By Praneshwar dasWe are very happy to announce that the first ever Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra Rathyatra held in Gwalior City, Madhya Pradesh, India on March 26th 2017 was a raging success by the mercy of the Vaisnavas, Srila Prabhupada and their Lordships. With the blessings of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj & HG Mahaman Prabhuji, there was an overwhelming response from the pious residents of Gwalior city, most of whom often visit Vrindavan regularly and perform Govardhan Parikrama. All credit goes to the ISKCON Gwalior Rathyatra Committee compr...
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- 11 Apr 2017
By the GBCIn the document establishing the GBC, Srila Prabhupada wrote: “So far my books are concerned, I am setting up a different body of management known as the BHAKTIVEDANTA BOOK TRUST. The trustees of this body are also members of the GBC, but their function is not dependent on the GBC.” (Direction of Management, July 28, 1970) The next day, in the BBT founding document, Srila Prabhupada described that the BBT and ISKCON were indissolubly connected but legally separated: “PURPOSE OF TRUST – This trust is created and shall be operated exclusivel...
- 11 Apr 2017
By The GBCThree months after establishing the GBC, Srila Prabhupada wrote: “Formerly I issued one circular letter requesting all GBC members who are zonal secretaries also, to give me a fortnightly report of the activities in his jurisdiction, but I am not receiving. I’ve received no letter since a very long time from Karandhara, and I’m very interested to know how things are going in L.A. We have a great responsibility to pay $2,000. monthly to the church trustees.” (Letter to Rupanuga, October 28, 1970) Srila Prabhupada acted as overseer of the (t...
- 10 Apr 2017
By Kesava Krsna DasaSrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur writes: “Many of us maintain a similar concept that we renounce our family life, we sacrifice a lot in the service of our spiritual master, some of us collect donations and do a lot of multifarious direct and indirect service for the satisfaction of our spiritual master, but what do we gain? Here we forget that we do such sums very well and it is only for our own well-being that he is getting the sums done by us. The spiritual master is engaging us in different services for our own satisfaction ...
- 9 Apr 2017
By GBC College StaffThe first residential session of the 2017-2018 academic year of the GBC College was held at Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV), a farm community and retreat center located in Wada, two hours north of Mumbai at the foothills of the Sahyadri mountains. The residential involved 12 days of training in the fields of leadership development. The GBC College is focusing on imparting training to leaders to establish Zonal Supervisors across the globe. Twenty-five devotee participants attended the residential program, the curriculum for which included les...
- 9 Apr 2017
By the GBCSrila Prabhupada expressed in the pages of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.3.23, purport) his own protective feelings about ISKCON: “Devaki and her husband, Vasudeva, were assured that their child was the Supreme Personality of Godhead and could not be killed by Kamsa, but because of affection, as they thought of Kamsa’s previous atrocities, they were simultaneously afraid that Krsna would be killed. This is why the word suvismita has been used. Similarly, we are also astounded upon thinking of whether this movement will be killed by the asuras or will ...
- 9 Apr 2017
By Parasuram dasaCamden Town is London's hippest part of London, attracting thousands of tourists daily. We have been preaching here since 17 years and now we managed to open a nice centre. A four story building just off the high street. We have daily prasad distribution, yoga classes, plans to open a juice bar but the main thing is we have an oasis for devotees to live and hold the Friday Feast , a chance to give Krishna to the conditioned souls, requesting the devotees blessings.
...- 7 Apr 2017
By the GBCSrila Prabhupada wrote: “I have formed this GBC for that purpose, to keep the devotional standards at the highest level and at the same time to manage a world-wide 14 organization.” (Letter to Rupanuga, November 4, 1970) Although most management takes place locally, a number of global functions for which the GBC is responsible need funding and staffing for effective operation. As Srila Prabhupada explains in the Bhagavad-gita (12.10, purport): “Every endeavor requires land, capital, organization, and labor. Just as in business one requires a...
- 7 Apr 2017
By Kusha devi dasiHis Grace Pancagauda Prabhu gives the invocation speech on 4th April 2017 at the Iskcon Vrindavan Devotee Care Assisted Living Facility's Bhumi Puja at Deva Lok Colony. Srila Prabhupada wanted the devotees to come to Vrindavan to retire, to finish their days. And it is encouraging that we provide you would say a guest house if you need to come and stay and retire. We see our devoted community really growing and developing all over the world, our congregation and many devotees have spent many many years serving in Prabhupada's mission, Lor...
- 6 Apr 2017
By Braja Prema DasaThis was the fourth annual parikrama (walking event) organized by ISKCON Pandharpur , with 250 participants from all over India and abroad. Many of them came from big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Gaziabad, Pune, Muscat, Dubai, and also from Brazil. Our parikrama party was fortunate to have the presence of Navayogendra Maharaj, who gave various lectures during the walk. Other senior devotees who attended included Dharmaraja Dasa, Krishna Caitanya Dasa, Prahlada Dasa and Vitthalananda Dasa. The four-day parikrama started on February 4th an...
- 6 Apr 2017
By the GBCSrila Prabhupada did not want devotees to only distribute his books; he often stressed the importance for devotees to study his books both regularly and scrutinizingly: “GBC member means they will see that in every temple these books are very thoroughly being read and discussed and understood and applied in practical life.” (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.3, Melbourne, April 5, 1972) Srila Prabhupada wrote to a GBC member: “Your first job should be to make sure that every one of the devotees in your zone of management is reading regularly ...
- 6 Apr 2017
By the GBCSrila Prabhupada also indicated that spiritual knowledge be formally tested as a requirement for serving as diksa-guru and that the GBC establish this and other examination processes in ISKCON: “Another examination will be held sometimes in 1971 . . . One who will pass this examination will be awarded with the title of Bhaktivedanta. I want that all of my spiritual sons and daughters will inherit this title of Bhaktivedanta, so that the family transcendental diploma will continue through the generations. Those possessing the title of Bhaktivedan...
- 5 Apr 2017
By Bhakti Charu SwamiThe original Personality of Godhead is Krsna, and He manifests Himself in different forms. One such manifestation is Lord Ramacandra. When Krsna appeared in His original form He acted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas when He appeared as Rama He acted as the ideal king. In fact, the pastimes of Lord Rama display ideals in many ways. Lord Rama appeared as the son of King Dasaratha, and Dasaratha acted as the ideal father and king. Rama acted as the ideal son and later, after He was coronated, as the ideal ruler. Rama’s bro...
- 5 Apr 2017
By Stritama dasiI had the good fortune to have a trip down under to the Gold Coast and visit the locally renowned restaurant in the heart of the city. The bottom floor is a large meditation and sacred sound room.Second floor is the gorgeous and scrumptious Govinda’s Restaurant with Lord Govinda welcoming you upon entry and the prasadam buffet keeping your gaze as you make your way in. The next floor the movie theater that shows conscious films after people have filled themselves with Krishna prasad, making them even more open to open to a ‘simple living...
- 4 Apr 2017
By Padsevan Bhakta DasThe event was attended by 2000 youngsters, including students of following institutes: IIT, IIIT-D, Delhi University, Delhi Technological University and others. The fest included talks by the guests and HH Gopal Krishna Goswami from ISKCON, a quiz show: Kaun Banega Krishna Conscious, in which participants answered questions from indian epics and won prizes on stage; "Madman" a stunning 90 minute drama, which reflected story of a young delhi boy, who wishes to know why there is so much corruption, crime and unemployment in the natio...
- 4 Apr 2017
By the GBCSrila Prabhupada wrote: “A GBC member cannot go beyond the jurisdiction of his power. We are in the experimental stage but in the next meeting of the GBC members they should form a constitution how the GBC members manage the whole affair.” (Letter to Giriraja, August 12, 1971) The constitution will enshrine the underlying fundamental principles on which all ISKCON laws should be based. Srila Prabhupada established the GBC as the “ultimate managing authority” for ISKCON. A structure that gives final, ultimate, and supreme authority to the ...
- 4 Apr 2017
By the GBCSpiritual guidance and nurturing is, of course, meant for all devotees, both temple residents and home-based: “The temple center is started just to present example to the neighboring residents how they can make a small temple in each and every home. It is not necessary that hundreds and thousands of people will live in our temple, but if we can make effective propaganda, then the neighboring residents, householders, will be inclined to be initiated and follow the modes of temple life.” (Letter to Tamal Krishna, June 1, 1969) Srila Prabhupada e...
- 3 Apr 2017
By Patricia RetuyaOn the 6th of March, an audience of over 500 filled the University of Melbourne’s Carrilo Ganter Theatre for a seminar offering a unique insight into the universal topic of happiness. Looking out into the full lecture theatre, the first observation one would make is to notice the variety of people present from different backgrounds, age demographics, and walks of life. Guest speaker, Devamrita Swami aptly and humorously sets the tone of the event with his opening quip, “I didn’t think there were this many people interested in the top...
- 2 Apr 2017
By Vrsabhanu dasaPrabhupada Desh is located in Albettone near Vicenza, North Italy. The 10 hectare property with a 16th century villa was purchased by the Hare Krishna devotees in the late eighties with donations from distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books. Beautiful paintings are decorating the walls and ceiling of the exquisite temple room which overlooks a large park. Many devotees take part in Sunday programmes and yearly festivals but Prabhupada Desh is also a center for seminars, spiritual retreats and courses related to vaishnava culture. There are...
- 2 Apr 2017
By the GBCSrila Prabhupada wrote to a GBC member: “Now I have invested the GBC for maintaining the standard of our Krsna Consciousness Society, so keep the GBC very vigilant. I have already given you full directions in my books.” (Letter to Satsvarupa, 5 September 13, 1970) Later, Srila Prabhupada wrote to another member of the GBC: “I have formed this GBC for that purpose, to keep the devotional standards at the highest level and at the same time to manage a world-wide organization.” (Letter to Rupanuga, November 4, 1970) Srila Prabhupada often st...
- 2 Apr 2017
By the GBCIn Los Angeles on June 4, 1976, a reporter asked Srila Prabhupada: “Is there anyone who is designated to succeed you as the primary teacher of the movement?” Srila Prabhupada replied: “I am training some, I mean to say, advanced students so that they may be very easily take up the charge. I have made them GBC. They are under my direct training, and I think they will be able to conduct this movement.” Six days later, on June 10, 1976, also in Los Angeles, another reporter asked about succession of spiritual leadership: once Srila Prabhupada...
- 1 Apr 2017
By Spencer Dew Last year, for the twentieth anniversary of the festival, 80,000 people were reportedly in attendance, with that crowd estimated to be about 90% Mormon. The festival in Spanish Fork has spawned a series of smaller events in other cities run by a travelling team from the Utah temple and has also given birth to the popular “Color Run” phenomenon, employing the same kind of powdered, cornstarch-based colors, and the same spirit of carnivalesque engagement in “sharing love.” Mormon festival-goers are led in chanting Sanskrit mantras and ...
- 31 Mar 2017
By Jency JacobIs this the image of the proposed Ram Mandir temple at Ayodhya? Yes, if certain images posted on social media – Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are to be believed. The image showing a magnificent structure has been doing the rounds on Twitter and Facebook since the last two years.
...- 31 Mar 2017
By the GBCThis document describes the collective service of the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The listed functions derive primarily from Srila Prabhupada’s direct instructions. Some details have been shaped, however, by insights gained over decades of observation and experience. The GBC members collaborate to fulfill their various global responsibilities and individually contribute according to their capacity, area of expertise, personal inclination, and specific requirements. It is not expected that eve...
- 31 Mar 2017