Sri Murari Gupta Thakur
“An expert physician by the name Murari Gupta could cure people of their disease of material existence. Along with so many other Vaisnavas, Advaita Acarya, Sen Sivananda, Jagannath Misra, Nilambar Cakravarti, he also appeared in Sylhet. [C. B. Adi 2.35] Srivas Pandit, Candrasekhara Acarya and Sri Murari Gupta Thakur were all from Srihatta. Murari Gupta came from there to live in Navadwip, near the home of Jagannath Misra. He was a few years older than Caitanya Mahaprabh
Laksmi Puja means worship of Laksmi Devi, the consort of Lord Visnu. Goddess Laxmi is said to have emerged from the ocean of milk at Diwali. On that day, Laxmi puja was performed to honour Her and as such, every year at Diwali, She is worshipped and offered prayers (not observed by Gaudiya Vaisnavas).
This year’s comprehensive report, released today by Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami, and prepared by ISKCON’s Kirtan Ministry, chronicles a series of successful initiatives, ranging from the historic two-day Padayatra in Pune involving over 700 devotees to the creation of Naamaashraya, a seven-day online series guiding devotees on how to practically live under the shelter of the Holy Name.
The report also highlights the festival’s utilization of modern digital platforms through a global poster-makin
On the morning of 2 October 2025, when the Jewish community was observing Yom Kippur, there was an attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester, UK. Two people have died, and several others remain hospitalized.
Praghosa Dasa, GBC for ISKCON UK, released the following statement in response:
“The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON UK) is deeply shocked and profoundly saddened by the attack that took place earlier today on Yom Kippur at
Journalist Thomas Paine in 1776 sparked the American Revolution by writing and widely distributing his pamphlet, Common Sense. Fidel Castro – while in a Cuban prison – crafted his speech History will Absolve Me, had it smuggled it out of the prison and distributed to the masses. The result? The Cubin public overthrew the government and installed Castro as their leader.
And for thousands of years, our own acaryas have invested their time and energy to write and publish transcendental literature
On October 3, 2025, ISKCON Communications released the following statement:
Official Statement from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) warmly congratulates the Church of England and the Anglican Communion on the appointment of Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, the first female to be chosen for this role.
This miles
Recently, in Śrīdhāma Mayapur joyfully we celebrated the auspicious festival of Śrī Rāmacandra Vijayotsava — commemorating Lord Rāmacandra’s glorious victory over Rāvaṇa, symbolizing the eternal triumph of dharma over adharma, and light over darkness.
As part of the celebration, the Mayapur community children presented a heart-touching drama depicting the divine pastimes of Lord Rāmacandra. With adorable costumes and sweet devotion, they beautifully enacted scenes from the Rāmāyaṇa — from Lord
You cannot follow nicely unless you hear nicely, and you cannot lead nicely unless you have learned to follow nicely.
Yamuna: From the very beginning of our programs in Bombay, Srila Prabhupada became known as one “who is startling India with kirtan.” Our kirtans were full of so much excitement they were so thrilling that we were like one throbbing heartbeat, the heartbeat of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission of Krishna Consciousness.
It is difficult to describe how much potency we felt in the
Devotees are invited to participate in a rare and transformative opportunity this fall: the Career Dharma Workshop led by Urmila Devi Dasi (Dr. Edith Best), a senior disciple of Śrīla Prabhupāda, respected educator, and author of Career Dharma: The Natural Art of Work. The introductory course will be held on November 14-16, 2025, at New Vrindaban, West Virginia, USA.
Career Dharma refers to the alignment of one’s inner nature (dharma) with one’s outer service (kriyā). Rat
The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) officially announced the culmination of the 2025 Bhadra Campaign with a final, worldwide celebration call this Sunday, October 5th, 9:30 am EST, 7 pm IST. The event is designed to serve as a summit for devotees internationally, providing a platform for participants to present their offerings and reflect upon the achievements of the campaign’s service and outreach initiatives throughout the year.
The BBT encourages all participants and well-wishers to attend thi
On September 26, 2025, police officers in Tuapse, Russia, detained Indradyumna Swami while he was attending the Sadhu Sanga 2025 festival, which was organized by the Krasnodar yatra. The police officers’ reason for detainment was that he had engaged in religious and missionary activity without the proper documentation. However, the Krasnodar yatra had arranged a special humanitarian religious visa for him, specifically authorizing him to speak on religious topics at the festival. Despite this, t
By Ramai Swami
Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was born in a Nadiya family of physicians at the village of Jhamatpur, within the district of Barddhaman, near Naihati. His father was Sri Bhagiratha, and his mother was Sri Sunanda. He had a younger brother named Syama das.
The deity of Gaura-Nityananda installed by Sri Kaviraja Gosvamis is still being worshiped there. It appears that his family line is no more. More information about the early life of Sri Kaviraja is available in a book called Anan
Today is the auspicious disappearance day of three great acharyas in the Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradaya: Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, and Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. We shall read about Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami from Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja’s Sri Caitanya-caritamrta.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, Chapter Thirteen: “Pastimes with Jagadananda Pandita and Raghunatha Bhatta.”
TEXT 89
etha tapana-misra-putra raghunatha-bhattacarya
prabhure de
In around 1503 AD, Raghunath Bhattacharya appeared as the son of Tapana Mishra, a dear devotee of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who hailed from the village of Ramapura on the banks of the Padma River in East Bengal.
Mahaprabhu first met Tapana Mishra when he went to East Bengal during his career as a teacher of Sanskrit. Tapana Mishra had studied many scriptures but was still bewildered about the purpose of life and what to do to attain it. He had a dream in which he was instructed by a Brahmin to go
By Shyama Rasika Devi Dasi
Three years ago, the dedicated organizers at Senior Connection of Montgomery County— a non‑profit offering volunteer‑based, escorted transportation to seniors over 55 in Montgomery County —welcomed an innovative suggestion by Shyama Rasika Devi Dasi and Nikunkja Ras Das (disciples of Radhanath Swami and members of ISKCON of DC): what if a chartered coach trip could take our Montgomery County seniors to New Vrindaban in West Virginia?
The organizer welcomed the idea ent
Siddhanta das (ACBSP), well-known producer of the Memories of Prabhupada series, has launched a new video project entitled Lessons from Letters. The series highlights the personal correspondence between Srila Prabhupada and his disciples during the formative years of ISKCON.
In the 1960s and 70s, long before email or instant messaging, letters were the primary means of communication with ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya. Disciples often wrote to Prabhupada with philosophical questions or practical conce
Ram Lila, my host, said, “You go ahead. I’ll catch up to you,” indicating the Albion Trail which runs along the East River. Fine, so I did leave just a little bit after 8 AM. Nice trail. Apple trees with wormless fruit are spotted here and there. The sun was shining on the river which appeared like glass. No ripples at all. After a few minutes I heard a shuffling of footsteps behind me. They belonged to Ram Lila and his 8-year-old son, Achintya.
As a threesome we plodded along starti
As a family therapist, I counsel people both within and outside the Hare Krishna movement. I recently received an e-mail from a young woman devotee who was unhappy in her relationship with her abusive husband but was conflicted about leaving him.
“Maybe it’s good that I feel bad about myself,” she wrote, “because that will help me develop humility.”
This wasn’t the first time I had heard this logic.
The Bhagavad-gita teaches that humility is essential for spiritual progress. Unfortunately, devo
Frequently asked Questions on Mentoring
When I was initiated in 1975, Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter to my temple president at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, asking him to make sure I followed all the rules. He wrote:
13th November, 1975
My dear Prabhavisnu das,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter undated and accept upon your recommendation the following as my initiated disciples….I also accept the following as twice-born brahmanas and their threads and mantra sheets are
