By Govardhana Seva dasaIn 2008, an Indian devotee named Sharma Suka donated a run-down six unit apartment block in Calcutta and this was the beginning of the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre (BRC). Shortly afterwards Hari Sauri met Pranava Prabhu, who had a PhD, spoke seven languages and could read ten. He told Hari Sauri that he had 4000 books and handwritten documents, written in Bengali, which he was going to export to Oxford University Museum and Library, because he didnât know of anywhere in Calcutta where he...
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- 6 Jul 2015
By Rasamandal Das and Vrndavanlila Devi DasiWhat appeared to be a small village preaching program in a sleepy village near Bodhan, small place in the state of Telengana and the border of Maharashtra turned to be a day full of activities, immersed in kirtan, Krsna katha and devotee association. Bodhan is said to be the treasury of Pandavas, no wonder it still retains some of its old splendor. As one keeps moving through its streets one can see number of beautiful and healthy desi cows strolling happily along with ...
- 6 Jul 2015
By Mukunda GoswamiThere is a Chinese proverb that says, âLittle drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land.â If the longest journeys begin with the first step, then at minimum that first step should be taken. Doing what I know I can do in my limited sphere of influence is extremely important. Every member of ISKCON can take the first step. Thinking âbigâ should also be encouraged. Srila Prabhupada is known for saying that his only flaw was that he could not think sma...
- 6 Jul 2015
By Sacinandana Hari DasSrimad Bhagavad Gita is not just a sacred book for all but a book giving lessons on various topics like : - How to control your mind - How to control your senses - How to connect to God - How to know âwhom am I â and many more such questions. Srimad Bhagavat Gita is not only popular in people generally but is now catching up in corporate organizations too. Manager are interested to know what lessons Bhagavad Gita has to solve their managerial prob...
- 5 Jul 2015
By Radhanath Krishna dasA team of 15 devotees from ISKCON Batticaloa and guests from abroad voyaged from the east coast of Sri Lanka till the capital city of Colombo covering all major cities and towns of the island bringing Vaikuntha atmosphere at each location. We mainly targeted youths in schools and colleges by performing drama, distributing books, holding harinama sankirtana, distributing prasadam and follow-up. Every school program had an attendance of 500 to 900 students.
...- 5 Jul 2015
By Sunanda dasWe arrived in Gita Nagari from New Vrindaban on Friday, May 29th, Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi, only for a few hours to make a presentation at the weekend retreat there with Radhanath Maharaja and Giriraja Swami, attended by 300+ devotees from across the country. There was no time for an abhisheka or puspanjali for the Padukas and Sitari, and after setting up our banners and table, Radhanath Maharaja spoke about the TOVP, glorifying the project and requested devotees to give their financial assistance. Ra...
- 4 Jul 2015
By Padasevan Bhakta DasThe festival featured a talk on topic ââYoga for modern ageâ. It was delivered by Rambhadra Das. He holds a B.Tech from Chandigarh, and has worked for software giant TCS. Currently he is Director of IYF, Bihar and Jharkhand. In talk, he established the supremacy of Bhakti Yoga over all other forms of yoga. He quoted several sanskrit shlokas from scriptures and made the audience chant in horus. This made the sublimated the atmosphere.
...- 4 Jul 2015
By Madhava SmullenIn his 1885 essay Pancha Samskara: The Process of Initiation, he discusses the five purificatory processes from Prameya Ratnavali mentioned earlier in this article, two of which are tapa (defined by Baladeva Vidyabhushana as branding) and wearing tilaka markings. Yes, he acknowledges them as prescribed ways to sanctify oneself so that oneâs true spiritual nature can develop. But far more forcefully, he condemns being concerned only with the external: âTapa applies not only to the body, but a...
- 3 Jul 2015
By radhanathswami.com Radhanath Swami spoke of how members of a project inspired by his teachings, the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai, recently went to Nepal after the recent devastating earthquake. He recounted that there were all kinds of doctors there â allopathic, Ayurvedic, naturopathic, etc. treating the injuries and broken limbs. However, he succinctly pointed out, more than broken limbs in Nepal, were broken hearts. There was starvation of stomachs, but more significantly, there was starvation of heart...
- 1 Jul 2015
By Dharini dasiBhakta Craig and his wife Bhaktin Debbie Escalante joined ISKCON quite suddenly, without prior Sunday feast attendance. They simply appeared one day. In my recollection, they received harinam initiation during the ceremony where I received brahmanical initiation, which was in 1976 in Seattle. Through a letter, Srila Prabhupada gave them the beautiful names âKurma-rupa dasaâ and âDasarathi devi dasiâ. Before joining ISKCON, the Escalante had been living in the US Pacific Northwest. They ...
- 1 Jul 2015
By Devaki Devi DasiMaybe this is one reason why we have not managed to establish the Vanaprastha ashram so far. Giving guidance to the younger generation and sharing their wealth of life experience and wisdom is the main and most valuable contribution the elders are making to human society. And this can only take place where giving and accepting shelter based on deep respect is cultivated. When this respect is not there, the elders don't have any function in human society and are simply seen as a burden.
- 1 Jul 2015
By Damodara Pandit das For the purpose of celebrating ISKCON's 50th Anniversary in 2016 we are compiling some approximate facts & figures about ISKCON. We are collecting some quantitative data about ISKCON's global achievements in terms of: Temples (including farms & schools) Devotees (including initiated, Nama Hatta, & visitors) Books (amount distributed in all countries & languages) Festivals (Including Harinamas, Rathayatra & Padayatra) Prasadam (Plates distributed globally since 1966; ...
- 1 Jul 2015
By Devakinandan dasIt is with great happiness that we announce the installation of Srila Prabhupada in his murti form in Singapore! This most wondrous event took place on the auspicious day of Padmini Ekadasi on Sunday 28 June 2015, during the most auspicious month of Purushottama!
...- 30 Jun 2015
By Ila GargChicago: On June 28, 2015 Hare Krishna devotees celebrated the 41st annual Chariot Festival organised by ISKCON. This year in Chicago, the Chariot Festival saw the participation of 5000 people, with 400 new attendees joining in the celebration. Team NewsGram too joined in this vibrant festival to catch a glimpse. The parade began at 11:30 AM at Daley Plaza (50 West Washington Street, Chicago) and concluded at 12:30 PM. The grand festival which comprised of ecstatic dancing, live music, vegetarian food,...
- 30 Jun 2015
By Nrsimha Krsna dasWe did 4 programs with Maharaja. 3 of them were in our yoga center in downtown, and one in our house for devotees only to inspire us more on preaching activities. Many new people were in the programs and in 3 days there were more than 100 people visited our Goranga Yoga Center. Sivarama Swami was giving lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 7th Canto about nine processes of Bhakti Yoga in three days. Kirtans were wonderful. Turkish people are chanting really with full heart.
...- 30 Jun 2015
By a witnessPrabhu remained alert, spoke philosophy, and concluded the administrative and financial arrangements necessary for the continued protection of the cows of Vrindavan. But days and weeks of fasting were now causing his external senses to fail. Bright lights became difficult to bear, sounds seemed further away, whatever small amounts of liquid were taken could only be swallowed with difficulty, and signing of legal documents was impossibly slow.
...- 30 Jun 2015
By ISKCON Sri Jagannath Mandir BangaloreThis Year, ISKCON Seshadripuram had celebrated itâs 15th Annual Ratha Yatra Festival on the 20th of June. As The Rural Naama Hatta programs have been expanding, over 500 devotees from Rural Karnataka had visited and a Few International Devotees From Australia, Malaysia and Bangladesh had also Joined in to Pull Jagannath back into their Hearts. We were fortunate to conduct this festival with HG Revati Raman Prabhu (ISKCON GBC, ISKCON Tirupati Temple President) and HG Radhe...
- 30 Jun 2015
By Patita Pavana dasIn a temple of jewels in Vrindavana, underneath a desire tree, Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my humble obeisances unto Them. The Gaudiya Vaisnava, generally, following the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they aspire to become one of the assistants of the gopis. There are others also who like to be the assistants of the cowherd boys. So our Gosvamis, Rupa Gosvami, sri rupa sanatana bhatta raghunatha, they were all...
- 29 Jun 2015
By Jasomatinandan dasI knew Kurma Rupa Prabhu since 30 plus years. First as a Gurukula teacher of my children then as a protector of sick and old and rejected cows. The most important quality I found in him was freedom from envy. Like the six Goswamis he loved all without malice. He was simple, straightforward and honest to the core. He not only treated sick cows but he treated sick and old rejects men like me. After Srila Prabhupada's departure, he was one of the few persons I could go for advise and feel assu...
- 29 Jun 2015
By Kesava Krsna DasaWe might take the âAs It Isâ in our Bhagavad-gita title for granted. All authors want to be different and original. With many versions of Bhagavad-gita already available, Srila Prabhupadaâs âAs It Isâ addition was a very bold and provocative one. He is saying, âthis is it, how it should be, the definitive and genuine Bhagavad-gitaâ. Who else can claim this with confidence? Considering that there are many ways of looking at Krishnaâs song of wisdom, and studying it from diff...
- 28 Jun 2015
By Abhaya Mudra DasiMany have tried to pinpoint the origin of the worldâs evils. In the game of finger-pointing, one group always blames another. Frequently named culprits include the Vatican, Washington DC, London bankers, and Hollywood. Others point to secret societies, Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Then there are the world corporations and the financial institutions that run them. Many simply accuse unqualified world leaders who opportunely act like bumbling idiots whenever it becomes convenient. Shrila Pra...
- 28 Jun 2015
By Braja Sevaki Devi DasiI was being pushed constantly in the press of human and animal traffic, feeling somewhat battered, longing for a solitary place. Suddenly a large bull knocked into me, pushing me into the oncoming traffic. I was hit by a car, breaking both my legs and various other bones on the left side of my body. I lay there in shock, trying to recover my senses. As the reality of what happened sunk in, so did the painâI couldnât move, and was bleeding profusely. But the worst was yet to come. The d...
- 28 Jun 2015
Care for Cows: Tears of joy and sadness flowed freely as Prabhu peacefully continued to his next service....
- 28 Jun 2015
By Vijaya DasaMay was Mayapur's month: an astounding 163,624 book points and a 340% increase. I think this is how the Mayapur book distributors are showing their feelings for Jayapataka Swami during his illness. They know that he's into book distribution and that he'll be encouraged if he hears great results. It's not only his disciples who want him to get well, there are thousands of devotees praying for him, because he is such a great inspiration in the movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Please stay with us, J...
- 27 Jun 2015