In his last days, the disciples in the room with Srila Prabhupada heard him make a statement that beautifully sums up his mission: “Just go on discussing Srimad-Bhagavatam among yourselves and everything will remain clear.” He also enshrined this idea in one of the last purports he dictated: “Thus the more we read Srimad-Bhagavatam, the more its knowledge becomes clear. Each and every verse is transcendental.” Thus, Srila Prabhupada taught us how to get fresh energy in order to improve and incre
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The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium has officially released the digital flipbook “From Kutir to Mandir: The TOVP Story 1971-2024.” This beautifully designed resource presents a concise history and photo collection of the project from its earliest inception to its current status.
“It is our hope that after perusing this book, the reader will also be inspired to participate and help the project financially so we can together offer this wonderful and unique temple to Srila Prabhupada at its three-m
By Padma Radhe Devi Dasi
Fifty years ago, there was no ISKCON temple in Perth, Australia. Srila Prabhupada was originally scheduled to visit Melbourne for its temple inauguration. However, due to construction delays, the GBC arranged a short retreat for him in Perth. His 10-day stay from May 6 to 12, 1975, became a defining moment in the history of ISKCON in Western Australia.
By Srila Prabhupada’s divine mercy, Krishna consciousness took root in Perth, and the temple has flourished ever since
Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami is one of the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavana. The Six Gosvamis of Vrindavana represent a class of highly perfected personalities, who threw away all prospects of the most attractive pleasures like pebbles in the street. By hearing about their lives and teachings, a seeker gets insight into the possibilities awaiting him if he simply continues sincerely on this path. They have painstakingly constructed aesthetically pleasing temples for the pleasure of the Lord and the
Every year, the Vaishnava community around the world joyfully celebrates Panihati Chida-Dahi Mahotsav, the Festival of Chipped Rice and Yogurt, commemorating one of the most heartwarming pastimes of Lord Nityananda Prabhu and Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. This transcendental event, rich in devotional spirit and divine reciprocation, took place on the banks of the sacred Ganges River in Panihati, a village just north of modern-day Kolkata (West Bengal, India).
The Origin of the Festival
The fe
Panihati Chida-Dahi Festival and Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
By Sacinandana Swami
Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami is one of the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavana. The Six Gosvamis of Vrindavana represent a class of highly perfected personalities, who threw away all prospects of the most attractive pleasures like pebbles in the street. By hearing about their lives and teachings, a seeker gets insight into the possibilities awaiting him if he simply continues sincerely on this path. They have painsta
“Lord Nityananda was by nature very merciful and funny. Being merciful, He spoke to Raghunatha dasa as follows. ‘You are just like a thief, for instead of coming near, you stay away at a distant place. Now that I have captured you, I shall punish you. Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice.’ Hearing this, Raghunatha dasa was greatly pleased.” —Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 6.49–51
06.16.18 IDS PanihatiLaguna (Right click to download)
By Giriraj Swami
We have gathered at the lotus feet of the Panca-tattva on this most auspicious occasion of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami’s cida-dadhi festival. The background to this incident can be found in the early life of Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. His uncle and father, Hiranya and Govardhana Majumadara, were wealthy landlords in Bengal—almost like kings—and had a huge, opulent riverside palace, with boats that plied the river. Hiranya and Govardhana were generous and devoted to brahminical
Panihati is the name of a village located in the state of West Bengal, on the banks of River Ganges (10 miles north of Kolkata). It was one of the leading trade centres in earlier days when the river route was the main means of communication. A special rice variety called Peneti was imported at this place from Jessore in Bangladesh. Probably the name Panihati might have been derived from this trade connection. Once upon a time, this place was the centre of worship of the Buddhist Tantrics
We have gathered at the lotus feet of the Pancha-tattva on this most auspicious occasion of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami’s cida-dadhi festival, the background to which can be found in his early life. Raghunatha dasa’s uncle and father, Hiranya and Govardhana Majumadara, were wealthy landlords in Bengal—almost like kings—and had a huge, opulent riverside palace, with boats that plied the river. Hiranya and Govardhana were generous and devoted to brahminical culture, and they practically maintained t
The Chida-dahi Mahotsav, also known as the Chipped Rice Festival of Panihati, is a yearly celebration of the pastimes of Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami and Lord Nityananda Prabhu. This astonishing pastime took place on the banks of the Ganges at Panihati, which is just north of Calcutta. Lord Caitanya and his associates enjoyed many transcendental pastimes here. Chida-dadhi Mahotsav remembers how the Lord mercifully reciprocated with His devotees by arranging, through Nityananda Prabhu and Ragh
By Chirag Dangarwala
Complacency is a dangerous element in the progress of Spiritual Life. It is very essential for an endeavoring spiritualist to always remember that the material world is not a place of comfort. It has been certified by the Creator, Lord Sri Krsna himself as dukhalayam and asasvatam, which means it, is full of misery and temporary.
mäm upetya punar janma
duùkhälayam açäçvatam
näpnuvanti mahätmänaù
saàsiddhià paramäà gatäù [ B.g. 8.15]
“After attaining Me, the great souls, w
The History of the Balaram Mridangas
My name is Ishan das. I created the Balaram mridanga in L.A. It is really quite a story. But I’ll give you the brief version.
Some time in 1972-73 Srila Prabhupada saw that the East Indians were not carrying on the tradition of making the original mridangas and kartals. The younger generation who would normally take over the arts from their fathers were becoming more and more interested in going to school and going to the cities. They were thinking that wor
Though emperor of the world and a powerful warrior, Yudhishthira Maharaja displayed the character of a compassionate Vaishnava.
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Lecture given in Los Angeles on May 15, 1973.
After the Battle of Kurukshetra, Maharaja Yudhishthira’s lament was not limited to concern for the loss of human lives alone.
suta uvacha
iti bhitah praja-drohat
sarva-dharma-vivitsaya
tato vinashanam pragad
yatra deva-vrato ’patat
“Suta Goswami said: Being afraid f
Ekadashi means eleventh day of waxing or waning moon. Therefore, two Ekadashis fall in every month. Usually on Ekadashis, the devotees undertake fasting. Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi observed on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Moon (shukla-paksha) in the month of Jyeshtha (May-June) is called Nirjala Ekadashi because on that day the observer of the vrata should not drink even water. Since the vrata observed is in the month of Jyeshtha, it is known as Jyeshtha-shukla Ekadashi as well. Th
Ekadahsi is one of the regular celebrations in the Vaishnava calendar. It is observed eleven days after the full moon and eleven days after the new moon of every month. Even in the thirteenth, or leap, month, called adhika-masa, or purusottama-masa, which comes every three years, during which no other festivals are celebrated, Ekadasi is observed. Ekadasi is known as the day of Lord Hari and is said to be the mother of devotion. Keeping the fast on Ekadasi is one of the sixty-four items of devo
Once Bhimasena, the younger brother of Maharaja Yudhisthira, asked the great sage Shrila Vyasadeva, the grandfather of the Pandavas, if it is possible to return to the spiritual world without having observed all the rules and regulations of the Ekadasi fasts.
Bhimasena then spoke as follows, “Oh greatly intelligent and learned grandfather, my brother Yudhisthira, my dear mother Kunti, and my beloved wife Draupadi, as well as Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, fast completely on each Ekadasi and stric
Every year the North American office of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust publishes an “Art Calendar” with all the most important Vaisnava dates for North America. This year, as in past years, we noted under Pandava-nirjala Ekadasi that one should observe a “total fast, even from water, if you have broken Ekadasi.” It has been pointed out to us that the only instruction Srila Prabhupada gave concerning breaking Ekadasi is that if one does so inadvertently one should observe Ekadasi fasting the next
3 June, 2025
Dear ISKCON Devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) has noted the Supreme Court of India’s judgment dated 16 May 2025 in the long-standing property dispute between ISKCON Mumbai and ISKCON Bengaluru. ISKCON Mumbai is the official legal entity registered by ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in January 1971 to be the single legal corporation for all ISKCON tem
On Sunday, June 1, 2025, a carload of college devotees from the University of Toledo was involved in a serious accident while traveling to the ISKCON Farmington Temple.
According to Farmington Temple President Yugal Kishore Das, all five were admitted to a Toledo hospital; three were later released with minor injuries. Two were seriously injured, and one remains in critical condition and unconscious following an emergency surgery on Sunday.
Appealing to ISKCON devotees worldwide, Yugal Kishore D
