By the BBCDevotees of Hare Krishna have handed out cupcakes in London to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. More celebrations took place at the Radha-Krishna Temple in Soho, where the Hindu-inspired spiritual movement has had a centre for 47 years. Processions of Krishna followers have become a familiar sight on streets. They chant the Hare Krishna mantra and distribute books and vegetarian food. To mark the occasion, the deities at the temple...
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- 14 Jul 2016
By ISKCON 50 Global OfficeThe ISKCON 50 Global office launched the Inspiration Series videos on July 13th, the exact day that ISKCON was incorporated as a legal entity fifty years ago in 1966. The Inspiration Series is a set of over 16 short videos that feature ISKCON leaders explaining the importance of the 50th anniversary of ISKCON and encouraging devotees to participate enthusiastically all over the world. They can be viewed on the YouTube channels of ISKCON 50 and ISKCON Desire Tree. The series which...
- 13 Jul 2016
By Damodara DasaISKCON turns 50 today. And I would like to acknowledge that significant milestone by expressing my gratitude towards this "framework" established by Srila Prabhupada, without which, I and millions of others would not have had access to Krsna consciousness. That ISKCON, an organisation operating within the material world (but, according to Srila Prabhupada, not exclusively - there is a Goloka/Navadvip branch) to have faults should not be a surprise, nor a legitimate basis for withdrawing one's sup...
- 13 Jul 2016
By Stoyan ZaimovThe Russian church is appalled by this new law. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law last week a measure punishing any kind of religious evangelization outside of churches, which some observers have called one of the most restrictive move in "post-Soviet history." "This new situation resembles the Soviet Union in 1929. At that time confession of faith was permitted only in church," Hannu Haukka, president of Great Commission Media Ministries, told National Religious Broadcasters, acco...
- 13 Jul 2016
By Reena SinghTurning fifty this year, the International Society for Krishna consciousness (Iskcon) started by the then 70-year-old Swami Prabhupada has lost none of its youthful vim and vigour. Swamiji made his way to the US from West Bengal to spread the message of Sri Krishna in the western world. He reached there in 1965 and a year later, established the first temple of Iskcon at New York. Soon after, he sent off three couples to the UK who, like wandering minstrels, would sing the Hare Krishna mantra, in the...
- 13 Jul 2016
By Romapada DasOver fifty years ago in September 1965, an elderly Indian monk stepped off the piers of New York harbour wearing orange Indian robes and sporting a dignified vaishnava tilak mark on his forehead. He was carrying just seven dollars, a few sets of clothes and two trunk-loads of books. The aristocratic looking monk was A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who had been sent by his spiritual master from India to preach the message of the Bhagavad-gita to the western world. In just ten short years, S...
- 13 Jul 2016
By Prabhupad Dev DasGeorgetown, Guyana: Wait is over. Dreams coming true and the multi storey Grand HARE KRISHNA STUDY CENTRE (HKSC) is finally opening amidst joy and happiness. Located at a prime location next to the University of Guyana, this Temple will be officially opened on exact date July 13, 2016, commemorating with the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON incorporation. Please join us in these mega celebrations and help us make it a Grand success.
...- 12 Jul 2016
By Parama Rupa dasPetals of ISKCON’s Lotus was the theme of this year’s Memorial Day weekend retreat. The celebrations commemorated 50 years of ISKCON’s formation, recognizing and honoring some of ISKCON’s contributions to the world today and gearing up for the next 50 years of service, devotion, and joy. Several of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and senior devotees—including HH Romapada Swami, HG Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu, HG Tamohara Prabhu, HG Krsnanandini Mataji, HG Vraja Lila Mataji, HG Lokadhyaksa P...
- 12 Jul 2016
By Hari Narayana dasOrganizing such great festival was not easy because it needed great effort to make it successful. The committee of the festival had made preparations since six months back. Formerly they were supposed do the festival in one beach in Gianyar but seeing that they were unable to procure the permission from the local authority then they decided to have the festival at Mertasari Beach again where the devotees had a very successful cida dahi festival last year. A week before the festival the commit...
- 12 Jul 2016
By Leanne DavisShe said I was welcome any time, whether next week or in a year. She even encouraged me to bring friends. I’m sure those vehemently against religion (which seems to be increasingly the norm these days) will see this as a cunning ploy to reel me in. But I can quite honestly say that I would happily return and enjoy all that the temple and the devotees have to offer without feeling any pressure to become a devotee myself. In the past, I have heard the derisory term ‘Happy Clappers’ used to des...
- 11 Jul 2016
By Samantha TurnbullFifty years ago, a 70-year-old monk travelled from India to the United States in the hope of starting a spiritual revolution. His name was Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and on July 13, 1966 he incorporated the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), formalising what is widely known as the Hare Krishna movement. ISKCON now runs 602 temples, 54 schools and 65 farming communities across the globe. This month, the New Govardhana Hare Krishna community at Eungella, near Murwil...
- 11 Jul 2016
Special month of activities at ISKCON-London to celebrate 50th Anniversary of ISKCON’s Incorporation
By Bhaktin NatashaJuly is a very special month in our ISKCON 50th Anniversary Year. On 13th July, 50 years ago the International Society of Krishna Consciousness was established. ISKCON-London launched its 50th Anniversary celebrations in August last year, with a festival celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's departure from India to the West. Now, in this special month, ISKCON's incorporation month, a number of wonderful events have been planned. What better way to kick-off the celebrations tha...
- 11 Jul 2016
By the Sastric Advisory CouncilMembers participating in the authorship of this paper: Drutakarma Dasa, Gopiparanadhana Dasa, Purnacandra Goswami, and Urmila Devi Dasi “The rules and regulation are that nobody should accept blindly any guru, and nobody should blindly accept any disciple. They must behave, one another, at least for one year so that the prospective disciple can also understand, ‘Whether I can accept this person as my guru.’ And the prospective guru also can understand, ‘Whether this person can become ...
- 10 Jul 2016
By Kripa PressThe first time ever a British Prime Minister offers homage to Srila Prabhupada! He congratulated ISKCON for its 50th Anniversary, and referred to the achievements of Srila Prabhupada. Interestingly, he re-quoted Sruti prabhu who said "we cannot achieve world peace until we seek inner peace."
...- 10 Jul 2016
By Vanamali DasaBeing a devotee of Krsna and a follower of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada brings with it certain responsibilities: rising early, bathing regularly, maintaining regulative principles (including abstinence from meat-eating, illicit sex, intoxication, and gambling), and of course daily chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. But as well as these basic principles of spiritual life. Srila Prabhupada's followers have inherited a great mission, a mission that has been handed down throu...
- 9 Jul 2016
By Krishna Govinda DasRecently Bhakti Charu Swami and Sri Radha Raman Das prabhu had a discussion on ‘Synergy between Spirituality & Finance and Commerce’ on 24th May 2016 at London, UK. The event was organised by Artha Forum and was kindly hosted at Mr. Anil Agarwal’s house, London.
...- 9 Jul 2016
By Romapada DasBhaktivedanta Manor, London has planned a packed week of events from 13th to 17th July to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ISKCON’s incorporation. The events start on the actual day of incorporation on 13th July with a ‘Day of Gratitude’ that will see 5000 cupcakes being distributed to commuters at key locations in central London to say 'thank you'. This will be followed by a special ceremony of offerings to Srila Prabhupada in the form of poems and prayers, and an exquisite lunch for disci...
- 8 Jul 2016
By Iskcon staffAlmost 49 years ago in 1967, the first Ratha Yatra festival beyond the Indian sub-continent was organized and celebrated in San Francisco. Srila Prabhupada was personally in attendance along with many of his first disciples. This Ratha Yatra survey which has just been published, shows all the Ratha Yatra festivals held across the world and confirms the great work ISKCON is doing and how Lord Caitanya's mercy is literally spreading out to reach every town and village!
...- 8 Jul 2016
By Pratik MohapatraRatha Jatra of Lord Jagannath being one of the largest religious festivals of India, is not just limited to its borders but also hugely celebrated outside India. Iconic cities like San Francisco, London, Los Angeles, Tokyo and even the remote corners of Russia celebrate Ratha Jatra in its full glory. By tracing some of the best Ratha Jatra celebrations held across the world, we can deduce that Lord Jagannath is undoubtedly the supreme Lord of the Universe!
...- 7 Jul 2016
By Abhishek JoshiThe process took 3-4 months including script writing and reviewing, soundtrack making, casting, promoting, rehearsing, organising, and many of the team members had sleepless nights just so that they could deliver an offering of real value as a tribute. Something Spiritual began at the end of 2015 with a goal of bringing together people who have amazing talents and engaging them in the service of something bigger than themselves - in the service of Krishna. So far, they have put on 4 small plays, ...
- 6 Jul 2016
By ISKCON 50 Global OfficeISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Committee has released an important resource for the year long celebrations of temples around the world: colourful and informative exhibition panels that showcase ISKCON’s achievements in the last 50 years and can be printed and displayed by temples locally. The ISKCON 50 Expo consists of 16 panels which measure 2.5 feet by 4 feet, and can be downloaded in print quality from the ISKCON 50 website. The panels describe the legacy of the Hare Krishna movemen...
- 6 Jul 2016
By Jaya Govinda dasaJuly 1st marked the 149th anniversary of the founding of the world's second largest country; Canada. Towns and villages across the nation celebrated its birthday with fireworks, parades and a host of other joyful events. The city of Vancouver's celebration was extra special as our ISKCON Hare Krishna temple was invited to participate in this year's Canada Day parade. An estimated 300,000 people lining the route, and millions more on main stream news coverage were benefited with the vibrati...
- 6 Jul 2016
By various mediaLawmakers are eager to place new restrictions on Russia's religious sphere, amending the legal definition of “missionary activity” as defined under the Constitution's article on the freedom of conscience and religion. Yarovaya's legislation defines as “missionary activity” any kind of religious practice that takes place outside special establishments, cemeteries, houses of worship, or religious schools. This applies to acts of worship, ceremonies, the distribution of literature, and preach...
- 5 Jul 2016
By Mandira mani dasiYou might remember hearing about the Christchurch earthquakes in the news. What you might not know is that there were more earthquakes after the first big one—no fewer than 10,000 of them. There were sometimes seven or eight earthquakes a day. Everybody living in Christchurch was scared all the time because each earthquake had the potential to bring major destruction. Eventually one of them did: our temple survived the first earthquake, but the biggest of those 10,000 aftershocks brought it ...
- 5 Jul 2016