Author Archives: H.H. Indradyumna Swami

I first came to Bulgaria in 1989. It was communist at the time and one of the most draconian places I had ever visited. Much has changed since then. A deeply Christian county, with a population of over 7 million people, Bulgaria is now part of the European Union and in it’s free and democratic […]

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu could have liberated all the three worlds in an instant, if He had desired to do so. But He wanted His pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada, to do it because He takes pleasure in making His devotees famous.

This morning myself and Bada Haridas left the Russian Festival on the Black Sea. It was difficult to go. The Russian devotees are so sweet and really relish Krsna katha and kirtan. After spending tonight in Moscow, we leave early tomorrow morning for a…

Through kirtan, Krsna katha and prasadam thousands of devotees are exchanging their loving sentiments at the Sadhu Sanga Festival on the Black Sea in Russia.

Already 6,000 devotees have arrived at an old resort on the Black Sea for ISKCON Russia’s annual Sadha Sanga Festival. More are expected over the next few days. Once again I find myself immersed in the wonderful association of a sea of devotees, all blissfully chanting and dancing to the holy names of the Lord.

Yesterday was a very sad day for the Russian Yatra. Moscow authorities evicted ISKCON from the land they had been allocated several years ago for a temporary temple, while devotees applied for permission to build a permanent centre just outside the cit…

At the Bhakti Sangam Festival in Ukraine 11,000 devotees had breakfast and lunch each day. The 22,000 plates were prepared by dedicated teams of devotees, sometimes working even in the rain. The amazing event ends today. Tomorrow we leave for the Russi…

If you want to be enlightened, want to be happy, step into the sunshine of Krishna consciousness.

The Bhakti Sangam Festival in Ukraine is giving 11,000 devotees the chance to relish the nectar of chanting the holy names in each other’s blissful association. Every ISKCON devotee should make it a point to come to this annual event at least once in their life!

Myself and Bada Haridas have arrived in Evpatoriya, Ukraine for the annual Bhakti Sangam Festival. The organizers told me over 10,000 devotees have registered. Tonight we had kirtan in the main tent. It’s difficult to describe kirtan with 10,000 enthusiastic devotees chanting and dancing in great bliss! We’ll start with just a few photos and […]

Yom Kipper, or the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for Jewish people. Here is Israel all businesses are closed, there are no television or radio broadcasts and public transportation is shut down. Strict observance of the holy day inclu…

By the causeless mercy of the holy name, sometimes even a neophyte devotee can experience deep spiritual emotions in the association of advanced devotees during congregational chanting. This gives us an impetus to go on in our devotional life and achie…

After visiting numerous holy places in Israel we returned to the streets to share our own spiritual tradition with others. As the nectar of Krsna’s sweet holy names permeated the land, people chanted and danced with us in great jubilation! They also enthusiastically accepted the prasadam we distributed and bought Srila Prabhupada’s books as a […]

Photo: A revered Catholic priest and myself embracing in Jerusalem near to the tomb of Jesus Christ. The following document served as the first official statement by the International Society for Krsna Consciousness (ISKCON) concerning the Society’s relationship with other people of faith in God. It was developed by the ISKCON Interfaith Commission and authorised […]

Pictured: The Tomb of Jesus. For the last week we have continued with harinama samkirtan in and around Tel Aviv. Inspired by our visit to Jerusalem last week we returned to the city for a few hours yesterday to take blessings of the many saints who liv…

Yesterday we did harinama in Haifa, Israel’s 3rd largest city. Israelis are celebrating their New Year and the beaches are crowded. As we experienced in Tel Aviv people spontaneously came forward to dance with us. I have never experienced this on such a scale in any other country of the world. In one sense it […]

Amongst the background of religious traditions existing for thousands of years in Israel devotees of Krsna blissfully propagate the chanting of God’s holy names. People love the kirtan and easily join in. Just another example that kirtan is a universal process that can benefit the entire world.

Because of a devotee’s regular study of Bhagavad gita, he is convinced and sees everything in relation to Krishna. He also knows that Krishna is the maintainer of everything.

Yesterday we went to Jerusalem and visited Calvary, the site of the crucifixion of Lord Jesus Christ. It was a very sobering experience remembering how Jesus sacrificed his life for preaching love of God. I bowed down at the spot and humbly prayed to h…

In the history of Gaudiya Vaisnavas, Srila Prabhupada’s position is unique because he took the combined preaching of all the previous great acaryas and established a movement which is going to be the guiding light for humanity, for the rest of Kali-yuga.

“Holy days like Ekadasi and Janmastami are the mothers of devotion for devotees who properly respect them.” [ Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, Sarangati, Suddha Bhakata Carana Renu, verse 2 ]

“The fortunate town of Navadwipa remains on the earth. The seashore remains. The city of Jagannatha Puri remains. The holy names of Lord Krsna remain. Alas! Alas! I do not see anywhere the same kind of festival of pure love for Lord Hari as before. O Lord Caitanya, O ocean of mercy, will I ever […]

Tomorrow is our last harinam of the summer and the final festival of the season. Many of us are already crying ….

Yesterday on harinam we came across a group of mentally and physically challenged people.Despite their handicaps they joined in and relished the kirtan like everyone. It was so inspiring.Then last night they came to the festival and melted the hearts o…

“We are going door to door: ‘Please chant Hare Krsna.” This is our only propaganda. But it is very difficult. Yet innocent children, they take part. Just now we went to some gentleman’s house. We began kirtan and small children immediately began responding. Children are not yet polluted. Krsna consciousness doesn’t require much education, intelligence […]

In this age of Kali, we are all born as sudras. But if we sincerely practice Krsna consciousness under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, we can develop all the good qualities of the demigods and become real brahmanas.

Kalasamvara prabhu, a senior Prabhupada disciple from New Zealand and a very good friend of mine, joined our summer festival tour here in Poland for 3 weeks. He didn’t miss a single harinam or festival and won the hearts of all the devotees with his friendly nature. He’s going back to Auckland tonight. We will […]

“Sometimes the children as soon as they see us they say, “Hare Krsna!” In Montreal the children, when I was walking on the street, all the children, the shopkeepers, the store keepers they said, “Hare Krsna!” If you practice yoga or meditate it may be beneficial for you, but this is beneficial for many others. […]

“We do not require any large buildings to do our preaching work. If Krsna supplies them we may accept any nice facility which He provides. But we will strive to go on preaching under all circumstances.” ( Srila Prabhupada letter to Gargamuni Swami, November 4th, 1970 )

“Alas! When will that day come when all greatly fortunate souls in countries such as England, France, Russia, Prussia and America will take up banners, kettle drums, mrdangas and karatalas and thus cause the ecstatic waves of Hari Nama kirtan and the singing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s holy name to rise in the streets of […]

“Your report of the book distribution there is very encouraging. Make program to distribute our books all over the world. Our books are being appreciated by learned circles, so we should take advantage. Whatever progress we have made, it is simply due to distributing these books. So go on and do not divert your mind […]

“For one who worships Me, giving up all his activities unto Me and being devoted to Me without deviation, engaged in devotional service and always meditating upon Me, who has fixed his mind upon Me, O son of Partha, for him I am the swift deliverer from the ocean of birth and death.” [Bhagavad Gita, […]

As the weeks and months go by on our festival tour it’s as if we’re in the spiritual world; where all walking is dancing, all talking is singing and there’s a festival every day. Thank you Srila Prabhupada!

Just go out and throw the seed of the Holy name, and definitely some will take root, germinate and grow.

When a heavy rainstorm inundated our festival in Kolobrzeg most of the people in attendance left. But some remained… and for them the show went on. All glories to Lord Caitanya’s samkirtan soldiers!

We continue to go out daily. With so many festivals this summer it’s become a blur of harinams, lectures, people, places, books and prasadam. But a wonderful blur it is….

“Those who are actually advanced in knowledge are able to appreciate the essential value of this age of Kali. Such enlightened persons worship Kali Yuga because in this fallen age all perfections of life can easily be achieved by the performance of sankirtana.” [Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.36]

It’s inconceivable how the devotees in this album can do 26 festivals in a row in July, then do the epic Woodstock Festival, and still have the stamina to begin another series of festivals immediately afterwards. These photos were taken 72 hours after Woodstock. Please honour these men and women and give them your blessings. […]

Anyone who takes to the worship of the Supreme Lord automatically receives the blessings of the goddess of fortune because she herself is always seeking the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The final days of the Polish Woodstock were successful beyond our wildest imagination. One hundred and fifty thousand plates of prasadam distributed, four Ratha Yatra parades, hundreds of books sold, countless hours of kirtan with an endless stream of …