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CONNECT With Sri Mayapur-Dhama!

13408245078?profile=RESIZE_584xMayapur Master Plan office is excited to announce the launch of a project focused on deepening our Connection with Sri Mayapur-dhama. This project is inspired by the vision of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada for the development of Sri Mayapur-dhama.

Explore the Digital Gateway: www.srimayapurdhama.com (Mobile-friendly)

Vision

Srila Prabhupada said, “My idea is to attract people of the whole world to Mayapur.” This project is an initiative to help fulfill that vision by

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GETTING SOME THINGS DONE IN TRINIDAD

13408196087?profile=RESIZE_584xMy last day in Trinidad was reserved, in part, for the beach.  But first, let’s complete the morning sadhana, spiritual workout, with some great souls who like to start the day in appreciation of all we have – guru, God, the world.

 

By 9 AM, a group of us were headed for Paramin Lookout, a sizeable ascent on a mountain overlooking the sea, the Atlantic; it calls for a breath of fresh air and a moment to feel organically small.  Next stop – Las Cuevas Bay, where the beach is best.  Sand, wate

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Makara Sankranti by Giriraj Swami

13406863287?profile=RESIZE_400xToday, Makara Sankranti, is the anniversary of the grand opening of Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari’s temple in Juhu, Bombay—after many years of intense struggle by Srila Prabhupada and his devotees.

And Makara Sankranti is significant for other momentous events as well. The auspicious day of Makara Sankranti, which falls in the Krishna paksha of Magha mas, this year the month of January, marks the sun’s entering the zodiac sign of Capricorn, or Makara. Although in ancient times all Sankrantis were obs

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Time, the Winkless God by Mathuresha Dasa

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A look at what the Srimad-Bhagavatam has to say about time, a concept that has challenged philosophers for centuries.

Time is a little difficult to define. Philosophers and theologians have tried for at least twenty-five centuries. Albert Einstein remarked, in the midst of slightly more esoteric statements regarding physics, that time was what his wristwatch measured. St. Augustine said that he knew what time was as long as no one asked him to explain it. And sounding a note of frustration in

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“Fake News” is in the news, everyone seems to be or pretend to be worried about it. A news or an information or a story or a data is considered “fake” when the truth is suppressed and is manipulated to suit a certain narrative. Political parties, journalists, twitter warriors, social activists today do not hesitate to spread fake news to further their agenda. Thinking people are up in arms and are vociferously demanding to check the menace of fake news.

It is good to be concerned about the fake

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Ganga Sagar Mela

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Ganga Sagar Mela is a festival observed especially at the confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bangal. Kapilasrama, the asrama of Lord Krsna's incarnation as Kapiladeva, the son of Devahuti, is located at this place. The festival Commemorates King Bhagirathi's bringing the River Ganges down from the celestial planets to the ocean and the lower worlds. In Ganga Sagar Mela, over 6 lakhs pilgrims assembled to take a holy dip at the place of confluence of river Ganges on the Makara Sankranthi d

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13404666084?profile=RESIZE_584xOne 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

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13404657697?profile=RESIZE_584xJANUARY 12th: Thousands of firefighters are still battling blazes in the Los Angeles area, which has seen 16 fire-related deaths, 100,000 residents under evacuation orders, and an estimated 12,000 homes, businesses, and other structures destroyed. ISKCON devotees are among the evacuees; it’s unknown how many may have lost homes in the tragedy.  ISKCON New Dvaraka in Culver City, which includes Govinda’s Restaurant and Gift Shop, as well as the Bhagavad-gita Museum and Srila Prabhupada’s Quarters

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This auspicious day marks the transition of the sun into the Makara (Capricorn) rashi, symbolizing a fresh start, enlightenment, and the victory of light over darkness.

The Vedas glorify Makara Sankranti as a time when acts of charity bear immense spiritual merit. It is said that giving in charity on this day brings blessings not only to the giver but also uplifts the entire family line. Srila Prabhupada beautifully emphasized the importance of seva and charity as essential acts of devotion,

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GETTING SOME THINGS DONE IN TRINDAD

13404631864?profile=RESIZE_584xMonday morning may not be the most buzzing time in an ashram.  That is my observation in some locations I go to.  The previous day, Sunday, might do a little more than usual wear and tear on brahmacharis (monks) residing on the premises.  At 4:30 AM, present along with myself, is Hansarupa, and my assistant, Kavi, is the priest of the altar. Eventually though, one by one, others appear that makes us family.

Hamsa plays great mridanga and I love to sing, taking the lead on most of the songs.  Tha

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13403841499?profile=RESIZE_584xGauranga Das preparing meals at the Mega Kitchen set up during the Kumbh Mela.

The Netra Kumbh 2025, inaugurated on January 5, 2025, during the Maha Kumbh Mela—a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage event held every 12 years—aims to deliver exceptional eye care services to millions of pilgrims and local residents. 

With over 12 million visually impaired individuals in India, many of whom suffer from preventable blindness due to a lack of awareness and resources, Netra Kumbh strives to

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13403787455?profile=RESIZE_584xSvaha Devi Dasi in her Florida home. Photo courtesy of Detroit News.

This week, a committee led by the Vice-President of India unanimously selected three influential Indian-Americans for the 2025 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award. One of the three recipients is Svaha Devi Dasi (Dr. Sharmila Ford, PhD), wife of TOVP Chairman Ambarisa Dasa (Alfred Ford). This is the country’s  highest honor for Indians living overseas.

Svaha Devi Dasi, recognized for her exemplary community service, hails from a Beng

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NORTH AND SOUTH by Bhaktimarga Swami

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I have been driven to various locations with the sole purpose to share the message of Krishna, and guru, Prabhupada.  They are not my own takes on life, but the words of wisdom from the acharyas of the past.  Acharyas are teachers who spoke and acted upon such wisdom that focused on the theme of surrender.

I hope that I am doing my job as a monk following in the footsteps of the great masters.  A big part of succeeding in the mission is to deliver the philosophy in relevant, modern day terms. 
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If I had one wish...

If I had one wish, I would wish to see you
I wish to see your skin as fresh as the dew
I wish to see Your beautiful black locks,
curling on your hair like the night
I wish to see your hands
that have so much might.
I wish to Your blue aura, even though you are black, I see blue
Lord! When I look at you, I shall see blue
Blue like the vast oceans, holding millions of souls
Your strength holds me up. You are my my pillar, my pole.
I wish to see you, the real you, plain and true
Your elegant smile, and radian

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13402725678?profile=RESIZE_584xLCVS retreatants on harinam in France.

ISKCON London is happy to announce the relaunch of the London College of Vedic Studies (LCVS) with fresh, innovative ideas and courses, keeping the community at heart and driven by the community to fulfill their requests for various courses. 

Due to staffing limitations, LCVS was dormant for some time, but with our new team of devotees, we are trying to revitalize the college, offering community support and care through facilitating courses and workshops to

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13402722655?profile=RESIZE_584xWe are pleased to present the 3 January 2025 GBC Meeting Highlights Report. This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the online GBC meeting highlighting the key topics discussed.

The meeting commenced with a welcome to all members by Guru Prasad Swami, followed by Madhusevita Das reading from a lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam by Srila Prabhupada on 24 May 1973 in London, England.

The following key topics were discussed:

1. GBC EMERITUS STATUS FOR MALATI DEVI:
Guru Prasad Swami offe

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13402720264?profile=RESIZE_584xSB 1.1.2 … sadyo hrdy avarudhyate ‘tra krtibhih susrusubhis tat-ksanat …As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhagavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.

Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.1.2

By the hearing process Krsna IMMEDIATELY (sadyo) is established in the heart.

Please note the word RAPT [attention, in the previous quote] – there is a consistency in the Bhagavatam methodology. One has to hear attentively.

The sadhana of hearing

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Yajigrama Yatra

13402716268?profile=RESIZE_584xYajigrama is a tiny village 4km from Katwa, viz. 1 hour from Navadvipa town or 2 hours’ drive from Mayapur via road trip. Katwa is where Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa from Kesava Bharati. Yajigrama is important place connected with many most wonderful pastimes of three Vaishnava stalwarts – Srila Narottama Das Thakura, Srila Shrinivasa Acharya and Srila Ramchandra Kaviraj. After the disappearance of the manifest pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu and their associate
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13402700086?profile=RESIZE_400xFrom Back to Godhead

By Guru Dasa (Gurudev D. Allin), a disciple of His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami.

“Oh, God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams.” Shakespeare’s Hamlet, 2.2 (First Folio) This line from Hamlet nicely sums up the absurdity of our delusions of self-importance. I wrote this meditation on the importance of humility as part of my effort to shake my own delusions of knowledge and significance.

Human nature seem

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TRINIDAD by Bhaktimarga Swami

13402680268?profile=RESIZE_584xTRINIDAD
 
 
Nice to be in a place where roses have scent
 
Food is fresh and with hummingbirds present
 
The accent of the Trinis becomes a treat
 
A Creole mix, different, awesomely shweet
 
 
The steel band music encourages movement
 
Its genre is the standard level of amusement
 
Lest we forget, it is the birthplace of limbo
 
Where you shimmy under a bar that lies low
 
 
The terrain is flat with added mountain beauty
 
People are nice whether on-or-off duty
 
You have cricket madness, part
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