By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
ISKCON Auckland, New Zealand, orchestrated a splendid series of Rath Yatras spanning from November 25 to December 16, 2023. This grand celebration magnetized thousands of people who assembled fervently around the majestic chariots carrying the Deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra.
In 1976, Srila Prabhupada installed the deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra in Auckland, and since that auspicious installation, the annual Rath Yatra, a f
The GBC Executive Committee, on behalf of the GBC, extends a warm invitation to all Temple Presidents for the upcoming International Temple Presidents Meeting scheduled for 27th February 2024 in Mayapur. According to the invitation letter, “This sanga provides an opportunity for Temple Presidents from ISKCON temples across the world to converge, connect with the GBC, share experiences, and contribute to shaping the future of ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada saw the Temple Presidents as dynamic leaders
During our residence on this planet, humanity has experienced many horrors- slavery, apartheid, concentration camps and many other nasty histories. Many countries celebrate independence from foreign subjugation, which were in many cases far from peaceful. Thus we can see what can go wrong when we become dependent on selfish leaders- Exploitation. Exploitation may be gross or subtle. People fear exploitation, but in general, we find exploitation everywhere. Some people are exploited and these sa
“One who is inquisitive to understand the ultimate goal of life must approach a proper guru,” says Srila Prabhupada in this lecture given in Mumbai, India, in November of 1974. Then he explains what that ultimate goal is, how that approach must be made, and who is the proper guru.
suta uvaca
dvaipayana-sakhas tv evam maitreyo bhagavams tatha
prahedam viduram prita anviksikyam pracoditah
“Sri Suta Gosvami said: ‘The most powerful sage Maitreya was a friend of Vyasadeva’s. Being encouraged and pl
The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) held an online Live to Give 2023 Celebration call on Sunday, January 28th, hosted by HG Vaisesika Dasa, who shared the results of the combined efforts of devotees worldwide. The 2023 goal was to distribute 3.7 million copies of the Bhagavad-gita, which devotees exceeded by distributing 3,784,233 copies worldwide. Vaisesika offered his heartfelt thanks to all those who are striving to “continually expand the distribution of transcendental knowledge to benefit th
By Go-Palak Krsna Das and Lila Sundari Devi Dasi
Devotees in Singapore have been visiting local prisons for the past 20 years to bring the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness and meaningful association to inmates. Around ten devotees regularly participate in this weekly service. They have aimed to share spiritual teachings from the Bhagavad-gita, lift inmate morale, build good character values, and provide mental solace for the incarcerated men. The devotees are enthusiastically welcomed by pri
The world around us is changing at an ever-increasing rate. The notion of keeping up with the changing world may have relevance in devotional service. But is this perspective relevant in all areas of our practices of bhakti? Are there some elements of devotional service that must always be constant? Srila Prabhupada wrote:
The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process for worshiping the deities. … Whatever is going on, follow it just to the exact
In an article entitled “Born to Bun: Labels to Tell Meat’s Life Story” (New York Daily News, April 4, 2013), journalist James Warren informs us about the Obama administration’s recent move to get new information on food labels in the supermarket, specifically on meat products. They now want to let consumers know where the animal was born, raised, and slaughtered. Might this be too much information?
The USDA argues that such labeling is a step toward transparency, benefiting consumers on many le
The Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE) will offer an online Bhakti-pravesa course from 14 February to 16 April, 2024. This course is specifically designed for those budding devotees who are seeking to learn and explore the path of bhakti. The curriculum includes the topics essential for a strong foundational knowledge into the new spiritual journey of any aspirant.
The course aims to give persons who have recently come in touch with ISKCON a clear understanding of the philosophy of
By Atma Tattva Das
In the midst of a looming threat of a second Cyclone warning over Mauritius, the devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) continue to exhibit resilience and spiritual strength. Srinjay Das, the Director of ISKCON Public Relations and Communications in Mauritius, provided an uplifting update amid challenging circumstances.
In a heartfelt message to fellow devotees, Srinjay expressed gratitude for the collective success of recent devotional endea
At the beginning of January, 43 devotee youth from around the world gathered at the Radha Krishna Camp in Guararema state of São Paulo – Brasil, for a week of transformative spiritual experiences and memorable recreational activities.
The camp organizer, Vaikuntha Murti Das, said of the event, “The Radha Krishna Camp is the only project in South America that serves youth between 12 to 17 years old,” he said, “We welcome teens coming from Brasil as well as other Latin America countries like Chil
The travels which began on Sunday night are not over. The waiting, the sitting, seems endless. However, I have my japa beads to cling onto, and that is what sustains me. Finally, after four airports, three countries and a lot of patience, I met with Guyanese devotees, Prabhupadev and Sanjay, at the Ogle Airport.
The sun also greeted me with a 27 degrees Celsius temperature, a stark difference from the low minuses of Alberta. Once reaching the Nimai Nitai Study Centre in Georgetown, I indulg
Shri Jayadeva Goswami appeared in either the eleventh or twelfth century of the Shaka era. There is a difference of opinion about his place of birth. The majority opinion holds that he was from the village of Kendubilva, presently in the district of Birbhum. Others claim that he was born in either Orissa or South India.
Kendubilva is situated about twenty miles south of Siuri on the banks of the Ajaya River. In the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana, it is stated that Jayadeva found his Radha Madhava
On New Delhi Television (NDTV), a panel of three experts, including Yudhistir Govinda Das, the National Director of Communications of ISKCON India, discussed the impacts of the Ayodhya Temple on India’s future, especially in terms of religious tourism.
Founded in 1988, NDTV is one of the most watched and respected news networks in India and a leader in online programming. NDTV noted in the segment that international brokerage firm Jefferies predicted in a recent report that the Ayodhya Temple c
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
The inaugural celebrations of the New Navadvip Dham from December 22-25, 2023, coinciding with Gita Jayanti and the 10th anniversary of the Sadhu Sanga Retreat, was a huge success.
The event embraced a familial ambience leaving an indelible mark on the 150 participants, including prominent local residents. The highlight of the event was cooperation among devotees. Govinda Caran Das, one of the organizers of the Sadhu Sanga Retreat said, “The response was overw
Patience was tested with airlines. “Delay” was the common word. Passengers even made their way to board the plane. We sat for two hours inside with a promising “ready to go” when (out of the blue) we were assigned to “deplane” and “come back later.” I was quite impressed with people’s tolerance level. There is always something to be learned from others and it doesn’t always come out of a book or one’s personal guru. Messages are heard (or should be heard) from all angles. God, as guru, is every
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
Mayapur Clean & Green, an environmental initiative led by Murari Mohini Devi Dasi, has embarked on a mission to strategically position 108 Mayapur Clean and Green recycle bins throughout the whole of Mayapur.
MC&G has already successfully placed 20 bins around the Holy Dham. Murari Mohini said, “Every home, every shop, every building needs to have one of these bins. It should be available in all the ghats of Mayapur, including all the homes and buildings.”
Beg
On 17th January, Prabhupada Prana Das, Temple President of the ISKCON Karuna Bhavan temple in Lesmahagow, Scotland, met with Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf along with other representatives of the Scottish Hindu Foundation (SHF).
According to its website, the SHF “is dedicated to preserving and promoting the vibrant tapestry of Hindu culture in Scotland…[bridging] the gap between the Hindu community and the wider Scottish society, fostering understanding and cultural exchange.”
The meeti
This was the first morning of another semester of bhakti training with the group, Bhakti Academy, a successful venture for mostly younger folks. Venkatesh is from South India, and has taken these semesters very seriously, to the point where, in addition to taking an administrative role in the temple, he also had the strong desire to change the colour of his cloth to saffron, affirming his celibacy.
Just before my departure for the airport to destination Calgary, I handed over to him his new
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
The Mayapur Community Hospital is a testament to physical well-being and a beacon of holistic healing, transcending the conventional realms of medical care. Here are some of the updates on the phenomenal developments in the hospital including new staff, state-of-the art equipment, website, digital records, donation options, construction updates, and more.
Going Digital with Patient Care
Following an initial pilot program, The Mayapur Community Hospital has now
