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So today is Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day – Nityananda Trayodasi therefore we will start our class with a verse from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 1.7

sankarsanah karana-toya-sayi garbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi sesas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya- nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu

TRANSLATION: May Sri Nityananda Rama be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarsana, Sesa Naga and the Visnus who lie on the Karana Ocean, Garbha Ocean and ocean of milk are His plenary portions and the portio

The Supreme Mercy of The two Lords

In Vedanta Sutra there is a famous – “anandamyo bhyasat”. This sloka explains the constitutional position of every living being. Everyone is looking for pleasure. The soul and it’s natural condition is Sachidananda, eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss, full of ecstasy. Therefore the heart of every living being is constantly seeking beauty, charm, and ecstasy. Therefore the Lord descends into this world to distribute prema bhakti divine love. Because –

Śrīla Prabhupāda instructed, “If you are actually serious about going back to home, back to Godhead, then please seek after the mercy of Nityānanda.” Inspired by this instruction, the Mayapur Master Plan Office is delighted to introduce the Virtual Pilgrimage to Ekacakrā Dhāma, the sacred birthplace of Lord Nityānanda. This initiative allows devotees around the world to explore holy places, offer prayers and connect with the boundless mercy of Lord Nityānanda at their own time and pace, througho

The Srila Prabhupada Vyasa-puja book team, made up of Ananda Tirtha Das, Praghosa Das, Satya Medha Gauranga Das, and Kaisori Devi Dasi, has issued a call for submissions for the 2025 Srila Prabhupada Vyasa-puja book.

The Team announced that this year all submissions are due by April 2, 2025 by emailing it to vphomages@iskcon.net.

Who may submit a homage?

a) Governing Body Commissioners

b) GBC Emeriti

c) ISKCON Sannyasis

d) Authorized representatives of ISKCON temples, preaching centers, farms, s

So today is the transcendental appearance day of Lord Varaha. We have got the regular Bhagavatam verse on the board from Prthu Maharaj’s going back to Godhead. However we are not going to read that this morning. We are going to talk about Lord Varahadev instead because it is an interesting narrative.

There are different incarnations or appearances of Lord Varahadev. Previously the white boar incarnation has been described. The one that is in the Bhagavatam as we receive it is the story about the

Varahadeva’s Appearance Day

Sri Varaha deva mahatosav ki

Let us begin by considering the philosophical truth of Krishna’s incarnations, so that way we will get the perspective on His descent to this material world.

Srila Prabhupada spoke about this in 1977. This is exactly 40 years ago in Bhubaneshwar, right? He spoke about Varaha’s appearance. He said “Ramadi murti su kala niyamena.” Krishna, the original adi pursua, is taking various forms. Ramadi murtisu, especially three Ramas, Parasuram

The TOVP Team is pleased to provide the schedule for the historic Grand Opening of the A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Legacy Museum on February 18, 2025. All devotees are invited to attend this auspicious occasion glorifying ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada either personally or online on Mayapur TV or the TOVP YouTube Channel.

The museum will be developed in three phases: Phase 1 will be 1000 sq. ft., Phase 2 will expand to 6000 sq. ft., and in its fully deve

ISKCON Melbourne released a video of Svayam Bhagavan Keshava Swami’s presentation to a select audience at the Parliament in Victoria on February 6, 2025.

The event was organized in cooperation with Nina Taylor, a member of the Australian Labor Party, and other members of Parliament. Taylor was elected to the Legislative Assembly in November 2022 and serves as the Parliamentary Secretary for Education.

During her brief remarks before SB Keshava Swami’s talk, she said, “This special event will hig

atmaupamyena sarvatra
samam pasyati yo ‘rjuna
sukham va yadi va duhkham
sa yogi paramo matah

TRANSLATION
He is a perfect yogi who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress, O Arjuna!

PURPORT
One who is Krsna conscious is a perfect yogi; he is aware of everyone’s happiness and distress by dint of his own personal experience. The cause of the distress of a living entity is forgetfulness of his relationship with God. And the cau

Our consciousness is a very important factor. The most important factor in anything we do is our consciousness. And if we have material consciousness we will suffer, for sure. And if we have vaisnava consciousness we will be able to assimilate and digest different situations.

It may be one of those situations like walking through fire; and when you come out the other side you’ll be a new person. Many times with think if we walk through fire we will just get burned to ashes. And sometimes Krishn

A winning team receives its prizes.

On January 19th, ISKCON Detroit – The Devasadana Mandir hosted the 7th annual Bhagavad Gita Sloka Recitation Competition. This program provides children, ages 4-18, with an opportunity to memorize verses and learn about the philosophy of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is.  Depending on the age group, they were assigned different amounts of verses from the 17th chapter of the Bhagavad-gita. The 17th chapter holds particular importance because it speaks of the types of

On February 22nd-23rd, 2025, Mandakini Devi Dasi, the author of the children’s book Nimai’s Adventures, will offer a virtual camp for children online. Mandakini Publications’ free, interactive camp is designed to immerse young hearts in the extraordinary life and teachings of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

This two-day camp promises to be a blend of fun, learning, and devotion. Activities include storytelling sessions that dive into the enchanting pastimes of Lord Chaitanya, crafts and hands-on acti

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives.

He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem,

Bhaktivinoda Thakura:

From “Siksastakam”, Song 4, in Gitavali:

“In whatever birth I take, wherever my karma leads me, let me sing the glories of Your holy name birth after birth.”

“In danger or success, good fortune or disaster, let me remain in equipoise. And let my affection for You increase day by day by the influence of the holy name.”

From “Worship of Hari Must Begin from Childhood” in Prabandhavali:

“Because they cannot see God with their material eyes, they think that there is no such th

“It occurred to me that it’s possible to be connected to Lord Caitanya’s movement, which is the topmost theology, and practice love of God, yet practice it poorly. Then we would find vaidhi-bhakti dry, chant with offenses, not love the Vaishnavas, not feel real devotion. It’s possible. It’s possible a Christian or even a Mayavadi might have more taste and devotion in his meditation than we do. That doesn’t prove that Buddhism or Christianity or impersonalism are better than Krishna consciousnes

From “The Aims of Life” in Back to Godhead, Vol. 57, No. 3 (May/June 2023):

“Srila Prabhupada, in describing the aim of life with both common sense and scriptural citations, included the quest for happiness as a suitable goal. Yes, he would say, we seek happiness above all else, but our attempts to achieve it through material pursuits must ultimately fail. True and lasting happiness can be found only though self-realization. Our aim in life, therefore, should be self-realization, which becomes

This is Sankirtana Das’s companion article to “Moving Forward in 2025.” 

When speaking about the function of a Vedic monarchy, Srila Prabhupada explained, “The king is to see to the welfare of the citizens from all angles of social, political, economic and spiritual upliftment” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.49 purport).

In that purport, Prabhupada goes on to give the example of the ideal king, Maharaja Yudhisthira: “monarchy under a trained king like Maharaja Yudhiṣṭhira is by far the most superior for