new york (20)

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By Thomas Haribol

ISKCON NYC Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir is undergoing extensive renovations as part of its Transform Campaign. The ambitious initiative is restoring, in part, some of the original features of the Brooklyn building while creating a more welcoming facade to engage the increasing foot traffic in the neighborhood. The new elegant large front doors will bring more light, and hopefully visitors, to the growing and engaged spiritual community. The second-floor renovations include a l

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On this day in 1966 in New York the International Society For Krishna Consciousness was officially incorporated by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder Acarya. Srila Prabhupada’s teachings are based on a basic principle: simple living, higher thinking, for the goal is to always remember Krsna, and never forget Him. “We shall call our society ISKCON.” Prabhupada playfully coined first the acronym, although many other names were suggested.

In case we are wonder

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Srila Prabhupada incorporated ISKCON on July 13, 1966, in New York City, which corresponds to today on the Vaishnava calendar. The following conversation indicates some of the significance of Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON:

Bhavananda: In Svarup Ganj there’s one big astrologer. So, he saw your photograph, and he said, “This is the face of the most powerful spiritual personality on the planet.”

Prabhupada: [laughs] Hare Krishna.

Brahmananda: Then what else?

Bhavananda: Then he said that “I can tell

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By Vraja Prema

Super rare memorabilia from the early days of ISKCON in New york (Bought on Ebay – not for sale).
My husband found in the magazine The Village Voice (23 June 1966) the advertising , from which Michael (Mukunda Goswami) find for Srila Prabhupada information, for renting the first ISKCON center on the west “The “Matchless Gifts,” on 26 2nd Avenue.
[VedaBase 22. Biographies and Glorification of Śrīla Prabhupāda / Miracle on 2nd Avenue – Mukunda Goswami] All he needed was a decent

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By Vraja Prema

Super rare memorabilia from the early days of ISKCON in New york (Bought on Ebay – not for sale).

My husband found in the magazine The Village Voice (23 June 1966) the advertising , from which Michael (Mukunda Goswami) find for Srila Prabhupada information, for renting the first ISKCON center on the west “The “Matchless Gifts,” on 26 2nd Avenue.

[VedaBase 22. Biographies and Glorification of Śrīla Prabhupāda / Miracle on 2nd Avenue – Mukunda Goswami] All he needed was a decent

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Former New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio, made a recent visit to the Bhakti Center located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Mr. de Blasio was invited to the Bhakti Center by Raj Goyle, a GOPIO member, former state assemblyman, and prominent member of the Indian community in New York City. Mr. de Blasio accepted the invitation to attend the Thursday Night Kirtan and experience the temple and community.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/former-nyc-mayor-visits-the-bhakti-center/

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New York Ratha Yatra Returns

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By Madhava Smullen 

Lord Jagannatha is coming.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 was the first year without a New York Ratha Yatra parade in 45 years – instead, Lord Jagannatha was driven down Fifth Avenue in a minivan, along with a virtual online celebration.

This summer, things are beginning to look different. The number of new coronavirus cases in the US has plummeted from a seven-day average of more than 250,000 a day in early January, to a daily average of less than 14,380 during the past

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8031755485?profile=RESIZE_710xAs part of its online Bhakti Wisdom offerings, designed for people who want to dive deeper into their practice, the Bhakti Center in New York City is offering Pathways to Perfection, a 10-part series on the nine processes of devotion.

These key pathways to connect with Krishna are outlined by Prahlada Maharaja in the Srimad-Bhagavatam and include hearing about the Lord, chanting the Lord’s Name and glories, remembering Krishna, serving the Lotus Feet of Krishna, offering worship, offering prayer

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An internship program has been launched to help build a website and carry out important research for the still under-development project “ISKCON at the United Nations.”

After applying and going through a rigorous approval process, The Office of Communications for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) received ECOSOC status with the UN in 2016, the highest level at which an NGO can be associated with the UN.

ECOSOC (The United Nations Economic and Social Council) is one o

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6870001480?profile=RESIZE_400xOn the anniversary today of the incorporation of ISKCON in New York City . . .

Bhavananda: In Svarup Ganj there’s one big astrologer. So, he saw your photograph, and he said, “This is the face of the most powerful spiritual personality on the planet.”

Prabhupada: [laughs] Hare Krishna.

Brahmananda: Then what else?

Bhavananda: Then he said that “I can tell from his face that he can make a house in which the whole world can live peacefully.”

Devotees: Jaya Prabhupada!

Prabhupada: At least I desire

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6110725254?profile=RESIZE_584xBy Hari Sauri das

On July 9 1976 NY Prabhupada concluded his tour on the roof, which affords a virtually unimpeded view across the Hudson River. It was a relief to emerge from the confines of the narrow corridors and low ceilings of the interior and sit high in the air, aloof from the hustle of the streets, surrounded at a distance by Manhattan’s innumerable steel, glass and concrete monoliths piercing the fragile sky.
The sun was beginning to dip below the western horizon, its waning rays glowi

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By Madhava Smullen

When Ghanashyam Das first began his chaplaincy service in New York City, little did he know that he would end up on the frontlines of a global pandemic, risking his own health every day to provide spiritual and emotional support for patients dying of Coronavirus.

Ghanashyam, now 42, joined ISKCON in 2000 at 26 2nd Avenue in New York, the movement’s first ever temple. Later, he moved to the Bhakti Center in Manhattan, where he lived as a monk for eleven years, and where his

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An address to members of the International Network of Women and Religion (INWAR) at their headquarters in New York City.

I’ll begin by defining two words: Vaishnava and women. A Vaishnava is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, more personally known as Vishnu or Krishna. In India this term is quite common, and there are millions who follow the path of Vaishnavism. Ultimately, Vaishnava refers to the natural state of the soul, since all living beings are constitutionally related to G

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By Madhava Smullen 

With ISKCON book distributors off the streets and staying at home due to the Coronavirus pandemic, you might think their service has completely ground to a halt. Instead, however, they’ve put all their energy into innovations such as mailing, contactless delivery, and e-books to distribute thousands of Prabhupada’s books at a time when people need them more than ever.

In North America, one of the teams most affected was New York City’s Yuga Dharma Ashram led by Rama Raya

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By Madhava Smullen

The Bhakti Center in New York City’s Lower East Side has had an impressive 2019, laying the foundation for its community to have an extremely transformative year in 2020.

The Center’s annual report (https://issuu.com/bhakticenter/docs/journeyofselftransformation), released this January, highlights many exciting achievements, led by devotees paying off their mortgage in full to outright own the 25 First Avenue building. 

Two major fundraisers in December 2018 and June 2019 he

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After years of collective dedication in devotional service by the community, in December 2019 the management of New York’s Bhakti Center made the final mortgage payment to own the 25 First Avenue building outright.

It was the community members’ heartfelt contributions have made it possible for the people of New York to find their spiritual home and enter the family of Srila Prabhupada, Sri Gaurachandra, Sri Sri Radha Muralidhara and the beloved community of devotees for generations to come. 

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By Madhava Smullen
 

The second annual Diwali celebration at the Bhakti Center in New York City not only drew around 350 festivalgoers including 200 new guests, but was also covered by the CBS News New York television station.

Since the Bhakti Center is the only temple with Radha Krishna Deities in Manhattan, it was an obvious choice for Diwali. A CBS News camera crew filmed first on Thursday October 24th, before the event, and then again on Diwali day itself, Monday October 27th.

The first

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Events
 
By Madhava Smulen
 

The first Janmastami festival organized by the new ISKCON management at Brooklyn’s Radha Govinda Mandir focused on improving the pilgrim experience to create lasting positive impressions for devotees and visitors alike. 

The inspirational event also attracted a visit by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who conferred a citation upon temple president Hansarupa Das for his service to the community.

To catch the interest of passersby, increase outreach and facilitate th

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By Madhava Smulen
 

The first Janmastami festival organized by the new ISKCON management at Brooklyn’s Radha Govinda Mandir focused on improving the pilgrim experience to create lasting positive impressions for devotees and visitors alike. 

To catch the interest of passersby, increase outreach and facilitate the large crowds, organizers introduced the first annual Janmastami block party. Tents, lights and seating livened up the entire sidewalk for the full length of the temple property. The

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Events
 
By George Pratt
 

August 14, 2019 - On Sri Balaram Jayanti Mahotsava (the Appearance Day of Lord Balaram), ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (“GBC”) and the Board of Directors of Bharati Center, Inc. (“Brooklyn Temple” or “Temple") won a notable victory in the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court (“Appellate Court”). 

A four-judge panel of the Appellate Court denied a motion brought by the Temple’s former directors (“Former Directors”) for a preliminary injunction prohibit

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