ISKCON NewsThe News Agency of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

“Today We Have the Power,” a new documentary film about spiritual activism directed by Radha-Vallabha Dasa—a brahmachari monk at New York’s Bhaktivedanta Ashram—has just been released on DVD.

With the now-famous “Russian Bhagavad-gita case” over—at least for now—ISKCON News spoke to Bhakti Vijnana Swami, coordinator of devotees’ endeavors to protect the Gita in Russia and abroad, for some fascinating and educational reflections.

At this year’s annual meetings in Mayapur, West Bengal from February 10th through 21st, ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) passed a resolution requiring all ISKCON centers to prove their eligibility for a “Certificate of Readiness for Worship” before they can install or otherwise commence worship of Deity forms of God.

Addressing an audience of around forty, ISKCON scholar Ravindra Svarupa Dasa spoke on the connection between mental and spiritual health at the annual conference of the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy on March 25th.

ISKCON members representing 40 western countries arrived at the Lotus Temple (Radha Govinda Mandir) in Tirupati recently as part their spiritual sojourn along with one of the ISKCON's international heads Jayapataka Swami.

To present, promote and preserve spiritual heritage of ancient Indian philosophy and culture to modern Indian and international society, in an easy and appealing way, ISKCON Chennai will be inaugurating the ‘Centre for Spiritual Art and Culture’ on April 26.

Lizards and insects emerging out of midday meals will now be a thing of the past for 65,000 children studying in government schools in and around Jamshedpur, India. Come April 9 and their meals will roll out from delivery vans packed in shining steel utensils containing 'dal bhat and subzi'.

Between March 27th – 28th, 2012 the Hindu Forum of Europe held its Hindu Leaders Meeting in Radhadesh followed by a Networking Luncheon and a conference at the European Parliament in Brussels.

As the 21st century is progressing, there is a rise in the use of electronic medium for knowledge sharing. While going on book distribution during Monthly Sankirtan Festivals at ISKCON of Silicon Valley, USA, sometimes people mention that they prefer to have an electronic version of the book rather than the paper version.

During a visit to the Krishna Avanti School on March 29th, Queen Elizabeth II appreciated the school’s unique values and principles, based upon the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Fifteen devotees from the ISKCON temple in Dallas, Texas visited the Irma L. Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School in State Fair Park on March 9th this spring, receiving an enthusiastic and at times uproarious welcome.

For the past 4 months devotees from ISKCON Vrindavan have been holding regular Sunday feast programs in Karhagarh (prison house) of Kamsa, where Vasudev and Devaki were imprisoned.

A new book by Sri Radha Govinda Dasi called “How to Mess Up Your Life with Astrology,” released this January, warns of the dangers of approaching this ancient Vedic science in the wrong way, and explains its real meaning and purpose from the Vaishnava perspective.

In March 2012, the Krishna Kitchen team took part at the Envision Festival in Costa Rica where they catered at their first event overseas in honor of Nitai Das, the founder and Director of Krishna Kitchen who left this world on January 31st 2012.

On March 22nd, an Interfaith Meeting was held by the members of the Interfaith Council of Mendoza, Argentina. ISKCON was represented by Krishna Kshetra Das and Baladeva Das.

The prospects look promising. After fulfilling postgraduate requirements, College graduates will be well-equipped to apply for teaching and leadership posts in Avanti Schools. This collaboration primarily aims to help the I-Foundation meet the unprecedented demand for qualified teachers.

Many relief organizations are currently out in the field providing relief supplies to the flood affected people in the western division as many people need asisstance.

In Mayapur, West Bengal, construction on ISKCON’s flagship temple—the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium—is progressing quickly, heading towards a 2016 grand opening, in honor of ISKCON’s 50th anniversary.

A new playground sponsored for the Sri Mayapur International School in West Bengal by the Governing Body Comission (GBC), ISKCON’s highest ecclesiastical authority, is nearing completion after four months of preparation.

The Blue Mountain—a spiritual wonderland for children at this year’s upcoming Rathayatra in Durban, South Africa—promises to absorb youngsters in Lord Jagannath’s service through endless fun experiences, craft activities and games.