In the year 1017 A.D., Ramanuja was born in the village of Perumbudur, about twenty-five miles west of Chennai. His father was Kesava Somayaji and his mother was Kantimathi, a very pious and virtuous lady. Quite early in life, Ramanuja lost his father. Then he came to Kancheepuram to prosecute his study of the Vedas under one Yadavaprakasha, a teacher of Advaita philosophy.
Ramanuja was a very brilliant student. Yadavaprakasha’s interpretations of Vedic texts were not quite up to his satisfact
Sri Ramanujacarya’s Life History (By Sri Ubhaya Vedantha Anbil Ramaswamy)
Sri Ramanuja (1017 – 1137 CE), the most important philosopher-saint of Sri Vaishnavam and one of the most dynamic characters of Hinduism. He was a philosophical as well as a social reformer, displaying a catholicity that was nearly unparalleled in Hindu religious history before him. He revitalised Indian philosophy and popular religion so much that nearly every aspect of Hinduism has been influenced by his work. His life
Vrndavana Vilasini was attached to a hippie life of independence but found that lifestyle to be no protection from painful events and the intense suffering they caused. In her travels around America, she met devotees, heard the holy name, and took prasada. Finally, she ended up back in Seattle, Washington, her hometown.
One day, I was visiting the Seattle temple when the president, Makhanlal, said to me, “Do you want to meet someone who loves God more than anyone else?” I said, “Sure!” A little
By the mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga, ISKCON Amravati has successfully organized its fifth annual Vaishnavi padayatra. Every year, they arrange a Vaishnavi padayatra to be on or around International Women’s Day, which is observed on March 8th. March is also a special month for devotees because Gaura-purnima mahamohotsava. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s advent occurred to spread the holy name, and padayatris also try to do the same.
Their Vaishnavi padayatra is the most-awaited event by temple Vais
I could sneak some minutes in for my japa meditation prior to the trip to the airport, so I accomplished some rounds on foot around the temple and rounds on fingers with my beads. The circumambulation of the presiding deities is always auspicious. Then off we went to King Shaka Airport and in my company were a few of devotees so loyal to our drama.
The flight to Johannesburg was short. From there to Mauritius, a bit more lengthy - 3 hours. My passenger partner was Hamsa, a young Hindu who has
We are pleased to present the GBC Online Meeting Report for 3 April 2024, providing a comprehensive overview of the online GBC meeting and the key topics discussed.
The meeting commenced with a reading by Prahladananda Swami from Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10. The main topics discussed during the meeting were the final preliminary discussion on Guru Projects and Guru Dakshina in ISKCON and the GBC Executive Support Office (ESO) Work Plan.
1. Guru Projects and Guru Dakshina Paper: Badrinarayan Swam
Her Grace Visakha Dasi is not only Temple President of Bhaktivedanta Manor and a disciple of ISKCON’s Founder Srila Prabhupada, but also a prolific writer.
In 1971, at age 20, she had just published her first book and was beginning a career in photojournalism. She dreamed of bringing people around the world closer together by sharing their common kinship and values through her photographic essays.
At the invitation of her colleague who was working on his MFA thesis in India, Visakha Dasi trave
Join us for Camp Spark! at Gita Nagari, an immersive overnight summer camp experience for youth ages 10-17 in the idyllic mountains of Pennsylvania. Campers experience the splendor of Krishna’s creation and make memories with other Vaishnava youth through seven days of outdoor fun carefully planned to spark friendship, adventure, and bhakti. The Camp will be held from June 22nd through June 29th at Gita Nagari Eco Farm in Port Royal, PA.
In the Camp’s inaugural year, 2023, 50
It was the return journey of Lord Jagannatha as us enacted in the town of Puri in Orissa, India. On the past Friday, the first of a four-festival day, three gorgeous chariots were hand-pulled along the ocean side. Gracing these three conveyances are deities of Krishna, Brother Balarama and Sister Subhadra. For a return journey, I was asked to take the lead in singing in front of Subhadra's chariot. I was also assigned to a group of drummers who were poised for a bangra beat. I can indeed play a
From Back to Godhead
Understanding the levels of instruction in the Bhagavad-gita can help us comprehend the overall unity of Lord Krishna’s message.
The Bhagavad-gita is no doubt a major spiritual treatise and one of the world’s greatest classics. Understanding that a hierarchical concept of reality characterizes the Gita can help us see coherence of the Gita’s message.
The Bhagavad-gita speaks on two major levels of reality and a third, intermediate, one. We can use the Sanskrit words dharma
Recently I was in New York attending an initiation ceremony. As I watched the new devotees, young and old, take their vows, I reflected on my own beginnings.
Over 35 years ago I sat before the fire and took the same vows. I am grateful to still be practicing. Later that day I heard a talk which shared 4 reasons why devotees sometimes give up the process of Krishna consciousness, the one they once started so enthusiastically. Turning them into positives, here are 4 things, if we do them well, th
By Daya Hladini devi dasi and Yogapaty das
On behalf of the Russian Speaking yatra in London we are pleased to share with you the exciting activities and achievements that kept us busy and joyful in Krishna consciousness throughout the month of March:
Bhajan Band Recording: Our newly formed Bhajan band has embarked on an exciting journey by initiating the recording of musical Bhajans in the studio. We are eagerly looking forward to sharing the release with you soon!
Celebrating Group’s Birthday
“To be blissful – to be joyful – is our birthright. It’s part of who we are; it’s our natural constitutional nature.”
To some people, “devotion to God” may conjure grave activities: prayer, worship, and religious observances. They may not associate joy with devotion. Yet in fact, joy is a natural result of devotion.
One of Krishna’s primary teachings in the Gita is that we are not the body that we inhabit but we are a soul. He says, “As the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does
In a recent article, Canada Immigration News (CIN) reported significant growth in the immigration of religious minorities to the country. While it focused on Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, the phenomenon is true across Canada. “The proportion of Canada’s population that identifies as being Muslim, Hindu, or Sikh has more than doubled in 20 years.” ISKCON Temples across Canada are not only centers of worship and service but also provide meaningful connections for these new immigrants navig
Before heading off for the festival site at North Beach, the temple at Chatsworth filled up with devotees from all over the country for a rite of passage. That rite is called diksha or the acknowledgement of accepting a teacher or guru. Forty initiates (1st and 2nd) sat by the agni-hotra, fire arena, for this purificatory event. Four of us gurus placed ourselves nearby. Rama Govinda, Indradyumna, myself and Bhakti Chaitanya Swamis - in that order.
I formally accepted two local young men int
This gentleman man from NY came up to my table asking if I have a Bhagavatam set , I asked how he knows about Bhagavatam ? He says his wife sent him a picture of her friend receiving Bhagavatam set from me in Decatur Patel brothers and asked him to get a sb set for her. I showed him English and Gujarati Bhagavatam sets so he can choose one but he wanted to take both sets since he is driving. What are the chances ? All this happened in 5 mins while I was just hearing a live class from Vaisesika p
This is a nice letter I got today. If we don’t go out they will never know.
Hare Krishna my friend,
We met a few days ago while I was walking out of class at Florida state. I’m the young man who knew the mantra already and knew about George Harrison, the musician. I just wanted to tell you how much that conversation meant to me. I’m quite the pessimist but even for me it’s hard to believe our meeting was just coincidence. I have been a huge Beatles fan and more specifically a George Harrison fa
Dear Devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The 2024 GBC AGM Resolutions have been released at the below link:
https://gbc.iskcon.org/gbc-resolutions/
Please click the bottom link for 2024.
The GBC will continue to meet online during the year and will process other
proposals that were not able to be covered during the AGM. These will also
be published in due course.
Hare Krishna.
Your servant,
Ananda Tirtha Das
(GBC Corresponding Secretary)
Read more: h
There is a new sankirtan sensation in New Zealand that is creating a fire of enthusiasm and camaraderie in the community. It is called the “One Book A Day” challenge (OBAD) and was initiated by Bhakta Jordan from The Loft Outreach Centre in Auckland.
Bhakta Jordan himself first came in contact with Krishna Consciousness through book distribution. His sister came home after meeting a sankirtan devotee in a car park and brought him back a Chant and Be Happy. After reading a few chapters, he star
Though it is Easter weekend, a time of sacredness for Christian brethren, in Durban this time slot is also holy for Krishna followers. The festival of Jaganath, a name for Lord meaning Lord of the Universe, the local point for Durbanites of Krishna (and the whole country of bhaktas) has become the opportunity to praise the Supreme. There are a number of heroes I met today that took the lead in such praises over this blessed weekend.
Craid Lucas, a winner for the major talent show in South Afric
