsam samahitam sura-sutena devi dadhara sarvatmakam atma-bhutam kastha yathananda-karam manastah

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, accompanied by plenary expansions, the fully opulent Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is all-auspicious for the entire universe, was transferred from t

Srila Prabhupada gave the first Krishna deity in ISKCON to the temple in Washington DC. Sri Sri Radha Madana-Mohana were moved to a bigger temple situated on 12 acres of beautiful forested land in Potomac prior to Srila Prabhupada’s visit in 1976. The building where Srila Prabhupada stayed for a whole week has been nicely preserved by the devotees.
During his visit Srila Prabhupada met with scientist disciples from Bhaktivedanta Institute. They accompanied him on several morning walks in idylli

Expression reflects and reinforces emotion. The celebration of Vyasa-puja is an expression of the gratitude that the disciple feels for the spiritual master. And that feeling becomes reinforced when a disciple expresses one’s own gratitude and hears other disciples’ express their gratitude.

The spiritual master’s guidance and grace are indispensable for elevating and liberating souls caught in this dangerous and treacherous material existence. The spiritual master is non-different from the Supr

On Monday 14 August at 6.45pm, on the eve of Sri Krishna Janmastami, Mother Kulangana passed away surrounded by devotees chanting the names of Krishna. This morning sankirtan was performed as her body draped in sacred items was carried around the temple in circumambulations. Devotees gathered to offer their final respects with offering garlands, flower petals and prayers. Her cremation will take place today and a memorial service remembering her life of service will be held on Saturday evening.

1) O Krsna, Who descended in the province of Mathura, O Lord Who gives the great gift of pure love for Yourself, O Perfromer of extraordinary pastimes, O great Treasure-house of various kinds of sweetness, O Lord Who is full of transcendental opulences, great mercy and majesty. All glories unto You.

2) O Krsna, O Deliverer of the Pandavas and Protector of King Pariksit, everyone should hear talks in relation with You, just as King Pariksit who enquired about Your pastimes.

3) O Krsna, you are s