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On Friday, August 13, 1965, a small, beat-up cargo ship set sail from Calcutta. In addition to the crew, one passenger, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, disembarked in New York City with 40 rupees, a three-month visa, and a mission to bring Krishna consciousness to the Western world. 

60 years later, thanks to vigorous public engagement, widespread distribution of religious literature, and the highly visible practice of chanting “Hare Krishna” in public spaces, the success of Bhaktivedanta Swami’s miss

Srila Prabhupada on a japa walk with Yamuna Devi Dasi, Malati Devi Dasi, and others.

The history of ISKCON has shown that Kali, the personification of the current Age of Quarrel, is adept at introducing controversies that act like storm clouds obscuring the effulgent sun of Mahaprabhu’s saṅkīrtana movement. The propensity for debate, argument, and verbal conquest can be likened to turbulent winds; harsh speech to torrential rain; and fleeting victories in establishing one’s position to flashes o

This is Sankirtana Das’s companion article to “Moving Forward in 2025.” 

When speaking about the function of a Vedic monarchy, Srila Prabhupada explained, “The king is to see to the welfare of the citizens from all angles of social, political, economic and spiritual upliftment” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.49 purport).

In that purport, Prabhupada goes on to give the example of the ideal king, Maharaja Yudhisthira: “monarchy under a trained king like Maharaja Yudhiṣṭhira is by far the most superior for

One of Srila Prabhupada’s evening darshans at New Vrindaban in 1976 on the front lawn where Sankirtana Das and his wife now live.

In 1976, in New Vrindaban, I attended an evening darshan where Srila Prabhupada spoke about presenting the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita to companies and workplaces. One devotee asked, “Why would the companies invite us to do that?”  Prabhupada replied, “Tell them that if they study the Bhagavad-gita, their work will improve.”

This was a time before motivational semi