By Indradyumna SwamiBrandenburg Gate in Berlin, built in 1791, is one of the best-known landmarks of Germany. Through it's existence it has often been a site for historic events. On July 30 it served as a prestigious backdrop for ISKCON Berlin's annual Ratha Yatra festival. Sacinandana Swami, of German origin, was so enlivened that ISKCON was allowed to hold Ratha Yatra in such a time-honored place, that he chanted and danced in great ecstasy throughout the day.
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- 1 Aug 2016
By Jack Suntrup“To gain connection with God, we go to a place of worship,” said Yamuna Jivana Das, an event organizer. “One of the things this festival represents is that deities, instead of staying in temple, are taken out in public for the purpose of everyone and anyone being able to see them.” The holiday got its start in Orissa, India, according to the Krishna Balaram Temple of St. Louis. Organizers said Rath Yatra — or “Chariot Festival” — is now celebrated in cities all over the world. Lal ...
- 1 Aug 2016
By BBC staffHare Krishna monks have finally moved into their new home after an explosion that destroyed their former temple six years ago. Thirty people escaped just before the Iskcon Temple in Leicester exploded on 3 September 2010. A Leicester family donated a former bank in Granby Street to Iskcon, and renovation work to the Grade II building has now been completed. The monks are taking residency on the upper floors. The space also includes a meditation area, kitchen, classrooms and offices.
...- 31 Jul 2016
By Ananda Vidya dasDuring the summer we follow the rock concert tours. That is a very ecstatic experience. Vijay Prabhu is one of my inspirations for doing these concert tours. I think he might have been the one who gave me my first book at one of those concerts in the summer of 1994. I had gone to a "Grateful Dead" concert in Washington DC, and one of my friends had gotten a book from one of the devotees, the "Journey to Self Discovery." I borrowed that book from him. I had not met the devotees personally at tha...
- 31 Jul 2016
By Vijaya DasaThe devotees in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, have come up with one of the most innovative book distribution techniques I've seen. They go to a school and arrange with the principal to speak to all the teachers, sometimes thirty or forty of them. The devotees explain the glories of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and because the teachers are all educated and Sri Lanka is steeped in Vedic culture, they understand the book's value. Wherever the devotees go they have great success-sometimes every teacher will take a s...
- 31 Jul 2016
By ISKCON 50 Global OfficeThe new clips feature talks by Gopal Krishna Goswami, Bhaktivijnana Swami and Dina Sharana Devi Dasi, who discuss the importance of the 50th anniversary and encourage the worldwide community of devotees to participate enthusiastically in the celebrations around the globe. “Our first release on 13th had clips featuring Radhanatha Swami and Anuttama Dasa,” said Romapada Das, International Coordinator for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, who produced the series. “We have released five cl...
- 30 Jul 2016
By the GBC ECHis Holiness Krishna Das Swami's life reads like a story from the scriptures, much like his glorious departure from this world. Born in a pious family, His Holiness was trained by his grandfather in devotional practices from his very childhood. Armed with a lifetime of encouragement in serving his dear Lord and the philosophical training to understand the essence of human life, Maharaja took initiation in the Brahma Sampradaya while simultaneously continuing with his academic studies. Years later, ...
- 29 Jul 2016
By Madhava SmullenDevotees are set to hold a prestigious conference in celebration of Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON’s 50th anniversary at the Italian Parliament in Rome on October 5th. “Last year, this was just a dream of mine, but I was confident that Krishna would help me find a way to do something relevant for this historical anniversary,” says Villa Vrindavana President Parabhakti Das. “Sure enough, my dear friend Narada Muni Prabhu, a famous musician who is well acquainted with many influential people...
- 29 Jul 2016
By Indradyumna Swami“I have been immersed for many lives in this ocean of birth and death. Oh Lord Gauracandra! Oh golden moon-like master! If You bestow upon me continuous service to Your brilliant lotus feet, I shall chant and describe to others the glories of Sri Hari forever.” [Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Susloka-Satakam, text 99]
...- 29 Jul 2016
By Krsangi Radhe dasiThe Sri Sri Radha Radhanath temple in Durban, South Africa embarked on a rather sweet campaign to celebrate ISKCON 50. On Thursday, 28 July over 150 devotees distributed 5000 cup cakes all around Durban. The campaign began two weeks prior to the main distribution date, when temple president Vibhu Caitanya dasa, who personally steered and organised all aspects of the campaign, invited devotees and well-wishers to place orders for cupcakes to distribute at their places of employment, school...
- 29 Jul 2016
By Nima SuchakFour years after acquisition, ISKCON Leicester will finally reveal major renovation to the City Centre building, allowing it to be finally used as a temple, this Saturday 30th July 2016. A perfect offering to Srila Prabhupada on the 50th anniversary of ISKCON, the renovations include a first floor temple room, kitchen, classrooms, and offices. On the second floor, a team of brahmacaris, led by HG Sutapa Das, will join HH Bhakti Prabhava Swami to take residency on the upper floors of the temple. Tog...
- 28 Jul 2016
By Venudhari Kanhaiya dasISKCON Namahatta Aruppukottai Celebrated ISKCON 50th Year Anniversary & and 2nd Annual Rath Yatra at Aruppukottai on 23rd July 2016. HH Bhakti Ashraya Vaishnava Swami Maharaj inaugurated new Rath for Lordship, HG Sumitra Krishna das Prabhu Temple president Iskcon Chennai, HG Rukmeiya das Prabhu ,HG vanamali Gopal das Prabhu , HG Jai gopinath das Prabhu, HG SriGridhari Prabhu & Iskcon leaders from various part of tamilnadu took part and Sri Ramalinga mills chairmen Dr.T.R.Denekaran partic...
- 28 Jul 2016
By Iskcon MedchalMajority of the devotees who attended were surprised at the spontaneous response of the public and the participation and remarked that in future they would ensure people from all nearby villages will participate in greater numbers. Throughout the Rath route, there was accompaniment of Vedic Chanting by Vedic Panditas, Nadaswaram and Prasadam packets containing Halwa and Pulihara was distributed to nearly 50000 participants and onlookers. The people really enjoyed the gaiety, fun and the wonderful...
- 28 Jul 2016
By Niranjana SwamiIn the "Prabhupada Lilamrita" there is a wonderful description of the first harinama the devotees went on without Prabhupada. The devotees were just so ecstatic because they were so eager to go back and tell Prabhupada what they did. They couldn't wait. They burst into his room, "Prabhupada. We went out and we chanted today!" And Prabhupada was so pleased. Oh yes. Now you are understanding. Now you understand what pleases me. This makes me very happy. You have understood my message. Thank you so...
- 27 Jul 2016
By Patita Pavana das The soulful sankirtan of Shri Vishnujana Maharaja illuminated the streets of San Francisco and Los Angeles , and then across the States, from the earliest days of Krishna consciousness. Today his uplifting bhajans and melodious kirtans still echo in the halls of ISKCON centers around the world. There was never a more faithful servant of Shrila Prabhupada, and the fortunate Vaishnavas who served under his loving care always keep his memories in their hearts. Shrila Prabhupada, who by his my...
- 27 Jul 2016
By Tattvavit DasaVilla Vrindavan, in Italy, almost looks too old to have a future, but the humble devotees there are confident it will. ISKCON’s oldest building probably, the villa is four centuries old. Naturally, not everything works. A sunken semicircular fountain does not spout. The front roof nobly displays a stopped clock; the bell over it no longer chimes times. When devotees moved in with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, putting their faith in the Lord’s names and graces they named the hun...
- 26 Jul 2016
By Akrura Nandan dasISKCON Chandigarh celebrated ISKCON Incorporation Week from 11th July to 17th July 2016. From 11th to 17th July we had regular glorification of Srila Prabhupada during Bhagavatam class. In addition to that during Sunday festival program on 17th July evening many senior devotees glorified Srila Prabhupada and a drama named “Swamiji at Sea” was staged.
...- 26 Jul 2016
By Giriraj DasHere is the text from ‘Krishna’ Book, chapter 4, where, having being warned by Durga Devi that the child who will kill Kamsa has already taken birth, Kamsa is now repenting and is also trying to justify all his past sinful actions, putting them behind the bars, killing their children, etc., as will of providence. In these lines lie some very enlightening lessons for an aspiring devotee like my own self. “My dear sister Devaki-, you are so gentle and kind. Please excuse me—don’t be aggriev...
- 25 Jul 2016
By Dr. Bhakta Chetan HazareIn a humble attempt to glorify Srila Prabhupada and the ISKCON movement on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee, ISKCON, Navi Mumbai with the auspicious blessings of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja and encouraging direction of the temple President, HG Sura Das Prabhu celebrated a week long festival. The festival was graced by the keen presence of HH Amiya Vilas Swami Maharaja. Wholeheartedly detailing and serving under the guidance of the HG Vaishnavanghri Sevak Prabhu (the Director of ...
- 25 Jul 2016
By Lokanath SwamiFrom its inception twenty years ago World Holy Name Day has grown into World Holy Name Week. This year we commemorate and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the inauguration of ISKCON by Srila Prabhupad with a two week long World Holy Name Festival which commences on 28 July through to 14 August. Srila Prabhupad gave this yuga dharma to the world and the WHN Festival honours and commemorates this. We have much to celebrate about and are looking for the biggest participation the World Holy Name Fes...
- 23 Jul 2016
By ISKCON-London Communications“It was a truly glorious day. You could really see that Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara – the Lords of London – and the first installed Deities in ISKCON, personally installed by Srila Prabhupada himself – wanted to spread the glories of Their dear devotee, Srila Prabhupada, to the wider London community. Not only did we have excellent attendance from the community and a full day programme at the Temple to celebrate ISKCON’s 50th, but we had the BBC interviewing devotees and f...
- 23 Jul 2016
By Ananta dasKrsna’s Village of Peace has been an integral part of the Polish Woodstock Festival since it’s inception 22 years ago. This year was no exception as 550 devotees came together from around the world to create a veritable spiritual dhama in the midst of the 800,000 young people who attended the 3 day event on the Polish border, just 2 hours drive from Berlin. Utilizing kitchen facilities in 3 nearby schools, as well as two giant pots onsite, devotees distributed 100,320 full plates of delicious pr...
- 23 Jul 2016
By Radha Shyamsundar dasIt was torrents of rain continuously from last few day in Vrindavana which became very heavy on the day of the Ratha Yatra. Lord Jagannatha tested our devotion and determination till the last minute. First a pandal, to be erected in the complex of Ashram Vihar, had to be cancelled due to objection by residents. Then another big party hall, which was booked for the inauguration programme, was cancelled by the owner on the evening of 16th July. Most of the devotees were thinking to can...
- 22 Jul 2016
By Bhakti Caitanya SwamiOne day in late January, or perhaps early February, in 1973, a devotee named Caranaravindam das came into the main brahmacari room in the ISKCON temple at 7 Bury Place, London, and told us how he had just met an amazing devotee while he was preaching in East London, I think in an area named Forest Gate. The devotee was named Krishna das, and he was from India, and he did not know about the existence of ISKCON or Srila Prabhupada, but as soon as he saw our brahmacari he became extremely exc...
- 20 Jul 2016