Bhakta Re'em of the Israeli yatra received an award for his dedicated studies in the field of dairy farming at one of Israel's leading technological colleges

ISKCON of Silicon Valley has recently purchased a property in Mountain View, California, which will serve as the new home of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Sri Radha-Madana Mohan, and Sri Sri Laksmi-Nrsimhadeva, and as the principal meeting place and base of operations for the ISV community

Hari-dhama dasa, a disciple of Mukunda Goswami, was recently awarded the official Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of the contribution he has made in the name of society and public service. He works for the London Ambulance Service as a Paramedic Student Practice Educator and as an Emergency First Responder

ISKCON UK Book Distribution Minister, Vishvambhar das, was out distributing books when he bumped into world-class professional footballer, Anthony Gardner (former Tottenham Hotspurs and England player, currently with Sheffield United) and his wife Mehrnoosh. The couple were so attracted to the philosophy of Krishna consciousness that they not only took a book but instantly struck up a friendship with Vishvambhar das

On 25th May 2012, Hari das and Vidura das from ISKCON Coventry along with their special guest Pundarik Goswami of the Radharaman Temple in Vrindavan were invited to attend the Golden Jubilee (50th Anniversary) celebrations of Coventry Cathedral. Amongst the many distinguished guests were Princess Anne and The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams

On Thursday 14 June 2012 ISKCON devotee, Bhakta Brian, dressed as a devotee, was out distributing books on a crowded sidewalk on Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica, California when all of a sudden former US President Bill Clinton chose him out of the crowd, walked up to him, shook his hand, and gave him a warm hug. Listen now to an interview with Bhakta Brian how he gave the Bhagavad-gita to this world famous celebrity

This may be Bhaktimarga Swami’s (The Walking Monk) fourth trek across Canada, but May 22 was the first time taking a break in the small town of Alberton. “This is such a quiet province,” said Bhaktimarga, as he explained, “Every day is an adventure.”

Srutidharma das and Radha Mohan das represented Bhaktivedanta Manor and the wider Hindu community at the Service of Thanksgiving for the County of Hertfordshire to Celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen

If Bhaktimarga Swami’s (The Walking Monk’s) saffron–coloured robes don’t catch your attention, then maybe the 25 year-old Bluefront Amazon parrot perched confidently on the shoulder of Daruka dasa’s shoulder will

Interview with the very meticulous, Radha Vrindabanchandra’s Groundskeeper, Maitreya dasa

I was walking along Lambton Quay in Wellington the other day, on the way to buy my niece a present for her fifth birthday. My train of thought was a little unfocused as I tried to think of what she would like: a book? a DVD? a Barbie? Would she want something she already knows a lot about, or a total surprise? Hey, perhaps school supplies would be an appropriately practical gift for a grown-up girl

Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple President Srutidharma das explained to the Queen that Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught a philosophy that is “beyond all material designations and differences, and that through singing and dancing we should surrender our hearts to God”

On the 21st of March Vanipedia celebrated its first 4 years online. During this time over 300 devotees participated in thematically mapping Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings. And while Vaniquotes is still a work in progress, we have already attained a major achievement by creating over 13,000 categories and 72,000 pages and compiling over 1,680,000 quotes

Hidden in West Virginia’s hills is one of the state’s most magnificent treasures—a monument that rivals the majestic palaces of India. Tucked among the hills of the rural northern panhandle at the end of a crumbling, unlined paved road, you would have a hard time stumbling across this hidden treasure

Inside the main hall which contains the deities of Krishna Balaram, Krishna Avanti School children sang Sri Krishna Caitanya, a Vaishnava song written by Narottam Das Thakur, followed by the Hare Krishna mantra. The Queen particularly appreciated the devotional music

Last night I attended the Sunday Feast at the SSRR temple-it also happened to be Snana Yatra so the devotees had more energy and enthusiasm than usual. What was more striking however, was a fun, creative and seemingly spontaneous presentation from The Blue Mountain Children's tent team and the Youth Lounge, two dynamic preaching events at the Durban Festival of Chariots this year during the Easter weekend

A Russian court today dismissed a petition seeking a ban on a translated version of Bhagvad Gita for being "extremist", bringing cheers to followers across the world. "The court in the Siberian city of Tomsk has dismissed the plea," Sadhu Priya Das of Moscow ISKCON said soon after the verdict was announced

A group of renowned Russian scientists representing leading Russian research organisations and universities has addressed an open letter to President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in connection with the ongoing trial of "Bhagavad Gita As It Is", a revered Hindu scripture, in the Russian city of Tomsk

His Grace Nitai Prasad Dasa received sannyasa initiation on 8 March 2012 from His Holiness Jayapataka Swami on the auspicious occasion of Gaura Purnima. His sannyasa name is Bhakti Nityananda Swami

On 15th February Sutapa das brahmacari had the opportunity to meet Her Majesty The Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury. A multi-faith reception was held at Lambeth Palace in London; one of the first public engagements to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year

On the auspicious occasion of Srila Madhvendra Puri’s Disappareance, March 5th, 2012, ISKCON Vrindavan unveiled the ‘Bhaktivedanta Book Trust House’ located between the Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Temple and Srila Prabhupada’s House. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) is the world's largest publisher of literature on Krishna consciousness and Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy

On February 27, 2012, the Hungarian Parliament voted on the amendment to the new religious law, adding 18 religious organizations to the list of fully recognized churches in Hungary. Among others, the new list includes well-established Christian groups (such as the Methodists, Anglicans, Adventists, Mormons), the Jehovah Witnesses, representatives of other Eastern world religions (2 Muslim groups, 5 Buddhist communities and the Hungarian Society for Krishna Consciousness)

This is to inform that Romapada Maharaja was taken ill today in Mayapur and has been transported to the Birla Heart Centre in Kolkata. He has symptoms of breathlessness and chest pain on the right side. At the moment he is conscious but on oxygen

Alfred Ford (re-christened Ambarish Das), an American heir to Ford fortune and the great grandson of legendary businessman Henry Ford, visited the Institute of Leadership Entrepreneurship and Development (iLead) Kolkata campus to interact with the students and teachers

On the 19th of December 2011, Worldwide Gita Contest 2011 was organized in Bangalore. Over 5000 participants from all over the world came together for this contest. ISKCON was represented by a 25 year old humble devotee, Mathura Bihari Das, disciple of H.H Radha Govind Maharaj. Born in Bihar and currently living in Vrindavan, he had recently completed the Bhakti Shastri Course at VIHE, Vrindavan

ISKCON Ujjain is the 1st temple in Ujjain city to have full-time LIVE broadcast of all its temple programs from the time it opens to the time it closes. It was all put together in just a matter of few months and successfully launched on November 22, 2011- Also the 1st temple to be fully Solar Powered in Ujjain!

A new temple complex dedicated to Sri Lakshmi Narasimha is coming up in a half acre complex in the eastern part of Bangalore. This project is dedicated to Srila Prabhupada and is being promoted and built by followers of Srila Prabhupada

Earlier this month “Exploring the Bhagavad gita: Philosophy, Structure and Meaning,” a new book written by ISKCON Academy of Arts and Sciences member Dr. Ithamar Theodor, and released by leading academic publisher Ashgate, was named a Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2011

A unique second festival will be held alongside the world-famous Mayapur Festival this year in West Bengal, India. On behalf of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission, the GBC’s Strategic Planning Team will organize the first International Leadership Sanga (ILS) from February 10th to 17th

The Honorable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago accompanied by Foreign Minister, Surujrattan Rambachan and ministers of her cabinet visited ISKCON Juhu on 13th January 2012 and took darshan of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radharasabihariji, Sri Sri Gaur Nitaiji and Sri Sri Sita Ram Laxman Hanumanji. Also accompanying them was famous cricketer Brian Lara

Have you thought about moving further into the techological fray and buying yourself an eReader? Even though it might seem daunting to face yet more new technology, there are reasons why you should – the most compelling being that you can easily store all of Srila Prabhupada’s books (and so many others!) on one handheld device (storage capacities vary)

This is a historic chapter because here is where Srila Prabhupada switched from typing manuscripts himself to using a dictaphone. What sort of difference did that make? Included with the scans are twelve sample pages from the manuscript, including both typed and dictated portions. So you can see for yourself

As you might recall, some months ago the BBT announced a new discovery: a manuscript page for Bhagavad-gita As It Is, chapter 10, text 36, with a sentence handwritten by Srila Prabhupada but never published, in any edition

This is the victory of the whole ISKCON. Of course, ultimately everything was arranged by Sri Krishna Himself, and the whole credit goes to Him. It was very clear to me being in the epicenter of the battle, but still some devotees deserve special mention

ISKCON expresses its gratitude towards the Government of India and Russia, all the members of the Indian Parliament along with the Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna, Indian Ambassador to Russia Ajay Kumar Malhotra, and the Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin. ISKCON would also like to thank the print and electronic media, people of India and its devotees worldwide for their enthusiastic and continuous support during this trial

The judge in the court told the prosecution they were throwing out the case and that 'Bhagavad Gita As It Is' is not extremist literature.

We recently had a meeting with Smt. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil (Hon'ble President of India) along with Smt. Hema Malini (film actress, member of the parliament and our brand ambassador for the "Glory of Maharastra" Project) , HG. Surdas Prabhu (TP Khargar, Navi Mumbai) and myself in which we gifted a copy of the Bhagavad Gita as-it-is and the concept picture of the upcoming Sri Sri Radha Madanmohanji Temple, to be built in Khargar, Navi Mumbai

On Christmas Eve I was traveling in North Bangalore and was surprised to see this billboard display sponsored by Amul Dairy Corporation. The driver of the car told me that Amul often put up such billboards touching on current events

Times of India: The prosecutor, it would appear, is a local anti-ISKCON activist, who has resorted to a number of lies...External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Friday said: We do not want to dignify with too much attention some misdirected individuals who have filed an absurd complaint...Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband urges Hindus, Muslims to unite on Gita

"The Bhagavad Gita has circulated freely across the world for centuries and there is not a single instance of it having encouraged extremism. So, the case before the Honourable Court in Tomsk is indeed absurd, bordering on the bizarre" --Ajai Malhotra

..."Well of course the government can do something and there is a matter of fact today became known that the Chief Director for Human Rights Mr Vladimir Lukin took this case under his special control. As well as the human control watch in the city of Tomsk where it is happening, we cannot of course influence the courts like in India"

M I Sethna, counsel for the petitioners, however, said the government is just monitoring and has asked Iskcon to defend the literature there. “It is a grave insult to our culture. Instead of asking Iskcon to defend, the government should defend the Gita,” Sethna said

ISKCON conveyed to our Embassy that its branch in Tomsk, Eastern Siberia, had received a notice in June 2011, of a complaint filed by the Public Prosecutor's Office in the local court. This complaint, apparently driven by some local individuals, was to the effect that the third Russian edition of the publication "Bhagwad Gita As It is" - a translation of a commentary by Swami Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON - had certain portions that were 'objectionable' and 'extremist' in nature

New Delhi: India on Tuesday described a complaint about the Bhagvad Gita in Russia as patently absurd. The government also promised Parliament that it was taking the controversy seriously and was closely monitoring the case. But the BJP is not satisfied and has even asked the government to declare the sacred scripture as a national book

ISKCON Leicester (UK) has finally acquired the HSBC bank building on Granby Street as the new home of Sri Sri Panca Tattva and Srila Prabhupada in the heart of the City centre, a Grade II* listed building built in 1875 by the famous architect Goddard. The Hare Krishna devotees lost their original place of worship last September, when the temple suffered a gas explosion. All of the 50 devotees within the building managed to escape the multiple blasts, uninjured. This was referred to as a 'miracle' by firefighters

In an old temple tucked away in a street near Loi Bazar in Vrindavan is the oldest existing copy of Srila Krsna das Kaviraja Goswami’s epic Caitanya Caritamrta. Over 350 years old, it sits in a cabinet in a room near the alter. In 1982, Sri Harishan-kara dasa, the head priest, donated 475 precious manuscripts that had been with the temple for 400 years to the Vrindavan Research Institute

"I offer my obeisances to the cow, in whose body Laksmi resides. I offer my respects to the beautiful cow, for she is pure, simple, and aromatic. I bow down before the cow, who is the daughter of Brahma. She is pure internally and externally and she keeps the whole atmosphere pure by her presence. I repeatedly offer my obeisances unto her."

Basu Ghosh Das smiles for the camera along with son Vaman Avatar He is an American who has spent 38 of his 54 years of life in Gujarat. Basu Ghosh Das, president of the ISKCON temple in Vadodara, is currently in Ahmedabad to participate in the All India Sanskrit Elocution Competition