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
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
Boar is a wild animal, probably not known for its beauty or great work. But when God appears in the form of a boar, He looks extremely beautiful and performs the most wonderful deeds. Just as the Supreme Lord appears in the human society as Lord Rāma and Lord Kṛṣṇa, He also incarnates in the animal society as Varāha (Boar), amongst the birds as Haṁsa (Swan), amongst the aquatics as Matsya (Fish) and so on.
According to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the Supreme Lord appeared as Varāha (a wild boar) twice –
The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) will host an online gathering focused on the distribution of Sri Caitanya-caritāmṛta, bringing together experienced practitioners from ISV, London, Pune, and other regions. The session will highlight practical strategies, effective presentation techniques, and the deeper spiritual inspiration behind participating in Lord Caitanya’s mission through book distribution.
The gathering will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, via Zoom. Participation is open to
By Kasisvar Das
For most people, December is a month of fatigue, deadlines, and year-end reviews. Yet across cultures—through Christmas, New Year, Hanukkah, or local traditions—December is also expected to bring spiritual renewal, relief, and hope for a better and happier year ahead. It is a natural time for family gatherings, gifts, music, and a sense of miracle.
And what do many Americans do in December? They go on vacation to sunny Florida, especially Miami.
My friends, Īśvara Śyāma Dās and
Las Cuevas, which means ‘the caves’, are found on the north shore of Trinidad. It is one of the favourite beaches in the country and becomes a regular spot for our devotee community. It is here Vaishnavas meet for fun, sun, sand, and water sports. Coconuts are plenty. The best part – each other. That special bonding is what all great spiritualists speak about. Sangha is the word.
After water sports, we ate, took to the ‘Double’ which Trinidad is known for. We chanted and then chose from the G
The Bhakti Vriksha Leadership Training Course, along with the Counseling, Care, and Nurturing Course, was held from January 24–26, 2026, at ISKCON Ranchi, Jharkhand. The three-day program brought together more than 150 devotees from the local community and was guided by Madhusudan Mukund Das, Centre Manager of ISKCON Ranchi.
ISKCON Ranchi has emerged as a dynamic preaching center in just three to four years, engaging thousands of devotees through diverse outreach initiatives. These include villa
The storm that challenged our flight’s movement didn’t really get behind us. It was a six-hour nature’s ordeal, which is surely humbling. Moving closer and closer to the Caribbean, and finally Trinidad and Tobago, was relieving. The sky was the most scarlet red that I’ve ever seen. It was a sign that everything is going to be okay. It does, however, cross my mind on every flight I take, especially when the aircraft shakes, “Will this be the journey that will fail?”
We have to keep up our fait
In 1895 Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura published in his “Sajjana-tosani” selected verses from “Śrī Prapannāmṛta”, a 12th century book by Sri Ananta Acarya, son of the great Kuresa, famous disciple and chief associate of Srila Ramanujacarya. The book contains valuable information and biographical accounts of the great founders of the Sri-sampradaya – Nathamuni, Yamunacarya and Ramanuja. It is stated in “Prapannāmṛta” in relation to Ramanujacarya’s birth:
caitre meṣe śukla-pakṣe pañcamyāṁ guru-vāsare
In the year 1017 A.D. Sripad Ramanujacarya, a partial incarnation of Lord Ananta Shesha and Laxman appeared on the ‘sasthi’, sixth lunar mansion of the light fortnight in the month of Chaitra, (April-May). He made his appearance in South India, Tundiradesha, at Sriperumbudur, about half way between Kancipuram and Madras. His fathers’ name was Asuri Keshava Somayaji, also known as Sarvakratu Diksitar, who it is believed was either an advaitin, or a smarta. His mother was Kantimati, the grand dau
Today is the disappearance anniversary of Sripada Ramanujacharya, the principal acharya in the Sri, or Lakshmi, sampradaya. In a letter dated November 22, 1974, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “We find great shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Ramanujacharya because his lotus feet are the strongest fort to combat the Mayavadi philosophy.” And in the early days of ISKCON in India, before we had Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is in Hindi, Prabhupada would refer people to read the Hindi edition of th
On February 14, 2026, the Governing Body Commission (GBC) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) will convene in Mayapur. One of the topics of discussion will be the recent end of the three-year moratorium period on Vaishnavis offering diksha initiation. This moratorium, first instituted by the GBC at its November 2, 2022, meeting, halted all further appointments of and initiations by Vaishnavi diksha gurus while regional concerns—especially from leadership in India—were
By Atma Tattva Das,
Public voting is now open for the Bhakti Song Contest, a grassroots initiative aimed at exploring the use of music and emerging technologies in Krishna-conscious outreach. Three devotional songs have been submitted and are available for listening and voting on the Bhakti Song site.
ISKCON News first reported on the Bhakti Song Contest in September 2025 when the initiative was introduced by Isvara Krisna Dasa of Bhaktivedanta College in Budapest, along with Bhakta Szabolcs Tár
The Canberra temple deities of Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra Devi and Sri Gaura Nitai were away for nearly one month being repainted by Bhakti DD from Melbourne.
On the auspicious occasion of Lord Advaita Acharya’s appearance day the deities revealed Themselves back on the temple altar. The devotees were ecstatic chanting and dancing in front of Their beloved Lordships. The occasion was celebrated with fire yajna, puspa abhisekha, arati and grand feast.
Source: https://ramaiswami.com/canbe
I easily get irritated with indoor air that gets trapped. My impulses tell me to get out and go for some freshness. The temperature outside reads +3º Celsius. That I can manage even with a long-sleeved kurta (shirt). The decision was a good one because it was genuinely the calm before the storm. I met Uddhava on the way. We commented on the weather and the condition. It is fresh! However, we also noticed wind coming, a temperature drop, and snow to follow. In truth, we we’ve been spoiled in Ca
Excerpt from the lecture by HH Nirañjana Swami
Baltics Winter Festival, January 17, 2014
The following is a partially-edited transcription of an excerpt of a lecture given on January 17, 2014, at the Baltics Winter Festival – Chanting with Feeling
Today I wanted to read and speak from a few quotes about the Holy Name. Some of them I have read recently and found a lot of significance to them, not only to myself but those with whom I shared them. A lot of times the devotees struggle to make their
From Back to Godhead
“From the viewpoint of eternity, a life span of five thousand years is the same as that of five years: both are a flash, both temporary.”
Two summers ago when the Reforestation Department of the Sequoia National Park in California gave away excess baby Sequoia trees, I got four and planted them on our nine-acre property in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Sequoias don’t produce useful things like fruits or flowers. They simply live—for thousands of years. And t
