The glorious starting point for a team of seven was at the North Sea, Zandvoort Beach, and we explored on foot Bennebroek by some amazing sand dunes, the forests at mansion Buitenplaats Leyduin, numerous residences at Heemsteds near Haarlem and Zwaanshoek to the finish point, Hoofddorp. The initial companions were Yadu, an avid cyclist, Helga, our filmmaker, Stephan, whom we called our safari master, Namacharya, and Rabindra Svarupa, who are my hosts. Others joined at certain junctions and so
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By Giriraj Swami
In Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami says that the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya are like a lake with many beautiful lotus flowers, which are love for Krishna—Radha and Krishna. As our acharyas tell us, the Caitanya-caritamrta is perhaps the most important of all the books of the followers of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and on this date thirty-seven years ago, Srila Prabhupada completed his translation of the Caitanya-caritamrta.
Whenever Srila Prabhupada was
We are gathered here in the auspicious month of Kartik, which is also known as Damodara. Srila Prabhupada wrote in The Nectar of Devotion that just as Lord Damodara is very dear to His devotees, so the month of Damodara is also dear to them. And in the month of Kartik, in the year 1974, Srila Prabhupada completed his translation of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, in Juhu, Bombay.
When Srila Prabhupada was in Bombay, we used to go to his quarters every morning at six o’clock, when he would go for his
By Khusboo Basan
Yudhisthira Maharaj said, “O Janardana, O protector of all beings, what is the name of the Ekadashi that comes during the dark fortnight (Krishna paksha) of the month of Kartika (October November)? Please impart this sacred knowledge to me.”
The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna then spoke as follows, “O lion among kings, please listen as I narrate to you; The Ekadashi that occurs during the dark part of the month of Kartika is called Rama Ekadashi. It is most auspicious, for it at on
By Visakha Devi Dasi
In appointing Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally to be the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leaders of the Church of England have made an exemplary statement. They have seen past Bishop Sarah’s bodily identification (a woman!) to her extraordinary personal merit.
One of Sri Krsna’s first teachings to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita is that we are not the body we temporarily inhabit; rather, we are spiritual beings, part and parcel of God. Thus a key indicator of spiritually ad
The following information applies only to the United States. Residents of other countries should consult their local laws and guidelines.
As more U.S. states and local governments begin officially recognizing holidays like Diwali, many Hare Krishna devotees are exploring how to take time off work to celebrate our sacred festivals during this holy season.
Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, most employers (those with 15 or more employees) are legally required to provide reasonable accommodat
By Dinanukampa Dasi
When the COVID-19 pandemic halted international travel in 2020, devotees worldwide were left with a pressing concern. How will we “recharge our batteries” and observe the sacred Vraja-mandala Parikrama during Kartik? In response, a team of devotees inspired by Lokanath Swami’s Vraja-mandala Darsana book, launched an innovative solution: the VMP (Vraja-mandala Parikrama) App.
First released in October 2020, the VMP App transformed the centuries-old parikrama into a digital
How does a walking marathoner get his ‘steps’ in when flying distances that don’t allow? Well, here’s how I achieved some numbers after a six-hour flight. The Schipold in Amsterdam where I landed in the late morning, covers about 4,500 football fields, or 27.87 square kilometres, and I traversed a small portion of that. With Air Canada losing my check-in baggage, I was forced to walk from carousel 19 at arrivals to the oversize outlet or odd-size to carousel 16 and back in a triangle again a
The words “religion” and “Hindu” are problematic. Both are confusing, inaccurate, and not useful words.
Religion
Depending on the context, the use of the word religion can be ill-defined and even offensive—for example, when someone says that religions cause all wars or when someone says, “Science is logic; religion is belief.”
These two statements are ignorant because the person using the word religion has defined it in an arbitrary manner when in fact the word religion defies definition and th
Hare Krsna.
The monkeys of Raman Reti can undoubtably be cute. But are they wise? Mostly they use their amazing climbing skills to wander from tree to roof to balcony for the purpose of foraging for soft leaves, berries, or other eatables. When they’re not eating they fight, mate, or sleep. But, however, I’ve noted that they can also be clever and quite brave. Many strongly built males will always fiercely fight to protect from attack the young within their family. That can be said to be a ty
By Sri Nandanandana dasa (Stephen Knapp)
In the Bhagavad-gita (4.7), Sri Krishna clearly explains, “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion–at that time I descend Myself.”
From all that we have learned in the previous chapters about the holy name of the Lord, we can understand that during this age of Kali-yuga it is the holy name, especially in the form of the Hare Krishna mantra, that is the present incarnati
On October 3, 2025, devotees from around the world gathered online to honor Her Grace Hladini Devi Dasi, a beloved disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and a dedicated servant in the African preaching effort of Bhakti Tirtha Swami, whose extraordinary devotion, humility, and final act of fearless sacrifice continue to inspire generations of devotees.
Hosted under the auspices of Hare Krishna Africa, the gathering brought together disciples of Srila Prabhupada, Bhakt
California has become the third U.S. state to recognize Diwali — a major festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism — as an official state holiday. The measure, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, allows government employees a day off on the festival and comes amid efforts to better reflect the religious diversity of the state. Supporters say the change helps validate and celebrate communities that have long advocated for broader recognition of their faiths.
The decision was met with both praise and
I am a lucky guy who gets to live in the residential quarters of where our guru, Prabhupada, stayed in June of 1976. I sleep where he slept, not on the same bed, of course. That wooden-based bedstand is preserved and on display in the next room which is set in his sitting quarters.
Three men came into the bedroom quarters to do some renovations. They are professionals, and our hiring them becomes an act of devotion towards His Divine Grace Prabhupada. For starters, the carpet was ripp
The well-renowned Bhaktivedanta Players continue their 40th anniversary celebrations with great enthusiasm. This year, they took a core team of devotees to the island of Mauritius, where devotees hosted five festivals to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s historic arrival there on 1st October 1975. On that occasion, the Prime Minister of Mauritius personally invited Srila Prabhupada for a state visit, honouring him as a spiritual ambassador.
More than 1500 people attended t
The School of Rupanugas continues its mission of offering spiritually enriching educational opportunities to devotees worldwide. This fall, three more online courses — Basics of Spirituality, Congregation Preaching Skills (for US & Canada), and the Online Turban Making Course — will be available to help deepen both practical and philosophical understanding within the devotee community.
Basics of Spirituality
From November 1st to 5th (7:30–8:30 PM IST), this five-day course invites participants
“Of the many objects of favored delight and of all the lovable damsels of Vraja, Srimati Radharani is certainly the most cherished object of Krishna’s love. And, in every respect, Her divine Kunda is described by great sages as equally dear to Him. Indeed, Radha-kunda is rarely attained even by the great devotees; therefore, it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to achieve. If one simply bathes once in these sacred waters, pure love for Krishna is awakened within the heart.”
— The Nect
The blue jay bird makes itself known by sound and sight in the town or in the forest. The town is Huntsville, and the forest is along the town’s edge with the Trans-Canada Trail running through it. Nice! Autumn leaves. The odd pedestrian, often tourists. The streets are decorated with the harvest touch – large orange pumpkins, corn plants, and straw bales. You have to watch out. An apple may drop on you. It has served its time on its branch.
I was with my companions, the Bhakti Ac
Hare Kṛṣṇa dear devotees!
Today, we dive into the brilliant mind of Śrīla Jīva Goswāmī, the youngest among the Six Goswāmīs of Vṛndāvana and the greatest Gaudiya philosopher. His logic is so sharp, so deep, and so spiritually thrilling that even the topmost scholars are awed by his clarity and precision.
Through his Ṣaṭ Sandarbhas (Six Treatises), he established the philosophical foundation of Gaudiya Vaiṣṇavism using unbreakable logic, scriptural mastery, and devotional sweetness.
In this post, yo
It is natural that at some point in our lives we ask, “Why is there suffering?” Or “Why am I not happy?” “Why can’t we simply go on with life and not undergo so many trials and tribulations? Why can’t God make a universe or world where there is no suffering?” Well, my answer to that is He already has, but we are simply in the wrong one.
Let me explain it a little more fully. First of all, we are all spiritual beings within material bodies. Most people at least understand that much. But that is a
