By Kesava Krsna DasaHow many devotees will answer the question of how Mother Sita was banished by Sri Rama to Valmiki’s hermitage? “Rama was righteous… He set an example for all…?” Or is there a deeper reason? Such an answer can take the ‘controversy’ out of it. We do not have a right to question any of the Lord’s decisions, but in light of today’s awareness of human rights and the importance of family unity in strengthening spiritual communities, our answer might echo what appears to be a heartless decision to...
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- 12 Apr 2019
By Hari Narayana DasThis year's parade was special because the show got enlivened with 40 decorative cars and boasted of participants from 37 cross-cultural communities. ISKCON community in Surabaya was also given invitation and as soon as the opportunity arrived, the devotees arranged for the Lord Jagannath's chariot festival. Devotees enjoyed spiritual bliss on pulling Lord Jagannath's chariot and the people of Surabaya in turn received the inconceivable merciful blessings of Lord Jagannath. Here is a short report.
...- 9 Apr 2019
By Purushottam Nitai DasHanuman was just one of the soldiers of Lord Rama and had almost decimated the entire Lanka. Any sensible person would have easily gauged the strength of his opponent seeing the power of just one of the soldiers of his opponent. But lust and ego had created such a thick covering over Ravana’s intelligence that he was not able to see his imminent disaster. Just like Ravana we too want to enjoy the property of the Lord claiming to be ours. And when reminded tha...
- 7 Apr 2019
By Shaunaka Rishi Das,The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, the world’s leading Centre for Hindu Studies, celebrated its 20 years at the House of Lords at the River Room, hosted by Lord Dholakia. Lord Dholakia informed the audience of the value of OCHS which is a seat of academic studies with scholars and research capabilities. He highlighted the need to create a bridge between the Mandirs who support Hindu activities and the OCHS which enables knowledge building. He remarked about the poor representation of Hindus in the Parliament. There was a need for authentic independent representation of Hindu value...
- 6 Apr 2019
By Yugala Kishor Gour dasIn the MetaVision period Mohan filmed many Krishna Conscious events, seminars and festivals. He even went on an European Tour, recording different temples and their local activities. All these were recorded on a semi professional system called Sony U-Matic. These tapes can not be played on your normal house VHS and/or Betamax systems, they are simply to big. Measuring 3/4 inch. According to several devotees, whom I have spoken to, this archive ended up on Inish Rath in Northern Ireland, brought there by Tribhuvanath prabhu. Some devotees claim to have seen the tapes there. But they ...
- 5 Apr 2019
By Sarah KeoghOver this period of Lent we’ve spoken to priests, minister and Senators already, asking them ‘what’s it all about?’ What is the meaning of life? What impact does religion have on a person’s everyday life. Sarah Keogh was joined by Praghosh, who is the representative for ISKCON, the Hare Krishna movement here in Ireland, and he also began the Govinda restaurant chain over 20 years ago. Praghosh explained what the Hare Krishna movement is, and what he believes life is about.
...- 5 Apr 2019
By Kelsey WatlingtonOn Saturday March 23, 2019, ISKCON of Richmond received an inspiring visit from National Convenor for National Ganga Mission, Dr. Snehal Donde, who gave a talk entitled “The Agony of Rivers”. Dr. Donde is the research officer at Bhaktivedanta Vidyapeeth Research Centre in Govardhan Eco Village in Mumbai. She works closely with His Holiness Radhanath Swami and His Grace Gauranga prabhu to advise in water conservation practices in the center. Dr. Donde has more than twenty-four years of experience in the fields of education, research, and administration. She holds two PhDs in the fiel...
- 2 Apr 2019
By Visakha DasiWe have personally seen Srila Prabhupada's eagerness to preach to even one person. It is our honor, privilege and great happiness to continue to serve his desire in distributing HARE KRISHNA! to all parts of the world thus giving access to thousands to view his amazing life story and thus begin their journey on the path of lasting freedom. To date, HARE KRISHNA! has been screened in public movie theaters in 39 countries and has been viewed online in more than 100 countries. All in all, over 14,000 DVDs in the four languages have been distributed since January.
...- 30 Mar 2019
By Vijaya dasThe Sydney temple has struggled in its book distribution for a few years because the government cracked down on people with religious visas, so many temple members had to leave the county, and some were book distributors. Now Sydney has made a comeback. It is the No. 1 temple among the Medium Temples, with almost 6,000 book points. Welcome back to the transcendental competition! Baltimore had a good month, too, placing No. 1 among the Small Temples. It did 5,336 book points, an increase of 317% over the previous year in February. Moscow now has three temples reporting, and they are in first, ...
- 30 Mar 2019
By Kaisori Devi DasiWith the full text in English, Russian, and German, with more languages being prepared. The text is fully - and quickly! - searchable in each language. Easy-to-read with many customizable features, including the ability to bookmark, highlight, and make notes. Full Sanskrit diacritics on the text and a glossary, just as in the print edition. Switch easily from one language to another - you can compare the Russian or German to the English or vice versa. Read in your own language or practice learning a new language using Srila Prabhupada's book as a guide.
...- 28 Mar 2019
By ArtiI have been a regular visitor to the ISKCON Temple in Jaipur, Rajasthan for almost an entire past decade. Rajasthan being my ancestral state, we make it a point to travel here once at least every year. To say then, that I have a personal affinity for this state, and the Jaipur ISKCON temple wouldn’t be an exaggeration… from being a simple small house many years back, it has been a joy to see the temple gradually evolve to a relatively bigger premise and stand in line along with some of its more famous contemporaries like Delhi.
...- 28 Mar 2019
By Jambavati Devi DasiYesterday in Dunedin New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was visiting a local Mosque ..to comfort and reassure the Local Muslim Community after the recent terror attack in Christchurch where 50 Muslim worshippers were brutally murdered while praying. She then made her way to The Otago University Clubs and Societies Building where ISKCON Dunedin holds their Krishna Lunch Program. Daily feeding at least 250 hungry and very grateful students and staff..delicious nutritious prasadam. As the Prime Minister walked up the stairs Jahnava Mata dasi the Krishna Lunch coordinator gree...
- 28 Mar 2019
By GregoryRecently, I was thinking and reading about Vrindavan. I thought about how it would be to go to Vrindavan. How does it happen? How would I do it? To learn, I checked and researched. I found the ISKCON Vrindavan website. I saw Visit Vrindavan and Travel Assistance and read. The information stated, “The most convenient airport for coming to Vrindavan is Delhi.” So, I searched several websites for flights from Jacksonville, Florida to Delhi, India. The flight times varied:...
- 27 Mar 2019
By Muralimohan dasaOn March 17 the ISKCON Ahmedabad temple devotees conducted their thirty-third monthly one-day padayatra. Called the Glories of Gaura-hari, a shorter walk this time of just 6km, the padayatra was held to promote the glories of Gaura-purnima, the appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
...- 27 Mar 2019
By ISKCON Laguna BeachA regional festival for the celebration of the appearance day of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! Lectures were given by special guests HH Giriraj Maharaj and HG Vaisesika Prabhu. There was also Song and Play performed by Sunday School children, Maha- Harinam to the beach - Arati Kirtan at the temple and more
...- 24 Mar 2019
By Kesava Krsna DasaSome devotees think, that because they are devotees, they must preach instantly to whomever they meet. Perhaps if we had the required force of purity, we could effect changes in people’s hearts on first contact. The reality is however, that not everyone has the required sukrti to appreciate our words; we have to create it for them. Being in the workplace alongside the same faces, day in, and day out, can present challenges for a devotee keen on preaching. Simp...
- 23 Mar 2019
By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of February 2019. 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
...- 22 Mar 2019
By Mauricio Garrido, Ph.D.One of the strongest points of tension that often comes up in cosmology between science and religion is the age of the universe. Some interpretations of the Bible calculate it to be about 6,000 years old, while the most recent calculation according to the Lambda-CDM concordance model is 13.8 billion years. The Vedic literatures see the manifestation and eventual destruction of the universe, like most events in nature, as a periodic occurrence and give it in tr...
- 21 Mar 2019
By Govindananda dasUnder the organization of Ministry of External Affairs Government of India and Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Prayagraj hosted at least one person from every country at the occasion of the sacred Kumbh festival. Kumbha Mela is unique and world's largest event in which hundreds of millions of spiritualists converge for a holy dip at the confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati. UNESCO has recognized this festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of the humanity.
...- 20 Mar 2019
By Chandan BhatiaThe Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Caitanya, propagated the essence of all religion for the age of Kali - congregational chanting of Lord Hari’s holy name. Accompanied by His associates, He appeared in Kali-yuga simply to establish the religious practice of congregational chanting. According to His desire, His eternal associates appeared before Him, taking birth as humans. Ananta Sesa, Siva, Brahma, the sages, and other associates of the Lord all took birth as highly elevated, pure Vaishnavas. Lord Caitanya, Krishna, knew everyone’s position and identity. Mo...
- 20 Mar 2019
By Hari Narayana dasThe month of March brings Nyepi - the day of silence throughout the whole of Bali. In the Balinese lunar calendar (Saka), Nyepi is New Year's Day. It is a day wholly dedicated to rest, staying in, turning off the lights and keeping quiet for 24 hours. It is one of the biggest and most unique ceremonies of the year, where staying in and resting is enforced by law. It is practiced island-wide where the Balinese dedicate an entire day to introspection and spiritual cleansing.
...- 19 Mar 2019
By Ambarisa dasWe are very pleased to announce on the most auspicious day of Gaur Purnima 2019 the launch of the promotion campaign for our historic 10 day fundraising event from May 7th (Akshaya Trittiya) until May 17th (Nrsimha Caturdasi). The *#Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser* is exactly what it sounds like, a 10 day worldwide online window of opportunity to make a donation, large or small, to the TOVP that will be matched by myself, Ambarisa das.
...- 18 Mar 2019
By Louise GuthrieMy intrepid Mystic India 2019 tour companions and I have, in recent days, been reciting that self-same mantra in the holy town of Vrindavan, where Krishna spend his childhood. We chanted it in the pilgrimage city of Mayapur, home to world ISKCON-Headquarters, and while passing through Delhi and Kolkata, in airports and aeroplanes, busses and rickshaws. Upon arrival here in Rishikesh, we spontaneously took the maha mantra to the streets in musical format as a merry band of minstrels complete with Indian percussion instruments.
...- 17 Mar 2019
By Bhakta dasaThe horrific massacre that unfolded in Christchurch New Zealand on Friday 15th March, in which to date 50 human beings have lost their lives, is truly a very dark moment in history, not only for Muslims but for all who treasure the gift of life. On behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Hare Krishna Movement, I wish to convey that ISKCON members all over the world offer their sincere prayers to all who are suffering due to this insane act of evil madness. Our deepest sympathy goes to those who lost family members, friends and fellow members of the Christchurch Muslim community, as w...
- 17 Mar 2019