Eshant Garg: For years, I adhered to the Ritvik belief system, convinced that it represented the most faithful continuation of Srila Prabhupada’s legacy. Like many others, I was drawn to its simplicity and the comfort it offered — that we could remain connected to Srila Prabhupada without the complexities of formal initiation through living spiritual masters. However, over time, sincere introspection and exposure to broader perspectives led me to question, and eventually leave, the Ritvik syste
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By Parabhakti Dasa
On Monday, May 19, 2025, Pope Leo XIV held a special audience in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, meeting with representatives of various religious groups who had come to Rome for his inaugural Mass. This included Orthodox and Protestant leaders, as well as representatives from Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain communities.
This is a significant gesture, clearly demonstrating a desire not only to continue along the path of interreligious dialogue but
By Atma Tattva Das
Over 10,000 people gathered to celebrate unity in diversity through devotion, culture, and color in Sandton, Africa’s richest square mile. On the first weekend of May 2025, weather forecasts predicted a sharp drop in temperature, but sunny conditions prevailed during the fourth annual Rathayatra Festival. Organized by ISKCON Sandton in partnership with the Africa Ratha Yatra Alliance (ARYA), this year’s event, themed “Culturally Many, Spiritually One,” attracted over 10,000 a
Srimal and I were climbing up the stairs by the beach at Lake Erie to return to his vehicle when we met halfway two men who were tourists. They looked like they were from the middle east.
“Good morning! How are you?” I asked. It was they who were curious and who asked where we are from.
“I’m from Canada, and he (Srimala) is from here. How about you?”
They replied spontaneously, “Jordan.”
“That’s nice.” In a subtle way they indicated that the dialogue was over, as brief as it was, a
In neighborhoods from Maryland to Manchester, Indian families have found a piece of home in the gleaming towers and quiet farm communities of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Far from India’s bustling streets, these Hare Krishna temples and farm ashrams have blossomed into cultural sanctuaries where immigrants and their children reconnect with the faith, language, and traditions of their heritage. To newcomers feeling the pangs of homesickness, an ISKCON center often
ISKCON’s worldwide book distribution program stands as one of the most remarkable spiritual outreach initiatives of modern times. Since its inception in the 1960s under the guidance of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, this devoted effort has placed over half a billion books into the hands of readers across continents, languages, and cultural boundaries. The extraordinary scale of this literary dissemination has quietly revolutionized countless lives and institutions, creating ripples of posi
Throughout the world, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temples have welcomed countless visitors who have shared their positive experiences. This article compiles genuine testimonials and impressions from people who have interacted with ISKCON centers globally, showcasing the impact these spiritual communities have on outsiders.
Temple Aesthetics and Atmosphere
Visitors to ISKCON temples often comment on the peaceful environment they encounter. One visitor to the Londo
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
In the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown, when the streets of Mayapur were silent and the gates of local neighborhoods were closed, a small group of Western devotees began a daily Harinam Sankirtan that would grow into one of the most consistent preaching efforts in the area. Among them was Purnamasi Devi Dasi, who joined the group during Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi in June 2020. The group—now known as the Jiv Jago Harinam Sankirtan Team—completed five years of d
By Govinda Ranjana Das
In the beloved Vaishnava prayer “samsara davanala lidha loka,” we hear of the blazing forest fire of material existence that engulfs all living beings, and of the spiritual master who, out of boundless compassion, appears to rescue us from these flames. Srila Prabhupada was such a teacher who, despite our complete lack of qualification, delivered the timeless wisdom of Krishna consciousness to the Western world. Through his disciples and grand disciples, this sacred knowle
Liberty Park outside of Solon is a well-maintained series of trails set in the Carolinian forest with maples and large twisty vines that give it a jungle appearance. With three devotee families to form this morning’s team, our venturing through the green space became a zone for Tarzan play for the kids. They felt liberated. We all did.
On the way to Parma, a suburban section for the Sunday devotions, we came upon a place called Twinsburg where an annual procession draws the crowds to see t
Since its founding in 1966, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) – often known as the “Hare Krishna” movement – has grown into a worldwide network of temples and outreach programs. In city squares and remote villages around the globe, ISKCON temples welcome people from all backgrounds to chant the sacred “Hare Krishna” mantra, partake in communal worship, and celebrate India’s rich devotional traditions. Beneath the familiar robes and melodies lies a thriving culture of s
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, lovingly known as ISKCON, is more than a spiritual organization—it is a movement that embodies the timeless beauty of devotion, community, and divine love. Born from the vision of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1966, ISKCON has blossomed into a global sanctuary for seekers of spiritual truth, drawing hearts from every corner of the world into the warm embrace of Krishna consciousness.
At the heart of ISKCON’s beauty lies **Bhakti**—pur
By Rsi Kumara Dasa
We are delighted to announce the completion of a monumental literary and devotional achievement in Gaudiya Vaishnava history: Danavir Goswami has successfully finished the printing of the Sri Garga-samhita in thirty volumes, the culmination of a 20-year endeavor. Each volume features the original Sanskrit text, Roman transliteration, English synonyms, translation, elaborate commentary, and thirty-two pages of colored plates per hardbound volume. The complete sets will be avai
By Jaya Krishna Das
The Bhaktivedanta Players have been a beacon of Krishna-conscious cultural awareness in the UK since their founding in 1977. They’ve performed not only across Britain but internationally too. My journey with the troupe began at thirteen, when my brothers and I were asked to play monkeys in a Ramayana production at Bhaktivedanta Manor. That moment sparked a lifelong passion for drama, transforming it into a spiritual practice and an offering of love to Lord Krishna.
Over the y
People in our community aren’t always punctual. The standard joke is, “We follow IST,” translated as Indian Standard Time or ISKCON Standard Time. Seriously, I don’t laugh at it anymore. Shobam is in his twenties, and he joined our walking team which agreed to meet at 8 AM for the start of the trek. When the topic came up about the chronic lateness, I said to Shobam, “Can your generation change that?”
“I’m going to try,” he said.
The Ledges Trails at Cuyahoga National Park is just idea
The spiritual or eternal self is not the sensations which the soul experiences within and from the body. “yantra rudrani mayaya”. What we directly experience is not actually the external hard physical material world, but a REPRESENTATION built by the mind, within the networks of the body’s brain, nervous and glandular systems, life air, etc., but primarily the brain, of the occupied body, exactly like a person experiencing the holo-deck from Star Trek fame. Subject, also, to defects.
By Tamoha
In this important and timely podcast, Basu Ghosh Das, Secretary of the ISKCON India Bureau, joins members of the ISKCON India Scholars Board (IISB)—Krishna Kirti Das (IISB Convenor) and Sridhar Srinivasa Das (author) —to discuss the recent Supreme Court proceedings held on 16 May, 2025, concerning the long-standing legal dispute between ISKCON Bangalore and ISKCON Mumbai.
The discussion explores the ongoing debate around the validity of initiations conducted under the Ritvik system. Drawing from
The Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada, registered ISKCON in India as a society and public trust in Mumbai in 1971. It was his desire that there should be only one ISKCON, i.e., the one he registered in Mumbai, and all the other temples and centres would be under its administrative control. This is also evident from the fact that, during his lifetime, Srila Prabhupada had opened several ISKCON temples, including Vrindavan, Mayapur, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and New Delhi, and they functioned
By Aditya Devi Dasi
We have opened Govinda’s Kadamba Kafe in New York City right at the front of our temple building in Brooklyn, offering a fresh new take on prasadam distribution in the city. The opening ceremony took place on the auspicious day of Aksaya Tritya. Jayadvaita Swami, Dilip Chauhan, the Deputy Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Innovation at the NYC Mayor’s Office, Temple President Hansarupa Dasa, Arcita Dasa, and many other Vaishnavas came for the occasion. A puja was perf
The soft touches to the day, after a rather bland phase at Newark Airport, was a visit to Shyama Kund’s childhood home in Cleveland. Also, I might add that a great trek with Srimala down a trail made the afternoon what it was – fine and fun. Both Srimala and I were fascinated to hear from Shyama Kund about his work at Nasa in Florida. Who wouldn’t be intrigued with the space mission, the planets, the moon, and Mars, and whatever achievements may have come through, if any? Shyama reminded us
