ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry North America will now be offering the upcoming ‘Temple Deity Worship’ course at ISKCON Grand Rapids in Michigan. The course is now offered on the same dates as scheduled before, from 20th to 29th June 2025, but will be offered at ISKCON Grand Rapids. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity and take part in this immersive training.
The training will be facilitated by Nṛsiṁha Kavaca Dāsa – ISKCON’s Global Minister of Deity Worship, Murli Manohara
Snana Yatra is one of the most sacred and visually delightful festivals of Lord Jagannatha, celebrated on Purnima (full moon) of the month of Jyestha. On this day, Lord Jagannatha, along with Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi, receive a grand ceremonial bathing (abhisheka).
Lord Jagannatha is non-different from Krishna, and His appearance in the wooden form is a divine mystery. The bathing ceremony is not merely symbolic—it’s an act of divine love, purification, and public mercy.
After Snana Yatra
Once upon a time, a renowned and devout worshipper of Lord Ganesha made a visit to Puri. This devotee was known for his unwavering devotion—he worshipped no one but Sri Ganesha and considered Him the Supreme.
When he arrived in Puri, the king warmly welcomed him and invited him to have darshan of Lord Jagannath in the grand temple. However, the devotee politely declined.
He explained, "My heart belongs solely to Lord Ganesha. I do not visit any other deity’s temple."
The king, being a great dev
On the occasion of Snana Yatra, Bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannath, Lord Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra are bathed with milk, Ganga water, Coconut water by hundreds of devotees and residents at Rajapur, in Mayapur, in the midst of ecstatic kirtan.
Read more about Snana Yatra - https://mayapurinstituteblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/20/snana-yatra-bathing-ceremony-of-lord-jagannath/
After the beautiful Chandan Yatra festival, the devotees start preparing for a very important day—Snana Yatra, the Lord’s bathing ceremony. Around 21 days after Chandan Yatra is one of the most heartfelt festivals here.
On this day, devotees from all around come with great enthusiasm. They bring items like milk, yogurt, sugar candy, green coconut water, honey, turmeric water, flower garlands, and more. Everyone offers whatever they can, and it becomes a big, joyful service.
The Abhisheka, or b
A very special and sacred festival of Lord Jagannath held in the full-moon day of the month of Jyestha. This festival is known as 'Devasnan Purnima' or 'Snana Yatra' (Bathing Festival). There is a general belief that the devotee washes away all his sins if he gets a vision of the Lord on this day, therefore, it attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. According to Skanda Purana when King Indradyumna installed the wooden deities he arranged this bathing ceremony.
On the previous
In his last days, the disciples in the room with Srila Prabhupada heard him make a statement that beautifully sums up his mission: “Just go on discussing Srimad-Bhagavatam among yourselves and everything will remain clear.” He also enshrined this idea in one of the last purports he dictated: “Thus the more we read Srimad-Bhagavatam, the more its knowledge becomes clear. Each and every verse is transcendental.” Thus, Srila Prabhupada taught us how to get fresh energy in order to improve and incre
The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium has officially released the digital flipbook “From Kutir to Mandir: The TOVP Story 1971-2024.” This beautifully designed resource presents a concise history and photo collection of the project from its earliest inception to its current status.
“It is our hope that after perusing this book, the reader will also be inspired to participate and help the project financially so we can together offer this wonderful and unique temple to Srila Prabhupada at its three-m
By Padma Radhe Devi Dasi
Fifty years ago, there was no ISKCON temple in Perth, Australia. Srila Prabhupada was originally scheduled to visit Melbourne for its temple inauguration. However, due to construction delays, the GBC arranged a short retreat for him in Perth. His 10-day stay from May 6 to 12, 1975, became a defining moment in the history of ISKCON in Western Australia.
By Srila Prabhupada’s divine mercy, Krishna consciousness took root in Perth, and the temple has flourished ever since
Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami is one of the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavana. The Six Gosvamis of Vrindavana represent a class of highly perfected personalities, who threw away all prospects of the most attractive pleasures like pebbles in the street. By hearing about their lives and teachings, a seeker gets insight into the possibilities awaiting him if he simply continues sincerely on this path. They have painstakingly constructed aesthetically pleasing temples for the pleasure of the Lord and the
Every year, the Vaishnava community around the world joyfully celebrates Panihati Chida-Dahi Mahotsav, the Festival of Chipped Rice and Yogurt, commemorating one of the most heartwarming pastimes of Lord Nityananda Prabhu and Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. This transcendental event, rich in devotional spirit and divine reciprocation, took place on the banks of the sacred Ganges River in Panihati, a village just north of modern-day Kolkata (West Bengal, India).
The fe
Panihati Chida-Dahi Festival and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
By Sacinandana Swami
Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami is one of the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavana. The Six Gosvamis of Vrindavana represent a class of highly perfected personalities, who threw away all prospects of the most attractive pleasures like pebbles in the street. By hearing about their lives and teachings, a seeker gets insight into the possibilities awaiting him if he simply continues sincerely on this path. They have painsta
“Lord Nityananda was by nature very merciful and funny. Being merciful, He spoke to Raghunatha dasa as follows. ‘You are just like a thief, for instead of coming near, you stay away at a distant place. Now that I have captured you, I shall punish you. Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice.’ Hearing this, Raghunatha dasa was greatly pleased.” —Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 6.49–51
06.16.18 IDS PanihatiLaguna (Right click to download)
By Giriraj Swami
We have gathered at the lotus feet of the Panca-tattva on this most auspicious occasion of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami’s cida-dadhi festival. The background to this incident can be found in the early life of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. His uncle and father, Hiranya and Govardhana Majumadara, were wealthy landlords in Bengal—almost like kings—and had a huge, opulent riverside palace, with boats that plied the river. Hiranya and Govardhana were generous and devoted to brahminical
Panihati is the name of a village located in the state of West Bengal, on the banks of River Ganges (10 miles north of Kolkata). It was one of the leading trade centres in earlier days when the river route was the main means of communication. A special rice variety called Peneti was imported at this place from Jessore in Bangladesh. Probably the name Panihati might have been derived from this trade connection. Once upon a time, this place was the centre of worship of the Buddhist Tantrics
We have gathered at the lotus feet of the Pancha-tattva on this most auspicious occasion of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami’s cida-dadhi festival, the background to which can be found in his early life. Raghunatha dasa’s uncle and father, Hiranya and Govardhana Majumadara, were wealthy landlords in Bengal—almost like kings—and had a huge, opulent riverside palace, with boats that plied the river. Hiranya and Govardhana were generous and devoted to brahminical culture, and they practically maintained t
By Chirag Dangarwala
Complacency is a dangerous element in the progress of Spiritual Life. It is very essential for an endeavoring spiritualist to always remember that the material world is not a place of comfort. It has been certified by the Creator, Lord Sri Krsna himself as dukhalayam and asasvatam, which means it, is full of misery and temporary.
mäm upetya punar janma
duùkhälayam açäçvatam
näpnuvanti mahätmänaù
saàsiddhià paramäà gatäù [ B.g. 8.15]
“After attaining Me, the great souls, w
My name is Ishan das. I created the Balaram mridanga in L.A. It is really quite a story. But I’ll give you the brief version.
Some time in 1972-73 Srila Prabhupada saw that the East Indians were not carrying on the tradition of making the original mridangas and kartals. The younger generation who would normally take over the arts from their fathers were becoming more and more interested in going to school and going to the cities. They were thinking that wor
