By Sankirtana Das (ACBSP)
The recent consecration of the new Rama Temple in Ayodhya, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, generated a flurry of articles and stories in the international media. The ceremony was met with great fanfare from Hindus around the world, although some Indian politicians and brahmins declined to attend for one reason or another. Reportedly, the ceremony put Moslems on edge in India and especially in Ayodhya. The ceremony included the installation of the Deity of L
Translation: Sofiya Perfilyeva
Edited by Visnu Murti das
The first Russian to visit Vrndavana was Emperor Nikolas II, 125 years ago
On Friday, January the 4th in 1891, Hindus who were bathing in the sacred river Yamuna witnessed an amazing scene. A ship with the name of an unknown language approached.
In the morning mist, surrounded by armed soldiers, a young light-skinned man in an officer’s jacket, looking, however, not belligerent came ashore. The stranger was the crown prince Nicholas, soo
South Africa, a nation deeply marked by its tumultuous history, continues its journey towards healing and self-realization. In the heart of this transformative landscape, Premvikash Das – mathematician, artist, activist, and former temple president at ISKCON Hammanskraal – emerges as a spiritual trailblazer, navigating the crossroads between Krishna Consciousness and African Spiritual Practices with a mission to empower communities still grappling with the aftermath of apartheid.
In a unique fu
Are you ready to embark on an exhilarating journey through the heart of Europe? The 2024 Euro Bus Tour will be held from 19th July to 21st August. The 4.5-week adventure will be visiting several European countries, including Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Belgium, and France.
The first Euro Tour was held in 2013 and the most recent was in 2019. Past organizers like Manorama Dasa, ISKCON’s Global Youth Minister and other seasoned leaders are providing guidance
It was an early rise at the home of Nand Maharaj and Ananda Mayi that started another day of travel. I am used to this. And I was aware that I am not the only one for that spriteful rising. Other passengers to Orlando would be up also, with kids making their way to Disney's fantasy world. My purpose to the city of one of the happiest places on earth was for that medical conference I was talking about. Still, I was happy.
I met a nice yoga teacher from Ancaster, Ontario, who was quite thrill
Lilasuka Dasi, Director of the Child Protection Office – North America (CPO-NA), is recommending ISKCON management send representatives to the 2024 International Symposium on Child Abuse held in Huntsville, Alabama, March 18-21st. This year’s focus is on child abuse in religious organizations.
The annual International Symposium on Child Abuse is a premier conference providing expert training, resources, and networking opportunities on the matter of child protection. The in-person-only 40th Inte
Just as soon as I started to get settled at home base it was time to pack, readying myself for the next destination - a flight to Orlando to attend a Bhaktivedanta Medical Conference. How much fun is that? It is somewhat laughable that I was chosen (ad hoc) before the pandemic as a sanyasi advisor to the group of medical practitioners organizing the event. Covid put a freeze to this annual gathering but the time lapse didn't put me out of the picture.
Prasannatma (Dr. Tadi) didn't forget abou
(To read the related talk given by Giriraja Swami please click here)
Much can be said about compassion, and although we’ve covered many of its different facets, there is still much more that can be said, specifically in terms of our relationships with each other as practitioners of Krsna consciousness.
This whole theme expands from one line in The Nectar of Devotion—that one should not give unnecessary trouble to any living entity. This is a principle of Krsna consciousness that every Vaisnava
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
Abhidheya Devi Dasi from Australia, with her initiative, Bhakti Kids Sangha, is inspiring other temples to adopt various kids’ services and demonstrate it is not only achievable but practical to have dynamic children’s programs at your temple.
Recently, a congregation member from ISKCON Perth has reached out to Bhakti Kids Sangha about some of her ideas. She is considering implementing the same in their endeavor to utilize a part of their space for children.
A
I have been in the home of the deities, Radha Gopinath, for 5 decades and when I was just in Trinidad, Longdenville, the temple there has the same name for their set of Radha Krishna deities. The name Radha, God in feminine form, refers to the most gracious goddess. The masculine God is Krishna and Krishna as Gopinath means the lord of the Gopi, in particular, the exquisite milk maiden, Radha. They are two in one.
Whenever I travel on foot, on plane, in car, train, truck, the name I know as
By Atma Tattva Das
Founded by Nityananda Ram Das, a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and a disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Radio Mayapur has grown from a modest vision to a thriving platform, connecting devotees worldwide through the power of Krishna Conscious music, podcasts, and positive spiritual discussions.
The seeds of Radio Mayapur were sown in the fertile soil of a simple realization – the need for a dedicated platf
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
Gauranga Darshan Das, an educator, TEDx speaker, and spiritual author of over 32 books, has launched his fourth book in the series, “Illustrated Bhagavatam Tales To Inspire Young Minds,” published and printed by Tulsi Books, a division of Sri Tulsi Trust.
“Bhagavatam Tales” unfolds a narrative skillfully rewoven by Gauranga Darshan Das, distilling profound sagas into a lucid language tailored for young minds. The initial three books cover the first four canto
From Back to Godhead
Being God, Krishna has no work to do and simply enjoys in His original abode, while His expansions and energies, such as time, take care of the material creation.
As working men and women we typically leave home in the early morning and spend eight or nine hours on the job. Life at work sustains life at home. Official dealings at work contrast with family intimacies at home. However diffuse and overlapping the boundaries between the two, our work persons differ from our
The Northern India Divisional Council (NIDC) recently held its biannual meeting at the Sri Sri Radha Govind Dev Temple in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, to hear reports from temple leaders, discuss preaching initiatives, resolve issues, and celebrate successes.
India’s Divisional Councils are comprised of ISKCON temples in a specific region and operate under the auspices of the Indian Continental Committee (ICC).
The two-day event concluded with the presentation of trophies to successful distributors in
ISKCON Coyhaique held its fourth annual Ratha Yatra Festival of India event on January 27, 2004. It included a procession of Lord Jagannath’s chariot with harinam sankirtan, followed by book and prasadam distribution, cultural exhibitions, and activities for children at the Plaza de Armas de Coyhaique.
Coyhaique, located in the Aysén Region of Chile, is the region’s largest city and serves as a commercial and administrative center. Nestled amidst the picturesque Patagonian landscape, Coyhaique
A few evenings ago HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja and I gave class together at ISKCON Juhu. During the questions and answers, a devotee asked, “How can I recognize a pure devotee?” and in response I quoted Srila Prabhupada’s reply to a letter from Tusta Krishna dasa asking about pure devotees: “We advise everyone to address one another as Prabhu. Prabhu means master, so how the master should be disobeyed? Others, they are also pure devotees. All of my disciples are pure devotees. Anyone sincerel
By Atma Tattva Das
Krishna Gana Das, the culinary pilgrim whose journey across Australia echoes the spiritual rhythms of devotion, embarked on a unique odyssey that not only defined his path but enriched the lives of those touched with his unwavering commitment to Krishna consciousness. From his days at ISKCON New Govardhan in beautiful eastern Australia to his food truck adventures where he joined music festivals across the country, Krishna Gana’s story is a tapestry woven with the threads of
On May 30th, 1845, a ship landed at the Trinidad shoreline with a massive group of indentured labourers from India. They were promised by the British a life of labour and love. Love was somewhat questionable, because life, at the time, was one of great sacrifice. A century later, one of those pious Hindu fellows, from that strain, asked for permission to build a temple. Authorities said, “No!” The man’s name was Sadhu Seva.
He decided to build a small peninsula by bringing stone after stone,
From Back to Godhead
By Karuna Dharini Devi Dasi
Desiring to drown everyone in the flood of love of God, Lord Caitanya made a special effort to capture misinformed impersonalists.
In 1486 CE, Lord Krishna appeared in West Bengal as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Though Krishna Himself, Lord Caitanya comes in the mood of a fully Krishna conscious devotee and teaches us pure bhakti, the personal, loving, service relationship of the soul with the Supreme Lord. To awaken that relationship, Lord Caitany
I first see him just after crossing the Bowery at Houston Street. As he passes before the iron-mesh fence of a playground, I distinctly glimpse the aura of saintliness. I watch him through the rushing traffic and stumbling derelicts.
He strolls almost jauntily down the sidewalk. He is an old man whom age has never touched. Aloof from the people and bustle about him, he walks proudly, independently, his hand in a cloth beadbag. He wears the saffron robes of a sannyasi, and on his feet are quain
