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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By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi,
The Krishna Center for Empathic Communication, an online platform under the guidance of Bir Krishna Das Goswami, is conducting a ten-week online course series beginning on January 18 that examines communication and relationships through the framework of Empathic Nonviolent Communication (ENVC). The first course in the three-part series, titled “Seeking Harmony Within & Without: Become Your Own Best Friend,” is being held over ten consecutive Sundays from Janua
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi,
The Mayapur Clean and Green initiative, led by Murari Mohini Devi Dasi, has unveiled a new song and accompanying music video, celebrating its ongoing environmental mission in the Holy Dham of Mayapur. The song, aptly titled “Mayapur Clean and Green,” is the result of a beautiful international collaboration, bringing together devotees, musicians, and students from the Philippines, the United States, Italy, the UK, Russia, and India, reflecting the spirit of un
Before I made it to this hot spot for tourists I was sent to a special security department at customs, the Toronto Airport. My finger prints were taken. I had been arrested in the U.S. in the past. In hindsight it is true. During the winter months long ago, some of us brahmacharis (novice monks) were stopped by police as we didn’t have a permit for distributing religious literature. Along with two other monks we were put in jail in North Carolina. We went to court. The judge threw out the case
Today, 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
Dear devotees,
Srila Prabhupada repeatedly taught that Krishna consciousness must be presented in ways that uplift society, illuminate universal spiritual values, and open the door for people of all backgrounds to discover Dharma. He emphasized that genuine spiritual outreach includes demonstrating how Vedic principles naturally harmonize with the highest expressions of human ethics—compassion, dignity, protection of life, and the cultivation of wisdom.
This initiative presented by the Centro St
I grew up in a very simple, rather poor uh family in rural Minnesota. My father was a small dairy farmer and um the family was not really religious, although the most of the kids and I did go to church whenever we could. My dad was so busy that he was never able to go. Um and um it was um it was a little austere. You know, I always kind of wanted to wish that I was living in the city so I could get out and do more things and be more active. But um in retrospect, it was a very u idyllic upbringin
The Essential Qualifications
The Hari-bhakti-vilāsa establishes the essential qualifications of a spiritual master based on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.3.21 and 11.10.5:
tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam
śābde pare ca niṣṇātaṁ brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam
“Therefore, one who is desirous of the ultimate good should turn to a guru who is immersed in scripture and in the Supreme Brahman, and sheltered in the highest peace.”
mad-abhijñaṃ guruṃ śāntam upāsīta mad-ātmakam
“One should turn to a guru wh
By Yudhisthira Dasa
No matter where we are on our journey, we can find solace in the fact that the effects of time, as we know it, exist only in the material world and are ultimately not linear. The big picture is that all souls (excluding descending nitya siddha masters) come to the material world, eventually attain a human form to experience an existential crisis, and gradually realize our eternal identity. And, while steady progress is possible, our journeys are often filled with distracti
ISKCON Philippines has marked a significant milestone with the successful hosting of its first national Vaishnavi Retreat, held from December 6-8th, 2025, culminating in the formal establishment of the Vaishnavi Ministry Philippines. The three-day retreat brought together Vaishnavis from across the country for a carefully structured program focused on sisterhood, healing, leadership development, and spiritual empowerment. The initiative reflects the visionary leadership of the ISKCON Philippines
In my 52 years as a monk it was the first baby shower I ever attended that I can remember. That first was today. My disciple/student, Sukavak, whom I’ve known since birth, is having a baby in two months, rather his wife, Dola. Let’s put it this way, sperm and egg meet and before you know it there will be a delivery of a miraculous kind having nothing to do with Amazon, but something that excites both Mum and Dad.
The procedure for blessing this child’s coming was done according to Bengali tra
Mahaharinama for 7 Bury Place, London – It feels easy enough to take a wander between worlds in the haven of high culture and home to the esoteric known as London’s Bloomsbury, where boundaries seem somehow more blurred. On this chilly but dry late morning of Sunday 11th January 2026, a colourfully vibrant mosaic of humanity is taking shape outside a smart and solid (but otherwise unremarkable) five-storey building rooted right at the heart of this long-established bohemian district. So what gra
By Aseem Krishna Das
A week-long Sādhu-saṅga program was organised at the Rajangana Hall of Udupi Śrī Kṛṣṇa Maṭha, Udupi, Karnataka, from 7th to 12th December 2025.
The program was held on the occasion of the 86th Vyāsa Pūjā celebration of Subhāga Swami Mahārāja. Senior disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda and sannyāsīs from ISKCON, along with revered Swāmījīs from the Madhva-sampradāya of Udupi Śrī Kṛṣṇa Maṭha, graced the occasion. The program nourished the spiritual lives of 1,300 devotees from var
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.12.23, it is described that Nārada was born from the deliberation of Brahmā, which is considered the best part of the body. Other figures were born from different aspects of Brahmā’s body: Vasiṣṭha from his breathing, Dakṣa from a thumb, Bhṛgu from his touch, and Kratu from his hand. This verse emphasizes the unique role of Nārada, who can deliver the Supreme Lord, highlighting the importance of devotion and the potential for a pure devotee to guide others towards the path
The session opens the 2026 series of Success Sadhana with a focus on equanimity and “getting grounded,” drawing primarily from the Bhagavad Gita and other Vedic wisdom texts. The speaker explains that sadhana (deliberate practice) is the means by which humans can realize life’s deeper purpose beyond basic animal concerns like eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. Human life is unique because it allows self-inquiry—asking “Who am I?” and “Why am I suffering?”
A central theme is recognizing one
The lecture is a devotional class on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 2, Chapter 4 (verses 11–17), focusing on the mood required to speak, hear, and live Bhagavatam. It begins by explaining that Sukadeva Goswami offers prayers to Krishna to receive mercy, emphasizing that no one can act or speak independently of Krishna. Our senses and body belong to Krishna, and true happiness comes from using them in His service.
The speaker explains what it means to be an “instrument” of Krishna: unlike material too
By Manorama Dasa,
ISKCON Youth Ministry’s new bus just completed its maiden voyage, transporting 24 teenage boys across the southern US, from Florida to California and back, for the Boys Winter Trip. The organizers, including Manorama Dasa and Jaya Sri Radhe Devi Dasi, would like to thank the more than 300 donors, as well as ISKCON North America temple presidents and leaders, who contributed generously towards the new bus fundraiser.
“The bus tours aim to inspire our youth in Krishna consciousne
After the successful Sankirtan Marathon in December 2024, Michigan devotees once again undertook a month-long book distribution marathon in December 2025 at Great Lakes Crossing Mall, one of the state’s largest outlet malls. With Michigan’s harsh winter of snow and freezing temperatures, an indoor shopping mall became a strategic space that allowed Sankirtan to continue uninterrupted throughout the season. This time, however, it was not approached as “just another marathon,” but as a challenge.
An Overview: Varṇāśṛama Supports Bhakti
In his Śrī Caitanya-śikṣāmṛta, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes the general relationship between varṇāśrama-dharma and bhakti:
“What is the relation of varṇāśrama, which was previously discussed, with vaidhi-bhakti? Should people take shelter of vaidhi-bhakti and give up the rules of varṇāśrama dharma, or should they practice vaidhi-bhakti for developing devotion, while still following the varṇāśrama rules and duties? It was previously stated that the
I made a film about New Mayapur some time ago, but I decided to do a shorter version of the original. It was a good experience to be in New Mayapur, especially because Srila Prabhupada spent time there. He wanted his followers to set up farm communities and work towards self sufficiency as much as possible. The devotees in New Mayapur are doing their best to achieve that goal. When I make these films it is intriguing on many levels, but one of the nicest parts is the exchanges with the devotees
