Blog

By Madhava Smullen

Around forty-five women from Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil, Chile, and across the U.S. and Canada attended the fourth annual Urban Devi Retreat on October 17th, entitled “Welcoming Transformation” and held virtually on Zoom.

Co-hosted by Urban Devi and the Bhakti Center in New York City, the inspirational all-day event ran from 7:30am to 5:30pm EDT. It was organized by Urban Devi founder Rukmini Devi Dasi along with Brajarani Devi Dasi, Lila Devi Dasi, and Champakalata Sakhi Dev

Back at the temple ashram, downtown Toronto, movers came over to empty out the excess paraphernalia thus freeing up the building from potential danger, such as the fire hazard it had created. A kind member of our community, Mukesh Gelda, allowed space in his warehouse, the new home of this paraphernalia; materials that are used in North America‘s largest Ratha Yatra, the Chariot Fest. We are grateful for the service he is offering and I want to thank Rudradev for organizing the move, as well as

प्रथम पुरुष कारणोदकशायी, द्वितीय पुरुष गर्भोदकशायी तथा तृतीय पुरुष क्षीरोदकशायी विष्णु हैं, जिनमें विराट पुरुष की कल्पना की जाती है, जिसमें सारे लोक अपने विभिन्न विस्तीर्णताओं तथा निवासियों समेत तैरते रहते हैं।    तात्पर्य - 3.7.22  श्रील प्रभुपाद

अध्याय सात – विदुर द्वारा अन्य प्रश्न (3.7)

1 श्रील शुकदेव गोस्वामी ने कहा: हे राजन, जब महर्षि मैत्रेय इस प्रकार से बोल रहे थे तो द्वैपायन व्यास के विद्वान पुत्र विदुर ने यह प्रश्न पूछते हुए मधुर ढंग से एक अनुरोध व्यक्त किया।

2 श्री विदुर ने कहा : हे मह

In 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Ter Kadamba, which is famous for Srila Rupa Gosvami’s bhajana-kutir. It is also here where Krsna would climb onto a Kadamba tree and call out the names of the leaders of the various herds of cows. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtan and lecture below, along with a few photos, at Ter Kadamba during Parikrama 2018.

In one sense, Ter Kadamba is the most important place for us because it is where Rupa Gosvami resided for quite some time. Ter Kadamb

In 2017 and 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Sanket, the meeting place for Srimati Radharani and Krsna. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtans and lectures below, along with a few photos, at Sanket during Parikrama 2017 and Parikrama 2018.

Sanket is the place where Radha and Krsna meet. They reside at Varsana and Nandagrama but Sanket is in the middle at the half-way point, and this is where They meet. Sanket is representative of where Krsna meets His devotee half-way. So like Radha

अध्याय छह – विश्वरूप की सृष्टि (3.6)

1 मैत्रेय ऋषि ने कहा : इस तरह भगवान ने महत-तत्त्व जैसी अपनी शक्तियों के संयोग न होने के कारण विश्व के प्रगतिशील सृजनात्मक कार्यकलापों के निलम्बन के विषय में सुना।

2 तब परम शक्तिशाली भगवान ने अपनी बहिरंगा शक्ति, देवी काली सहित तेईस तत्त्वों के भीतर प्रवेश किया, क्योंकि वे ही विभिन्न प्रकार के तत्त्वों को सम्मेलित करती हैं।

3 इस तरह जब भगवान अपनी शक्ति से तत्त्वों के भीतर प्रविष्ट हो गए तो सारे जीव प्रबुद्ध होकर विभिन्न कार्यों में उसी तरह लग गये जिस तरह कोई

In this unprecedented period in the world’s history where health has been come a constant source of concern, a pure devotee can give us some secrets of health.

What is the most important secret of health? Srila Prabhupada reveals it in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.10:

“In Kali-yuga, the duration of life is shortened not so much because of insufficient food but because of irregular habits. By keeping regular habits and eating simple food, any man can maintain his health. Overeating, over

I went for another shiatsu session with my yogi friend, Devananda, a.k.a. Marc Handelman, and it was a job well done. From there I had a great opportunity to walk back to the ashram via the Cedarvale ravine. Trekking in these ravines changes hearts.

Why?

Well, one reason I can think of is that you are removed from cars. These nice ravines, which are like tight green valleys, restrict the automobile. In that natural setting you are in a sattvic environment, which allows you to feel safe. I believ

भगवान कृष्ण – भक्त के हृदय में से अज्ञानरूपी अंधकार को दूर करने का भार अपने ऊपर ले लेते हैं।   (भगवद्गीता 10.10)   (तात्पर्य भागवतम 3.5.40) ~श्रील प्रभुपाद~

अध्याय पाँच – मैत्रेय से विदुर की वार्ता (3.5)

1 श्रील शुकदेव गोस्वामी ने कहा: इस तरह कुरुवंशियों में सर्वश्रेष्ठ विदुर, जो भगवद्भक्ति में परिपूर्ण थे, स्वर्ग लोक की नदी गंगा के उद्गम (हरद्वार) पहुँचे जहाँ विश्व के अगाध विद्वान महामुनि मैत्रेय आसीन थे। भद्रता (सुशीलता) से पूर्ण तथा अध्यात्म में तुष्ट विदुर ने उनसे पूछा।

2 विदुर ने कहा: हे मह

By Mathura Lilesvari Dasi

By Kadamba Kanana Swami

In 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Talavana, where Lord Balarama killed the demon Dhenukasura. We come here in prayer to Lord Balarama as He prepares the heart and gives spiritual strength. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtan and lecture below, along with a few photos, at Talavana during Parikrama 2018.

Lord Balarama is very much on our mind today. He carries a plough, used to prepare the ground for planting. Balarama is the one who prepares the heart. Krs

By Kadamba Kanana Swami

Every year from 2016 to 2019, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Brahmanda-ghata, where Krsna showed Mother Yasoda the entire universe in His mouth. Maharaja says that he never skips this significant place during his parikrama because this deals with the foundation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s key teaching – acintya-bhedabheda-tattva. Check out Maharaja’s full kirtans and lectures below, along with a few photos, at Brahmanda-ghata during Parikramas 2016, 2017, 2

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17.

“This verse indirectly confirms the greater importance of utilizing the human form of life to realize our lost relationship with the Supreme Lord by acceleration of devotional service. Time and tide wait for no man. So the time indicated by the sunrise and the sunset will be uselessly wasted if such time is not properly utilized for realizing identification of spiritual values. Even a fraction of the duration of life wasted cannot be co

These evenings, when not shooting footage for “Rolling the Dice” I’m enwrapped in compiling either one of two books. The Saffron Road is a publication that I’m hoping to have materialized soon. It’s an account of my walking ventures and I’m currently in the proofreading stage. Krishna in the Maple Leaf is also a work in progress, capturing the early pioneer years of the Hare Krishna’s in Canada.

In both books I’m running into a thematic parallel—gratitude. I’m very passionate about expressing th

यदुकुल का नाश निकट आया जानकर इस लोक से प्रयाण करते समय भगवान श्रीकृष्ण का उद्धव तथा मैत्रेय को उपदेश।   

3.4.3-13 - श्रील प्रभुपाद-

अध्याय चार – विदुर का मैत्रेय के पास जाना (3.4)

1 तत्पश्चात उन सबों ने (वृष्णि तथा भोज वंशियों ने) ब्राह्मणों की अनुमति से प्रसाद का उच्छिष्ट खाया और चावल की बनी मदिरा भी पी। पीने से वे सभी संज्ञाशून्य हो गये और ज्ञान से रहित होकर एक दूसरे को वे मर्मभेदी कर्कश वचन कहने लगे।

2 जिस तरह बाँसों के आपसी घर्षण से विनाश होता है उसी तरह सूर्यास्त के समय नशे के दोषों की अन्तःक्

By Shyama Sakhi Devi Dasi 

Diagnosed Covid-19 cases and deaths as of October 30th, 2020.

Shyama Sakhi Devi Dasi (Shivani Agarwal, PhD Biotechnology, MSc Biochemistry) She is a Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois (UIC), Chicago, Illinois.

277 days ago, none of us had heard of coronavirus and everything we did was not shrouded with the specter of COVID-19. We welcomed the new decade, filled calendars, planned events and t

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By Kadamba Kanana Swami 

In 2018, His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami took us to Manasi-Ganga, where Krsna performed his famous boat pastime with Srimati Radharani. It is also here that Caitanya Mahaprabhu took a bath and then visited the Harideva Mandir, before starting His Govardhana Parikrama. Check out a transcription of Maharaja’s lecture below, along with a few photos, at Harideva Mandir and Manasi-Ganga during Parikrama 2018.

Lord Caitanya danced before this Deity in the greatest ecstasy

I hadn’t met Juhi’s parents before and I was honoured to participate in her pre-engagement program. Nice folks she has, from Punjab originally.

Her fiancé is Rishab, whom I’ve known since he was a kid. His parents, Rajasuya and Surabhi, of South Indian descent, are sishyas, or students of mine. At their home two families came together, and I, for an impromptu engagement. There were no engagement rings, but two pieces of ladhoo, sweet-balls made of chickpea flour, were exchanged lovingly between

कालयवन द्वारा मथुरा पर आक्रमण  3.3.10 - श्रील प्रभुपाद !

अध्याय तीन – वृन्दावन से बाहर भगवान की लीलाएँ (3.3)

1 श्री उद्धव ने कहा: तत्पश्चात भगवान कृष्ण श्री बलदेव के साथ मथुरा नगरी आये और अपने माता पिता को प्रसन्न करने के लिए जनता के शत्रुओं के अगुवा कंस को उसके सिंहासन से खींच कर अत्यन्त बलपूर्वक भूमि पर घसीटते हुए वध कर दिया।

2 भगवान ने अपने शिक्षक सांदीपनी मुनि से केवल एक बार सुनकर सारे वेदों को उनकी विभिन्न शाखाओं समेत सीखा और गुरुदक्षिणा के रूप में अपने शिक्षक के मृत पुत्र को यमलोक से वापस ला

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON Malaysia organized a phenomenal virtual Damodara program on Nov 1, 2020.

The virtual festival saw the attendance of 6,538 people from around the world, including Malaysia, India, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia and South American countries.

The event utilised the Zoom videotelephony software programme.

The number of participants this year exceeded the previous record of 1,360 people, which was the Largest Participation in a Virt