The Intruder
One pleasant spring night Krishna and Balarama entered the forest of Vrndavana to enjoy the company of the gopis, Their cowherd girlfriends. Suddenly, there appeared … The Intruder
Lord Caitanya Revealing the Land of Krsna
While in Vrndavana, the Lord rediscovered many important places of Krsna’s pastimes. Among such places are Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda, two ponds that featured prominently in Krsna’s Vrndavana pastimes five thousand years ago.
The Dearest Friend
Man looks to woman, and woman looks to man. The teachings of the boy devotee Prahlada Maharaja explain that we’re looking for love in the wrong place.
A Wrath Supreme
Eons ago a wonderful incarnation of God revealed the relation between divine anger and transcendental love. by Dvarakadhisa-devi dasi Ferocious beauty. Red eyes glare out from a fearsome visage that writhes with rage. The form is massive. The powerful arms thrash in all directions. The being appears to be half man and half lion, with […]
CHANT!
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare In Sanskrit, man means “mind” and tra means “freeing.” So a mantrais a combination of transcendental, spiritual sounds that frees our minds from the anxieties of life in the material world. Ancient India’s Vedic literatures single out one mantra […]
Notes from the Editor
The Appearance of Lord Krsna Five thousand years ago Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appeared on earth to attract the people of the world back to Him. This year the annual celebration of Lord Krsna’s birthday, Janmastami, falls on August 27. Janmastami is perhaps the most widely celebrated of all the religious holidays […]
Able to Cross Mountains
Braving jungle paths, mountain trails, and flooded fields, Bhakti Raghava Swami has revolutionized the spreading of Krsna consciousness in India. by Anakadundubhi Dasa It’s six o’clock in the morning. Scores of Bengali pilgrims, bearing their clothes and blankets in bundles across their backs, hair still wet from their early-morning bath in the sacred Ganges, walk […]
Lord Krsna’s Cuisine
The Master and the Memorizer A student of cooking learns that a cook and a recipe tester are not the same thing. by Visakha-devi dasi Ten years ago when I was learning to cook, I would go into the kitchen each morning after breakfast armed with several recipes written by my teacher, Yamuna-devi dasi, take […]
In Pursuit of Perfection
For those who think perfection is unattainable, the Vedic literature says think again. By Nagaraja Dasa Claims of perfection generally draw skeptical responses. I saw a bumper sticker that read “Christians Aren’t Perfect, Just Forgiven,” implying that if we claim to be perfect no one will believe it. It seems the old adage “Nobody’s perfect” […]
Every Town and Village
A look at the worldwide activities of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Govinda’s Restaurant Opens in Ecuador Cuenca, Ecuador—ISKCON devotees recently opened a restaurant here in this large and important tourist city. The purpose of the restaurant, known as Govinda’s, is to distribute prasadam (vegetarian food prepared for and offered to Lord Krsna). […]
Srila Prabhupada Speaks Out
Sin in the Name of Religion This is the conclusion of a conversation between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and a guest, Dr. Christian Hauser, a psychiatrist, that took place in Stockholm in September 1973. Srila Prabhupada: Now, for one who is actually God conscious, where is the question of fighting or killing? […]
The Vedic Observer
Transcendental Commentary on the Issues of the Day Terror From The Year Zero by Suhotra Swami The year 1986 is proving to be a strange and terrifying year, especially for Americans living in Europe. The fear of terrorist reprisals against U.S. citizens in the wake of President Reagan’s air attack on Libya is palpable. Here […]
Spiritual Places
Half a mile up in the mountains of South India, the temple of Lord Venkatesvara attracts pilgrims from all over the world. Tirumala—High Haven of Krsna Consciousness by Kundali dasa Krsna has millions of names. Each name denotes one of His unlimited attributes. He is Rama, the source of bliss for His devotees; He is […]
Coming to Krsna
Free to Dance “I could envision myself, floating through pink and lavender hues, transforming my body into delicate strands of emotion.” by Dvarakadhisa Devi Dasi When I was a very young girl, I wanted to become a dancer—not an ordinary dancer, bound by the laws of gravity to thump and thud and sweat and pant, […]
Hidden Blessings
Try as we may, we cannot avoid the frustrations of life. But how can we use them to our advantage? A lecture in London in September 1971 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness In materialistic life we cannot control our senses and mind. The mind […]
Back To Godhead August 1986 PDF Download
BACK TO GODHEAD is the monthly journal of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. When Srila Prabhupada began the Society (in New York City, in 1966), he put into writing the purposes he wanted it to achieve. They are as follows: 1. To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all […]
Knowing and Serving the Original Person
The word Govinda refers to one who gives pleasure to the cows and the senses. There are many incarnations of Godhead, but Govinda is the adi-purusa, or the original person. As such He is not technically an incarnation of God but is God Himself.
Gopinatha! a Bhajan by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
O Gopinatha, Lord of the gopis, please hear my prayer. I am a materialistic rascal, always full of lust. I have no good qualifications.
Krishna The Transcendence Comes Into View
Our dear Lord, You have appeared in Your original unalloyed form, the eternal form of goodness, for the welfare of all living entities. Taking advantage of Your appearance, all of them can now easily understand the nature and form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
The Stealing Of the Boys and Calves by Lord Brahma
Lord Brahma had been watching Krishna. Brahma decided to show some of his own power and test the power of Krishna, who was engaged in His childhood pastimes. Therefore, in Krishna’s absence Brahma took all the boys and calves to another place.