Author Archives: Dandavats

Before Srila Vyasadeva recorded the Vedas, fixing them in a written medium, they were passed down in spoken form. An oral culture of transmission relies on an aural culture of reception; that is, the message has to be heard and comprehended in order to be useful. Srimad­Bhagavatam tells us that Vyasadeva wrote down the Vedas because people’s aural skills were diminishing. He wanted to preserve the texts’ content and make it available to all those who would lose “their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance” that is Kali­yuga. Continuing in that tradition, the BBT is publishing its content, Srila Prabhupada’s works, in print, audio, ebook, and app formats, each as potent as the last in making accessible to one audience or another Prabhupada’s thoughts and mood and the devotional ecstasies he called his purports. The only difference between all these formats is how they are encoded.

The outreach program was conducted by the Journey of Self Discovery Trust at Epuni hall in Lower Hutt city in Wellington. The community hall was packed to the hilt with more than 350 participants, with registrations closing in less than two days due t…

There is now an improved, online database of BBT art (paintings, photo­ graphs, and drawings). More than 8,000 images have already been uploaded, and we are gradually adding more images, plus keywords and other metadata, so that the images become eminently searchable.

By Iskcon Mayapur The day begins early for visitors to Sridhama Mayapur. They wake many hours before the sun rises, anytime between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., to bathe and prepare to go to the early morning mangalarati. At the temple, the pilgrims get in line…

By AdministratorISKCON’s Governing Body Commissioner Anuttama Das speaking at the World Hindu Congress in Chicago, USA.
On behalf of ISKCON he received the recognition by the World Hindu Congress for taking the message of Gita worldwide and introducin…

By Govinda Swami HH Gunagrahi Goswami Maharaja, my very oldest devotee friend, the munificent kind soul who made me a devotee, passed away this morning just before 4 AM this morning. He was surrounded by loving godbrothers and devotees, singing the ho…

Eric Clapton: It was an amazing experience to be listening to it in the condition we were in. They had begun to explore Indian mysticism, perhaps as a result of George’s influence and at some point the chanting of ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Kr…

Negara is a city situated in Western Bali around two and a half hours from Denpasar. It is the capital of Jembrana and has a population of around 300,000. On the 1^st of September 2018, in conjunction with the cities’ 123^rd anniversary, devotees held a grand Ratha Yatra celebration. This was the second time the festival was held with the first being on a small scale in 2010; 8 years prior.

Janmastami festival celebrated at ISKCON Gaya. Here are the link where all the pics and videos are being uploaded.Read More…

By Kesava Krsna DasaIt appears that a number of atheistic scientists have caught wind of the accusation of ‘No-purpose’ levelled against them. They have done some homework and figured out cute responses in debate. They now try to make atheism appeali…

By Vamshi Vihari DasaGod is our supreme father, and one of His energies, nature, is our mother. A mother nourishes her child with the milk from her body, and she also sees to the overall development of her child by imparting proper culture and educatio…

By Ananta Shakti DasaThe Divine Form. “Then, as if by divine providence, an art college friend, upon returning from a visit to Bangkok, gave me some rice-paper rubbings taken from bas-reliefs of divinities of the temple of the reclining Buddha. Althoug…

“‘I think this is the star of the show,’ Clapton said prior to the 2004 Crossroads Guitar Auction at Christie’s, where it sold for $847,500. Even though the guitar was 40 years old when Clapton sold it, it was in remarkably good shape. Even the Hare K…

There are two main reasons for the print/ebook combo concept: 1. To supply the ebook, free of charge, to the buyer of the printed book. Many people like to have both: the printed book at home, and the ebook for traveling. 2. To supply the book distributors with the perfect response to people saying “I only read ebooks.” The devotees can now distribute ebooks and printed books in one go. At no additional cost to the temples. At no additional cost to the person buying the book.

By Sri Nandanandana dasa There has been an attempt to explain the origins of such languages as Sanskrit, Greek and Roman for many years. This is because there has been a recognition of many similarities between them, but the exact original language whi…

By Jaya Gurudeva dasBe it Greek Latin English Hindi Lithuanian – Sanskrit is the mother of all Languages. Even Scholars like Voltaire, Immanuel Kant, etc believed that Sanskrit was the root of all Indo-European languages. “I am convinced that everythi…

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhuapadaSuppose you go to Svargaloka and become Indra, the king of the heavenly planets. That is not a permanent position. By pious activities you can become Brahma, Indra, and so many demigods. You can …

Subroto Das: In a bid to make the inauguration ceremony of Tehatta sub-divisional court building in Nadia district auspicious, the devotees of International Society for Krishna Consciousness Mayapur were invited by Hon’ble District Judge Smt. Rai Chatterjee on 1st of September 2018.

By Satyaraja DasaThe Bhagavad-gita is one of the world’s perennial wisdom texts. Because it offers knowledge of the Absolute Truth, some of its texts can be difficult to understand. Few are as difficult as verses four and five of Chapter Nine: “By Me, …

“I looked in the mirror and what did I see, but a little old lady peering back at me With bags and sags and wrinkles and wispy white hair, and I asked my reflection, ‘How did you get there?’ You once were straight and vigorous and now you’re stooped a…

By Indradyumna Swami

“Victory! Victory! Victory! I behold something wonderful! All the inauspiciousness of the living entities is destroyed. No one is going to hell. Yamaraja has no more work to do and the effects of Kali-yuga have ceased to exist. This is because all over the world an increasing number of Lord Visnu’s devotees are singing His names while dancing and playing musical instruments.” [ Divya-prabandha, Tiruvaymoli 5.2.1 by Nammalvar, one of the twelve great Vaisnava saints from South India ]

By Administrator A recent class of Rupa Vilas prabhu in the temple of Soho street, London, nicely analyzing the so many attractive qualities, activities and behaviors of Lord Krishna. The Lord is making so many arrangements to come towards us but unfor…

Hail, Srila Prabhupada, full of grace! Empowered to save the human race. Had you not come with vigor and brace, Humanity’d fall into utter disgrace. Following your order, there’s a hope We can live up to and manage to cope.Read More…

Originally launched with the full text in English and Russian, we’ve now added German, Russian, Norwegian, Danish, and Lithuanian, with more languages to follow. Includes an extensive, cap­tioned image gallery, includ­ing paintings and photos of Srila Prabhupada and inspiring quotes about the Bhagavad­gita or its philos­ ophy from his books, letters, and conversations.

Balabhadra Das: The photo of Srila Prabhupada eating Sugar cane was taken in the first preaching center in Hawaii in an area named Kaaawa in March of 1969. It was Srila Prabhupada’s first visit to Hawaii and Govinda Dasi had arranged many preaching pr…

Ramesvara das: In 1974 we were faced with a great dilemma. Our most important single book for distribution was the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. The rights had been given to Macmillan in 1969 and 1970 before Prabhupada even dreamed of his own Society distri…

By Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami The next day was Vyasa-puja day, the celebration of Prabhupada’s seventy-fourth birthday. That morning a package arrived from New York containing several copies of the Vyasa-puja booklet, a twenty-five-page paperback filled w…

By Iskcon Mayapur How is it possible that in the face of encroaching materialism and a culture of sense gratification, a process which preaches the reverse is spreading? How is it possible that as problems and suffering increase exponentially on the gl…

I am very pleased to hear that you are increasing in your distribution of our books and magazines. This is a good sign that your preaching work is also strong. The more you increase your strength in preaching, the more you will go on selling books. I …

Kirtan – Compassion Week Chant. Kirtan Fest brings together kirtaniyas, traveling preachers and devotees to our state-of-the-art temple in Houston, Texas. Kirtan Fest Houston 2018 is extraordinarily special as it falls during the Janmastami Festival on Monday Sept 3 and Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day on Tuesday Sept 4! KIRTAN FEST HOUSTON offers a very unique kirtan immersion experience in one of the largest and most majestic temples in the world. Thank you for joining us for a rejuvenating weekend of positive sound vibrations and an escape from the ordinary. Please take advantage of this special opportunity to experience enlivening kirtan in the company of senior Vaishnavas who have a deep taste for the Holy Name! Guests include: HH Indradyumna Swami, HH BB Govinda Swami, HH Giriraj Swami, HH Bhakti Sundar Goswami, HG Bada Hari Prabhu, HG Akincana Krishna Prabhu, HG Havi Prabhu, HG Krishna Kishor Prabhu and more…

“The Jharkhand government wants to develop Nagar Untari as Banshidhar Nagar and model it on the lines of Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh. They have plans to make ‘Banshidhar Nagar’ part of the Lord Krishna religious circuit. They are examining proposals for a tie-up with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) also,” said a senior government official, confirming that the Centre had cleared the proposal.

KOLKATA: Three days (S eptember 2 to 4) of festivities and fervour will mark the Janmashtami celebrations, the birthday of Lord Sri Krishna and the global ambassador of Sanatan Dharma, Swami A C Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupad, founder Acharya of Interna…

By Demian MartinsSrila Prabhupada’s appearance and accomplishments are a turning point not only in Gaudiya Vaisnavism, but in the very history of human civilization, so it is not surprising that they were predicted many centuries ago. In several …

By Hari Narayana Das Lampung Krakatau Festival is the core event of Lampung regional tourism which is held every year, in 2018 stepping on the 28th implementation. Aside from being an activity to commemorate the eruption of Mount Krakatau on August 26 …

By Giriraj Swami Many residents of Mathura believe that Lord Krishna appeared in Mathura, but the residents of Vrindavan know that He was born in Vraja, in Gokula. Yet Srimad-Bhagavatam states that Lord Krishna appeared in the prison house of Kamsa in …

By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila PrabhupadaSo today is that auspicious day, Janmastami, when Lord Krishna appeared five thousand years ago in India, Mathura. Those who are Indian ladies and gentlemen present, they know very well where…

By Srila Kavi Karnapura Cymbals, damru drums, bherries, and big drums vibrated auspicious sounds in specific melodies. A celestial concert of precise poetical meters, proper rhythms, and metrical compositions suddenly manifested there. The musical ense…

It was the middle of the night in the monsoon season and raining heavily, and there were auspicious omens present everywhere. Lakes were full of blossoming lotus flowers and the forests with singing birds and dancing peacocks. The demigods were showeri…

By Gauranga Darshan Das The Srimad-Bhagavatam contains many beautiful gitas or songs sung by various illustrious personalities. These songs inspire and enlighten us with spiritual knowledge of various levels. The following is a brief summary of the pop…

By Sacinandana Swami Have you heard kirtana leaders say “Chant from the heart!”? What do they mean by this? We have three hearts: the physical pump, the emotional heart and the spiritual heart. Whenever we want to align ourselves to the chanting of the…