ISKCON Niagara

11/24/2025

A pure devotee always engages in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa in one of His various personal features. Kṛṣṇa has various plenary expansions and incarnations, such as Rāma and Nṛsiṁha, and a devotee can choose to fix his mind in loving service to any of these transcendental forms of the Supreme Lord. Such a devotee meets with none of the problems that plague the practitioners of other yogas. Bhakti-yoga is very simple and pure and easy to perform. One can begin simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. The Lord is merciful to all, but as we have already explained, He is especially inclined toward those who always serve Him without deviation. The Lord helps such devotees in various ways.

Bhagavad-gītā 8.14

11/23/2025

11/23/2025

The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His transcendental form of Narahari, Nṛsiṁhadeva, is always ready to kill the demons, who always create disturbances in the minds of honest devotees. To spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, devotees have to face many dangers and impediments all over the world, but a faithful servant who preaches with great devotion to the Lord must know that Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva is always his protector.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.8.51

11/21/2025

Hare Krishna devotees! 🙏

ISKCON Niagara invites you to our Sunday Feast program on November 23 at 5:00 p.m. The speaker for this week is HG GAURA DAS.

Please refer to the poster for more details. We look forward to welcoming you! Hare Krishna!

11/21/2025

Just like we need food for the body, we need food for the soul. And what is that food? Hearing and chanting God’s names in the association of saintly people. Otherwise, we will give in to temptations at the smallest instances and we will be weakened, spiritually.

HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj

11/20/2025

The only way to know God in truth is through bhakti-yoga. In Bhāgavad Gītā: 18:55 Krsna confirms this. Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah: "Only by devotional service can one understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is."'The Vedas confirm that only through bhakti, or devotional service, can one attain the highest perfectional stage. If one practices other yoga systems, there must be a mixture of bhakti if one is to make any progress. But because people don't have sufficient time to execute all the practices of any other yoga system, the direct process of bhakti-yoga, unadulterated devotion, is recommended for this age. Therefore, it is by great fortune that one comes to Krsna consciousness, the path of bhakti-yoga, and becomes well situated according to the Vedic directions.

His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, The Journey of Self-Discovery

11/18/2025

In pure bhakti-yoga, the devotee desires nothing but Kṛṣṇa. A pure devotee does not desire promotion to heavenly planets, nor does he seek oneness with the brahma-jyotir or salvation or liberation from material entanglement. A pure devotee does not desire anything. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta the pure devotee is called niṣkāma, which means he has no desire for self-interest. Perfect peace belongs to him alone, not to them who strive for personal gain. Whereas a jñāna-yogī, karma-yogī or haṭha-yogī has his own selfish interests, a perfect devotee has no desire other than to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the Lord says that for anyone who is unflinchingly devoted to Him, He is easy to attain.

Bhagavad-gītā 8.14

11/17/2025

November 17 - Disappearance Day of Sri Saranga Thakura

An important branch of the Shri Chaitanya tree, Shri Saranga Thakura (Saranga Murari), lived in Mamagacchi, Modadrumadwipa (Navadwipa). Staying under a Bakula tree, Saranga Thakura worked hard every day to please his worshipable Deity. Single handedly, he would collect fruits, vegetables, and firewood. He would also beg rice, cook, bathe, dress, and feed his Lord. After a full day of Deity service, Saranga would cross the Ganges River to join Mahaprabhu's Hari-Nama sankirtana party in Mayapur.

During one visit, Lord Gauranga noticed that Saranga's beloved Bakula tree was drying up and almost dead. Lord Chaitanya embraced the tree with His beautiful golden arms. Completely rejunvenated, the tree burst forth with green leaves and fresh super fragrant flowers. To this day, Devotees of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu worship this special kalpa vriksha tree of Shri Dhama Mayapur. Some devotees collect small pieces of wood, which occasionally fall off, and make neckbeads or worship it.

Significance

Saranga Thakura vowed to never initiate disciples despite Lord Chaitanya's insistence. One day he relented and decided to initiate the first person he saw. While bathing in the Ganges he brushed against a floating co**se. Suddenly it sprang to life. Stunned, the man slowly identified himself and bowed down to Saranga Thakura who had just miraculously renewed his life. After giving him mantra diksha, Saranga Thakura became famous as "Saranga Murari Thakura," because the disciple's previous name was Murari.

In Vraja lila Saranga serves Radha-Gopinatha as Nandimukhi-sakhi. By taking a forty-five minute rikshaw ride from downtown Navadwipa, you can still see the Deities of Saranga Thakura and the kalpa vriksha Bakula tree.

11/17/2025

November 16 - Disappearance Day of Sri Kaliya Krsnadasa

"One will surely attain Shri Chaitanya and Shri Nityananda simply by remembering Kaliya Krishna Dasa." (Chaitanya Bhagavata) Completely devoted to Lord Nityananda, Kaliya Krishna Dasa knew nothing but the lotus feet of Nitai.

His birthplace is in the Bardhaman district of West Bengal within a short distance from Katwa, at the village called Akai Hatta.

On the twelfth day of the dark moon in the month of Chaitra, Shri Kaliya Krishna Dasa Thakura disappeared. He left his body while doing bhajana in Vrindavana.

In Vraja, Kala Krishna Das was Krishna's cherished cowherd friend, known as Lavanga. According to Gaura-ganoddesha- dipika (132), his connection with Krishna was deeply rooted in the pastoral beauty of Vraja.

Significance

Kaliya Krishna Das was known throughout the three worlds. One can attain Gaurachandra through remembrance of him.

He was the best of the Vaishnavas. He knew nothing other than Nityananda Prabhu's lotus feet.

11/17/2025

November 15 - Disappearance Day of Sri Narahari Sarakara Thakura

Sri Narahari Sarkar Thakura, born in Sri Khanda, was part of the thirty-ninth branch of the desire tree of love of God, as described by Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. Sri Khanda, the abode of Vaikuntha, was a sacred place where the residents, including Narahari, distributed the fruits and flowers of love of Godhead.

Nityananda Prabhu once visited Sri Khanda and asked Narahari for honey, addressing him as Madhumati, the supplier of honey for Radha-Govinda. Narahar miraculously turned pond water into the most nectarean honey, satisfying Nityananda Prabhu and His associates.

Narahari Sarkar Thakura, a renowned devotee, counted Sri Gadadhara dasa as a dear companion and was continuously absorbed in Krsna-prema. His disciple, Locana dasa Thakura, authored Sri Caitanya-mangala. Narahari, an expert singer and poet, composed numerous songs about Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda, and the pastimes of Radha-Krsna, including the Sanskrit work Sri Bhajanamrta.

Significance

He had the exclusive right to perform Gaura-kirtana in the presence of Gaurasundara (Lord Caitanya).

A revered singer and poet, he composed numerous songs about Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda, and the pastimes of Radha-Krsna. His Sanskrit work, Sri Bhajanamrta, and the attributed Gaurviraha-gita pada kalpataru showcase his devotion.

Ordinarily, if anyone would praise Mahaprabhu in His presence or chant His Holy Name, He would block His ears and call out "Visnu! Visnu!" Narahari, however, enjoyed the special privilege of being able to sing about Mahaprabhu in a very unique mood and with sweet descriptions of His transcendental beauty without objection from Mahaprabhu.