History of the Fibreglass [Balaram / Tilak] Mridanga

My name is Ishan das. I created the Balaram mridanga in L.A. It is really quite a story. But I’ll give you the brief version. Some time in 1972-73 Srila Prabhupada saw that the East Indians were not carrying on the tradition of making the original mridangas and kartals…   ...Read More

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare…

Once you’ve hear it you’ll never forget it. You may not know what the words mean–nevertheless there’s something captivating about the Hare Krishna chant. Is it the catchy tune or the fascinating way in which the words are repeated and reversed? People who chant Hare Krishna say both contribute to its appeal. But they know that the secret of the chant’s attraction is the quality of the sound itself.   ...Read More

WHAT CAN TURN A GREYHOUND BUS INTO A TEMPLE?

Chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.   ...Read More

Sankirtana: A Cleansing for the Soul

The performance of Sankirtana is a spiritual cleansing for the mirror of the mind, just as soap is a material cleansing for the body. According to the Vedic scriptures, there are three stages for spiritual cleansing, the first is to cleanse the mirror of the mind by Sankirtana. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, “For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy.”   ...Read More

Kirtana [chanting Hare Krishna] in Every Town and Village

If you vibrate these transcendental sounds everywhere continually, it will pierce their ears and enter their hearts, and then their natural attraction for Krsna will be revived.   ...Read More

Does Initiation Make The Maha-Mantra Work?

Ive read in Prabhupada’s books that this transcedental sound is passed down through a lineage of masters, and the pure sound is preserved by great yogis as himself. Also these great yogis share this sound with their desciples in first initiation. Is this the way you can begin to practice this kind of yoga? Can I receive this sound by anybody or do I need to receive it by someone like Prabhupada?   ...Read More

Chanting Hare Krishna on Beads

We can follow Haridasa Thakura’s example, however, by chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra on our beads every day and offering respect to the Tulasi plant. This is not at all difficult for anyone, and the process of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra with a vow before the Tulasi plant has such great spiritual potency that simply by doing this one can become spiritually strong.   ...Read More

Police Arrest Devotees for Chanting Hare Krishna on Oxford Street (a true story from London)

It was the Thursday before Christmas, and London’s Oxford Street was brimming over with Christmas shoppers. Twice already that week plainclothes police had arrested devotees chanting Hare Krishna there, but today we were intending to avoid any trouble…   ...Read More

Kirtan: Ancient Medicine for Modern Man

What do football games, rock concerts, political rallies, boxing matches and revival meetings all have in common? The mass glorification of a person or persons engaged in extraordinary feats — a very exciting, even electrifying experience which can give incredible pleasure to large groups of people. This phenomenon is known as kirtana.   ...Read More

Hare Krishna Sankirtana Party Shines at Stanford University in Palo Alto

A very ecstatic Sankitana party would be putting it lightly. I’d say when others start to join in the singing and dancing of the Hare Krishna mantra; it becomes very special and potent. Hare Krishna! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!   ...Read More

Kirtana–The Song of Ecstasy, The Dance of the Soul

The singing and dancing of Hare Krishna is known as kirtana. My spiritual master Srila Prabhupada said, This is not ordinary dancing; this is the dancing of the soul, a soul awakened to his original consciousness, Krishna consciousness.   ...Read More

Sankirtan in Miami’s South Beach–At the Hip-Hop Festival

For four days and three nights, hip-hop parties raged at South Beach’s pool decks and nightclubs as sightings of hip-hop music’s biggest stars — such as Wyclef Jean, Ja Rule and Cam’ron — were as common on the streets as under dance hall lights. –Miami Herald May 27, 2003   ...Read More

Biggest Ever IRM Times Square Kirtana!

I can hardly begin to describe how ecstatic the kirtana was. Vatsala Prabhu and I took turns leading and the devotees were all absorbed in chanting the Holy Name. Madhusudana Prabhu distributed many books. Hundreds of invitations to the Sunday feast were given out as well. Vedaguhya Prabhu’s wife had prepared about one hundred rice krispie sweets which were all distributed.Many people joined the kirtana to dance with the devotees and   ...Read More

Haight Turns to Love: The Haight Street Festival Hari Nam

TIt was my turn to lead. I looked ahead to see what appeared to be an endless sea of people. I gathered up my courage, and led the party through a thick crowd. As we sang ‘Nitai Gauranga! Nitai Gouranga!’ I had a sense that all that heard instantly became devotees, and I was filled with hope for humanity. Indeed, just by hearing the Holy Name of Krishna (smaranam), one is   ...Read More

Harinama Revived in World Famous Times Square

A regular harinama party has been resurrected in Times Square, New York City. The famous Time Square Harinamas of the 70’s were long ago abandoned by ISKCON despite Srila Prabhupada’s order to never stop them. These high profile harinamas were the foundation of ISKCON worldwide and our most important service to save all humanity and ourselves and to please Srila Prabhupada.   ...Read More

Lord Jesus Christ blesses Harinam Sankirtan in Manhattan !

One mysterious man appeared who suddenly began following right behind the party with raised hands and shouts of joy, resounding and repeating loudly and boldly everywhere Halleluiah!!!, Lord Jesus Christ we thank you!!! Praise the Holy Name of the Lord !!!   ...Read More

New York Hare Krishna Street Chanting Brings Devotees Back To Srila Prabhupada

IRM devotees are now doing Harinama 4 times a week in New York. The Saturday night Harinamas have grown and over 20 devotees now come to join in. And these are devotees who were unknown to us - they just show up!   ...Read More

Prabhupada kirtan melodies - The formula for success?

A few months back Brahmananda had visited us here and had mentioned how the kirtans were a lot different in the early days in the the sense that the melody was very simple.   ...Read More

Hare Krishnas Chant Hare Krishna in Hollywood for Halloween

The chanting went on from 7pm to 11 pm. When we left many devotees commented that they wanted to keep chanting all night long. As we were heading for our vehicles and officer called us Hari Hari Hari!   ...Read More