Tag: ISKCON

55th Kolkata Rath Yatra 2026 – Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Vallabh Chaitanya Prabhu (21st July 2026)

Nabakalebara, the sacred ceremony in which Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi accept a new bodies was discussed by HG Vallabh Chaitanya Prabhu in his Srimad Bhagavatam Class today. Prabhuji also explained how Daru Brahma is searched and how the Brahma Padartha is transferred.  All this was explained using a PowerPoint presentation.

Below article is based on the class which he gave on 21^st July 2026 at the 55^th Kolkata Rath Yatra Pandal.

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In Kolkata, we are now sitting in Gundicha Temple, this is Vrindavan only. In Jagannath Puri there is Gupta Vrindavan and that is Tota Gopinath temple.

There are many types of worship of Lord Jagannath, and such worship is Nabakalebara.

Nabakalebara means “accepting a new body”. Naba means “new” and kalebara means “body”.  

Nabakalebara is generally performed after 12 years or 19 years.  It is generally performed when there are two Āṣāḍha months (Adhika Āṣāḍha) in the lunar calendar.  It was performed in 2015 and next will be in 2034 after 19 years.

The deities are made of neem wood. In Puri, sandalwood paste is applied to the Lord six times daily. The Lord’s body becomes so soft that one’s hand can go inside it; therefore, during Nabakalebara, the Lord accepts a new body.

The Nabakalebara festival begins about three weeks before Snana Yatra.

Anavasara period, the Lord does not give public darshan, as He is said to be resting after Snana Yatra.

Srila Prabhupada explains, “The word anavasara is used when Śrī Jagannāthajī cannot be seen in the temple. After the bathing ceremony (snāna-yātrā), Lord Jagannātha apparently becomes sick. He is therefore removed to His private apartment, where no one can see Him. Actually, during this period renovations are made on the body of the Jagannātha Deity. This is called nava-yauvana. During the Ratha-yātrā ceremony, Lord Jagannātha once again comes before the public. Thus for fifteen days after the bathing ceremony, Lord Jagannātha is not visible to any visitors.” Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 1.122

During anavasara, Lord Chaitanya would feel so much separation from Lord Jagannath that He would leave Puri and go to Ālālanātha.

Vidyapati had two wives—one a brāhmaṇa lady and the other from the Śabara community.

Nabakalebara is performed by the Daitapatis i.e descendants of Sabara.

Lord Jagannath is worshipped beyond the boundaries of any one sampradāya or sect.

Madala Panjika is the traditional chronicle of Lord Jagannath that describes Nabakalebara.

It contains the temple’s history, festivals, rituals, annual records, and detailed instructions for Nabakalebara. It is traditionally written on palm leaves and kept securely inside the temple.

Lord Jagannath has been worshipped as Vishnu, Shiva, Durga (by the Shaktas), and Buddha by some traditions.

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Nabakalebara of Lord Jagannath:

Nabakalebara begins about three weeks before Snana Purnima.

Three Daitapatis stay in the temple of Goddess Bimala, enter deep meditation, fast, and pray for guidance to locate the sacred Daru Brahma. Goddess Bimala gives them direction.

Once they receive indications, they immediately begin searching. The sacred trees may be found anywhere and are not necessarily limited to Odisha.

One tree is for Lord Jagannath (along with Sudarshana Chakra), while the other two are for Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi.

Characteristics of Lord Baladeva’s tree:

• Neem tree
• No bird’s nest
• No flowers
• A cobra appears on the tree when the Daitapatis arrive

If the tree does not meet the required characteristics, the Daitapatis return to meditation.

Characteristics of Subhadra Devi’s tree:

• Neem tree
• Located in the middle of a river or surrounded by water

Characteristics of Lord Jagannath’s tree:

• Neem tree
• Large enough for carving the deity
• Bears a sacred mark resembling the Sudarshana Chakra

If the appropriate trees are not found, the Daitapatis continue searching and again return to meditation for further guidance.

Before 1947, the Daitapatis reportedly searched for 18 days without finding Lord Jagannath’s tree. Eventually, they reached a Muslim family’s house in present-day Madhya Pradesh. The owner initially refused permission to cut the tree, and the search party waited outside for two days.

According to the narration, all six children in the family had the same miraculous dream. An elderly lady advised the owner to offer the tree for the Lord’s service. Although he initially suspected black magic, he eventually agreed. These sacred trees are generally very old.

The selected trees are worshipped, ceremonially cut, transported in a grand procession, and finally brought to the Jagannath Temple.

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Carving the Deities and the Transfer of Brahma Padartha

The new deities are secretly carved by sacred craftsmen.

The deities are carved from a single piece of wood. The hands and legs are not carved separately and attached later.

After the new deities are completed, the old deities are brought before them.

Transfer of Brahma Padartha

According to some traditions, the Brahma Padartha is believed to be the Lord’s original sacred essence, sometimes described as a sacred substance or Shaligrama.

An elderly sacred priest is blindfolded while transferring the Brahma Padartha from the old deities to the new deities.

After completing the transfer, he asks only for prasadam. It is traditionally believed that he often leaves his body within a few days. Devotees do not lament, believing that he attains Vaikuntha.

After the transfer, public darshan of the new deities begins.

The old deities are buried in Koili Vaikuntha.

Some traditional Daitapati families observe a period of mourning, perform funeral rites, and later visit Kashi.

The Daitapatis say that the deities are like children. After eating, They regain Their health, and even the Lord’s clothes gradually become shorter.

Every year, new chariots are constructed from Akshaya Tritiya until Rath Yatra. No iron nails are used in their construction.

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These were some of the important points from the Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Vallabh Chaitanya Prabhu on 21st July 2026 at Kolkata Rath Yatra Pandal.

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55th Kolkata Rath Yātrā 2026 – Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Class Series

• Day 1 – HG Atul Krishna Prabhu (17 July 2026)

• Day 2 – HH Subhag Swami Maharaja (18th July 2026)

• Day 3 – HH Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharaja (19th July 2026)

• Day 4 – HG Acharya Ratna Prabhu (20th July 2026)

• Day 5 – HG Vallabh Chaitanya Prabhu (21st July 2026)

55th Kolkata Rath Yatra 2026 – Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami Maharaja on SB 1.15.7 (19th July 2026)

What is the connection between Krishna and Lord Jagannath? While speaking on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.7, HH Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharaja explained how Krishna’s final earthly pastimes are connected with Lord Jagannath, His mercy upon tribal devotees, Nila Madhava, and the sacred tradition of the Dayitapatis.  Below article is based on the class which Maharaja gave on 19 July 2026 at the Kolkata Rath Yatra Pandal.

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Krishna Is the Supreme Controller of Everything

After Krishna leaves the planet, Arjuna is speaking this verse to Yudhisthira. Arjuna says that by Krishna’s mercy, he got the strength to defeat the lusty princes and was able to marry Draupadi by piercing the eye of the fish.

It is not just about Arjuna; whatever strength we get is because of Krishna. Anything that happens to us is because of Krishna. But unfortunately, when something good happens, we think it is because of us, and if something bad happens, we blame God for it.

This is the mentality of demons. Devotees know that everything is done by Krishna, so they give credit to Krishna for everything. Krishna is in the heart of all, and from Him comes everything. Bhagavad Gita 15.15.

Knowledge and remembrance come from Him. We talk because the Lord allows us to talk, and we see because God wants us to see. All our senses are controlled by the demigods.

Demigods are īśvaras. Īśvara means controller. Above the īśvaras is Parameśvara, the Supreme Controller. Krishna is the Supreme Controller, and everything happens because of Him—sarva-kāraṇa-kāraṇam.

Krishna pre-plans everything. This is why Krishna says to Arjuna that, “I have already killed the Kauravas. You do it on the battlefield and take credit for it.”

Although we endeavour, the motivation for endeavour comes from Krishna. It is because of the Lord’s grace that we even think.

This is why devotees are neither too excited upon success nor depressed upon failure. Thus, they are free from karma-bandhana.

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Lord Krishna’s Final Earthly Pastimes

This śloka of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was spoken by Arjuna when Lord Krishna had already gone to Goloka.

Although it is not mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, in the scriptures it is mentioned that after killing all the demons, Krishna went to Mathura from Dvārakā. There He blew the conch shell and wore the dress of a cowherd boy. When the Vrajavāsīs heard the conch shell, they understood that Krishna was coming.

So Krishna entered Vṛndāvana, met Nanda and Yaśodā, and married the gopīs. There is also evidence that when both Krishna and Rādhārāṇī were young, Brahmā had got Them married. Again, in Vṛndāvana there was marriage, dance, rāsa-līlā, and all the Vrajavāsīs went to Goloka, the spiritual world. Nanda-nandana Krishna and Rādhārāṇī too went to Goloka. But Vāsudeva Krishna went back to Dvārakā.

In Dvārakā, He started thinking, “I have delivered the world, but what about My family in Dvārakā?” So, we have the well-known incident of the residents of Dvārakā making fun of the sādhus and getting cursed by them. They dressed Sāmba so that he looked like a pregnant lady.

They approached the sages and asked them to tell whether she would give birth to a boy or a girl. The sages got angry and said that whatever she gave birth to would be the cause of the destruction of the Yadu dynasty. A lump of iron came out from Sāmba’s body. The iron lump was grinded, but one small piece of iron was left. From the iron powder, sticks like bamboo but as hard as iron appeared.

Once when there was a quarrel among the Dvārakāvāsīs, they killed each other with the same bamboo sticks. Krishna knew all this. After this incident, He was resting under a tree.

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Jara the Hunter and the Connection to Lord Jagannath

Today, I see people come to Rath Yatra but do not know much about the festival. They also do not know the connection between Krishna and Lord Jagannath.

I will share how Krishna and Lord Jagannath are related. In fact, Lord Jagannath and Lord Krishna are same. I will also share how Krishna and Lord Jagannath are so merciful to tribals and how the tribals are attached to the Lord.

The person who shot Krishna in the foot was a tribal named Jara. Lord enacted this pastime because he wanted to return back to the spiritual world. While he was about to leave, something interesting happens. He called Arjuna and asked him to touch Him. But Arjuna was apprehensive that if he touched the Lord, then all his strength and power would go away with the Lord. But when the Lord asked again, he held Krishna’s hand. And Arjuna lost all his strength. This is why we see that later Arjuna was not able to fight the people when he was taking Krishna’s queens to Hastinapur.

Jara was Vāli in his previous life.

A celestial chariot came to take Krishna to the spiritual world. But for the demons, Krishna left His body. Some say that when Krishna’s body was put on the funeral pyre, His heart did not burn. His heart was thrown into the ocean, and it floated to Puri. That same heart is the Brahma Padārtha in Lord Jagannath’s deity. This is why Lord Jagannath is Lord Krishna.

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The Lord’s Mercy Upon Tribal Devotees

We see here how a tribal is associated with the Lord’s pastimes.

In Lord Rama’s pastimes also, we see how Śabarī, a tribal woman, served the Lord. In fact, she had so much love for the Lord that before giving Him berries to eat, she tasted them to check whether they were sweet or sour. The Vedic rule did not work here. The Lord did not say that He accepts food only from a brāhmaṇa who chants mantras. The Lord happily accepted Śabarī’s offering.

We read how Bhrigu Muni behaved with Lord Vishnu when he wanted to know who among Brahmā, Shiva, and Vishnu is the Supreme Lord. Bhrigu kicked Lord Vishnu to test His tolerance. Although Lord Vishnu tolerated it, His wife, Lakshmi Devi, did not forgive Bhrigu. This is why brāhmaṇas are always poor.

We see how tribals deal with the Lord and how the brāhmaṇas do.

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Nila Madhava, Daru Brahma, and the Dayitapatis

During the first 50 years of Brahmā’s life, the Lord was worshipped as Nila Madhava in Puri. Only the demigods would see Him and worship Him as Nila Madhava. Among human beings, only Vishvavasu, a Śabara tribal, was able to see Him and serve Him.

When Indradyumna Maharaja came, Nila Madhava disappeared. Then there was a celestial voice saying, “Now I will be worshipped as Daru Brahma.” That Nila Madhava appeared as Daru Brahma.

After the first 50 years of Brahmā’s life, the Lord is worshipped as Lord Jagannath in Puri.

In Puri, even today, the descendants of Vishvavasu serve the Lord. They are called Dayitapatis. Dayita means “dear.” For example, we sing, “Rādhe Jaya Jaya Mādhava-Dayite.”

The Dayitapatis say, “Neither are we brāhmaṇas nor bhaktas, but we are part of the family of Lord Jagannath.”

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Why Lord Jagannath Comes Out During Rath Yatra

When the Lord’s Nava Kalevara takes place, the Dayitapatis perform śrāddha rituals, just as we follow śrāddha rituals.

From Lord Jagannath, we receive karuṇā, whereas from other forms of the Lord, we receive kṛpā.

For example, we go to Lord Krishna’s temple or Lord Rama’s temple and receive kṛpā. But Lord Jagannath personally comes out and shows karuṇā to everyone. Lord Chaitanya is also like that.

In Lord Rama’s pastimes again, we see that He met Guha, a tribal king. Saints and sages do not easily receive the mercy of the Lord’s lotus feet, but Lord Rama embraced Guha.

In the song Jaya Radhe Jaya Krishna Jaya Vrindavan, there is the phrase “Abhīra Nagarī.” Abhīra means tribal. The gopīs say that the tribal girls are so fortunate because they smear their bodies with the dust of Krishna’s feet. When Krishna would go to the forest to herd the cows, the sand would become red because of the kuṅkuma on Krishna’s feet. The tribal girls would apply that sand to their bodies, and their bodies would become red.

We see how tribals are connected to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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ISKCON Tribal Care and the Devotion of Tribal Communities

We have started ISKCON Tribal Care, and we see how interested they are in devotional life. There are many such examples.

Example 1

There were tribal children whom we brought to our āśrama and started teaching. We found that they quickly learned Śikṣāṣṭakam, Dāmodarāṣṭakam, Brahma-saṁhitā, and many verses from Bhagavad-gītā. They are God-gifted and have talent too. Also, they are not distracted by TV, smartphones, or social media.

Example 2

Once when I went to Assam, to a tribal area, I saw pictures of Pañca-tattva in many homes. I was surprised at how they had got these pictures. These tribals narrated an interesting story. They said, “We have been worshipping Them for the last 500 years.” They said that 500 years ago there was a person named Parthahajum. He was fed up with something and went to commit suicide in the Brahmaputra.

But he heard a voice asking him to go to Puri. The voice said that all his desires would be fulfilled in Puri. He had no money and no boat, so he decided to swim. While he was swimming, a local king saw him and asked him why he was risking his life in the river. After hearing his story, the king arranged for his visit to Puri.

When he came to Puri, it was the day of Rath Yatra. Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda were performing saṅkīrtana. He became excited and began dancing. Everyone inquired, “Who is he?” Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “He is a devotee of Lord Nityananda.”

Lord Nityananda asked him to go, take a bath, and come back to Him. When he returned, Lord Nityananda gave him dīkṣā. He was empowered by the Lord. He introduced Pañca-tattva worship in the Hajum tribe of Assam.

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These were some of the important points from the Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HH Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharaja on 19th July 2026 at Kolkata Rath Yatra Pandal.

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55th Kolkata Rath Yātrā 2026 – Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Class Series

• Day 1 – HG Atul Krishna Prabhu (17 July 2026)

• Day 2 – HH Subhag Swami Maharaja (18th July 2026)

• Day 3 – HH Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharaja (19th July 2026)

• Day 4 – HG Acharya Ratna Prabhu (20th July 2026)

• Day 5 – HG Vallabh Chaitanya Prabhu (21st July 2026)

Srimad Bhagavatam Class @ Iskcon Newtown Kolkata – September 2025

Below important points are from Srimad Bhagavatam Class at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata in Septembet 2025 which were given by different devotees.

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakura Appearance Day Class by HG Acharyaratna Prabhu – 5^th September 2025

Important points from the Class

1. 13 apasampradayas sprouted after disappearance of prominent acharyas..In movies and TV serials, Bengali characters in dubious role were shown as vaisnavas.
2. Srila Prabhupada first wanted to make Iskcon headquarter in Kolkata provided he got Victoria memorial, then he wanted to make it in Mayapur, but when it was difficult to get land in Mayapur, he wanted to it make in Birnagar, birthplace of Bhaktivinod Thakura.
3. Bhaktivinod Thakura started writing poem when he was 2 years old, when he was 7 years old he had read Ramayana, Mahabharata, at 9 years he started learning astrology, at 10 years started inquiring spiritual subject matters.
4. Bhaktivinod Thakura wrote a poem – Sri Chaitanya Geet.
5. With difficulty he got Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta in Orissa and after reading his life got transformed.
6. Bhaktivinod Thakura was an efficient magistrate. He worked from 10 am to 1 pm, 1 pm – 2pm, lunch and rest and from 2pm to 5 pm again worked. He worked for 6 hours but was so efficient that he did work equivalent of 15 magistrates.
7. Bhaktivinod Thakura wrote books in the night like Srila Prabhupada.
8. Bhaktivinod Thakura opened 2005 nama hattas.
9. He never wasted time, would always wear watch, was never late for meeting, go before time to catch train.
10. He wrote a book in 1896– Life and Percepts of Lord Chaitanya and sent to the western world. Predicted soon a great devotee will come and spread Krishna Consciousness all over world.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.05.46 – 47 by HG Sri Nitai Prabhu – 6^th Sep 2025

Important points from the class

• Two things must go on: deity worship which is called pāñcarātriki-vidhi and hearing about the Supreme Lord from Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and other Vedic literature which is called bhāgavata-vidhi.
• Life is transient. At any moment we can die. Therefore, those who are advanced devotee, they want to see that “I have got very short period of life at my disposal…” Therefore, he is very anxious to utilize every moment for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is madhyama-adhikārī. Avyartha-kālatvam.
• Faith is created after reading Bhagavad-gītā. If you read Bhagavad-gītā carefully and if you actually understand Bhagavad-gītā as it is, then faith will be created. Without reading Bhagavad-gītā, there is no question of faith in Kṛṣṇa.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Sri Ram Raghav Prabhu – 16^th September 2025

Chapter Name: Narada Concludes His Teachings to Vasudeva

Verse: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.50 – 52

Important points from the class

• Krishna does not want us to live in this world because misery keeps on coming in this world again and again.
• This is why after Bhagavad Gita 4.7 and Bhagavad Gita 4.8, Krishna says verse Bhagavad Gita 4.9.
• In BG 4.9, Krishna says that we should get liberated from this world as here miseries do not stop.
• Although children are mischievous but still parents take care, similarly demons are taken care by the Lord although they are against God.
• In Iskcon Juhu temple, one person was coming to take khichdi prasadam daily but one day when he was asked to chant Hare Krishna he refused and left. In the night, the devotee who was distributing prasadam, got a dream. Sri Sri Radha Rasbihari came in his dream and said, “I am giving him prasadam daily then what is your problem. Although he is not chanting Hare Krishna but at least he is taking prasadam.”
• Lord does not have any envy in his heart either for devotees or demons, he is most merciful.
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says to Amogha who was envious of him to free himself from the impurity of envy.
• When Lord kills demons then they get benefitted, they get liberated, but impersonal liberation.
• In this age we can be in touch with the Lord by chanting his holy name, Hare Krishna Mahamantra.
• Demigods pray, people of satya yuga pray that they want to take birth in Bharart in Kaliyuga because this age has great benediction that we can come quickly in connection with Lord by chanting “Hare Krishna.”
• Devotees should be convinced that no one can be happy without Krishna in this world.   
• Gap between two problems is called happiness in this world.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Sri Nitai Prabhu – 20^th September 2025

Chapter Name:  The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa

Verse: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.8

Important points from the class

1. Lord Krishna is although inconceivable, but he is approachable.
2. Devotees come to know that I am being affected by different modes – satya, rajas, tamo.
3. Nahusa got the post of Indra, and he got affected, he became proud and became a python.
4. But Lord never gets affected by anything material.
5. First category of people is those who think, “I need but I do not want to serve others.” 2^nd category think, “I need, and then I will serve.”  3rd category, like jnanis neither want anything nor serve anyone.
6. Lord Narayana do not want anything, but they just want to serve.
7. We are able to understand Krishna by the mercy of acharyas who did not take anything from the society but always wanted to serve the society.
8. Whether the Lord is in spiritual world or material world, he just wants to serve.
9. Anything we see with propensity to enjoy, we get attached to material modes but if we see anything with the desire to serve then we are free from the material modes.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Radharaman Prabhu – 23^rd September 2025

Chapter Name:  The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa

Verse: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.11

Important points from the class

• This verse talks that how all are meditating on Krishna – always remember Krishna and never forget Krishna.
• Four aspects of Bhakti Yoga – karma, tyaga, jnana, dhyana.
• We get many times attached to our ideas but important thing is to meditate on Krishna.
• Activities which help in chanting – breathing, beads (one bead at a time), back should be erect, brothers i.e. association of devotees.  
• Material world is meant for crying – we can cry for Krishna or maya.
• Price to enter Back to Godhead is laulyam i.e. greed to serve the Lord.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Nimai Anand Prabhu – 26^th September 2025

Chapter Name:  The Yadu Dynasty Retires to Prabhāsa

Verse: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.13

Translation of verse SB 11.6.13:

“O omnipotent Lord, in Your incarnation as Trivikrama, You raised Your leg like a flagpole to break the shell of the universe, allowing the holy Ganges to flow down, like a banner of victory, in three branches throughout the three planetary systems. By three mighty steps of Your lotus feet, Your Lordship captured Bali Mahārāja, along with his universal kingdom. Your lotus feet inspire fear in the demons by driving them down to hell and fearlessness among Your devotees by elevating them to the perfection of heavenly life. We are sincerely trying to worship You, our Lord; therefore may Your lotus feet kindly free us from all of our sinful reactions.”

Important points from the class

1. Everyone in this world is looking for shelter because this is our nature.
2. Jivatma being tastha sakti, will either take shelter of Krishna’s internal energy (antharanga sakti) or his external energy (bahiranga sakti).
3. This material world is unnatural for living entities.
4. The different shelters we take in this world are – money, family members, building relationships with big people like Prime Minister, businessmen etc, body, house, land, police, court etc.
5. As we have fear and insecurity, so we take shelter of above things.
6. The more we absorb in Krishna less fear we will have.
7. Those who live in illusion and like to live in illusion eg. demons, are fearful of lotus feet of the Lord.
8. But the devotees become fearless by taking shelter of the Supreme Lord.
9. Vamandeva always stays with Bali Maharaja, occasionally comes to meet Indra.
10. We should have right attitude to approach the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord which destroys all sins.
11. This becomes possible when we continue to hear about the glories of the Lord daily by reading Srimad Bhagavagtam and by doing harinam like chanting.
12. Sravanam and kirtanam help in smaranam.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Acharyaratna Prabhu – 27^th September 2025

Today was the beginning of Durga Puja camp. Students from different colleges like IIT, NIT and other premium institutes came for the camp.

Devotees who came for the camp went for “Kolkata Dham” darshan today.

HG Acharyaratna Prabhu spoke about Kolkata Dham

Important points from the class

1. Durga is external energy of Krishna.
2. She destroys the world as per the desire of Krishn – mayadhyaksena prakrtih
3. She punishes sinful people with trident.
4. Krishna says material energy of mine i.e maya, durga, is very difficult to overcome – daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī/ mama māyā duratyayā.
5. But those who take Krishna’s shelter can overcome maya.
6. In Chaitanya Bhagavat there is description of Lord Chaitanya coming to Kolkata in Baranagar, met a devotee Raghunatha Upadhyaya.
7. When Lord Chaitanya met him, he started reciting Srimad Bhagavatam.
8. He started reciting with great joy and Mahaprabhu started dancing.
9. He was reciting with heart filled with heart, he recited for 7-9 hours. Mahaprabhu said you are the best reciter of Bhagavatam, he gave him the name – Bhagavatacharya.
10. Mahaprabhu said that you are Shyamanjari in spiritual world.  
11. Bhaktivinod Thakura wrote an article in 1897 on Bhagavatacharya.
12. He wrote, Kolkata is non – different from Vrindavan.
13. In Vrindavan there are many kunjas of sakhi, Baranagar is part of Shyamanjari kunja where Krishna is served by recitation of Srimad Bhagavatam.
14. Bhaktivinod Thakura writes, “Most unfortunate that we abandon gold in our courtyard but search for it outside the country.”
15. Kolkata is part of Gaur Mandala Bhumi where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is served by reciting Srimad Bhagavatam. Here Srila Prabhupada appeared and he served Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by writing commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam.
16. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu travelled to Puri via Kolkata.
17. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu passed through Adi Ganga, which is near Tollygang, where Srila Prabhupada appeared.
18. Near Kolkata is Kumar hatta, birth placed Isvara Puri, spiritual master of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took little dust from that placed and many devotees followed, so much dust was taken, that place became a pond.
19. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is at following place always – where Sacimata cooks (Mahaprabhu comes and eat), wherever Lord Nityananda dances, in Srivas Angan and in the house of Raghav Pandit which is in Panihatti.
20. Here famous Panihati cida dahi festival took place.
21. Without Lord Nityananda mercy we can’t get mercy of Lord Chaitanya.
22. It takes 45 minutes from Newtown to go to Panihatti.
23. Kolkata is situated near bank of Ganges, Lord Chaitanya and his associates performed pastime.
24. Kharda, hear Kolkata, is headquarter of Lord Nityananda. With his wives, Srimati Vasudha Devi and Srimati Jahnava Devi, he performed pastimes.
25. Lord Nityananda came to Patharghata, performed Sankirtan.
26. Adi Saptagram – gold merchants stayed there who came to Kolkata when British made Kolkata their headquarters. Srila Prabhupada’s ancestors were in Adi Saptagram.
27. Gadhadhar Das, incarnation of effulgence of Gadhadhar Pandit, was upset with Kazi who was cruel and went to his house in the middle of the night and boldly preached to him. But he did with love and compassion which melted the heart of Kazi. Kazi said, “You go home from tomorrow onwards I will chant “Hari.”” As soon as Gadhadhar Das heard him chanting “Hari”, he said to Kazi that now you are delivered.
28. Bhaktivinod Thakura made this place his preaching center and preached to aristocratic people, uprooted apasampradayas. Built his home here, Bhakti Bhavan where he found kurma sila which he gave to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
29. Bhaktivinod Thakura revived teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
30. Bhaktivinod Thakura could have lived in Puri or Mayapur but he choose to leave his body from Kolkata.
31. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was born in Puri but he mostly lived in Kolkata. He made headquarters of Gaudiya Math in Kolkata. He also left this world from Kolkata. This is special place where great acharyas choose to leave their body.
32. For Iskcon, Kolkata is special because this is birthplace of Srila Prabhupada.
33. Lord performs pastime is called Sri Kshetra where one who does bhajan gets 1000 times benefit. But where Lord’s devotees appear is called sripad kshetra where one performs bhajan gets 1 million times mercy.
34. Srila Prabhupada said if you serve in Mayapur, you will get 1000 times my mercy but in Kolkata my mercy will be 10000 as this is my birthplace.
35. Srila Prabhupada started first life membership program in Kolkata and first RY in India in Kolkata.
36. Srila Prabhupada wanted that there should be 10 temples in Kolkata.
37. HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja was first temple President of Kolkata, he became president 10 times. HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj was first GBC of Kolkata.
38. HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja aid that it may be very difficult to build a gorgeous temple in Kolkata but we should just try and Krishna will then give his mercy.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Padma Netra Prabhu – 28^th September 2025

Chapter Name:  Nārada’s Instructions on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for Vyāsadeva

Verse: Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.11

Important points from the class

1. Prakashananda Saraswati was very learned, had 10, 000 disciples.
2. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said to Prakashananda Saraswati, “I am low. I am fool, so my guru said that you do not read Vedanta, you just do Sankirtan – harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam.”  So, I do harinam.
3. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked his guru, “What mantra you gave that I have become mad?” Guru said that it is the nature of mahamantra that anyone who chants become mad.
4. Everyone in this world is mad – for women, for money, for house, for post, for Krishna.
5. Better to be mad for Krishna.
6. One life, so give to Krishna.
7. Santana Goswami Rupa goswami very learned, very rich but gave up everything for Krishna.
8. Sanatana Goswami was very learned. He knew Bengali, Sanskrit, Arabic.
9. To Chaitanya Mahaprabhu he said, “People think that I am learned but I am fool because I know everything but real knowledge, I do not have that who am I, where I have to go, to whom to worship, how to worship, why to worship.”
10. We should go to guru as a foolish person – tad viddhi praṇipātena
11. When a so-called learned man asked the boatman while crossing the river on a boat, “Do you know about the waves of the ocean? The boatman said, “No”.  The scholar said your 25% life is wasted.  Then he asked, “Do you know about the sun, how it rises and sets? The boatman said, “No.”  The scholar said, “Your 50% life is wasted.” The scholar then asked about how the wind flows, the boatman said, “No, I don’t know.” The scholar said, “Your 75% life is wasted.” Then there was thunderstorm, and boat was about to sink. The boatman asked, “Do you know how to swim.” The scholar said, “No.”  The boatman jumped in the river began swimming and said, “Your 100% life is wasted.”
12. Srila Prabhupada said that we know many things but do not know how to cross the material ocean.
13. So along with material knowledge spiritual knowledge is also very important.
14. This material knowledge will remain for some time with us; one has to retire after certain period in this world.
15. One doctor was very knowledgeable but when he became old, he even forgot to take paracetamol when he got fever.
16. Real knowledge is to have devotion for Krishna.
17. Srila Prabhupada at the age of 70 spread Bhagavad knowledge all over the world. So, we should read Srimad bhagavatam daily.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HG Prem Swarup Prabhu – 29^th September 2025

Chapter Name:  Nārada’s Instructions on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for Vyāsadeva

Verse: Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.17

Important points from the class

1. Srila Prabhupada says topmost science of spirituality is Srimad Bhagavatam. It is the king of all Vedic literature. It is topmost theological science.
2. Jiva Goswami says Srimad Bhagavatam appeared on the tongue of Vyasadeva. This literature exists eternally.
3. Yoga means to connect with the Supreme i.e. Krishna.
4. Time magazine says the most exported commodity from India is “Hare Krishna.” 
5. Lord as Paramatma maintains everyone.
6. Pracetas did not ask for wife, but Lord offered them a wife because their father, Prācīnabarhis, had left home. So, the Lord took the responsibility of marrying Pracetas.
7. When someone becomes a devotee, accounts of a person are handled by Krishna not by Yamaraj.
8. Krishna gets engaged in the life of a devotee. Mother cow licks calf and makes it clean, similarly Krishna personally interferes to clean all dust from the heart of his devotee.
9. We should identify ourselves more with Krishna than with family and society. Family and society will remain for this life only but Krishna for eternity.
10. If a jiva becomes a worm in stool then no one will go with that person, but Krishna will go with us as Paramatma. So, can anyone love us more than Krishna?
11. Disciple means someone is there to discipline him or is above him.
12. In Vedic literature, eating nonveg is a concession for those who do not have control on their tongue, but it is not a license to kill animals and eat. But unfortunately, people misinterpret the Vedas and think the holy Vedas sanctions nonveg food. For eg. one butcher opened a slaughterhouse and named it as “Kali Mandir,” it is so abominable.
13. Anything which does not have connection with Krishna will agitate the mind.
14. Vyasadeva after writing literature became despondent as he had not glorified Krishna sufficiently.  
15. Since people are despondent, so they even commit suicide. Recently there have been 5 suicides in IIT. Everybody is suicidal, have stress, and is despondent because Krishna is not in their life.
16. Any pursuit other than Krishna will make us despondent.
17. If we know everything but do not know how to cross the material ocean, then it is useless.

Durga Puja Camp 2025 Class by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu – 30^th September 2025

As part of Durga Puja Camp 2025, HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu arrived at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata and gave class on 30^th September and 1st October 2025.

On 30th September, there were three sessions:

• 1st session was from 8:15 am – 9:45 am : Prabhuji spoke on “Karma – The Universal Logic of Life.”
• 2nd session was from 11 am – 1:30 pm : Prabhuji spoke on “Destiny – The Invisible Mover of Life Events.”
• 3rd session in evening was Question & Answer session from 4pm – 6:30 pm.

Karma – The Universal Logic of Life

Important Points from the Class

1. Karma refers to action, reaction to action, consequences of action, selection of action
2. “CIT” means to be conscious.
3. Karma: Action has results
4. Science too talks about cause and effect.
5. Nature does not work on morality but on strength.
6. When one says why bad things happen to good people, then it means that they expect order in universe.
7. There may be past actions contributing to present result.
8. In western world more cats and dogs are in park than children. Many ladies say, “they are “stay at home dog mom.””
9. Sometimes life will be unfair, and we have to live with it.
10. In atheism there are many philosophies – one is absurdism. Proponents of absurdism think “life is useless so only question to ask is when to commit suicide.”
11. Many people think “sometimes God is orderly and sometimes arbitrary” which is incorrect.
12. We should do our karma. Eg. Arjuna and Bhima were preparing for fight.
13. Actions do lead to good results eg. Pandavas.
14. Abrahamic theism is without reincarnation. Reincarnation allows us to increase the frame of reference.
15. Our past karma is always a mixed bag.
16. Sometimes one inherits property, and sometimes one inherits debts.
17. Life is unfair but not illogical or arbitrary.
18. Karma is for encouragement not for judgement.
19. Our actions matter even if they don’t seem to matter.
20. Even if at present, it does not seem that our actions matter but slowly our bad karma will go away by doing good karma (actions).
21. Life may be unfair now but may not be unfair always.

Destiny – The Invisible Mover of Life Events

Second Session was from 11 am – 1:30 pm. In the second session HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu spoke on the topic: Destiny – The Invisible Mover of Life Events

Important points from the Class

1. In scriptures, no one suffered is said that you suffered because of your past karma.eg Sita, Draupadi.
2. Let’s talk about destiny.
3. Our life story is not just choices and consequences. Conditions influence our choices.
4. For example, someone has an opportunity to go abroad for better career, but a family member may get sick, and he cannot go.
5. Choices are not made in isolation; they are made under certain conditioning.
6. Conditions -> Choices -> Consequences
7. Destiny is past unprocessed Karma: Collections of Past Actions, Uncontrollable things, Unpredictable, Already fixed.
8. Many things are shaped in our life at the time of birth.
9. Which family we are born into is one major installment of past karma.
10. When we are going though negative karma then whatever we do goes in a wrong way.
11. Destiny -> Uncontrollable ..When drunk driver drives in opposite direction and hit us.
12. Destiny -> Inevitable..Certain things which is bound to happen will happen.
13. Once act of betrayal can have lifelong devastating experience for us.
14. How our Past Karma and Present Karma affect our life:
15. Past Karma (50%) + Present Karma (50%): Output: 100%. Person is Super effective. E.g. Pandavas performed yajna and were prosperous, got Indraprastha.
16. Past Karma (-50%) + Present Karma (50%): Output: 0. Person is Under effective eg. Pandavas persecuted when they were child.
17. Past Karma (-50%) + Present Karma (-50%): Output: -100%. Person is doomed. eg Duryodhana schemes.
18. Past Karma (+50%) + Present Karma (-50%): Output: 0. Person is destructive  eg Duryodhana before Pandavas arrived in the kingdom as children with Kunti.
19. We can change impact of destiny – we desire, we deliberate and we decide
20. 4 things can happen in our life -> disease, debt, death, betrayal
21. Our present actions do make a difference, it matters.
22. We should make our present karma positive whether our past karma is bad.
23. Doing our present karma properly is dharma.

Thousands of devotees participate in 54th Kolkata Rath Yatra festival of Iskcon

Hundreds and thousands of devotees enthusiastically came out on the streets of Kolkata to welcome Lord Jagannath during 54^th Kolkata Rath Yatra festival organized by Iskcon. The Rath Yatra procession began at around 2 pm but devotees in large numbers were there many hours before to take a glimpse of Jagannath who was happily sitting on a beautiful and huge chariot. 

Lord Baladeva and sister Subhadra too were there on their chariots. Lord Baladeva was in front, sister Subhadra in the middle and Lord Jagannath at the last. Prabhupada’s deity was on the chariot of Lord Baladeva.

The program started with Pahundi, when Lord Jagannath was taken from the altar to the chariot along with his brother and sister. After the Lord ascended the chariot, his arati was performed and for the pleasure of the Lord there were traditional musical and dance performances in front of the chariot.

Meanwhile arrangements were made for all who had come for the Rath Yatra festival to take delicious prasadam.

Colourful Rath Yatra Procession

As soon as the procession started from Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple at Minto Park, devotees thronged near the chariot to pull the rope of the chariot. Rath Yatra procession was huge. In the beginning of the procession devotees were doing ecstatic kirtan.

There were ladies who were carrying arati plates, some were carrying flags, some devotees during the entire procession were performing folk and traditional dance, there were children dressed as Radh, Krishna, gopas, gopis. There were kirtan parties in front of the chariot of Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra.

Everyone was chanting Jai Jagannath and were singing the Hare Krishna Kirtan. And while singing devotees were joyfully dancing too.  There were devotees cleaning the road with brooms.  The roads were decorated with colourful rangolis.

While the procession was going on thousands of people were standing on the street to welcome the Lord. As soon as they saw the Lords on the chariot, their faces lit up. They immediately offered their respects to the Lord; some even bowed down on the road to pay their obeisances.

After doing so, they immediately rushed towards the chariot to pull the ropes. People working in the offices wearing their ID cards too came out to pull the ropes.

While they were eagerly pulling the chariot, they were also helping and encouraging others to pull the chariot. At one place when one old lady was facing difficulty in pulling the chariot, then people came forward to help her. There were small children too who got to pull the rope of the chariot.

Some thought that it won’t be possible for them to walk with the Lord for hours till the Lord reaches Gundicha temple. They thought that they will take darshan of the Lord and after pulling the chariot will immediately leave. But as they started marching with the Lord Jagannath, they forgot their fear and fatigue and remained till the end of the Rath Yatra.

Some were not well so had decided not to come but when they saw the procession live on You Tube and heard from their friends that how they are celebrating the festival they immediately took a cab and joined the Rath Yatra procession.

Old men and women who had difficulty in walking were seen welcoming the Lord from their balconies.

At different places arati of Jagannath, Baladeva and Shubhadra was performed. And after arati, bhoga was offered to the Lord. Prasadam of the Lord like different varieties of sweets and fruits were abundantly distributed.

Also, at different places people were freely offering water, fruit juices, lassi to those who were in the Rath Yatra procession. They were quite eager to serve the devotees.

The weather too was good. Neither it was too hot nor it rained.

Jagannath is everyone’s Lord

In the Rath Yatra festival, everyone was there – men and women, young and old, rich and poor, Hindus and non-Hindus, Indians and non-Indians.

And it is natural too; Lord Jagannath is everyone’s Lord. He is not just the Lord of the Hindus, but he is the Lord of all the people of the world. He is not an Indian Lord, but he is the Lord of the entire Universe.

Lord Jagannath resides in everyone’s heart and everyone belongs to him. Some know about it and unfortunately some do not know about it. But by the grace of Jagannath’s devotees like Srila Prabhupada, today people all over the world are understanding this truth and so thousands of people all over the world forgetting their material identities are happily getting connected to Jagannath.

9-day Rath Yatra festival

The Ratra festival finally reached Brigade Ground Parade around 7 pm. Here a makeshift Gundicha temple has been built. The Lord will remain here till the day of Ulta Rath Yatra which is on 5^th July.

Huge pandal has been set up here. During this period there will be different programs, cultural events, talks by senior sannyasis, daily Bhagavatam class, arati in the morning, afternoon and evening, kirtan, dance performances and so on.

In the pandal, there are various attractive stalls for youths and children. Khicdi prasadam will be distributed free to all. There will be prasadam counters from where devotees can buy and enjoy Jagannath’s delicious prasadam.

54^th Kolkata Rath Yatra organized by Iskcon is a 9-day festival, and it is expected that daily thousands of devotees will visit the pandal to seek blessings of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Shubdra Devi.

If you are in Kolkata, then do visit the Gundicha temple at Brigade ground. If not in Kolkata, then wherever you are do visit the temple of Lord Jagannath and make your life divine.

Three Reflections

• Thousands of devotees joyfully participated in 54^th Kolkata Rath Yatra of Iskcon.
• During Rath Yatra, everyone came out on the street to pull the chariot of the Lord – men, women, young, old, Hindus, non-Hindus, Indians, non – Indians – because Jagannath is everyone’s Lord.
• We should forget our material identities and get connect to Jagannath and make our life divine.

Ask Yourself

• Am I planning to visit Gundicha temple to take darshan of the Lord?

Action Item

• If not, then plan to visit the Gundicha temple and seek blessings of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Shundra Devi.
• Chant few rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra in front of Jagannath.

World Hindu Congress honours Srila Prabhupada & Iskcon

The 2nd World Hindu Congress held at Chicago, United States, honoured Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON for the extraordinary contribution in spreading the teachings of Vedic scriptures like Bhagavad Gita all over the world.  Srila Prabhupada is the founder acharya of Iskcon.

With participants from 60 countries, it is one of the largest international Hindu conferences. In its message while honouring Srila Prabhupada and Iskcon, World Hindu Congress said, “For spreading the message of Bhagavad-Gita to unreached areas through translation in over 70 languages and making it accessible to diverse ethnic communities throughout the world.”

Determined Preacher, full of compassion

When Srila Prabhupada was physically present, he travelled all over the world, to spread the teachings of Bhagavad Gita and other Vedic literatures. He was doing his best to wake up the sleeping souls who were suffering because of ignorance.  

Srimad Bhagavatam 3.5.3 says, “… great philanthropic souls travel on the earth on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to show compassion to the fallen souls who are averse to the sense of subordination to the Lord.”

Once when one of his godbrothers said to Prabhupada, “So you are going to America?” Prabhupada immediately replied, “No, Srimad Bhagavatam is going to America. I am accompanying Srimad Bhagavatam as a servant.”

He travelled all alone at the age of 70 to lay the foundation of worldwide Krishna conscious movement. He was penniless. When death stared at him, he remained fearless.

And when challenges confronted him, he fought hard in spite of his frail body. When the going was tough, he continued working for Krishna with patience and determination.

Srila Prabhupada had appeared in this world to fulfil the prophecy of Lord Chaitanya that the holy names of Krishna will be chanted in every town and village of the world. He came to tell each and every one to shun sins and surrender to Krishna. 

Prabhupada came to reunite all the souls who is suffering the repeated cycle of birth and death with Krishna. He came to inundate the heart of sufferings souls with love of Krishna.

He was here because he cared for us because he saw everyone children of same God. The fortunate souls who agreed to abide by his teachings gave up sinful habits, sinful tendencies and so were able to experience the bliss of devotional life.

Krishna sent him for us

There are millions of unfortunate souls who leave the abode of Krishna to pursue their personal ambitions. They don’t want to serve Krishna, but they want to be served like Krishna. And they don’t want to love Krishna but want to be loved like Krishna.

They don’t want to worship Krishna but want to be worshipped like Krishna. When they see cowherd girls and boys singing and dancing to give pleasure to Krishna, they think why Krishna should be the only enjoiner.

The seed of envy soon fructifies, and they leave their spiritual homes, their spiritual family members and come to this ephemeral world.  Krishna being very kind and caring makes all arrangement for them to pursue their separatist goal, but they are warned that away from the spiritual world suffering is inevitable.

Krishna accompanies the souls wherever they go as paramātmā.  And he also appears in this world again and again to reclaim the lost souls. Not just that he sends his chosen representatives to illuminate the heart of ignorant masses who is suffering terribly and have got so accustomed to suffering that they do not realize they are suffering.

So, Krishna sent Srila Prabhupada to save the suffering souls like us. It is not mere a chance that Prabhupada appeared on the day of Nandotsava, he came as per Krishna’s plan to invite us to celebrate our life with Krishna.

Spread the teachings of Vedas all over the world

One of the most important qualities of Prabhupada which attracted me initially was that he never claimed he is God but always said Krishna is God.  He made Krishna so popular that today Janmashtami and Rath Yatra is celebrated in almost all the major cities of the world.

Srila Prabhupada made love of Krishna accessible to anyone and everyone and so today holy names of Krishna is chanted by millions of people all across the world.

He made the transcendental teachings of Vedic literatures accessible to all.  Srila Vyasdeva wrote in Sanskrit to illuminate the world with the message of Krishna. Feeling compassion on spiritually illiterate people he not just translated the verses in English, the most popular language of our time, but gave elaborate purport to give us complete import of the verses.

Salients features of Prabhupada’s literary contribution

• Wherever and whenever his books are read without prejudice people irrespective of their religious affiliation begin appreciating it.
• Wisdom words of his transcendental literature have the potential to unite the warring nations.
• His sublime message enlightens those who foolishly shed blood in the name of their God.
• His teachings forces those who exploit others to see all living beings as children of the same God.
• If his purports are read with an open heart then it floods the hearts of lesser mortals with love for all.
• His books are revolutionary and if people read it with an open mind it can unite entire humanity.

Unparalleled struggle and sacrifice to spread Krishna Consciousness

Although Prabhupada physically left us but he continues to be with us through his pure Krishna conscious teachings. Although Prabhupada departed from this world around in 1977 years back but through his books he continues to transform the lives of millions of people all over the world.

His books which tell us how we can reawaken our dormant love for Krishna has been distributed in almost every part of the world. From the silicon valley of California to the jungles of Africa, anyone who reads these sacred books instantly feel connected to Krishna.

During his physical presence Prabhupada created an army of dedicated disciples, his spiritual children, who are currently working wholeheartedly with dedication to spread the Krishna conscious movement.  Without caring for their life, they are working tirelessly to share the message of Vedic literatures with all.

It is only the magic of his empowerment that we have such exalted Vaisnav acharyas with us who are inspiring us to surrender and commit to this life transforming Krishna Conscious movement.

As a spiritual master, Prabhupada, has set such an example which justifies the saying mukam karoti vachalam. pangum langhayate girim. yat-kripa tam aham vande. sri-gurum dina-taranam. “I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains.”

The more one studies Prabhupada’s life and his teachings one develops more appreciation for him. In the history of humanity there would rarely been a person who sacrificed to such an extent selflessly to give Krishna to others.

World Hindu Congress recognised the contribution of Srila Prabhupada and the efforts of Iskcon in spreading the teachings of Bhagavad Gita and other Vedic literatures all over the world.

Gaur Nitai Deity Installation at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata

Gaur Nitai Deities have finally appeared in Newtown. Grand installation ceremony of Sri Sri Gaur Nitai Deity was celebrated in Kolkata from 19th May 2002 to 22nd May 2022.  

Sri Sri Gaur Nitai Deities have finally appeared in Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata. Grand installation ceremony of Sri Sri Gaur Nitai Deities were celebrated in Newtown, Kolkata from 19th May 2022 to 22nd May 2022.

HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Prem Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Vijay Bhagavat Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Dayita Adi Purush Swami Maharaj, HG Sankarshan Nitai Prabhu, HG Sankarshan Prabhu (ACBSP), HG Samba Prabhu, HG Hrimati Mataji (ACBSP), HG Atul Krishna Prabhu, HG Prem Harinam Prabhu, HG Sundarvar Prabhu and thousands of devotees participated in this wonderful ceremony. 

HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Maharaj, HG Dayaram Prabhu attended the ceremony virtually.

HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj and HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj named the Deities Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga.

The installation ceremony started on 19th May 2022 in the morning.

Below is the brief description of the installation ceremony:

Important Events during Gaur Nitai Deity Installation

*19th May, 1st day -*

8.00 AM :  Acharya Anujna, Vishwaksena puja, Vasudeva Punyah-Vachan

• Acharya Anujna: In Acharya Anujna, Temple Council Members, HG Acharya Ratan Prabhu, HG Prem Swarup Prabhu, HG Anant Bhagavan Prabhu, HG Sri Nitai Prabhu, HG Anand Vardhan Prabhu and the Pujaris – HG Vrindavan Chari Prabhu and HG Sri Ram Raghav Prabhu – and Purushottam Goyal Prabhu who sponsored the installation ceremony took a vow to serve the deities as long as they are given the service.
• Vishwaksena puja: Vishwaksena, is the commander-in-chief of the army of Lord Vishnu. He is the gatekeeper and “chamberlain” of Vishnu’s abode in Vaikuntha. He is worshipped before any important temple festival which is held as part of Pancaratra temple traditions.

The priest who will oversee installation ceremony was also selected. HG Seva Atulya Prabu who serves in GBC deity worship ministry was selected as the priest for the ceremony. He was assisted by other priests.

9.00 – 10AM : Yajna Shala Pravesh Puja

Yaga Shala- Kalash Sthapana and Aradhana

10.00AM  – 12 P M : Vaishnava Homa

 *Evening session*- 

6.10 PM : Sankalpa 

6.20 PM : *Netronmilan Darshan (Opening of the Eyes)*: Deities were requested to open Their eyes.

Touching the Deity’s right eye with the stick dipped in honey, the priest chanted the following mantra,

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who protects the demigods with an army that manifests from His body, is very dear to them. Surya, Varuna, and Agni are like His eyes. He is the Supersoul, dwelling in all things and beings, both animate and inanimate in the universe. He pervades the higher planets, the Earth and space.” (Rg – veda 1.115.1, (Sukla – Yajurveda 7.42)

Touch the Deity’s left eye with the stick dipped in ghee, the priest chanted the following mantra,

“The Lord, the eye of knowledge, the primeval cause, the well-wisher of the devotees, is eternally situated in the supreme position. May we see the Lord for a hundred autumns. May we rejoice in the Lord for a hundred autumns. My we enjoy with the Lord for a hundred autumns. May we exist with the Lord for a hundred autumns. May we hear of the Lord for a hundred autumns. May we praise the Lord for a hundred autumns. May we be undefeated by demoniac elements for a hundred autumns. So that we may see the effulgent Lord eternally.” (Sukla – Yajurveda 36.24), (Rg – veda 7.66.16.)

Curtains were opened to give darsana of the Gaur Nitai Deities to the assembled devotees.  Along with kirtana and blowing of conch shells auspicious items were shown to the Lord such as cow, young Virgin girls (nicely dressed and decorated with all ornaments etc like gopis) carrying Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Tulasi plant, Bhagavad Gita etc.

6.30 PM: Vandapana (showing of different auspicious articles)

The deities were shown different auspicious articles.such as

1. Earth from Yamuna, ganga, mayapura, dwaraka
2. sandal paste with saffron
3. Rice Paddy
4. Durva Grass
5. A bowl of Fragrant Flowers
6. Swastika
7. Rochana
8. Gold jewelry
9. Silver jewelry
10. Copper utensil
11. 2 Silver lamps, lighted (very small vilakku) etc

These auspicious items were shown to the deities by HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharaj, HG Atul Krishna Prabhu and other dignitaries.

7.30 PM :  *Sayana Adivasa* (Placing the deities in an auspicious bed).

Sayanadhivasa (resting in the bed) invokes the spirit of sleep into the Deity for invoking presence of the Lord as well as the ability to bestow auspiciousness on the devotees.

Sayana – mandapa was made in the temple hall.  A new bedding with lace curtains were prepared for the Two Lords. Lamps were lit around the bed. A camara, fan, umbrella, mirror, jewels, and herbs were offered to the Lord and placed next to the bed. Six types of eatables, six types of juices, and sweet rice, milk, honey, ghee, fruit, cooked rice and other items were placed around the bed while chanting mantras.

*20- 05- 2022 Friday*

*2nd day . Morning session*- 

6.00 AM:  Jagaran (waking up the deities): Priest went to the sayana – mandapa where the deities were sleeping, and woke Them up by touching Their feet, ringing bell and chanting mantras.

7.00 -8.30 AM:  Nyasadi Homa 

9.00-10 am onwards: Maha-Abhisheka (Bathing the Lord):

With the chanting of the mantras and the kirtan, Nitai Gauranga were bathed with following auspicious items 

• Pancagavya Snana: Bathing the Lord with Milk, Yogurt, Ghee, Cow Urine, Cow dung.
• Pancamrta Snana: Bathing the Lord with Milk, Yogurt, Ghee, Honey, Sugar Candy Water
• Usnodaka Snana: Bathing the Lord with warm water.
• Sarvausadhi Snana: Giving herbal bath to the Lord.
• Mahausadhi Snana: Second herbal bath.
• Mangala Snana (auspicious bath): Bathing the Lord with water mixed with padmakam, rocana, durva, darbha, jatipuspa and kundapuspa.
• Bijastaka Snana (eight seed bath): Bathing the Lord with water mixed with eight seeds: barley, wheat, wild rice, sesame, millet, rice paddy, panic seed and rice which grows in sixty days.
• Ratnodaka Snana: Bathing the Lord with jewel water.
• Puspodaka: Bathing the Lord in flower water.
• Phalodaka: Bathing the Lord in fruit water.
• Gandhodaka Snana (scented water bath): Bathing the Lord in water with scents such as musk and aguru.
• Gandha (sandalwood): Smearing the Lord’s body with sandalwood pulp.
• Candanodaka Snana (sandalwood water): Bathing the Lord in water mixed with sandalwood paste.
• Sahasra dhara snana : Bathing the Two Lords with pure water showered from a “sahasra dhara” (a round tray with holes in the bottom.
• Kalasa Snana (waterpot bath): Bathing the Lord with water from eight kalasas.

Prana Pratishta: Prana Pratishta of Nitai Gauranga performed from 11.40 am – 11.55 am.   

This ceremony is performed to formally request the Lord to be present in His arca – form to accept the daily worship of the devotees. Prana Pratistha is performed by meditating on the Lord entering the Deity from one’s heart, while touching the Deity’s heart holding durva grass and white rice between the thumb, middle and ring fingers chanting mantras.

Prana Pratishta of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga was performed by HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj and other senior Iskcon leaders and pujaris.

Raja – bhoga was offered to the Lord after Prana Pratishta and then the curtains were opened for Darsana and first Sringar Arati.

Devotees were eager the see the beautiful Nitai Gauranga for the first time on the altar.

Cultural Programs & Other Attractions

During the Gaur Nitai deity installation ceremony beautiful cultural programs were also held. Devotees and many acclaimed artists participated in it. Dance, drama, devotional songs enthralled the assembled devotees.

Every day around 10000 people came for Gaur Nitai Deity installation ceremony and also to participate in various cultural programs. Prasadam was free for all. Kirtan continued throughout the four-day event.

Different attractive stalls were set up like Annakshetra stall, Gauranga’s food corner, Book stall, Go Puja and Aarti stall etc.

Most Merciful Lords have appeared

All the devotees feel extremely fortunate that Gaur Nitai have finally appeared in the Iskcon Newtown temple. Everyone feel blessed. Gaur Nitai is very merciful and all the devotees hope that the Two Lords will shower Their unlimited mercy upon them.

Locana Dasa Thakura in a song beautifully explain the mercy of Gaur Nitai.

parama karuṇa, pahū dui jana
nitāi gauracandra
saba avatāra-sāra śiromaṇi
kevala ānanda-kanda

The two Lords, Nitai-Gauracandra, are very merciful. They are the essence of all incarnations. The specific significance of these incarnations is that They introduced a process of chanting and dancing that is simply joyful.

Devotee Care Course at Iskcon New Town Kolkata

Iskcon New Town, Kolkata, organized three day “Devotee Care Course” from 26th Nov – 28th Nov 2021.  35 devotees from Iskcon participated in the course. Apart from the devotees of Iskcon New Town, Kolkata there were devotees from Iskcon Panihati, Iskcon Dhanbad and devotees from north-eastern states like Assam and Meghalaya. The total course duration was of 21 hours, and it was completed in 3 days. The class would begin at 10 am and would continue till 6:30 pm. In between there were breaks for lunch and morning and evening snacks.

HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu and HG Damodara Prabhu were the facilitators of the course. HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu is a senior devotee of Iskcon and is known all over the world for his wonderful spiritual discourses on Vedic literatures like Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita.

Why the need for Devotee Care Course?

Although devotees were excited about the course, but everyone was wondering why this course is required? In Iskcon devotee are aware and have attended courses/seminars on how to improve japa, how to distribute more number of Prabhupada’s books, how to study Vedic literatures scrutinizingly, how to organize festivals but for the first time many were hearing about Devotee Care Course.

So, HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu at the start of the course briefly addressed this important question – What is Devotee Care and why it is important? However, as the course progressed everyone started understanding the topic and by 3^rd day everyone was convinced that Devotee Care is indeed important and should be implemented withing Iskcon.

Devotees are the most important asset of Iskcon, and nothing can replace it. There have been many unfortunate incidents of devotees leaving Iskcon after practicing Krishna consciousness for many years or may be for many decades because they felt uncared withing the Iskcon community.  Devotees are sentient beings. They have feelings and emotions.  If they do not find their emotional needs getting fulfilled, they get broken hearted and with a heavy heart they disassociate themselves from the association of devotees. This course has been designed keeping in mind that devotees who are extremely dear to Krishna and Srila Prabhupada should be wonderfully taken care in Iskcon so that they never leave Iskcon.

HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu’s commitment for Devotee Care

HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu said that when the first time he attended the course, he got so inspired that he took a commitment that he will travel to any corner of the world to share this wonderful blessing. He said the if this course is taken seriously then it will make Iskcon what Srila Prabhupada actually wanted it to become – a beacon light for the whole world. There is only one problem in the whole world and that is lack of Krishna Consciousness and there is only one solution and that is Krishna Consciousness. And Iskcon is that organization which can give Krishna Consciousness and relieve the world from all sufferings.

One of the important highlights of the course was that everyone was engaged during the course. It was not like regular class where only the speaker speaks, and others just have to listen. There were many group exercises and skits. Everyone participated.

How it started?

Devotee Care course was first proposed in 2014. Top leadership of Iskcon showed interest in the concept. Lots of research was done while preparing the course. Questionaries were sent to leaders of Iskcon. Their inputs were taken into consideration. After due diligence Iskcon designed Devotee Care Course in 2017. A booklet was prepared. The booklet explains the importance of Devotee Care and systematically lays down guidelines as how care should be given. It also has several quotes from the scriptures, from Srila Prabhupada and from current Iskcon leadership which underlines the importance of Devotee Care. In the words of HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu “It is lifeline for devotee care. Each of the words are packed with tremendous wisdom. The more we read, the more we understand the importance of Devotee Care and get inspired to implement it.” All the participants were given the booklet at the start of the course.

Devotee Care course focusses on following four important questions

1. What is devotee care?
2. Why is it important?
3. Who is responsible?
4. How can it be practically applied? (i.e. embedded in Iskcon communities)

If all devotees are focussed on one consensus that devotee care is important then it will bring great result. It can then be widely implemented in Iskcon.

Defining Care & the need for a structure to give care

Care is a virtue. There should be a genuine desire to care for others. Especially the leaders of Iskcon should highlight the importance of giving care to the devotees. Now to give care to others without having a proper system in place is mere a lip service. Also having a system without virtue has no meaning because in that case there is no acceptance within the heart.

Lord Chaitanya cared for everyone, so he took sannyasa.  But he also made structure so that devotees are taken care. He trained devotees, instructed Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami to write books. Similarly, acharyas like Bhaktivinod Thakura and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura created system so that devotees feel protected and nourished.

Srila Prabhupada focussed so much on taking care of the devotees. He was always concerned about the well-being of the devotees. Just few days before his departure from this material world, he called HH Giriraj Swami Maharaj and asked how the movement will go on. HH Giriraj Swami Maharaj said by chanting and harinam. Srila Prabhupada said chanting and harinam is wonderful, but the movement will grow with proper organization and intelligence.

We see that Srila Prabhupada created a system.  He created GBC so that this Krishna Consciousness movement can grow in an organized way. He created BBT so that the spiritual literatures can be printed and distributed widely in a systematic way.

So, care should be as a virtue but there should also be a system put in place to give care. If any devotee faces any difficulty, they should come and get care.

HH Radhanath Swami says, “Leadership should be always asking question what it will take for each devotee to feel protected, inspired and enthused to remain in Krishna Consciousness till his/her last breath.

Vision & Mission of Devotee Care

Understanding the need of care GBC came out with a mandate for devotee care. It is described in the booklet from Page 10 -16.

The booklet describes the Vision and Mission of Devotee Care:

Vision:

Every devotee is spiritually happy and materially well -situated, positively identifying with ISKCON as a caring Society. Each devotee (a) responsibly looks after his or her diverse needs (b) can easily and successfully seek qualified help within the Society, and (c) wholeheartedly extends that care to others.

Mission:

• Ensure that the Vaishnava virtue of care pervades all aspects of the Iskcon society.
• Support and provide specific care services that enhance the spiritual, emotional, physical and social well – being of all ISKCON members.

HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu explained that vision means to see future and mission means to put efforts to make dreams into a reality. For example, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave a vision – prithvite ache yata nagaradi grama sarvatra prachara haibe mora nama i.e. in each and every town of the world my name will be chanted. And to shape his vision, he gave a mission, yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa, instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Areas and Recipients of Devotee Care

Areas of Devotee Care: 12 areas of Devotee Care have been identified. These are: (1) Spiritual Life, 2(a) Healthcare (Physical), 2(b) Healthcare (Mental/Emotional), 3 Marriage, Sex & Relationships (4) Child – rearing and child – care (5) Education (6) Career and Employment (7) Financial (8) Housing (9) Travel and Immigration (10) Consumer and Lifestyle (11) Legal and Civic (12) Mediation Advice.

And there are 12 recipients of Devotee Care:  1. Women, 2 cows, 3. Brahmanas 4. Children and youth 5. The elderly 6. Brahmachari Community 7. Grihastha Community 8. Vanaprashtas  9. Sannyasis 10. Other Temple Residents 11. Leaders 12. Senior devotees.

It was important to know what the devotees attending the class think about the areas and recipients of devotee care. The class was divided into groups, and they were asked to discuss within the group and find out which are 3 most important areas of devotee care and top three recipients of devotee care. While there were some difference of opinions but everyone agreed that the most important area is Healthcare (Mental/Emotional). Along with this priority was given to spiritual life and education. For top three recipients of Devotee Care there were Children and youth, Grihastha Community and Leaders.

Twelve principles and Values

Devotee Care should permeate every aspect of devotees’ life. And for this it is important that there are principles, guidelines, sets of practices and systems put in place. Each Iskcon temple may have emphasis on different aspects. Some Iskcon centres are run by brahmacharis, some by congregation devotees. Then there are farm communities. But for all the centres the core principle should be the same.

Six principles have been laid down for devotee care. These are – Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and example, Vaishnava Seva, Loving Relationships, Attentive Listening, Positive Sense of belonging, Spirited (PEP) Leadership.

What could be the cause of inadequate devotee care in Iskcon?

It is always better to learn from the past, so that the mistakes can be corrected and not repeated in the future. There have been instances of inadequate devotee care. In their spiritual life many devotees have gone through the experience where they felt that they did not get proper care. There are twenty-one reasons given in the booklet for inadequate devotee care. They arrived at these reasons based on the inputs they received from the worldwide devotee community.

Before going through the reasons given in the booklet, HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu asked devotees to list down the reasons which they feel are the cause of inadequate devotee care.  Interestingly devotees attending the course too agreed with the reasons given in the booklet. The top reasons for inadequate devotee care included self-interest, short – term vision, wrong priorities & lack of individual empowerment.

Devotees also enacted skits to show how inadequate Devotee Care affects them. In the skit devotees showed that how even when they are sick then no one is there to care for them. During the exam times, students are asked to go out and distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books and so on.

Who is responsible for Devotee Care?

Ideally every devotee in Iskcon is responsible for Devotee Care but the leaders have to play the most important role. “Many researchers (and previously philosophers) have taught that the responsibility for embedding value in an organization rest with leaders, including administrators.” Devotee Care Education, Course Material, Page 28. Within Iskcon there are two types of leaders (a) the direct care-giver (b) the caring administrator. These two types of leaders should have proper skill set so that they can give proper care.

So, it is important that the leaders are properly trained and educated. Even in corporate world we see that one is first trained before one becomes a leader.  So, training and education is required for Iskcon leaders as well. Iskcon leaders play a significant role in embedding the culture of care within the devotee community.

HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu gave the example of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj. He said that when HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj is away from Iskcon Chowpatty, Mumbai for a long period of time then upon returning back the first question he asks is – Are all the devotees happy? Are all the children happy?

Earlier at Iskcon Chowpatty there were differences among grihastas and brahmacharis but Maharaj made sure that both the ashramas develop genuine love and respect for each other, they value each other’s contribution.

One of the most important qualities of a leader is that he respects everyone’s opinion. So, he listens to all. Lord Rama before giving shelter to Vibhishana had a meeting with all the vanara leaders. He heard everyone, everyone felt happy and valued. So, when he decided to give shelter to Vibhishana everyone agreed.

Emphatic and Reflective Listening

For one and a half day HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu covered multiple aspects of Devotee Care. On the 2nd day after lunch, HG Damodara Prabhu took over. He helped in revising the whole subject. He spoke on the importance of developing right listening skill.  This concept he explained through a skit.

Skit on Emphatic listening

One devotee took the role of a manger of the temple. A devotee came to him with his grievances. Initially it was shown that the manager was not showing much interest in hearing the devotee’s problem. So, the devotee felt unwanted and uncared. But later when the manager heard the devotee emphatically and encouraged him and appreciated him for the services he is doing then he felt happy and cared.

People’s Emotional Vacuum

After the skit, HG Damodara Prabhu explained the importance of empathic listening.  He said that empathy means feeling other’s pain i.e para-dukha-dukhi. If we have to correct others, then first we have to connect with them. Lord Chaitanya first connected with Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya and then corrected his wrong concepts and made him a devotee. If someone feels that he has been understood, then that person is going to completely get connected with us.

People have emotional vacuum and if we take care of the emotional need of a devotee by listening attentively then many problems will get resolved. He further said that where you have to give affection do not give instruction because by this problem will not get solved but will aggravate. If someone feels that someone understands him then 50% of the problem gets solved. We have two ears which are always open and a mouth which is always shut. So, let us listen with our two ears and with open hearts.

Caregivers should be cautious

The caregivers should be willing to listen and address other devotees need. They should not start giving opinion immediately and should also respect other’s opinion. Also, it is important that care givers should not micromanage a person, show partiality in dealing, be insensitive to others needs and should not get attached emotionally and physically especially with opposite gender.

After this HG Damodara Prabhu explained in detail that how devotees have to prepare Presentation on Devotee Care.

Team Presentations on Developing Devotee Care System

It was important that there should be proper assessment to ascertain that the devotees attending the course have properly understood the importance of Devotee Care. And if given an opportunity, how are they going to create a structure to implement it. To demonstrate their devotee care skill, devotees were required to make presentation on topics of their interest.  To create a system, a team is required. So, first teams were made. To prepare the team the entire class was divided into four groups and each group was given a spiritual name – Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra and Sudarshana.

Class divided into groups

Teams were made in such a way that they can relate with a common area of interest. For example, all the grihasthas and devotees engaged in congregation preaching were in one group, devotees involved in youth preaching were in one group and so on.

For presentation, following four components were required.

1. Defining Devotee Care
2. Importance of Devotee Care
3. Leadership Roles in implementing Devotee Care
4. Strategic Planning

For strategic planning, devotees had to have a vision statement, key result areas, annual goals, foreseeable challenges and means of evaluation. They also had to do SWOT analysis while preparing strategic planning.

Although each of the teams choose their own topic for presentation but HG Damodara Prabhu was actively helping devotees in writing their vision statement, in making strategic planning and in SWOT analysis.

Each team had 20 minutes for presentation. It was followed by questions from the audience and evaluators. Needless to say, HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu and HG Damodara Prabhu were the evaluators.

The Four team made presentation on following topics:

• Jagannath group: Mental & Emotional need of Iskcon leader 
• Baladeva group:  Career and Employment for Youth
• Subhadra group: Taking care of Mental/Emotional Needs of Grihastha Communities
• Sudarshan group: Temple Grihastha Development committee

After the presentation, the audience asked questions to the teams. Later the evaluators too asked questions and gave their feedback. One interesting thing was that each team selected their topic by keeping in mind that they will try their best to implement it.

Conclusion & Certificate Distribution

After the presentation devotees were requested to speak about their experience about the course. Without fail everyone felt satisfied and grateful to Iskcon GBC for formulating this course. They shared their personal viewpoint, and all agreed that they will implement it in whatever way it’s possible. HG Acharya Ratan Prabhu said that he will work on forming a Devotee Care Team in Iskcon New Town Kolkata. Everyone thanked HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu and HG Damodara Prabhu for conducting the course in a planned and strategic way and giving their time and invaluable association to all.  HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu thanked all for taking up Devotee Care Course and requested all to apply this knowledge in their devotional life. 

At the end devotees got certificate for participating and completing Devotee Care Course. Certificates were first offered to Srila Prabhupada by HG Acharya Ratan Prabhu. And then each participant received certificate from HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu. During certificate distribution devotees were beautifully singing Hare Krishna kirtan.  And finally, there was a group photograph of all the devotees with HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu.

Reference:  Devotee Care Education, Course Material, Student Handbook

ISKCON holds candlelight protest against the attack on Hindus & Iskcon in Bangladesh

ISKCON devotees held candlelight protest in Kolkata and West Bengal against the attack on Hindus and Iskcon devotees in Bangladesh.

While the world sleeps and remains indifferent to the plight of the Hindus in Bangladesh, Iskcon devotees in Bangladesh and in India are trying to wake the indifferent regime by holding protests. Iskcon Kolkata protested outside Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. Hundreds of devotees holding candles protested the attack and the gruesome killing of Iskcon devotee and other innocent Hindus in Bangladesh. HG Radheshyam Prabhu a senior Iskcon devotee and President Iskcon Pune led the protest with kirtan.

Cycle of violence in Bangladesh in past few days hasn't stopped. There was dance of death inside ISKCON temple on Friday. ISKCON will continue to protest outside Bangladesh High Commissions across the world until the guilty are punished: Radharaman Das, Vice Pres, ISKCON Kolkata pic.twitter.com/clZx8iKDJ6

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2021

Iskcon to hold protest all over the world against the attack

Iskcon has decided to protest all over the world in front of Bangladesh High Commission. Radharaman Das, Vice President, ISKCON Kolkata said, “Cycle of violence in Bangladesh in past few days hasn’t stopped. There was dance of death inside ISKCON temple on Friday. ISKCON will continue to protest outside Bangladesh High Commissions across the world until the guilty are punished”

Iskcon devotees also protested in Siliguri, West Bengal with a torch rally.

West Bengal: ISKCON devotees protested & held a torch rally in Siliguri today following the incident where an ISKCON temple in Noakhali, Bangladesh was vandalised and a devotee was killed by a mob yesterday. pic.twitter.com/0nWOIbP9au

— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2021

Protest is happening also in Bangladesh. Hindus and non communal Bangladeshis have taken to the street to protest the violence against the Hindus in Bangladesh.

https://twitter.com/taslimanasreen/status/1449912311125188615

The world remained silent when Hindus were being attacked and killed in Bangladesh. The Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not issued any official statement on the anti Hindu riots in Bangladesh. Some of the media reports suggested that the Indian government is satisfied with the efforts of Bangladesh government in controlling the riot. However Iskcon Bangladesh has strong refuted that the situation in Bangladesh is normal. Hindus and Iskcon devotees are still living in fear.

Expressing deep anguish at such reports Iskcon Bangladesh tweeted, “The news reported that India has praised Bangladesh’s efforts to control the situation. Who says the situation is under control @MEAIndia ? Are Indians blind? Never expected From India.”

https://twitter.com/IskconBDH/status/1449460727006203904

Devotees killed, temples destroyed, Bhagavad Gita desecrated, Srila Prabhupada deity burnt

Heart wrenching videos of brutal attacks by Muslim mobs on Hindus is slowly surfacing. A Iskcon devotee is critically injured. Not sure if he survived or not. Even if he survives will he be able to lead a normal life?

https://twitter.com/IskconBDH/status/1449225105385537543

Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Hindu holy book, desecrated, temples burnt. Secular world remained silent. Secular Hindus did not say anything else they will lose their secular credentials. Placard activists did not find time from their busy schedule to tweet in support of Bangladeshi Hindus. Reason is simple – #HindusLivesDoesNotMatter

https://twitter.com/IskconBDH/status/1449337495838203907

Deity of Srila Prabhupada, founder acharya of Iskcon and a prominent vaisnvav saint desecrated in Bangladesh. Violent Muslim mobs attacked Hindus and Hindu temples because they alleged (falsely) that their holy book was demeaned. So they have been killing Hindus, destroying Hindu temples, desecrating Hindu holy scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and burning the deity of acharyas like Srila Prabhupada.

https://twitter.com/IskconBDH/status/1449024993682026500

While Hindus suffer brutal attack in Bangladesh, world remains silent

As the world remained mute spectator and did not come out to support the Hindus in Bangladesh, Iskcon Bangladesh in deep anguish tweeted a quote of Martin Luther King Jr., “We Will remember not the words of Our enemy, but the silence of Our Friends.”

https://twitter.com/IskconBDH/status/1449339755624288256

Without any support from the Bangladesh government and the Indian government Hindus in Bangladesh are fighting for survival. They know that the world will not hear their cry. They have to be there for each other and wipe the tears of their near and dear ones.

So they have decided to come out on the street and protest the attack on Hindus and Iskcon devotees in Bangladesh. It is always better to die fighting than being slaughtered like a goat in the slaughterhouse.

Iskcon Temple attacked in Bangladesh, one Iskcon devotee killed

In a shocking incident, Iskcon temple was attacked in Bangladesh and one devotee was killed. The attack happened in Noakhali, Bangladesh. Temple suffered significant damages.  Pictures posted by Iskcon on its twitter handle shows the extent of damage.  Pictures of Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani can be seen lying on the floor.

https://twitter.com/iskcon/status/1449029665578831873

“ISKCON temple & devotees were violently attacked today by a mob in Noakhali, Bangladesh. Temple suffered significant damage & the condition of a devotee remains critical. We call on the Govt of Bangladesh to ensure the safety of all Hindus & bring the perpetrators to justice.”

One Iskcon devotee killed in Temple attack in Bangladesh

But the most shocking part of the attack was that one of the young devotees was killed. Regarding the death of Partha Das, Iskcon said on Twitter, “It is with great grief that we share the news of a ISKCON member, Partha Das, who was brutally killed yesterday by a mob of over 200 people. His body was found in a pond next to the temple. We call on the Govt of Bangladesh for immediate action in this regard.”

It is with great grief that we share the news of a ISKCON member, Partha Das, who was brutally killed yesterday by a mob of over 200 people. His body was found in a pond next to the temple.

We call on the Govt of Bangladesh for immediate action in this regard. https://t.co/BLwqGsN36h

— ISKCON (@iskcon) October 16, 2021

Why attack a Iskcon temple in Bangladesh?

The fanatic Muslim mobs have been attacking Hindu temples for last few days because they allege that their holy book was insulted at Durga Puja pandal. Preliminary investigation has shown that none of the Hindus were involved in any kind of desecration of Muslim holy book. But still the violent mobs have been attacking Hindus.

Iskcon temples were not involved in any kind of activity which would have hurt the sentiments of the Muslim majority population then why the Iskcon temples were attacked in Bangladesh? It seems that the allegation of desecration is just an excuse to target the Hindu Community. It is a ploy to fill fear in the hearts of Hindus so that they stop celebrating Hindu festivals. So, Hindus in Bangladesh will have only two options – either to flee Bangladesh or stop being a Hindu.

Noyakhalite hamla চলছে। সবাই একটু সাহায্য করেন নাহ!!!! pic.twitter.com/yYe4u1Lz5G

— Avro Neel Hindu 🕉️🇧🇩 (@avroneel80) October 15, 2021

World remains a mute spectator on the attack on Iskcon in Bangladesh

When George Floyd, 46, was killed in US there was outrage all over the world. #BlackLivesMatter became a global movement. Partha Das was just 25 years old when he was killed. His only crime was that he was a devotee of Krishna. Will there be outrage across the world on his death? Will the prominent global personality speak for him? Will there be a candlelight march for him? Most probably not. The reason is because he is a Hindu. And the kinds of attack happening against the Hindus across the world, it seems that “Hindu Lives Does Not Matter.”

All the devotees of Iskcon and all the Hindu communities in Bangladesh are living in fear. They are fearful because they know that there is hardly anyone who will come in their support.

Iskcon has never engaged in any kind of violence. It is an educational spiritual organization. Iskcon has branches all over the world and it spreads the message of peace and harmony everywhere. It also does lots of social service. And its service is not confined to Hindu community. But Iskcon serves everyone – be it a Muslim, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs.

But unfortunately the blood thirsty mob attacked Iskcon in Bangladesh and the world community remained and remains a mute spectator.

Srila Prabhupada 125th Birth Anniversary Coin released by Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi

The Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi released a special commemorative coin of Rs 125 on the occasion of 125th Birth Anniversary of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who is loving called as Srila Prabhupada.  

The coin was released via video conferencing on 1st September 2021 at 4:30 pm IST. Devotees from different parts of the world joined the ceremony via video conferencing. The program was also telecasted live on many India News Channels.

Program began with Mangalacaran by students of Iskcon Gurukul, Mayapur

The program started with the recitation of prayers by the students of Iskcon Gurukul, Mayapur. They recited Mangalacaran Prayers.

Minister of Culture, Shri G Kishan Reddy glorifies Srila Prabhupada

After Mangalacaran Prayers by Iskcon Gurukul students, the program coordinator requested, Shri G Kishan Reddy who is a Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region of India to say few words on this auspicious occasion.

The honourable minister said:

“Srila Prabhupada’s life is of dedication, devotion and courage. He promoted Krishna all over the world. He promoted India’s culture, knowledge and tradition all over the world. Prabhupada gave practical solution to all the problem. And he preached the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world is one family. Due to Srila Prabhupada one can see big number of people of different nations wearing dhoti, kurta and sari. We see them chanting Hare Krishna and speaking on puranas.

Srila Prabhupada brought cultural revolution. He is the ambassador of Indian culture and philosophy. Today Iskcon is the greatest bridge between west and east. Srila Prabhupada several times stressed the need to revive India’s spiritual cultural. Iskcon has been in the forefront in the service of downtrodden. During Covid they were cooking 4000 meals daily for people. Srila Prabhupada introduced Jagannath Rath Yatra in western world, this is one of his great achievements.

Under Prime Minister Modi India has grown. Ayurveda has become an alternative medicine. Today, India is being recognised in the world for her spirituality.

I welcome all for this event.

I thank Prime Minster Modi for releasing coin on the 125th birth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada.”

HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj speaks on the occasion of release of coin of Srila Prabhupada on his 125th Birth Anniversary

After the speech of the Minister, the program coordinator requested HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada, and Iskcon GBC to speak.

HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj said:

“Respected Prime Minster Mr Narendra Modi, Ministry of culture, I am grateful for your time. As you know this year is Srila Prabhupada’s 125^th birth anniversary. Around 500 years ago, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had predicted that in all corners of the world Hare Krishna Mahamantra will be chanted.

Prabhupada was born in 1896 in Kolkata. In 1922, he met a renowned Vaisnava saint and scholar Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura who became his spiritual master. At that time, he was with Gandhiji’s movement. He was good in English, so his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, asked him to take the message of Bhagavad Gita to the western world.

This instruction was given in 1922 but he was able to go to west in 1965.  He went into cargo ship, was having only Rs 40 with him. It was 35 days journey. On his way, he was thinking how to spread the message of Krishna and Chaitanya. With great struggle he reached USA.  And with great struggle, he opened the first Krishna Consciousness centre in New York. Today all over the world Iskcon temple is present.

70 crore Vedic books translated by Srila Prabhupada distributed all over the world

Today even westerns devotees wear Indian Vaisnav dress like dhoti, kurta and saris. They put tilak. Srila Prabhupada translated Vedic scriptures in English language. Today more than 70 crore Vedic books translated by Srila Prabhupada have been distributed all over the world. Many renowned universities use it.

These books are today available in almost all the languages. Prabhupada translated more than 70 books.  He wanted that these Vedic books should be read by whole world and not just by Indians. In this modern age also we can live as per the Vedas.

May God shower his mercy upon Prime Minister Modi and his government

We are thankful to Prima Minister Modi for his precious time. Srila Prabhupada’s desire was to make everyone in the world happy. We should take benefit of the scriptures and live happily. Along with that Srila Prabhupada started food for life. Today food for life is in all parts of the world. Lakhs are getting the benefit. During Covid pandemic, we opened camps for the people.

Influence of Vedic culture is spreading all over the world. We are thankful to the Prime Minister that he came to inaugurate world’s largest Bhagavad Gita.  You are inaugurating the coin; we thank you for that.

May God give great mercy to your government. It is important that we should also have spiritual knowledge. When praja, people, take benefit of this knowledge, they get benefitted. May Lord give you strength to serve the country. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna!”

HH Gopal Krishna Goswami (@GKGmedia) thanks Honourable Prime Minister Shri @Narendramodi Ji for his kind gesture of releasing of Rs 125 commemorative coin in honour of Srila Prabhupada.#prabhupada125 pic.twitter.com/c33M6MXOfz

— ISKCON (@iskcon) September 3, 2021

Release of Commemorative Coin of Srila Prabhupada, Founder Iskcon on his 125^th Birth Anniversary

After the speech of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, the program coordinator requested Prime Minister Modi to unveil the coin on the occasion of Srila Prabhupada’s 125^th birth anniversary. Everyone was eagerly waiting for this moment. 

The Prime Minister released the commemorative coin with remote.

Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, speaks on the occasion of release of coin of Srila Prabhupada on his 125th Birth Anniversary

After releasing the coin, Prime Minster Shri Narendra Modi spoke the following words praising Srila Prabhupada and Iskcon:

Paying tributes to Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Ji. https://t.co/Os4Z23Nv4P

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2021

“Today is a very auspicious day. Two days back was Janmashtami and today is 125^th birth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada.  I see on my screen devotees from all over the world. It seems that lakhs of mind and body is connected to common Consciousness which is Krishna Consciousness. This is what Srila Prabhupada preached all over the world.

We all know that Srila Prabhupada was a transcendental devotee. Along with that he was a great Bharat Bhakt. He participated in non-cooperation movement of Mahatma Gandhi. He refused to take degree from Scottish college Kolkata during the non-cooperation movement.

On his 125^th birth anniversary, India is celebrating 75^th year of independence which we are celebrating as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Srila Prabhupada used to say that he is travelling to different parts of the world because he wanted to give great treasure of India to the world in the form of knowledge and culture. And he was doing so to serve the entire humanity.

Swamiji’s guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, saw his competence and gave him the instruction to take India’s philosophy to the western world.  Srila Prabhupada took the words of his spiritual master seriously and made it his mission.

Srila Prabhupada’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)

As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, our purpose is to benefit and serve the world. To achieve this, it is important to have help of all. We can imagine if Srila Prabhupada gave so much to the world and if we all by his blessings try together then how much we will gain. Message of love can be spread to each person. How much we can give to the society and to the humanity. India’s sustainable lifestyle and ayurvedic science will benefit all.  

Srila Prabhupada talked about Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Today India has made this her purpose and we are moving in that direction. Whenever I talk about Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, I tell my officials and businessmen to learn from Iskcon.

Here is why I refer to the success of the Hare Krishna movement during my interactions with people. @iskcon pic.twitter.com/CrJMZQ805I

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2021

When we go to other countries people greet us by Hare Krishna. We feel so happy, so proud. We feel at home. Just imagine if we get the same response for our make in India products then how much proud we will feel. We can learn from Iskcon and achieve our make in India goal.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu bound the world with Bhakti

Krishna said to Arjuna to attain knowledge and finally surrender to Krishna. This is called Bhakti Yoga which is given in Chapter 12 of Bhagavad Gita. Bhakti Yoga kept India’s culture alive when India was under subjugation. If Bhakti was not there then we do not know where would India have been.

आज विद्वान इस बात का आकलन करते हैं कि अगर भक्तिकाल की सामाजिक क्रांति न होती तो भारत न जाने कहाँ होता, किस स्वरूप में होता!

लेकिन उस कठिन समय में चैतन्य महाप्रभु जैसे संतों ने हमारे समाज को भक्ति की भावना से बांधा, उन्होने ‘विश्वास से आत्मविश्वास’ का मंत्र दिया: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 1, 2021

During that period Chaitanya Mahaprabhu bound the world with Bhakti. He gave the mantra of viswas (faith) to the people. He broke caste barrier and established relationship between jiva (soul) and the Lord. In India many sages and saints have come from time to time.  When world wanted Bhakti yoga, Srila Prabhupada came and Iskcon came.

एक समय अगर स्वामी विवेकानंद जैसे मनीषी आए जिन्होंने वेद-वेदान्त को पश्चिम तक पहुंचाया, तो वहीं विश्व को जब भक्तियोग को देने की ज़िम्मेदारी आई तो श्रील प्रभुपाद जी और इस्कॉन ने इस महान कार्य का बीड़ा उठाया।

उन्होंने भक्ति वेदान्त को दुनिया की चेतना से जोड़ने का काम किया: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 1, 2021

Srila Prabhupada’s struggle to establish Iskcon

For Prabhupada, it was not easy to start Iskcon.  He established Iskcon when he was 70 years old. This is the age when most people retire. It is very inspirational for all of us. We see people start saying they are too old to do or too young to do. But Srila Prabhupada from young age to old age continued focussing on his mission.

When he went to west to spread Krishna Consciousness, he did not have anything other than Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures. He got two heart attacks during his journey. He had no money, no place to stay and no surety of food.

In the words of Atal ji, former Prime Minister of India, kisi chamatkar se kam nahi (It is not less than a miracle). 

Iskcon temples and Gurukuls all over the world

Today in different parts of the world there are many Iskcon temples and Iskcon gurukuls. Iskcon has taught umang (enthusiasm), ulas (celebration) and manavta par viswas (faith in humanity). We see in different parts of the world devotees singing and dancing in kirtan.

For others it is utsav (festival) but for us it is part of our life. This attracts people. It is giving new hope to people all over the world. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says that when someone loves jiva, the soul, and does not hate anyone, he is loved by God. This thought process has been propagated by Iskcon.

आज दुनिया के अलग अलग देशों में सैकड़ों इस्कॉन मंदिर हैं, कितने ही गुरुकुल भारतीय संस्कृति को जीवंत बनाए हुये हैं।

इस्कॉन ने दुनिया को बताया है कि भारत के लिए आस्था का मतलब है- उमंग, उत्साह, और उल्लास और मानवता पर विश्वास: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 1, 2021

Iskcon devotees doing Krishna seva and are brand ambassador of India

I remember when there was earthquake in Kutch, Gujarat, Iskcon came forward to help. Whether its natural calamity in Uttarakhand or Orissa, Bengal cyclone, Iskcon came to help. During Covid you all have been helping people.

In spite of the pandemic Iskcon served food to lakhs of people, made hospitals for Covid patients and is helping in vaccination.

I thank all the devotees of Iskcon. Iskcon devotees are not only doing Krishna seva (service) but also, they are brand ambassador of India.

Thanks to all. Hare Krishna!”

With this the program to honor Srila Prabhupada on his 125th Birth anniversary by releasing Rs 125 coin in his memory concluded.

Note: I have paraphrased the speech of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Minister, Shri G Kishan Reddy.

Watch the video of the entire program here: https://pmindiawebcast.nic.in/2021/1sep21.html