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The second annual International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Law Department conference was conducted May 1st and 2nd, 2021, in a meeting attended by more than 50 devotees, with good representation from six continents. Following formal recognition of the Law Department by the GBC in 2018, the first conference of the Law Department was held in January 2020, in Gainesville, Florida. This year plans to hold the conference in India were scuttled due to Covid-19, and the meeting was held

In the morning the sun shot out to bless the sky and earth. By noon clouds closed the doors to a usually welcome sun.

But the sun did shine on my day in the form of three Zoom talks; the first on the topic of Vedic hero, Bhishma. Truly, he is one of my favourites. Moments for honoring him was possible by the request of Kirtan Vancouver, although I expected that the request for my conducting a discussion would probably be on the Mother’s Day theme. Bhishma was one of those noble men who looked a

Sometimes ISKCON members think about ISKCON as an institution, or as the “leaders” of the temples, or the GBC, or someone else other than us. We expect ISKCON to care for devotees, and we may feel hurt or disappointed when care is not given as we would expect or as we would like. ISKCON is a society made up of members. Each of us is ISKCON. When each one of us feels that we have the responsibility to care for one another, then ISKCON will be a caring organization, with a family atmosphere based

अध्याय तेईस - ब्राह्मण-पत्नियों को आशीर्वाद (10.23)

1 ग्वालबालों ने कहा: हे महाबाहु राम, हे दुष्टदलन कृष्ण, हम सब भूख से त्रस्त हैं। इसके लिए आपको कुछ करना चाहिए।

2 श्रील शुकदेव गोस्वामी ने कहा: ग्वालबालों द्वारा इस प्रकार प्रार्थना किये जाने पर देवकीपुत्र भगवान ने अपने कुछ भक्तों को जो कि ब्राह्मणपत्नियाँ थीं, प्रसन्न करने की इच्छा से इस प्रकार उत्तर दिया।

3 [भगवान कृष्ण ने कहा]: तुम लोग यज्ञशाला में जाओ जहाँ वैदिक आदेशों में निपुण ब्राह्मणों का एक समूह स्वर्ग जाने की इच्छा से इस समय आंगिरस यज्ञ

By Sanj Gohil

“There are so many facilities afforded by cow protection, but people have forgotten these arts. The importance of protecting cows is therefore stressed by Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā (kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya-karma svabhāvajam).

– Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 10.6.19, Purport.

Established in 1973, Bhaktivedanta Manor has truly developed into a spiritual hub like no other. It is organized, structured, and methodologically presented in such a way that it leaves a lasting imp

Like so many parts of India, the holiest city of Vrindavan is suffering from the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic. 

Due to the ongoing outbreak of the Corona Virus, ISKCON Vrindavan reports that it has recently lost five wonderful devotees who were a part of the community.

Throughout the pandemic, if a Devotee of ISKCON Vrindavan contracts the virus, the Devotee Care Department provides them with medical and emotional support, to the best of their abilities. They are always ready to give any sort of a

We continue our observance of Candana-yatra. We are reading from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter Four: “Sri Madhavendra Puri’s Devotional Service,” which describes how Madhavendra Puri traveled by foot from Govardhana to Jagannatha Puri to procure sandalwood to grind and mix with camphor and place on the body of the Deity Gopala whom he had installed on the top of Govardhana Hill. After Madhavendra Puri installed Gopala on the top of Govardhana Hill, two brahmans came, and he init

The grassy green of the park is now spotted with the yellow of the dandelion. Yellow is a happy colour. In our culture we read about the striking yellows worn by Krishna and Vishnu, from the waist down. Also, I have a fond reflection of the colour yellow from the time I walked the prairies. The yellow tone of the canola (not my favorite plant) set against the endless blue sky is just absolutely stunning.

Rich colours overall. It can make your day.

There was more to my day than that long sit in

अध्याय बाईस - कृष्ण द्वारा अविवाहिता गोपियों का चीरहरण (10.22)

1 श्रील शुकदेव गोस्वामी ने कहा: हेमन्त ऋतु के पहले मास में गोकुल की अविवाहिता लड़कियों ने कात्यायनी देवी का पूजा-व्रत रखा। पूरे मास उन्होंने बिना मसाले की खिचड़ी खाई।

2-3 हे राजन, सूर्योदय होते ही यमुना के जल में स्नान करके वे गोपियाँ नदी के तट पर देवी दुर्गा का मिट्टी का अर्चाविग्रह बनातीं। तत्पश्चात वे चन्दन लेप जैसी सुगन्धित सामग्री, महँगी और साधारण वस्तुओं यथा दीपक, फल, सुपारी, कोपलों तथा सुगन्धित मालाओं और अगरु के द्वारा उनकी पूजा

May 14, 2021

Dear Devotees,

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

The Covid crisis continues to affect India and Bangladesh and the ISKCON communities there in a terrible way. We have lost many members of our extended ISKCON family, and people in the surrounding regions of our communities are struggling with the Covid disease and its impact on food supplies, financial security, and more.

ISKCON is responding in two primary ways.

First, devotees of ISKCON’s interna

By Radhapriya

As most of you are aware, the pandemic continues to rage on and is now engulfing India. The situation is extremely dire and getting worse by the day as the second wave of the pandemic has hit India even harder than the first wave. This predicament is also heavily affecting ISKCON devotee communities in India and around the world.

The ISKCON Governing Body Commission held an emergency meeting on April 30th to determine what ISKCON can do to help. In discussions with ISKCON leaders,

Franck recognized me at the park and came up to the mound where I was sitting.

“India’s not doing too good right now,” he said in concern over the Covid situation.

“That’s right.”

“So, you walked all of Canada?”

“And the US from Boston to San Francisco. A few more small countries.”

Frank continued, “Were you ever in a dangerous situation?”

“Oh yes, bears, blackflies and sometimes people. That shouldn’t be too surprising – the people part.” I told Frank about what looked like right out of a movi

अध्याय इक्कीस - गोपियों द्वारा कृष्ण के वेणुगीत की सराहना (10.21)

1 श्रील शुकदेव गोस्वामी ने कहा: इस तरह वृन्दावन का जंगल स्वच्छ शारदीय जलाशयों से पूरित था और स्वच्छ जलाशयों में खिले कमल पुष्पों की सुगन्ध वाली वायु से शीतल था। अपनी गौवों तथा ग्वालसखाओं समेत अच्युत भगवान ने उस जंगल में प्रवेश किया।

2 वृन्दावन के सरोवर, नदियाँ तथा पर्वत पुष्पित वृक्षों पर मँडराते उन्मत्त भौरों तथा पक्षियों के समूहों से गुंजरित हो रहे थे। मधुपति (श्रीकृष्ण) ने ग्वालबालों तथा बलराम के संग उस जंगल में प्रवेश किया और ग

अध्याय बीस - वृन्दावन में वर्षा ऋतु तथा शरद ऋतु (10.20) 

1 श्रील शुकदेव गोस्वामी ने कहा: तब ग्वालबालों ने वृन्दावन की गोपियों से दावाग्नि से बचाए जाने और प्रलम्बासुर का वध किये जाने के कृष्ण तथा बलराम के अद्भुत कार्यों का विस्तार से वर्णन किया।

2 यह वर्णन सुनकर बड़े-बूढ़े गोप-गोपियाँ आश्चर्यचकित हो गये और वे इस निष्कर्ष पर पहुँचे कि कृष्ण तथा बलराम अवश्य ही महान देवता हैं, जो वृन्दावन में प्रकट हुए हैं।

3 इसके बाद वर्षा ऋतु का शुभारम्भ हुआ जो समस्त जीवों को जीवनदान देती है। आकाश गर्जना से गूँजने लग

https://youtu.be/49fSDv-c_Kg

I was doing some spring cleaning and while doing so I came upon my records or reports of my second cross country walk, in 2003. Today, May 5, 2003, Bhakta Shane writes on the walking monk update:

Bhaktimarga Swami started his trek at 5 AM — a final farewell to St. John’s. He walked 40 km/25 miles from Marysvale to Upper Island Cove. The last time the walk was done he went along the TransCanada Highway. This time Bhaktimarga Swami decided to take the backroads to see the true Newfoundland and en

अध्याय उन्नीस दावानल पान (10.19)

1 श्रील शुकदेव गोस्वामी ने कहा: जब ग्वालबाल खेलने में पूरी तरह मग्न थे तो उनकी गौवें दूर चली गई। अधिक घास के लोभ में तथा कोई उनकी देखभाल करनेवाला न होने से वे घने जंगल में घुस गई।

2 विशाल जंगल के एक भाग से दूसरे भाग में जाते हुए बकरियाँ, गौवें तथा भैंसे अन्ततः मूँज से आच्छादित क्षेत्र में घुस गई। पास के जंगल की अग्नि की गर्मी से उन्हें प्यास लगी और वे कष्ट के कारण रँभाने लगी।

3 गौवों को सामने न देखकर कृष्ण, राम तथा उनके ग्वालमित्रों को सहसा अपनी असावधानी पर पछतावा

By Krishna Kirtan Dasa

Back in 2007, an inmate devotee [who wants to remain anonymous] slipped a Back to Godhead magazine underneath my cell door. That started my journey in Krishna consciousness. Saying ISKCON Prison Ministry (IPM) changed my life would be an understatement. IPM has transformed me, providing an understanding of life, Truth, and bliss I never thought possible.

If you ever thought you should show your gratitude to Srila Prabhupada for the bliss you’ve experienced in Kṛṣṇa consci