On March 23, 2012, the devotees at ISKCON Harish, Israel, had the honor of hosting the internationally renowned Prof. Eileen Barker, Prof. Paul Heelas and other leading local academic researchers, as well as representatives of new religious movements, in a friendly discussion panel concerning minority religions in Israel

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

Mayapur temple was second in the whole world in terms of books distributed in year 2011-2012 and Delhi was in the first position. HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj glorified Mayapur Sankirtan devotees and marked them the real number one. Mayapur book distribution goes on throughout the year, some time door to door, where as Delhi devotees do it mostly in Book Marathon times

As a combined initiative of the GBC Vaisnavi Care Sub-Committee and the Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education (VIHE), the International Vaisnavi Retreat aims at promoting sadhu sanga among the devotee women of ISKCON. Committed to nurture the devotees’ service attitude and focus on hearing and chanting, the retreat is fast becoming an annual feature devotees across the world look forward to

On behalf of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium team, Ambarisa dasa was pleased to announce that in 2016, Sri Panca-tattva and Sri Radha-Madhava and the Asta-Sakhis will be able to move into their new home in the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. In addition to a massive kirtan hall, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium will contain an altar 130 feet in diameter where Sri Panca-tattva will reside in the middle, Sri Radha Madhava and the Asta-sakhis on the right, and our entire parampara on the left

Bhakti Caitanya Maharaja, the ISKCON GBC Chairman for 2012, addresses the community from Sridham Mayapur, March 2012

Whereas there is a continued need to educate new devotees in ISKCON about the pre-eminent position of Srila Prabhupada as (a) Our Founder-Acarya and (b) The primary siksa-guru for all ISKCON members; Whereas it will benefit both individual devotees and the ISKCON society at large to improve the standards of discipleship within our movement; And whereas there is a lack of formal training regarding what it means to be a disciple within ISKCON and how to properly execute the duties of a disciple towards one’s diksa- and siksa-gurus as well as the mission of Srila Prabhupada: RESOLVED: 1. That the Governing Body Commission recommends that all prospective disciples and aspiring initiates attend the ISKCON Disciple Course prior to their initiation, preferably before choosing an initiating spiritual master. Other members of ISKCON are also encouraged to take the course

We are writing on behalf of the GBC Body and the worldwide community of ISKCON devotees to congratulate you on your recent victory in the Appeal Court on the Tomsk Case against the Bhagavad-gita. We would like to especially congratulate you, Maharaja, as well as Sadhu Priya Prabhu and the other devotees who worked so hard for many months to counter the attack against us

The main goal of the first Kirtana Mela in Estonia is to provide a deep congregational chanting experience for the Estonia’s devotee community, with visitors from other neighboring countries like Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Russia being very much anticipated to join as well. It can become an international event – everyone from everywhere can attend

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

The Harinama Sankirtana fire is still burning strong in London. London is a city very well populated, and there is never a dull moment while chanting on the streets. Very rare is the day when the devotees are treated unfavourably, whether it is the police, students, local londoners, tourists, drunks or businessmen, the reception is always favourable

“The colors come from the emergence of spring after the stark bleakness of winter. Everything bursts forth in colors and fragrance and so that’s emulated through the festival,” said Charu Das, the founder of the Lotus Temple

In the Buddhist monastery, where we spent the previous night we started with bhajans and people were surprised to hear melodious sounds in their temple. Nevertheless, no one could say anything because their chief monk who invited us was standing behind us. Younger monks were all excited and were taking many photos of us

As regards to giving devotees who are inclined to disagree more distance from each other, that is a Vaishnava solution. Lord Balarama and Shri Vidura went on pilgrimage instead of staying to face the heat of dissent. Lord Shiva left the sacrificial arena when his followers and the followers of Daksha began to quarrel. We should be willing to encourage more separation at times. Indeed, sometimes permanent separation is required. And we should be more open to encouraging that too

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

Twenty eight devotees from the Santiago Yatra along with 250 books of Srila Prabhupada, made their way to one of the most famous prisons in Chile called "Santiago 1"

In a relative world, such as the one we live in, how does one find truth? That quest is undertaken by many young adults as they try to make sense of the world, and I was one such seeker in my youth. My experiences in college played an important role in guiding my search, providing a proving ground on which to test different concepts as I came across them

Manifest Deity pastimes in the ISKCON era remind us that Lord Caitanya's pastimes are still going on. Two very fantastic Deity pastimes are presented below

For three years in a row, the Hare Krishna devotees from around London have been participating in the St. Patricks Day parade. Although it may not neccesarily be a Vaishnava festival, it is a great opportunity to share the Holy Name with the thousands of people who participate or watch the parade. Many people shared appreciation of the Hare Krishna's at the parade. As exemplified in the video (link below) there were hundreds and thousands of people in awe at the energetic Harinama Sankirtan party

The orchard, located 108km from Kuala Lumpur city, currently has a variety of tropical fruit trees, mainly jackfruit, and also starfruit, roseapple, guava, lime etc. We plan to maintain the existing fruit trees and further cultivate coconuts and grass extensively on the land to support free grazing by cows

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

From February 6-8 2012, at the Vaishnava Academy in Mayapura, The ISKCON Ministry for Sannyasa organized a training seminars for sannyasa candidates. Eighteen sannyasa candidates attended the seminars. The candidates expressed appreciation for the seminars presented by experienced sannyasis and preachers such as H.H. Prahladananda Swami, H.H. Candramauli Swami, H.H. Bhaktirasamrita Swami, H.H. Yadunandana Swami, and H.G. Navina Nirada Das

As you know that with the inspiration and blessings of Shri Ramesh Baba Ji Maharaaj of Maan Mandir, Barsana, the 'Bring Yamuna River Back to Braj-Vrindavan-Gokul-Mathura CAMPAIGN' is growing by leaps and bounds, we would like to share some of the action items as a part of our strategy to handle this issue

It was my last week in Sri Vrindavan Dhama. I wanted to take advantage of my final precious days in the holy dhama, so I took a small group of devotees to Radha Kunda for parikrama. During our circumambulation of the sacred lake, a Vrajavasi man invited us into his home for fresh, hot chapattis which his wife and daughter served us with yogurt

On the most auspicious occasion of Gaur Purnima festivals at Sridham Mayapur. Lord Krishna Himself appeared as Lord Caitanya to inundate the whole world with Krishna Prema. ISKCON leaders organized various festivals in Mayapur for one month. One of them was Four days "Kirtan Mela", organized by H.H Sacinandana Swami was the most ecstatic and heart touching

Any activity that you begin on Gaura Purnima day becomes very auspicious. There is a special, true story in this regard. On the afternoon of Gaura Purnima, March 8, a few of us were chanting bhajans in the temple room for the pleasure of their Lordships Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. As we were doing so, a large group of about twenty-five students came in and Gauranatraj das began to give them a tour of the temple room

Way back in the deep hills of Tenn. there is a valley…. with a narrow dirt road threw it that connects to 2 paved roads , named Preston Ridge rd and Dry Prong rd. The narrow dirt road is approx one mile long….the legal name of that road is Murari Lane… now your starting to get the picture….

Remember the childhood lyric ‘twinkle twinkle little star,oh, I wonder who you are….? Who has not stared at night in the vast sky fascinated by the overwhelming beauty of seeing unlimited stars all of different sizes, of different brightness and sometimes even falling?

ISKCON’s open, innovative and straightforward approach in the ISKCON Chapter 11 Reorganization Plan was well received by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. During the confirmation hearing in West Virginia, Hon. L. Edward Friend II of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court stated he was “impressed” with the Reorganization Plan and with all the effort that it took to put together, and that he “wholeheartedly endorsed the Plan” as being in the “best interests of the creditors [Gurukuli tort claimants].”