Featured Posts (13287)

Sort by

Just Like That

When I was 21, a close college friend of mine died. Suddenly, just like that. And I felt like someone had cut the phone line and I could never speak to her again. It was over and I was shaken to the core.

That event, among others, made me rethink life. What are we all doing here, where are we going, and what really matters? It propelled me to continue my search, not exactly sure what I was looking for, but certainly something better than what was presenting itself before me.

This week again, whe

Read more…

Remembering Aberfan

2515148365?profile=original

On this day in October 1966 I was ten years old and living in a small village in Cornwall. I’d gone out for a walk in the afternoon and wherever I went, people were talking to each other about a terrible thing that had happened that morning in a Welsh village.

I don’t remember hearing about disasters very much when I was young, so this made a deep impression on me. It was as if the whole village felt it. News travelled a little slower back then, but the grainy images on a neighbours black and w

Read more…

ISKCON GBC Meeting Juhu part 2

2515148355?profile=original

2515148605?profile=original

The mid-term GBC meeting usually comprises strategic planning sessions with the leaders discussing a range of topics on how to develop and spread Krsna Consciousness all over the world.

The local devotees, headed by TP Brajahari das, provided all the necessary facilities, such as, accommodation, conference halls, office needs and and wonderful prasadam.

2515148618?profile=original

2515148775?profile=original

Source:http://www.ramaiswami.com/iskcon-gbc-meeting-juhu-part-2/

Read more…

2515148249?profile=original

National Institute of Education (NIE) – Sri Lanka celebrated the annual Navaratri festival during the first week of October. Participants were the Minister of Education Mr. Radhakrishnan and all leading educational officers from different districts of the country. On this occasion, ISKCON devotees were invited as guests along with Buddhist head-monks and Christian priest. As ISKCON’s representative, Vasudeva Datta Prabhu spoke in length on the importance of adding the study of Bhagavad Gita As

Read more…

Bonds of Love: Racitambara Devi Dasi

2515148233?profile=original

In Racitambara’s great desire to find the absolute truth, she traveled throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States studying different religions. Finally, she gave herself fully to God, knowing He would surely help her.

Racitambara Devi Dasi (in the photo with the light blue sari): I was 22 and it was November 17, 1972 when I left home with only the clothes on my back and the prayer, “Please, God, help me find You.” After about two hours of praying and walking in Vancouver, Canada, I was s

Read more…

Historic Madan Mohan Temple

2515148597?profile=original

The Madan Mohan Temple, established by Sanatan Goswami, was the first temple to be erected in Vrindavan on the order of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu 500 years ago. Near the temple is the sacred samadhi of Sanatan Goswami. Our parikrama party of 375 devotees enjoyed many hours discussing the glories of Lord Caitanya and His associates. We also relished chanting the holy names as we viewed the sacred waters of the Yamuna river a short distance away.

Source:https://www.facebook.com/indradyumna/posts/

Read more…

2515148234?profile=original

On the evening of 17th October, world renowned Bollywood playback singer, Alka Yagnik, and her daughter, Syesha, came to meet HH Jayapataka Swami at Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari Mandir, ISKCON Juhu. They were thrilled to meet Maharaja. Alka Yagnik also sang a short maha mantra kirtan in which all the devotees joined in to sing. They discussed various topics from chanting to Mayapur to the Bangla language. Both Alka and Syesha were inspired and expressed interest in meeting and collaborating with I

Read more…

2515148701?profile=original

Worshippers of faiths from all corners of the world now call Houston home. 
A Hare Krishna temple - ISKCON Houston – was built in 1969, and by the 1970s, the city’s Hindu community had begun expanding dramatically.

At first, devotees met in each other’s homes; now, mandirs are sprinkled throughout suburban Houston, most notably in Pearland, Stafford and Sugar Land.

The community has now swelled to more than 120,000 people, according to Vijay Pallod, a spokesman for Hindus in Houston, who immig

Read more…

2515148318?profile=original

The question many ask is, what is so special about Kartik month that the Vedic scriptures, which do not exaggerate at all, praise it so lavishly? Why rewards offered during this month are so great, to the extent of being unbelievable?

October 23, 2016

220

We have heard of people dancing on the new year day, on birthdays, in clubs and in parties. Such dancing lasts for a day or two; may be a week. But one full month of nonstop dancing? That sounds insane. Surprising

Read more…

2515148672?profile=original

Damodara lila special

One of the important legends associated with Diwali is Damodara lila, a pastime in which mother Yashoda tried to tie Krishna with a rope. The rope turned out to be two fingers short. So she tied more rope, but, no matter how many ropes she tied together, the combined rope remained two fingers short.

This pastime signifies that no matter how much we try, we will always fall short in our attempts to understand God with our intelligence. Modern science is finding the same abo

Read more…

2515148321?profile=original

From Back to Godhead

A time filled with love, devotion, and gratitude.

After going through the intense summer and a humid monsoon, we in India perceive sarat, or autumn, as one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. According to the vedic calendar, Sarat falls during the months of Asvin and Karttika, of which Karttika carries special significance because it is favored by Lord Krishna.

Everyone loves certain foods, drinks, clothes, and music, and Lord Krishna is no exception. In fact, we hav

Read more…

Analogies for Preaching

2515147420?profile=original

Authorities and Lawyers (2:10:51)

Any question that is put forward may be answered by quoting the authority, and that satisfies the saner section. That is the system even in the law court. The best lawyer gives evidence from the past judgement of the court without taking much trouble to establish his case. This is called the parampara system and learned authorities follow it without manufacturing rubbish interpretations.

Activities (Material and Spiritual) & Milk Preparations (4:30:19)

Mater

Read more…

Condolences: Sriman Yugatita Dasa ACBSP.

2515147417?profile=original

Kurma dasa: Our Australian Godbrother and disciple of Srila Prabhupada Sriman Yugatita Dasa passed away today Sunday 23 October at 3:40pm in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
Condolences for his family, especially to Yuga Avatar (Jingara Hart) and Suniti.
To pass away in the Holy Month of Kartik is a very great blessing.
Yugatita Prabhu ki Jaya! We deeply appreciate your many years of feisty, larger-than-life, prabhu-of-all-trades, sometimes grumpy, but always endearing, enthusiastic serv

Read more…

Chapati means hot!

2515148029?profile=original

Chapati means hot!
Sravanananda das: While in Madras we had a nice facility for Srila Prabhupada to stay at in a life member’s home at night. But during the day he would come to the temple.

One day I was asked if I would cook for him. I said that I had never cooked for Prabhupada before, so Harikesh said, “I’ll cook.” We made a little sitting area for Srila Prabhupada and when I brought him his plate, he touched the chapati and said, “Chapati means hot.”

I ran back to Harikesh and told him what

Read more…

Radha Kunda in Navadvipa Dham

2515147585?profile=original

Bahulastami or appearance day of Radha-kunda comes in the month of Kartik. In this month of Kartik the presiding deity of the month is Srimati Radhika and in the same month is also the appearance day of the lake which is the embodiment of the Love of Radharani. In Front of Radha Madhava Asta Sakhi altar a Radha kunda and Shyam Kunda was made for the pleasure of the divine couple. Following is the description of Radha Kunda in Navadvipa Dham by Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Bhakti vinoda thakura and Sr

Read more…

Mother Yasoda Binds Lord Krsna

2515147507?profile=original

The beauty of Transcendental subject matter is that it never gets old, but rather, becomes more relishable with every reading. For instance, every year we celebrate the month of Damodara or Kartika, with the reading of “Mother Yasoda Binds Lord Krsna”, and singing the Damodarastka prayers, and every year, it becomes more enjoyable and spiritually enlivening. That is the nature of Spiritual Subject Matter.

Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami P

Read more…

Srila Prabhupada’s Concern For Russia

2515147767?profile=original

Back in New York, in early 1967, Srila Prabhupada often sat in his room and slowly turned the world globe, studying the geographic demarcations of various countries on the Earth planet.  He would sometimes say, “Brahmananda, you will go to Russia, Goursundar, you go to Japan, Rayarama, you will go to Europe…” and so on.  Even though he had merely a handful of sincere American youths, most of them in their late teens or early twenties, he had big plans. Clearly, he wanted to open preaching cent

Read more…

The Glories Of Damodara Masa

2515147513?profile=original

The Glories Of Damodara Masa
Whatever one does for Krishna – at any time, at any place, under any circumstance – is to one’s eternal benefit
Such is the benefit of devotional service in general. However, during certain times of year–such as appearance anniversaries of Lord Krishna and His devotees–the benefits of one’s service are compounded.

During the month of Damodar, or Kārttika (October/November), rewards for service to Krishna are greater than at any other time of year. For instance, Kris

Read more…