South African Preaching Project Inspires Devotees and Trains Young African Leaders
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Devotee sharing Krishna Consciousness on university campus Wake up South Africa (WuSA) is a newly established initiative by African devotees explicitly focused on African preaching in university settings. The active non-profit, recognized as an ISKCON affiliate for creative initiatives, is dedicated to sharing the principles of Bhakti Yoga to benefit society through five main objectives: […]

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New Vrindaban Hosts Four-Day Devotee Care Training Led by UK devotees  
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Participants of the Devotee Care Training held in New Vrindaban. All photos are courtesy of Bhaktin Beverly Fifteen members of the New Vrindaban community recently participated in an intensive four-day Devotee Care Education and Training Course led by Jai Nitai Dasa and his wife, Bhava Bhakti Devi Dasi. Previous to their Devotee Care service, the […]

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History Made in Mexican Parliament with Visit by Vaishnava Leaders  
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Hanumatpresaka Swami gathered with Mexican officials and forum speakers in Parliament.  Photo courtesy of Govinda Pramodini Devi Dasi and NIOS On March 30th, the “Building Peace around Ancient Cultures” forum was held in the Legislative Palace of San Lázaro in Mexico City, coinciding with the Rama Navami festival. The Federal Commission for Culture and Cinematography […]

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ISKCON Constitution Project Seeks Devotee Input Worldwide
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The following letter from two ISKCON legal experts explains the current effort to seek input from ISKCON devotees worldwide in formulating a Constitution for ISKCON.  ISKCON News encourages all devotees to open the link, review the draft, share their thoughts, and help build the foundation for our society’s future.  ISKCON Constitution – Your Chance to […]

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Never In My Wildest Dreams
→ Dandavats

By Moksalaksmi dasi In my wildest dreams it never occurred to me that I would spend Ramanavami practically on a battlefield but that’s how the day panned out. Accompanying my husband, Parasurama Das, we had already driven through seven countries in our round-about route to reach Ukraine. Ramanavami found me awakening in the Black Sea
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Durban Ratha Yatra welcomes thousands in South Africa
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Photos courtesy of Acyuta Gauranga Dasa via Facebook The Durban Festival of Chariots, one of the largest Ratha Yatra festivals outside of India, returned to the Durban North Beach Front this year for a second time after COVID restrictions in 2020. The festival, which has been running for almost forty years, allows devotees to come together […]

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Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur Disappearance
→ Ramai Swami

Vrndavan dasa Thakura’s mother’s name was Sri Narayani Devi. Narayani Devi was the daughter of Srivas Thakura’s brother.  After the disappeareance of  Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srivas Thakura went to live in Kumar Hatta. Srivasa Thakura had three brothers: Sripati, Srirama and Srinidhi.  He also had one son, but at a young age, his son passed away,  returning to the Lord’s supreme abode.

Srivasa Thakura had  previously lived in Sri Hatta, but because he wanted the association of devotees he went to live on the banks of the Ganges in Nabadwip. When Mahaprabhu revealed his divinity in the house of Srivasa, showing his true self to the assembled devotees there, Narayani devi was only a four year old girl. In the Caitanya Bhagavata it is written:

“The golden moon, Sri Gauranga, revealed himself as the soul of all souls. At that time he ordered Narayani to chant the name of Krishna. Although she was only four years old she became mad with love of  God. And crying, “O Krishna!” she swooned in ecstasy. As she laid on the ground in a trance of bliss, her eyes filled with tears, overwhelmed with divine love.”

Indeed it was by the mercy of the Lord’s prasada that Vrindavan dasa Thakura took birth in the womb of Narayani as the incarnation of Vyasa. Sri Gauranga and Sri Nityananda were the very life and soul of Vrindavana dasa Thakura.  

One may find many facts regarding the life of Vrindavana Dasa by going to Mamagachi, the village where Sri Narayani’s wedding took place. Soon thereafter, in Magagachi,  while Vrindavana dasa was still within the womb Narayani became a widow.  In the small room of a  poor brahmana, she lived in great poverty and hardship as a maidservant in the house of Vasudeva Dutt. 

Vrindavana Dasa Thakura was born, and soon began his studies. Vrindavana Dasa Thakura took birth four years after Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted sannyasa. When Mahaprabhu had disappeared from this world and entered into his aprakrita-lila, Vrindavana Das was barely twenty years old.   

Soon thereafter, Vrindavan Das Thakura accepted initiation from Sri Nityananda Prabhu.  He is Nityananda’s eternal servant. Sri Vrindavana Dasa Thakura went with Sri Jahnava-devi to the great festival in Kheturi gram. 

At Mamagacchi in Modadrumadvipa (Navadvipa), Vrndavana Dasa Thakura establised Deities of Nitai-Gauranga and Sri Jagannatha. He lived there as a celibate and worshiped his beloved Deities. Vrndavana Dasa Thakura had many disciples including Gopinatha Brahmacari, a descendent of Sri Kesava Bharati.

In Krishna’s pastimes Vrndavana Dasa Thakura is Srila Vyasadeva. His samadhi is in the 64 Samadhis Area of Vrindavana.

    

SV35-Transition from Childhood to Adulthood in Krishna consciousness with Urmila Devi Dasi
→ Successful Vaisnavas – Personal Development for Hare Krishnas

In this interview we discuss Krishna conscious education, specifically helping our children successfully transition from childhood to adulthood. Topics we cover: Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions on education especially for youth traditional education Homeschooling The importance of academics Residential schools Boys and girls education Marriage Varnasrama College This interview was originally streamed live on Facebook… Interview with […]

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Srila Prabhupada’s Example as the Perfect Disciple by Mahatma Das
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The video discusses the importance of following the example of Srila Prabhupada, who deeply understood the teachings of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisidhanta, and dedicated his life to spreading Krishna consciousness. Despite receiving the order to spread Krishna consciousness in English at a young age, it was not until Prabhupada was 69 years old that
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New Mayapur Works to Build a Sustainable Vedic Village
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Gopaswami Prabhu and devotees engaged in eco-house construction  New Mayapur in Central France is working to implement Srila Prabhupada’s vision for rural farm communities where devotees can live in harmony with nature, while addressing the climate crisis. The aim is to build a Vedic village as outlined by Srila Prabhupada, where earth and her natural […]

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