It’s been a number of years since the last Sannyasi, Guru, GBC sanga in Mayapur, but it was nice to have such senior association once again in the holy dhama.
Srila Prabhupada wanted the devotees to come regularly to Mayapur and Vrindavan to hear, chant and dance together. Of course, there were also a number of important topics that the leaders discussed with a view to pushing on Lord Chaitanya’s samkirtan movement.
On February 24-25th, the ISKCON Bhakti Yoga Center in south Minneapolis held its Grand Opening weekend, with hundreds attending programs throughout the two-day celebration. This summer, ISKCON News reported that local devotees would be opening a center in South Minneapolis, a strategic location within two miles of the University of Minnesota (with over 35,000 students).
The community has been meeting for months in their new facility for Sunday feasts and weekday classes while working tirelessl
The drums are rolling. The horns are sounding. There's great anticipation for a pompous celebration. Multitudes of pilgrims are lined up for a procession which carries with it a deity of Narsinghdeva, the avatar of half man/ half lion, everyone's favourite. This avatar stands for strength and protection, a need for all people in a precarious world.
Well, the pomp and circumstance, began with more than a bang, There were many bangs and an assortment of drum bands all in a march to the major TOVP
Recently, ISKCON devotees participated in the UK Women’s Faith Forum’s inaugural event, “Keeping Hatred Off Our Streets.” The February 28th gathering in Parliament included women from across five major faith groups who are working collectively to ensure that the experiences, skills, and dedication of women in faith communities are focused on today’s key issues.
“Representing Islam, Sikhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Judaism, the Women’s Faith Forum is motivated by the essence of our faith tra
By Atma Tattva Das
In the heart of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) community, a digital haven has emerged, providing a space for women to connect, share, and empower each other spiritually and personally. The Heart to Heart Vaishnavi Circle (HTHVC) stands as a testament to the vision and dedication of numerous women who have collectively fostered its growth and success.
Vrajalila Devi Dasi, a seasoned devotee deeply engaged in Vaishnava philosophy, spearheaded the H
My very good assistant Suta Goswami from Kolkata, has handed me 9 colossal japa meditation beads, for chanting on. The recipients of the beds will be receiving diksha and this is the procedure, their mentor, or guru, chants on them for their initiation which takes place on Sunday morning. The active guide or teacher for the sweet candidates in Suta himself. I become more like a blesser.
In Mayapura, the road is ornamented with rangoli, colourful powder in swirls and designs. It makes any ped
The Executive Committee (EC) Chair, Revati Raman Dasa, shared a brief report of some assignments overseen by GBC EC in 2023-24. Some of these assignments include:
– Assisting Ukrainian devotees with challenges faced in the current situation
– Responding to many concerns about child protection matters
– Moving Forward with the Mayapur-Vrindavan Child Protection Office (CPO) Inquiry
– Media & Public Relations Issue
– Peru
– Bhaktivedanta Institute
– Temple of Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) Exhibits
The
The individual jiva-souls (marginal living entities) are eternal spiritual living PERSONS who can never be destroyed, terminated, divided into pieces or extinguished.
The individual jiva-souls are indestructible and were NEVER created, they have ALWAYS existed like Krsna has always existed.
We are all "old souls" because the jiva-souls have perpetually existed and were NEVER created.
The implications of existing for infinity is mind boggling because this means there really is no death for the jiva-
The International Temple President meeting, hosted by ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) on 27 February 2024 at Mayapur, commenced with a warm welcome extended by the GBC to the International Temple Presidents. The meeting, attended by more than 150 participants, both in person at ISKCON’s international headquarters in Mayapur and online, was proficiently facilitated by Tapana Misra Das, vice chairman of the GBC Executive Committee (EC). Each table was hosted by a GBC member, with Temple
On March 3rd, thousands of devotees who were gathered in Sri Mayapur Dham for the opening of the Nrsimhadeva Wing of the TOVP witnessed the Pancha Tattva Maha-Abhisheka, which occurs every five years.
This joyful event also marks the 20th anniversary of the Sri Sri Pancha Tattva installation in 2004. Senior leaders from around the world performed the abhisheka ceremony. “The Pancha Tattva have endeared themselves to the global community of ISKCON devotees who look forward to this rare Maha-Abh
nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhutale
srimate bhaktisiddhanta saraswati iti namine
You are our special link to the chain
And connection to the spirit vein
You are Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati
Resident of holy Jagannatha Puri
A genius who was not a light debater
A risk-taker and proven innovator
A lecturer owing to your reading
No wonder you were competent in your leading
A ray of Vishnu, the singha (lion) guru
Caste brahmins and mayavadis you'd pursue
Yet inclusiveness was y
Thirty years ago I was doing the Prabhupada marathon at the Chicago airport. One afternoon, we devotees were so intoxicated by distributing books that we decided to show that one doesn’t have to speak to sell books, that book distribution just depends on our state of consciousness. So we didn’t speak.
Just after loading my bookbag with (20) maha books I tapped a man on the arm and looked him in the eye. He stopped, expecting me to say something. I didn’t. I put a book in his hand, pointed at Pr
“This was because Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma could not joke freely and Yaśodā could not liberally pamper the boys because of the presence of Nanda and his brothers. However for Kṛṣṇa’s relatives the evening meal was a hundred times more blissful because the entire family could eat with Kṛṣṇa. It was a million times more blissful for Yāśodā because of seeing the bliss of the relatives.” – Sri Govinda Lilamrta 20.52
Throughout “Sri Govinda Lilamrta,” which is arguably the most prominent boo
The Institute for Science and Spirituality Trust (ISS), the scientific study wing of ISKCON Delhi, held a 2-day international conference in August entitled, “Philosophy of Vaishnava Vedanta: Culture, Legacy and Traditions.” The conference, hosted in collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University and Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi, gathered world-class speakers from around the world. Recently, they have been releasing these significant presentations on their YouTube channel.
The main obj
Hundreds of thousands of Vaishnavas are gathering around the world today to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada, with the largest gathering held in Sri Mayapur Dham (fuller coverage coming soon).
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, the guru of Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appeared in Sri Ksetra Dhama (Jagannatha Puri) on February 6, 1874, as the son of Srila Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura. In his childhood, he quickly mast
Thousands of devotees gathered on day three of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium’s Grand Opening of its Lord Nrsimhadeva Wing in Sri Mayapur Dham.
Describing the day, Anuttama Dasa, Global Minister of Communications, said, “It was an inspiring and auspicious event. Many of the speakers urged us to work cooperatively to raise the needed contributions so the temple may be completed within the next two to three years.”
He continued, “When Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Wing was inaugurated, it was beautifu
Most pilgrims just rush. They are trying to make it on time for the 4:30am arati service at the main temple. Some just want to get in early for "a better front seat." I attend the service at the Pushpa Samadhi which is at 4.10. I also rush.
On the trail to either locations there are always some dogs fast asleep and it gives great meaning, when remembering the phrase, "Let sleeping dogs lie." If that was not the case they are just an annoyance since they are stray dogs.
Occasionally a jackel
𝗘𝗰𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗚𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 “Falling into the sea, He lost consciousness and could not understand where He was. Sometimes He sank beneath the waves, and sometimes He floated above them.” Antya 18.30
During the last twelve years of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He started to exhibit symptoms of Bhava that are beyond our mundane conception. In Madhya Lila, these symptoms of Bhava are said to be like that of Srimati Radharani when she was feeling separation from Krishna thus it is said to be a tra
"Free will" or having a unique independent personality and sense of self, means the individual jiva-souls can express themselves in their own unique way serving Krsna, voluntarily offering their own personal contributions in a "two-way" exchange.
Srila Prabhupāda - "Love means a relationship between "two persons," then there is exchange, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these thin
