On the auspicious occasion of Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi, a wonderful new resource has been made available for devotees worldwide: Srila Prabhupada Uvaca, a mobile web app dedicated to hearing the transcendental lectures of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada wrote in the Preface to Bhagavad-gita As…
Author: ccdasa
Prabhupada’s position is not merely historical. He remains the theological center, the Founder-Acarya, the primary authority, and the unifying figure around whom ISKCON’s future must be organized. Future gurus, leaders, and devotees are meant to represent him and continue his mission, while ensuring that his prominence remains undiminished for generations to come.
Every afternoon Srila Prabhupada gave darshan. Anyone could come to his sitting room to converse, ask questions or just listen. Back in America I would have given my eye tooth to go to his darshans, and I had lamented like anything when I was stuck on the BQE in New…
by Jyotirmayi (ACBSP) From about 1965 up to 1974, when Srila Prabhupada had to get less and less involved in temple management because of translating work and the tremendous increase of disciples and temples, the women devotees’ situation changed very little from what Srila Prabhupada had originally established. From 1974…
The modern ISKCON movement established a unique theological and practical emphasis on the distribution of sacred literature. Under the direction of the Founder-Arcarya, books were not viewed merely as educational tools, but as embodiments of transcendental sound (śabda-brahma) and a large, brihad-mridanga, preaching outreach. Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly described book distribution…
The ceremony of diksa marks the solemn moment when a conditioned soul formally enters the path of devotional service. By this sacred rite the disciple is connected to the authorized disciplic succession and becomes eligible to cultivate spiritual life under proper guidance. In this sense, diksa may be compared to admission into a distinguished university: it is essential, transformative, and full of promise.
When Prabhupada walked through the gorgeous building in Detroit, in the front lobby there was a painting of naked women bathing, and all the sannyasis were trying to be proper about things. Prabhupada looked at the painting, turned to them and said, “Very nicely done.” Then they came to a…
In late autumn of 1971, a spiritual phenomenon shook the very foundations of Vrindavana. The eternal pastimes of the Lord found renewed expression through the worldwide mission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, returned to his eternal residence not as…
Spiritual deviation rarely announces itself with open rebellion. More often it enters quietly, clothed in scholarship, old tradition, or “deeper understanding.” In Gaudiya Vaisnavism, such deviation frequently appears in one specific form: the gradual attempt of later followers to function as de-facto acaryas by relocating the center of scriptural authority.…
In every theological tradition, the question of authority—pramana—ultimately determines doctrine, practice, and continuity. Gaudiya Vaisnavism is no exception. While many sacred texts are honored within the broader Vedic canon, the tradition descending from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu establishes a clear hierarchy: among all scriptures, Bhagavatam stands as the supreme pramana. It…