In This Issue we present two stories on Kumbha-mela, the largest religious gathering in the world. With her words and camera, Nitya-trpta Devi Dasi gives us a close-up look at this extraordinary event, while Lokanath Swami tells us the history behind it.
This issue also offers a special section on Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, a great spiritual teacher in the line from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. While serving as a district magistrate in the British government of India in the late 1800's, Bhaktivinoda Thakura worked tirelessly to spread the teachings of Lord Krsna, especially among his educated countrymen. He was also a pioneer in attempting to deliver Krsna consciousness to the West.
One fortunate beneficiary of Bhaktivinoda's work, by way of disciplic succession, was Jayananda Dasa, who joined the Hare Krsna movement in San Francisco in 1967. When Jayananda passed away in May 1977, Srila Prabhupada praised his service to Krsna and his glorious death while hearing the chanting of Krsna's holy names. "A Modern Saint" tells of Jayananda's inspiring example of dedicated service to the Lord.
Hare Krsna.
(Nagaraja Dasa, Editor)
Our Purposes
• To help all people discern reality from illusion, spirit from matter, the eternal from the temporary.
• To expose the faults of materialism.
• To offer guidance in the Vedic techniques of spiritual life.
• To preserve and spread the Vedic culture.
• To celebrate the chanting of the holy names of God as taught by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
• To help every living being remember and serve Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead.