Blog

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master, is my grand spiritual master, but I feel that I never really knew him very well until I read his biography Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava, by my godbrother Bhakti Vikasa Swami. Many of the quotes and references below come from that work.

We are all here by the mercy of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. There’s a line through which the mercy desce

By Srila Bhaktisiddhanata Sarasvati Thakura

In the early 1930s, the intrepid preacher of Krishna consciousness receives grand receptions from the devoted people of South India.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was the spiritual master of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This article is an excerpt from Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava.

South India, 1930–31 and 1932

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati wanted to install 108 pada-pithas (replicas of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s f

By Arya Devi Dasi

The Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies Launches New Podcast Series “The Insight Stream: Science Meets Philosophy.” The podcast aims to bridge the gap between scientific inquiry and philosophical exploration, fostering a deeper understanding of topics such as consciousness, intelligence, ethics, and the nature of the universe. By encouraging dialogue between scientific and philosophical perspectives, The Insight Stream seeks to inspire curiosity and engagement in the pur

By Yudhisthira Dasa 

In 1976, Michael Cassidy (Mangalananda Dasa) wrote and recorded a song called “A Change of Heart,” which captivated tens if not hundreds of thousands of listeners. I remember playing it again and again, singing along to the lyrics. Fond memories. Here is a link to the song and lyrics which say:

A caterpillar changed his mind, and woke to find himself defined

His old self had to die for him to be a butterfly.

He tired of walking on the ground, and so around himself he wound

A

By Atma Tattva Das

This year, the Krishna Balarama Youth Group (KBYG) in Johannesburg marks a monumental milestone—21 years of fostering devotion, community, and transformation within ISKCON South Africa. Over two decades, KBYG has been a beacon of inspiration, not just for youth in Johannesburg but for devotees and seekers across the nation and beyond. As they celebrate this occasion, they reflect on their journey, challenges, contributions, and the enduring spirit that has shaped the platform

By Sunanda Das

Since construction began on the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Sridham Mayapur in 2009, many devotees have argued back and forth about whether the TOVP is the Adbhuta* Mandir referred to in a prediction by Sri Nityananda Prabhu while taking Jiva Goswami on a parikrama of Navadvipa mandala.

The exact quote from the Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur is as follows:
eka adbhuta mandira ei haibe prakasa
gauranga nitya-seva haibe vikasa
“An astounding temple will

From Back to Godhead

A brief analysis of Bhagavad-gita 9.4, 9.5, and 9.6.

The Bhagavad-gita is one of the world’s perennial wisdom texts. Because it offers knowledge of the Absolute Truth, some of its texts can be difficult to understand. Few are as difficult as verses four and five of Chapter Nine: “By Me, in My unmanifested form, this entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them. And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My mystic opulence! Alt

By Adi Purusa Krsna Dasa 

The construction of a new temple extension hall at ISKCON Adelaide, South Australia, was finally completed, and its doors opened to the public on Saturday, December 7, 2024. The occasion was celebrated with a grand inaugural ceremony, which was accompanied by mantra-chanting, ecstatic kirtans, and gaiety.

We faced many trials and tribulations during this arduous journey. Still, ultimately, by the mercy of the presiding deities, Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara, we prevailed.

According to science, compassion is not something that we are born with or that we have or don’t have; it is cultivated by deliberate effort. In November 2024, Bhaktivedanta Academy’s 7th-10th grade students in Alachua, Florida, were engaged in a month-long project entitled “108 Random Acts of Kindness.” To see highlights of the initiative, click here.

To follow Bhaktivedanta Academy, please visit their website and like/subscribe to their Facebook and YouTube accounts.

Source: https://iskconnew

If time is relative, what about space? How to make time go slowly, or faster?

Most of us live constantly busy, living with the idea that there is not sufficient time. It would not be nice if we could stretch and contract the time at will, getting more time to do things we want, making pleasurable moments last for an eternity, and painfully experiences pass in a moment?

The good news is that time is relative. Time works differently in different parts of the cosmos. It can be stretched or contrac

On September, HH Radhanath Swami was in New York City to speak at The Bhakti Center for their 3rd Annual Pearl Festival, celebrating Radhastami (the Divine appearance of Srimati Radharani). A special feature of this festival is that all guests received the opportunity to write a prayer on a paper pearl and offer it, along with a real pearl, to Radharani. All the real pearls were then collected, strung into a necklace and offered to Radharani as a gift. Below are some excerpts of his talk.

“The

By Aisvarya Kisori Devi Dasi 

Gitanushilanam 2024 is the world’s largest online Bhagavad-gita competition dedicated to ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is the annual flagship event of Learn Gita Live Gita (LGLG) to celebrate the Gita Jayanti 2024.

Learn Gita Live Gita is an initiative under the leadership of Lila Purushottam Das (Director-IIT Mandi, Director-BGIS Vrindavan) to bring success and happiness to every person in this world, irrespective o

This year’s Live to Give Campaign is surging around the world, as more and more devotees are accepting the challenge to share 4.2 million copies of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. To help inspire seasoned and starting book distributors, several  devotees, in cooperation with the BBT (Bhaktivedanta Book Trust) have produced two music videos. Additionally, this weekend, they will host a Super Sunday online gathering.

The first music video offering is “Then Comes A Hand!” by Bhakta Srikar and NYC Harin

Excerpt from the lecture by HH Nirañjana Swami

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 8.16

Śrī Māyāpur Dhāma, March 4, 2014

The following is a partially-edited transcription of an excerpt of a lecture given on March 04, 2014 in Śrī Māyāpur Dhāma – CC, Ādi-līlā 8.16

This verse stresses the importance of chanting the Holy Name so that one can achieve the ultimate goal of this chanting. I wanted to read something also in connection to this. It is short but very relevant to this verse. In the words of our p

By Bir Krishna Das Goswami

To read the following article on the original pdf document (61MB) click here: https://devoteecare.org/magazines/004souvenir%20complete%20_%2060MBFILE.pdf

Read more: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=88995