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
It was a whole night and half a day that I was up in the air, I’m not always stepping on the ground. It was such a pleasure to be greeted in Argentina by Muktinath, one of the actors I’ll work with, Daksha, who runs a successful Veg restaurant, an Meru devi, coordinator for the weekend Chariot Fest. Once we reached the ISKCON Centre, I wasted no time.
I was graced with a welcoming committee doing kirtan, got well fed and dove into practice for the play, “ The Jagannatha story” in Spanish. I 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
I arrived just yesterday from a flight from Edmonton and this evening I depart for Buenos Aires, Argentina. To keep some semblance of good health I must walk. At 4 pm I left on foot in a northwest direction. When on Bathurst Street a middle aged man crossed the street to greet me. He saw my japa beads in hand and spoke.
“You are praying for us? And I guess he meant for humanity to which I responded with a “yes” and I put his hands together with mine and he gave a smile. I carried on. The traf
“Man proposes, God disposes” has been the cause of immense frustration for humanity since time immemorial. The best plans are often foiled forever in a single moment by factors beyond human control. Misery can be said to be the condition in which we are unable to get what we want and / or are forced to accept that which we don’t want. A thoughtful person can perceive that misery is an unavoidable, inescapable companion during the sojourn through this world (Bhagavad Gita 8.15). Everyone is put
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.
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Source: https://iskconnew
On the first Wednesday of every month I have the privilege of being virtually with the Caribbean devotees for one of those Gita chats. I am on regular calls with people interested in the Gitas dynamism and what this great documented conversation has done for meaningful transformation. I relish each call. What a treasure it is to hear from the words of God and sharing it.
One thing I have noticed is how each group of people has its own personality. The devotees on todays call (we missed Wednes
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
With days being so short and darkness long, there’s little opportunity to see the solar body. Its day number 2 for our conference which is in a nice basement facility
A windowless situation it is, so you feel something missing.
6 am was our agreed upon starting point for a trek in an urban sprawl. Though gloomy we had the 8 of us had each other. We decided quite spontaneously to make the ISKCON temple the Radha Govinda Cultural Centre our destination. Sumeer was on foot on foot with us an ext
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
On December 5, Sri Mayapur Community Hospital reached a major milestone with the inauguration of its newly extended section. The expansion includes a welcoming reception area on the ground floor, outpatient departments (OPDs) on the first and second floors, and a state-of-the-art operation theatre on the second floor.
The venue was beautifully decorated with flowers by the female devotees who work at the hospital, and a Vastu Homa was performed during the occa
By Atma Tattva Das
On November 24th, a ceremony took place at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, where ISKCON Lagos received a prestigious award at the CSR Reporters’ Social Impact and Sustainability Awards (SISA) 2024. The event recognized top Nigerian organizations for their exceptional commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability. ISKCON Lagos was honored alongside notable companies such as Dangote Cement, TotalEnergies, BUA Group, 7Up Bottling Company, Pres
Our arrival at the Ramada Inn four hours later concluded a job well done! Shifting drivers is always a good idea in the wee hours of the m
After more than a decade, a mysterious attachment to a certain book yields the sweetest fruit.
Srila Prabhupada said that if someone just holds one of his books about Krishna and appreciates it, without even buying it, that is enough to ensure that person a human form or higher in the next life. The power of Srila Prabhupada’s books has touched and changed forever many thousands of lives, including my own.
One morning in the glittering city of Mumbai, India, a small girl, barely seven years old
"When education is aimed at self-realization and devotion to God, it not only benefits the individual but also contributes to universal peace and harmony. Material education alone cannot solve the problems of birth, death, old age, and disease only spiritual knowledge can."
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