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Ramananda Raya’s Disappearance Day, part one
A Talk by Giriraj Swami
May 25, 2008
Houston

Today is the disappearance day of one of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s most confidential associates, Sri Ramananda Raya. Lord Caitanya is Krsna Himself in the mood of Srimati Radharani, with Her bodily luster. Thus Lord Caitanya is the combined form of Radha and Krsna (sri-krsna-caitanya radha-krsna nahe anya). And in krsna-lila Ramananda Raya is the gopi Visakha, one of the most confidential associates of bot

Above, Madhuha dasa inspecting the first panel in the new exhibit.

Bhakta Cory Feres, from Halifax, Nova Scotia cutting the shaped & finished Poplar framing materials.

Cory screwing the precisely-fitted frames together. After the frames were assembled, the steel corner peices that attach to the supporting poles were screwed on.

All Festival of India's exhibits: The Illustrated Bhagavad-Gita; The Science of Reincarnation; Vegetarianism--The Higher Taste; Who Is Prabhupada; and Transcendental A

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My father had a sudden brain stroke in March 2015 and was rushed to the hospital where he was operated twice. He was in a coma for some time, then he appeared to recover slowly, but was not able to talk. So my mother and sisters couldn't communicate with him. Eventually after a few months his health became worse and worse. He died in August last year (2015). My mother arranged for a catholic funeral and I also performed the shraddha ceremony in September. We were shocked by his sudden departure

The rarest love of Golok, which was never given to anyone even upon asking for multiple lives, was distributed freely to the most fallen by Nitai, even without asking for it. This love of Golok was unattainable for even the most exalted personalities of this universe before the advent of Nitai. All logic failed during the deliverance pastimes of Nitai. Be it the children, or be it the ruffians, or be it anyone, all got love at the hands of Nitai. Nobody was left out. There was no discrimination.

Plans For 2016, New TOVP Phone App Goes Live, Appreciation for Krsna Kumar prabhu and His Family, TOVP Construction Update, Progress Report on Finishing Work, Coffered Ceiling Mock Up, First Segment of West Wing Kalash Installation, Reinforcing the Domes, Art, Architecture and Design, The TOVP Masterplan, The Making of the Acharyas, TOVP ISKCON of Tomorrow, New TOVP Pictorial Video Update, U.S. TOVP Office Grand Opening, TOVP Report From Russia, ILS Conference Donation, Leaders Speak Out, Mayap

We need the blessings of the spiritual master. It is said that we should try to please the spiritual master. This is when we look at it from the disciple’s perspective. Now, I was thinking about it from the guru’sperspective – the disciple has to please the guru, so what does that mean!? Does that mean that the gurujust has to act pleased when the disciple has served up to a reasonable level which is commonly understood as acceptable behavior for a devotee? Should the spiritual master be pleas

Most devotees (and people in general) are married, grhastha, and further, the grhastha asrama is the basis of all other asramas—and of the lives of our children. So we want the grhastha asrama to be as strong as possible. Recently, from December 18 to 20, we held a Couples’ Weekend in Durban, facilitated by Arcana-siddhi and her husband Karnamrita. All the participants felt enlivened by the experience. Here is my address on the opening day:

When I first joined ISKCON in 1969, we all were qui

When we think calmly and carefully about this wonderful universe, we can see that everything is working under the control of a supreme brain. The arrangements in nature are perfectly ordered. Things would be at random without the careful planning of a scientific and engineering brain. It is a common understanding that there is a cause behind each action. A machine cannot run without an operator. Modern scientists are very proud of automation, but there is a scientific brain behind automation

Dear disciples of Srila Prabhupada,
I am the son of your Godsister Jusaniya Devi Dasi, and I am writing you this message on her account to inform you that in the very early hours of yesterday morning my mother passed from this world, here in Phoenix, due to complications from the cancer she had been struggling with, on and off, for the past six years.
My brother, Yudistira, and myself were at her bedside as she passed, taking her last breaths, with the Holy Names sung softly to her and our praye

Krishna-valley in Somogyvamos, Hungary is one of the fastest growing villages in the area. In the past two decades, due to the hard work of the devotees, the 275 hectars of land has become Europe’s largest eco-village. 

At the moment, Krishna-valley has 150 inhabitants, and there are an additional 30,000 people yearly who visit there or participate at religious festivals.

People gathered in front of the new school building.

There are 50 children living in Krishna-valley, who, by know, outgrew

One of the features of the Krishna Balaram Mandir is that everyday Mangal Arati is packed with devotees, including in the sunken courtyard and all the way by the front entrance. Not only that, but there is usually a big crowd for the 4:10 am Arati for Srila Prabhupada in his samadhi. If you don’t go early, you’ll probably have to stand outside.

On some days during Kartik, you literally cannot even enter the temple room. Devotees are spilled outside, some watching Mangal Arati on the monitors t

I worked as a senior flight attendant with a good salary and roamed freely around the world. I had a beautiful pregnant woman and everything seemed complete, but in my heart I felt a terrible emptiness.
The world had no attraction, as nothing made me happy. I started to smoke marijuana and take drugs. The grass and drugs made me feel better for a while, but finally began to make me feel worse. With all my strength I tried to abandon drugs, but I could not. The grass held me in her arms, and I d

Sutapa Das: With genuine spiritual advancement comes the capacity and capability to have friendly relationships with one and all. Equipped with spiritual vision that penetrates beyond externals, one remains undisturbed by annoying idiosyncrasies, ideological differences, unpredictable personalities, and sticky character traits. We’re able to see something deeper, see the spirit, the underlying sincerity. We can see the heart. At this stage, we have no enemies, even if others view us as such. I

We may say that we do not love chanting so much but if I, as the government, would give an order, “You are not allowed to chant! Chanting is forbidden.” Suddenly, you will have a lot more love for chanting than you think. Whereas now, chanting is like, “Oh… I have to chant again.” But if it would be forbidden, then suddenly we are very Krsna conscious.

I also experienced it like that because I am a freedom lover by nature. When I read Prabhupada’s Gita, the purports were hammering me. They were

18th – 24th of July 2016
(the 17th of July as arrival day)
​at Almviks gard farm and village community, Sweden
Saturday, 23rd of July – Holy Name Day –
​a whole day dedicated to kirtan;
24th of July – Maha Harinam in Stockholm!
Welcome!

The process of Krishna consciousness brings about a very dynamic and ongoing transformation – a transformation of our life and ourselves. Spiritual life is ever increasing – there are always new insights to gain and new discoveries to make.

Lord Chaitanya compa

Due to the recent heavy rain showers in Sri Lanka, several areas of the country are affected. Around 60 people died by floods and 130 people died in landslides. Over 350,000 people have displaced and sheltered in various camps.

ISKCON Sri Lanka has been conducting the Food For Life program as it is the desire of Srila Prabhupada to distribute vegetarian food for the needy. As the responsibility to help the flood victims, the volunteers and members of ISKCON Sri Lanka distributed cooked vegetari

Travel Journal#12.9: Birmingham and the North UK

Cilegon is a major coastal industrial city in Banten province, Indonesia. Also known as the “Steel City” due to its being the largest steel producing city in Southeast Asia. The annual Ciligeon Ethnic Carnival (CEC) took place on April 26th this year. Commemorating the 17th anniversary of Ciligeon, a variety of performances and arts were displayed in front of the Government Office. The theme of the event this year was “Ethnic Multi Cultural in Harmony”. Participants from schools, art groups and