The rains continue, soft but cold and not conducive for walking, so we opted for taking those steps in the mall, St. Vital's Centre. Such places are obviously people places. I personally benefit from quality time with humans. Even though it is merely glances, nods or pranams, there is some connection and that is what is important.
From the shopping mall we ventured off to the home of Rahul and Payal for Kirtan and a fabulous healthy meal. They are newly weds and have a whole new life ahead o
Srivasa’s niece was only four years old. Her name was Narayani. She was just seating peacefully in the corner of the room. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu cried out “Narayani! Chant Krsnas name and cry in ecstatic love.” And little Narayani called out “Oh! Krsna, oh! Krsna, oh! Krsna…” and tears just irrupted from her eyes profusely, soaking her body, her limbs trembled and she felt to the ground just crying out “oh! Krsna.” But the devotees saw that they understood the power of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Today is Srila Vrindavan dasa Thakura’s appearance day. Sri Caitanya caritamrta (Adi 11.55) states, “Srila Vyasadeva described the pastimes of Krsna in Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Vyasa of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Vrndavana dasa.” In his purport Srila Prabhupada elaborates: “Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura was an incarnation of Vedavyasa and also a friendly cowherd boy named Kusumapida in krsna-lila. In other words, the author of Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura,
On May 21-22nd, the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation (RFBF) hosted its fifth annual Faith@Work Conference, a global platform that welcomed business and religious leaders from around the world. The event was held at the prestigious Catholic University of America’s School of Business in Washington, DC. Anuttama Dasa, ISKCON’s Global Minister of Communications, and Yachneet Pushkarna, CEO of HARIBOL Foods, were among this year’s participants.
Founded in 2014 by Dr. Brian Grim, the RFBF ai
A kind Purnanidhi took me to the Minneapolis Airport through a fresh rain. I could describe airport as busy, busy, busy. One of the workers controlling the line ups, noticed my Canadian passport, and in an amicable tone asked, "Oh, you know several languages - French, English ....? Then I cut in, "Eh!" which got him laughing.
Now, I'm on United Arlines, and they always talk about "Friendly Skies," but the truth is, they were not friendly at all whether through to Chicago, the windy city, or
By Ananth Krishnan for the Hindu.com
In and around Quanzhou, a bustling industrial city, there are shrines that historians believe may have been part of a network of more than a dozen Hindu temples and shrines
A panel of inscriptions of the God Narasimha adorns the entrance to the main shrine of the temple, believed to have been installed by Tamil traders who lived in Quanzhou in the 13th century. Photo: Ananth Krishnan
For the residents of Chedian, a few thousand-year-old village of muddy by
Krsna's devotees (individual jiva-souls) never lose their "free will" in the spiritual world that allows unique self expression and voluntary participation.
This is because loving exchanges and reciprocation between Krsna and His devotees are based on "free will," which means having the freedom to express oneself by having the choice of how to voluntarily participate in Krsna's service.
Such cooperation between Kṛṣṇa His devotees is the based of personalism.
This further acknowledges that the devot
Glimpses from the marvelous Mango Festival 2024 @ ISKCON Chowpatty, Mumbai 
ISKCON New Vrindaban in West Virginia is offering devotee families two exciting summer camps for children this June – the Bhakti Arts Summer Camp and the Little Devi Summer Camp.
Bhakti Arts Summer Camp
The first event is the Bhakti Arts Summer Camp, to be held Jun 17 – 21st, 2024, 9am-4pm daily, for boys and girls aged 4-10 years old. The Bhakti Arts Summer Camp is a wonderful way for your children to experience the spiritual culture and beauty of our Bhakti path. Each day begins with yoga and
The last time I came to this city was when I was on my 4.5. trek in 2016. I was on a trail in Indiana when the community in Minneapolis beckoned me to come for some Katha, wisdom talks. So my team of two and I, drove that 5 to 6 hour stretch to meet in the town where the Dakotas had once flourished.
Now, on our Vedic calendar we are informed that today is the Day of the Lion. The avatar, Narsimha, half-man half-lion, made a splash millennia ago and hence, we celebrate this great protector. A
With 3,100 devotees attending the 2024 Sadhu Sanga Retreat in Dallas, Texas over Memorial Day weekend, it was bound to be a great success. And that it was! Let these photos attest to that most wonderful fact!
Read more: https://dandavats108.blogspot.com/2024/05/sadhu-sanga-retreat-2024-dallas-texas.html
By Sukanti Radha dasi
The 24-hour Birmingham Kirtan event has long been a cherished tradition within the ISKCON UK community, drawing devotees from far and wide to participate in the continuous chanting of the holy names of the Lord. This spiritual gathering, initiated by the dedicated efforts of Mayapur Madhav Das 25 years ago, has served as a beacon of devotion and unity, bringing devotees together in a collective expression of love and faith.
For a quarter of a century, the devotees have com
George Harrison’s profound influence on culture, music, and spirituality was recently honored with a blue plaque at his family home in Liverpool, England. The renowned Beatles member, who was born and spent his early years in this house, went on to make a global impact.
The tradition of installing these commemorative blue plaques, which began in the 19th century, serves as a significant way to recognize and honor the lives of influential British figures, like Harrison.
Liverpool’s mayor, Steve
Well, it finally happened. Dwarkanatha, our superb cook, tied the knot in marriage with his devotee fiance, Mandira. I have seen a good number of couples taking form over the years and I believe they are a really good fit.
What makes a couple become successful is when they approach that relationship in the spirit of giving, sacrifice or what you call in Sanskrit, Yajna. You just can't be selfish. Looking out for each other is just the thing to do and in that mindset and methodology the couple s
From Back to Godhead
Hare Krsna couples know from the start
that their life together has a spiritual purpose.
IN MY MOTHER’S wedding photo, she holds a thin bunch of flowers as if she wished to hide it somewhere. The Town Hall marriage chamber resembles a waiting room of an old-fashioned office. My parents, in their everyday attire of poor college students, look blissful but embarrassed, as if they cannot fully comprehend what is happening: Are we really married? What now? Get out and go back
Although Alarnath is a little known holy place, I had always been fascinated with the idea of going there. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would stay at Alarnath during anavasara, the two-week period when Lord Jagannatha rests in seclusion before the annual Rathayatra (chariot festival) in Jagannatha Puri. Lord Chaitanya couldn't bear staying in Puri without seeing His beloved Lord, and at Alarnath He would reveal the highest spiritual emotions, pining in ecstatic separation.
I'm traveling with a grou
By Atma Tattva Das
The streets of Sandton came alive on the weekend of May 11-12, 2024, as ISKCON Sandton hosted its third annual Sandton Festival of Chariots. This spectacular event, steeped in centuries-old tradition, brought together a diverse assembly of devotees, spiritual leaders, and curious onlookers to celebrate the journey of Lord Jagannath, Balarama, and Subhadra. Originating from Puri, India, the Ratha Yatra festival has been observed for thousands of years, and its rich historyres
The place was really smoking up. Not only the fire was stoking with the local chopped wood but the whole atmosphere was beautifully row and rustic. "Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons," situated an hour and a half north of Toronto, is a reconstructed Jesuit/ Wendat village from the 1630's and you feel like you went through a time machine upon its visit.
Members of Toronto's Bhakti Academy along with our honoured guest, Kalakanta from Florida, found ourselves in the smokey room full of furs, pelts an
After Srila Prabhupada left us on November 14, 1977, I came across a section in Srimad-Bhagavatam—Canto 4, Chapter 28—in which he explicitly discusses the disappearance of the spiritual master and how the disciple is to serve him—even in separation. The following paragraph summarizes the essence of his instructions:
“The disciple and spiritual master are never separated, because the spiritual master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions
