Sri Abhirama Thakura, also known by the name Sri Rama das, was one of the twelve gopalas or cowherd boys, of Vraja. In the eternal lila he is Sridama, one of the key members of Krishna and Balarama’s gopas.
One day in Dwapara yuga, Krishna, Balarama and their cowherd friends were playing hide-and-seek in the woods of Vrindavan. Suddenly, Krishna remembered Nadia and wanted to go there and enjoy some pastimes there. Taking Balaram and all their friends with Him, He advented in Navadwipa. Someho
Bhaktivedanta Institute Scholar Profile: DOUG WATSON.
Doug was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1977. He has a PhD in Physics from Vanderbilt University, where his research focused on a theoretical framework for the formation and evolution of galaxies in the universe. Doug was a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow at the University of Chicago, the fellowship supported independent research in cutting-edge theoretical physics as well as education initiatives for underserved commun
I was the Pujari in the Watseka Avenue (LA) temple when I joined in January 1970. She was totally dedicated to the Deities. Most of us went out on hari nam sankirtan with Vishnujan Prabhu dancing and chanting in streets like Hollywood Boulevard. She stayed with the Deities, chanting japa most of the day. She told us “The real nectar begins after you chant 64 rounds.”
This was before mangal arotike was attended by all the devotees. She was offering mangal arotike by herself.
We got to bed very l
More than 20 religious scholars and spiritual practitioners gathered for the 27th Annual Vaishnava-Christian Dialogue on April 6th-7th in Potomac, Maryland, to explore the theme “Loving Your Enemy.”
Attendees include priests, pastors, professors, and university students from both the Protestant and Catholic traditions, as well as leaders, scholars, and students from the Vaishnava tradition. Catholic monastics sat in their robes next to dhoti-clad Vaishnavas, young scholars interspersed with re
I sat on the dentist chair and the assistant working on my cleaning was engaged in conversation with me. Well, it was less than a conversation. She was doing most of the talking while my mouth was occupied. Most of the theme was how we all need to work at relieving ourselves of bacteria. For those who sincerely work at the daily brushing, flossing and such, you will clean up 70% of the bacteria, and according to her experience, “the dentist does the rest." When my mouth was free, I asked her,
By Atma Tattva Das
Amidst the mystical glaciers, geysers, and volcanoes of Iceland, a spiritual revolution is quietly taking shape. Gaura Bhagavan Das and his wife, Dayarupa Devi Dasi, have embarked on an extraordinary journey to establish ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) in this Nordic island nation. This project encompasses not only the opening of a restaurant but also a vibrant preaching center. Theirs is a story of faith, perseverance, and a commitment to sharing the
By Siddhanta Das
The 33rd Annual Prabhupada Festival has returned as a two-day event in Los Angeles on Memorial Day Weekend (May 25th and 26th). This year’s celebration will be a most memorable celebration of Srila Prabhupada as seen through the eyes of his daughters with the focus on Prabhupada’s quality of compassion.
Malati, Kusa, and Ananga Manjari are flying in for a blissful panel discussion along with a special mystery guest. There will also be readings from the Lila-amrita by Prabhupada
A very friendly voice owned by a person of the name, Harilila from Houston asked that I gave a class via Zoom to an audience from North America, Europe and India on this day. The subject was “time”. A good number of listeners were seniors and so the topic is relatable. Bhagavatam 3.10.11 has interesting things to say:
“Eternal time is the primeval source of the intersections of the three modes of nature.”
“In Hebrew literature time is accepted, in the same spirit, as a representation of Go
We all complain we don’t have enough time. So many schedules, so many deadlines, so many tasks to attend to, so many phone-calls to answer and make, so many demands we have to fulfill: our check-to-do lists seem inexhaustible. Absorbed in all these things, we do not notice that one of our most important resources in life–time–slips out of our fingers. This leaving us with a diffuse dissatisfaction in the back of our minds that we have no time for what matters to us.
Then a moment comes, unplann
From Back to Godhead
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Lecture given on July 16, 1969, in Los Angeles
A talk given on the occasion of the installation of the deities Sri Sri Rukmini Dvarakanatha.
This function of installing the deity is authorized. Several times I have given the example that when you put your mail in a box on the street, because it is written there “US Mail” you know that it is an authorized box. And if you put your letters within this box, they will sure
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
Recently, the Mayapur Academy held its second deity worship course for children in Sri Mayapur Dham. The initiative aims to facilitate a personal relationship between Krsna and the children in a devotionally inspiring and authentic way.
During the course, devotee children immersed themselves in an absorbing curriculum, learning acamana rituals, bhoga offerings, the art of bathing and adorning the deities, polishing paraphernalia, crafting ghee wicks, and blo
Braja Vilasa Das, Co-Director of ISKCON Mayapur and Vice Chairman of the TOVP announced the upcoming Give To Nrsima 12 Day Matching Fundraiser beginning on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya (May 10th) until Nrsimha Caturdasi (May 22), to help complete the Nrsimha Wing.
The Nrsimhadeva Wing is 80% complete and scheduled to be finished by Nrsimha Caturdasi. We humbly beseech every devotee to help finish the new temple and home of our Divine Protector by participating in this matching fundrais
Jayananda Prabhu was born on April 27, 1939.
Here is a wonderful account of how he manifested his presence at the time of his mother’s passing away, which I call “A Hospice Miracle”:
Krishna’s Mercy—Serving Jayananda Prabhu’s Mother
(Derived from a letter by Kalindi Dasi to her spiritual master, Candramauli Swami)
In mid-July I started wearing tilak to my work at the hospice. I thought that since many other spiritual practitioners were expressing their faith by wearing crosses, doves, silk thre
In the quest for a name
Spontaneously it came
The theme - "Honey and Harmony"
Far removed from any agony
There was background Kirtan music
Calming, for we tend to lose it
Accompanied by the best food
We licked, drank, sucked and chewed
From Back to Godhead
I love chanting japa—some days. Other days, I endure chanting japa. It seems to be bliss or boredom. On the good days I am enthralled. Krishna feels very close, and very dear. Not that I’m seeing visions or hearing voices—nothing dramatic that would excite the tabloid crowd. The experience is closer to returning home after a long, arduous journey. Such a sweet pleasure from the simple fingering of beads, the rhythmic repetition of the maha- mantra:Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
When Alexander the Great lead his men through the Gedrosian Desert, the loss of life was colossal. He sent phalanxes of his army in search of water. After many hours they came back with just enough to fill a helmet. The parched army handed over the precious liquid to their commander. He clasped the helmet in both hands and to the dismay of his troops, poured its contents onto the sand. Alexander proclaimed, “If the men don’t drink, then I don’t drink”. This selfless act forever forged an impene
Substantially, there are so many places to visit and replenish your invincible mind but I would like to talk over one place which has the aura of sublime and peacefulness and that is the "Iskcon temple of Sri dham vrindavan".The transcendental vibration of harinam dancing in ecstasy flawlessly and the divine darshan of the deities is impossible.
Within the temple, I found a precious spot which is completely filled with exalted devotees in front of the lord , radiating the sublime effulgence, fro
Rupa Vilasa dasa, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, has been helping to run two local sangas for many years. As a local author, lecturer, and educator, throughout his five books he offers the history of our Vaishnava acaryas, which readers will find both educational and entertaining.
Rupa Vilasa dasa reveals the history of ISKCON’s parampara (a succession of spiritual teachers) in an unique and highly readable style. He explains that such knowledge of the tradition will inspire the devotee commun
