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ISKCON Connection Newsletter, Issue 28, September 22, 2019
 
Prabhupada Nectar
The more you think as imperfect, the more you make actual progress in Krishna Consciousness. This hankering after perfection is seen in even the most perfect devotees. So we should never think of being perfect at any stage

Letter to Hamsaduta -- Los Angeles 17 February, 1968

I thank you very much for your sincere appreciation, and for your feelings of imperfectness. The more you think as imperfect, the more you make actual progress in Krishna Consciousness. This hankering after perfection is seen in even the most perfect devotees. So we should never think of being perfect at any stage. Actually, Krishna Consciousness is unlimited, because Krishna is unlimited, so we do not know at which point the perfection is there. Even Krishna Himself thinks that he is imperfect to understand Radharani's feelings of devotion; and to understand the devotional feelings of Radharani, He became Lord Caitanya, to worship Krishna in the feelings of Radharani. So transcendental activities are so nice that it is all perfection, and still there is no perfect satisfaction. That is the duty of spiritual life. Please stick to your principles as you are now doing and serve Krishna to your best capacity, and Krishna will give you all protection undoubtedly.

I am very happy to hear you are making nice arrangements for the Kirtana Party; I am anxious to see the idea take shape. Yes, the more you develop the attitude for service sincerely, the more opportunities Krishna will give you to serve Him, in so many varieties of ways. And I am so happy to hear that you are finding strength to be determined to spread Krishna Consciousness all over the world; my Guru Maharaja wanted like that, especially the Western world, and my only request is that you all sincere boys and girls, to spread this Krishna Consciousness to every home, to every village and town, and to take this mission very seriously.

Please convey my blessings to your good wife. Hope you are both well.

 

 

 

ISKCON News

Courtesy of iskconnews.org

Statement from the Executive Committee of the ISKCON GBC on Vaisnavi Diksa Gurus
Statement from the Executive Committee of the ISKCON GBC on Vaisnavi Diksa Gurus

On February 14, 2026, the Executive Committee of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) released the following statement following the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Mayapur.

Read More

ISKCON Vrindavan Project Aims to Serve Senior Devotees
ISKCON Vrindavan Project Aims to Serve Senior Devotees

In a recent video presentation, ISKCON Vrindavan highlighted its ongoing Devotee Care Project, an initiative dedicated to supporting senior devotees and sannyasis who have spent their lives serving the mission of Śrīla Prabhupāda. The project seeks to provide a spiritually uplifting environment where devotees can receive physical, emotional, and spiritual support while residing in the holy dhama.  See our earlier coverage on this project here.

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Global Devotees Gather for Training on Distributing Sri Caitanya-caritamrita
Global Devotees Gather for Training on Distributing Sri Caitanya-caritamrita

Devotees from around the world gathered online for a special training session organized by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) Marketing, Communications, and Innovations Team to strengthen efforts in distributing Sri Caitanya-caritamrita.

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How “Gita Game” Inspires New People to Read Bhagavad-gita
How “Gita Game” Inspires New People to Read Bhagavad-gita

A new outreach initiative, the Gita Game, is being introduced as a creative tool for community building and book distribution. Developed by a team of ISKCON devotees from the Bhagavad-gītā Institute in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the board game emerged from years of educational work rooted in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. The Institute operates as a branch of the Institute for Applied Spiritual Technology, founded by His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami.

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TOVP Yajña Śālā Opens in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur with Grand Celebration
TOVP Yajña Śālā Opens in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur with Grand Celebration

A historic milestone was marked in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur on February 11, 2026, with the grand opening of the TOVP Yajña Śālā, accompanied by an extraordinary celebration that will be remembered for years to come. The Yajña Śālā opening marks another significant step in the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium project. 

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Remembering His Grace Gaura Prema Das
Remembering His Grace Gaura Prema Das

With heavy hearts, we offer our sincere prayers at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga for the family of His Grace Gaura Prema Das, who has so suddenly departed from this world in New Jersey. May Nitai Prema Dasi, Krishna Prema Dasa, and all their loved ones be blessed with strength, comfort, and deep spiritual shelter during this difficult time.

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Over 2,500 Participants Join Run2Feed Marathon in Pimpri
Over 2,500 Participants Join Run2Feed Marathon in Pimpri

Over 2,500 people gathered at Balasaheb Kunjir Playground in Pimple Saudagar, Pune, on Sunday, February 8, 2026, to participate in the Run2Feed Marathon. Organized by the Food For Life program of ISKCON BCEC Pune with support from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the event utilized the theme “Turning Miles into Meals” to raise awareness and support for hunger relief. The marathon integrated physical fitness with social responsibility, drawing participants from across the city to support its mission to provide sanctified food to those in need.

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Gift Prabhupada Project Already Reaches 1,800 Srila Prabhupada’s Disciples
Gift Prabhupada Project Already Reaches 1,800 Srila Prabhupada’s Disciples

At the GBC Annual General Meeting 2026 in Mayapur, Madan Mohan Dasa shared a report with the gathered leaders on the “Gift Prabhupada” project, an initiative designed to honor and reconnect with the living disciples of ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

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Daily Video Highlights of the GBC AGM 2026 Held in Mayapur
Daily Video Highlights of the GBC AGM 2026 Held in Mayapur

Day Six of the GBC AGM 2026 focused on recognition of service, updates on child protection initiatives, and the annual review of proposals, reflecting the GBC’s continued commitment to responsible governance and care.

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Global Bhadra Purnima 2026 Campaign Aims for 100,008 Bhagavatam Sets
Global Bhadra Purnima 2026 Campaign Aims for 100,008 Bhagavatam Sets

At the 2026 GBC Annual General Meeting (AGM), ISKCON’s Book Distribution Minister Vaisesika Dasa officially launched the global Bhadra Purnima Project for 2026, inviting devotees worldwide to unite around an ambitious target of distributing at least 100,008 sets of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Speaking with GBC Communications Director Parijata Devi Dasi, Vaisesika Dasa explained that the annual campaign, which began in 2017, has steadily expanded across continents, with participation even reported from Antarctica.

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Bhaktivedanta Manor Representatives Planting Seeds of Unity in UK
Bhaktivedanta Manor Representatives Planting Seeds of Unity in UK

On 2nd February, Dr Diviash Thakrar and Nilesh represented Bhaktivedanta Manor at a local Tu BiShvat festival, the Jewish tree-planting celebration. The ceremony was led by a mix of civic leaders, faith representatives, and local community members. Its purpose was to foster unity across different faiths, highlighting the connections that bring communities together rather than the differences that divide us. In this way, the event celebrated shared values and collective harmony.

Read More

 

 

 

 

Dandavats

Courtesy of dandavats.com

HH Guru Prasad Swami || Sri Isvara Puri – Disappearance – ISKCON Delhi
HH Guru Prasad Swami || Sri Isvara Puri – Disappearance – ISKCON Delhi

“Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has described in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta that the first sprout of the desire tree of devotion was manifested in the person of Sri Madhavendra Puri, and that that sprout developed into a sapling in the person of Sri Isvar Puri. Then, in the person of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who was also...

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Gambhiraya Sri Gauranga
Gambhiraya Sri Gauranga

In honor of the upcoming appearance day festival of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu we are continuing with excerpts from a rare little-known Bengali book called, “Gambhiraya Sri Gauranga”, which speaks about the pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the Gambhira in Jagannath Puri. We hope that the text and rare artwork herein bring some pleasure to...

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HG Ekanatha Prabhu ACBSP from the Bhaktivedanta Archives suddenly left this world from heart failure
HG Ekanatha Prabhu ACBSP from the Bhaktivedanta Archives suddenly left this world from heart failure

Please join us again in prayers for HG Ekanatha Prabhu ACBSP, from the The Bhaktivedanta Archives. Yesterday afternoon on Vijay Ekadasi, he suddenly left this world from heart failure in Sandy Ridge, North Carolina. He did a marvelous service preserving...

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GBC Statement on VDG
GBC Statement on VDG

Statement from the Executive Committee of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission on Vaisnavi Diksa Guru – GBC AGM 2026 At the GBC AGM 2026, the GBC considered and approved a proposal submitted by the GBC – ISKCON Bureau (IB) Committee concerning the topic of Vaisnavi Diksa Guru. The GBC Executive Committee presents the proposal below...

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Devotee Care Project – Serving the Devotees at ISKCON Vrindavan
Devotee Care Project – Serving the Devotees at ISKCON Vrindavan

The Devotee Care Project at ISKCON Vrindavan is dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of devotees. Through guidance, counseling, assistance, and community support, we strive to create a nurturing environment where every devotee feels valued, protected, and spiritually inspired. Devotee Care Project – Serving the Devotees at ISKCON Vrindavan...

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Stimulation for Ecstatic Love Part 165 – Sri Radha’s Eyes Part 5
Stimulation for Ecstatic Love Part 165 – Sri Radha’s Eyes Part 5

This lecture (part 165 of the series on ecstatic love) focuses on the glories of Srimati Radharani’s eyes within the devotional tradition of Vrindavan. The speaker begins with prayers to guru and Gauranga by the poet Vyasadas, emphasizing purification of the heart through chanting and meditation. The main theme explores the application of dark kohl...

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HH Bhaktivaibhava Swami in rehabilitation after a stroke
HH Bhaktivaibhava Swami in rehabilitation after a stroke

HH Bhaktivaibhava Swami recently suffered a stroke. He is currently under the care of doctors at a hospital in Kolkata. Rehabilitation has already begun. Please pray for his speedy recovery. A message from him: My dear devotees, thank you very much for ...

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The Antiquity of Deity Worship in the Vedic Tradition
The Antiquity of Deity Worship in the Vedic Tradition

By Sri Nandanandana dasa

There have been some people who have declared that the worship of Deities or images or the murti in the temples is but a recent invention of Vedic culture. However, that is not an accurate point. It is true that according to the different yugas or ages (such as Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dvapara-yuga, and Kali-yuga) there are different processes for spiritual development that have been more recommended than others. For example, meditation was the recommended process for Satya-yuga, when people lived much longer and could sit in meditation for long periods of time. Then in Treta-yu...

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Vrindavan, Vrindavan, Vrindavan
Vrindavan, Vrindavan, Vrindavan

By Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura

Vrindavan is wonderful. The two sweet fair and dark splendors named Radha and Krsna are wonderful. Pure love for Their lotus feet is wonderful. He who has faith in Them and rises to the spiritual world is wonderful. The rare soul who understands these truths is wonderful. I worship two splendors who are more handsome than millions of Rati-Kamadevas, who have stolen the glory of millions of Laksmi-Narayanas, whose forms are effulgent as gold and sapphires, and who enjoy pa...

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The Great Apostle of ‘love of God’
The Great Apostle of ‘love of God’

By Daiva Simha Das

From a multi-billionaire to pauper in the street, everyone is seeking the wealth of love. The gaudy gizmos, exotic holidays, luxury cars, sports bikes, late night dance parties, Valentine ‘s day, thousands of friend lists on Facebook, millions of followers on Twitter and 70 mm celluloid screens, may titillate or stimulate the senses and mind, but in the real reel of our life it cannot quench the thirst of love in our heart. This thirst can be better apprehended by the analog of the gardener. As when the gardener waters the root of the...

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TOVP Yajna Shala Inauguration Sri Dham Mayapur – February 11, 2026
TOVP Yajna Shala Inauguration Sri Dham Mayapur – February 11, 2026

Watch history being made as the TOVP opens the magnificent Yajna Shala in the TOVP Gardens. Daily yajnas for the pleasure of the Supreme Personality will continue here in perpetuity. TOVP Yajna Shala Inauguration Sri Dham Mayapur – February 11, 2026...

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Flower Festival Class By HH Radhanath Swami | ISKCON Chowpatty | 24-01-2026
Flower Festival Class By HH Radhanath Swami | ISKCON Chowpatty | 24-01-2026

The speaker expresses deep gratitude for being present and begins by explaining the central message of the Ramayana and Bhagavad-gita: the Supreme Truth, known by many names including Krishna, descends into the world in different forms and times to teach eternal spiritual truths. Real happiness begins with understanding our true identity—not the temporary body and...

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Srimad Bhagavatam 1.10.26-27 || HG Gaurashakti Prabhu || ISKCON Ujjain || 10 Feb 2026
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.10.26-27 || HG Gaurashakti Prabhu || ISKCON Ujjain || 10 Feb 2026

The lecture explains the divine nature of Krishna’s appearance and activities. Krishna does not take birth like an ordinary conditioned soul; rather, He appears and disappears by His own internal potency, just as the sun appears to rise and set without actually being born or dying. Understanding the truth of Krishna’s transcendental birth and pastimes...

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GBC AGM 2026 | Day 6 Highlights – Awards, Child Protection & Proposals
GBC AGM 2026 | Day 6 Highlights – Awards, Child Protection & Proposals

Day Six of the GBC AGM 2026 focused on recognition of service, updates on child protection initiatives, and the annual review of proposals, reflecting the GBC’s continued commitment to responsible governance and care. GBC AGM 2026 | Day 6 Highlights – Awards, Child Protection & Proposals...

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Srila Prabhupada’s Legacy Lives On
Srila Prabhupada’s Legacy Lives On

By Chaitanya Charana Dasa

"It's an astonishing story. If someone told you a story like this, you wouldn't believe it. Here's this person, he's seventy years old, he's going to a country where he's never been before, he doesn't know anybody there, he has no money, has no contacts. He has none of the things, you would say, that make for success. He's going to recruit people not on any systematic basis, but just picking up whomever he comes across and he's going to give them responsibility for organizing a worldwide movement. You'd say, 'What kind of program i...

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Was Srila Prabhupada intimidated with electronics?
Was Srila Prabhupada intimidated with electronics?

By Gargamuni Das

So I thought, “Boy, how am I going to show Prabhupada how to use this thing? He’s from the village. In Vrindavan, they don’t know what a Dictaphone is.” So I brought it up to Prabhupada’s room, and I showed it to him. I showed him the mike, and he looked at it. I said, “Prabhupada, there’s an instruction book here how to use it. I’ll go through it with you.” He said, “No, that’s OK, I know.” I was shocked. And sure enough, Prabhupada knew. He pr...

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The Special Kindness of Lord Caitanya
The Special Kindness of Lord Caitanya

By Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami

When Lord Caitanya was preaching in the town of Navadvipa, two of His closest associates, Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakura, approached a noisy crowd on the main road. They learned from passers-by that two brothers, Jagai and Madhai, were once again causing a disturbance in a drunken condition. These two brothers had been born in a respectable brahmana family, but due to bad association they had become debauchees of the worst type. Not only were th...

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Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita || HG Kusha Mataji || 08-02-2026
Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita || HG Kusha Mataji || 08-02-2026

The early history of ISKCON’s London mission (1968–1969), mainly through Jamuna Devi’s and Shyamasundar’s recollections, alongside letters from Srila Prabhupada. Using multiple memoirs as parallel timelines, the speaker highlights both shared memories and small differences among devotees, emphasizing how quickly and intensively Prabhupada trained and empowered them. Six young devotees arrived in England with very...

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GBC AGM 2026 | Day 5 Highlights – VDG Presentations & Maha Istagosthi
GBC AGM 2026 | Day 5 Highlights – VDG Presentations & Maha Istagosthi

Highlights from Day Five of the GBC AGM 2026, including the felicitation of GBC College graduates, presentations and reflections on Vaishnava Diksha Guru (VDG), followed by a GBC Maha Online Istagosthi with global devotee interaction and updates on the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) and ISKCON’s 60th anniversary in 2026. GBC AGM 2026 |...

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Planting Seeds of Unity
Planting Seeds of Unity

By Radha Mohan Das On 2nd February, Dr Diviash Thakrar and Nilesh represented Bhaktivedanta Manor at a local Tu BiShvat festival, the Jewish tree-planting celebration. The ceremony was led by a mix of civic leaders, faith representatives, and local community members. Its purpose was to foster unity across different faiths, highlighting the connections that bring...

Read More

The Philosophy of “the Seer and the Seen” of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati
The Philosophy of “the Seer and the Seen” of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati

By Shyamananda dasa

He who sees an object is called the seer, and an object seen by the observer is called the seen. The instrument of seeing, is called sight. It is a common error to deem the sense of sight the actual seer. Whatever we can measure by any of our senses we also call a seeable object, and he who senses it is called the seer. It is best that the jiva see himself as the object of Krishna's enjoyment. Thinking himself the seer, he sees the world as the object of his enjoyment. But thinking himself the enjoyer, under the influence of the false ego, will result only in his misfortune. It is not fitt...

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Early Miracles Of Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Early Miracles Of Caitanya Mahaprabhu

By Amala Bhakta Swami

When Sarvabauma denounced himself as an offender and took shelter of Lord Caitanya, the Lord wanted to show him His mercy, so He manifested His four armed Visnu form. Then, just after this, He manifested His original two-armed Krsna form, with a blackish complexion and a flute near His lips. When Sarvabauma Bhattacarya saw this, he prostrated himself before the Lord. Then he arose and with folded palms offered Lord Caitanya prayers of glorification. By the Lord's mercy, all truths were re...

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When our ‘failure’ is a success
When our ‘failure’ is a success

By Vraja Bihari Das

This realization can be a painful experience. Hence to avoid this realization, we may prefer to believe that chanting is one of the many things to be done in devotional service. If we profess that chanting is the most important activity, immediately we are exposed to the painful reality of our own poor chanting. It seems hypocritical that on the one hand we declare chanting to be most sacred, but on the other hand, our actions are contrary to the reality we preach about. The more we glorify the Holy Names, the more we have to face the stark truth of our own inadequacies of chanting. And th...

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Gaura Purnima Flag Hosting Ceremony
Gaura Purnima Flag Hosting Ceremony


Sridham Mayapur, February 13, 2026

Watch Now

 

 

 

 

TOVP News

Courtesy of tovp.org

TOVP PRESENTS: Where Fire Meets the Holy Name - Yajña śālā Inauguration - February 11, 2026
TOVP PRESENTS: Where Fire Meets the Holy Name - Yajña śālā Inauguration - February 11, 2026

A short video overview of the historic Grand Opening of the TOVP Yajna Shala, where daily yajnas for the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead will continue into perpetuity.

Watch Now

TOVP Yajna Shala Opening Photo Collection
TOVP Yajna Shala Opening Photo Collection

Spectacular images of the Grand Opening of the TOVP Yajna Shala, courtesy of Mayapur TV.

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TOVP PRESENTS: Inauguration of 2026 Gaura Purnima Festival
TOVP PRESENTS: Inauguration of 2026 Gaura Purnima Festival

The 2026 Gaura Purnima Festival officially begins. Video produced by Mayapur TV

Watch Now

TOVP & Vedic Science Channel Present
TOVP & Vedic Science Channel Present

A lecture by Dr. Richard L. Thompson (Sadaputa Dasa)

The Wheel of Birth and Death

Srimad Bhagavatam 3.30.15 San Diego, California August, 1993
Dr. Thompson examines the descriptions offered by this verse regarding the inevitable difficulties of old age, and follows with a discussion of near-death experiences, referencing Eastern concepts of karmic reaction and the transmigration of conditional souls. According to Thompson, a central reason Vedic literature stresses such points is to induce human beings to seriously consider their proclivity to experience tangible spiritual reality.

Listen Now

 

 

 

 

Srila Prabhupada: 
founderacharya.com, vanipedia.org

The official ISKCON website: iskcon.org,

Find your nearest temple: centres.iskcon.org

ISKCON leadership: gbc.iskcon.org

Education such ar Bhakti-shastri, Bhaktivaibhava etc: Mayapur Institute, Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education, Bhaktivedanta College Europe

News: news.iskcon.org, dandavats.com,

BBT books: bbt.org, krishna.com, vanisource.org, vedabase.com, bbtmedia.com

World Sankirtan Newsletter: wsnl.net/wsnhome.htm

Temple of Vedic Planetarium: tovp.org

Deity Worship and courses: deityworship.com, Mayapur Academy 

Inspiration & Sadhana: 
mayapur.tv, iskcondesiretree.com

Vaishnava Calendars: 
ISKCON GBC Vaishnava Calendar Comitee, GCAL (Gaurabda Calendar, a program for calculation of the calendar for vaisnavas, according Gaudiya-Vaisnava tradition.)

These dates and timings are for Sri Mayapur Dhama. Find timings for your location at the Vaishnava Calendar links.

16 February, 2026 (Monday)
Siva Ratri

18 February, 2026 (Wednesday)
Sri Rasikananda -- Disappearance
Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji -- Disappearance

21 February, 2026 (Saturday)
Sri Purusottama Dasa Thakura -- Appearance

Address: ISKCON GBC Office
P.O. Sri Mayapur, Nadia, WB 741313, India

Email: office@iskconconnection.org

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