Author Archives: ISKCON News

On the Passing of Bhakta Esa Khalief January 14, 2021   Dear ISKCON Family, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.   We are shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of our beloved friend and resident member, Es…

Krishna CARES, which delivers hot vegetarian meals to the vulnerable, the elderly, and others in need in Gainesville, Florida, delivered sixty meals to the Ronald McDonald House this past Christmas Day. Parents stay for free at the non-profit family an…

2008 saw the opening of the UK’s first state-funded Hindu school when the landmark Krishna Avanti Primary School in Harrow opened its doors. 12 years later, the Trust educates more than 4,000 students across 10 schools up and down the country, wi…

  It’s a cold rain on this cold morning Raining cats and dogs they say  Why not raining birds and bees Or better yet let it rain love and kindness Drops of sweet water to change our thinking To wash away fear and loneliness Let it rain invitations to r…

Mumbai’s iconic Mumbai Central Railways Station, which has earned name of one of the finest architecture and heavy footfall railway terminal in India, witnessed history in making when the first ISKCON book shop namely the ‘Hare Krsna Books&…

  Every job has its perks. The higher the position, the more perks are available. Most often the perks are simple things, designed to both honor one’s status and facilitate one’s work. Simon Sinek, author and inspirational speaker, tel…

While its doors remain closed to the public due to COVID-19, the brand new Portland Bhakti Center, located in the hip and trendy Hawthorne neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, has launched and is serving COVID-safe Krishna Friday Feasts to-go for all. The…

Giriraj Swami’s new book, “I’ll Build You a Temple: The Juhu Story,” has been published by the BBT and is set to be released on January 14th, 2021, the anniversary of the grand opening of the Juhu temple. In August 1965, a few w…

It’s said that we live in an unfortunate season of time; a time when simple living and elevated thinking give way to complicated entanglements and diminished reasoning, when purity gives way to pollution, mercy gives way to malevolence, and truth…

Yamuna Devi, an ISKCON pioneer, one of the first disciples of Srila Prabhupada, and a much loved and deeply inspiring figure for devotees all over the world, passed away on December 20th, 2011. Now, as a tribute to her on this ninth year of her passing…

A Hare Krishna Community Radio station based in Alachua, Florida had a soft launch on Christmas Day, broadcasting a series of devotional programs on the holiday as well as over four days at New Year’s. The project, run by Sudharma Dasi, aims to g…

At the start of the Bhagavad-gita, Duryodhana assesses the strengths of the two armies assembled on the Kurukshetra batl (01.02-01.10). Therein,  he mentions the principal warriors on both sides, but forgets to mention Krishna. His neglecting Kris…

In previous ages – or just in previous centuries – kingdoms were ruled by kings; kings with real executive power, not just ceremonial heads of state: “Formerly everywhere, all over the world, the monarchy was prevalent.” Srila P…

 For many, these darkest days of the year have traditionally been celebrated as the Season of Light, or Advent, or Hanukah. Yet during this time of global pandemic, many of us are feeling and observing a collective unconsciousness in our world &#8…

Food for Life London marked a milestone this Christmas by introducing the UK’s first fully electric food distribution van to serve Londoners. The project has relentlessly continued to serve the needy during the pandemic and the nationwide lockdow…

Although 2020 has been a tough year for us all, some have discovered silver linings amidst the challenges. When ISKCON New Vrindaban, West Virginia went into a two-week lockdown on Thanksgiving Day to keep the community safe, two women from opposite si…

The following message was sent out today, January 1st 2021, to the global ISKCON community on behalf of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami’s Health Team and the JPS Seva Committee: URGENT REQUEST FOR PRAYERS *H.H. Jayapataka Swami-Official health upda…

  A hard, hard year has just ended, Yet many normal things remain suspended Leaving us with problems far greater than we’d conceived Exposing our existence to be frailer than we’d believed There’s light at the end of the tunnel, …

During an especially challenging holiday season, the Food For Life Foundation in Hungary is bringing some care and support with its Christmas Love Feast prasadam distribution effort, from December 8th to 27th. In previous years, Food For Life would hol…

Volunteers have established several Vaishnavas CARE teams each in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and El Salvador, as well as Spain, after attending the “Art of Caring for Vaishnavas” Zoom webinar by Vaishnavas CARE co-founder Sangita Dasi in Nov…

ISKCON Zurich is searching for new Co-Temple Presidents for the Krishna Temple in Zurich, Switzerland.  After thirteen years as temple president, Krishna Premarupa Das will focus more on his other services within ISKCON from October 2021 onwards. …

Registrations for the Online VIHE Govardhana Retreat 2021 are now open!

Her Grace Tungavidya Devi Dasi, a dedicated pujari and preacher who was much beloved by devotees, passed away due to acute cardiac arrest (reportedly a complication from COVID-19) on December 14th, 2020. She departed at 3:45am during the sacred Brahma …

A devotee farmer near the Gita Nagari farm in Port Royal, Pennsylvania, has received a Farm Ownership Loan from the USDA Farm Service Agency, which offers low rates to help new farmers buy farms. The program offers up to 100% financing on up to $600,00…