The parade for Jagannath is one of the few processions that take place along North Beach in Durban during the year. Devotees take full advantage of the spacious, ocean breezy area which is highlighted by three gorgeous chariots hand-pulled with love.
At the time of the massive wheels rolling down the street I am engaged back at the Chatsworth temple with drama rehearsals. Once the practice is over I’m driven to the festival site and to the Bhakti Cloud Tent for conducting a session on “Dance
Hare Krishna to all devotees!
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupad!
My learnings on the Preface of Bhagavad Gita:-
Over four days in New Vrindaban, more than 40 devotees gathered for a Leadership & Management Course led by Anuttama Dasa.
It was simple, practical, and grounding—how to lead and serve with clarity and care.
As Jaya Krsna shared, even compared to his MBA, this was one of the most practical courses he’s experienced.
Grateful for the association, the learning, and the shared intention to serve better.
Read more: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117755
Varuthini Ekadasi
(Krishna Paksha, Vaisakha — April–May)
Sri Yudhisthira Maharaj said, "Oh Vasudeva, I offer my most humble obeisances unto You. Please now describe to me the Ekadasi of the dark fortnight (krishna paksha) of the month of Vaisakha (April-May), including its specific merits and influence."
Lord Sri Krishna replied, "Oh King, in this world and the next, the most auspicious and magnanimous Ekadasi is Varathini Ekadasi, which occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Vaisakha.
There are times when I think lowly of myself, not so much to do with my twenty years of my life before I entered into monkhood. I really can’t feel too ashamed of a phase innocent, young and naive but I do have moments of when I have flashes of past, what I would call, misbehaviours that do humble me. I must say that I swear on not breaking any major vows I committed myself to, but I do feel terrible about mistreatment towards others while in the course of life as a monk. For instance shortly a
From Back to Godhead
The phrase “culture of distraction” has been around for a while. I guess I was just too distracted to notice it.
We’re constantly bombarded with so much information that focusing on anything is extremely difficult. Economists wonder how that affects productivity in the workplace. Psychologists wonder what it’s doing to our minds.
Controlling one’s mind is the purpose of yoga, and Krishna consciousness is the yoga of bhakti, or service to Krishna with love. As with any type
From Back to Godhead
Personal Letters from Srila Prabhupada
As a genuine spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada takes personal responsibility for the advancement of each of his students in the spiritual life of Krsna consciousness. Although now his transcendental instructions are available in book form, when Srila Prabhupada first began the Krsna consciousness movement, the only way his new disciples could get the answers to their many questions was to ask Sri
By Atma Tattva Das,
ISKCON Hungary demonstrates how a spiritually grounded community can grow while remaining faithful to its devotional core. Across rural farmland, urban temples, educational institutions, and national relief programs, the Hungarian Yatra moved forward with a clear emphasis on cohesion, public engagement, and sustainability. What emerges is a portrait of a community integrating devotion, professionalism, and societal relevance.
Reflecting on 2025, GBC Secretary Radha Krishna Da
Here is a revised version of a poetical narrative from the script, “Shiva and Sati:”
SHIVA AND SATI OPENING NARRATIVE
It was in the Puranic era
Some brahmins began to prepare
A sacrifice with ghee, grains, fire
Seeing to the flames getting higher
vedavyaso ya evasid daso vrindavano’dhuna
sakha yah kusumapidah karyatas tam samavishat
Vedavyasa became Vrindavan Das Thakur. Krishna’s friend Kusumapida also entered into him for special purposes. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 109)
Vedavyasa described Krishna-lila in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Non-different from Vyasa, Vrindavan Das described Mahaprabhu’s lila in his Chaitanya Bhagavat. His book was first called Chaitanya Mangala, but when Locana Das gave the same name to his biography of the Lord, it
Thank you Oh Srimati Radharani, Oh Divine Mother for giving this fallen and sinful soul entrance into Your personal abode, Sri Vrindavan. I know that I am fully unqualified to step onto this holy land of Yours but Your mercy is unfathomable, unimaginable and incalculable.
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
From Back to Godhead
When Charles asked his son and daughter-in-law a Hare Krishna couple to move in with him, he knew he’d have to adapt, but his reward was more than he could ever imagine.
Charles was born in 1917. He grew into a man of courage and principles, serving his country in the U.S. Navy for twenty years and then the Civil Service for twenty more. Assigned to a submarine fleet during World War II, he saw his share of pain and suffering and, like many veterans, came to value a safe, s
From Back to Godhead
Dear Sivarama Swami,
Hare Krsna. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I hope you do not mind my writing to you. I have never written to a spiritual master before. You do not know me. My name is Bhaktin Dora and I live in Pecs (Hungary). I am 14 years old, and I live at home with my mother and older sister.
Some years ago I went to the Hare Krsna Festival with a friend. I was not very interested, but I enjoyed the chanting and dancing at the e
We joined ISKCON during the Zonal days. Now we are old, maybe cynical, — but convinced about Srila Prabhupada and the importance of his transcendental books.
My friend Rasada Prabhu knew that his days were numbered, left his body and left his legacy funds to be spent on Srila Prabhupada’s books — a substantial amount of £166,000.
Read more: https://foodforalluk.com/vrindavan-books
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=117739
I would like to offer this class to my very dear friend and Godbrother, Caru Dāsa Prabhu, who is one of the great pioneers of the saṅkīrtana movement. I always told him that if he wasn’t doing what he was doing—spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness in such innovative ways—he should have been the president of the country. He always reminded me of a president or a very highly placed senator; he was astoundingly articulate. Just listening to him was always a feast for the ears.
He started a radio station
When describing the length of the yugas or ages, and which yuga we are in and how far along we are in it, there is sometimes confusion about how to calculate them. Some people think we are already in the next Satya-yuga, known as the Golden Age. The problem is when the yugas are figured only according to the years in earth’s time, in which case any calculations will never be accurate. They are described in the Vedic literature according to the celestial years, or years of the devas, not accordi
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
If time is relative, what about space? How to make time go slowly, or faster?
Most of us live constantly busy, living with the idea that there is not sufficient time. It would not be nice if we could stretch and contract the time at will, getting more time to do things we want, making pleasurable moments last for an eternity, and painfully experiences pass in a moment?
The good news is that time is relative. Time works differently in different parts of the cosmos. It can be stretched or contrac
durlabha tnanava janama sat-sange taroho e bhava-sindhu
Human life is extraordinarily rare, and the rarest, most precious blessing in life is the association of devotees. Lord Caitanya revealed his own heart when he exclaimed that all the wealth in Brahma’s creation cannot equal the value of one sincere devotee.
Caring for devotees is perhaps the most important responsibility we have. When we create an atmosphere where devotees feel loved, valued, and encouraged, we can empower them to cross ove
