By Madhava Smullen“My parents had eight kids, so we didn’t really go out to eat – my mother just cooked constantly to feed us all,” she says. “So being around it all the time, I started cooking myself when I was a little kid. I baked my first brownies at the age of seven.” But with all that good old-fashioned home cooking, Dharmakala never tasted anything quite like the Sunday Feast at the Hare Krishna temple in Ocean City, Maryland, in 1972 – “It was totally out of this world,” she says. And i...
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- 27 Nov 2015
By Devaprastha dasGovinda’s is home to a vegetarian cafe, and is the local ISKCON Temple. The presiding Deities are Sri Sri Pancha Tattva. The devotees are well known and liked in the area, and have been in this location for the last 15 years, led by Tarakanath prabhu. The community of devotees is a wonderful, selfless community, and, as well as being generous of heart, also have a great sense of humour and compassion. There are regular well attended programs, Harinamas, prasadam and book distribution going on....
- 27 Nov 2015
By Krishna-kripa dasOne day Bhaktimarga Swami and some followers and devotees on the New York City Harinam team chanted from Union Square Park to Tompkins Square Park. There we chanted around the famous Hare Krishna tree. Bhaktimarga Swami and those who walked with him, even part of the way, from Boston to Butler, Pennsylvania, and then finally to Manhattan, shared realizations, and Abhiram Prabhu and I told stories about the supernatural events that take place at the Hare Krishna tree.
...- 27 Nov 2015
By Chandan Yatra DasThe Srimad-Bhagavatam mentions that Lord Balarama visited Kanyakumari in the course of His pilgrimage. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also visited Kanyakumari during His South India tour. In the year 1510, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Kanyakumari. In Vrindavana, in the forest of Bhandiravan, there is a murti of Sridama. When Krishna and Balarama were leaving Vrindavana, Krishna told Sridama that He will be back in few days and Sridama said that he will wait. Under a banyan tree, in the forest...
- 27 Nov 2015
By Manu ShahBack in the 1960s and 1970s Hare Krishna was considered to be a cult. There were a lot of people who thought it was a crazy thing to do -- it wasn't legitimate, it wasn't authorised, it was another cult like the Moonies. People didn't understand that it is a very ancient religious tradition, based on ancient scriptures like the Bhagwad Gita. You had to constantly explain that to people. That was the challenge: Trying to differentiate us, Hare Krishnas, from the rest of the crazy things that were goin...
- 27 Nov 2015
By Kumari Kunti DasiNovember 2015 will be a month remembered in worry and fear for Muslims all over Europe, after the Paris attacks, yet again marked the tensions their religious community faces in Europe and the rest of the world. Just a week before the attacks, from Oct. 26 – Nov 2nd, youth from all over Europe were building a network of peace and connection at the Religions for Peace Interfaith Youth Conference, in San Gandolfo Italy. The outcome of the event was simple and hopeful - friendships and knowledg...
- 26 Nov 2015
By Jay CheshesAlfred Ford might have been any old corporate road warrior, in his pressed khakis and soft traveling shoes. He had come up from Calcutta, a three-hour drive along dusty roads clogged with mule-drawn carts, arriving in Mayapur, West Bengal, to look in on a big building project rising near a bend in the Ganges River. In his VIP suite, across from the site, he slipped into a loose-fitting kurta and wraparound dhoti, a strand of beads creeping out from under his Indian shirt. A murmur of song began to ...
- 26 Nov 2015
By Nimai Lila dasOver the past few years, Govardhan Eco Village(GEV) has been making steady attempts to generate positive change waves on the social and environmental front through its multifarious programs and projects. GEV is frequently visited to witness a working model of spiritual ecology demonstrated with its efforts in areas like Organic Farming, Cow Care, Green building, Community living, Integrated waste management, Alternative Energy generation, Education, Rain water conservation, Floriculture and biodi...
- 25 Nov 2015
By Vijaya DasaTwo countries increased the most in October: Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan. Sri Lanka increased by 999%, with 4,111 book points. We haven't seen a lot of book distribution there, but from now on we'll probably see more. Just as in Sri Lanka, Ravana was defeated by Lord Ramacandra, similarly, maya will be overcome by Krsna in the form of books whenever people receive and read them. Kazakhstan also increased by 999%, with 3,964 book points. Despite all the difficulties these devotees have faced, they con...
- 25 Nov 2015
By radhanathswami.com This year being the 500th anniversary of Sri Chaitanya’s visit to Vrindavan, Radhanath Swami extensively spoke on the life and teachings of Sri Chaitanya from His biographies, Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita and Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat. The talk was translated into eight languages. Following in the tradition of Sri Chaitanya, who emphasized sankirtan – the congregational chanting of the holy names of Sri Krishna, every evening after the talk devotees from many nations held hands and danced i...
- 24 Nov 2015
By Padmapani dasAs we entered the Pacific Coliseum, Mahesh Prabhu and I headed for the floor, our saffron bags filled with books, magazines and incense. The crowd was obviously excited as we gradually walked to the front of the stage distributing our spiritual goods along the way. "Hare Krishna" people shouted. Many of George's fans knew that he had an affinity towards our movement, so they were very friendly and supportive. When the concert began, George appeared on stage wearing a number of badges with spiritua...
- 24 Nov 2015
By Bhayahari dasISKCON of DC: This week we discuss a number of essential practices of bhakti yoga, including the care of the sacred plant, Tulsi devi. Srila Prabhupada: I am very glad to learn that Srimati Tulasi-devi has favored you so much. If you actually grow this Tulasi plant, and I am sure you will do it, then you must know it for certain that your devotion for Krsna is testified. I was very much anxious to introduce this worship of Tulasi plant amongst our Society members, but it has not become successf...
- 23 Nov 2015
By Sukanti Radha DasiVisit to Avanti School in Leicester, ISKCON London, ISKCON Leicester, Bhaktivedanta Manor and more! HG Jai Nitai Das and the devotees of ISKCON London gave the TOVP team a grand Vaishnava welcome! Huge fund raising event in the Manor. HG Praghosa Das and the TOVP UK team would like to congratulate TOVP facebook page for achieving a quarter of a million likes today! At every event HG Jananivas Prabhu makes an effort to talk to the devotees and enquire about their spiritual life and encourage ...
- 23 Nov 2015
By Urmila Devi DasiIt’s easy to imagine being blind. A simple close of the eyelids in a somewhat dark place or a walk through an unlit room at night, and we can empathize with those who cannot see. Making oneself temporarily deaf, however, is almost impossible. First of all, it’s hard to completely seal the entrance to the ears. Putting our hands over our ears or using earplugs blocks only a portion of the sound. Secondly, much sound is transmitted through the bones of our skull, bypassing the ear. A hearing ...
- 22 Nov 2015
By Rsiraja DasIn recent times, many attempts to bring science and religion together have been motivated from the impersonalist and voidist philosophical stances. Buddhism is a philosophy of voidism while Advaita Vedanta is a philosophy of impersonalism. On the face of it, there is tremendous synergy between science and these ideologies of formlessness because science too tries to describe the ultimate reality as a formless vacuum. In both cases, forms are emergent rather than fundamental properties of nature. How...
- 21 Nov 2015
By Sunanda dasThe Sadaputa Digital Channel Facebook Page is an extension of the Youtube Channel to help further promote his work to the Vaishnava community and serious spiritual seekers. It features a weekly lecture post, videos and many of Sadaputa’s written articles, Monograms and other writings. The lectures of Sadaputa Dasa are currently being transcribed by a team of eight devotees with the aim of publishing these in several volumes along with matching CDs. A website is also underway which will give furth...
- 20 Nov 2015
By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following results of book distribution for the month of October 2015 from the whole planet. World Totals, Monthly Congregation and Weekend Warriors, Monthly Continents, Monthly Top Ten Temples by Size, Monthly Top Ten Temples by Continent, Monthly Top Teams and Individuals, Monthly All Countries, Monthly All Temples, Monthly All Prabhupada Disciples, Cumulative Top Ten Countries, Cumulative Top Ten Temples, Cumulative Top 50 Indivi...
- 20 Nov 2015
By Manor staffBTGs are now available for purchase. And each BTG has a welcome letter, a subscription form, and a envelope for the customer inside it. Additional subscriptions forms are also available without a purchase at the Reception desk to encourage the congregation and visitors to get all six issues a year sent to their homes. Along with the latest BTG, there is a special edition on display in the photo: The cover features Bhaktivendanta Manor's 40th anniversary, and its Janmastami festival is featured in e...
- 20 Nov 2015
By Sukanti Radha DasiLord Nityananda's Paduka and Lord Nrsingadev Sitari were warmly welcomed with their first Abishek in UK by the Bhakti Vriksha UK Group. The fundraising had a great start with Bhakti Vriksha pledging £150,000. It was so heartening to see Bhakti Vriksha devotees dedicate such high degree of service to exalted devotees from Mayapur and render their service with so much love in their hearts. It's a sure sign on how gracefully Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON is growing. Devotees had the opportunity to ...
- 20 Nov 2015
By Gauranga DasISKCON GEV's participation was amongst 500 other nominations in the Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice, and were presented with their trophy and certificate at a glittering presentation ceremony in the Houses of Parliament, Westminster ,London on Monday, November 16 2015. Srutidharma Prabhu, Temple President of Bhaktivedanta Manor, on behalf of ISKCON GEV, received this award from the hands of Mr. Mark Wolens, General Manager of The Green Organization As a result of this Green Appl...
- 20 Nov 2015
By Bhakti Madhurya Govinda GoswamiAlas, we have lost the association of yet another great Vaishnava saint in the form of H.H. Gaura Krishna Goswami. Actually, I did not know him well, but because Vaishnava dealings are all on the absolute plane, therefore I know him through hearing his glories from other devotees. It is well known that he was an amazing pandit and wonderful public speaker exclusively on the subject of Hari katha. Although we cannot say he was necessarily a paramahamsa, there is no doubt that he m...
- 20 Nov 2015
By Sukanti Radha DasiThe TOVP International Team arrived today in London Heathrow airport. HG Jananivas Prabhu, HG Radhajivan Prabhu, HG Brajavilas Prabhu together with the Paduka and Sitari. They were received by Sukanti Radha dasi and Bhaktin Denia. Since they were received by 2 mataji’s. The garlands were placed on the chairs at Heathrow airport for them to garland each other, much to the attraction of the visitors at the airport. The International team and the Padukas and Sitari were then taken to the beau...
- 19 Nov 2015
By Parsada dasiThousands grabbed the ropes and pulled Lord Jagannath slowly on the main street of Mathura, which was beautifully decorated with rangoli, police flanked both sides of the chariot and the procession was led by another smaller beautifully decorated chariot of the Yamuna Foundation, a big brass band, horses and a camel, all gorgeously decorated. The Lord was on His way to shower mercy on all. Three groups of kirtaneers pelted out the Holy Names. Shopkeepers and residents showered Lord Jagannath and...
- 19 Nov 2015
By aninews.inPresident Pranab Mukherjee, who attended the celebrations of the 500th year of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's advent in Vrindavan today, said that the great saint was one of the greatest exponents of the Bhakti movement. Speaking on the occasion, the President said Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu preached love, equality, humanity and harmony. He urged the people to adopt this message of the great saint and recharge the society. President Mukherjee said Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was one of the greatest saints of t...
- 19 Nov 2015