WHEN His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada visited Malaysia in 1971, he had a vision for a Krishna temple to be built in Penang. The founder of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) had then drawn a rough sketch of the temple and left instructions for the devotees here to follow. It was quite a tall order but the devotees will soon see the fruits of their labour when the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple of Devotion and Understanding in Bandar Seberang Jaya official...

In contrast with communal flare-ups in several towns in western UP, a 45-year-old Muslim farmer in Kanpur Dehat's Murra village has come out as a perfect example of communal harmony. Observing Ramzan religiously, the man has constructed a temple dedicated to Radha-Krishna which is attracting people in droves. The villagers said that the construction of the temple by Raees Mohammad was an example of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. Raees has also arranged a priest and personally participates in the...

Responding to the enthusiastic (and we mean fervent) requests of sannyasis, temple presidents, and sankirtana parties throughout the Western world, we are ecstatic to announce that the first three beautiful Chinese titles have just arrived in our warehouse. Exquisitely produced, these long-awaited titles are now ready for immediate distribution to the millions of Chinese-speakers who are (a) residents of their own massive urban communities, (b) tourists visiting the world’s major cities, or (c) stud...

We in Rotary aspire to great deeds. We admire those who gave great gifts to humanity: Abraham Lincoln, who gave the gift of human dignity to the downtrodden; Mother Teresa, who gave the gift of compassion to the forgotten; Mahatma Gandhi, who gave the gift of peaceful change to the oppressed. Their very lives became gifts to the world. We can be inspired by their example. We can be inspired to ask, how can I, in the life that I live – without neglecting the responsibilities that are...

In Vrindavan in 2014 we inaugurated the Gratitude Coin program to help fund the TOVP project. Our first presentation was at Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day festival during Kartik. At that time Jayasri mataji and Pratapana prabhu from Sydney, Australia pledged two Platinum coins, a total of $500,000, in the service of the TOVP construction. With so many other services and responsibilities they have taken up in their local temple, they have come forward to serve this International project and the w...

Then he says "Oh well if this book is in your language or English it's the same to me" (meaning he can't understand either). Paramatma then gave me intelligence that he speaks Arabic. I always carry a Gita and a few small Arabic books in my hand, but I had just finished distributing the last Arabic book that I was holding to another nice gentleman from Saudi Arabia. So I asked him "Can you read Arabic"? he replied with a smile "Of course i can that's my language". So i reached into my book box...

In 1987, Bhakti Carudesna Swami was a college student when he met a Sankirtan devotee who sold him Srila Prabhupada's *Science of Self-realization*. That same year, a few months later, he joined the temple and became highly inspired to support Srila Prabhupada's mission and preach in his country, Ivory Coast. In 1989, Carudesna, in 1989, received first initiation from His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja, and second initiation in 1995. That same year he took up the service as Temple Presiden...

The famous Mantra Rock Dance Poster from 1967 is prominently displayed on page 52 of Newsweek's Grateful Dead 50th Anniversary magazine on newsstands now. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Gita Champions League(GCL) is a Bhagvad Gita contest organized by ISKCON Chowpatty since last 4 years. This year 2015, the winner of the contest was Ms. Maryam Asif Siddiqui, aged 12 from Mira Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi meeting with Ms. Maryam Asif Siddiqui, winner of the GCL Competition 2015 organized by ISKCON Chowpatty along with her parents

His Grace Lilasukha Dasa received sannyasa initiation this morning (31st May 2015) from his own spiritual master His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja. His sannyasa name is His Holiness Bhakti Prabhava Swami. Four other sannyasis were also witness to the momentous occasion - HH Prahladananda Swami, HH Dhirasanta Swami, HH Dayananda Swami and HH Bhakti Prem Swami. The ceremony took place at ISKCON Leicester, and the event was presided over by Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra, Sri Sri P...

Gita Champions League (GCL) is a Bhagavad Gita contest organized by ISKCON Chowpatty for the last four years. This year 2015, the winner of the contest was Ms. Maryam Asif Siddiqui, aged 12 from Mira Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Above is the pictures of The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee meeting with Ms. Maryam Asif Siddiqui along with her parents at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 22, 2015

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Bhaktivedanta Manor’s main drama group. The group has been led chiefly by Jaya Krishna Das and Dwarka Puri das but over the years a great many other devotees of all ages and backgrounds have participated and given much of their time. Disciples of Srila Prabhupada pioneered the first dramas at Bhaktivedanta Manor during the early 1970’s. By 1985 the baton had gradually passed onto the next generation and The Bhaktivedanta Players in its present st...

Through melodies, percussion and singing classical and devotional compositions, the audience is transported to the sacred lands of India, in an atmosphere of meditation, joy and spiritual bliss. The concert in this famed theater was a very special meeting as it presented Krishna Sambandha's first album, which was recorded in "Estudios Del Sur", recognized as one of the best studios in Latin America. The debut album of the group was led by prominent Chilean producer Christopher Manhey, who received...

Hema says: The concept of ‘I, me, and myself’ is non-existing in my team as we vouch for each other and ensure that we swim and steadily keep each other afloat together, as a team. I learnt this concept through my wonderful up-bringing in ISKCON. My gurumaharaj and our stalwart ISKCON leaders have always demonstrated wonderful leadership qualities that we can all emulate alongside a great showcase of teamwork. I did nothing but only followed in their footsteps and it worked tremen...

Once I had to do a painting for an ISKCON center in Bulgaria. It was a picture of Radha and Krishna appearing from both sides of the altar. I decided to start with Krishna. When the time came to start painting the portrait of Srimati Radharani, I was in this mood that I could do anything very easily, without making an effort. I thought I would paint her in a day. Haha- big mistake. The first time I painted her, it didn’t work. I painted her again, and it didn’t work either. I tried once more...

A most positive event within the century, and unprecedented victory in the age of Kali; a new government supports the saints and sadhus in their concerns for preservation and restoration of the Yamuna, the wife of the Supreme, the cynosure of cultural India. As stated in the Skanda Purana the prediction of disappearance of the Yamuna after 5,000 years of entrance into the Kali-yuga; has been temporarily delayed because of the presence of the devotees of the Lord.

“Dissipating Lord Caitanya’s message in Kazakhstan is challenging. The devotees faced hurdles as in 2007, when envy and anger overcame the local governors who destroyed houses at the farm where the devotees lived and wanted to destroy the temple as well. Under the Lord’s protection, diplomacy and wisdom of Srila Gurudeva and other leaders and the support of devotees worldwide, Krsna consciousness is thriving in Kazakhstan. There is a big summer tent for festivals, goshala (...

Dr Phalgun Shah, member of Ahmedabad Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society, who too approached ISKCON for stress management workshop, said it was because doctors tend not to get out of 'medical' talk. "Ask doctors to talk about anything other than medicine and they struggle to hold a conversation. We approached ISKCON as they do not talk about religion," said Dr Shah. He said their talk is based on stress management techniques based on principles of the Bhagwad Gita.

Beef lovers in Maharashtra will now have to do without the red meat as President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, nearly 19 years after the Maharashtra Assembly passed the Bill during the BJP-Shiv Sena rule in 1995. The slaughter of cows was previously prohibited in the state under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act of 1976. However, the passage of the new Act will ban the slaughter of bulls as well as bullocks, which was p...

Please come and join the SATURDAY Night Harinams in London. We gather outside Govinda's in Soho Street at 7.30pm EVERY Saturday without fail.. There are generally at least 40/50 devotees, sometimes even one hundred or more. This street chanting is changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, as many of them get their first chance to hear the Holy Names chanted by sincere devotees and followers of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

"Cows have a spiritual importance unlike other livestock animals. They must be protected at any cost. I would request Modiji to ban cow slaughter and, if need be, introduce strong legislation for that," he says. For Rajasthan, there are three things high on his agenda: clamping down on rampant cattle smuggling, introduction of a helpline number on the lines of 108 ambulance services to help cattle in distress besides starting a one-of-its-kind "sanctuary" for cows near Bikaner or Jaisalmer.

Later, Gabbard who was on a three-week tour of India on the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met Gopal Krishna Goswami, Governing Body Commissioner and BBT Trustee. During the meeting she spoke about the inspiration she derives from the teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita and how these teachings offer the solution to resolve all the conflicts. At the end of the meeting, Gopal Krishna Goswami presented her the deluxe edition of Bhagavad Gita As It Is, which was...