By Brijabasi dasThere is a Sanskrit poem describing the glories of the holy name which is quite well-known in ISKCON by the name "Sri Kevalastakam". Each verse of the poem ends with "harer namaiva kevalam" ("Only the holy name of Lord Hari"). It appears in the songbook called "More Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas". Its authorship has been a mystery and it was described as "An Anonymous Sanskrit Poem". Recently, while reading one of the old "Sajjana-tosani" magazines published by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in the la...
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- 25 Dec 2015
By Taraka dasRecently I have travelled to a number of ISKCON centres. The place that stood out for me as welcoming and warm was New Vrindavan. Every devotee that I encountered said, "Haribol. How are you?" or similar or just smiled. This really warmed my heart as I have often been to a new place and devotees did not acknowledge my presence At all. I know I am not alone in this experience, and may even be guilty of ignoring guests myself from time To time. The question to ask ourselves is - what impression do w...
- 24 Dec 2015
By Mayesvara dasaThe Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur, West Bengal, India (presently well under construction as of December 2015), is an attempt to depict the map of the Universe according to the ancient Vedic literature, primarily the Fifth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam as translated and presented by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Canto 1, chapter 5, verse 11 of Srimad-Bhagavatam predicts that this literature will bring about a revolution in the impious lives of this world's misdirected civilizat...
- 22 Dec 2015
By Hari Narayana DasKota Agung is a small town located in Tanggamus, Lampung. Being the capital, it is also the most important city in Lampung. Situated at the foot of Mount Tanggamus and nearby the Gulf Coast Semaka it stands as a beautiful location for tourists. At present there are no devotees living in Tanggamus. Those who do live in Lampung, live in the ‘Gita Nagari Baru’ farm community established by HH Bhakti Raghava Swami, a five hours drive from Tanggamus! Devotees in Indonesia received an invitati...
- 22 Dec 2015
By Mohan Sunder DasWith a pure desire in their heart to spread Lord Sri Chaitanya’s message to one and all, Aligarh devotees worked day in and day out on the land donated by Dr. Maheshwar Pratap Varshney. Dr. Varshney, an ardent follower of the Bhagwad Gita, donated 4 acres of land to ISKCON because he had firm faith on ISKCON for spreading Lord Sri Hari’s ‘Gita’, Bhagwad Gita. The devotees worked very hard and finally saw the very eventful day of ‘Ground Breaking Ceremony’ on 13th November’2015 ...
- 22 Dec 2015
By Vijaya DasaIn November, the most improved temple throughout the world was Toronto, with a 492% increase and 6,144 book points. In Toronto, in November, it's cold, but still the devotees did the yajna and had a huge increase. All glories to their determination to get Krishna's message out to people despite the cold weather! Of course, other places also get cold, like parts of Europe and Asia where the temperature falls below freezing. It may be cold in these places, but there are devotees with such warm pearts ...
- 22 Dec 2015
By Shyama Krishna dasa and Vraja Vihari dasaThere are many ways to study the Bhagavad-gita. Recently, devotees have considered the Gita from the point of view of what essential values/principles Krishna teaches in this sacred book. They chose six key points: 1. Dharma (right action) 2. Sama Darshana (equal vision) 3. amanitva (humility) 4. iccha (choice/desire) 5. Ahimsa (without cruelty) 6. Priti (affection)
...- 21 Dec 2015
By Vani Devi DasiFour years ago I got a phone call at three in the morning. Minutes later I couldn't control my tears and the only thing I knew to do was to take shelter of Panca Tattva. Standing in front of their Lordships in a daze the tears came again as I felt your absence. My heart hurt, my heart still hurts. Your love for Krsna, Prabhupada, and all of us met no bounds, and a moment with you was like a hundred as time stood still and I couldn't take my eyes from you. Your love was real, your spiritual vision...
- 21 Dec 2015
By Vrajendranandan DasRecently, we had a big networking opportunity as ISKCON was officially invited to attend the birth day celebration event of Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, who turned 81 on Dec 11th, 2015. The august gathering witnessed presence of many matteraties, including the Prime Minister and other dignitaries from far flung areas of the country. .As a gesture of mercy and blessing, we gave Mahaprasad of Shri Shri Radhaparth Sarthi and Pushp Guchcha of Lord Narshimha deva to the president w...
- 21 Dec 2015
By Bhakti Raghava SwamiTo invoke global auspiciousness and increased awareness about the need to protect Mother Cow and to gradually introduce the culture of Cow Care in our daily lives, we would like to invite all ISKCON Temples and ISKCON Centers to perform a special Go-Puja to Mother Surabhi on January 1, 2016, in addition to perform Harinam. In order to carry this mood during the Golden Jubilee year of 2016, I would like to further submit the following 3 proposals to ISKCON Leaders and ISKCON Temples within ...
- 19 Dec 2015
By Iskcon MayapurIf you had served as a resident devotee at an ISKCON temple for five years during any period of time in your life, even if you are not a residential devotee now, still you can avail this facility. ISKCON Mayapur appreciates your dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON by bestowing you the honor of residing at Mayapur for 15 days free stay in a year at Vamsi Bhavan guest house and providing you 7 days free prasadam (see note below). Guided tour service to holy places around Navadvipa is...
- 19 Dec 2015
By Deva Madhava das'You were on Mayapur TV...!' 'What’s that Mata?' I was calling one of our congregation members to coordinate her contribution to our first major infrastructure purchase, a restaurant fridge... which was being gotten rid of cheap by a local Indian store that was closing down. 'Yes, yes, Mayapur TV. I watch the LA Temple Bhagavatam class every morning and today the devotee speaking mentioned your center!' 'Oh, well that’s exciting. Do you happen to know the reason?' I wondered out loud. ...
- 19 Dec 2015
By Abhaya Mudra DasiIn popular historical accounts the word democracy was first used in ancient Greece denoting a contemporary system of governing. In ancient Athens the word democracy was a compound term which could be broken into two parts: demos meaning people and kratein to rule. This ideal of governing inspires us even today. Democracy echoes the ancient ideals of equality and freedom into the modern governing systems. Some authors like John Keane (author of Life and Death of Democracy) think that democracy has much older ori...
- 19 Dec 2015
By Sita Rama dasDemocratization is an attempt to counteract the tyranny of powerful men by transferring power to the people. It tries to make all people equal but it leads to the degradation of all the people, by all the people. Vedic Society does not try to equalize material power; it is designed to facilitate, in all people, the realization that we are equal on the spiritual level. ISKCON wants to be a society which counteracts the degradation of people in modern democracy in order to facilitate spiritual reali...
- 19 Dec 2015
By Sri Bhakti DasHare Krishna dear vaisnavas, please accept my humble obeisances!!! This program was held at the juvenile prison (3 Alamos) in Santiago- Chile. It consists of 4 sessions in 4 different days with yoga, vegetarian cooking, music, philosophy. Children cooked, offered and took prasad. They received books of Srila Prabhupada, chanted the Maha Mantra and danced. They also saw a video of Vrindavan Parikrama. They were sincerely happy and were very receptive.
...- 18 Dec 2015
By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of November. 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
...- 18 Dec 2015
By ISKCON Desire TreeISKCON Outreach is an initiative of GBC Strategic Planning Team. It is resource for all ISKCON leaders and members to learn the successful techniques of outreach adapted by different centers and members all around the world. In these video-interviews Iskcon leaders and devotees are sharing their outreach programs and realizations about how to present the science of Krishna consciousness in today's society.
...- 18 Dec 2015
By Sankirtana Das500 years ago Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the religious leader of the Bhakti Movement, implored us to be as tolerant as the tree which patiently endures the rain and cold and heat. Another time, Caitanya declared to his followers “take the fruits from the Tree of Devotion and give them away freely to all people, in all directions, all over the world. Do not consider who is fit or unfit, let people take these fruits (being the names of God) and become free from old age and death.” Symbols of spiritu...
- 17 Dec 2015
By Sanjay Krsnacandra dasPhase 1: Make a list of 10-15 very close people from your CoI contact, with whom you can freely talk. Call 3-5 people from that list daily. The list will be exhausted in 3-4 days. Phase 2: By now, you would have gained some confidence. Now increase the CoI list to be as exhaustive as possible. Do NOT discriminate or speculate if the person would be interested or not. Just list people whom you know. Call fixed number of people every day in the descending order of your comfort level. If ...
- 17 Dec 2015
By Shaktyavesha Avatara dasaAmara ajnaya guru hana. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said... Because Caitanya Mahaprabhu is maha-vadanyavatara, most munificent incarnation to reclaim all the fallen souls. Ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kono bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. So the guru's business is to make everyone a bhagyavan, fortunate. That is guru's business. The guru's business is... They are so much sympathetic that one can get Krsna consciousness if he is fortunate. So guru's labor, guru's activity, is how to make peopl...
- 17 Dec 2015
By Ishita Mishra'Bhakti without Borders' is a rather apt name for an album of bhajans that has been nominated for the 58th Grammy Awards, to be held in Los Angeles next year on February 15. Eleven bhajans dedicated to Lord Krishna have made it to the prestigious list released on December 7. Why "without borders"? All of these songs have been composed by Krishna devotees from across the world — from Australia to America, from England to India. Nominated in the 'Best new age album' category, the collection, who...
- 17 Dec 2015
By Nrsimhananda dasWe are requesting all producers/directors: submit entries by sending a link to your uploaded production: nrs@itvproductions.net Questions may also be sent to that address. Deadline is January 22nd. Include your name, address, telephone, Skype name, and any other relevant information regarding your entry. Please be brief and write in English. All entries are required to be in English or have English subtitles. Additional files/dvd's will be requested as needed. A panel of judges who have...
- 17 Dec 2015
By Chandan Yatra DasSri Alarnath Temple is a very important temple of Visnu near Jagannatha Puri (23 km) at Brahmagiri, Orissa. Lord Alarnath is the representative of Lord Jagannatha at Puri. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at this temple during anavasara, the two-week period after Snana-yatra when Lord Jagannatha rests in seclusion before the annual Rathayatra (chariot festival) in Jagannatha Puri. Lord Caitanya couldn't bear staying in Puri without seeing His beloved Lord, and at Alarnath He would reveal the hig...
- 16 Dec 2015
By TKG AcademyKrishna Priya grew up as a Hare Krsna devotee in the ISKCON New Vrindaban farm community in West Virginia. Her parents were initiated by Srila Prabhupada and are both very talented and artistic. I first met Krishna Priya in 2003, while she was studying for her B.A. in English and later her M.Ed. in Secondary English Education at the University of Florida in Gainesville. We were roommates, sharing the old trailer at the Vaisnava Academy for Girls, from which she has graduated a few years prior. Kris...
- 16 Dec 2015