Author Archives: Dandavats

By Abhinanda dasa & Prishni devi dasi

On July 21-22, Yekaterinburg ISKCON hosted a landmark event – a conference of Russian Vaishnavas with scientific qualifications. The forum brought together scientists and scholars from dozens of cities – Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Tyumen and Novosibirsk.
This gathering of Vaishnava scholars was initiated by two Russian spiritual leaders – Chaitanya Chandra Charan Prabhu and Bhakti Vijnana Gosvami – whose long-standing desire to implement Srila Prabhupada’s vision for organizing scientific activities in Krishna Consciousness was finally fulfilled. A scientist from the United States, Murali Gopal, PhD Physics, helped to realize the plan by joining the Yekaterinburg conference as a representative of the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies. He offered a seminar on cosmology, as presented in the Srimad Bhagavatam and elucidated by the talented mathematician Sadaputa Prabhu in his pioneering work, Mysteries of the Sacred Universe. Murali Gopala also reported on the current stage of development of the Bhaktivedanta Institute in the United States and abroad.

Yadukula: As Delhi went under a spell of monsoon this July, Yadukula hosted it’s annual cultural evening- Manthan 2018- on the 29th of July. This event was conducted with immense enthusiasm and excitement by young practitioner devotees – most of whom …

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada That is the difference between a devata, or godly person, and an asura, or atheist. Because the asura thinks he will live forever, he prepares big, big plans for material comforts. That is asuric…

By Vishakha Devi Dasi True love is not casual but is an act of will that requires the lover’s concentration on and commitment to the beloved (in Sanskrit called asakta-manah — “mind attached”). In other words, love is about my beloved’s—and not my own—…

By Syam Mohini Devi Dasi

After the success of last year’s Chariot Festival, the anticipation of celebrating yet another successful festival was running high.  The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) chapter in Saint Louis, Missouri was excitingly preparing for celebrating The Chariot Festival for the fourth year in a row. This year the organizers and volunteers had worked day and night for months to pull off this festival, wanting to make it the best one yet!. They had meticulously prepared for everything and were expecting a smooth sailing festival. But, the weather had other plans.

We visited Shirdhon, a small village in the Kavathe Mahankal Talukain Sangli District, located 35 kms East of Sangli District’s headquarters. On getting the news of padayatra’s arrival the local devotees had called for a meeting and planned up everything. All the villagers came together to serve Their Lordships and decorated the road with rangoli designs and flowers. It was amazing to see their cooperation. As we reached, the matajis arrived with big pots of water, washed the hoofs of our oxen and performed arati of the Lord. We were all honored by beautiful garlands. The devotees had displayed about fifteen posters welcoming the padayatra at various places in the village.

By Sacinandana SwamiThe devotees suggested to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that He lead them in kirtana, and this is what He did. He started the sankirtana movement, which gave expression to His motto: “Where is Krishna? Where is Krishna?” In Sri Chaitanya-cha…

By Radhanath SwamiSometimes impersonalists chant the holy name of Krishna. Sometimes people who are too much aspiring for material enjoyment approach the holy name. But Krishna doesn’t properly reveal himself to people who don’t have the proper devotio…

By Satyaraja DasaThe process of Krishna consciousness is practical dharana, or spiritual concentration. By seeing paintings of Krishna, we use our sense of sight for God; by chanting and hearing we engage the tongue and the ear; by offering incense to …

Ramesvara das: Scenes from the 42nd LA Rathayatra Festival in Venice Beach on Sunday, August 5, 2018. Tens of thousands attended and tens of thousands lined the Santa Monica streets and Venice Beach’s Ocean Walk to see the procession. The Deities looked more beautiful than ever and bestowed unlimited transcendental mercy to devotees and non-devotees alike. The chanting resounded throughout the City and Beach and everyone experienced the ecstasy of hearing the Holy Names

Devotees in Yangon, Myanmar have been distributing prasadam to those in needs in the local area since the last 20 years. They distribute prasad to local schools and communities twice a week.
On Sunday 5th August HH Subhag Swami graced the Food for L…

By Sarvabhauma Dasa Why are sports so popular? According to Vaishnava teachings, everything here, including the sporting propensity, is an imperfect or distorted reflection of the original, blissful activities of all-attractive Lord Sri Krishna, the Su…

By Badrinarayan Swami “Both the Vaishnava theists and the materialists each present their own set of amazing stories. The choice is . . . which set of amazing stories to believe.” It is the grand conceit of the materialistic worldview that “man is the…

By Satyaraja Dasa Is Krishna consciousness polytheistic? A discussion of panchopasana provides a clear answer that also helps us understand all religions. At first blush, Vaishnavism may seem polytheistic, given the various gods associated with the Ve…

Karnamrita Das: To make spiritual progress we must be introspective enough to understand our strengths and weaknesses, as well as where we are now, and what the goal is (so we can remain fixed on it). There is a time to hear and chant about Krishna, a…

By Mukunda Goswami Although 52 years have passed since the founding of ISKCON, the society is still growing. In 1965 Srila Prabhupada left the city then called Calcutta on a merchant steamer bound for New York. Only his son, Vrindavan Chandra De, was …

By Ajamila Dasa

I was the TP in Nairobi from 1975 to 1982 and I know very well the extremely challenging situations preachers face in Kenya. After 36 years I returned to see the progress. Under my almost 7 year watch the preaching on the one side to the Indian community resulted in newly initiated Indian devotees and an increase of life members from 350 to 1,500. Substantial preaching was made with the African community too in terms of newly initiated devotees, Back to Godhead magazine in Kiswahili, regular performance of street and temple kirtans, and prasadam distribution. But all along our outreach to the students at the university campuses has met with very limited results and this of course left Srila Prabhupada’s cherished desire unfulfilled.

Two days back, Sriman Gopal Agarwal, husband of Sally and father of two daughters, left his body due to old age afflictions. One of the daughters called New Vrindaban requesting one of our temple Brahmans to attend and offer rites prior to cremation…

Vrindavan is the place of Radha Krsna’s pastimes and in Vrindavan, Gopala Bhatta Goswami revealed to Srinivasa Acaryas ekadasa to him as Mani ManjariRead More…

By Praghosa dasa This year we had he largest gathering for the Dublin Ratha Yatra ever! It was a truly wonderful day beginning with lively kirtan as Lord Jagannatha ascended His chariot. 30 minutes later we were hearing the 1st citizen of Dublin waxing…

This year’s World Holy Name Festival is going to be bigger than ever. How are you going to spread the glories of the holy name this time?

Unfortunate events led to demolishing the kutir and samadhi on Saturday July 28 2018 at ISKCON Bhubaneswar temple. ISKCON founder acharya Srila Prabhupada stayed in 1977 during his visit to his last founded ISKCON project in the bhajan kutir Srimad Gour Govinda Swami single handedly constructed for him at this ISKCON property. Srimad Gour Govinda Swami’s siddha deha (spiritual body) was placed in samadhi in February 1996.

Parasuram das: HG Vishal Gauranga Prabhu and his wife Amala Manjari DD rallied friends and put on another wonderful Rathayatra this year. With the help of Bhakta Phil they done a serious advertising campaign, and the results are clearly visible, thousands of guests from all walks of life came to the festival. People love festivals with music, dancing and delicious food and Srila Prabhupada has introduced the perfect festival, the joyful way to get Krishna’s Mercy. They also have a serious Prasad Distribution project running in Reading, please get involved . Jai Jagannatha !!!

mmerse yourself in spirituality, combined with great festivities and cultural extravaganza this September! ISKCON of Houston (Hare Krishna Temple) has planned something for everyone during this upcoming Labor Day weekend, as well as a special cultural …

By Dayananda Das The words “religion” and “Hindu” are problematic. Both are confusing, inaccurate, and not useful words. Religion: Depending on the context, the use of the word religion can be ill-defined and even offensive—for example, when someone sa…

Today, all on a sudden, they demolished the Samadhi Mandir & Bhajan Kutir of Srila Prabhupada. Even the eviction squad of BDA and BMC did not give time for sparing the Samadhi. At last, they evicted the altars. Of course, we have shifted the Sri Vigrahas of Srila Gurudev & Srila Prabhupada. The devotees are mourning for such eviction. This is for your kind information. Kindly give us courage and solace to bear the present crisis facing ISKCON Bhubaneswar.

By Mahavishnu Goswami Our house must be converted into a temple. We may not be able to go temple daily. But our house must be a temple. Otherwise as human being we are missing the point. We have regulated our food habits by Srila Prabhupada’s mercy. Ne…

By Vijaya Dasa For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following results of book distribution for the month of June 2018 from the whole planet. World Totals, Monthly Congregation and Weekend Warriors, Monthly Continents, Monthly T…

By ISKCON Mayapur

In the purport to Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 4.169, Srila Prabhupada writes that “the Caturmasya period begins in the month of Ashadha (June-July) from the day of Ekadasi called Sayana-ekadasi. The period ends in the month of Kartika (October-November) on the Ekadasi day known as Utthana-ekadasi. This four month period is known as Caturmasya.” In the Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa it is recommended that for the first month of Caturmasya, which is known as Sravana (July–August), one should give up eating any green, leafy vegetables. This includes but is not limited to all types of spinach, coriander, curry leaves, basil and other herbs. In the second month known as Bhadrapada (August –September), one should avoid eating yogurt. For the third month, Asvina (September –October), it is recommended that one should abstain from milk. In the last month, Kartika (October –November), one should not eat white lentils (masura and urad dhals).

Prema vilasa about the disappearance of Srila Sanatana Goswami ,and how Srila Rupa Goswami was very much affected by his divine disappearance.Read More…(This post has been viewed 4853 times so far)

By Mukhya devi dasi Over the past month the urgency of having a well coordinated Devotee Care Group has been very clear. In just the past three weeks we have seen one devotee leave his body and four different hospitalizations for serious injury plus o…

By Urmila Devi Dasi

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada: If one is actually Kṛṣṇa conscious, he cannot have any enemies. Since his only engagement is to induce others to surrender to Kṛṣṇa, or God, how can he have enemies? If one advocates the Hindu religion, the Muslim religion, the Christian religion, this religion or that religion, there will be conflicts. History shows that the followers of religious systems without a clear conception of God have fought with one another. There are many instances of this in human history, but systems of religion that do not concentrate upon service to the Supreme are temporary and cannot last for long because they are full of envy.

By Srigarbha das With over ten thousand people taking part, this year was the biggest ever Ratha Yatra held at Netrakona, Bangladesh. Jagannath ballav Temple, ISKCON Netrakona celebrated its 8th Jagannath Ratha Yatra festival from the 14th till 22th of…

By TOVP staff After several months of rigorous research, interviews and evaluation, Ambarisa prabhu selected the best of the best, the company he felt would be the most qualified and experienced to handle the needs of the TOVP project and bring the opt…

By Chandan Yatra Das The picturesque state of Jammu and Kashmir is in the northern most part of India. By the mercy of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and the Vaishnavas, there are four centers in Kashmir: ISKCON Udhampur, which is…

By Leicester City Council

A CAMPAIGN to raise money for essential repairs to a historic Leicester bank building has reached its target thanks to the city council’s crowd fund initiative. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) – which owns the grade II-listed former bank building in Granby Street – launched a bid through the CrowdFund Leicester scheme to raise part of the £500,000 needed to repair the structure. The landmark building dates back to 1874 and was designed by Joseph Goddard, the architect behind Leicester’s Clock Tower, Thomas Cook Building and many others. The former bank building has been on Historic England’s list of buildings at risk since 2010, but earlier this year the heritage watchdog warned that the building’s roof was at risk of collapse.

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….

By Balimardana Das

The ISKCON Ministry of Education’s annual education conference was held in New Raman Reti Dhama – Alachua, Florida from June 21 through June 24, 2018. Alachua is home to two devotee run schools serving in combination 250 children from Pre-K through High School. About thirty participants attended from these schools and education programs across the USA. Many more joined on line.

By SriRama Dasa There is a worldwide campaign to increase the distribution of Srimad Bhagavatam sets. Previously, we had done this since the Bhagavatam glorifies the Bhadra Purnima. Recently, ISKCON Silicon Valley (ISV) headed by Vaisesika Prabhu resta…

Jagannath Damodar Das: This year Surat witnessed the largest and grandest ever Rathyatra since last 25 years, people rushed to see Lord Jagannatha as moths rush towards fire.Read More…