For over ten years now the Manor has organized an annual sabbatical, a six month residential course for men. Ketan Suchak shares: “I enrolled this year, as six of us spent three months in India, beginning in September with a three-week stay at a Mumbai monastery. There we studied the scripture, ‘Nectar of Instruction’. We next flew to Calcutta and booked a car to Mayapur. The spiritual city is the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya, the place where the Lord danced and sang the Hare Krishna mantr...

Every year Bhaktivedanta Manor contributes £10,000 towards various ISKCON projects both nationally and internationally. Over the last thirty years many worthy causes have been supported, including the saving of the New Mayapur Temple in France, establishing a centre in Brussels and the Bhaktivedanta School in Mayapur, supporting Vrindavan’s Food for Life program and the Sandipani Muni School for poor and unprivileged children, and many more.

The program starts with a ten minute “warm up,” where the prisoners have a chance to share and discuss any pressing issues. Then there is a short kirtan, where all are standing and some dancing and jumping very happily. Outside prisoners who are walking by sometimes look in and watch in wonder. Then Bhagavad Gita is read, guided by their questions. At the end prasadam is served in the form of energy bars, since there are heavy regulations about bringing anything in; every food item must be fac...

A massive earthquake of 7.9 magnitude has just struck central Nepal, affecting Kathmandu. Many buildings are damaged and there are numerous injuries. I just spoke with Patri das, ISKCON's regional secretary in Nepal, who told me our temple in Kathmandu is basically OK. But there are severe cracks in a number of buildings on our property. The Deities have been moved outside from the main temple. No devotees were injured at the temple complex, but he stressed that many houses in the area collapse...

Medan received causeless mercy from Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi on the auspicious day of Purnima on the second Ratha yatra that was held on April 4th 2015. At that time was lunar eclipse. It was reminding us about the original ratha yatra when Lord Krsna went to take bath in Kuruksetra on solar eclipse along with His elder brother and younger sister and all inhabitants of Dwaraka.

Bhadra Prabhu presented her with the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, telling her: "When you are in stress, please read this book. Mahatma Gandhi used to read this book whenever he was in a difficult situation.” Her reply was: “I am always in stressful situations.” Then Mukhya devi said to her: “You can read any page and you will find solutions.” The mayor replied that she will read it everyday. She hopes to go to India someday soon and immerse herself in the culture. She learned a bit of the his...

Many of the devotees inquired about the upcoming seminars/conferences about Mother Surabhi. Maharaja mentioned that a few devotees are getting trained for the same under IDVM-India and that soon more details will be made available. Also, Maharaja made a point saying that the practical connection and involvement of the devotees to the campaign will become more clear once the second campaign pamphlet ‘Sustainable Eco Alliance’ is released.

40 years ago the ISKCON Edinburgh centre closed and everyone involved, including Srila Prabhupada, was extremely disappointed. Since then we have not had a preaching centre in Edinburgh and even in forming a Vaishnava community we faced many difficulties, but recently Krishna consciousness has started to flourish here. Eight months ago we apealed to the wider vaisnava community, here on Dandavats.com, asking for help in rasing funds to open a center in Edinburgh for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada....

There has also been extensive renovation in the front of the temple placing nice strong tiles over the entire area so that it will remain very clean and there is now virtually no chance of flooding. That has now been completed. Please see the pictures. The water now runs off the area and away from the temple onto the highway and drains away. The Bhubaneswar guest house is also gradually being renovated room by room and is coming to an international standard. So far 6 rooms have been completed an...