Author Archives: Dandavats

By Jnana Dasa Implicit in current theories of evolution are two basic assumptions: first, that the myriad living forms have come into being exclusively by chance and the action of natural laws; and second, that consciousness and all life processes are …

By Ananda Vrndavanesvari Devi Dasi Just as a very good sweet will have something hidden inside of it, or a company will have the inner group of key people, the Gita has a core made up of four verses. These are called the Catur Sloki (catur = four, and …

By Sacinandana Swami As Krsna displays His attractive three-fold bending form, His left side stretches up broad and straight, without showing the three lines on His belly. His right heel is raised, and His left foot appears to be kissing the earth. His…

By Mahatma Das

In the early days, Prabhupada asked devotees how they wanted to serve Krsna. Usually they would say something like, “Whatever you want, Srila Prabhupada.” And he would respond, “No, I want to know what you want to do for Krsna. Prabhupada was doing what he taught his managers to do: challenge devotees to find out what they are most inspired to do for Krsna. “Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” – Carl Jung Our life’s purpose should not necessarily be chosen because of what others expect of us. Often what others expect is the very thing we are least motivated to do. We shouldn’t choose our mission to impress others; neither should we do it to take advantage of others. And we shouldn’t choose it because someone else is doing it. Sometimes you may have goals that are in contradiction to one another. For example, you may want to be a professor but don’t want to spend the time and effort to get a PhD. You may want to play in the Philharmonic orchestra but don’t want to spend much time learning music and practicing your instrument. This is what happens when you make goals that are not connected to your life mission. In this state you’re likely to take one step forward and one backward, and you often get in your own way. To accomplish such things you may need continual outside direction. Strong motivation isn’t going to be there when your goals are not inspiring.

By Kesava Krsna Dasa Let us say we won a general election. A majority vote sweeps us into power. All state resources are at our disposal. There will still be a democratic opposition in place, but they will want to see how we give all citizens of th…

By Bhurijana dasa Once, on the Hyderabad farm during a morning walk, Srila Prabhupada was asked whether a particular mantra could be chanted within the temple. Srila Prabhupada’s reply was that there was nothing wrong with the mantra, but our principle…

By Lakshmanesvara Dasa

Many international religious and political leaders honored ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s achievements and contributions at a special ISKCON 50th Anniversary Gala Event in Washington D.C. on Tuesday September 13th. The event took place in the Presidential Ballroom at the Capital Hilton Hotel on 16th Street. Three blocks from the White House, the Ballroom has hosted every president since Harry S. Truman and features a permanent eight-foot presidential seal on its wall. Over 300 people attended the Gala event, seventy-five of them special VIP invitees including religious leaders, religious liberty experts, members of the media, government representatives and political leaders. Among them were U.S. Congresswoman from Hawaii Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts Joseph Kennedy, Nepalese Ambassador to the U.S. Dr. Arjun Kumar Karki, Community Affairs Minister N.K. Mishra from the Indian Embassy, and Deputy Chief of Mission Mahbub Hasan Saleh from the Embassy of Bangladesh.

By the Sannyasa Minister

It is the duty of a sannyasi to become advanced in Krishna consciousness by trying to please the Supreme and serve His mission, by cooperating with other devotees to spread Krishna consciousness to the innocent, and by defeating atheistic propaganda. Srila Prabhupada writes in NOI 5 that “this is the way to cultivate devotional service properly.” Sannyasis teaching these methods of spiritual advancement to the those cultivating pure devotional service, whether acting as diksa or siksa gurus are bona fide spiritual masters. amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ ei desa (Adi 12.73)

By Giriraj Swami Today is Visvarupa-mahotsava, the date on which Lord Caitanya’s older brother, Visvarupa, took sannyasa, the renounced order of life. And on the same date some four hundred and fifty years later, our own spiritual master, Srila Prabhup…

By Madhava Smullen

Religious and Political Leaders Appreciate Srila Prabhupada at ISKCON 50 Gala Dinner in Washington D.C. The response from the VIPs to the evening was overwhelmingly positive, with many commenting that they had been unaware of the depth of Srila Prabhupada’s scholarship, or the breadth of his contributions in spreading the Krishna tradition around the world. The ISKCON devotees present, meanwhile, were very inspired to see so many esteemed personalities appreciating ISKCON’s contributions. “I found the event to be an unprecedented validation of Srila Prabhupada and his contributions to the world,” says Rukmini devi dasi, one of Prabhupada’s earliest female disciples. “To see so many important people appreciating him, chanting and dancing with their arms upraised, and thoroughly enjoying the experience, was just wonderful.”

By Gokulananda das As you walk towards the twin-towered Complexe Desjardins, in the heart of downtown Montreal’s popular festival district, just opposite the prestigious Place-des-Arts, you are beckoned by the elegant Bharatnatyam dancer on the 15 x…

By Chandan Yatra Das His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) was sent by the Lord Krishna to fulfil Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s prediction “Prtvithe ache yata nagaradi grama, sarvatra pracara haibe more nama” – In every town and …

By Acarya-nistha dasa

Mayapur Academy has been established to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desire for the development of deity worship and brahminical culture in ISKCON. By creating an educational institution of excellence in Mayapur to teach brahminical culture, arts and sciences, deity worship, cooking, samskaras etc. this vision will be fulfilled.

By Braja Vilas das

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur is one of the most important acaryas in our Gaudiya line. He can be seen as the father of modern-day Krishna Consciousness. He, along with his son Bhaktisiddhanta, created an explosion of preaching all over India, and he was also the first Vaisnava to send books to the west. He rediscovered many of the pilgrimage sites in Mayapur and foresaw the day when devotees from all over the globe would arrive here to perform blissful Sankirtana together. Srila Prabhupada often told the devotees in Mayapur that they were fulfilling Bhaktivinoda’s prediction.

By the EuroGBC This paper aims to present the contribution of Bhaktivinoda Thakur to the establishment and development of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). It regards his personal life as the role model for the practitioners…

Bhaktivedanta Research Centre: Sri Godrumacandra-bhajanopadesha by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura. Read More…

By Mayapur Sasi dasa For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of August 2016. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Ind…

By Radhanath Swami Bali Maharaj performed a hundred Aswamedha yajnas when he was ruling very powerfully. So little Vamanadev, just by himself, walked with his bare feet and came upon the arena of the sacrifice on the banks of Narmada River. When Bali …

By Gauravani dasa 1. He is known by many names, the most common ones being Vamana (the little dwarf), Trivikrama (he who has taken three step; the giant form), and Upendra (Indra’s younger brother); 2. In every planetary system the denizens worship a p…

By Vamanadeva das A brahmana or sannyasi is qualified to ask charity from others, but if he takes more than necessary he is punishable. No one can use more of the Supreme Lord’s property than necessary. Lord Vamanadeva indirectly indicated to Bali Maha…

By Gour Govinda Swami Conditioned souls, being victims of illusion and the repetition of the cycle of birth and death, are prone to commit errors. The material world created by the Lord is our testing place. Here at every step we are continually being …

By Giriraj Swami Srila Prabhupada furthered many of Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s projects: engaging householders in local preaching initiatives (nama-hatta); establishing the principle that Vaishnavas, even not born brahmans, are greater than brahmans (and a…

By Chaitanya Charan Das

ISKCON of DC, Sunday Open House Talks, This Week’s Talk: Science and Spirituality. We live in the age of science. How does that impact our spiritual practice? Does each one have a role to play in spiritual development and raising consciousness?

By Mahatma das1. To-do List Japa – Meditating on your to-do and shopping lists, sometimes adding and deleting items between mantras. This may also include mentally balancing your checkbook or mentally going over which bills you have to pay. Caution: Th…

By the TOVP team

September 2016 will mark the undertaking of the second TOVP fundraising tour in South Africa in commemoration of ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary and Srila Prabhupada’s sacrifices for the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The first tour in 2013 was a major success bringing in over $3 million (U.S.) in pledges from the devotees. However, this time Lord Nityananda’s padukas (shoes) and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s sitari (helmet) will grace and bless the tour and will be accompanied by His Grace Jananivas prabhu and Ambarisa, Braja Vilas and Svaha prabhus. The tour begins on September 15th and will continue for ten days visiting temples and homes in the cities of Durban, Cape Town, Botswana and Johannesburg. Devotees are ecstatically making arrangements to greet the Lord and His associates for the tour in order to maximize attendance. Daily reports will be posted on the TOVP website and Facebook Page and on ISKCON social media sites.

By the TOVP team

The TOVP Team wants to express its deepest thanks and appreciation to His Holiness Gopal Krishna Maharaja and all his disciples and the devotees of the Delhi Temple for their sacrifice, cooperation and example in facilitating the TOVP fundraising efforts at Maharaja’s recent Vyasa Puja ceremony. This is the second time Maharaja invited us to attend and he and his disciples are leading the charge in India to help finance this dear-most project of Srila Prabhupada.

By Bhurijana dasa Srila Prabhupada: Everywhere, in the office, there is some immediate boss. So you have to please him. That is service. Suppose in office, in a department there is office superintendent. And if you do in your own way, “Yes, I’m doing m…

By Candrabhaga devi dasi Padayatra Iceland was a joint event largely made possible by the efforts of Bhakta Pavel, who last year had gone to the main town of Reykjavik on a book distribution mission. Happy with the success of his mission, he planned an…

By The TOVP team

When, by our cooperative efforts worldwide, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is completed at the heart of ISKCON, all of its associated centers everywhere will become more fully manifest as entranceways to the spiritual world. This will be a major achievement—a crowning achievement—of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s project, following Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, of “the respiritualization of the entire human society,” empowering the whole world to “convert the illusory consciousness into Brahman.” Let us all push forward together to assist in manifesting this most divine accomplishment in the service of Guru and Gauranga. Thank you all for being a part of this glorious endeavor. We will continue to bring you exciting updates throughout the years ahead.

By Sri Nandanandana Das Srimati Radharani is the Supreme Goddess. She is most always seen with Lord Krishna. It is described that She is the Chief Associate and devotee of Lord Krishna, and topmost of all Goddesses. Her name means the She is the most e…

By Hari Narayana das Ramadewa is a rural village where the most of the residents are Hindus from Bali. Actually there was no devotee in this village. So how could Lord Jagannath reach this rural village? On one of the ratha yatra in Lampung a year ago,…

By Chaitanya Charan das 1. Tattva of Srimati Radharani 2. Parakiya-rasa which Srimati Radharani demonstrate through the emotion of Maha-bhava 3. One pastime from Anand Vrindavan Champu which demonstrates the service attitude of Srimati RadharaniRead Mo…

By Bhurijana dasa In Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.24), Narada Muni explains to Srila Vyasadeva how he attained, through the mercy of the Vaisnavas, an exalted spiritual position: Although they were impartial by nature, those followers of the Vedanta blessed …

By Radha Kunda Dasi Radha’s lake is named after Her because, like Radha, it pleases all the transcendental senses of Krsna. Krsna’s eyes enjoy seeing Radha-kunda. Krsna’s nose relishes the smell of Radha-kunda’s waters and its lotus flowers. The touch …

By Dravida dasa This is my English rendition of the Sri Radhikastaka from the Govinda-lilamrta, by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja. Her gold complexion steals the pride of golden lotus tinged with red. Her fragrance mocks the scent of lotus bloom with sa…

By Bhaktirasa dasa For some time now I have been concerned for the freedoms and safeties of my fellow Hare Krsna devotees in Bangladesh, who are trying to exist peacefully in a socio-political context which is extremely fractious, volatile and imminent…

By Bhurijana Dasa We have all learned our native language and most of our attitudes, values, and social behavior without having had any systematic instruction. In fact, the examples we have seen have influenced us more powerfully than the verbal instru…

By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada This song was sung by Rupa Gosvami. He is the real person, actual person, to understand Radha and Krsna. So he says, “All glories to Radharani.” radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. “She’s so dear to K…

Khonika Gope-Kumar: In several places of Srimad Bhagvatam, instructions are given on how to greet and treat someone who is less qualified, equally qualified and more qualified than us.Read More…

By Yasodadulal Dasa

Krishna’s unbelievable reciprocation: I loved the spontaneity and excitement of the experience. I always felt that Radha and Krishna were alongside me and that Prabhupada was happy with my efforts. There were always people to help. I very quickly learned to see God within the hearts of all people. Krishna responded with unbelievable generosity. It was an incredible challenge, filled with the mystery of the unknown, heightened with risk and yet surrounded in the security of knowing my Lords and Masters were always there. They stretched my limited, well-sized faith, into an ocean of conviction that God Himself is ever present. He is a hands-on “Superman” Who works His magic into every moment. One gets addicted to the intoxication of witnessing the fix He injects into the bloodstream of His surrendered devotee. I felt far from fully surrendered, but whatever little steps I took He ran ahead and made all arrangements. All that way I just glanced at Them and would feel, “Yes, They are pacing it out, claiming Their detached ownership and sovereignty over New Zealand – the only real way to bring the black man, the white man and the yellow man together.”