Tribhuvannath Das (in the center) with pharmacy students following a presentation on the mind. Tribhuvannatha Das, currently based at the Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan, is actively engaged in outreach programs that support individuals recovering from substance addiction. Drawing from his academic background in psychology and devotional studies, he incorporates mantra meditation and character education […]
Celebrate Sri Krishna Janmashtami with ISKCON Auckland at Sri Sri Radha Giridhari Temple on Saturday 16th August 2025
Join us in celebrating Sri Krishna Janmashtami at Sri Sri Radha Giridhari Temple (ISKCON Auckland) on Saturday 16th August 2025 starting with a special candlelit Maha Mangal Arati. This festival commemorates Lord Krishna's Divine Appearance with fasting, chanting, Krishna katha, arati, kirtan and joyous midnight celebrations at 1229 Coatesville Riverhead Hwy, in Kumeu. All are welcome! Hare Krishna.
“HARE KRISHNA! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami who started it all” is now FREE on YouTube in 10 major languages: Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, English & Russian with short versions of 29 minutes & 47 minutes for schools, universities, etc. Watch on the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLAXmpRpkhy4e4H03cVer7pLt1-QQyIrKs Read More...
Today is the appearance day of Sri Vakresvara Pandita, one of Lord Chaitanya’s most dear associates. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 10.17–20) states, “Vakresvara Pandita, the fifth branch of the [Caitanya] tree, was a very dear servant of Lord Caitanya’s. He could dance with constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally sang while Vakresvara Pandita danced, and thus Vakresvara Pandita fell at the lotus feet of the Lord and spoke as follows. ‘O Candramukha! Please give me ten thousand Gandharvas. Let them sing as I dance, and then I will be greatly happy.’ Lord Caitanya replied, ‘I have only one wing like you, but if I had another, certainly I would fly in the sky!’ ”
In his purport to text 17, Srila Prabhupada writes, “In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (71) it is stated that Vakresvara Pandita was an incarnation of Aniruddha, one of the quadruple expansions of Visnu (Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Aniruddha and Pradyumna). He could dance wonderfully for seventy-two continuous hours. When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu played in dramatic performances in the house of Srivasa Pandita, Vakresvara Pandita was one of the chief dancers, and he danced continuously for that length of time. Sri Govinda dasa, an Oriya devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, has described the life of Vakresvara Pandita in his book Gaura-krsnodaya. There are many disciples of Vakresvara Pandita in Orissa, and they are known as Gaudiya Vaisnavas although they are Oriyas. Among these disciples are Sri Gopalaguru and his disciple Sri Dhyanacandra Gosvami.”
A contemporary of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu named Devananda Pandita had no faith in Mahaprabhu and thus avoided Him, but fortunately, Devananda Pandita developed great faith in Vakresvara Pandita and rendered service to him. And by Vakresvara Pandita’s mercy, Devananda Pandita developed faith in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and ultimately achieved His shelter.
Concerning this incident, Sri Caitanya-bhagavata (Antya 3.485–487) confirms the efficacy of serving pure devotees and the results one attains by doing so: “The service of Vaishnavas is superior to the service of Krishna. All scriptures, headed by Srimad-Bhagavatam, confirm this. There may be a doubt whether the servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead will attain perfection, but there is absolutely no doubt that those who are attached to serving the Lord’s devotees will attain perfection. Therefore service to the Vaishnavas is the best means of deliverance.”
Srila Prabhupada expressed his appreciation for his father in his dedication to his book Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead: “To My Father, Gour Mohan De (1849-1930)—A pure devotee of Krsna, who raised me as a Krsna conscious child from the beginning of my life. In my boyhood ages he instructed me how to play the mrdanga. He gave me Radha-Krsna vigraha to worship, and he gave me Jagannatha ratha to duly observe the festival as my childhood play. He was kind to me, and I imbibed from him the ideas later on solidified by my spiritual master, the eternal father.”
As devotees, we try to encourage and facilitate our children’s Krishna consciousness, as Prabhupada’s father did with him—an effort that is solidified when our children find their eternal spiritual masters.
Later, Srila Prabhupada wrote one of his disciples, “You have accepted me as father, so I have also accepted you as my dear and real son. Relationship of father and son on spiritual platform is real and eternal; on the material platform such relationship is ephemeral and temporary. Although I cannot give you anything as father, still I can pray to Krishna for your more and more advancement in Krishna consciousness. Your sincerity and service mood will always help you in advancing your genuine cause.”
We are indebted to all our fathers, biological and preceptorial. To those still with us, we wish you Happy Father’s Day. To those who have left us, we love you and miss you, and we shall try to act in such a way as will please you—and Krishna, the Supreme Father.
Hema Malini and Gauranga Das speaking to donors at the fundraising gala. ISKCON Naperville successfully hosted a grand fundraising gala on May 18, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton, bringing together over 500 community members, spiritual leaders, and well-wishers in a heartfelt celebration of devotion, culture, and service. The event raised over $1 million, underscoring […]
Sri Vakresvara Pandit was present with Sriman Mahaprabhu during His pastimes in Navadwipa and after his acceptance of Sannyasa he also accompanied Him to Jagannath Puri.
During the time of the Lord’s residence in Puri he continued to live with Him there as well. Sri Vakresvara Pandit took birth in the village of Guptipara near Triveni. He was an especially proficient dancer and kirtaniya and could dance continuously for 72 hours.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began His pastimes of congregational chanting of the Holy Name of Sri Hari in Navadvipa, Sri Vakresvara Pandit was an important singer and dancer in that assembly.
Vakresvara Pandit’s worshippable deity is Sri Sri Radha-kanta, whom he worshipped in Kasi Misra’s house, which was also the residence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (Gambhira).These Deities are still being worshipped there to this day.
From April 25 to 27, 2025, 170 young devotees from across Australia and New Zealand came together for BhaktiFest 2K25. Organized by the Radha Govinda Youth team of ISKCON West Sydney, this event marked the first nationwide Krishna Conscious youth festival in Australia. It offered a transformative spiritual experience that left a lasting impact well […]
In the aftermath of the devastating Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad, rescue workers and locals combing through the wreckage made a remarkable discovery: a partially burned but largely intact copy of Bhagavad-gita As It Is by Srila Prabhupada. It remains unclear whether the Gita belonged to a passenger on the ill-fated flight or […]
Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 21, No. 23 By Krishna Kripa Das (Week 23: June 4–June 10, 2025) New York City (Sent from New York City on June 14, 2025)
Where I Went and What I Did
The twenty-third week of 2025, I spent at ISKCON NYC in Brooklyn, serving Rama Raya Prabhu’s NYC Harinam program by chanting Hare Krishna and distributing Ratha-yatra flyers for three or four hours each day. On Sunday I did a walking harinama over the Brooklyn Bridge with Harinamananda and Nitai Pada Kamala and devotees from ISKCON NYC.
Many passersby participated. People would start to dance, seeing us in the distance. It was one of the more memorable Brooklyn Bridge harinamas.
I share a quote from Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam and quotes from several of his letters. I share quotes from Sri Caitanya-bhagavata by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura and its commentary by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and from Prabhupada Nectar by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on classes by Jayadvaita, Radhanath, and Bhakti Sarvajna Gauranga Swamis and from Pancharatna, Hansarupa, and Rama Raya Prabhus. I share a realization about prasadam from a regular attender at our Sunday and Tuesday programs.
Many, many thanks to Bhaktan Deva for the gift of his practically unused iPhone 8. I thank Ahaituka Prema Prabhu and Bhaktan Deva for the videos and photos of NYC Harinam.
Itinerary
May 7–June 16: NYC Harinam June 17–August 19: Paris – June 22: Paris Ratha-yatra – July 11: Amsterdam harinama – July 12: Amsterdam Ratha-yatra – July 13: Holland harinama August 20: London harinama August 21–22: Liverpool harinamas August 23: Liverpool Ratha-yatra August 24: Manchester harinama August 25: London harinama and flight to New York
Braja Sakhi Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Times Square Kirtan Festival, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/Li_ZawgsVUE):
At our Times Square Kirtan Festival George asked the date of our big summer festival, now just one week away, so I gave him the flyer.
He showed me his cell phone, with a photo from last year’s cart as the background image.
He also showed me this nice photo of Vraja Mohan Prabhu on the cart, which reminded him of Arjuna on the battlefield. He told me he is friends with Prabhu, who periodically joined us on NYC Harinam before moving to Sarasota.
Lisa of southeastern Florida was happy to encounter our Times Square Kirtan Festival. She attends the kirtans of Laksmi Nrsimha Prabhu, who was our temple president in New York City in 1979. She also organizes kirtans as well.
She sat on a chair and played the shakers and chanted the response with us for a while.
After playing the shakers I offer them, people often accept the invitations or “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlets, but these young Algerian women were special.
While playing the shakers, they saw the book table, and rushed over to it, shakers in hand.
Jagadisa Prabhu, formerly known as Jackson at the Gainesville Krishna House, sold one of them two books and commented on how sincere they were.
Keshava Madhava chants Hare Krishna at Times Square Kirtan Festival, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/I7SlNIxAZUQ):
Rama Raya Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Times Square Kirtan Festival, and devotees dance (https://youtu.be/Fg1yT7fVFlA):
Harinamananda Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna on the Brooklyn Bridge, and I took five video clips of all the people dancing with us (https://youtu.be/qdzYJEbVjTo):
When my phone storage was practically full, I started taking photos of those who danced with the devotees:
After crossing the bridge, we passed a cafe en route to the Chambers Street subway station, and a woman danced with us. A visiting devotee sold two books to her and her friends.
“Cultivation of the knowledge in the Vedas, performance of sacrifice, and distribution of munificent charities all together cannot form even a part of the immunity from the pangs of material existence that is gained from devotional service.”
From a letter to sons and daughters on August 14, 1976:
“If you feel at all indebted to me, then you should preach vigorously like me. That is the proper way to repay me. Of course, no one can repay the debt to the spiritual master, but the spiritual master is very much pleased by such an attitude by the disciple.”
From a letter to Himavati on December 26, 1971:
“There is no question of using paper or plastic fruits and flowers for worshiping the Deities. If no fresh fruits or flowers are available, then you can decorate with some fresh leaves. You have seen our temples; nowhere do we use such things. . . . Outside the temple, you can use the plastic ornaments. But not for worship. For daily worship there must be fresh fruits, flowers, and leaves.”
From a letter to Satsvarupa on January 19, 1975:
“One who distinguishes a particular type of service as inferior or superior, he does not know the value of devotional service. It is all transcendental. Whatever item is suitable, that is accepted as very elevated. Just like Maharaja Pariksit. He simply listened to Sukadeva Gosvami. That is sravanam… . So any devotee executing any one of the nine items is transcendentally glorious. One devotee may be proud that his process of service is best. That is not inglorious. Everyone should feel proud of his particular type of devotional service. But that does not mean that other types of service are inferior. Everyone should feel proud of becoming a sincere servant of Krsna, but the pure devotee never minimizes the importance of other devotees. Krsna is the enjoyer of varieties of service. It is not stuck up with any particular type of service.”
From a letter to Sukadeva on November 14, 1973:
“Regarding the books from other Maths being circulated there, who is distributing? Who is sending these books? These Maths do not sell our books; why should we sell their books? Who has introduced these books? Let me know. These books should not at all be circulated in our society.”
From a letter to Pancadravida on January 4, 1975:
“Regarding sending men to Bangkok, let us see who is a spare man or who is having visa problems. But our policy as you know is not to import devotees but to make devotees out of the local men there. That is better.”
From a letter to Hridayananda Goswami on June 4, 1974:
“We want to firmly establish centers in South America. I fully agree that the centers should be as far as possible manned by men who are native to the country; that will make our position even stronger, just as in the U.S.A. all you men and women have managed.”
From letter to Bhakta dasa on May 7, 1975:
“Regarding your physical malady, you should do whatever is required to treat it properly—whatever is most practical.”
From a letter to Krishnanandini on April 8, 1975:
“Regarding Bhumata-devi dasi’s affliction, she should simply take the proper treatment. Make the best out of a bad bargain. This material body is a bad bargain because it is always miserable. So to make the best out of this bad bargain means to render devotional service in any circumstance. The dust from the lotus feet of the spiritual master is never to be used for material benefit. That is a great misconception. The best thing is that the girl tries her best to chant sixteen rounds daily and to follow all the rules and regulations even if she is afflicted with something, and in this way she will fully understand the mercy of Krsna and the spiritual master.”
From a letter to Revatinandana on November 14, 1973:
“Regarding the auto accident, just hold a condolence meeting for Raghava dasa Brahmacari and pray for his soul to Krsna for giving him a good chance for advancement in Krsna consciousness. Certainly Krsna will give him a good place to take birth where he can again begin in Krsna consciousness activities. That is sure. But we offer our condolences to a departed soul separated from the Vaiṣnavas. Do you know that there must be prasadam distributed? Three days after the demise of a Vaisnava a function should be held for offering the departed soul and all others prasadam. This is the system.”
[The above letter is especially significant as there is a lot of evidence that Raghava dasa Brahmacari became Ratnavali Devi Dasi of the UK Festival team in his next life. Thus Srila Prabhupada’s prediction of a good birth is right on the mark!]
Vrindavana Dasa Thakura:
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 19.5:
“They were constantly absorbed in love of God and had no external consciousness. They had no engagement other than the performance of sankirtana.”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya 19.4, commentary:
“Sri Mahaprabhu is the source of complete ecstasy for devotees inclined to the service of the Lord. The conditioned souls are subjected to the threefold miseries of material existence. But since the liberated devotees of the Lord are filled with ecstasy in Krishna consciousness, they do not experience any material distress. Wherever the object of happiness is temporary and the living entities’ endeavors are imperfect there is a lack of complete ecstasy in Krishna consciousness. Experiencing the ecstasy of Krishna consciousness everywhere is perception of the living entities’ complete happiness.”
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
From Prabhupada Nectar:
From Chapter 2, Number 10:
“As Prabhupada replied to one devotee when asked whether the spiritual master was in the heart of the disciple, ‘Yes, if you let me enter.’”
From Chapter 2, Number 16:
“He [Prabhupada] liked the photo of himself on the back of the first Hare Krishna ‘Happening’ album. In that photo his hair seems to be standing on end and his visage is grave, penetrating, mystical. He said of that photo, ‘A swami should look philosophical.’”
“Dancing for Prabhupada always meant upraised arms and extended fingers, like the depiction of Gaura and Nitai. That was how he introduced dancing in his room at 26 Second Avenue, leading us around in a circle, showing how you put your left foot to the right side and how you sway back and forth with the arms always upraised. Kirtanananda called it ‘the Swami step.’ Once in Chicago he admonished boys who were twisting, disco style. Emphatically from the vyasasana he raised up his arms. He did it once, and when the dancers did not heed, he did it again: ‘Like this!’”
From Chapter 2, Number 20:
“The scene was Mayapur and Prabhupada was taking his morning walk on the roof of the residential building. Jayapataka Swami introduced Prabhupada to a prominent businessman who had come to visit from Calcutta.
“Speaking in English, Prabhupada greeted him pleasantly.
“‘I am pleased to see you,’ said Prabhupada. ‘Thank you for coming to Mayapur. So, what is your factory?’
“The businessman from Calcutta, a heavy-set man in an immaculate white dhoti, kurta, and vest, spoke in a loud voice.
“‘I manufacture glass,’ he said.
“‘Hmm,’ Prabhupada reflected. ‘So where does the glass come from?’
“The man was now walking beside Prabhupada, along with other devotees and friends, as they circumambulated the roof, talking and viewing the surrounding flatlands of Mayapur.”
“‘It is from silicon,’ the man replied. ‘It is from sand.’
“‘Yes,’ said Prabhupada, ‘but who owns the sand?’
“The Calcutta man was not only an intelligent businessman, but he was pious and could understand what Bhaktivedanta Swami, as guru, was driving at. He said, ‘Oh, the sand comes from Bhagavan.’
“Prabhupada replied quickly, ‘Oh, you are stealing from Bhagavan?’
“Prabhupada’s retort made everyone laugh—even the industrialist could not help but join in the laughter. After the quick exchange, the Calcutta businessman dropped toward the back of the group, and others came forward to ask Prabhupada their philosophical questions. Prabhupada’s morning walks were often this way, fragmented conversations with different guests and devotees who would come forward and ask Prabhupada some query. He would answer one after another, sometimes developing different themes or going from one theme to another. After walking for about half an hour, the industrialist again moved to the front for another round of questions with Prabhupada. He had been considering what Prabhupada had said and he felt a little guilty.
“‘Swamiji,’ the man offered, ‘although I may be taking from Bhagavan, but I am giving in charity also.’
“Prabhupada smiled and replied, ‘Oh, you are just a little thief.’ Again everyone on the walk laughed at Prabhupada’s last word on the subject.”
From Chapter 2, Number 21:
“A young Californian man, David Shapiro, became attracted to Prabhupada through his books and through the devotees’ association. He then moved to the Los Angeles temple at a time when Prabhupada was visiting, but unfortunately, David’s mother was outraged that her grown-up son had chosen to become a Krishna conscious devotee. A journalist, she went on a letter-writing campaign against the Krishna consciousness movement. She wrote letters to the newspapers and also to government departments, complaining that her son was practicing too much renunciation in Krishna consciousness and she felt this was a mistreatment. David tried to pacify her, but he was not very good at it. Most of the time he was washing pots in the temple kitchen or going out on chanting parties downtown, and he didn’t remember or bother to phone his mother. The devotees in the temple didn’t help much when they sometimes forgot to pass on messages from his mother. As part of her letter-writing campaign, David’s mother also wrote letters to Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada replied to one of her letters, but she was not interested in any dialogue or consideration of her son’s spiritual benefit as described by Prabhupada. She just wanted her son to return.
“Sensing that the Los Angeles temple could get into trouble through this woman, the temple president asked David to leave the temple. Although David was a submissive devotee, he refused to leave and began to cry. He said, ‘I’m not initiated. I’ve been in this movement for a year, but I’m not initiated, so I don’t have a link to my spiritual master. How can I leave the temple without a link? I may never come back!’ Both the temple president and David were bewildered. Prabhupada was then informed how the boy had refused to leave and he called him to his room.
“David came into Prabhupada’s quarters and bowed down before him while Prabhupada was taking prasadam.
“Prabhupada spoke mildly: ‘So you have been having some difficulty with your mother?’
“‘Yes, Srila Prabhupada.’
“‘That’s all right,’ said Prabhupada. ‘I’ve decided to initiate you.’ Right on the spot, without any of the usual, formal ceremony, Prabhupada gave David his new, spiritual name.
“‘Your name is now Nrsimhananda dasa. Is that all right?’
“‘Yeah, that—’ David could hardly speak.
“Prabhupada continued, ‘I’m giving you this name, Nrsimhananda because through this name you will always be protected from your parents.’ Prabhupada then offered some prasadam from his plate to Nrsimhananda and said, ‘Now you can go home and stay there for some time. That will be all right. I think you can make vegetarian prasadam there?’
“‘Yes,’ said Nrsimhananda.
“‘So you can go for some time, and also come back,’ said Prabhupada.
“Nrsimhananda understood Prabhupada’s desire, and he had faith that it would work.
“‘Thank you, Srila Prabhupada,’ he said and left.
“David Shapiro, now Nrsimhananda dasa Brahmacari, returned to his mother’s home. “Ten months later, when both son and mother had gained a more mature outlook about Krishna consciousness, Nrsimhananda rejoined Prabhupada’s movement, this time to stay.”
From Chapter 2, Number 23:
“As he [Prabhupada] passed his old neighborhood, he pointed out the house where he was raised as a child and the spot where he used to purchase kites. At the Govindaji temple, relatives came forward, embracing him and touching his feet. Old and young surrounded him, smiling and chatting in Bengali. Prabhupada then went before the Deity of Govinda, whom he had worshiped from the beginning of his life. ‘Practically everything I have done,’ he explained to his disciples, ‘is by the grace of Radha-Govinda.’ He recalled his original Ratha-yatras up and down Mahatma Gandhi Road and how his father paid for the festival. Prabhupada said that the same spirit he had imbibed here he was now carrying on throughout the world in Ratha-yatras and by establishing many Radha-Govindajis all over the world.”
From Chapter 2, Number 27:
“He was so kind to bring the accessible Krishna murti. What did we know? How could we succeed? But he did it, starting with Lord Jagannatha, then little Radha-Krishna in New York City.”
“Like the brahmana who called the Deity to witness, Prabhupada asked the Lord, and He agreed to come. On Prabhupada’s invitation, along with the sound of kirtana, Krishna was received in simple settings—in converted rooms, puja began for the Lord in rented houses in places such as Boston, St. Louis, Buffalo, and then in grand temples. Great acaryas of the past installed one Deity, their beloved Radha-Krishna, but Prabhupada worshiped dozens of Radha-Krishnas, and he traveled to see Them. He was the champion of Radha-Krishna, installing and distributing Radha-Krishna on every continent, again and again bathing, chanting, dressing, performing the installation.
Srila Prabhupada crouched before the Lord and sometimes he cried joyful tears at the darsana of the glowing Radha-Krishna. He noticed how They were being served and dressed, and he made a stern point, that we should never change things whimsically after he had left. It was transcendental and matter-of-fact to Srila Prabhupada that we must worship the Deity of Krishna. Of course we must do it, or how will we remain purified? And of course He is Krishna, with flute and three-curved form, with Radha beside Him. And of course we have to give Them our devotion! It was a matter of devotional fact: He will come when there are devotees and they will worship Him. Yet, is it not a great miracle? Prabhupada has brought Krishna—Krishna has agreed and the ex-mlecchas have agreed to accept Him, and they pray, ‘O Lord of the universe, by Prabhupada’s grace, kindly be visible unto me.’”
From Chapter 2, Number 29:
“An American disciple, had been causing considerable trouble for the devotee community because of his violent temper and almost all the devotees were apprehensive of his presence. Prabhupada heard different complaints and one day called the devotee before him.
“‘You sing so nicely,’ said Srila Prabhupada. ‘Why don’t you and your wife just travel all over the world, singing to attract people to Krishna consciousness?’
“Greatly encouraged, the devotee soon left Mayapur. On the authority of Srila Prabhupada, he walked off singing with his guitar. Although the sastras say that no one can know the mind of the acarya, and although Prabhupada never said that he had sent away a troublesome devotee by suggesting that he travel and sing, nevertheless most of the devotees in Mayapur could not help but appreciate how Prabhupada was masterfully solving problems.”
Jayadvaita Swami:
Although in the big cities everything is in season because it is in season somewhere and it is imported, although its usually not of the highest quality, it is better we offer what is grown locally, and still better if we grow it ourselves. We have some things growing on the roof. That is first class.
When Bhadra Prabhu was in charge of the kitchen in the New York temple, Srila Prabhupada told him everything should be revolutionary clean. He said, “By cleanliness you can attain bhava.” So if you want to know the secret to attain bhava, now you know! Spread it.
Srila Prabhupada said we just want from Krishna a certificate, “This man has done some service.” So here it appears that Govinda Dasi received such a certificate, being mentioned in this purport by Srila Prabhupada for her successfully growing tulasi in the West.
Why is tulasi so important? Krishna likes her. That’s all.
Tulasi is offered only to Vishnu-tattva, not Radharani and not the guru. You can put tulasi in Radharani’s hand for offering to Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada advised we give people tulasi seeds not tulasi plants.
With the hunter, Narada Muni did not advise establishing a deity, but to grow a tulasi plant and chant his mantra in front of her.
If you were late with Srila Prabhupada’s lunch, you would be chewed out, and if you were late with Tamal Krishna Goswami’s lunch you would be chewed out twice as much.
Being on time with offerings shows Krishna that we are serious.
Srila Prabhupada gave maximum importance to preaching. He said one person can stay back and take care of the deity, and everyone else should go out preaching.
Preaching is the most important part of deity worship. The pujaris can think: How can we get people to come and see the deity? How can we engage people in the service of the deity?
Although Ratha-yatra is all about the deity, still its main focus is preaching.
Ramesvara in a class declared that sankirtana is in the mood of the gopis because it brings people forward to serve Krishna. Devotees questioned Srila Prabhupada about this, and Srila Prabhupada said that he had spoken correctly.
Radhanath Swami:
Bathing the deities is not just a ritual. It can be the highest samadhi.
In Puri they bathe Jagannath with water from special wells.
Whose knows how to please Krishna more than Krishna? Radharani.
Lord Caitanya is Radharani teaching how to love Krishna and a very important part of that is the congregational chanting of the holy names.
Lord Caitanya comes to taste the love Radharani has for Krishna and to share it with the world.
To celebrate these festivals, like snana-yatra and Ratha-yatra, is an important part of Lord Caitanya’s teachings and example.
Just by hearing the glories of Lord Caitanya from Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, the emperor King Prataparuda surrendered his life to Him.
Srila Prabhupada was saying that when we hear The Nectar of Devotion with faith, we are directly in the presence of Rupa Goswami.
When we are absorbed in the congregational chanting of the holy name even now, we are in the personal associataion of Lord Caitanya and His associates.
Sivananda Sena did not only accommodate devotees. He also arranged Krishna-katha for them.
Lord Caitanya cleaned the Gundica temple meticulously because Lord Jagannatha was to reside there.
We cannot demand Krishna to come. We have to seriously cleanse our hearts.
I lived in Vrindavan in 1971, but I never saw Jagannath there. Radha Krishna and sometimes Gaura Nitai, but not Jagannath. Jagannath is in the mood of separation from Vrindavan, so you do not see Him there.
When I came to Bury Place, I saw Radha Londonisvara. But above them there was a shelf, with three forms on it. As I didn’t know about Jagannatha, I thought the London devotees had invented some deities to appeal to the psychedelic hippies. I was afraid to ask anyone about them. Later I learned about Jagannatha and realized I commit a big offense, which I think I am still suffering from.
The traditional date of snana-yatra is the date that Krishna, Balarama, and Subhadra heard Rohini narrating the Vrindavan pastimes and experienced maha-bhava and originally manifest the forms as you see as the Jagannath deities.
Jagannatha is Krishna crying for Radha, and Lord Caitanya is Radha crying for Krishna.
Pancharatna Prabhu:
The early stages of yoga are meant to put you in a position to meditate.
We should do the meditation on the form of Krishna, which Narada recommends to Dhruva, on the name of Krishna.
Our challenge is to concentrate on the name of the Lord with the same enthusiasm that Dhruva meditated on the form of the Lord.
We can visually appreciate the beauty in nature as the smile of the Lord.
Srila Prabhupada said we should see the flowers as the smiling of Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada advises we practice seeing Krishna in the taste of water.
We should aspire for raganuga-bhakti.
Hansarupa Prabhu:
The Bible rejects graven images, but is not the form of Jesus on a cross a graven image?
Is there anyone who thinks he is not a neophyte? I think we all have that humility.
We should not think we do not need the meditation on the deity form.
In Mayapur, if there is some deviation, one is assigned to washing the pots for a certain length of time. A repentent attitude must be there.
It is said the soul who falls from the spiritual world first takes birth as Lord Brahma. Imagine this devotee or that devotee as Lord Brahma.
In the armed services, in part of the training you have to do your service without sleep for 72 hours.
Kali-yuga is progressing. If you are not progressing, you will be overwhelmed.
Bhakti Sarvajna Gauranga Swami:
We may have some material desires, but we do not want a kingdom greater than the material universe like Dhruva Maharaja did.
We see here the idea of letting non-brahmanas be initiated, which Lord Caitanya promoted, was there back in the time of Dhruva.
The early Christian missionaries would accuse the Hindus they met of worshiping idols. They would put the deities in buckets of water, and when the deities would sink, the Christians would say, “How can this be God? He cannot save Himself from drowning!”
People from India are naturally attracted to different items of bhakti, but if they conclude that only Indians can really practice bhakti and they do not encourage others, then their birth can actually be an impediment.
We have to be careful not to add additional rules and regulations to the practice of bhakti, then it will be harder for people to take it up, and they will be discouraged. We should not imagine that we have a better program than our founder-acarya, Srila Prabhupada.
Although by material calculations, Dhruva’s having material desires and being a non-brahmana were disadvantages, by his attachment to Narada Muni and his strict following of his instructions, these were overcome.
Rama Raya Prabhu:
You could only get close to Srila Prabhupada if you took up the preaching mission and you used your own ingenuity to execute it.
Older Hispanic lady who regularly attends the Sunday and Tuesday programs:
You know how the mother bird feeds the baby birds, with food from its own mouth. Krishna is like that mother bird, and we are like the little birds that He is feeding with food from His own mouth.
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Different verses give us clues how to make the practice of devotional service easier for us. I learned this verse when I was trying to blow the conch shell for guru-puja. I was in Philadelphia at the time, and Bhurijana Prabhu, who was present there, taught me this verse:
kathañcana smrte yasmin
duṣkaram sukaram bhavet
vismrte viparitam syat
sri-caitanyam namami tam
“Things that are very difficult to do become easy to execute if one somehow or other simply remembers Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But if one does not remember Him, even easy things become very difficult. To this Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu I offer my respectful obeisances.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 14.1)
‘Celestial Dynasties’ refers to those of the sun and moon gods, in which both Lord Rama and Lord Krishna respectively appeared. The ninth canto traces both lines up to their appearances, giving details of their significant ancestors such as King Ambarisha, who overcame the powerful mystic Durvasa; Parasurama, who destroyed the world’s kshatriyas twenty-one times; Pururava, who married the celestial girl, Urvasi; King Yayati, who wed Sage Shukra’s daughter, Devayani, only to be cursed by him with premature old age; plus many other fascinating accounts of sages, kings and gods who preceded the two divine incarnations. The authors give a dramatic rendition of the original text, which both entertains and educates, bringing out the profound messages of the Bhagavatam.
While Vali faced the threat of likely dying, trapped in a cave where he had gone to kill a demon, he found the entrance blocked completely by a large boulder—one that couldn’t have sealed the cave so precisely by natural means. Still, he didn’t have to remain inside the cave for years, as Ram had to in the forest. Of course, for Vali, there was no guarantee he would survive inside the cave or ever be able to come out.
In contrast, Ram had the archery skills and survival expertise to endure 14 years in the forest and return after the prescribed period of exile. Comparing the two situations illustrates how difficult it is to evaluate whose distress was greater—both would have been shocked by their sudden change in fortunes.
Ram went from being a crown prince to suddenly becoming an exiled pauper. Vali went from being a heroic victor—having just killed a terrorizing demon and expecting a hero’s welcome—to being trapped indefinitely, perhaps permanently, in a dark cave that could well become his tomb, just as it had for the demon he had defeated.
Despite the injustice he suffered, Ram tried to offer a positive outlook when speaking with courtiers and citizens who expressed dismay, disbelief, and even disgust at the way he had been treated. He said it was his joy to render a difficult service to his father by honoring his word. He added that he welcomed the chance to grow through the association of sages in the forest while still young, rather than waiting for retirement in his later years. He also saw it as an opportunity to pave the way for his younger brother—whom he considered like a son—to be installed as king.
In Vali’s case, there is no record of him trying to frame his situation positively—understandably so, as he had no one to talk to. Yet the fact that he ultimately survived and escaped the cave demonstrates his resourcefulness and resilience—both admirable qualities.
Equally admirable is the incredible positivity Ram displayed, ensuring that the adverse situation he faced didn’t embitter him. Rather than letting his exile ruin him, he allowed it to refine him, transforming misfortune into a platform for grace.
Born as Duhkhi Krishnadasa in Orissa, Shyamananda Prabhu was raised in a humble, pious family. From a young age, he displayed detachment from material pleasures, deep love for the Holy Name, and sincere devotion.
He was sent by his guru, Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu, to study under Srila Jiva Goswami in Vrindavan. There, through humble service and intense bhajana, he received the special mercy of Srimati Radharani.
A pivotal moment in Shyamananda Prabhu’s life occurred while sweeping the groves of Vrindavan. He discovered a golden anklet (nupura) and kept it respectfully. Later, he had a divine vision of Srimati Radharani, who pressed that anklet to his forehead, leaving a unique tilaka mark shaped like a foot ornament.
From that moment, he became known as Shyamananda—meaning one who received the mercy of Shyama (Krishna) through the grace of Radha.
Empowered by Jiva Goswami’s blessings, Shyamananda Prabhu traveled to Odisha and Bengal, where he preached Gaudiya Vaishnavism with great power and love.
After conquering in all directions Shyamananda returned to Gopi-ballabhpur where he observed a great festival for some days. Then he came to Uddanda Raya Bhui’s house, at Nrsimhapur where he held a great festival. On the first day of the dark fortnight in the month of Asar Sri Shyamananda Prabhu left this world.
Shyamananda Prabhu’s puspa samadhi and the place where he found Srimati Radharani’s ankle bracelet is just across the street from Sri Sri Radha-Shyamsundara’s temple in Vrndavana. Sri Sri Radha-Shyamsundara are his worshippable Deities.
Over 30 enthusiastic devotees gathered on May 31–June 1, 2025, at ISKCON Bhopal for a powerful 2-day Bhakti Vriksha Leadership Training Course, aimed at strengthening congregational preaching across the city. Hosted on an expansive 8-acre campus, ISKCON Bhopal is a growing spiritual hub under the guidance of Temple President Rasananda Das. The temple is currently […]
Sri Nandanandana Dasa with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Padma Shri event in May. The Vedic Friends Association (VFA) proudly extends heartfelt congratulations to American author and renowned Vedic scholar Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandana Dasa) on being honored with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award. The honor was presented by the Honorable […]
An accusation I often hear levelled at religion is that it causes so many conflicts. As the recent tragic events unfolded in the Middle East, some have indeed pointed the finger of blame at religion, as at least a factor in the long-standing dispute. Writing for the ‘Big Think’, Adam Lee observed: “…what I do believe is that that it (the Israel Palestine conflict) is being inflamed and prolonged by religious zealotry on both sides.”
When I hear such suggestions, my first thought is that they are based on a misconception of religion. Dictionaries usually describe it as a system of belief in a supernatural power. That is where disagreements tend to arise, as the above writer points out. My beliefs may well differ from and even conflict with yours, and hence, there are many faiths, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc, each asserting that their particular set of beliefs is true, while all others are misguided.
The ancient Sanskrit Vedas, however, offer a unifying definition. In Sanskrit, the word for religion is dharma. This translates more accurately as the essential nature of a thing, such as wetness in water. In the case of a person, this nature is service. We must serve someone or something, be it our boss, family members, country, or maybe just our dog. Even if we have no one to serve, we will still serve our minds and senses, which constantly demand satisfaction in one way or another. We cannot sit peacefully for long before one bodily demand or another impinges upon us, and we must act to satisfy it.
Vedic wisdom tells us this service propensity is meant for God. This is real religion, the dharma of the soul. Undoubtedly, the adherents of all the faiths mentioned earlier and most others will concur despite their external differences. Whatever our practices, the aim must be to know and love God, to unite with him and serve him eternally. When we serve anything other than God, we are never satisfied; we constantly search for the lasting fulfilment that no amount of sensual pleasure or material relationships can provide. As Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee.”
So, what goes by the name of religion these days is usually just the rituals meant to evoke our mood of divine service. Thus, religious fights are based not so much on religion itself but on the perceived means of attaining its goal, which should be love, specifically for God. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna sums this up in a simple directive: “Always think of me, offer me your respects, worship me and become my devotee. Surely then will you come to me.” This, in essence, is what all theistic faiths advocate, so what sense does it make to squabble over the practices it may be couched in? Better, surely, to focus on those practices and evoke your divine love.
Genuine followers of any faith exhibit godly qualities. They all have their saints who are invariably peaceful, compassionate and deeply spiritual. Indeed, something is going wrong if your so-called religion produces a desire to eliminate the followers of another faith. The Mahabharata says, “If your spiritual practices do not make you gentle, they are useless.” Sometimes, force might be required to maintain law and order, as we also learn from Mahabharata, but only as a last resort and never to oppress and terrorise others.
I feel saddened when I see religion blamed for conflict and violence, as the solution is portrayed as the problem. The very point of spiritual practice is to make us saintly—free of lust, greed, envy, anger and all such base urges. How else can we get rid of these impurities? They are the real problems causing our disputes and can attach themselves to any cause, not just an idea of religion. How many millions have died in conflicts where no religious fervour was involved? Both world wars, for example.
Krishna provides a perfect peace formula in the Bhagavad Gita. “Do everything for my pleasure. Accept me as the proprietor of all the world. See me as your greatest friend and well-wisher.” My spiritual teacher, Srila Prabhupada, once said that to achieve the brotherhood (or sisterhood) of man, we must accept the fatherhood of God. Proper spiritual practice brings us to that realisation, recognising our common humanity, indeed the commonality of all beings as parts of the one Supreme. There is no question of hatred touching the heart of one endowed with such a vision. Their love for God is extended to all his creatures.
Such universal love seems a distant utopian dream as we look with horror at the unspeakable images flashing across our screens of late. But each of us can at least transform ourselves. After all, we are the world we want to change. Krishna gives simple directions in the Bhagavad Gita, always chant his name, whatever name of God you prefer, and try to please him in everything we do, particularly by showing kindness to all. In this way, we can do our best to bring about world peace, one soul at a time.
In a significant milestone for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the Uttar Pradesh government has issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) for the establishment of Bhaktivedanta University near Vrindavan. This state-backed endorsement marks a significant moment in ISKCON’s longstanding mission to provide holistic, value-based education rooted in Vedic knowledge while embracing contemporary scientific […]
One of the biggest challenges we face is learning to deal with problems critically. What makes difficult situations even more complex is that we rarely look at them objectively — that is, we don’t ask, “What exactly happened?” Instead, we view them subjectively, focusing on two things: how the situation affected us, and what we think motivated the other person to act in a way that harmed us.
Especially when the impact on us is significantly negative, we tend to assume that the other person wanted to hurt us — that their intent was malicious. This assumption makes reconciliation extremely difficult. However, when we’re able to differentiate between these two dimensions — the reality of the impact and the perceived intent — we lay the foundation for meaningful reconciliation.
With this in mind, let’s look at two incidents in the Ramayana where mistakes occurred, and how the other party responded to them.
Consider the case of Vali and Sugriva. Sugriva felt deeply wronged. He believed Vali had deliberately abandoned him to die and even orchestrated his entrapment. This suspicion led him to break ties and go his own way.
But now let’s look at a more extreme case — that of Lord Rama. Rama, who was supposed to become the king of a powerful and prosperous kingdom, was exiled for 14 years. The sentence felt not only unjust but also degrading — as if he were a common criminal, being punished with a penalty just a step below capital punishment. And this life-altering decision was thrust upon him on the very morning he was to be crowned king.
Exile for Rama meant not just the loss of royal comforts, but also a life full of physical hardship, constant uncertainty, and the ever-present risk of danger and injury — and all this for 14 long years.
Compared to this, while Vali’s suffering was also sudden and unpleasant, Rama’s response to his own suffering was far more composed and exemplary.
In this canto we hear the fascinating tale of Gajendra, king of elephants in the celestial realm, who was a saintly king in his previous life. Assailed by a mighty crocodile, he recalls his former devotion to Krishna and invokes his presence with heartfelt prayers. Then begins a long account of a conflict between the gods and Asuras, resulting in several divine incarnations, including Mohini, the Lord’s form as an exquisite female, and Vamana, a dwarf brahmin. The Asuras conquer the heavens and seize control of the universe, only for Vamana to trick the Asura king, Bali, into giving everything back to the gods on the plea of begging for just three paces of land. Finally we hear about Matsya, the Lord’s fish incarnation, who comes to the rescue of King Satyavrata during a great deluge that inundated the worlds. Krishna Dharma and Chintamani Dhama Dasi vividly bring these stories to life while bringing out the profound devotional teachings they evince.
Radhanath Swami, the visionary for the project, speaks at the grand-opening event. A sacred piece of history was revived this week as ISKCON’s first-ever temple, located at 26 2nd Avenue in the Bowery, celebrated its Grand Opening following an extensive and meticulous restoration. Known as “Matchless Gifts,” this humble storefront is where Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta […]
(Left to Right): Sushant Bharti; Padmanabha Goswami; Dr. Sumanta Rudra, Academic Dean, BRC; Sundar Gopal Das. In another significant project aimed at preserving Gaudiya Vaisnava literary heritage, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) has completed the digitization of the manuscript collection of Sri Padmanabha Goswami. A 14th-generation descendant in the disciplic line of Srila Gopal Bhatta […]
Most of us discover at a fairly young age that the world is not a bed of roses. The carefree joys of childhood were brutally interrupted for me when I was just seven and I lost my mother. Navigating my way through an uncertain world after that, I encountered much more pain in the shape of a less than loving stepmother. It was enough to make me rather circumspect about the prospects of a trouble-free life. I tried to make the best of it, of course, but it was only when I came across the messages of the Bhagavad-gita that things began to make sense. Learning that the material world is intrinsically a place of suffering and that we belong somewhere else came as a great relief. It wasn’t that I was exceptionally unfortunate; all of us are in the same rocking boat, according to the Gita.
The pandemic has brought that message home all too starkly for many of us. It has been a particularly difficult time, and for some it has brought terrible grief. A workmate lost four members of his family to Covid, at a time when it was not possible to be with them at the last or even perform their funeral rites. Such pain is hard to imagine, although as a practising Muslim he found comfort in his faith, accepting it as the Lord’s supreme and inscrutable will. Thankfully, I have not had to endure such loss during the pandemic; although recalling my own trauma of losing my mother, I could at least relate to the pain a little. Grief is the hardest of all sufferings, according to the Mahabharat. It robs us of our senses and very ability to function. When a loved one dies, it leaves a gaping hole in your life. Going back to normal is near impossible, and you have to learn how to somehow cope with a new reality.
Like my work friend though, we can find solace in the words of scripture. The Gita tells us we are all eternal souls, temporarily dwelling in mortal frames. It therefore shocks us when suddenly something we took for granted as a part of our lives is cruelly taken from us. We can’t easily process it, as we are meant for eternal existence where nothing and no one ever passes away. Again, the Gita’s message is that we belong to the spiritual world, the abode of God, our ever-loving father and friend. Somehow we have fallen from there to this world of ever-shifting sands where nothing stays the same and everything we hold dear is lost in time.
This is ultimately the cause of all anxiety. Many of us have also had to deal with this and even bouts of depression during these difficult times. Anxiety is really just uncertainty—‘what will happen?’—and this stems from us knowing that we really don’t have any control. The world is rapidly changing even as we watch; we can’t hold onto anything and so often we have to accept things we never bargained for or wanted. This can be depressing at times; we want life to be predictable and certain, to bring happy things and joy, but sadly that is not always the way it happens.
There are some powerful instructions in this regard in the Ramayana. Some time after Lord Rama was banished to the forest, his brother Bharata brought him the news of his father’s passing. Rama was distraught to hear this, a grief that was compounded by his feelings of guilt at not having been there when he died, and not being able to conduct his funeral ceremony. He censured himself and lamented loudly, but seeing that the many others present were also giving way to sorrow to see him grieve, he gradually calmed his mind and began to speak profound words of consolation. “In this world the embodied soul is moved by the all-powerful force of Providence,” said Rama. “No one can control that power. All gains must end in loss, every meeting ends in separation and all life has its end in death.”
It is perhaps a hard message, but its truth is undeniable. Rama also pointed out that the power to prevent one’s own death does not exist in one grieving for another. C.S.Lewis said, “No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” We know that the fate that befell those we have lost awaits us all. The Gita therefore tells us to strive for the eternal, get free of this world of suffering where we do not belong.
But even while we are in this world we can find tranquility by following the guidance of the Gita. It tells us that complete peace comes when we realise three things. The first is that our real happiness lies in serving the Supreme, not in our own attempts to enjoy. The more we try to exploit this world for our happiness, the more we suffer. This is becoming all too apparent as we witness global events like climate change and of course the pandemic unfolding around us. But the Gita assures us that when we give ourselves to divine service these problems will vanish, and a deep sense of joy and satisfaction begins to envelop us.
The second key point is that we are not the controllers. As they say, ‘your anxiety will end when you accept that you are not the general manager of the universe’. As Rama pointed out, the all-powerful force of Providence or God controls this world and indeed us. Everyone is trying to be happy, but still we see so much suffering. Why? The Gita says it is because we do not recognise God’s control and follow his guidance, which is meant for our greatest good. Which leads to the last point, the Lord is our truest friend. This one can sometimes be hard to understand. When things go wrong in life and we face difficulties, it tests our faith. “Why has God done this to me?” Or to our loved ones, especially when we are trying our best to be good people. But we must know that Krishna is preparing us for far greater things than we can even imagine. There will surely be some tests, but when see God’s hand working they become uplifting and transformational. Pressure turns coal into diamonds, and we are all diamonds in the rough, waiting to shine again in our original brilliance.
The strength we need will come from Krishna if we constantly connect with him through our practises. This can also greatly help in alleviating the strain on our relationships that the lockdown has so often brought on us. My spiritual teacher Srila Prabhupada said that the brotherhood of man will come when accept the common fatherhood of God. When we pray together, we stay together. But even if our family members do not join us and it is just us alone practising, we will still see wondrous changes around us as we begin to change. By realising the three points above our aching hearts will become assuaged, all anxieties will be dispelled, and we will find true and lasting peace.
Photo courtesy of the India Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). ISKCON’s Communications Office in India released a statement today regarding the tragic Air India accident in Ahmedabad. The plane was carrying 242 souls, and it appears there are no survivors. Given that it crashed in a residential/office area of the city, casualties on the ground […]
In this canto we first meet Prahlad, a prince in the race of Asuras, fierce enemies of the gods. An exalted saint, he excites the ire of his demonic father Hiranyakshipu by his devotion to Krishna. The demon tries in every way possible to kill his son until at last he is confronted by Krishna’s half man, half lion incarnation, Nrshinghadeva. After this is a conversation between the celestial sage Narada and King Yudhisthira, in which Narada describes in detail the ancient Vedic system of organising society known as varnashrama dharma. A dramatic retelling that vividly brings the text to life and helps the reader go deeply into the transcendental mystery of the great Sanskrit classic, Srimad Bhagavatam.
When the algorithm shifts and your content’s on the cart, download before it disappears! When devotees around the world go live on Facebook, streaming temple kirtans, festivals, harinams, seminars, and Sunday Love Feast classes, it’s with the hope that these moments ripple outward, long after the broadcast ends. But that digital kirtan is now quietly […]
Teachers’ Sanga at Gurukula Monday, 9th June – Gurukula – The Hare Krishna Primary School, located near Bhaktivedanta Manor, hosted a special Teachers’ Sanga (gathering) focused on spiritual growth and insight for educators. The highlight of the event was a talk by His Holiness Svayam Bhagavan Keshav Maharaj, who graciously accepted the invitation to speak Read More...
By Hemo Krsna dd On Sunday, 8th June, Nottingham’s Market Square hosted its second annual Ratha Yatra festival. Around 1,000 people came together to celebrate this joyful occasion, as Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, and Lady Subhadra once again graced the city with Their presence. The chariot, brought from London by HG Parasuram Prabhu, was beautifully Read More...
Back in 1972 I was a 17 year-old sea cadet. My ship had docked in Bombay and I stepped onto that exotic shore in search of reasonably priced souvenirs. Under the intense encouragement of a shopkeeper I came close to purchasing a fine ivory chess set costing most of my week’s wages before I spotted a little figurine of Krishna. He exerted a strange attraction over me and after handing over my hard-earned rupees I left with him in my pocket. The god of love, I thought. I could do with a bit of love.
Fast forward to 1979 and a rainy summer’s day in England. My seafaring days were over, and I was hitchhiking in search of more meaningful things, although I had no idea where to find them. When a kindhearted driver picked me up and asked where I was headed, I had to frankly admit that I didn’t know. “No problem,” he said. “You can ride with me for a while.”
It turned out he was a disciple of Srila Prabhupada named Hetu, and as he drove, he pointed to a book on the dashboard. “That’s the Bhagavad Gita. I’d like to hear it. Why don’t you read it aloud?”
I was happy to oblige and soon my mind was reeling under the force of the Gita’s powerful verses. I’d never read anything like it. “Who wrote this?” I asked.
“Lord Krishna,” he replied. “He’s the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
I sat for a moment or two trying to take that in. Still nestling in my rucksack was the little figurine from Bombay. It seemed he was not just the god of love. “Godhead?” I asked. “What does that mean?”
“The all-powerful Supreme Lord. My guru used the term to stress that God is a person, like you and me.”
“You mean we’re all God?” I asked. I had long suspected this possibility, but Hetu quickly squashed that notion.
“Not at all. Krishna is the whole and we are the tiny parts. Think about it, if you were God would you be wandering aimlessly in soaking wet clothes, trying to hitch a lift from someone else?”
He had a point. I wanted to know more about this personality who had been with me these last seven years. By now I was quite attached to him and felt he was my lucky charm, even though my luck had reduced me to a near penniless itinerant. “So why is he called Krishna?” I asked.
“Krishna means ‘all-attractive’,” replied Hetu. “A rich or famous person is attractive, right? Well, Krishna has all wealth, all fame, all beauty, knowledge, power, and anything else you can imagine. Everything belongs to him. He’s God, after all.”
I gazed at the rainy road. Krishna’s attractiveness had certainly seemed to work on me. Hetu explained that his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, was Krishna’s authorised representative. Perhaps my lucky charm had indeed brought me some good fortune. “Is there somewhere I can find out more?” I asked.
“Sure,” said Hetu. “I’ll take you to Bhaktivedanta Manor where Krishna lives. They’re just about to celebrate his birthday.”
“Where he lives!? Birthday? What do you mean?” I looked wide-eyed at Hetu.
“Let’s go and find out,” he said, pressing the accelerator of his old van as we turned onto the M1. Soon we were pulling into the driveway of a fine old mock Tudor building. Hetu took me into the shrine room and there, standing on a golden altar in all his shining, bejewelled glory was a full-size version of my small figurine. My mouth fell open at the splendid sight. Surely only God himself could look like that. I’d never seen anyone dressed and decorated so beautifully.
“So when is his birthday? Will there be a cake?” I asked, trying to imagine what that might be like.
“In a few days,” said Hetu. “It’s really his anniversary, of course. He was actually born 5000 years ago, and we celebrate that day every year on what is known as Janmashtami.”
I was incredulous. “How can God be born? Isn’t he like, eternal?”
“Certainly, but sometimes he appears in this world so we can get to know him better. The Bhagavad Gita explains that he comes to re-establish righteousness and deliver the faithful from worldly suffering.”
“He must be overdue a visit, then,” I replied. “There’s a bit of a shortage of righteousness these days.”
Hetu laughed. “You’re right, but the wonderful thing about Krishna is that just by hearing about his earthly pastimes we can feel his presence. Also, by chanting his names. God is not limited like us. He is absolute, which means he can incarnate in sound vibration.”
I gazed at Krishna standing serenely on the altar. I had so many questions. The devotees suggested I stay for a few days. “You can join in with the Janmashtami celebrations.” God’s birthday party sounded good to me. No doubt there would be some great munchies. I agreed and a few days later found myself fasting for the day. “We have a big feast at midnight,” the devotees said. “But first we fast to honour the Lord’s appearance.”
I looked at my watch. Nine am. How would I last till midnight? The devotees said there would be food for guests, but I decided to give it a go. I needed to do something for my little Krishna who had brought me so far. The day quickly passed with much joyous chanting and dancing, as well as talks about Krishna’s ‘pastimes’ when he appeared. These proved to be thoroughly fascinating and I hardly noticed my growling stomach. Finally, midnight arrived and Krishna was revealed in his magnificent birthday outfit. We danced away another half hour and at last sat down to a stunning array of vegetarian goodies, which I began to demolish at world record speed. What a day. My life would never be the same again.
In this volume, we see how Krishna saves his devotee from degradation. Beginning with the famous story of Ajamila, the brahmin who fell from an exalted position to become a ruthless robber and cheat, only to be miraculously redeemed at the very moment of death. Then we hear how Indra, king of the gods, insulted his guru and as a result was overpowered by the demonic races, led by Vritra, a supernatural colossus who had been conjured for the god’s destruction. The twist in this tale is that the demon was a great saintly devotee of Krishna. Finally, we hear how Diti, mother of the demons, gains her salvation.
Through all these narrations we see how, no matter how fallen you are, if you have any divine service to your credit, Krishna will find a way to save you.
Imagine waiting your whole life for someone you’re not even sure will come. That was Shabari.
Every day, she cleaned her hermitage. Every day, she gathered berries. And every day, she waited for Rama.
Years passed. No word. No sign. But she never gave up.
When Rama finally arrived, her joy wasn’t in recognition—it was in readiness.
Leadership Lesson: Shabari teaches us that leadership is often built in obscurity. It’s not in headlines, but in habits. Not in grand events, but quiet devotion.
Preparation isn’t glamorous. But it’s sacred.
Takeaway for Today’s Leaders: Success doesn’t always knock with warning. Will you be ready when it does?
So, how should we present the concept of Varna, and how much should we emphasize it—especially when teaching the Bhagavad Gita or introducing Krishna consciousness to newcomers, particularly in the West?
There is always a tension in understanding which parts of the Gita are descriptive—that is, specific to the social and historical context of the time—and which are prescriptive, meant to be universally applied.
For instance, Krishna instructing Arjuna to fight a physical war is a descriptive part of the Gita. It may have been prescriptive for Arjuna, given his role as a Kshatriya in that context, but it’s not prescriptive for us today.
Now, regarding the Varna system—it does appear in various parts of the Gita: Chapter 2, Chapter 4, Chapter 18, and even indirectly in Chapter 16. So it’s certainly not an insignificant theme. But how central is it to the message of the Gita?
One way to look at it is that Varna is mentioned to emphasize Arjuna’s duty within the social order, as part of his service to Krishna. That would make the Varna system a contextual feature, not the core message.
If we examine the Gita more broadly, the message of Bhakti—devotional service—clearly transcends Varna-ashrama. Krishna states that anyone, regardless of Varna, can engage in Bhakti. Even more, Yoga is arguably the most emphasized concept in the Gita. Words like yoga, yogi, yukta, and yunjan appear far more frequently than karma, dharma, Bhagavan, or Brahman.
So, Krishna’s emphasis is on cultivating a transcendental consciousness while acting in the world. From this lens, we could reasonably argue that the Varna system is not central to the Gita’s core message.
Yet, in many traditional commentaries, and even in our modern-day teachings, we often stress Karma Yoga—especially as it relates to Varna-ashrama. This sometimes gives it more prominence than the Gita itself seems to.
Given this, even if we do wish to present the idea of Varna, we need to do so with nuance. There are at least three layers of complexity:
Correlation: There is the traditional Varna categorization, and then there is a person’s psychophysical nature today. Even in classical Dharma Shastra, there is a recognition of both prakriti (nature) and vikriti (distortion or deviation). A person may have a mix of dispositions—say, predominantly Kshatriya with some Brahminical traits.
Genealogy vs Nature: Today, we no longer have pure genealogical lines that align neatly with Varna identities. Many people embody blended qualities, and the categories don’t map cleanly anymore.
Modern Professions vs Traditional Varnas: Professions today rarely correspond directly to ancient Varna roles. I’ve heard strange examples—like calling a doctor a Brahmana because they heal, but a surgeon a Shudra because they work with the body. That’s absurd. Does more study make you fall from Brahmana to Shudra?
This raises a fundamental question: Is Varna determined by one’s nature or by one’s job? Today, many people’s jobs don’t align with their nature at all. It’s a messy picture, and oversimplification only leads to confusion.
So, my take is: don’t overemphasize it. Teach clearly and compassionately, and then move on.
The underlying principle of Varnashrama is to help people engage with the world in a way that is productive materially and supportive spiritually. That’s what matters most. How exactly that plays out today? It will vary case by case.
Therefore, we shouldn’t rigidly label someone as belonging to a particular Varna, or decide if someone is “suitable” for something based solely on this lens.
Ultimately, as Krishna says, everyone is on His path. So let’s focus on nurturing that inclusive, transcendental spirit.
Snana Yatra is one of the most sacred and visually delightful festivals of Lord Jagannatha, celebrated on Purnima (full moon) of the month of Jyestha. On this day, Lord Jagannatha, along with Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi, receive a grand ceremonial bathing (abhisheka).
Lord Jagannatha is non-different from Krishna, and His appearance in the wooden form is a divine mystery. The bathing ceremony is not merely symbolic—it’s an act of divine love, purification, and public mercy.
After Snana Yatra, Lord Jagannatha becomes externally unwell and enters a private chamber called Anavasara, during which He is not visible to the public until the Ratha Yatra festival.
Lord Jagannatha rests in seclusion, attended to with herbal preparations. Devotees meditate on the Lord’s transcendental separation from His devotees. It represents the mood of vipralambha (divine separation) that deepens the bhakti of the devotee.
Sri Mayapur Community Hospital has reached a significant milestone in its commitment to serving the devotee community and the wider population of Nadia District. This week, Dr. Juhi Dhanawat, OB/GYN, announced the successful commencement of gynaecological surgeries at the facility. The first major procedure was performed using their state-of-the-art medical equipment and a dedicated, well-trained […]
“HARE KRISHNA! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami who started it all” is now FREE on YouTube in 10 major languages: Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, English & Russian with short versions of 29 minutes & 47 minutes for schools, universities, etc. Watch on the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLAXmpRpkhy4e4H03cVer7pLt1-QQyIrKs
Today is the appearance day of Sri Vakresvara Pandita, one of Lord Chaitanya’s most dear associates. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 10.17–20) states, “Vakresvara Pandita, the fifth branch of the [Caitanya] tree, was a very dear servant of Lord Caitanya’s. He could dance with constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally sang while Vakresvara Pandita danced, and thus Vakresvara Pandita fell at the lotus feet of the Lord and spoke as follows. ‘O Candramukha! Please give me ten thousand Gandharvas. Let them sing as I dance, and then I will be greatly happy.’ Lord Caitanya replied, ‘I have only one wing like you, but if I had another, certainly I would fly in the sky!’ ”
Srila Prabhupada expressed his appreciation for his father in his dedication to his book Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead: “To My Father, Gour Mohan De (1849-1930)—A pure devotee of Krsna, who raised me as a Krsna conscious child from the beginning of my life. In my boyhood ages he instructed me how to play the mrdanga. He gave me Radha-Krsna vigraha to worship, and he gave me Jagannatha ratha to duly observe the festival as my childhood play. He was kind to me, and I imbibed from him the ideas later on solidified by my spiritual master, the eternal father.”
‘Celestial Dynasties’ refers to those of the sun and moon gods, in which both Lord Rama and Lord Krishna respectively appeared. The ninth canto traces both lines up to their appearances, giving details of their significant ancestors such as King Ambarisha, who overcame the powerful mystic Durvasa; Parasurama, who destroyed the world’s kshatriyas twenty-one times; Pururava, who married the celestial girl, Urvasi; King Yayati, who wed Sage Shukra’s daughter, Devayani, only to be cursed by him with premature old age; plus many other fascinating accounts of sages, kings and gods who preceded the two divine incarnations. The authors give a dramatic rendition of the original text, which both entertains and educates, bringing out the profound messages of the Bhagavatam.
In this canto we hear the fascinating tale of Gajendra, king of elephants in the celestial realm, who was a saintly king in his previous life. Assailed by a mighty crocodile, he recalls his former devotion to Krishna and invokes his presence with heartfelt prayers. Then begins a long account of a conflict between the gods and Asuras, resulting in several divine incarnations, including Mohini, the Lord’s form as an exquisite female, and Vamana, a dwarf brahmin. The Asuras conquer the heavens and seize control of the universe, only for Vamana to trick the Asura king, Bali, into giving everything back to the gods on the plea of begging for just three paces of land. Finally we hear about Matsya, the Lord’s fish incarnation, who comes to the rescue of King Satyavrata during a great deluge that inundated the worlds. Krishna Dharma and Chintamani Dhama Dasi vividly bring these stories to life while bringing out the profound devotional teachings they evince.
In this canto we first meet Prahlad, a prince in the race of Asuras, fierce enemies of the gods. An exalted saint, he excites the ire of his demonic father Hiranyakshipu by his devotion to Krishna. The demon tries in every way possible to kill his son until at last he is confronted by Krishna’s half man, half lion incarnation, Nrshinghadeva. After this is a conversation between the celestial sage Narada and King Yudhisthira, in which Narada describes in detail the ancient Vedic system of organising society known as varnashrama dharma. A dramatic retelling that vividly brings the text to life and helps the reader go deeply into the transcendental mystery of the great Sanskrit classic, Srimad Bhagavatam.
Teachers’ Sanga at Gurukula Monday, 9th June – Gurukula – The Hare Krishna Primary School, located near Bhaktivedanta Manor, hosted a special Teachers’ Sanga (gathering) focused on spiritual growth and insight for educators. The highlight of the event was a talk by His Holiness Svayam Bhagavan Keshav Maharaj, who graciously accepted the invitation to speak
By Hemo Krsna dd On Sunday, 8th June, Nottingham’s Market Square hosted its second annual Ratha Yatra festival. Around 1,000 people came together to celebrate this joyful occasion, as Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, and Lady Subhadra once again graced the city with Their presence. The chariot, brought from London by HG Parasuram Prabhu, was beautifully
In this volume, we see how Krishna saves his devotee from degradation. Beginning with the famous story of Ajamila, the brahmin who fell from an exalted position to become a ruthless robber and cheat, only to be miraculously redeemed at the very moment of death. Then we hear how Indra, king of the gods, insulted his guru and as a result was overpowered by the demonic races, led by Vritra, a supernatural colossus who had been conjured for the god’s destruction. The twist in this tale is that the demon was a great saintly devotee of Krishna. Finally, we hear how Diti, mother of the demons, gains her salvation.
