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13669209880?profile=RESIZE_584xLet’s begin by sharing a striking example of what appears to be a huge “risk.” On August 13, 1965, Srila Prabhupada boarded the Jaladuta Cargo Steamship from Kolkata on to New York City with 200 Rupees (about US$7) in his pocket, a trunk full of books, and puffed rice, since he didn’t know if America even had vegetables! Would any of us take this risk? A “normal” person seeking material security would never have gotten on that steam ship. Srila Prabhupada, on the other hand, had an army to pro

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JOURNEY UNDERWAY by Bhaktimarga Swami

 

13669208889?profile=RESIZE_584xJOURNEY UNDERWAY

 

(In Honour of Vaishnav Das)

 

The journey is now underway

 

That’s what real people say

 

Gone is departing soul, Vaishnav

 

Who shared with us so much love

 

In quiet somber demeanour

 

His words were of genuine candour

 

Often fueled by a sharp wit

 

Oh, yes, I’ve heard him quip

 

At random nonsense things

 

He relieved us with guitar strings

 

And keeping a smile at the forefront

 

Never a need to get too blunt

 

Husband to one we adore

 

Fa

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Why Krsna Comes To This World

August 1973 at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, in the countryside near London. Several thousand guests (including the Indian High Commissioner) listen to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speak about the day Lord Krsna made His appearance on earth.

13668953486?profile=RESIZE_584xYour Excellency the High Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you very much for your coming here and participating in this ceremony -Janmastami, the advent of Krsna. In the Bhagavad-gita [4.9] Krsna says,

janma karma ca me divyam

e
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13668952287?profile=RESIZE_584xRecently, ISKCON Kolkata marked the celebration of its 54th annual Rathayatra, recognized as the second largest Ratha Yatra in the world. Each year, the city of Kolkata is surrounded by an atmosphere of devotion as the grand chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, organized by ISKCON Kolkata, unfolds. The majestic procession of Lord Jagannath, accompanied by Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Maharani, moved through the city streets, attracting thousands of devotees who gathered to witness and participate

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13668951870?profile=RESIZE_584xThe International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) of Houston celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Garden Oaks location with a two-day festival on July 12 and 13, 2025. The event drew over 700 devotees on Saturday and more than 900 on Sunday. 

The celebration marked four decades since ISKCON Houston moved to its current location on West 34th  Street in 1984. The temple, originally established in 1972 in a Montrose-area home, has grown steadily over the years to become a vibrant spi

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13667607681?profile=RESIZE_584xIn the late 70s, our Los Angeles community organized what was probably the biggest Ratha Yatra to date, especially in the western world.  It was promoted in such a dynamic way.  The whole town was curious about a fest involving chariots.  Is it like the second coming of “Ben Hur?”  Alice Coltrane, legendary jazz musician, was going to appear and present mantras on the stage (I remember the melody she sang of the maha mantra from a recording).  Ramesvara Swami, the leader of the LA community,

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Janmastami

Janmashtami commemorates the earthly appearance of Krishna, who is described in India’s sacred writings as God Himself. One of the biggest religious festivals in the world, it is celebrated by nine hundred and thirty million people around the world–and two mill

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Harmful Inclinations

13668715693?profile=RESIZE_584xLecture given in Honolulu, May 6, 1976

Our proclivity to enjoy here under the influence of the material nature keeps us bound to material existence.

 pravritti-lakshanash chaiva

traigunya-vishayo mune

yo ’sav alina-prakriter

guna-sargah punah punah

“O great sage Sukadeva Goswami, unless the living entity is freed from the infection of the material modes of nature, he receives different types of bodies in which to enjoy or suffer, and according to the body, he is understood to have various in
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13668714089?profile=RESIZE_584xA life that allows us to reunite with mother earth and offer her products to Krishna favors our spiritual growth.

Srila Prabhupada writes, “Whatever is taken from the earth—either from the mines, from the surface of the globe, or from the atmosphere—should always be considered the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and should be used for Yajna, Lord Vishnu. As soon as the process of yajna [sacrifice] is stopped, the earth will withhold all productions—vegetables, trees, plants, fruit

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13668713679?profile=RESIZE_584xIt was two o’clock in the morning. My airplane from Frankfurt had arrived in Delhi one hour late. Would my taxi still be waiting? Going through customs was quick, so I rushed out through the main gate and saw a man motioning toward me. He recognized Prabhupada’s white elephant! Within minutes, we were on our way to Sri Vrindavana Dhama.

Five thousand years ago, when Akrura traveled from Mathura to Vrindavana, he felt unqualified to see the Lord, even though he brimmed with devotion to Krishna. H
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13668712289?profile=RESIZE_584xDevotee men from across North America will gather at IKSCON New Vrindaban, West Virginia, for the 8th annual MAN-tra Retreat, happening from Friday, September 19 to Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Conceived in 2018 by Bhaktimarga Swami and Anuttama Dasa, the retreat aims to empower Krishna-conscious men to live with greater integrity, devotion, and purpose. The weekend promises dynamic seminars by renowned speakers—including Brahma Tirtha Das, Vraj Vihari Das, Mahatma Das, and Gopal Hari Das—along

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13668711898?profile=RESIZE_584xFor the second year in a row, ISKCON Gurugram organized a Rathayatra marathon, hosting 13 Rathyatras across the city over just 11 days, from June 26 to July 6.

The celebrations, held in various housing societies, neighborhoods, and city sectors, provided devotees with a powerful opportunity to share Krishna Consciousness with thousands of residents. According to Rambhadra Das, Temple President of ISKCON Gurugram, over 50,000 plates of prasadam were distributed, and around 5,000 of Srila Prabhu

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JOURNEY UNDERWAY by Bhaktimarga Swami

 

13668711284?profile=RESIZE_584xJOURNEY UNDERWAY

 

(In Honour of Vaishnav Das)

 

 The journey is now underway

 

That’s what real people say

 

Gone is departing soul, Vaishnav

 

Who shared with us so much love

 

 In quiet somber demeanour

 

His words were of genuine candour

 

Often fueled by a sharp wit

 

Oh, yes, I’ve heard him quip

 

 At random nonsense things

 

He relieved us with guitar strings

 

And keeping a smile at the forefront

 

Never a need to get too blunt

 

 Husband to one we adore

 
Read more…

13667612861?profile=RESIZE_584xRules Srila Prabhupada’s Lived By

Don’t blindly follow until you can follow blindly

Question everything. If it is false, leave it; but if it is true surrender to it.

“You must test the spiritual master for one year. And when you are convinced that here is a person I can follow blindly, then you accept.”

 Live your why

Know your purpose and deeply connect with it. Never deviate from you mission and enroll others to help you fulfill it.

“My mission is to save human society.”

 No personal age
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13667610296?profile=RESIZE_584xA beautiful and heartfelt yajna ceremony was held to honor a significant moment in the journey of the Avanti Schools Trust. The ceremony was conducted to express deep gratitude to Nitesh Gor OBE (Navina Krsna das), the Founding CEO, and to warmly welcome Dr James Biddulph MBE as the new CEO of the Trust.

The ceremony was filled with spiritual energy, love, and a sense of auspiciousness, involving kirtan led by young people from Avanti House Secondary School. The event was attended by Trustees

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13667610296?profile=RESIZE_584xA beautiful and heartfelt yajna ceremony was held to honor a significant moment in the journey of the Avanti Schools Trust. The ceremony was conducted to express deep gratitude to Nitesh Gor OBE (Navina Krsna das), the Founding CEO, and to warmly welcome Dr James Biddulph MBE as the new CEO of the Trust.

The ceremony was filled with spiritual energy, love, and a sense of auspiciousness, involving kirtan led by young people from Avanti House Secondary School. The event was attended by Trustees

Read more…

 

13667609274?profile=RESIZE_584xThis year’s Hare Krsna Festival at the National Mall was another amazing event. Literally thousands of people from all walks of life, all ethnic backgrounds, and age groups couldn’t help but hear this chanting of the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra. As a direct result, so many people were feeling genuine spiritual ecstasy by Nama Prabhus’ causeless mercy. Honestly, the atmosphere was so spiritually surcharged, they couldn’t resist and found themselves spontaneously jumping in and started dancing along

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13667608277?profile=RESIZE_584x“O Radha! O beloved of Madhava! O you who are worshiped by all the young girls of Gokula! All glories unto You! All glories unto You!” (Sri Radhika-stava, by Srila Rupa Gosvami)

Sri Janmastami is celebrated with much grandeur all over the world, because it is the birthday celebration of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. Can there be any festival greater than this? If this question is asked to devotees in Sri Dham Mayapur, the answer will be ‘Yes.’ Sri Krishna may be God, but there is o

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 13667607681?profile=RESIZE_584xIn the late 70s, our Los Angeles community organized what was probably the biggest Ratha Yatra to date, especially in the western world.  It was promoted in such a dynamic way.  The whole town was curious about a fest involving chariots.  Is it like the second coming of “Ben Hur?”  Alice Coltrane, legendary jazz musician, was going to appear and present mantras on the stage (I remember the melody she sang of the maha mantra from a recording).  Ramesvara Swami, the leader of the LA community,

Read more…

 

13663334068?profile=RESIZE_584xThe ISKCON Law Department held its first Law Conference in the Asia Pacific region. The Conference, held in Sydney, Australia, brought together a diverse audience of more than 25 devotee attorneys, those in the provision of legal services, law students, temple leaders, National Council members, and SABHA members from eight jurisdictions. Their shared mission was to explore the role of law in serving and protecting ISKCON for future generations and expansion.

Led by ISKCON General Counsel Devak

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