By Madhava Smullen
In an inspiring show of cooperation, six ISKCON-affiliated organizations in the New York area collaborated to put on a hugely successful Rathayatra festival this summer – Brooklyn’s Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, the Bhakti Center in Manhattan, 26 2nd Avenue, ISKCON of Queens, New Yoga Pitha in the Bronx, and the Yuga Dharma Ashram.
The festival ran from June 7th to 9th, beginning on Friday with two special kirtan events. The first took place in Tompkins Square Park at the
It is Lord Jagannath’s festival in Mayapur. In the beautiful Gundicha Mandir offered to Lord lovingly, He is enjoying His Vrindavan Pastimes ! This year a grand Ratha Yatra Mela is put up to attract everyone to festival. Everyday evening, Jagannath Astakam kirtan is sung along with lamp offering . We request everyone to take advantage of this joyful festival and visit Mayapur!
Srila Prabhupada on Ratha Yatra festival:
“I’ll request you to come and see this car festival. There is no expenditure
Just like Srila Prahbupada comments on the verse.
pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma
sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma
In every town and village my name will be heard and sung. It will be chanted. Prabhupada said, “So that means that there will be devotees everywhere.” In other words, the holy name will find the devotees and the devotees will automatically start to take up devotional service. They are like dry grass until they are touched by this transcendental mercy. Oh yes, it is like an immed
By Madhava Smullen
It’s a mobile “studio” with the words “Ananta Mobile Wellness Solutions” inscribed on the side, next to a logo combining the heart and the brain. Inside is a surprising oasis of peace: bamboo floors and benches, green paint on the walls, plants, soft lighting and comfortable rugs.
If it pulls up to your place of work, you know your attitude to the world is about to be transformed.
Deva Madhava Das, director of the Harmony Collective in Ypsilanti, Michigan was inspired to c
Fifty years ago, out of his causeless mercy, Srila Prabhupada accepted me as his initiated disciple and wrote me the following letter:
My dear Giriraj,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 2, 1969, sent along with your beads. I have chanted on them, and your initiated name is Giriraj. Giriraj is the name of Goverdhan Hill, on which Krishna used to tend His cows. In Vrindaban Goverdhan Hill is worshiped as a representation of Krishna. Sometimes devot
Just because we give good discourses, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we write nicely, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we manage the temple nicely, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we cook nice bhoga, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we start many temples and centers, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we have completed many projects, doesn't mean that we are sp
By H.H. Chandramauli Swami
Married life especially in this age is such a trip! So many difficulties, Kali-yuga is filled with so many faults, kalerdosa-nidherajann (SB 12.3.51) an ocean of faults especially when two people try to work together to practice Krsna consciousness. So it takes determination, it takes allegiance to authorities and it takes faith that by following that it will work out.
One time one lady came to me in Vrindavan she said, “Maharaj my husband is very nice but he doesn’t tal
Devotees of Yuga Dharma Sankirtana Ashram are found chanting and distributing books at New York’s Union Square almost every day.
One of the leading sankirtana devotees, Kaliya Krishna Das, spotted world-famous author Deepak Chopra walking out of the subway and looking at his phone. He told this to Krishna Prasad Das and Gopal Champu Das, who then went to talk to Mr. Chopra. They both said hello to him. He was very nice to them and told them he had visited many ISKCON temples. One of his favori
Giriraj Swami read and spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.12 during a Skype call with disciples, aspiring disciples, and friends in Mumbai.
“Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another’s service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaisnava thinking, Vaikuntha thinking. There may be rivalries and apparent competition between servants in performing service, but in the Vaikuntha planets the service of another servant is apprec
By Amala Prema Dasi
ISKCON Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina that has produced many devotees who, due to post-war recovery of the country and economic challenges, have moved to other countries around the world. Nevertheless, the remaining members do whatever they can to spread the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada and give the Holy Name to all the people.
One such opportunity came their way when the Indian Embassy approached the
July 4th, 2019, on the auspicious Ratha Yatra Day of Lord Jagannath, HG Sacimata devi dasi, disciple of Srila Prabhupada passed away at Swarupganj , in the island of Godrumadvipa. Ratha Yatra day was also her birthday. She joined ISKCON in Kolkata at the age of 16 and gave her heart to Srila Prabhupada & Lord Sri Krishna and was always serving them.
She has been cooking & caring for Lord Jagannath at his ISKCON Temple in Swarupa Ganja since 1991 with her huspand His Grace Sankarshan Prabhu w
When O when will I become a Vaishnava...
Who is humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree,
Free from any sense of hatred and animosity.
When O when will I become a Vaishnava...
Who is free from lust and greed,
And from unwanted wants and needs.
When O when will I become a Vaishnava...
Who is free from pride and envy,
And from wrong company.
When O when will I become a Vaishnava...
Who is ready to embrace other's sorrows as one's own,
And not bother about sorrows of one's own.
Whe
By David Crick
On Saturday 29th June 2019 a charity walk was performed to raise funds for a new electric free food distribution van for the London Food For Life project.
Starting and ending at the present ISKCON-London temple on Soho Street the planned 10 mile route took in traditional London landmarks as well as places associated with the early days of ISKCON in the UK.
Sites visited included 22 Betterton Street, where the original devotees first established themselves; 182 Drury Lane, home of
“A capable, merciful and attentive person can
effectively protect surrendered people“
Gajendra, the king of elephants, went for a pleasure trip in the Ritumat Garden in the heavenly Trikuta mountain area. As he was happily sporting there in a lake with his wives and children, suddenly a crocodile
caught his leg. He struggled with all his strength to release himself. Even the demigods were astonished to see this unusual fight. Being helpless, unable to save himself from danger, Gajendra was ex
Hare Krishna dear devotees,
Some times we get confused between what exactly is sin and what is reaction? What is the difference between these two? I recently heard a very nice explanation by HH Bhaktividya Purna maharaj and I am copying it’s transcript.
HH Bhaktividya Purna Maharaj :
Reaction will be you are put into the same situation in which you are giving that trouble, and you are on the other side. That’s reaction. Sin means going to hell for som
