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As the Hare Krishna Society builds a lavish new temple in India, it is struggling to control a faction in the city where the religion was born.

Weekdays at Govinda’s Vegetarian Lunch, a cafeteria in the basement of Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, the Hare Krishna temple located in the rapidly developing area of Downtown Brooklyn, is a peaceful affair. Outside, there are cranes, scaffolding and cement trucks. But inside and down a few stairs, there is faint, dulcet chanting piped through speakers.

By Sophia Nguyen

Distant are the days of Annie Hall, when Woody Allen resigned himself to a plate of alfalfa sprouts and mashed yeast. Over the years, vegan eating has gone from tasteless to trendy to making inroads into the mainstream. One sign of the times: in 2016, Tyson Foods, the largest meat processor in the United States, bought a 5 percent stake in the plant-based protein producer Beyond Meat. (The company’s best-known product, the Beyond Burger, is pinkened with beet extracts and repor

Traditional Indian Art Paintings By B.G. Sharma

“Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.”(Bhagavad-gita 18.78)

“Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please ins

Hare Krishna!!

Friday,15th of December 2017 was a memorial day for all ISKCON devotees in India, as it marked the release of the Hare Krishna! movie - a documentary on Srila Prabhupada's life - which released simultaneously across 700 screens in 50 different cities of India.

The movie has received a resounding success all over India. However, special mention must be made of Kolkata, the birthplace of Srila Prabhupada. Here the movie had run for a week in all the PVR Cinemas across the city. The

The winter holidays from Christmas till the New Year attracts lakhs of people every year from across India to the ISKCON Chandradaya Temple, Mayapur, the spiritual headquarters of the institution. During this time all the guesthouses, lodges and hotels are stuffed and every road leading to Mayapur is seen bustling with tourists and revellers. To reach out to this huge bunch of people with an aim to inculcate spiritual values among people and thereby promote peace, harmony and well-being, the de

From Back to Godhead

By Acyuta Dasa

Whether we are neophytes or advanced, association of pure devotees is crucial for our spiritual progress.

The pure devotees of the Lord carry the message of Godhead in order to deliver the fallen souls, and therefore the common man who is bewildered by the influence of the external energy of the Lord should avail himself of their association.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.5.4, purport)

The Science Behind Krishna Consciousness

Srila Prabhupada often referred to bhakti

By Urmila devi dasi

“It is not from any deliberate opposition to the ordained clergy that these observations are made. The original purpose of the established churches of the world may not be always objectionable. But no stable religious arrangement for instructing the masses has yet been successful. The supreme Lord Shree Krishna Chaitanya in pursuance of the teaching of the scriptures enjoins all absence of conventionalism for the teachers of the eternal religion. It does not follow that the

Question: Is it necessary to equate spirituality with religion? Do you think people can be spiritual, having values, but not be religious at all?

Radhanath Swami: It depends on our definition of spirituality and religion. Values are required to be genuine in any spiritual or religious path. In the yoga system there are yamas and niyamas which are based on our values, on our ethics, on our morality, because we can’t truly build our spiritual experience unless we have those values. When we see a

By Braja Sevaki Devi Dasi

Vrindavana’s cows feel the pinch as their pasturing grounds disappear.

It was the day before Janmashtami. Crowds of pilgrims were pouring into Vrindavana. The streets were hectic with traffic from Delhi and the surrounding areas. I was being pushed constantly in the press of human and animal traffic, feeling somewhat battered, longing for a solitary place. Suddenly a large bull knocked into me, pushing me into the oncoming traffic. I was hit by a car, breaking both my

Nirmala: Six months later, already delayed by a broken-down van, my sankirtana crew and this six-month veteran hurried toward the New Vrindavan temple, where Srila Prabhupada had already arrived in July 1974.
As I ran up the knoll toward the temple I was unprepared for the visceral reaction that overtook me.
Srila Prabhupada was singing Jaya Radha-Madhava, and his voice was being broadcast over the loudspeakers.
At first the loud sound didn’t strike me, but then suddenly his voice penetrated in

Everyone falls short, or doesn’t progress as fast as they would like, on their spiritual journey. Can we ever think we love or serve Krishna sufficiently, when even great souls consider themselves deficient in devotion? Therefore, I always feel it is essential to portray my struggles as well as successes, so that devotees will be comfortable accepting and acknowledging where they fall short—at least with a select group, or a confidential friend. It is a sad truth that too many don’t have such a

Hare Krsna

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Although they forget death, death will not forget them. Suddenly they will be kicked off the platform of a peaceful family life. One may forget that he has to die, but death never forgets. Death comes always at the right time.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.9.6

You are thinking, "Now I have arranged everything. Things are going very nicely. Now I'm very happy." But, all of a sudden, the death comes. That you cannot avoid. All of

From Back to Godhead

Providing inspiration for the world’s largest democracy.

“We say God’s on our side but the more important question to ask is are we on God’s side…” (George Washington)

Democracy is supposed to be ‘by the people, of the people, and for the people,’ but I fear it may soon be redefined as ‘buy’ the people, ‘off’ the people, and ‘far’ (from) the people,” exclaimed Suresh, a 25-year-old man I met while returning to the temple from an outstation program. He was disappointed that

As we come into Krishna consciousness then many a times we may get lost in the philosophy itself. The mind too likes newer subjects and intellect is also satisfied by gaining deeper understanding. However we should be careful not to feel satisfied remaining at these levels. Most of us do understand that our real position in the material world is not unlike that of a criminal put in a prison for reform. Criminals can also, rather they do, have high level of mental and intellectual capabilities!

By Davender Bhardwaj

BMI-Bhaktivriksha in Bloomington, IL conducted a 10 week course of Bhagavad Gita As It Is for children from ages 9-16. It was well received by the children and all 28 of them graduated and received their Certificates in a ceremony last Saturday Dec 16. There were more registrant than the allocated seats so we will hold another session soon.
The course was well appreciated by the children and proud parents who were so happy to perceive their children’s depth of understanding

By Giriraj Swami

On Srila Jiva Gosvami’s disappearance day recently, I thought of Mother Arca-vigraha’s special service to him, as recounted by Kuntidevi dasi in my book Many Moons: Reflections on Departed Vaishnavas:

“Over time, Arca-vigraha was able to use her artistic talent in the service of some very special projects. Once, a Gaudiya Vaishnava at Radha-kunda wanted to renovate Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami’s bhajana-kutira and was looking for an artist to paint a new portrait. It would

The poet Allen Ginsberg, an early devotee who attended some of the first outreach sessions in New York, told The Times in 1966 that the chanting “brings a state of ecstasy.”

Swami Prabhupada, known to his followers as Srila Prabhupada, officially founded the Hare Krishna Society that same year. Its first temple was located in a former gift shop at 26 Second Avenue in Manhattan. Early devotees were mostly white Westerners, many of whom were disillusioned with American culture as the Vietnam War

By Hari Narayana Das

Organised by Kesatuan Mahasiswa Hindu Dharma Indonesia (KMHDI) or the United University Students Hindu Dharma Indonesia (Head Branch of Gorontalo), in collaboration with Bhagavad-gita Centre (ISKCON), Gorontalo, the International Bhagavad-gita Seminar was held at the Banthayo Lo Iladiya (Official Hall of the Mayor) for the first time in Gorontalo City on 16 December 2017. The event was supported by the Mayor of Gorontalo, Hindu Parisada Gorontalo, Association of Islamic Stu