Dear Devotees, Please accept our obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. After nearly a year of careful deliberation, the GBC has approved the Enhanced Child Protection Approach (the “Enhanced Approach”) and is confident that its implementation will best serve ISKCON’s children. This institutional redesign focuses on establishing an Oversight Committee, independent external investigations and expansion
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The Gita-Based Value Education Contest was successfully organized as part of the International Gita Festival during Gita Jayanti 2024, under the joint auspices of the Government of Madhya Pradesh and ISKCON Ujjain. This initiative aimed to inculcate Gita-based values among students across the state. The contest was conceptualized following a proposal presented to Honorable Chief
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At Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj, ISKCON devotees, including many from abroad, chant the Mahamantra “Hare Krishna Hare Rama,” celebrating unity and spirituality. Highlighting the event’s significance, they immerse in the holy atmosphere, emphasizing peace and urging others to join in chanting for a powerful and uplifting experience.
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The video discusses Kṛṣṇa consciousness, highlighting devotional practices, historical context, and teachings of prominent figures like Śrī Narahari Sarkar and Locan Dās Ṭhākur. It emphasizes surrender to Kṛṣṇa, the path of bhakti, and the importance of chanting, service, and spiritual association to transcend material bondage and realize one’s spiritual identity.
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H.H. Bhakti Ratnakar Ambrish Swami Maharaj discusses Srimad Bhagavatam 10.84.1, emphasizing devotees’ pure love for Krishna and the importance of hearing his pastimes for spiritual growth. He highlights Srila Prabhupada’s efforts in distributing spiritual knowledge through books and urges devotees to continue spreading Krishna consciousness worldwide.
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The video features Bhakti Vasudev Swami discussing Srimad Bhagavatam (SB) 3.8.30-33. It explores Lord Brahma’s perception of Lord Vishnu during creation, highlighting meditation, austerity, and dependence on the Lord for innovation. The speaker contrasts scriptural accounts of creation with scientific theories, emphasizing devotion, guidance, and the role of Krishna as the ultimate support in life.
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In the video, Francois Gautier, a journalist and writer living in India married to an Indian and a lover of Indian culture and the defender of Hindus today, shares his perspective on the 2025 Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. As a Westerner, he marvels at the enduring ancient Indian traditions, the astounding number of sages attending,
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By HH Badrinarayan Swami

This is the official GBC policy paper: "Gaudiya Vaisnava Siddhanta for ISKCON-according to the teachings of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada". After several years in development and multiple review cycles, it was approved in December of 2025 by a unanimous vote of the international GBC. You will find the history of the development of this paper and the case for its importance, in the beginning of the paper. The author is His Holiness Bhakti-Vijnana Maharaja, with input from many senior devotees. Continue reading "A Concise Statement of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Siddhānta for the International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
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By Dandavats Staff Writer

Pastoral Counseling. Thinking of Krishna at Death. New Goloka Community Report for 2024. Partnership to Feed Firefighters. The Universe Chandelier at TOVP. Kardama Muni's Spiritual Triumph. The Lord is the object of the Vedic prayers. The nectar Kirtan at ISKCON London! ISKCON's state of the art mega kitchen in Kumbh. Srila Prabhupada's Example. Hare Krishna in popular culture .Prahlada Maharaja. Moving Forward in 2025 Continue reading "Spiritual Horizons: Wisdom, Service, and Transcendence Unveiled Today, January 23
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The video, led by Mahatma Das, explores lessons from Srila Prabhupada’s example, focusing on his purposeful use of anger in devotion. Prabhupada’s anger was seen as a manifestation of his devotion, directed against misconceptions like Mayavada philosophy, atheism, offenses to Krishna, and failures in deity worship. His approach emphasized using emotions constructively in service and
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Imagine a universe captured within a magnificent temple, its celestial mechanics brought to life not on a dusty textbook page, but as a breathtaking, moving 3D model. This is the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP), a visionary project by ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Rising in West Bengal, India, the
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New Goloka Community Report for 2024 – Presented by HH Bir Krishna Goswami Today, we have a special presentation by various devotees who are contributing to the New Goloka community. I’ll begin with some philosophy before introducing the presentations. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness was founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
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This video features HG Akandadhi Prabhu discussing Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (SB 1.9.40) and Bhīṣmadeva’s final moments, focusing on meditation on Krishna at death. It highlights Bhīṣma’s detachment, devotion, and the importance of remembering Krishna. Akandadhi explains devotional practices, the eternal nature of consciousness, and falling in love with Krishna through sincere devotion and persistent practice.
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So, the question is that due to various experiences in life where the mind has become become somewhat averse to everything mundane, I feel attracted more to the impersonal and there are also statements from scripture which seem to point toward it. Like there’s that absolute has not a sampati maasti or naithi naithi. There’s something more beyond this. This is not the ultimate. So, see first is that we need to always look at ourselves positively.

Ultimately, we are our only asset. In the sense that, just as we need to have a healthy relationship with others, similarly, we need to have a healthy relationship with ourselves. And that means, we need to understand that this is where I am at and appreciate that this far we have come. So, for example, if we have had bad experiences in relationships and interactions with people, it is, we could react to that in 3 broad ways. In sattva, rajas, and tamas.

In tamas, one can become hateful of the whole world, or one can just start feeling sorry for oneself. And just it becomes some people just burning with resentment and anger and hatred. They can’t don’t do anything about it, but just as soon as they start talking, there’s so much poison in their heart that comes out. So in general, everyone gets a raw deal in life. And of course, some people may suffer much more than others, no doubt about it.

But everyone gets feels that I have not been treated properly by others. That feeling is there, but more importantly is how we respond. In rajaogona, the person becomes very power hungry, where I will become so strong that no one will be able to mess with me in the future. And then, they just that becomes their single-minded quest. And unfortunately, power doesn’t really fulfill that promise or address that need, but that becomes one reaction.

In Sathva, one starts realizing that actually what I’m looking for is not only to be found in this world and in the relationship with the people in this world. There has to be something more in life. So, in one sense, detachment and resentment are very opposite. Resentment is, I don’t want things to be like this, but I don’t have the power to do anything about it. So I’m burning inside.

I can’t do anything to change these things. But detached so resentment is more like, I am not good enough for the world. That is resentment. Detachment is the world is not good enough for me. There has to be something more to life.

So broadly, even if one is attracted to the impersonal, it is, if it is not filled with too much negativity toward the world and toward the people in it, then that is a sattvic reaction. If it is filled with too much negativity toward the world, then that could be tamasik. And then the key to that is try to cultivate more sattva kona. I read more about how everybody in life goes through difficulties, and that we need to work to go beyond those difficulties. So by that we learn and grow.

That’s one aspect to it. Okay? So to have a positive relationship toward yourself means see that whatever we have come to is a good place. We come to sattvic level of realisation. And now, beyond that, what is the nature of the ultimate reality?

That there is something beyond this world. And what is it? So, if anyone gets any understanding, there has to be something more beyond this. That is auspicious thing. Krishna in 6/14, the Bhagavita says that such people are kalyana krut kashit.

That you know, there are such few people, not many who can do this. They are kalyana krut. They are engaged in auspicious work. And this includes all kinds of seekers, not just bhakti yogis, but even gyan yogis, dhyana yogis. Anybody who is seeking something beyond this world is well situated.

And Krishna says such people will never meet within auspiciousness. That neither in this world nor in the next world will they ever meet with destruction and nor will they meet with any inauspiciousness. So, appreciate that the experiences of your life have brought you to a positive place where you have become detached from the things of this world and you are focused on something higher. Now, regarding the nature of the higher, at this point, it is possible that our understanding may be more reactionary than revelatory. Revelatory means we have got some higher experience.

Revelation Not revolution, revelation. Revelation means it is some realization, some higher experience. So revelation. And reactionary means based on the reaction to what has happened to us in this world. These 2 are very different things.

So when it is reactionary, at that time, it is not very healthy. Because it’s often some people have had bad experience with dogs. Suppose some dog has bitten them. They hate all dogs. I’ll never have a dog as a pet.

Okay. That’s good. There’s no need for a pet research in life. But that doesn’t mean all animals are bad. Doesn’t mean all dogs are bad.

So reactionary is little short sighted. It may be based on what we have experienced in life, but reactionary conceptions. You did this to me, so I’ll do that to you. So, reactionary conceptions are not very evolved. That is how, hatred and biases and prejudice happen.

You know, you did this to me like this, your family did this to me, therefore I will destroy your entire kul. And hate wars start like that. So at this stage, it is possible that our conception of the spiritual may be based a little bit more on reaction. So, rather than worrying too much, is it that right now I don’t feel attracted towards the personal and the spiritual and the personal activities over there? So don’t worry too much about that lack of attraction.

Right now, we’re just moving from the material towards the spiritual. So don’t see that you are following this path or that path. The difference between personal and impersonal, it is important, but when we are caught in the material world, that may not be the most important thing. See, we can understand that there is some higher reality that is guiding our life. Isn’t it?

So that is not very difficult to understand. So now whether that higher reality is personal, impersonal, let’s put it aside. There is some higher reality guiding our life and by that higher reality we have come to some spiritual path. So rather than thinking I am following this path, think that it is that higher divinity that has opened this path for me. Let me explore this path right now, diligently.

And if this path is right for me, well and good. If this path is not right for me, I’ll get that understanding. So, the desire to be alone or the desire to not want to engage in activities, that could be possibly an indication of our deep inner inclination itself, or it could be just a result of the kind of people we have met and the kind of experiences we have had with people. We don’t know which one it is right now. So let’s be open and focus more on just moving ahead in life.

So continue the path you are following and just be open to what experiences come, what realizations come, how we move forward. So, over a period of time, that same ultimate reality, same God who has brought us here will take us ahead from here also. To this point where we have been brought, from this point we will be taken ahead. That’s one side of it. Now the other side of it will be that as far as scriptural statements are concerned.

We can discuss them more in detail, but I’ll just give some broad ideas. See the Naithi, Naithi is generally to move from the material toward higher reality that the forms of this world are not the ultimate thing. The taste of this world are not the ultimate thing. There has to be something more in life. So now, does that pen and the forms of the spiritual world also fall in that category?

Maybe, maybe not. The key difference is that when we have no experience of a spiritual form right now. We have no experience of spiritual activities. We may come to a temple and we may feel a little peaceful, we may feel a little nice, but what is actually spiritual love? That is a very different experience.

Because right now, almost all the relationship that we have experienced have some level of selfishness within them. And to have experienced relationship beyond, this is not easy. So that’s why rather than making a categorical decision about what we want to do, just continue on in your practice right now. And if you continue on that practice, then it will be revealed to you. So with respect to, naithi means that what we have in this world, there is something more than that.

Now, in the scriptures only, where there are descriptions, for example, of this world being false, forms being false, in those same scriptures there is also description of some higher reality. There are great saints who are worshipping a form. There are of course, impersonalists, but there are also saints worshipping a form. Isn’t it? So there are both conceptions of reality that are described.

And natasya pratimaasti. Now what does that mean? Pratima is a representation. So with respect to the spiritual and the material, there are 2 different connections or with respect to God and forms in the world. There is a representation and there is a manifestation.

They are 2 different things. So in the Chetan sartham there is verse pratimanahitumi sakshatvajendraannam. That is prayers being made to the deity, you are not a pratima. You are actually the Lord Himself. So, what is the meaning of a Pratima?

This is a built conceptual. I’ll try to explain it. See, there are two kinds of representations. There is bottom up and top down. Bottom up means what?

See the concept of nationhood. Say India love for India patriotism. Now feel patriotic. You tell them, someone. How do you feel patriotic?

There has to be some symbol. So we have the flag. We see the flag, we salute. Right? Saluting is a way, saluting the flag is a way of expressing the emotion.

So now, emotion is inside us and the concept of nation or it’s it’s a little abstract. We have a physical map. But you know, we don’t look at the map and salute the map. We need some representation. For the flag is Indian flag is for example having 3 colors.

Now if tomorrow India becomes very industrially progressed, or we become more of a service economy, we may decide that, no, we don’t want the green colour in our flag. Because the we are not so much of a economic we are not so much of a farming economy. Now we may decide we want to have some other colour, say, a white colour which indicates or a black colour which indicates technology. I assume. So now can we change the colour of the flag?

We can, you know. Does the Indian government have to pass a resolution? The color of the flag will be changed. So the connection between the flag and the country, that is a result of the human imagination. There is no intrinsic connection between the America has a particular flag.

They can change the flag by a by a resolution of their parliament. So there are some symbols which can be changed. So your our school might have a particular sim symbol. Like, there are people who are in branding companies. A company is a particular logo.

When you see the logo, we remember that company. But some of the company want to rebrand themselves. They’ll change their logo. So between the logo and the company, there is no intrinsic connection. The logo can be changed.

The company will still remain the same. This is one kind of symbolism. And this is referred to as pratima. Pratima means, there is some abstract reality which we can’t really connect with, and so we have a symbol. We have some representation, some image which connects the 2.

But there is another kind of representation. Let’s say the photo of a person. Now the photo of the person is not exactly the person. You cannot talk with the photo and the photo will talk back to you. But now if if, husband is working on a traveling job, and he comes back home and his wife is taking cleaning his clothes, she sees in his wallet, there is a picture of some other woman other than him.

What is this? Hey, you know, actually I am thinking of you only, but I skipped a picture of someone else. Now, that won’t work. Isn’t it? There is a intrinsic connection between the picture of the person and the person.

So, this is not a connection of imagination. So, when we talk about the deity of the Lord, the deity of the Lord is directly connected with the form of the Lord. So, it is not a pratima and the word used for this is vigraha. So, pratima and vigraha, they are like the difference between representation and manifestation. So, pratima is representation and one thing can have some pratima and pratima can be changed, but the manifestation is not the pratima.

Manifestation is directly that person appearing in a particular way over here. So, when the scripture says that, no, natya satyapati maasti. What it means is don’t represent that higher reality in your own way over here. That don’t concoct the images of it. So that is a universal prohibition.

Don’t imagine how it is like. But when it is described in scripture, we can certainly build on that. So that way, it is a scriptural statement. There can be a lot of analysis that can be done. If you want, I have written a book on this topic called Idle Worship or Ideal Worship.

So, the idea of the form of God, the idea of can the ultimate reality have a form at all? All these things I have elaborately discussed over there. So, if you want you can have a look at that book also. But broadly speaking, it is that say somebody who is in, you are right now in junior college, assume. No, no, assume you are in junior college.

Then if there is 2 Nobel laureates who have 2 different theories of physics, you know somebody has quantum physics, one interpretation, somebody has another interpretation. The student in a junior college doesn’t really have to worry who is right right now. See, there is one famous physicist who said that, there is this kind of debate. He said, the opposite of a normal truth is a falsehood. It is true and it is false.

But the opposite of one great truth is another great truth. The other great truth is not a false. This is also true, this is also true, they are from different perspectives. So that the ultimate reality is personal is the truth. The ultimate reality is impersonal.

That is also truth. It is not that the absolute truth is only this or only that. It is both. So, right now you may not be attracted towards the impersonal more than the personal. But is this something on which you want to build your lifelong commitment?

Maybe, maybe not. Just focus on your spiritual growth right now. Like you are in junior college, in Physics, just continue on college, complete your junior college, complete your senior college. By that your understanding of Physics will improve and then you can decide whether this scientist theory is right or that scientist theory is right and you can commit at that time. Right now, don’t let it discourage you in your spiritual journey.

And in the spiritual group that we have, we can keep growing. Try to understand, it’s not accident that you have come to a particular path right now. It is by some divine arrangement and just explore this path and see how it helps you to grow as a person. How it evolves helps you evolve your understanding of the ultimate reality and then take whatever decision you want. Okay?

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Lord Boar by HG Amogh Lila Das. The Story of Shaubhari Muni. United We Stand - Yuga Dharma. Finding Shelter in True Identity. New Devotee Care Department Office Inaugurated in Mayapur. Govardhan Eco Village: A Temple Town Building a Sustainable Future. Abhay Charan serial in Suriname. HH Bhaktimarga Swami - Home Program. Vaisnava Etiquette. Ratna Bhusana's doughnuts for the LAPD and more Continue reading "Unity, Devotion, and Sustainability in ISKCON Today, January 22
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Kalakantha Prabhu discusses SB 1.9.27-28, focusing on duties of kings, women, devotees, and charity. Charity, a householder’s duty, purifies energy when offered to Krishna. Leadership requires high character; poor leadership degrades society. Women’s role in nurturing is vital in protected environments. Spiritual life is personal and transcends material systems like varnashrama. Plans should align with
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Translation Thus the King, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, sat to fast until death. All the demigods of the higher planets praised the King’s actions and in pleasure continually scattered flowers over the earth and beat celestial drums. Purport Even up to the time of Mahārāja Parīkṣit there were interplanetary communications, and the news of Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s fasting
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HH Bhaktimarga Swami’s talk, part of a bi-weekly program, explores Bhagavad Gita 3.40 and themes of love, lust, and spirituality. He emphasizes self-discipline, mindful living, and connection with Krishna. Stories, analogies, and practical advice highlight how to navigate distractions, prioritize service, and integrate spiritual practices like chanting and training into daily life for inner growth.
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The video shares heartfelt stories and teachings of Srila Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON, highlighting his wisdom, humor, and care. It reflects on his guidance for living a Krishna-conscious life, the unifying power of kirtan, and his vision for spreading spirituality globally. Set against the 1960s-70s backdrop, it captures his transformative impact on disciples and their
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The epic video serial on the life of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. High Quality 45 episodes of each 30 minutes It is produced and distributed by Veda Foundation, the public charitable trust of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami. The serial, based on the biography Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta by His Holiness Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami,
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Govardhan Eco Village near Mumbai demonstrates sustainable living through organic farming, rural development, women empowerment, and community collaboration. It revitalizes the concept of ancient temple towns, integrating spiritual, social, and sustainable impacts (S3). Recognized globally, it fosters harmony and ecological balance.
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Shri Jayadeva Goswami appeared in either the eleventh or twelfth century of the Shaka era. There is a difference of opinion about his place of birth. The majority opinion holds that he was from the village of Kendubilva, presently in the district of Birbhum. Others claim that he was born in either Orissa or South India.

Kendubilva is situated about twenty miles south of Siuri on the banks of the Ajaya River. In the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana, it is stated that Jayadeva found his Radha Madhava Deities in this river’s waters. It is also stated there that he used to rest and worship at the temple of Shiva known as Kusheshwar, which is also on the banks of the Ajaya River. Jayadeva’s father was named Bhojadeva and his mother, Vama Devi.

Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur writes in his Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya that Lakshman Sen was delighted when he heard Jayadeva’s hymn to the ten incarnations, the Dasavatara-stotra. When Govardhan Acharya notified the king that it was Jayadeva who had composed the hymn, he became desirous to meet the poet. 

He went incognito to Jayadeva’s house and when he saw him, he noticed that Jayadeva possessed all the characteristics of a great and powerful spiritual personality. Deeply impressed and attracted to Jayadeva, the king revealed his identity to him and invited him to come and live in the royal palace. Jayadeva was leading a very renounced life and was therefore unwilling to live in the opulent environment of the palace. He told the king that he preferred to live in Jagannath Puri.

Lakshman Sen was disappointed by Jayadeva’s intentions. He quickly suggested that he take up residence in the village of Champa Hati, saying that it was a place suitable for a person who wished to lead a meditative life. He also promised him that he would never come to disturb him again. 

When Jayadeva agreed, Lakshman Sen had a cottage built for him in the village that was formerly known as Champaka-hatta, named after the beautiful garden of champa trees and the village market where Mahaprabhu’s associate Dvija Baninath received a vision of Him in the Satya Yuga, seeing Him in the form of a Brahmin whose skin was the color of champa flower. 

Similarly, Jayadeva had a vision here, first of Radha-Madhava, then of Their combined form as the golden champa-colored Gauranga Mahaprabhu. 

After the Lord gave Jayadeva this vision, He told him to go to Jagannath Puri. Although Jayadeva was sad to leave the future abode of his Lord, he obeyed the Lord’s command and made his way to Puri, where it is said that he was engaged as the king of Orissa’s court poet. 

He spent the remainder of his life in the abode of Lord Jagannath, where he wrote the transcendental poem based on the sentiment of love in separation known as Gita-govinda or Astapadi. Indeed, Mahaprabhu told Jayadeva while giving him the vision of Navadwip that after appearing there, He would take sannyas and go to Jagannath Puri where He would relish the Gita-Govinda.

According to legend, Jagannath Himself ordered Jayadeva to marry his wife, Padmavati. The story is told in the Visvakosa as follows: there once was a Brahmin who was without offspring despite having worshiped Jagannath for many years in the hope of having a son. Finally, he and his wife had a daughter and they named her Padmavati. 

When she came of marriageable age, the Brahmin brought her to Lord Jagannath to offer her to his lotus feet. When He saw them, Jagannath said to the Brahmin, “I have a servant whose name is Jayadeva. He has given up family life and has dedicated himself to chanting My names. Give your daughter to him in marriage.”

The Brahmin took his daughter to Jayadeva and asked him to marry his daughter. However, since Jayadeva had no desire to get married, he refused to agree to any such arrangement. The Brahmin then told him that it was Jagannath Himself who had arranged this marriage; and without another word, he left, leaving his daughter behind. Jayadeva found himself totally unprepared for this situation and told the girl, “Tell me where you want to go and I will take you and leave you there. You cannot stay here.”

Padmavati started to cry and said, “My father brought me here to marry you on Jagannath Deva’s order. You are my husband, my all in all. If you do not accept me, then I will fall down at your feet and die right here. You are my only hope, my Lord.” The poet and scholar Jayadev could not abandon her after such a heartfelt plea. So he became a householder.

[Later], Jayadeva took his Deities Radha and Madhava with him, and set off on a long journey. Once in Vrindavan, he began to serve his Deities in an area near Keshi Ghat. When the residents of the Dham heard Jayadeva sing the Gita-Govinda in his sweet voice, they were entranced. One merchant built a large temple for the Deities on that site.

It is said that Jayadeva returned to his birthplace in Kendubilva after living in Vrindavan for many years. He spent the rest of his life there, worshipping his Deities and performing his bhajan. He would make the long walk to the Ganges every day to take his bath there. One day, for some reason or another, he was unable to make it. Ganga Devi was so kind to him that she came personally to the village of Kendubilva so that he would bathe in her holy waters. It is said that Jayadeva died in Kendubilva and every year on the first day of the month a Magh, a large festival, is held there in his memory.

There is, however, a difference of opinion about where Jayadeva finished his life. Though some say he returned to Kendubilva, others claim it was Puri, and still others say that he went to Vrindavan. Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur has stated his opinion that Jayadeva left this world from Jagannath Puri. 

Though some people say that Jayadeva returned to Kendubilva to spend his last days, there is no indication anywhere that he brought his Radha-Madhava Deities with him. In fact, these Deities were taken by the king of Jaipur to a place named Ghati sometime after Jayadeva’s passing away and they are still being served in the Jaipur area.

By Dandavats Staff Writer

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Firefighters and police officers in Los Angeles work together to manage the Palisades wildfire. The fire, which started on January 7, quickly spread due to severe drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds. Firefighters pre-deployed resources, including fire engines, command teams, brush patrols, water tenders, and air operations personnel. Evacuation warnings and orders were issued
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A growing number of Israelis are turning to Krishna consciousness and embracing the teachings of Bhakti Yoga. In this video, we explore why more and more people in Israel are finding spiritual fulfillment and connection with Krishna. Discover the transformative power of chanting, devotion, and spiritual service that is spreading in this vibrant country. 🌿
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The Bhagavatam in French is quickly becoming a spiritual sensation in France! With its deep wisdom and divine teachings, it’s capturing the hearts and minds of countless readers. Watch as we dive into the growing popularity of this sacred text and how it’s making an impact across the French-speaking world. 🌟 **In This Video**: How
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HH Romapada Maharaj discusses Vaishnava etiquette, focusing on respecting others despite conditioning, trauma, or misfortune. He emphasizes tolerance, intelligence in applying principles, and seeking guidance from mentors. The session explores topics like cultural conduct, inner cultivation, and balancing respect with discernment, alongside Q&A on challenges, gratitude, and respectful exchanges in devotion.
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Here are some glimpses from the ongoing “Temple Worship” unit at Mayapur Academy! This unit offers a comprehensive journey into the heart of deity worship. Students are learning various aspects of temple services, including Acaman, Aarti, Bhoga offerings, Deity Shyana, Uthan rituals, Shodash Upacara, and Mantras. With a strong emphasis on philosophical foundations, the unit
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The video showcases the Bhumi Puja ceremony for the Krishna Balaram Cultural Centre at ISKCON Vrindavan. The speakers express gratitude to attendees and outline the project’s significance. Key highlights include: Project Overview: The center will include guest rooms and facilities to inspire devotees and promote Krishna Consciousness globally. High-Quality Construction: Use of top-grade materials, such
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Dear Devotees, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. During the Governing Body Commission’s (GBC) meeting on Monday, December 30th, the GBC formally accepted Giriraja Swami’s letter addressed to them, in which he announced that he would no longer be offering initiations. As stated in his letter, dated October 27, 2024: “It
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It was a pleasure hosting English singer, songwriter, musician and producer Mr. Chris Martin of Coldplay @coldplay and American actress Ms. Dakota Johnson @dakotajohnson, along with their friends, at ISKCON Chowpatty. Thank you for visiting us. We wish you the very best for your concerts in India, your world tour, and all your future endeavors.
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By Dandavats Staff Writer

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Sri Gopal Bhatta Goswami, one of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, was a prominent Vaishnava saint and a direct disciple of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is known for his humility, devotion, and scholarly contributions to the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition.

Gopal Bhatta Goswami was born in 1503 and is renowned for his role in preserving and propagating the teachings of Lord Chaitanya. He was known for his exceptional cooking, sweet singing of the Bhagavatam, and his strict adherence to devotional practices.

Despite his significant contributions, Gopal Bhatta Goswami remained humble and requested not to be prominently mentioned in the Chaitanya-charitamrita, showcasing his self-effacing nature. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the Bhakti cult in Vrindavan and left behind a rich legacy of spiritual literature.

Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami contributed to Gaudiya Vaishnavism through his service and writings. He was responsible for writing treatises that exposed aberrant philosophies and practices adulterating the teachings of pure srngara-rasa, while also emphasizing the importance of vaidhi-bhakti. Additionally, he installed one of the seven principal Deities of Vrndavana, the Radharamana Deity, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Radharamana temple. His contributions are significant in the development and preservation of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

The deity of Radha Ramana appeared when the Damodara Shila manifested Himself as the beautiful Radha Ramana Deity. This manifestation occurred in 1542, and since then, Radha Ramana has been worshiped with pure devotion following precise sastric rituals. Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami played a significant role in the worship and installation of the Radha Ramana Deity. The deity is worshipped with great reverence and devotion in Vrndavana.

Gopal Bhatta Goswami’s life exemplifies the essence of devotion and surrender to the Supreme Lord. His dedication to spreading the message of love and devotion continues to inspire generations of spiritual seekers.

For Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s appearance day, I thought to read a verse and purport about him from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Ten, “The Branches of the Caitanya Tree”:

TEXT 105

sri gopala bhatta eka sakha sarvottama
rupa-sanatana-sange yanra prema-alapana

TRANSLATION

Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, the forty-seventh branch, was one of the great and exalted branches of the tree. He always engaged in discourses about love of Godhead in the company of Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was the son of Venkata Bhatta, a resident of Sri Rangam. Gopala Bhatta formerly belonged to the disciplic succession of the Ramanuja-sampradaya but later became part of the Gaudiya-sampradaya. In the year 1433 Sakabda (A.D. 1511), when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring South India, He stayed for four months during the period of Caturmasya at the house of Venkata Bhatta, who then got the opportunity to serve the Lord to his heart’s content. Gopala Bhatta also got the opportunity to serve the Lord at this time. Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was later initiated by his uncle, the great sannyasi Prabodhananda Sarasvati. Both the father and the mother of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami were extremely fortunate, for they dedicated their entire lives to the serviceof Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They allowed Gopala Bhatta Gosvami to go to Vrndavana, and they gave up their lives thinking of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Lord Caitanya was later informed that Gopala Bhatta Gosvami had gone to Vrndavana and met Sri Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami, He was very pleased, and He advised Sri Rupa and Sanatana to accept Gopala Bhatta Gosvami as their younger brother and take care of him. Sri Sanatana Gosvami, out of his great affection for Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, compiled the Vaisnava smrti named Hari-bhakti-vilasa and published it under his name. Under the instruction of Srila Rupa and Sanatana, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami installed one of the seven principal Deities of Vrndavana, the Radharamana Deity. The sevaits (priests) of the Radharamana temple belong to the Gaudiya-sampradaya.

COMMENT

Actually, one of the families entrusted with the Deity service at the Radha-ramana Mandir has a history of relations with the line of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Vishwambhar Goswami’s father or grandfather had relations with Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the family maintained relations with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and then Vishwambhar Goswami had very friendly relations with Srila Prabhupada. And he spoke very nicely about Srila Prabhupada. Now Vishwambhar Goswami’s son Padma Nabh Goswami is also very favorable to ISKCON. In fact, ISKCON devotees often honor prasada at his home at the Radha-ramana Mandir. When I took prasada there with His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami, Padma Nabh Goswami showed us a letter that Srila Prabhupada had written to his father, Vishwambhar Goswami, about how all Vaishnavas should cooperate. So, not only does the Radha-ramana temple belong to the Gaudiya-sampradaya, but at least some of the sevaits have had close relations with the line of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

PURPORT (concluded)

When Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami took permission from all the Vaisnavas before writing Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami also gave him his blessings, but he requested him not to mention his name in the book. Therefore Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has mentioned Gopala Bhatta Gosvami only very cautiously in one or two passages of the Caitanya-caritamrta. Srila Jiva Gosvami has written in the beginning of his Tattva-sandarbha, “A devotee from southern India who was born of a brahmana family and was a very intimate friend of Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami has written a book that he has not compiled chronologically. Therefore I, a tiny living entity known as jiva, am trying to assort the events of the book chronologically, consulting the direction of great personalities like Madhvacarya, Sridhara Svami, Ramanujacarya,and other senior Vaisnavas in the disciplic succession.” In the beginning of the Bhagavat-sandarbha there are similar statements by Srila Jiva Gosvami. Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami compiled a book called Sat-kriya-sara-dipika, edited the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, wrote a foreword to the Sat-sandarbha and a commentary on the Krsna-karnamrta, and installed the Radharamana Deity in Vrndavana. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (184) it is mentioned that his previous name in the pastimes of Lord Krsna was Ananga-manjari. Sometimes he is also said to have been an incarnation of Guna-manjari. Srinivasa Acarya and Gopinatha Pujari were two of his disciples.

COMMENT

Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami ki jaya!

One story about Gopala Bhatta Gosvami is that on the eve of Nrsimha-caturdasi all the other Gosvamis and Vaishnavas in Vrindavan were preparing to worship their Deities and hold festivals. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami had only a salagrama-sila; he didn’t have a Deity with arms and legs and a body that he could dress and decorate. So he was feeling deprived of the opportunity to serve like the other devotees who had Deities they could serve in these ways. And out of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s strong desire, a salagrama-sila became manifest in the form of Radha-ramana. Radha-ramana is considered the most beautiful Deity of Krishna. He is the one original Deity of the Gosvamis that has remained in Vrindavan, while the others had to be taken elsewhere for fear of the Muslim invaders. And near the temple of Radha-ramana in Vrindavan is the samadhi of Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami.

Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s uncle and siksa-guru was Prabodhananda Sarasvati. His samadhi is also located in Vrindavan, just off the parikrama path near Kaliya-ghata, quite near our Krishna-Balaram Mandir. So, often when we go on parikrama down the path near the Yamuna, we visit Prabodhananda Sarasvati’s samadhi and bhajana-kutira. And then we proceed to Srila Sanatana Gosvami’s samadhi. Srila Sanatana Gosvami was the most senior of the Gosvamis and was also a close associate and instructor of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. In fact, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami worked with Sanatana Gosvami to produce the great treatise Hari-bhakti-vilasa.

I feel that Gopala Bhatta Gosvami has been especially merciful to me on two occasions. On one, I visited his bhajana-kutira at Sanketa, a place between Nandagrama and Varsana where Radha and Krishna used to meet and sometimes perform rasa-lila. Gopala Bhatta would sit and chant underground in a deep cavern accessible only through a long, narrow passage. At the end of the passage was a somewhat roomier place where Gopala Bhatta used to chant, now marked as his bhajana-sthala. I remember going there with Tamal Krishna Goswami and others on a very hot day and struggling to crawl through the passage to the bhajana-sthala. It was difficult, but when I finally reached there, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was very merciful: he allowed me to chant with a glimpse of taste. And after all the devotees emerged from the cavern, I stole back in. I crawled back to Gopala Bhatta’s lotus feet, and I sat there chanting. I will never forget his mercy to me there, and I pray that he will enable me to chant with relish and love.

On the other occasion, during Kartik of 1999, shortly before my surgery, I visited Gopala Bhatta’s samadhi near the Radha-ramana Mandir. We arrived just after raja-bhoga-arati, and the pujari was closing the doors to the samadhi-mandira. But he was kind enough to open them for us and allow us darshan of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. He gave us some flowers and caranamrta and invited us to stay for prasada. Thus our small party, along with some local sadhus, honored Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s maha-maha-prasadam with great relish, and we even stayed to take a little rest before we continued on our way, filled with bliss. So, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami is very kind.

Years later, when some of my disciples from Bombay went to Vrindavan on pilgrimage, they visited the samadhi. They told the pujaris about me, how my health no longer allowed me to visit Vraja, and asked for some prasada for me. And one of the pujaris kindly gave them a piece of cloth from the samadhi. It is very special. Now, twice a year, once on Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s appearance day and once on his disappearance day, we bring it out and touch it. So now we shall pass it around and touch it to our heads and to our hearts—and pray to Gopala Bhatta Gosvami for his sublime mercy.

Thank you.

Hare Krishna.

By Dandavats Staff Writer

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