For those of us who love Agnideva prabhu and his kirtana, it has been far too long since his last CD. Of course, tracks from his most recent CDs, as well as from his older cassette albums and temple kirtanas from Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, etc., and, more recently, from kirtana festivals around the world, have circulated so widely and for so long that generations of devotees seem to have tunes we identify with him as part of our DNA. We hear the evidence of this in the cheering as Agnideva segues to another “classic Agni tune,” one of those tunes most second-generat...

The orthodox tradition does not allow scientists to build their views on the basis of any divine revelation (scriptures) and thus scientific studies do not include any topics on soul, God and the eternal constitutional relationship between souls and God (devotion). On the other hand, all bonafide religions are based on divine revelation (Scriptures) and Scriptures reveal that both material (things or events within material space and time) and spiritual (reality beyond material space and time) realms exist. We observe the greatest incongruity between the religi...

Whenever you came to the Swami’s door, your heart was in your throat. (This feeling never left me, even after a thousand trips to that door.) There was a heightened sense that something marvelous was about to occur, a tingling in the blood. You never knew what to expect, just that it would be a wonderful surprise, whatever happened. He’d be sitting behind his little table or in his rocker clicking his beads, dressed in saffron, maybe with a white sweater, sunlight through the south-facing window shining on his freshly-oiled head and his face a radiant gold, emerging f...

Anuttama and Sanullah decided to create a forum for deep dialogue between Muslims and Vaiṣnavas in Washington, D.C.—perhaps at the same time providing a format and example for others to follow. It was obvious to both, that very large meetings were not conducive to dialogue that would be truly satisfying. However, their mutual experience of that large-scale event did give them an opportunity to reflect together on the process and transformative power of dialogue itself. It is during those conversations that Anuttama voiced his interest in organizing a small Hindu-Muslim di...

The first is that this trend would not stay in Russia only, it will spread to neighboring countries. Already in Kazakhstan a Jehovah's Witness, who moreover is suffering with cancer, has been sentenced to five years in a labour camp based on accusations of extremism very similar to those raised in Russia. The second is that these easy accusations of “extremism” will be rapidly extended to other groups. Some Baptist Protestants are already complaining that they are being attacked in Russia as “extremist”, and the same is true for the Hare Krishna (ISKCON) and oth...

When the diagnose of cancer hits us, we experience a sobering wake-up call. It might take some time to come to terms with it, and accept the facts of reality. We might struggle with a tendency for denial - no, can't be! How can this happen to me...?! And the mind and false ego object. One of the main challenges is having to let go of so many of our wonderful plans, and having to accept Krsna's plan. And this is such a healthy and important exercise, since we will have to go through the same challenge when facing death. At that point it will be a more final exercise, where...

How many of you know Panchagauda? I was impressed with his management skills. The Vrndavan temple is so welcoming, so inviting, clean and on time, yet he doesn't show any signs of stress. He always had time to talk with me. I took a half hour to interview him, to get his history which includes 80 mango trees in Miami, a visit to see Srila Prabhupad in Potomac, helping Aindra establish the 24 hour kirtan, Holi and Janmastami festivals in Vrndavan...

As one of the founding members of the Bhaktivedanta Institute, Sadaputa dasa left a large collection of historical materials pertaining to the early achievements of the BI during its pioneering unified phase. Part of the mission of the Richard L. Thompson Archives (RLTA) is to make these historical ISKCON materials readily available to the public, and specifically, to devotees interested in this form of outreach. As a side project, we have also conducted a series of oral history interviews with many leading ISKCON devotees involved with the Bhaktivedanta Institute since ...

Deep within the "Brahmanda" universal egg or bubble that oriinates from the Body of Maha Vishnu, some trillions of miles within is where one will find the small "4 billion mile diameter Bhu-mandala Universe' exists surrounded by the large Brahmanda dome that has many layers of material elements.

Darshan, classes, videos and many other festivities for the pleasure of Lord Narasimhadeva from the followers of Srila Prabhupada. "I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Nrisimhadeva, the source of all power. O my Lord who possesses nails and teeth just like thunderbolts, kindly vanquish our demon-like desires for fruitive activity in this material world. Please appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance so that by Your mercy we may become fearless in the struggle for existence in this material world." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.18.8)

I met Madhuha dasa as we prepared for the Holi festival at the Hare Krishna temple in Potomac, Maryland. I was working on the stage sound, and he was setting up the stage, tents, sound system, and much of the equipment needed for such a large festival. He agreed to take a break from the work to sit for an interview. He has been working with Festival of India since 1979.

Krishna remains a mute witness to all this drama and rubs salt into the open wounds of Satyabhama’s ego that he has now to become a slave to some cowherd and will have to suffer the separation from his dear wife. Narada suggests to Satyabhama that Rukmini may be able to get her out of the predicament. She finally swallows her pride and appeals to the devoted first wife of Krishna. Rukmini comes and with a prayer to her husband puts a single leaf of the sacred Tulasi on the scale (Tula). The scales then become all at once so heavy that even after removing all the ...

Millions of years ago to please his dear devotee Prahlada and to kill the wicked demon Hiranyakashipu, Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared from a pillar. The great protector appeared with lions face and claws and the human torso. He is ferocious and terrifying for those who do not believe in Him but fiercely protects His devotees from any obstacles and harm that come their way. Unmatched and supreme He is present on earth and heaven and everywhere in between.

HH Dayananda Swami (UK): The course was very advantageous and helped me to get a basic understanding of the skills required in order to be an effective leader. It was intense without being a burden. The lecturers were well versed in the subject matter and efficient in its delivery. Even though this was the first course everything went at least as well as can be expected. The on line courses were very effective allowing the course to be completed while performing my regular service. The environment at the eco village was perfect.

In memory of His Holiness Krishna Dasa Swami, whose life and passing exemplify his words: “Live for dharma, die for dharma; live for Krishna, die for Krishna.” ...Days passed, and Krishna Dasa’s mind was bursting with thoughts of Srila Prabhupada and how to meet him. He rushed to Srila Prabhupada’s door at Bhaktivedanta Manor only to be turned away by two strict disciple-guards. “You look as if you are the guards at the doors of Vaikuntha. Are you Jaya and Vijaya?” teased Krishna Dasa, referring to a story in Srimad...

Recently, I took the initiative to encourage the BBT trustees to correct the translation of the refrain in Srila Prabhupada’s Bengali poem written on the Jaladuta as he arrived in America. On September 13, 1965, he wrote: “Today I have disclosed my mind to my companion, Lord Sri Krishna. There is a Bengali poem made by me in this connection.” Coincidentally — precisely fifty-one years later — on September 13, 2016, the BBT trustees discussed the proposed correction. During a Skype meeting, they decided to get the revision’s accuracy endorsed by three qualified ...

A few years ago I presented a photo table at a Sunday feast at one of our temples. One devotee came up to the table and held a photo of Lord Nrsimhadev in his hands. I encouraged him to take Lord Nrsimhadev home, but he said, "If I was qualified to worship Him!" and quickly walked away. He seemed to be afraid of Lord Nrsimhadev. More recently my daughter and her husband removed the photo of Lord Nrsimhadev from their altar because they heard that some couples had been devastated by worshiping an Ugra Nrsimha Deity in their home. Ugra Nrsimha is the terrifying form of the Lord standing re...

Srila Prabhupäda was unapologetic and unequivocal in his statements that women need to be protected at all stages of their lives. Often, however, we make assumptions about what form that protection should take. There’s no evidence that Srila Prabhupäda intended “protection of women” to mean they could not perform Deity worship, i lead kirtans, ii speak in public, iii live in temple ashrams, iv or manage departments. v To accept that understanding we would have to accept that Srila Prabhupäda failed to protect Malati Devi Dasi, Silavati Devi Dasi, Yamuna Devi Dasi, and...

The devotees in Jogjakarta jubilee received the invitation and it was announced through the social media. Blue print for the participation in the festival was brought upon the discussion table. When the all preparations were ready, the chariot was carried to Jogjakarta tourism department. Flowers for decoration arrived from Bali and devotees who help in the preparation came from all over Indonesia. Srila Prabhupada’s mercy is certainly amazing; just imagining how devotees coming from different backgrounds, from different places, who hardly knew one another some time b...

“Tejo made Ekadasi bearable with his fantastic breakfast tapioca,” says Advaita. “And he was well-known for his Gauranga potatoes, bharats, and palak paneer. Like the other pit cooks, he’d be cooking outdoors with nothing but a tin roof overhead in the dead of winter, starting fires from scratch with frozen wood at 3 o’clock in the morning, and dragging forty-gallon soot-covered pots to the pot room to scrub them in cold water. It was tougher than you can imagine!”

The family environment provided by marriage allows children to grow, mature, and flourish. It is a seedbed of sociability and virtue for the young, who learn from both their parents and their siblings. Specifically, the married family satisfies children's need to know their biological origins, connects them to both a mother and father, establishes a framework of love for nurturing the young, oversees their education and personal development, and anchors their identity as they learn to move about the larger world.