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Monday morning may not be the most buzzing time in an ashram.  That is my observation in some locations I go to.  The previous day, Sunday, might do a little more than usual wear and tear on brahmacharis (monks) residing on the premises.  At 4:30 AM, present along with myself, is Hansarupa, and my assistant, Kavi, is the priest of the altar. Eventually though, one by one, others appear that makes us family.

Hamsa plays great mridanga and I love to sing, taking the lead on most of the songs.  Tha

Gauranga Das preparing meals at the Mega Kitchen set up during the Kumbh Mela.

The Netra Kumbh 2025, inaugurated on January 5, 2025, during the Maha Kumbh Mela—a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage event held every 12 years—aims to deliver exceptional eye care services to millions of pilgrims and local residents. 

With over 12 million visually impaired individuals in India, many of whom suffer from preventable blindness due to a lack of awareness and resources, Netra Kumbh strives to

Svaha Devi Dasi in her Florida home. Photo courtesy of Detroit News.

This week, a committee led by the Vice-President of India unanimously selected three influential Indian-Americans for the 2025 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award. One of the three recipients is Svaha Devi Dasi (Dr. Sharmila Ford, PhD), wife of TOVP Chairman Ambarisa Dasa (Alfred Ford). This is the country’s  highest honor for Indians living overseas.

Svaha Devi Dasi, recognized for her exemplary community service, hails from a Beng

If I had one wish, I would wish to see you
I wish to see your skin as fresh as the dew
I wish to see Your beautiful black locks,
curling on your hair like the night
I wish to see your hands
that have so much might.
I wish to Your blue aura, even though you are black, I see blue
Lord! When I look at you, I shall see blue
Blue like the vast oceans, holding millions of souls
Your strength holds me up. You are my my pillar, my pole.
I wish to see you, the real you, plain and true
Your elegant smile, and radian

LCVS retreatants on harinam in France.

ISKCON London is happy to announce the relaunch of the London College of Vedic Studies (LCVS) with fresh, innovative ideas and courses, keeping the community at heart and driven by the community to fulfill their requests for various courses. 

Due to staffing limitations, LCVS was dormant for some time, but with our new team of devotees, we are trying to revitalize the college, offering community support and care through facilitating courses and workshops to

We are pleased to present the 3 January 2025 GBC Meeting Highlights Report. This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the online GBC meeting highlighting the key topics discussed.

The meeting commenced with a welcome to all members by Guru Prasad Swami, followed by Madhusevita Das reading from a lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam by Srila Prabhupada on 24 May 1973 in London, England.

The following key topics were discussed:

1. GBC EMERITUS STATUS FOR MALATI DEVI:
Guru Prasad Swami offe

SB 1.1.2 … sadyo hrdy avarudhyate ‘tra krtibhih susrusubhis tat-ksanat …As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhagavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.

Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.1.2

By the hearing process Krsna IMMEDIATELY (sadyo) is established in the heart.

Please note the word RAPT [attention, in the previous quote] – there is a consistency in the Bhagavatam methodology. One has to hear attentively.

The sadhana of hearing

From Back to Godhead

By Guru Dasa (Gurudev D. Allin), a disciple of His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami.

“Oh, God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams.” Shakespeare’s Hamlet, 2.2 (First Folio) This line from Hamlet nicely sums up the absurdity of our delusions of self-importance. I wrote this meditation on the importance of humility as part of my effort to shake my own delusions of knowledge and significance.

Human nature seem

Visakha Dasi has released a new book entitled Bhagavad-gita for Children, Krishna Is… This beautifully designed volume is a meditation on Krishna’s representations and energies in this world. Through simple phrases that accompany beautiful illustrations that are ready for coloring, children can easily grasp the Gita‘s relevance. Even more, they are reminded of who Krishna is and how He’s present all around us all the time.

“For me, the teachings of the Gita are meant to be accessible to people o

The TOVP A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Legacy Museum, a Tribute to the legacy of our Founder-Acharya, is another grand project being undertaken by the TOVP Team under the direction of its Chairman Ambarisa das and Vice Chairman Braja Vilasa das. Phase 1 of the museum is scheduled to open during a grand and historic celebration on February 18, 2025.

The idea for such a museum is long overdue, and currently most of Srila Prabhupada’s memorabilia (tadiya) is scattered across the Earth, in the hands of v

Just after the 12 years of exile of the Pandavas was completed, they were considering where to spend the remaining 1 year incognito. While still in the forest, a brahmana came to them and reported that the sticks which he used for igniting his sacrificial fire had somehow gotten entangled in the antlers of a deer, and the sticks were now gone. The sage asked the Pandavas to see if they could possibly return the sticks. In a search for that deer, a very unusual event took place. They could not f

By Karnamrita Das and Arcana siddhi Devi Dasi

I have been speaking to a friend about how personal and spiritual growth can be related, or how our being balanced human beings in the mode of goodness is a good foundation for Krishna consciousness. Thus I thought of posting this article by my wife and I: Chanting the holy name and engaging in Bhakti-yoga (Krishna consciousness or devotional service) is the ultimate process of purification and healing in our tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The p

From Back to Godhead

Variety is said to be the spice of life. Imagine a life where you eat the same vegetables daily, wear the same clothes, meet the same people, and visit the same places. So boring, right? This world is full of varieties seasonal changes in the form of summer, winter, autumn, spring; periodic appearance and disappearance of the sun and the moon; cultural differences among people of different nations; the language, the dress, and the eating habits in different parts of the wor

At the end of December, ISKCON Communications Europe released the new ISKCON Communications Journal (ICJ) in a bookmarked, digital format. Click here to access the 2024 ICJ. You can read the Introduction, which summarizes all the articles, by clicking here. 

The articles, written by devotees, are rooted in the teachings of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda and offer different thoughtful perspectives on important issues. For example, the first article in this volume is a histo

Since 2019, the ISKCON Ministry of Education has been organizing an annual symposium named Viplavah to unite ISKCON educators and leaders worldwide, foster collaboration, and share invaluable insights to expand Srila Prabhupada’s vision for education. 

The theme for the 2024 symposium, held virtually from December 18 to 22, was Children’s Education. The event highlighted remarkable contributions from educators across the globe, with presentations recorded and shared on the Ministry’s official Yo

My flight to Trinidad and Tobago was with Caribbean Airlines, boarding in Toronto.  The distinguishable hummingbird insignia, flying backwards and flapping at high speed, was my lead to the proper queue.

I was surprised that devotees who booked me put me on business class seat 1A.  That was kind of them.  When the flight attendant came around asking for a preferred breakfast, I made it clear, “No animals!”  Anyways, she got it.