By Dharini dasiBhakta Craig and his wife Bhaktin Debbie Escalante joined ISKCON quite suddenly, without prior Sunday feast attendance. They simply appeared one day. In my recollection, they received harinam initiation during the ceremony where I received brahmanical initiation, which was in 1976 in Seattle. Through a letter, Srila Prabhupada gave them the beautiful names “Kurma-rupa dasa” and “Dasarathi devi dasi”. Before joining ISKCON, the Escalante had been living in the US Pacific Northwest. They ...
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- 1 Jul 2015
By Devaki Devi DasiMaybe this is one reason why we have not managed to establish the Vanaprastha ashram so far. Giving guidance to the younger generation and sharing their wealth of life experience and wisdom is the main and most valuable contribution the elders are making to human society. And this can only take place where giving and accepting shelter based on deep respect is cultivated. When this respect is not there, the elders don't have any function in human society and are simply seen as a burden.
- 1 Jul 2015
By Damodara Pandit das For the purpose of celebrating ISKCON's 50th Anniversary in 2016 we are compiling some approximate facts & figures about ISKCON. We are collecting some quantitative data about ISKCON's global achievements in terms of: Temples (including farms & schools) Devotees (including initiated, Nama Hatta, & visitors) Books (amount distributed in all countries & languages) Festivals (Including Harinamas, Rathayatra & Padayatra) Prasadam (Plates distributed globally since 1966; ...
- 1 Jul 2015
By Devakinandan dasIt is with great happiness that we announce the installation of Srila Prabhupada in his murti form in Singapore! This most wondrous event took place on the auspicious day of Padmini Ekadasi on Sunday 28 June 2015, during the most auspicious month of Purushottama!
...- 30 Jun 2015
By Ila GargChicago: On June 28, 2015 Hare Krishna devotees celebrated the 41st annual Chariot Festival organised by ISKCON. This year in Chicago, the Chariot Festival saw the participation of 5000 people, with 400 new attendees joining in the celebration. Team NewsGram too joined in this vibrant festival to catch a glimpse. The parade began at 11:30 AM at Daley Plaza (50 West Washington Street, Chicago) and concluded at 12:30 PM. The grand festival which comprised of ecstatic dancing, live music, vegetarian food,...
- 30 Jun 2015
By Nrsimha Krsna dasWe did 4 programs with Maharaja. 3 of them were in our yoga center in downtown, and one in our house for devotees only to inspire us more on preaching activities. Many new people were in the programs and in 3 days there were more than 100 people visited our Goranga Yoga Center. Sivarama Swami was giving lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 7th Canto about nine processes of Bhakti Yoga in three days. Kirtans were wonderful. Turkish people are chanting really with full heart.
...- 30 Jun 2015
By a witnessPrabhu remained alert, spoke philosophy, and concluded the administrative and financial arrangements necessary for the continued protection of the cows of Vrindavan. But days and weeks of fasting were now causing his external senses to fail. Bright lights became difficult to bear, sounds seemed further away, whatever small amounts of liquid were taken could only be swallowed with difficulty, and signing of legal documents was impossibly slow.
...- 30 Jun 2015
By ISKCON Sri Jagannath Mandir BangaloreThis Year, ISKCON Seshadripuram had celebrated it’s 15th Annual Ratha Yatra Festival on the 20th of June. As The Rural Naama Hatta programs have been expanding, over 500 devotees from Rural Karnataka had visited and a Few International Devotees From Australia, Malaysia and Bangladesh had also Joined in to Pull Jagannath back into their Hearts. We were fortunate to conduct this festival with HG Revati Raman Prabhu (ISKCON GBC, ISKCON Tirupati Temple President) and HG Radhe...
- 30 Jun 2015
By Patita Pavana dasIn a temple of jewels in Vrindavana, underneath a desire tree, Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my humble obeisances unto Them. The Gaudiya Vaisnava, generally, following the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they aspire to become one of the assistants of the gopis. There are others also who like to be the assistants of the cowherd boys. So our Gosvamis, Rupa Gosvami, sri rupa sanatana bhatta raghunatha, they were all...
- 29 Jun 2015
By Jasomatinandan dasI knew Kurma Rupa Prabhu since 30 plus years. First as a Gurukula teacher of my children then as a protector of sick and old and rejected cows. The most important quality I found in him was freedom from envy. Like the six Goswamis he loved all without malice. He was simple, straightforward and honest to the core. He not only treated sick cows but he treated sick and old rejects men like me. After Srila Prabhupada's departure, he was one of the few persons I could go for advise and feel assu...
- 29 Jun 2015
By Kesava Krsna DasaWe might take the “As It Is” in our Bhagavad-gita title for granted. All authors want to be different and original. With many versions of Bhagavad-gita already available, Srila Prabhupada’s “As It Is” addition was a very bold and provocative one. He is saying, “this is it, how it should be, the definitive and genuine Bhagavad-gita”. Who else can claim this with confidence? Considering that there are many ways of looking at Krishna’s song of wisdom, and studying it from diff...
- 28 Jun 2015
By Abhaya Mudra DasiMany have tried to pinpoint the origin of the world’s evils. In the game of finger-pointing, one group always blames another. Frequently named culprits include the Vatican, Washington DC, London bankers, and Hollywood. Others point to secret societies, Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Then there are the world corporations and the financial institutions that run them. Many simply accuse unqualified world leaders who opportunely act like bumbling idiots whenever it becomes convenient. Shrila Pra...
- 28 Jun 2015
By Braja Sevaki Devi DasiI was being pushed constantly in the press of human and animal traffic, feeling somewhat battered, longing for a solitary place. Suddenly a large bull knocked into me, pushing me into the oncoming traffic. I was hit by a car, breaking both my legs and various other bones on the left side of my body. I lay there in shock, trying to recover my senses. As the reality of what happened sunk in, so did the pain—I couldn’t move, and was bleeding profusely. But the worst was yet to come. The d...
- 28 Jun 2015
Care for Cows: Tears of joy and sadness flowed freely as Prabhu peacefully continued to his next service....
- 28 Jun 2015
By Vijaya DasaMay was Mayapur's month: an astounding 163,624 book points and a 340% increase. I think this is how the Mayapur book distributors are showing their feelings for Jayapataka Swami during his illness. They know that he's into book distribution and that he'll be encouraged if he hears great results. It's not only his disciples who want him to get well, there are thousands of devotees praying for him, because he is such a great inspiration in the movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Please stay with us, J...
- 27 Jun 2015
By BB Govinda Swami“No !! If you do recover stay here and serve your cows with more and more love and affection. But I order you, never, never, never leave Vrindavan. Never leave … Until that blessed moment arrives when Gopal comes to take you from this Vrindavan to the other Vrindavan, welcomes you with tears, embraces you with love, swears to you that you that He will never allow you to leave again, and then, introduces you to Sudama, Subala, Madhumangala, and you both walk, arm in arm, in the mist of 900,00...
- 27 Jun 2015
By Hari Narayana DasThe ‘JAKARNAVAL -2015’ or the annual Jakarta Carnival on June 7, 2015, celebrating the 488th anniversary of Jakarta was the venue for this year’s Sri Jagannatha Ratha Yatra Festival at Jakarta, Indonesia. The theme of the carnival was ‘Colorful Jakarta’ and the chariot of Lord Jagannatha pulled by so many devotees not only added a special color to the carnival but also gave a distinct flavor and taste to the celebration. By the blessings of Lord Jagannatha and Srila Prabhupada, the 4t...
- 26 Jun 2015
By Gopi Gita Devi DasiMeet Padi, aka Padayatra. He’s a humble, shy, 9 year old boy from Hungary, the son of Citravasini devi dasi and Devadeva dasa, studying in 4th Grade at TKG Academy. I find myself fortunate to be his teacher. This morning, we began our Shurley English lesson of “Writing a Friendly Letter”. Students need to identify the Heading, Salutation, Body, Closing and Signature of writing a friendly letter. They learn the proper punctuation and indentation for each part.
...- 26 Jun 2015
By Vishaka Susevini Devi DasiUpon reaching the Hare Krishna Multipurpose Hall, a grand mass of fireworks and Lion Dance performance by the Chinese Association welcomed the glorious deities. His Grace Kripa Sindhu Krishna Dasa, Temple President of ISKCON Kuching addressed the crowd with a warm welcome, thanked all organizations, congregation members of ISKCON especially devotees from West Malaysia who were about 90 of them this year, who took the trouble to fly over to Sarawak to extend their full support.
- 26 Jun 2015
By ISKCON 50 Global OfficeGauri Das who is a member of the 50th Anniversary International Committee said, “Leaders and the management of many temples may be busy with regular preaching programmes and day-to-day management. Hence to ensure that they can celebrate the 50th anniversary in the most befitting manner, we suggest creating a Committee made up of congregation devotees who can step forward with their time and talent to work with temple management. This will help the 50th anniversary celebrations get broad...
- 26 Jun 2015
By Bhaktivedanta ManorA celebration to mark the launch of a year of events and festivities to commemorate 50 years of the Hare Krishna movement worldwide was hosted on Saturday 20th June by ISKCON UK. It marks the start of a year of celebrations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the incorporation of ISKCON, founded by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada in 1966. HG Praghosa Das, GBC, said: "It is a great privilege to be launching ISKCON 50 in the UK. With this early event we want to ins...
- 25 Jun 2015
By Bhakti Madhurya Govinda GoswamiAnother great soul has left this world to join Srila Prabhupada in nitya lila, that is my God sister, Lila Shakti Devi Dasi. In "modern ISKCON" she is known hardly at all by "newer devotees". However, there was a time in the history of ISKCON decades ago when she was world famous as one of the world's top distributors of Srila Prabhupada's books. I knew her very well in her "hey-days", or "golden years" of fame as a book distributor, for we were both living in Los Angeles, Califo...
- 25 Jun 2015
By Lila-sakti Devi DasiWhile NCGS certainly provides students with the academic instruction and subjects they need to progress and become functional adults, our main mission is to teach them about Krishna and to love kirtan! This is what any devotee school should do, first and foremost. It really does take a village to raise a child (especially Vaishnava children). It became evident during the school year that although we have many well-wishers and supporters, a larger hands-on collective is needed. The vision of ...
- 25 Jun 2015
By Radha devi dasi The social services network will engage everyone as volunteers and recipients of service without consideration of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, and ability. Those who volunteer to help others are not obliged to help everybody or every time they are called. All services are given lovingly. Those who receive help will volunteer to help others when they are able. This social services program is simply a networking system and all who participate do so vol...
- 24 Jun 2015