By the TOVPAfter eight months of lockdowns in India last year due to the pandemic, the TOVP resumed construction in September and has been steadily increasing the work pace. We will be providing regular updates and reports from our Project Management Consultancy (PMC), Cushman & Wakefield, and below is the first photo update showing progress in the following areas: Outdoor Hydrant Erection Sprinkler Completion Storm Drains Electrical Wiring Air Conditioning Ducting Audio/Video Cabling Coffered Ceiling Progress
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- 4 Mar 2021
By Ramcharan DasOn 10th February 2006, the beautiful temple of Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan ji, Krishna Balarama and Gaura Nitai was inaugurated in the auspicious presence of many GBCs, sannyasis and senior devotees of ISKCON. HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja had constructed this beautiful marble temple in a very short time of 9 months and 20 days, which is an unbeatable record in itself. Some people say just like the time a child takes to get shaped in the womb of a mother, this beautiful temple took shape in the heart of Ujjain in garbha-kala.
...- 4 Mar 2021
By GBC SPTMany years ago a great Krishna Bhakti teacher, Bhakti Tirtha Swami, penned the following 4 principles of community building: 1. Treat everyone you encounter as if the success or failure of your spiritual life depends on the quality of your interactions with them. 2. Think of the person you love the most and aspire to treat everyone with that same quality of love. 3. View all conflicts as your own fault first. 4. Realize that people in your present environment might very well be the people with whom you will live out your life and who are likely to be with you at the time of death. ...
- 3 Mar 2021
By Gauranga Darshan Das Lord Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gīta that He descends in every yuga as an incarnation for three purposes: to protect the righteous, to punish the mischievous, and to establishes dharma. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa descended in the current age of Kali as Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu or Śrī Gaurānga. In this incarnation, the Lord appears in the form of a devotee to teach how to perform loving devotional service (bhakti) unto Him.
...- 3 Mar 2021
By Vijaya DasaIt looks like book distribution is almost back to normal, though the Covid-19 crisis still lurks around us. Temples worldwide did huge in January. Usually, January is a slow month, being just after the Prabhupada Marathon, but not January 2021. New Delhi did 139,522 book points. It’s hard to keep a good temple down, and they were in their normal No. 1 position again.
...- 1 Mar 2021
By Purushottam Nitai DasAnyone who takes shelter of Krishna gets freedom from all the miseries. In Bhagavad Gita Krishna himself says, “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.”
...- 1 Mar 2021
By Karnamrita DasThough we are social creatures that need interaction with others in good spiritual association, the importance of being alone with one's thoughts or taking the time to reflect on life is crucial. Some people aren't comfortable being alone or don't know what to do with themselves or how to use the time other than to watch someone else living their dream on T.V or in a movie, or to sleep, play a game of solitaire, or lament they don't have a friend to be with, or somethi...
- 28 Feb 2021
By the GBC ECThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and caused the deaths of millions of people globally. As of February 2021 it shows no signs of slowing down. Many members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, including sannyasis, gurus, and other senior devotees -- as well as some younger devotees -- have passed away as a result of COVID-19 infections and related complications. Numerous other devotees who contracted and have recovered from COVID-19 continue to suffer from its weakening effects.
...- 26 Feb 2021
By Prahladananda SwamiIn this unprecedented period in the world’s history where health has become a constant source of concern, a pure devotee can give us some secrets of health. What is the most important secret of health? Srila Prabhupada reveals it in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.10: “In Kali-yuga, the duration of life is shortened not so much because of insufficient food but because of irregular habits. By keeping regular habits and eating simple food, any man can maintain his health. Overeating, over-sense gratification, over-dependence on another’s mercy, and artificial standards of li...
- 26 Feb 2021
By Radha Mohan dasThe videos are a collaboration between devotee health professionals, mainly alumni of the Pandava Sena youth group and the management of Bhaktivedanta Manor. The human connection has been a huge part of the yatra and its community are missing the opportunity to connect. Bearing this and the multiple physical challenges posed to devotees in the UK and beyond, they decided to try and reach out in an alternative way by each sharing some advice.
...- 26 Feb 2021
By Radha Rasikraj Das Launched in the year 2002 on Nityananda Trayodashi, ISKCON Desire Tree completes its 19 years of selfless service to humanity at large and the Vaishnava community in particular. This service includes offering: 50+ websites, 100+ mobile applications, Audio website hosting 250,000+ audio files, Attracting 10,000+ visitors every day. Hare Krsna TV YouTube Channel has more than 28000 videos , 1.4 million subscribers so far and with around 200,000 views everyday.
...- 24 Feb 2021
By Gauranga DasThe Economic and Social Council of the United Nations granted special consultative status to ISKCON Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV). Consultative status is an accreditation framework that benefits both the United Nations and the NGOs. Consultative arrangements with ECOSOC will enable the ECOSOC or one of its bodies to secure expert information or advice from organizations having special competence in the subjects for which consultative arrangements are made, and, on the other hand, to enable international, regional, sub-regional and national organizations that represent important elements of publ...
- 24 Feb 2021
By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of January 2021. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5
...- 24 Feb 2021
By the Ministry of Education“As a matter of principle, devotees should read, speak and hear Srimad-Bhagavatam persistently, twenty-four hours daily if possible. That is the recommendation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu” Srila Prabhupada Srimad Bhagavatam 5.6.16, Translation and Purport
...- 22 Feb 2021
Tom Hopkins, one of the ISKCON Movement’s best friends and scholarly supporters has just passed away
By Garuda DasI write to inform all of you that one of the ISKCON Movement's best friends and scholarly supporters has just passed away in the morning of Saturday, February 20, 2021. I have known Tom Hopkins for decades and he has been such a supporter of devotees and well-wisher of the Movement. He met Śrīla Prabhupāda and the early devotees in 1966 at 26 Second Avenue, and purchased his first set of Śrīla Prabhupāda's "Delhi" Bhāgavatams at that time (those volumes are currently in my possession). At one point, Tom even arranged for Śrīla Prabhupāda to teach a course at Franklin and Marshall Coll...
- 21 Feb 2021
By the GBC SPTDiving deep into the core elements of our philosophy as expounded in the Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT) invites you to join us for an enlivening talk by Kadamba Kanana Swami.
...- 21 Feb 2021
By Sivarama SwamiAt this time our planet and our devotees need prayer. No doubt many devotees have their own prayers. Yet some do not. It can be downloaded, there is no cost. You can forward it to whoever you think would value it or who would benefit from it. Our hope is that the contents will ease devotees’ concerns during the challenging times that face us. With a prayer that Radha-Syama protect you all and enable you to remember their names, forms, qualities and pastimes whatever providence has in store; I thank you!
...- 20 Feb 2021
By Mukundamala Das“Metpally . . . Radha-Krishna installation . . . festival . . .” Our ashram at ISKCON Chowpatty was buzzing with this discussion last week when I visited after a gap of few days. Many brahmacharis were excited about visiting this small town in Telangana, around 800 kms from Mumbai. The temple managers were busy arranging for all the essential services that had to be taken care of in the absence of so many devotees.
...- 20 Feb 2021
By Gauranga DasThe International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) stands appraised and recognized with one of the highest honors nationally- “IGBC Green Champion Award 2020” during the 18th edition of ‘Green Building Congress’ organized from 29th – 31st October 2020. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was unanimously chosen as a winner of the 7th IGBC Green Champion Awards under the category of 'Pioneering Institution in sensitizing the masses by going green'.
...- 19 Feb 2021
By Radhika Krpa Devi DasiSrila Prabhupada wanted the devotees of ISKCON to march as soldiers on a great war against maya with the torch of sankirtana held high in order to spread the holy name to every town and village in the world. Trained in the Vedic knowledge I took this as my moral responsibility to make the masses aware of the spiritual understanding. Srila Prabhupada’s movement is all about instilling fearlessness.
...- 16 Feb 2021
By various authorsRaghunatha dasa Gosvami used to always serve Sri Sri Radha-Govinda in his mind. One day in his meditation he cooked sweet rice and offered it to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. In great pleasure they accepted the offering and the other sakhis also relished this prasadam. Then Raghunatha himself honored the remnants of their prasadam and in great ecstasy, due to the pleasure of having been able to satisfy Sri Sri Radha-Govinda and Their loving attendants, he ate a little more than was his custom.
...- 15 Feb 2021
By Grihastha Vision TeamThe mission of The Grihastha Vision Team is to support, strengthen, educate and enliven the individuals, couples and families who are or will be involved with the grihastha ashram. We want to help you spiritualize your marriage and make it an act of seva. Remember, Vaisnava etiquette begins at home.
...- 14 Feb 2021
By ISKCON VrindavanVishal Prabhu was a legendary distributor of Srila Prabhupada’s books. He joined the movement in approximately 1968, and he was about thirty years old when he joined. He married Visalini devi and they had three daughters together, one of whom passed away in Vrindavan at a very young age. His two remaining girls are Krsnamayi and Vrinda.
...- 14 Feb 2021
By the GBC SPT35 days of virtual association with many of ISKCON's most experienced and engaging speakers. We are honored to have the participation of many senior Vaishnavas, including Jayapataka Swami, Giriraja Swami, Radhanath Swami, Kadamba Kanana Swami, Jayadvaita Swami, Krsna Ksetra Swami, Candramauli Swami, Devamrta Swami, Bhakti Purushottama Swami, Vaisesika Das, Lokanath Swami, Malati Devi, Visakha Devi, Narayani Devi, Jagattarini Devi, and many more. Their profound realizations will enlighten us during this 5-week celebration.
...- 14 Feb 2021