Recent Articles

The Worship of Sri-Murti and Idolatry

Haridasa Babaji Maharaja
Oct 6 2008 - Krishna Talk 83
There is a great misunderstanding in the secular and religious world and especially within the Abrahamic traditions, (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) on the question of Deity worship. The English word 'idol' is usually used when describing any worship that concentrates on likenesses of demons,... » more

Devotional Principles

Sep 25 2008 - Krishna Talk 82
After wandering in this material world for many lifetimes, by the mercy of guru and Krsna, the seed of devotion is awakened within our heart. The process starts with a little faith (adau sraddha) and this faith leads us to seek answers (pariprasna) and the association of devotees (sadhu-sanga),... » more

The Ultimate Encouragement

Sep 6 2008 - Krishna Talk 81
"Don’t feel discouraged, Krsna and His devotees are reaching out to you. They are reaching to embrace you. Their causeless mercy is our greatest fortune. For some reason unbeknownst to us, we have this opportunity. We are being canvased into that sankirtana , as He has appeared as Mahaprabhu." » more

Swastika and Cross

Swami B.G. Narasingha
Jul 27 2008 - Krishna Talk 80
In popular western thinking, no two symbols could possibly be more at odds with each other than the swastika and the cross. The swastika is the symbol of Nazi war crimes against humanity and the cross is the symbol of goodness, mercy and divine grace.But what if this isn’t true? » more

The Maha Mantra

Swami B.G. Narasingha
Jun 4 2008 - Krishna Talk 79
The Gaudiya conception of the maha-mantra is exclusive and stands distinct from all other sampradayas. The Gaudiya conception is exclusive in that it surpasses even the greatest expectations of the Vedas (liberation) and affords one the highest fulfillment of the ultimate goal of life. This is not... » more

Prabodhananda and Prakasananda

Swami B.V. Giri
May 25 2008 - Krishna Talk 78
Some scholars of Gaudiya Vaisnavism claim that the associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Prabodhananda Sarasvati and the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakasananda Sarasvati are one and the same person. From the historical and sastrika perspective it is clear that Prabodhananda was never a Mayavadi sannyasi. » more

Raga-patha is Above All

Swami B.G. Narasingha
May 5 2008 - Krishna Talk 77
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura composed the verse, matala hari-jana visaya range pujala raga-patha gaurava-bhange, in 1930 on the occasion of moving the Deities of Sri Gaurasundara and Sri Sri Vinoda-Anandajiu from the old house at Ultadanga Junction Road to the new temple in Bagh Bazaar,... » more

Sampradayika Sannyasa

Rupanuga Dasa
Apr 10 2008 - Krishna Talk 76
Real renunciation means to engage everything in the service of the Lord and to fix one's aspiration to serve Him with great determination -- not just simply renouncing for the sake of renouncing. If one does so, he is not actually a sannyasi. » more

Jesus as a Perfect Christian

Swami B.G. Narasingha
Mar 24 2008 - Krishna Talk 75
Question: Do you think that Jesus was the example of a perfect Christian? Narasingha Maharaja: Historically and ontologically speaking, Jesus was a Jew and not a Christian. Jesus was a Jewish rabbi who studied the Jewish scriptures [the Torah] and taught Halakha, or Jewish law, as given in the... » more

Caitanya Monks

Jan 18 2008 - Krishna Talk 74
If you accept this sannyasa-vesa, this is only favorable to the activity, but the real thing is the service. The all-important thing is the service, not the dress. The dress can help me to a certain extent to remind me, 'Oh, I am a sannyasi, I am disconnected with other branches of knowledge and... » more

More on Real Religion is Not Man Made

Swami B.G. Narasingha
Jan 10 2008 - Krishna Talk 73
There is no such statement in the revealed scriptures [sastras] that Visnu/Krsna [God] reveals His teachings in many places simultaneously. When it is mentioned that religion is taught according to time, place and circumstances, then that is referring to bona-fide teachers of eternal religion like... » more

Puri Goswami Appearance

Swami B.G. Narasingha
Oct 19 2007 - Krishna Talk 72
Srila Puri Maharaja's appearance in this world was in 1898. Then his disappearance was 102 years later at the end of Karttika while he was residing at Jagannatha Puri. Jagannatha Puri is known as 'Vipralambha-dhama,' the place where the Lord and His devotees feel intense separation. » more

Pleasing The Spiritual Master

Swami B.B. Vishnu
Sep 29 2007 - Krishna Talk 71
So many instructions are there from Srila Prabhupada and amongst those, the paramount instruction is to preach vigorously. To become a pure devotee and to preach vigorously. » more

The Self-Defeating Philosophy of Mayavada

Gaura Gopala Dasa
Sep 18 2007 - Krishna Talk 70
The idea of Mayavada has always been present since the decline of the Vedic age. It is born from the minds of those jivas who have been envious and desired to usurp the position of God. These jivas, having lost touch with the highest ideal of serving God as an individual part and parcel, have... » more

Prabhupada's Rooms at Radha Damodar Temple

Swami B.B. Vishnu
Feb 19 2007 - Krishna Talk 69
Recently an announcement was posted on "Dandavats.com" wherein the representative of ISKCON's Sri Sri Krishna Balaram temple in Vrindavana [Shyamakrishna Das] informed all the devotees around the world that "Srila Prabhupada's Bhajan-kutir is now re-opened." » more

Daiva-varnasrama

Swami B.G. Narasingha
Jan 4 2007 - Krishna Talk 68
Question: We have heard that Bhaktivinoda Thakura instructed Srila Bhaktisiddhanta to establish the system of daiva-varnasrama. My question is, what is daiva-varnasrama? Is it something different from varnasrama as we generally know it? Answer: Yes, daiva-varnasrama is significantly different from... » more

Aryan Invasion - History or Politics

N.S. Rajaram
Nov 21 2006 - Krishna Talk 67
Guest Article by N. S. Rajaram. The evidence of science now points to two basic conclusions: first, there was no Aryan invasion, and second, the Rigvedic people were already established in India no later than 4000 B.C.E. » more

Society Consciousness vs. Krsna Consciousness

Swami B.G. Narasingha
Oct 16 2006 - Krishna Talk 66
I read a recent article on the internet by a leading ISKCON sannyasi/GBC/guru wherein he says, "We cannot even extend this family [ISKCON] to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. We cannot even take one step forward because the problem is if we put too much emphasis on Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, then we will miss... » more

Self Manifest Deities

Swami B.G. Narasingha
Oct 16 2006 - Krishna Talk 65
During my many travels in India I have visited certain temples where it is claimed that the Deity of Visnu or Krishna was self-manifest. So my question is, whether it is possible that God self-manifests His Deity form or is it always necessary that an acarya or representative of God be instrumental... » more

Why We Fight

Swami B.G. Narasingha
Oct 9 2006 - Krishna Talk 64
Question: I have noticed that many of your Krishna Talk articles have a somewhat controversial spin and even a fighting spirit. Do you think this is actually necessary? Answer: Yes, preaching means fighting - fighting with illusion and misconception. Our weapons are philosophical arguments backed... » more