HH Giriraj Swami was born Glenn Phillip Teton, the only son of a respected Chicago lawyer who was later appointed judge. In March of 1969, while studying at Brandeis University in Boston, he met His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), from whom, he felt, he learned more in one brief exchange than he had learned in his many years of academic education. After graduating from Brandeis cum laude, he accepted formal initiation from Srila Prabhupada and received the spiritual name Giriraj das. Giriraj quickly became a leading member of the Boston center and was soon given the opportunity to go to India with Srila Prabhupada and helped establish his mission there.
Friendship is a necessary part of our personhood, in both our material and spiritual being. The ancient Sanskrit text Hitopadesa ("Beneficial Advice") speaks extensively on friendship in simple story form which incorporates maxims, worldly wisdom, and practical advice. In the first book of the Hitopadesa, Mitralabha (“Gaining Friends”), the qualities of a true friend are listed as purity, generosity, chivalry, being composed in happiness and distress, politeness, affection, and truthfulness. Continue reading "On Friendship → Dandavats"
Bibek Debroy, Chairman of India’s Prime Minister’s Economic Council has launched Sidharth Chhabra (Siddha Hari Das) and Madhavendra Puri Das’ upcoming book on the Bhagavata Purana. Srila Prabhupada frequently asserted that the Puranic accounts are historical facts, although labeled mythology by modern man. In their book, the authors use rigorous scientific evidence to support Srila Prabhupada’s […]
Srila Prabhupada frequently asserted that the Puranic accounts are historical facts, although labeled mythology by modern man. In their book, the authors use rigorous scientific evidence to support Srila Prabhupada's words.
The South Asian galleries of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (which reopened on Jan. 8 after being closed due to Covid-19), has opened a special exhibit of South Indian devotional art. There are scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana carved in stone, and a pillared temple hall—or mandapa—that fills up an entire gallery. Rows […]
“I have already answered all questions in my books such as Bhagavad-gita, so kindly read them and chant Hare Krishna Mantra”. Srila Prabhupada Letter to Brian Fleming -- Mayapur, 6 March 1974
Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service with President Joe Biden, hosted by the Washington National Cathedral. ISKCON Communications Minister Anuttama Dasa's prayers start at 37' 25. A video by the Biden Inaugural Committee.
The social, emotional environment is generally nasty. Children are bullied at an early age, and many of them are also physically, sexually, and emotionally abused. It’s hard to find a safe-place and even more difficult to find a safe-person whom we can be open with and in whom we can place our trust. For beginners in devotional service, like me, the devotional creeper is tender and easily damaged or even killed
Just after our Bhaktivedanta Ashram at Govardhan is the enchanting Dan Nivartan Kunda where the gopis got even with Krishna for taxing them. Relish this humorous pastime narrated on location by HG Deena Bandhu das.
A December 26th New York Times article, entitled “Brazil Is Famous for Its Meat. But Vegetarianism Is Soaring.” details how Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of beef, has seen a major move toward vegan or vegetarian diets in recent years. There has also been a boom in business for plant-based alternatives to meat. A survey […]
ISKCON devotees have distributed prasadam – sanctified vegetarian food offered to God – with a view to shifting consciousness for the past 46 years in Brazil. Today, there are a number of successful restaurants run by Hare Krishna devotees across Brazil.
The second most popular mela after Kumbha Mela is the Ganga Sagar Mela. It is India’s biggest fair held in Sagardwip, West Bengal and witnesses a large number of people pouring in.
Celebrated with great vigour and enthusiasm, the festival has a cultural and spiritual significance where pilgrims dip themselves in the holy waters of Ganga to purify their souls. Held during the winter, the Mela is an annual gathering of pilgrims which see a number of rituals, lit lamps and chanting in and around Sagardwip.
Ganga is regarded as the holiest river, which originates in Gangotri and marks the end of her journey in Sagardwip where it merges with the Bay of Bengal. If one bathes in the Ganga here, he/she would be cleansed of all his/her sins.
The story of Ganga-sagar can be found in the epic Mahabharaat. Unwilling to let King Sagar reap the benefits of an Ashvamedha Yajna, Indra stole the sacrificial horse and hid it near the ashrama of sage Kapila. The king sent his 60,000 sons in search of the horse.
They found the horse but mistook the holy man for the thief and hurled abuse and attacked him. The sage’s wrath turned them into ashes. Many years later, Prince Bhagiratha wanted to atone the sins of his forefathers and underwent penance at Gokarna (Karnataka).
Then he persuaded Ganga to flow to earth from heaven. After many trials, the river goddess flowed across the ashes and the souls of the dead princes were liberated. It is said that the goddess returned to her heavenly abode but left behind her river avatar.
Apparently, it is on the day of Makar Sankranti that the river flowed into the sea at the ashram of sage Kapila. Hence a dip in the river on that day absolves one of all sins and prevents re-birth.
Suppose someone riding a cycle pedals too fast and falls into a ditch. On getting up, they decide that pedaling caused their accident and refuse to pedal anymore. If cycling was their only means of locomotion, their misdiagnosis would leave them immobilized. If we liken our life-journey to a cycle ride, then our desires are […]
“Like most youth of my generation and many previous on the whole I was brought up to believe in the existence of God. But also like many others, by the time I reached about 14 I had delved into science text books and the secular narrative influenced my world- view. But after a few years […]
“Like most youth of my generation and many previous on the whole I was brought up to believe in the existence of God. But also like many others, by the time I reached about 14 I had delved into science text books and the secular narrative influenced my world- view. But after a few years I realised there was something important missing. A cold, dark, largely empty universe with no apparent meaning did not at all satisfy me internally.
Almost a year gone All personal life perhaps undone Challenges on all sides A time like no other No longer in arms with our brothers Many soldiers have left us Now we stand bereft of their light Much has changed on the external plane But have we changed our internal frame Where has our […]
Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service with President Joe Biden, hosted by the Washington National Cathedral. ISKCON Communications Minister Anuttama Dasa’s prayers start at 37′ 25. A video by the Biden Inaugural Committee. Read ISKCON News article about the event: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-leader-to-offer-prayer-at-official-us-presidential-inauguration,7663/
We had a lovely interview with Sitala devi today. We asked her everything from what inspired her to write about Narottam das Thakur, to her first experience seeing Srila Prabhupada! It's well worth a listenRead More...
In searching for something in the Srimad Bhagavatam that gives some reference to castrating a bull to make an ox I could not find something that said “you castrate a bull” directly however there is some word use information that might be telling. I am not a sanskrit scholar and may be well off the point here (if you are one please help). Continue reading "Bulls or Oxen. What’s in a Name → Dandavats"
By Sesa Das
By Syamasundara Dasa