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By Atma Tattva Das, 

A growing body of devotional music emerging from urban bhakti communities is finding new expression through independent artists such as VisnuMaya, a New York-based practitioner and musician whose recent live EP, Puspāñjali, presents an intimate, acoustic approach to contemporary Krishna-conscious songwriting.

Recorded during a small in-person gathering in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the project reflects a broader shift toward personal, experience-driven expressions of bhakt

According to Dr. David Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. (1927–2012), one individual vibrating at the high-energy level of pure love can counterbalance the negative vibrations of 750,000 individuals. Dr. Hawkins, founder of the Institute for Spiritual Research, interestingly enough, developed a “Map of Consciousness” ranging from the lower to the higher states and including the more advanced levels of Love, Joy, Peace, and Enlightenment.  

Hawkins talked about a “level of pure love.” But how does one actual

By Anuradha Dasi, 

For nearly twenty years, New Vrindaban has hosted its beloved 24-Hour Kirtan, a festival built around a very simple formula: dedicated kirtan singers, a good sound system, water, lozenges, and plenty of prasadam. With these ingredients, the temple room naturally fills with transcendental sound and joyful devotion.

Last year, Ram Raya Dasa of the New York City Harinam group suggested expanding the spirit of the 24-hour kirtan by holding additional kirtan gatherings throughout t

Two newly released reports offer an overview of the 2025 activities of the ISKCON Kirtan Ministry and the ISKCON Padayatra Ministry, as well as the preaching and leadership initiatives of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami. Together, they document a year marked by expanding outreach, strengthened coordination among devotional initiatives, and continued efforts to spread the chanting of the Holy Name in line with the mission of ISKCON Founder-Acharya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

The Kirtan

By Rukmini Devi Dasi 

Radha Krishna Records, the historic record label owned by ISKCON London, is celebrating its 16th year and has released a new album designed for introspection and contemplation amidst the clamor of the modern world. This stripped-back offering primarily features acoustic guitar and bansuri flute, intentionally crafted to bring the sung mantras to the forefront.

The album, entitled Mantra Vibes London, marks the start of a new series. The “Mantra Vibes” project may visit your

By Atma Tattva Das, 

The upcoming BhaktiFest 2k26 is poised to draw more than 200 young adults to a four-day residential spiritual retreat over the Easter weekend, from April 3-6, 2026. Hosted on a private island venue near Sydney, this event marks the continuation of what has quickly become a signature youth engagement initiative within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Australia and neighboring regions.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/task-create-a-headline-an

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

By Atma Tattva Das,

In mid-January 2026, devotees and spiritual seekers gathered in Lucknow for Gita Rasamritam, a two-day festival dedicated to exploring the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita and their relevance in everyday life. Hosted by ISKCON Temple Lucknow, the program took place from January 17–18 at the Sri Sri Radha Raman Bihari Ji Mandir in Sushant Golf City, drawing local residents, students, families, and newcomers for a weekend of discussion, kirtan, and devotional reflection.

The fest

(Bhaktivedanta Research Centre: This is a one of a kind original photo of Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj found by BRC while going through Sri Sundaranand Vidyabinode’s collection.)

Today is Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja’s disappearance day. He comes in the Gaudiya Vaishnava disciplic succession after Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura and Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana. He was a renounced ascetic, fully engaged in chanting the holy names of Krishna and meditating on His pastimes. For

By Atma Tattva Das, 

Harita Madhavi Devi Dasi is a Krishna-conscious practitioner who uses rap as a contemporary medium for devotional preaching. Appearing on stage in full devotional attire, she delivers mantra-infused verses that introduce audiences to the core teachings of bhakti-yoga through rhythm and rhyme. Based in Mayapur, her work reflects a growing effort within ISKCON to engage younger generations through culturally familiar forms while remaining rooted in traditional practice.

Read

Gaura Vani Music has released the first in a new series of music videos filmed during his successful concert last year at the iconic Royal Opera House. The opening release features “Wade in the Water,” a traditional African American spiritual that emerged in the 19th century, rooted in the lived experience and spirituality of enslaved Africans in the United States.

In this unique rendition, the song is woven together with the timeless devotion of Draupadi, creating a bridge between cultures, his

When we talk about sankirtana, we are, of course, talking about the congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names, specifically in the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. For many people, this is the first way they come in contact with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, and with Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtana movement, by hearing the devotees chanting the holy names. But what is it about this process that makes it so effective, and so important in the way people are first exposed to it?
To answer th

Q.
Dear Bada Haridas,
I led my first kirtan yesterday evening! I was wondering what is the role of the kirtan leader? I know that practically speaking they are playing an instrument and singing the mantra for the group to repeat, but what is their job spiritually?

I felt a little bit nervous to take on the task at first and was wondering if you could share some of your wisdom in that regard. Hare Krishna!

A.
Glad to hear you are leading kirtan. Thank you for asking such a nice question and for

The first time I met Yamuna devi, my life changed forever.
I was in Saranagati for the Christmas holidays in 2000 having a reunion with my closest childhood friends. We were all in our early twenties, and having recently finished our university education and started work, we spent our time together recalling our childhood activities. One day we decided to have kirtan, but in a rather irreverent way, mocking the showy, elaborate vocal and instrument style we had all absorbed growing up in ISKCON

By Atma Tattva Das,

When Balram Thanki speaks about the mridanga, his voice settles into a steady rhythm of its own. The drum has shaped most of his life, and the memories tied to it come easily to mind when he talks. Personally, the mridanga is history, service, identity, and a teacher all at once for him. That connection sits at the heart of The Mridanga Circle, an online training and community platform that teaches devotees how to play the Mridanga with proper technique, heritage, and devotio

In this article, I compare the origin of universe as described in the Srimad Bhagavatam (SB) and the Big Bang (BB) theory .

1. The initial state

According to SB, the initial state of matter immediately previous to its manifestation is calledpradhāna (SB 3.26.10p). In the BB theory, this initial state is called the singularity. The table below compares these two states:

In an exciting moment for the global kirtan community, devotional artist Jahnavi Harrison (Jahnavi Jivana Dasi) has been nominated for a 2026 Grammy Award for her latest album, Into the Forest. The Recording Academy announced the nominations earlier today, placing Harrison among the final contenders for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.

Earlier today, Harrison shared her heartfelt reaction in a post to her Facebook community, writing: “WOW. Into the Forest ha

An outreach program in Lubbock, Texas, hosted by Sarah Ditto in her tattoo shop, Broken Chains. Krishna Charan Das is in the front on the left, and his wife, Vrajabhumi Lila Dasi, is on the far right.

Two years ago, ISKCON News reported on the blossoming of Krishna consciousness in El Paso, Texas. What began as a small sangha has since grown into a network of devotional communities across the U.S. Southwest and northern Mexico. “Since the last time we spoke, we had been expanding Lord Chaitany

This year’s comprehensive report, released today by Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami, and prepared by ISKCON’s Kirtan Ministry, chronicles a series of successful initiatives, ranging from the historic two-day Padayatra in Pune involving over 700 devotees to the creation of Naamaashraya, a seven-day online series guiding devotees on how to practically live under the shelter of the Holy Name.

The report also highlights the festival’s utilization of modern digital platforms through a global poster-makin

You cannot follow nicely unless you hear nicely, and you cannot lead nicely unless you have learned to follow nicely.

Yamuna: From the very beginning of our programs in Bombay, Srila Prabhupada became known as one “who is startling India with kirtan.” Our kirtans were full of so much excitement they were so thrilling that we were like one throbbing heartbeat, the heartbeat of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission of Krishna Consciousness.

It is difficult to describe how much potency we felt in the