Websites from the ISKCON Universe
A major artistic project is underway for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) in Mayapur, featuring a series of large-scale devotional paintings depicting the pastimes of Lord Nrsimhadeva. The video highlights an ambitious effort to produce 16 detailed paintings that narrate the dramatic story of the Lord’s appearance and the deliverance of His great […]
The post Artists Create Epic Nrsimhadeva Paintings for TOVP Interior appeared first on ISKCON News.
Vrajdevi at the harmonium. Radha Krishna Records, the historic record label owned by ISKCON London, is celebrating its 16th year and has released a new album designed for introspection and contemplation amidst the clamor of the modern world. This stripped-back offering primarily features acoustic guitar and bansuri flute, intentionally crafted to bring the sung mantras to […]
The post Radha Krishna Records Unveils Reflective New Album appeared first on ISKCON News.
Jayapataka Swami has become the first devotee in ISKCON history to receive the Bhakti Sarvabhauma degree, the highest academic qualification of the ISKCON Board of Examinations, earning an A+ grade from the Mayapur Institute. A Vision Rooted in Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions The degree system that Jayapataka Swami has now completed at the highest level was […]
The post Jayapataka Swami Becomes First to Receive Bhakti Sarvabhauma Degree appeared first on ISKCON News.
Devotees across several Middle Eastern countries have faced a week of uncertainty amid rising regional tensions. In a report sent from Abu Dhabi, Tapana Misra Dasa, GBC for the region, shared that devotees in Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, and even Saudi Arabia have experienced disruptions in recent days, while devotees in Pakistan […]
The post Devotees in Middle East Remain Safe Amid Regional Tensions appeared first on ISKCON News.
Ranjit Dasa was born on August 31, 1945, in Pretoria, South Africa. He moved to England after graduating from college and later went to a farm near Vancouver, Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. He was initiated there in 1974 and saw Srila Prabhupada four or five times, including in San Francisco, Vrindavan, India, Dallas, and England.His […]
The post Remembering His Grace Ranjit Dasa appeared first on ISKCON News.
The ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry (CDM) has released its annual report highlighting the growth and ongoing initiatives supporting devotee communities worldwide. The presentation outlines the ministry’s efforts to strengthen congregational life through education, training, and outreach programs, each designed to help devotees practice and share Krishna consciousness within their local communities. According to the report, […]
The post New Report Highlights Worldwide Growth of ISKCON Congregational Programs appeared first on ISKCON News.
The University of Florida has suspended the long-running Krishna Lunch program from serving on campus until further notice following a recent traffic accident involving a Krishna Lunch vehicle. According to local media reports, a Krishna Lunch box truck struck a female student on February 23. The student was taken to the hospital and is reported […]
The post Krishna Lunch Service at UF Paused Pending Review appeared first on ISKCON News.
In a significant step toward formalizing its commitment to prasādam purity, ISKCON Śrīdhām Māyāpur has successfully completed a comprehensive Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) program for its mega kitchens, culminating in an official certificate distribution ceremony. The training was conducted during a visit by government food safety officers from the Food Safety and Standards […]
The post ISKCON Mayapur Completes Government Food Safety Certification appeared first on ISKCON News.
Photo credit: Daily Bruin A recent article in the student newspaper at UCLA, the Daily Bruin, has highlighted Krishna Lunch So Cal, a vegetarian food truck operated by Hare Krishna devotees that has become a familiar and welcome presence in Westwood. Founded by Govinda Datta Dasa, the initiative offers wholesome vegetarian meals for just $5, […]
The post Daily Bruin Highlights Krishna Lunch So Cal’s Service at UCLA appeared first on ISKCON News.
The upcoming BhaktiFest 2k26 is poised to draw more than 200 young adults to a four-day residential spiritual retreat over the Easter weekend, from April 3-6, 2026. Hosted on a private island venue near Sydney, this event marks the continuation of what has quickly become a signature youth engagement initiative within the International Society for […]
The post BhaktiFest 2k26 to Gather Youth for 4-Day Retreat appeared first on ISKCON News.
A touching video tribute has been released by ISKCON Vrindavan in honor of His Holiness Badrinarayan Swami, remembering his life of devotion, scholarship, and steadfast service to Srila Prabhupada’s mission. ISKCON News readers can watch the full tribute video here.
The post ISKCON Vrindavan Releases H.H. Badrinarayan Swami Tribute and Last Rites Video appeared first on ISKCON News.
In his 2026 Gaura Purnima message, Madhusevita Dasa, serving as the new GBC Chairman, offered condolences and spiritual resolve at what he describes as a “difficult and sad time,” noting the recent departures of three of his senior godbrothers dear to Srila Prabhupada: Badrinarayan Swami (GBC), Ekanatha Dasa, and Ranjit Dasa. He encouraged devotees to […]
The post New GBC Chairman Calls ISKCON to Courage and Steadiness appeared first on ISKCON News.
The first Gaura Purnima Festival at ISKCON Mayapur was celebrated on Srila Prabhupada’s order in 1972. Though not widely attended by International devotees, it set the standard for an annual festival that has since become the backbone of annual Vaishnava sanga and celebrations in Mayapur and Vrindaban, attracting hundreds of thousands of devotees from around […]
The post The First ISKCON Mayapur Gaura Purnima Festival in 1972 appeared first on ISKCON News.
Although his teachings are fundamental to Gaudiya Vaishnavism, the divine incarnation, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, left only a single eight-verse poem. Known as the Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam, these verses reveal the essence of his mission and teachings, centred on the chanting of Krishna’s holy names. The third verse, in particular, focuses on the key qualities one must cultivate […]
The post Book Review – “A Necklace of Splendorous Gems: A Commentary on the Third Verse of Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam” appeared first on ISKCON News.
A memorial session held on February 28, 2026, at the ISKCON Govardhan EcoVillage (GEV) brought devotees together to honor three disciples of Srila Prabhupada who had recently departed. Panel members Bhaktimarga Swami, Bali Mardan Dasa, Yadubara Dasa, and Rahanath Swami each reflected on the mix of emotions that accompany a Vaishnava’s disappearance, grief in separation, […]
The post ISKCON GEV Memorial Honors Badrinarayan Swami, Ekanatha Dasa, and Ranjit Dasa appeared first on ISKCON News.
Sixth Grader Earns Gold Medal for Memorizing Bhagavad-gita Srinidhi Senthil Kumar, a sixth-grade student at Boyce Middle School in Pennsylvania, has recently been awarded a gold medal for memorizing all 700 verses of the Bhagavad-gita, reciting it with exceptional clarity and precise Sanskrit pronunciation. She achieved this milestone during a global simultaneous recital held in […]
The post Sixth Grader Earns Gold Medal for Memorizing Bhagavad-gita appeared first on ISKCON News.
Book distribution expands significantly, with devotees sharing Srila Prabhupada’s books throughout the year. ISKCON Greece marked 2025 as a year of foundational breakthroughs. From securing full legal recognition to an extraordinary spike in book distribution, the Greek Yatra is transforming from a small community into a legally robust and publicly active mission. According to its […]
The post 2025 Marked Official Recognition and Continued Growth for ISKCON Greece appeared first on ISKCON News.
On February 26th, the GBC Executive Committee released the following statement on the departure of His Holiness Badrinarayan Swami: His Holiness Badrinarayan Swami Departs from this World in the Sacred Land of Sri Vrindavan Dham 26 February 2026 Dear Devotees, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. We wish to inform the […]
The post GBC Executive Committee Shares Statement on the Sudden Passing of HH Badrinarayan Swami appeared first on ISKCON News.
We are saddened to share that His Holiness Badrinarayan Swami departed this world in Vṛndāvana, India, on February 26, 2026. His body is presently being prepared for placement at the Vṛndāvana Hospice. More information will be forthcoming as arrangements are finalized. Until the very end, Badrinarayan Swami remained actively engaged in preaching and service. He […]
The post ISKCON Leader His Holiness Badrinarayan Swami Departs in Vrindavan appeared first on ISKCON News.
The Bhakti Yoga Conference 2026 will convene next week as a free, global online gathering bringing together over 30 scholars, spiritual teachers, and practitioners from around the world to explore one central theme: “Sacred Community: Devotion Practiced Together.” The conference will be framed by opening and closing events hosted at Harvard Divinity School and the […]
The post 2026 Global Bhakti Yoga Conference to Highlight Sacred Community appeared first on ISKCON News.
Over 35 vibrant leaders from ISKCON Noida are leading various projects. Under the flagship of ISKCON’s Congregational Development Ministry, a two-day Bhakti Vriksha Leadership Training Course was held on February 21–22, 2026 at ISKCON Noida (Govind Dham), Delhi-NCR. More than 35 devotees from the local community gathered with enthusiasm and determination to deepen their leadership […]
The post Bhakti Vriksha Leadership Training Strengthens ISKCON Noida’s Outreach appeared first on ISKCON News.
In 2025, ISKCON Cyprus continued to solidify its identity as a committed, congregationally driven community, enhancing regular programs and improving cooperation across the island. Although the community is relatively small, with approximately 36 devotees, around 15 of whom are initiated practitioners, it has demonstrated steady growth through consistency, shared responsibility, and a clear focus on […]
The post Small Yatra, Steady Growth: ISKCON Cyprus Expands Weekly Programs and Outreach appeared first on ISKCON News.
Shri Amit Shah offering worship to Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Ashtasakhi at ISKCON Mayapur. India’s Union Home and Cooperation Minister of India Shri Amit Shah visited ISKCON’s spiritual world headquarters at Mayapur (West Bengal) on February 18, 2026, as part of the yearlong celebrations commemorating the 152nd Jayanti of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. The […]
The post Union Home Minister of India Shri Amit Shah Visits ISKCON Mayapur appeared first on ISKCON News.
What kept an ancient civilization alive despite centuries of brutal invasion and subjugation? What gave its people the strength to remain chaste and faithful to their traditions even in a hostile and volatile political environment? And from the other side—how would their deep spiritual fervour appear to an invader from a foreign faith, curious yet […]
The post Book Review – The Forest of Love: A Journey of Awakening appeared first on ISKCON News.
Bhakta Kelly Caleb during the oath of office ceremony. On a humid February afternoon at the County Assembly of Mombasa, amid polished wood interiors and the procedural solemnity of civic ritual, a quietly historic moment unfolded. As members of the Mombasa Youth Assembly stood witness, Kelly Caleb, a young legislator representing Changamwe Constituency in Mombasa […]
The post Kenyan Youth Assembly Leader Takes Oath on Bhagavad-gītā appeared first on ISKCON News.
The 21-Day Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Reading Challenge is an online scripture study initiative associated with Vedavarsity, an educational platform functioning under In Service of Srimad Bhagavatam (INSS). The program is structured as a three-week reading experience centered on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam beginning on March 18, 2026 and continuing for 21 consecutive days until April 7, 2026. The initiative is […]
The post Vedavarsity Announces 21-Day Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Reading Challenge appeared first on ISKCON News.
The Karuna Care Association is pleased to announce an upcoming online course designed especially for ISKCON leaders and those serving in community roles: Trauma Informed Leadership. This six-week program offers practical insight and spiritual context for understanding trauma and its impact on individuals, relationships, and temple communities. As awareness grows around the effects of trauma […]
The post New Karuna Care Association Course — Trauma Informed Leadership appeared first on ISKCON News.
ISKCON Aravade recently celebrated the 52nd anniversary of its annual Hare Krishna festival, a tradition that began in 1974 on the direct instructions of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada to his disciples. What started with just two devotees chanting and distributing prasadam in a small village has now grown into one of […]
The post ISKCON Aravade Celebrates 52 Years of Hare Krishna Festival appeared first on ISKCON News.
Jananivāsa Das with Dr. Sumanta Rudra, Nirmal Nitai Das (the brahmacari in extreme left), and Vasanta Ranjani Devi Dasi. In a milestone for ISKCON’s archival and research efforts, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) has successfully completed the first phase of preserving and digitizing Śrīla Prabhupāda’s personal library, the books our Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. […]
The post BRC Digitizes and Restores Srīla Prabhupada’s Personal Library appeared first on ISKCON News.
Book distribution in Türkiye often occurs through programs, book fairs, and personal connections with colleagues, friends, and neighbors. For the devotees of ISKCON Türkiye, the year 2025 was not about rushing to expand. Instead, it was a time for settling in, deepening roots, maturing as a community, and discovering a shared strength. From the bustling […]
The post Deep Roots in Ancient Soil: ISKCON Türkiye’s 2025 Journey appeared first on ISKCON News.
Children learning in Krishna’s creation. Located in the Appalachian hills at the ISKCON New Vrindaban community, Gopal’s Garden School continues a 40-year legacy of devotional education, offering children pre-kindergarten through 10th grade with a unique combination of academic excellence and spiritual development. “Gopal’s Garden is not just a school, it is a living, devotional family,” […]
The post New Vrindaban School Nurtures Young Devotees appeared first on ISKCON News.
Graduates with Nrsimha Kavaca Das (center) following the ceremony. Mayapur Academy successfully concluded its International Diploma in Deity Worship on February 5, 2026, marking the completion of four months of immersive training for 52 students from 15 countries. The program, inaugurated on October 10, 2025, was launched to nurture a generation of pujaris dedicated to […]
The post Mayapur Academy Marks Graduation of International Diploma Batch appeared first on ISKCON News.
SEVA Care, a devotee-led organization based in Alachua, Florida, continues to provide compassionate care through programs that support the well-being, dignity, and practical needs of community members. Guided by the principles of Service, Education, Vision, and Assistance (SEVA), the organization serves through trained volunteers to provide personalized care and wellness support. In 2025, SEVA Care […]
The post SEVA Care Expands Community Support Services in Alachua Area appeared first on ISKCON News.
Ekanatha Das with his wonderful wife, Nitya-trpta Dasi. Please join us in prayers for our very dear Godbrother, His Grace Ekanatha Das. Yesterday afternoon, Friday, February 13, 2026, on Vijay Ekadasi, he suddenly left this world due to heart failure in Sandy Ridge, North Carolina. He did a marvelous service preserving Srila Prabhupada’s books, tapes, […]
The post Remembering His Grace Ekanatha Das appeared first on ISKCON News.
In mid-January 2026, devotees and spiritual seekers gathered in Lucknow for Gita Rasamritam, a two-day festival dedicated to exploring the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita and their relevance in everyday life. Hosted by ISKCON Temple Lucknow, the program took place from January 17–18 at the Sri Sri Radha Raman Bihari Ji Mandir in Sushant Golf City, […]
The post Gita Rasamritam Brings Bhagavad-gita Wisdom to Life in Lucknow appeared first on ISKCON News.
Feelings, a new title by Visakha Dasi in the Bhagavad-gita for Children series, is being appreciated by children, parents, and teachers alike. The Headteacher of Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Gurukula, Gunacuda Devi Dasi, said of the new book, “It is a really important topic and useful for us as part of the National Curriculum, involving learning about […]
The post Book Review: Bhagavad-gita for Children – Feelings by Visakha Dasi appeared first on ISKCON News.
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the departure of His Grace Raktak Das on Monday, February 9, 2026, due to a massive heart attack. He was surrounded by the Holy Name and devotees Radha Krishna Das and Avinatha Das. Radha Krishna Das has been caring for Raktak Das for over 1.5 […]
The post Remembering His Grace Raktak Das appeared first on ISKCON News.
Radha-Madahava darshan from Their new home. Devotees and guests gathered in Taguig City from January 30 to February 1, 2026, to celebrate the grand opening of the new Sri Sri Radha Madhava Mandir. The three-day festival marked the official relocation of the Deities to a permanent home in Metro Manila, featuring a 24-hour kirtan, a […]
The post New Mandir Opens in Taguig City, Philippines appeared first on ISKCON News.
On February 14, 2026, the Executive Committee of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) released the following statement following the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Mayapur. Statement from the Executive Committee of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission on Vaisnavi Diksa Guru – GBC AGM 2026 At the GBC AGM 2026, the GBC considered […]
The post Statement from the Executive Committee of the ISKCON GBC on Vaisnavi Diksa Gurus appeared first on ISKCON News.
In a recent video presentation, ISKCON Vrindavan highlighted its ongoing Devotee Care Project, an initiative dedicated to supporting senior devotees and sannyasis who have spent their lives serving the mission of Śrīla Prabhupāda. The project seeks to provide a spiritually uplifting environment where devotees can receive physical, emotional, and spiritual support while residing in the […]
The post ISKCON Vrindavan Project Aims to Serve Senior Devotees appeared first on ISKCON News.