Author Archives: Dandavats

On 1 June 2019, devotees from various temples in Australia will attend a one-day conference on New Govardhana farm, Murwillumbah, Northern New South Wales. Presenters at the conference will be devotees who are developing Vaishnava community welfare ser…

I tried repeatedly to reach chaplains from female institutions—to obtain their permission to place books in their chapel libraries—but unfortunately, chaplains are very hard to reach and my time is always very limited, so I never went far with this pro…

In the midst of the lush, green Grihasta Para housing area of ISKCON Mayapur the Sri Mayapur International School is situated. The school campus features an idyllic combination of brick buildings, pathways, and tree-filled grounds, and those living ne…

Remembering the old days in RigaRead More…

Villa Vrindavana is an Iskcon Temple. It is an amazing place where spirituality, culture, protection of animals and the environment are happily integrated, proposing an example for the whole society and being a model of wellbeing in the planet.Read Mor…

The London College of Vedic Studies recently facilitated a highly anticipated seminar by HG Sutapa dasa, unveiling the mysteries of one of the greatest spiritual quests in history – The Brihad Bhagavatamrita. It is a rich and astounding scripture that …

By Srimati Dasi In any relationship, the nature of the reciprocation and rasa that evolves between loved ones will naturally be very much influenced by their quality of speech ⎯ their verbal exchanges. This is particularly so in Vraja ⎯ a land where th…

By Sri Prahlada das News of the peaceful death of former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke on May 16th at the age of 89, has evoked praise of the charismatic leader. Dominating Australian politics in the 1980s, he is credited with introducing univers…

By Madhusudana Visnu Das A Swaminarayana Monk Appreciates Srila Prabhupada and his Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Few months ago, we received a call from a monk belonging to Swaminarayana sect in Gujarat. He expressed the desire to learn Bhagavad Gita As It …

The Cambridge body of examination based in UK through which Mauritius gets their Higher School Certificate has included ISKCON as a topic to be studied as from next year in Hinduism. The examinations will be held by 2021. Students aged 17, 18, 19 will…

Monday, May 20th was the death anniversary of my mom. I usually post the blog I wrote a few days after she “left her body” (as devotees call death of the physical body, since the soul moves on) nine years ago. Today, I would like to express some though…

Now you can see the Board of World Largest Bhagavad-gita As It Is in Delhi Metro stations in New DelhiRead More…

By Parasurama dasa Srila Prabhupada: “… everyone identifies to some party, either politically, socially or religiously, economically. We have got so many fields of activity. But, in each and every field, we have got a party feeling. You cannot avoi…

By Gauranga Darshan Das Did you ever notice the flow of oil being poured into a bowl? Compare it with the flow of water being poured into a cup. The difference is that the flow of oil (taila dhara) is seamless and consistent without obstruction, resemb…

By Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura This is a translation from Bengali of a letter written by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in 1926. We found it very illuminating and inspirational and felt to share with other devotees. ”Discuss hari…

By Gadadhar das The Candan Yatra Festival was observed for seven days in Sri Sri Radha Rasesvara Temple, Bali. The festival started on the 5th of May and ended on the 11th of May 2019. This function is one of joy, especially for the children. For few d…

By Atma-tattva Das ON MARCH 24, 1984, at 12:20 A.M., thirty-five men armed with weapons and bombs attacked Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir, ISKCON’s center in Mayapur, West Bengal. When the dacoits tried to steal the deities of Srila Prabhupada and Sri…

For Nrsimha-caturdasi, a troupe of devotees led by Jagat Purusa organized a drama depicting the appearance of Lord Nrsimha, to be performed in the temple room. There was an all-male cast, including the young and slender Nava-yogendra as Prahlada Mahara…

By Giriraj Swami “My Lord, Your Lordship can easily be approached, but only by those who are materially exhausted. One who is on the path of [material] progress, trying to improve himself with respectable parentage, great opulence, high education and b…

By Jagannatha-Lila dasi Bursting out of the pillar, eyes full of fire, His claws ready to cut up the liar, He says he’s a king, yes the king of dung, That wasp better watch out, he’s gonna get stung Read More…

By Kishori Jani Yesterday, we lost one of the pillars of the Iskcon movement, one of the stalwart female pioneers in Srila Prabhupada’s mission- in the most glorious way! Her service to SP in the US, Kenya, Mumbai and Vrindavan is almost unparalleled. …

Subuddhi Raya das: This is our new video for Nrisimha ChaturdashiRead More…

Devotees from Bhaktivedanta Manor and ISKCON UK were invited to attend the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace as representatives of ISKCON.Read More…

We are planning a mega festival and have the full support of the local authorities and many local businesses etcRead More…

By the GBC Resolved: Any devotees referred to in any proposal to the GBC will be identified by adding the abbreviation of their spiritual master’s name after their initiated name. The Guru Services Committee is directed to maintain this list and g…

By the GBC A primary reason this issue was brought before the SAC was to consider whether a husband initiating his wife is like a guru marrying his disciple. There are major differences in the two scenarios. Traditionally, a guru is sometimes conside…

By the GBC Resolved: The following categories must be used to define any proposal being presented to the GBC Body to describe the intent of the proposal. This language which will be included in the final resolution shall henceforward have the followi…

By Indradyumna Swami Aeroflot flight SU 1492 took off from Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow at 18:02 on May 6th. It reported a malfunction 28 minutes into the flight. The captain requested and was given permission by airport control to return to the air…

By Hari Narayana Das On the day of the festival, the devotees started to prepare a small chariot early in the morning from mentor ( like a rickshaw in India). The Chariot was decorated with flower garlands and a small altar was made for the lord to sit…

By Gadadhar das On the 12th of May 2019, devotees in Bali, Indonesia headed by Jagannath Gauranga Ashram organized the annual Cida-dahi festival. The day before the festival was the bi-annual Balinese festival; Sarasvati Puja. The following day, which …

By the GBC The following are the candidates for sannyasa along with their respective waiting periods: Navadwip Dwija Gauranga Das (Bangladesh) This year. Priti Vardhana Das (Mayapur) This year. Pushpashila Shyam Das (Bangladesh) This year. Vrindavan…

By the GBC Whereas ISKCON requires common standards, policies, and procedures for managing investigations of misconduct or abuse, in instituting corrective and rehabilitative consequences for offenders, as well as in restorative justice for all involve…

By the GBCThe GBC Body endorses the recommendation of the GBC Vaisnava Calendar Committee that it may proceed as follows: 1. That the observance of “Lalita Sasti” be removed from the calendar. 2. That the observance of the “Appearance of Radhakund”…

By Giriraj Swami On this occasion, we pray to Mother Sita to bless us to become pure-hearted servants like Hanuman, Laksmana, and Mother Sita herself—and to save us. Whatever Ravana-like demonic tendencies we have, let them be vanquished by her mercy, …

On May 7 in the auspicious day of Aksaya Tritiya and second day of Ramadan, Villa Vrindavana devotees in Florence distributed prasada to the Muslim members in the mosque of Florence.Read More…

By the GBCISKCON Law 7.3.2 is amended to read as follows: As taught by Srila Prabhupada, the etiquette of not initiating in the presence of one’s diksa-guru will be upheld in ISKCON. However historical precedents also teach us that disciples may som…

By the GBC In order to start a cow protection project that will be accredited within ISKCON and accepted as an ISKCON supported project, a “Cow protection Certificate of Readiness” needs to be obtained. The following are the requirements for obtaini…

By Gadadhar dasa On the 8th of May 2019 an International Seminar was held on Communications, Religion and Culture (ISO-CRC) at the prestigious Sekolah Tinggi Agama Hindu (College of Hindu Religion), Singaraja, Bali. HH Subhag Swami was invited as the k…

How to care for the elderly, for the dying, and for us. Hari-dhama dasa and Gavesi devi dasi, both disciples of His Holiness Mukunda Goswami, have been conducting spiritual care workshops in India, Sweden and Germany. These workshops look at the care o…

By the GBC Whereas the current commercial dairy systems of the world in which the older cows, practically all bulls, young and old, and most female calves are slaughtered is thoroughly condemned and abhorrent; Whereas Srila Prabhupada wrote in this r…