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By Prishni Sutton 

The Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS) hosted its second international conference, “Cosmology of the Bhagavata Purana: Current Research on History, Philosophy, and Science,” on November 17–19 at the BIHS Headquarters in Gainesville, FL. Use of this lovely facility, the former home of the president of the University of Florida, was secured with the generous support of Hridayananda Das Goswami.

This conference was a natural outgrowth of three prior BIHS cosmology

This conversation between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and physicist Gregory Benford took place in October, 1973, at the Los Angeles Krsna center.

Dr. Benford: You are probably familiar with what Western theology calls “the problem of evil”: Why does evil exist?

Srila Prabhupada: Evil is the absence of good, just as darkness is the absence of sunlight. If you keep yourself always in the light, where is the question of darkness? God is all-good. So if you keep yourself al

Srila Prabhupada: (chants mangalacarana prayers) Today is birth, appearance day of Srimati Radharani, Radhastami. Fifteen days after Krsna’s birth, Radharani appeared. (pause) Radharani is Krsna’s pleasure potency. Radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini-saktih. The Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has got varieties of energies, as it is confirmed in the Vedic literature. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. The Supreme Lord has

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.”

(Bhagavad-gītā 2.40)

“Activity in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or acting for the benefit of Kṛṣṇa without expectation of sense gratification, is the highest transcendental quality of work. Even a small beginning of such activity finds no impediment, nor can that small beginning be lost at any stage. Any work begun on the material plane has to be completed, other

By Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami 

The ISKCON Bhu Vaikuntha Project marks a significant step in establishing a dynamic center in Sri Pandharpur Dham, the spiritual hub of Maharashtra. This endeavor aims to cater to the needs of the hundreds of thous

By Radhapriya

This past weekend of November 24th to 26th saw ISKCON leaders from across Zone 1 temples in North America descend upon Toronto for the annual leadership conference. Zone 1 encompasses ISKCON centers primarily across Canada but also includes one temple in Minnesota and some very northern states, as well as Alaska. The Zone 1 temple contingent has grown in recent years, now consisting of 25 centers from coast to coast.

Under the inspiration and title coined by HH Bhaktimarga Swami,

By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi

Mandakini Dasi released her latest book, Panchatattva: Five Heroes Of The Golden Age, on November 16, 2023, in Puri. The series consists of five books, each dedicated to one of the Panchatattvas, and they are available as a colorful box set that is very appealing to parents and children alike.

The launch of the book took place at the inauguration of HH Radhanath Swami’s Puri Yatra. Mandakini revealed, “The decision to launch in Puri Yatra was driven by the int

The efforts, austerities, and practices involved with the acceptance as a disciple do not end with initiation.  Rather they begin, in a formal sense, at that point. Whatever outer challenges or inner demons we have, will be overcome by Krishna’s grace for those who persevere in their vows.  It is only those who quit who will suffer defeat.

Even as the connection and dependency between the words “disciple” and “discipline” are obvious, some devotees tend to be more attentive to the fruits than t

Leadership is an art, a responsibility, and a journey of continuous growth and learning. The timeless wisdom of Vedic texts like the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Chaitanya Charitamrita offers profound insights into the essence of true leadership. These ancient scriptures, filled with stories of great leaders, provide timeless lessons that are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago.

1. Vision and Conviction: Lord Rama (Ramayana)
One of the most celebrated leaders in Vedic literature

By Dr Malav Bhimpuria

On a crisp autumnal day in late November, visitors to the Manor were blessed by the warm glow of the inaugural BMA medical camp, part of the Devotee Care Festival. The beaming smiles and joyous faces of the devotees was testament to the resounding success of this inspirational event, held in association with Devotee Care UK, Karuna Care, Alzheimer’s UK, Dental Smile and Hertfordshire Health Improvement Service (HHIS).
The BMA’s aim is to deliver holistic care to the ISKCO

A beautiful documentary has been produced, giving viewers a compelling glimpse into the life and service of Krsna devotees in Singapore. Featuring interviews with pioneering devotees who witnessed the history and growth of the devotional community in the cosmopolitan city, the video shares their unique challenges and opportunities for outreach.

Singapore, strategically situated as a vibrant city-state at the crossroads of Southeast Asia, is renowned for its impressive skyline, cutting-edge infra

By Atma Tattva Das

In a remarkable fusion of spirituality and adaptability, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is setting a new milestone with the Tŷ Krishna Cymru project in the heart of Cardiff Bay, redefining the landscape of Wales by transforming an older building into a vibrant temple and wellness center. This ambitious venture transcends the conventional, breathing new life into a structure with historical significance, navigating the delicate balance between pre

King Charles III of the United Kingdom recently met with over 30 faith leaders and community representatives at the historic Lambeth Palace Library in central London. The event was part of the annual “Inter Faith Week,” which aims to promote tolerance and greater understanding between different faiths and communities. Among the select guests joining the King was Visakha Dasi, President of ISKCON’s Bhaktivedanta Manor.

King Charles was welcomed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Just

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has taken a significant step forward with the launch of the Transcend app by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. It features over 8,000 hours of audio recordings, 600+ eBooks, the ability to listen or read in 11 languages so far, and is accessible on multiple devices. This groundbreaking app, introduced by Sri Ananda Tirtha Dasa, marks the world’s first integrated platform offering both audio and e-books, revolutionizing the way our spiritu

ISKCON Tucson’s award-winning restaurant, Govinda’s, has served guests gourmet vegetarian cuisine since 1992. The Temple’s newest resident, a white turkey named Sufi, was on hand to greet guests, share hugs, and take a lot of selfies at their annual Thanksgiving Day feast. “We named him Sufi because in Hindi “safed” means white, and Sufis are famously from Turkey,” noted Tucson’s Temple President Sandamani Devi Dasi with a smile. A 5th-grade classroom raised Sufi, and he later lived on a small f

By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi

His Holiness Giriraj Swami has unveiled his latest book, Dancing White Elephants: Traveling with Srila Prabhupada in India, August 1970–March 1972, published by BBT Australia and launched in Vrindavan on November 14 during the auspicious Govardhana-puja celebrations. 

Based in Carpinteria, California, Giriraj Swami is one of the most senior sannyasis in ISKCON—and a dear disciple of Srila Prabhupada, who, having read an article by him in Back to Godhead in Gor

In the first verse of the Bhagavad-gita, the low-minded king Dhrtarastra asks his secretary, “O Sanjaya, after my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kuruksetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?” Kim akurvata: “What did they do?” Srila Prabhupada says that this is a foolish question. The two armies had gathered to fight, so what is the question of what they did? Srila Prabhupada gives the example that if someone sits down before a plate of food, intending to e

As an institution representative of Krsna and the parampara, we have the duty and obligation to be an example of responsibility and caring concern for everyone. Thus, in the present context of the coronavirus pandemic, we must strictly take all recommended precautions and strictly follow all official indications.

Krsna must see that we are doing everything that we can and not that we are irresponsibly leaving everything to Him. «God helps those who help themselves.» While endeavoring thus, we

All the unmarried gopīs in Vṛndāvana used to daily worship goddess Kātyāyanī early in the morning after taking a bath in the river Yamunā. Kātyāyanī is another name for goddess Durgā. 

The goddess is worshiped by preparing a doll made of sand from the bank of the Yamunā. 

The gopīs used to prepare the deity of goddess Durgā and worship it with candana pulp, garlands, incense, lamps and all kinds of presentations—fruits, grain and twigs of plants.  

The unmarried girls used to pray with great

The ISKCON Vaishnavi Ministry’s “16 Days of Activism for Safer Families” campaign, running from November 25 to December 10, focuses on cultivating healthy family systems and community cohesion by bringing together ISKCON’s top devotee experts to address a wide range of family-related issues. 

“The campaign’s goal is to spark change, nurture empathy, and create a future where every family feels secure and supported. Strong family values are pivotal for resilient communities,” said Radha Dasi, on