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At first glance, the cosmology of the Srimad-Bhagavatam might seem like fantasy. 
Here are four ways to make sense of it all.

The inquisitive human mind naturally yearns to understand the universe and man's place within it. Today scientists rely on powerful telescopes and sophisticated computers to formulate cosmological theories. In former times, people got their information from traditional books of wisdom. Followers of the Vedic culture, for example, learned about the cosmos from scriptures

By Peter Panstingl

Sri Gour Mohan De and Srimati Rajani devi became the proud parents of Sri Abhaya Caranaravrinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on the 1st of September, 1896. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada or Abhaya Carana, as he was previously called, was born on the occasion of Nandotsava, at the home of his maternal grandparents, in the suburbs of Tollygunge. The fortunate jackfruit tree under which he was born stands tall this day.

(German with English subtitles)

Source: http://www.dandav

By Radharamn Das

125th appearance day celebrations of Srila Prabhupada & his Birthplace at Tollygunge.

This is the 125th year when His Divine Grace A. C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada appeared under a Jackfruit tree in Tollygunge, Kolkata. In 2011 we had acquired 4 very small rooms under that exact tree which were made possible due to the contributions of HH Radhanath Swami who immediately sent all the money to shift the people living in those 4 rooms. The whole property is around 4 and a

By Khusboo Basan

A short film, Monks on Mission made by seven monks at ISKCON Gurugram under the guidance of temple president Rambhadra Das, has won the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 24th monthly season of Tagore International Film Festival (TIFF) in early July. 

Monks on Mission is a reality-based film on why and how monks delivered food in deadly Covid 2nd wave. The life of monks is all about decreasing their personal needs and increasing service to God and humanity. But one day they

Some days you are a friend

Some days you are foe

You swing moods up

You swing them low

I can’t always trust

You’re not in one place

You respond well to lust

Big dose or a trace

You lead me to greed

It’s not what I want

You convinced it’s a need

In truth it’s a taunt

When there is anger

Pent up inside

You then do hanker

To push it outside

I don’t know why

You are so cruel

Cunning and sly

And wanting to rule

You’re some kind of clown

Silly and joking

A laugh or a frown

Nabbing and poking

Yet you

अध्याय उन्नीस - आध्यात्मिक ज्ञान की सिद्धि (11.19)

1 भगवान ने कहा : जिस स्वरूपसिद्ध व्यक्ति ने प्रकाश पाने के बिन्दु तक शास्त्रीय ज्ञान का अनुशीलन किया है और जो भौतिक ब्रह्माण्ड को मात्र मोह समझकर, निर्वेशेष चिन्तन से मुक्त हो गया है, उसे चाहिए कि वह उस ज्ञान को तथा उसे प्राप्त करनेवाले साधनों को मुझे समर्पित कर दे।

2 विद्वान स्वरूपसिद्ध दार्शनिकों के लिए मैं ही पूजा का एकमात्र लक्ष्य, इच्छित जीवन-लक्ष्य, उस लक्ष्य को प्राप्त करने का साधन तथा समस्त ज्ञान का स्थापित निष्कर्ष हूँ। चूँकि मैं उनके सु

A lecture by His Holiness Radhanath Swami on "Deepening our relationship with Deities" part of 50th Installation Anniversary Celebrations of Sri Sri Radha Gopivallabha at ISKCON Boston.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/Dandavats/posts/2039130219585217

Jayananda Prabhu is a bhakti-yoga practitioner for nearly three decades. He is the co-author of the education plan for teaching Krishna consciousness in public schools in Finland, which led to government-funded KC teaching on religion classes for those who wanted to have that instead of the Christianity-based majority option. He holds a PhD in the Study of Religions and has written several books on yoga wisdom and authored / co-authored many articles in academic journals. He has the highest cer

After receiving an honours degree in philosophy and politics from Bristol, Cintamani Dhama joined ISKCON in 1981. She assisted her husband Krishna Dharma in opening an ISKCON centre in Manchester in 1987, which they ran for 15 years. She has co-authored with Krishna Dharma six volumes of a series of dramatised retellings of Srimad Bhagavatam, entitled Brilliant as the Sun, with a further four in the works. She and her husband are now part of the Bhaktivedanta Manor community, where they teach a

By Madhava Smullen

Last weekend devotees celebrated the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s 1971 vist to Gainesville, Florida, as well as his 125th birth anniversary with a three-day festival. The event, which ran from July 29th to 31st, included speeches from pioneer devotees as well as appreciative words from the Mayor of Gainesville and the President of the University of Florida.

On July 29th, the day on which Srila Prabhupada gave his arrival address at the UF Plaza of the Americas, the p

It was a delight delivering a class, over Zoom to Vancouver, this morning about the pastime of Krishna being charged by all his young friends for eating mridam (dirt). His buddies, including his older brother, Balarama, were building up a case against Him, which would lead to a chastisement from His mother. This conflict does from time to time arise in the spiritual realm. Then, what to speak of the hostilities of this mundane world?

The notion that no aggravation exists in the holy dham (place

असीम सौन्दर्य तथा आनन्द के इच्छुक व्यक्तियों के लिए पूजा के असली लक्ष्य भगवान कृष्ण हैं,

जिनका निवास गोलोक वृन्दावन है। (तात्पर्य श्रीमदभागवतम – 11.18.20)

अध्याय अठारह – वर्णाश्रम धर्म का वर्णन (11.18)

1 भगवान ने कहा : जो जीवन के तीसरे आश्रम अर्थात वानप्रस्थ को ग्रहण करने का इच्छुक हो, उसे पत्नी को अपने जवान पुत्रों के साथ छोड़कर या अपने साथ लेकर शान्त मन से जंगल में प्रवेश करना चाहिए।

2 वानप्रस्थ आश्रम अपनाने पर मनुष्य को चाहिए कि जंगल में उगने वाले शुद्ध कन्द, मूल तथा फल खाकर जीविका चलाये। वह पे

This Sanskrit classic was extensively referenced by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in writing his purports for the Fifth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Now the entire compendium of commentaries [which includes those of Srila Sridhara Svami, Sri Viraraghavacarya, Srimad Vijayadhvaja Tirtha, Srila Jiva Gosvami and Srimad Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura] is available for first time in English. The translation was done by erudite Vasnava scholars and edited by His Holiness Dana

By Madhava Smullen 

In honor of Srila Prabhupada’s 125th birth anniversary, a special Zoom series for teens and youth will run this August, in which Prabhupada disciples will share memories of serving the ISKCON Founder-Acharya during their own youth. 

Sitalila Dasi of ISKCON Sydney, Australia, a mentor and certified counselor who helps run Sunday Schools and youth camps, is organizing the “Prabhupada Special Series” with her husband Sumedha Gauranga Das. The two are co-directors of Teen Tweet

अध्याय सत्रह – भगवान कृष्ण द्वारा वर्णाश्रम प्रणाली का वर्णन (11.17)

1-2 श्री उद्धव ने कहा : हे प्रभु, आपने वर्णाश्रम प्रणाली के अनुयायियों एवं सामान्य मनुष्यों द्वारा अनुकरणीय भक्ति के सिद्धान्तों का वर्णन किया है। हे कमलनयन, अब कृपा करके मुझे बतायें कि इन सिद्धान्तों में नियत कर्तव्यों को सम्पन्न करके मनुष्य किस प्रकार आपकी प्रेमाभक्ति प्राप्त कर सकते हैं?

3-4 हे बलिष्ठ भुजाओं वाले प्रभु! इससे पूर्व आपने हंस रूप में ब्रह्माजी से उन धार्मिक सिद्धान्तों का कथन किया है, जो परम सुख प्रदान करनेवाले

अध्याय सोलह – भगवान की विभूतियाँ (11.16)

1 श्री उद्धव ने कहा : हे प्रभु, आप अनादि तथा अनन्त, साक्षात परब्रह्म तथा अन्य किसी वस्तु से सीमित नहीं हैं। आप सभी वस्तुओं के रक्षक तथा जीवनदाता, उनके संहार तथा सृष्टि हैं।

2 हे प्रभु, यद्यपि अपवित्र लोगों के लिए यह समझ पाना कठिन है कि आप समस्त उच्च तथा निम्न सृष्टियों में स्थित हैं, किन्तु वे ब्राह्मण जो वैदिक मत को भलीभाँति जानते हैं आपकी वास्तविक रूप में पूजा करते हैं।

3 कृपया मुझसे उन सिद्धियों को बतायें जिन्हें महर्षिगण आपकी भक्तिपूर्वक पूजा द्वारा प्

ISKCON Boston is celebrating the 50th installation anniversary of the presiding deities Sri Sri Radha Gopivallabha. On this auspicious occasion ISKCON Boston would like to warmly invite you to join a 2-day online festival on Aug 7 & Aug 8 to celebrate! We welcome you to join the online festivity on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/IskconBoston
You can also join via Zoom: Please join us at Zoom ID 916 4947 3119 (password: 108) or using a single click at https://zoom.us/j/91649473119….

Bosto

By Acarya dasa, All-India Padayatra leader

The padayatris stayed at Bharkawada village in Gujarat for forty-five days during the second coronavirus lockdown. Although at first the village leaders were keen for us to move on, eventually we were permitted to stay at the Panchmukhi mahadev Lord Shiva temple and by the mercy of Their Lordships the village people became Hare Krishna devotees. Even after we departed, the new devotees followed us till we entered Rajasthan. They were missing the associ