As Sadhu Sanga turns a decade old, the crescendo of celebration coincides with the Gita Jayanti Day, which marks the inaugural of New Navadvip Dham—a celebration spanning December 22-25 in McAllen, Texas. The event unfolds with the recitation of the Bhagavad Gita, enrapturing kirtans, enlightening classes by revered personalities, and the resonance of Harinam. Devotees can join the festivities beginning with the Yajna and Gita recitation at 3 pm CDT, USA, on December 22, on their Facebook and Y
I was asked to, “Do something different,” for the Bhagavatam class in place of the usual format. Since I am on a fairly regular roster for this great book’s morning presentation it was felt that an approach along the lines of an “out-of-the-box” experience would be helpful for the students and members of the Bhakti Academy. I was up for the challenge and decided that everyone in the group, numbering 20, would participate freely.
Here’s what we did:
I read a verse chosen for me from Canto 3 of t
From Back to Godhead
Krishna is always engaged in sport, and when we try to imitate Him, we lose.
When the 2017 Super Bowl game, the summit of American professional football, was held in Houston, a devotee convinced me and a few others to try to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books at a huge pregame event downtown. Venturing into the passionate, teeming crowd, we sold a few books, but not so many. This experience reinforced what was already obvious: mundane sport certainly has a powerful allure.
Food-for-Life Nepal (FFLN), a non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being of marginalized children and communities in Nepal, recently hosted a stall at the Administrative Staff College in Lalitpur as part of the 15th Human Rights National Magna Meet 2023 held on December 8th.
Inspired by the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, Mr. Brijesh Lacoul, Founder-Chairperson, established FFLN in September 2015 with a mission to address classroom hunger by providing nutritious meals
Leaders of Iskcon from Zone One in Canada and Northern US converged happily at the Holiday Inn for our Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Our meeting opened up with a Land Acknowledgement which I read, “We acknowledge the lands which constitute the present-day City of Missassauga as being part of the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations. We recognize these peoples and their ancestor
Once when the Kurukshetra war was declared, Duryodhana sent messengers to every part of the globe to seek the assistance of various kings. But Krishna was so powerful that He warranted a personal request. Also Duryodhana knew that Krishna was the main support of the Pandavas, and if Duryodhana could get His assistance, then the Pandavas would stand no chance in winning the war. Arjuna also thought of Krishna, so both of them decided to go to Dwaraka.
When Arjuna arrived in Dwaraka, he saw the p
“Vedic Culture Hasn’t Been Preached Properly”
Chapter 13 of the book “Civilization and Transcendence”
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Next question, Śrīla Prabhupāda. “Do you envision a different role for the Vedic culture in the Western countries, where the influence of other great religions has been felt for centuries?”
Śrīla Prabhupāda: No. There is no “different role.” God is one. God cannot be two.
As Kṛṣṇa states in the Bhagavad-gītā [7.7], mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya: “There is no author
An address by Giriraj Swami to leaders of Hindu organizations in Houston, October 23, 2009.
The Bhagavad-gita is also known as the Gitopanisad and is considered one of the Upanishads. The title Bhagavad-gita is sometimes translated as “The Song of God.” Gita mean “song.” God, Krishna, is so sublime that whatever He speaks is music and poetry. The word bhagavan has been analyzed by Vedic authorities. Bhaga means “opulence” and is related to the word bhagya: “good fortune.” And van means “one who
Print books, distribute profusely, and that will be the best preaching work. What will your three minutes preaching work—But if they buy one book, it may turn their life. (Srila Prabhupada Letter to Bhagavan, 5th November, 1972).
------------ Message from HH Jayapataka Swami.
Srila Prabhupada rose in the middle of the night for many years translating and writing his purports to share his personal ecstasies for our understanding and upliftment. He arranged the book printing and organized the boo
By Atma Tattva Das
In the quaint villages and bustling towns of Norfolk, a retired couple, Shyamlal Prabhu and Danakeli Mataji, have embarked on a remarkable 175,000-mile book distribution journey in the last seven years, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of the local community. This initiative, driven by their deep devotion to Srila Prabhupada’s mission and guided by the instruction of their spiritual mentor, serves as a shining example of dedicated service within the Internati
We on Day #2 with our convergence of leaders which started with a pep step, literally so. As is expected by a group of Hare Krishnas, we dance and chant. The final item on today’s agenda was the same, only the movement and sound was more invigorated – lovingly intense. Naturally, participants were enjoying it. They had been on chairs and behind desks for hours. It was time to let loose.
And it happened in the Avenue Road temple. All the better. All the merrier. All 60 of us.
In between the c
The semi-annual joint board meetings with ECO-Vrindaban, ISKCON New Vrindaban, and the Village Council took place recently in New Vrindaban, where members met in multiple sessions to discuss the achievements of 2023 and explored ongoing and future projects for 2024. We will look at some of the highlights from the meetings.
Following a joint board gathering on Friday night, the community meetings on Saturday included reports from the boards and other groups formed in the Spring to address specif
There is so much to be said about Srimati Yamuna-devi dasi.
In October of 1970 I was one of a group of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples from America going to join him in India. On the way, we stopped in Brussels, and it was there, in an apartment, that I first met Yamuna-devi—and Malati and Syamasundara (I had met Gurudas before that, in Boston). Upon entering, I could immediately feel their intense, extraordinary devotion to Srila Prabhupada—it was so palpable, so tangible; the room was just suffu
Uday, Navi and I went for that evening walk for a visit to Vallabha Hari, who’s working on a speech/interview on the topic of Diwali. We passed by a captivating sculptor piece of a homeless, dying person. It is making a strong statement as to where people are situated in an urban despair. While I’m taken by the wonderful artistic craftsmanship in the victim’s pose and the marvellous rendering of the blanket’s folds and ripples, it does invoke a heart pulling. There is a need here to pay attenti
Padayatra reached Chitrakoot on 24th June and we stayed at Chitrakoot around 12-13 days. Keeping the padayatra chariot there, we went to Pandharpur for the Vyas Puja of our spiritual master Lokanath Maharaja. When Uttar Pradesh Padayatra visited Chitrakoot they had to struggle a lot for their stay, they had to pay Rs. 1000 per day. So we were little worried, But Lord shows the day. We visited the same dharmashala where we had stayed 10 years back during our last round to Chitrakoot and by
An Exceptional Visionary of Contemporary Times:
Remembering H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami on his 86th appearance anniversary
by Jaganmohini devi dasi
On the auspicious day of Sri Odana Sasthi, Dec. 18th, 2023, the disciples, servants and wellwishers of H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami will be celebrating his 86th Vyasa puja around the world. On this special day, we are remembering maharaj as an exceptional visionary whose contribution to science and humanity continues to stand as a beacon,
By Mantra Caitanya Dasa
On December 7th, Kunti Devi Dasi, ISKCON’s Interreligious Dialogue representative in Brasil, was invited to speak at an event that brought together judges and justices from the Regional and Federal Courts of Justice in Rio de Janeiro. The auspicious occasion was held at the feet of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, a colossal Christian monument atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio. The theme of the gathering was “justice,” and it featured representatives fro
Many people go in life on a drab routine hoping for a breath of fresh air, some break. For me, I get it all the time. I’m blessed.
Cuban born Ganganath, and I, are embarking on my yearly trip to the land of controversy. Of course, there’s sun, sand, good weather (at this time of year) and sweet people. We are anticipating to touch some nice souls. To do that Ganga stuffed our suitcase with beautiful gifts – books. Those books are bricks of gold. We have Spanish and English versions of books
