Praghosa Dās, GBC for ISKCON UK & Ireland, together with Sukanti Rādhā Devī Dāsī, Temple of the Vedic Planetarium Coordinator for the UK, Ireland, and the European Union, recently paid a visit to the High Commission of India at India House. During the meeting, they met with Mr. Kartik Pande, Deputy High Commissioner, and Mr. Deepak Choudhary, Minister (Coordination).
The meeting was productive, focusing on collaboration and strengthening the relationship between ISKCON in the UK & Ireland and t
Hiking westbound beyond municipal lights on the road through jungle was risky, but Glen and I took that chance, but it was Shantipriya who had the idea to drive his van at walking pace with headlights on in case we would run into predators. It was the first time in my marathon walking years (which is 30 this year) that I had my support guy right behind me. During this period, the rain came. Glen and I pulled out our umbrellas and undeterred, forged ahead. We made it to a landmark, the Saramacca
Our false ego prevents us from looking at our own faults. It makes it difficult for us to acknowledge our faults and therefore, instead of being introspective, we see those faults in others. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, “Because I am myself honeycombed with faults, I see the faults of others”.
If you spot it, you have got it
In the realm of psychology it is said that if something about someone really bothers you, it’s usually because you have that fault. Of course, we usually do
A global online gathering of ISKCON leaders and devotees presenting results of the 2025–2026 “Live to Give” book distribution campaign, centered on spreading Bhagavad Gita As It Is worldwide in the spirit of Srila Prabhupada’s mission.
After opening chants and greetings, regional representatives shared reports:
Africa: 10 countries participated, distributing 15,189 Bhagavad Gitas, showing strong growth and inspiration across the continent.
Continental Europe: A total of 37,485 Gitas, led by Fran
Gauranga Dās, a Governing Body Commission (GBC) member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and Director of Govardhan EcoVillage, has been appointed as a United Nations Representative to the AWWG at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The AWWG, or Alliance of NGOs on Water and Sanitation for All, is a UN-associated working group that brings together civil society organizations to contribute expertise and advocacy on sustainable water, sanitation, and develo
On the festival of Nityānanda Trayodasi, the Governing Body Commission (GBC) Chairman, Govardhan Dasa, delivered his 2025 annual report ahead of the 2026 ISKCON Annual General Meeting. In the video presentation, he offered an overview of the society’s priorities, achievements, and ongoing challenges.
He opened by reaffirming the GBC’s commitment to building a caring and responsible global ISKCON community where all devotees—youth, elders, and families—are valued and protected. A key highlight w
By Smitha Shetty (Sri Nandini Radha Devi Dasi)
As a child, I was quietly fascinated by paramilitary forces—their discipline, courage, and unspoken strength. It was a world I admired from a distance, never imagining I would step even remotely close to it. Life, however, has its own way of guiding us.
When I entered my first year of college, destiny nudged me toward the judo mat. I joined the college judo team with immense enthusiasm, but my body didn’t quite share my spirit. I was fragile, p
Matt Holmes is quite the world traveler who hails from Los Angeles. He is a visitor to Suriname, like myself, and we were on the same plane landing at Paramaribo. I hit it on with him right off the bat. We brought him to the Krishna temple, let him have a taste of a Krishna meal, and drove him to the hostel downtown.
I made more friends at the temple including Anita who was awarded the Sanskrit name Advika, which means ‘Earth’. I was hoping to meet more friends in the form of those adorable s
When we talk about sankirtana, we are, of course, talking about the congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names, specifically in the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. For many people, this is the first way they come in contact with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, and with Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtana movement, by hearing the devotees chanting the holy names. But what is it about this process that makes it so effective, and so important in the way people are first exposed to it?
To answer th
Śrīla Prabhupāda instructed, “If you are actually serious about
going back to home, back to Godhead, then please seek after the
mercy of Nityānanda.” Inspired by this instruction, the Mayapur
Master Plan Office is delighted to introduce the
Virtual Pilgrimage
to Ekacakrā Dhāma, the sacred birthplace of Lord Nityānanda.
This initiative allows devotees around the world to explore holy
Lord Nityananda is considered to be the most merciful manifestation of the most merciful incarnation of the Lord. The most merciful incarnation is Lord Chaitanya and he manifested his mercy most exuberantly through Lord Nityananda. Though these two transcendental brothers are non-different, still one takes on the mood of the servant of the other – Lord Nityananda considers service to Lord Chaitanya the supreme treasure of his life, indeed, the very purpose of his life.
In his service to Lord Ch
By Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Goswami
(from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter 8)
Whether he is offensive or inoffensive, anyone who even now chants “sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda” is immediately overwhelmed with ecstasy, and tears fill his eyes. Simply by talking of Nityananda Prabhu one awakens his love for Krsna. Thus all his bodily limbs are agitated by ecstasy, and tears flow from his eyes like the waters of the Ganges.
There are offenses to be considered while chanting t
The Supreme Mercy of The two Lords
In Vedanta Sutra there is a famous – “anandamyo bhyasat”. This sloka explains the constitutional position of every living being. Everyone is looking for pleasure. The soul and it’s natural condition is Sachidananda, eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss, full of ecstasy. Therefore the heart of every living being is constantly seeking beauty, charm, and ecstasy. Therefore the Lord descends into this world to distribute prema bhakti divine love. Becaus
Lord Nityananda descended to assist Lord Caitanya in spreading the chanting of the holy names of Lord Krishna in harinama-sankirtana, or the congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names, and to bring the mercy of Lord Krishna to the fallen, materially conditioned souls.
Sri Nityananda was born to a pious brahmana family. His father was Hadai Ojha and mother Padmavati. He also had a brother named Banka Raya. He appeared in the second half of the 15th century, before the appearance of Sri Cai
So today is Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day – Nityananda Trayodasi therefore we will start our class with a verse from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 1.7
sankarsanah karana-toya-sayi garbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi sesas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya- nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu
TRANSLATION: May Sri Nityananda Rama be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarsana, Sesa Naga and the Visnus who lie on the Karana Ocean, Garbha Ocean and ocean of milk are His plenary portions and the porti
By Bhakti Vigna Vinasa Narasimha Swami
Jaya Jaya Sri Caitanya Jaya Nityananda!
Jaya Advaitacandra Jaya Gaurabhakta vrnda!
So today the auspicious day of the appearance day of Lord Nityananda. We will attempt to speak some of the glories of Lord Nityananda for the pleasure of the devotees.
Lord Nityananda appeared in Ekacakra dhama. Lord Nityananda was the son of Hadai Ojha and Padmavati. Hadai Ojha was brahmana. Padmavati was the daughter of a king, Mukuta Roy. I had the opportunity last wee
So on the occasion of Varaha’s appearance day, we are reading a verse in relation this pastime. This is from Canto Three, Chapter Eighteen “The Battle Between Boar and Hiranyaksa”, Text number two.
dadarsa tatrabhijitam dhara-dharam
pronniyamanavanim agra-damstraya
musnantam aksna sva-ruco ’runa-sriya
jahasa caho vana-gocaro mrgah
Translation:
“He saw there the all-powerful Personality of Godhead in His boar incarnation, bearing the earth upward on the ends of His tusks and robbing him of his
Varahadeva’s Appearance Day
Sri Varaha deva mahatosav ki
Let us begin by considering the philosophical truth of Krishna’s incarnations, so that way we will get the perspective on His descent to this material world.
Srila Prabhupada spoke about this in 1977. This is exactly 40 years ago in Bhubaneshwar, right? He spoke about Varaha’s appearance. He said “Ramadi murti su kala niyamena.” Krishna, the original adi pursua, is taking various forms. Ramadi murtisu, especially three Ramas, Parasuram
So today is the transcendental appearance day of Lord Varaha. We have got the regular Bhagavatam verse on the board from Prthu Maharaj’s going back to Godhead. However we are not going to read that this morning. We are going to talk about Lord Varahadev instead because it is an interesting narrative.
There are different incarnations or appearances of Lord Varahadev. Previously the white boar incarnation has been described. The one that is in the Bhagavatam as we receive it is the story about the
Boar is a wild animal, probably not known for its beauty or great work. But when God appears in the form of a boar, He looks extremely beautiful and performs the most wonderful deeds. Just as the Supreme Lord appears in the human society as Lord Rāma and Lord Kṛṣṇa, He also incarnates in the animal society as Varāha (Boar), amongst the birds as Haṁsa (Swan), amongst the aquatics as Matsya (Fish) and so on.
According to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the Supreme Lord appeared as Varāha (a wild boar) twice –
