Author Archives: Dandavats

By Vijaya dasa

In a lecture in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada said, “If he reads one sloka, his life will be successful. If he reads one sloka, one word. This is such a nice thing. Therefore we are stressing so much: ‘Please distribute book, distribute book, distribute book.’ A greater mrdanga. We are chanting, playing our mrdanga. It is heard within this room or a little more. But this big mrdanga will go home to home, country to country, community to community.” Life is short. In the short time we’re here, let’s try to find some time when we can do what we know is very pleasing to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. Why is book distribution pleasing to Krishna? Because He doesn’t like His parts and parcels to suffer, any more than a father likes to see his children suffer. Krsna is known as para dukha dukhi, because when He sees others suffer, He becomes concerned. He has come to help us to become free of the misery of material existence. Srila Prabhupada’s books have helped millions of people feel the joy of spiritual life.

By the GBC Yamuna Devi was one of the most influential devotees during ISKCON’s fledgling years. She was among a handful of people who established ISKCON’s first. Those who came to ISKCON in later years joined an established society, but Yamuna Devi wa…

By Madhava Smullen

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust has already translated ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada’s books into 87 languages. But there are more to go. And today, dedicated servants working for the spiritual publisher in far flung corners of the world still continue to translate his works into their native languages, despite busy family lives and professional careers. On August 24th this year, for example, Nandapriya Das finished translating the last of seventeen volumes of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita into the language of his native Georgia, which is spoken by more than five million people. Nandapriya, an oncologist at one of Scandinavia’s largest hospitals, did most of the work on the train during his morning commute. He has now finished translating all of Srila Prabhupada’s books into Georgian for the first time ever, a monumental feat.

By Madhava Smullen

Beyond the 2017 marathon, a goal has already been set of further 10% increases every year for the next ten years, reaching an annual remittance to the BBT of $5.2 million by 2026. If, however, goals continue to be exceeded at the rate they are currently, the remittance by 2026 will be an unprecedented $10 million. Why is remittance to the BBT so important? Well first of all, fifty per cent of all profits from the BBT go towards building ISKCON projects around the world, such as the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur – so those who remit to the BBT will be supporting these.

Because trading an established location for a mere speculative prospect would place the maintenance, service and worship of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda in jeopardyRead More…

By Gurudas I am saddened by my feeling of separation from you, that I will not see you again on this planet, yet I still feel close to you. Our relationship transcends material boundaries and You are in my, and many people’s hearts. Let us all pray for…

By Giriraj Swami Srila Prabhupada’s beloved disciple Yamuna-devi dasi passed away on Saphala-ekadasi. There is so much to be said about Srimati Yamuna-devi dasi. In October of 1970 I was one of a group of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples from America going…

By Jayadvaita Swami and Guru Gauranga Das

December 6, 2017 – New York Supreme Court for Kings County Room 525 was filled with Krishna devotees opposing a petition seeking approval of the sale of their temple in Brooklyn. Also appearing in court to oppose the proposed sale were attorneys for ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC), an attorney for the newly reconstituted Bharati Center board, an attorney for the temple’s congregants and a New York Assistant Attorney General. New York State law requires court approval of the sale of real property belonging to a religious society. Typically, a religious society desirous of selling its place of worship first seeks approval from the New York State Office of the Attorney General. If the Attorney General rejects a religious society’s petition to sell its place of worship, the seller’s sole recourse is to attempt to overturn that decision in New York Supreme Court.

Srila Prabhupada: Thank you very much for taking so much care of my health for praying to Nrsimhadeva. He is very kind. By all your prayers He will surely take care of me. Read More…

By Nagaraja Dasa The maya of the material world has two main functions: It lures us away from our natural position of service to Krishna, and it deludes us into full forgetfulness of that position. But that maya, often referred to as maha-maya, has a s…

By Urmila Devi Dasi”No Krsna rituals,” my cousin the doctor admonished me. Although not her attending physician, being a doctor he had more or less taken charges of things.”Your mother was not a Hare Krsna. Let her die as she lived.” “But,” I argued,…

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa: “O the energy of the Lord, O the Lord, please accept me.” That’s all. “Please accept me.” We have no other prayer. “Please accept me.” Lord Caitanya taught that we should simply cry, and we shall simply pray for accepting us. That’s all. So this vibration is simply a cry for addressing the Supreme Lord, requesting Him, “Please accept me. Please accept me.”

Drumila prabhu is a disciple of Srila Prabhupada who has become expert in distributing Krishna conscious books in a such humorous way that everybody is happy to meet him and accept the books while giving a donation.Read More…

By Sacinandana Swami Our greatest problem is that we have turned away from Krishna. This one action has turned into our existential dilemma. We are lost servants. But strangely we think, at least unconsciously, that it is Krishna who has abandoned us. …

By Radheshyam Das If Parikshit maharaja had killed Kali instead of forgiving him, we wouldn’t be suffering the effects of Kali now.’ Isn’t this a sensible argument? Let’s analyze… Parikshit maharaja, wanted to protect his citizens from the onslaught of…

This video shows Balabhadra das (ISCOWP president) with students Chaitanya Bhagavat das and Hari the ox.Read More…

By Gopal Bhatta das

ILS 2018 will play a critical part in setting the stage for ISKCON’s future. Speakers will explore the challenges and opportunities ISKCON will face as it continues to shift into the hands of the next generations. The ILS provides a unique opportunity for a cross-pollination of thoughts and best practices. It gives a chance for devotees to observe the ISKCON world from a global perspective. In this atmosphere devotees can expand their frame of reference and become invigorated by hearing from and sharing with leaders and devotees serving Srila Prabhupada under many different circumstances. Make new friends from around the world while taking prasadam, hearing Krsna Katha, chanting bhajan and kirtan and enjoying a drama together all in Sri Dhama Mayapur! – the potential benefit for everyone involved cannot be measured.

By Purushottam Kumar While being crucified, Jesus cried. But he did not cry for himself, instead he cried for those who were committing the gravest sin. Jesus was continuously praying to God to forgive those who were menacingly torturing and trying to …

By Mahatma Das

Dear Devotee. Since Christmas is just a few days away, I thought it would be appropriate and enlightening to look at Prabhupada’s views on Christmas and Christ

By Vaisesika Das The Prabhupada Marathon Is Mere Nostalgia, Right? Wrong! Nostalgia is nothing more than a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past. Srila Prabhupada’s Marathon, the worldwide end-of-year push by ISKCON devotees to increa…

Wonderful news for our Lithuanian devotees! The BBT has just released the Lithuanian TQK in eBook format.Read More…

This video will tell you about simple and effective tips to distribute cases of Bhagavat Gita to your friend, relatives, colleagues and people in general.Read More…

Launching the world’s first Vaishnava cab service in IndiaRead More…

By Mahatma Das If I wrote an article telling you how to double your money in ten days, would you be interested? Of course you would. Well if I knew how I’d tell you. But I don’t, so sorry. But I can tell you something better. I can tell you how to doub…

By Chaitanya Charan das Material desires comprise a similar gravity force that acts on us by dragging our consciousness down to the material level. If we neglect this force, our consciousness will naturally, obviously, inevitably, be pulled down by it …

By Giriraj SwamiTerrible, deadly fires have been raging in California recently, devastating homes and everything else on their way. I recalled Srila Prabhupada’s discussion of the first verse of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura’s Sri Gurv-astaka. “T…

Giriraj Swami: One of my main services is to write, and writing involves much editing and proofreading. Through writing I hope to share my knowledge and realization of Srila Prabhupada, my teacher, and of Sri Krishna, my Lord, and please them. One of m…

By the GBC

One World Team (passed by Correspondence Vote in September 2017) Summary: “Inspired by the success of the goal-driven model for increasing book distribution in North America, the BBT Marketing and Communications Department would like to propose a “One World Team” approach with an aim to increase book distribution in all temples around the world. By setting a unified worldwide goal and by providing methods by which congregations can be engaged in systematic book distribution efforts, the ‘One World Team’ has the potential to create a new wave of increased book distribution throughout ISKCON.” Whereas the 7th purpose of ISKCON is “With a view towards achieving all aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.” Whereas any devotee who has studied Srila Prabhupada’s life and teachings knows that he wanted his followers to inundate the world with his transcendental books. Whereas the ‘One World Team’ proposal incorporates a unified world-wide goal-driven approach for book distribution for temples all over the world. Resolved: 1. The GBC embraces the ‘One World Team’ to cooperate with the expansion and organization of book distribution all over the world. 2. The GBC Zonal Secretary will ratify the annual goals set for the ‘One World Team’ and will monitor and encourage their zones to accomplish those goals.

By the Secretary GBC EC Many years ago, a relatively small group of devotees claimed that some of Srila Prabhupada’s devoted servants had poisoned their beloved guru and caused his disappearance from this world. These conspiracy theorists accused dedic…

By Indradyumna Swami

Yesterday we participated in “Color Splash” a multi-cultural festival in Durban, South Africa. Various ethnic groups showed off the best of their music, dance and theater. It began with a parade along the beachfront with Zulu warriors, Scottish bagpipes, boy scouts, a marching band and of course our blissful harinama. At the festival site we were prominent with kirtan, prasadam distribution and a Holi festival; throwing colored dyes to the accompaniment of a blissful kirtan. My address on social cohesion – a hot issue in South Africa – was well received. I stressed that social harmony will only come to the people’s of South Africa when everyone realizes what they have in common. That essential truth is that we are all God’s children – brothers and sisters in the real sense.

By Sacinandana Swami Do you want to live? Then come to drink from the nectarine river of the Holy Name. According to the Upanisads, we are all born in the ocean of nectar. We are not meant to be satisfied with anything else but nectar. This is our birt…

By Palaka das I remember when it started, quite innocently, after devotees who had attended the Mayapur Festival when they had kirtan contests with Bengali Vaishnavas who chanted ramo… putting an o at the end of words that have an a is just a particu…

By CDI Team

Along with the recently completed Community Survey, the objective of this conference was to create a platform that allows the community’s voice to be heard, deepen our relationships, and build a shared vision for New Raman Reti going into the future. This exciting event took place at the Alachua Woman’s Club, Sunday, December 3, 2017, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. and followed by sumptuous lunch Prasadam. The overall Vision of the Community Development Initiative (CDI) is a loving and well connected family of Krishna devotees, spiritual aspirants, and friends fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s Mission. Both senior and second generation devotee speakers facilitated the conference with presentations on New Raman Reti’s history and the survey results. They also invited further feedback from the audience on how to enrich our already amazing NRR Community. An important community event.

By Chandan Yatra Das

Sant Tukarama (AD 1609-1650) was a saint-poet of towering stature. Tukarama was among the most prominent saints to have come out of the holy land of Maharashtra. He hailed from the village of Dehu, near Pune, and was born in the Warkari community who are devotees of Lord Vitthala (or Panduranga). Srila Prabhupada occasionally referred to this great saint, “The great saint of Maharashtra known as Saint Tukarama was also initiated by the Lord Caitanya. Saint Tukarama, after initiation by the Lord, over-flooded the whole of the Maharashtra Province with the sankirtana movement and the transcendental flow is still rolling on in the southwestern part of the great Indian peninsula.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam – Introduction)

By Mohan Sunder Das

From West Virginia to New Vrindavan; Lord Krishna has spread His causeless mercy through Srila Prabhupada in every part of His creation. Now, it was time for Aligarh to become Harigarh. Lord Sri Hari sent His representative, HH Kratu Das ji Das Ji Maharaj to carry out this most auspicious task and materialize or better so spiritualise the words of Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada who prophesied the existence of Krishna’s temple with the echoes of Harinaam in every town and village of the world.

By Anand Caitanya das In the last 2 years, with the help of HG Rasamandala Prabhu, the committee has developed a Devotee Care Course. The course was officially launched in Pune in November, 2017 and will be conducted again in Pune in January, 2018. The…

In any location, at any time of day, anywhere in the world, transcendental katha, kirtan, and darshan can be accessed through MayapurTV. This service makes it possible for anyone to attend ISKCON programs and festivals from all over the world virtual…

By Parvati devi dasi This November 30th, our Vrndavan Krishna Balarama Mandir celebrated its 18th Annual Recitation of the Sanskrit verses of the Gita Mahatmya and the entire Bhagavad Gita in the temple courtyard. It was a wonderful Community Event a…