Blog

When I was preparing a book on the life of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, I have been researching the centuries-old biographical tradition. In one collection of biographies, I came upon an editor’s introduction that riled me:

That from the ranks of humanity there can emerge a Socrates, a Cato, a Jesus, a More, a Newton, a Mozart, a Balzac, a Deburau, a Napoleon, is in my eyes a thing more wonderful than all the miracles ever imagined by the makers of religions…. Our desire

Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

One resolution was inadvertently not included in the 2021 GBC Resolution file. This has now been corrected:

https://gbc.iskcon.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2021GBCRES.pdf

The title of the missing resolution is “Increasing the Number of Diksa-gurus” and is on page 25.

My apologies for the omission.

Your servant,

Ananda Tirtha das (GBC Corresponding Secretary)

Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=96713

Read more: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=45306

On the wedding day of Krishna’s parents, King Kamsa led the chariot of the newly married couple through the crowds when a prophetic voice from the skies revealed his fate; being slain by their eighth son, who would be Krishna. Kamsa became very defensive, unsheathed his sword and was prepared to behead his sister right on the spot. Vasudeva, Kamsa’s new brother-in-law, stepped into action holding back Kamsa’s sword-held arm. The crowd was in a panic. Vasudeva tried to reason with the impulsive

From Back to Godhead

The Graduate: A high school graduation inspires thoughts on raising a child in Krsna consciousness.

My husband and I take a seat on the shiny varnished bleachers in the large arena used for basketball games. The well-dressed crowd sits in anticipation as their sons and daughters, filing through the rear entrance in dark blue caps and gowns, prepare to graduate from high school.

I spot my son, Narayana, standing in the procession. His searching eyes meet mine, and we exchang

Though we are visiting remote areas of Orissa to document ancient temples, we couldn’t resist a pilgrimage to Jagannatha Puri. We spent the day visiting numerous sacred temples and places associated with the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, such as Siddha Bakula, where the Lord visited Haridas Thakur and planted a Bakul tree to give His devotee shade while chanting the Holy Names. That sacred tree still exists.

Read more: https://dandavats.tumblr.com/post/676166043485519872/the-sacred-abod

By Jayaprakash Ramsaran

One day, many years ago, I was standing in line at a grocery store. Some politician was on a television screen saying things that disturbed my mind. And then I thought, “Well, why am I listening to it? I’m standing here watching! It’s my own fault.” There’s a song lyric that says, “I don’t know what you expect, staring into the TV set.” The channel we watch is always our choice. 

Deliberately find out how to change the channel. Or, cut the cord–just be sure to unplug it

By Madhavi Kumari devi dasi, Bhubaneswar

My husband Sundar Govind dasa and I recently joined the Utkala-Banga Padayatra for four days. Our spiritual master, Lokanath Maharaja, always says, “Each one should join padayatra or if can’t at least do one-day padayatra,” and when padayatra reached Jatani, our hometown and suburb of Bhubaneswar in Odisha, we welcomed the padayatris and made arrangements for their accommodation.
The best part was I did book distribution with my daughter and son, Radha

702.02: Diksa-gurus [Title] – Increasing the Number of Diksa-gurus – 2021

[Meeting] – Online AGM (passed on July 29, 2021) [Category] – Statement

Whereas connection via diksa to the parampara is essential for anyone aspiring to advance in Krishna consciousness.

Whereas ISKCON needs a sufficient number of initiated devotees to perform many essential services, which can only be performed by properly initiated devotees

Whereas ISKCON still has a similar number of diksa-gurus as at the end of the

By Kamala Radha Devi Dasi

Bhakti Kids Sanga had started out with having devotional activities for families, resources for parents, and even yoga classes for children, but they heard a need in their community. There has seemed to be an influx of Hare Krishna podcasts popping up, but nothing geared towards children and family. “I’ve even noticed parents on Facebook groups for homeschooling say they wish there was a podcast”  Abhidheya devi dasi shared with us.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/b

By Krishna Dharma Das 

Some years ago, the GBC commissioned their Sastric Advisory Council (SAC) to produce a paper on ISKCON’s responsibility to protect its members from choosing unqualified gurus, versus the disciples’ responsibility to undergo due diligence in testing their prospective guides. This is from the GBC’s request to the SAC:

“Srila Prabhupada states that it is the responsibility of the prospective disciples to examine and test their prospective guru prior to initiation. Given that

A few of us created another Zoom Gita Study Group, with a west coast crew. It was our orientation day, but I must not forget to include three families from Saskatchewan, where they are encountering a terrific snow blizzard. “Not to worry,” I ensured Vivek and Amee. When the freak of nature rears its ugly head, we go into our holes and there’s nothing better to do on a wintry night than to cuddle around the comforting words of Bhagavan.

I want to thank those who joined today, and for every altern

The legendary singer and most recorded artist in the world (Guinness World Records) passed away on February 6, 2022 at the age of 92. I had the good fortune of meeting her in 1976 and spending several hours one on one with her over a three-day period.

In the summer of 1976, I received a call from Jagatpurusa das from Mumbai. He said that Lata (she told me to call her by her first name) and Mukesh were coming to Houston to perform in a concert and requested if I could arrange daily prasad for her

By Manojna Devi Dasi   

Patanjali Muni das is head of the kitchen at Bhaktivedanta Manor, and he also oversees the preaching activities in ISKCON South Korea. Recently he ceremoniously received the life-size murti (sacred image) of Srila Prabhupada in the temple of Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra, which is situated on the border of South Korea near to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which divides the South from the North.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/srila-prabhupada-arrives-in-south-korea/

By Snigdhamayi Sudevi Devi Dasi 

India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) is a US-based non-profit charity. They aim to support the poverty-stricken people of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Their focus is to empower poor people through means of education and skill development, thereby making them capable of living a sustainable life. They serve beyond the boundaries of caste, creed, and color.

In January 2022, IDRF extended its support to the India Tribal Care Trust (ITCT) through the Internationa

Shortly after my father passed away in 2008, I wrote a poem in his honour, a way of saying “Thanks!” It will be his birthday on the 1st of February. He was born in the Netherlands, the place of tulips, in 1919. As a member of the Vaishnava tradition, bhakti yoga, we have a natural obligation to feel for our parents who did so much for us. Here’s my poem:

About Dad

Dear Creator

You struck a good balance

When you linked the leaf and petal

Came a man of heart and muscle

Smooth as silk, hard as me

By Snigdhamayi Sudevi Devi Dasi   

Lord Nityananda was born in Ekachakra, a small village in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, around the year 1474. He was born to Hadai Ojha and his mother Padmavati. Nityananda Prabhu was born on the auspicious thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of Magha month. As a child, Nitai would love to enact the different pastimes of the Lord. So much so that the entire village would be immersed in the love of Godhead. Once while he played the part of Lakshman and

From Back to Godhead

A gang intent on stealing Lord Nityananda’s jewelry eventually surrenders to Him, and He mercifully awards them pure love of God.

When I was eight or nine years old, my parents took me to the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C. After meandering through myriad halls and galleries, we came across an exhibit of valuable gemstones in the Museum of Natural History. I remember being particularly struck by the famous Hope Diamond, a large bluish diamond pendant surrounded by s