As we approach the sacred occasion of Gītā Jayanti on Mokṣadā Ekādaśī, our hearts naturally turn toward the divine moment when Lord Krishna personally spoke the Bhagavad-gītā to Arjuna. Srila Prabhupada reminds us:

“Because Bhagavad Gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad Gita.”

For over 30 years—since 1994—the Bhaktivedanta Gita Academy (Mayapur) has been enriching countless lives through the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. Their courses, including the Gita Study Course and others, are carefully designed to benefit everyone—whether a newcomer or a seasoned practitioner. These systematic studies help devotees deepen, mature, and strengthen their Krishna consciousness in a heartfelt way.

We know the Bhagavad-gītā is widely known, yet often misinterpreted. Srila Prabhupada emphasized that his purports are not his own speculation but express the essence given by our previous ācāryas. Around 1970 in Indore, at a grand Gita Jayanti gathering with many speakers, Srila Prabhupada’s clear and authoritative presentation exposed the flaws of the mental speculators present there.

He powerfully instructed us:

“Anyway, print books, distribute profusely, and that will be the best preaching work. What will your three minutes’ preaching do? But if they buy one book, it may turn their life… Make this your important task, to print our books… and distribute widely… our process is slow but sure.”

Here in Sri Mayapur, Gita Jayanti is celebrated joyfully for three days—pandals, bookstands across the campus, harinam, and (especially) book distribution. On the main day, a fire yajña is performed while devotees chant all 700 verses of the Bhagavad-gītā. Visitors, residents, and pilgrims spend the day immersed in transcendental bliss.

This year, if you are not able to personally go out for book distribution, you can still fully participate by sponsoring Bhagavad-gītās for distribution in places where Krishna’s teachings have still not reached strongly. Your sponsorship ensures the Gita goes to villages, schools, remote locations, and receptive hearts waiting for Krishna’s words.

Even one Gita can change a life.

If you feel inspired, you can contribute here:
https://www.mayapur.com/festivals/Gita-Jayanti

Thank you for your kind-hearted support. May Sri Krishna bless you on this sacred Mokṣadā Ekādaśī with wisdom, devotion, and the joy of sharing His message.

Hare Krishna dear devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We warmly invite you to join us in Rajapur on November 26th for the auspicious Odana Ṣaṣṭī Festival of Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi. On this sacred day, the Lords receive Their first winter garment, a beautiful tradition lovingly described in Sri Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Remembering how Pundarika Vidyanidhi received special mercy on this day, we pray that this festival brings deep blessings to all our hearts.

Festival Schedule:
8:00 – Bhagavatam Class by HH Subhag Swami Maharaj
9:00 – Darshan Arati
9:30 – Drama, Śloka Offerings & Dances
11:00 – Bhajans
11:45 – Offering of Bhoga brought by devotees
12:00 – Kirtan till 1 PM

If you feel inspired to serve Their Lordships personally, you may sponsor any of the festival sevas. You can explore the options here:
https://www.mayapur.com/festivals/Odana-Sasti

Your heartfelt contribution helps keep this beautiful service to Lord Jagannath alive.

Hope to see you in Rajapur!

Your servant,

Vijaya Yātrā Praṣṭhān 2025!

Yesterday was a very special day here in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur. The temple was filled with colourful rangolis, joy, emotion, and a deep sense of purpose as we gathered for the Vijaya Yātrā Praṣṭhān — the official send-off for this year’s Sankīrtan party. Instead of the usual Śrīmad Bhagavatam class, the community came together to offer prayers, blessings, and encouragement to the devotees preparing to go out and distribute Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books during the annual book marathon.

The program began with a yajña, where everyone joined in prayers for protection and success. After that, we all took darśana and joined in āratī, filling the temple with kīrtan and heartfelt devotion. Senior devotees then spoke words of wisdom and inspiration, reminding us that book distribution is not just an activity — it is an act of compassion, a way of sharing Krishna with the world.

Here in Māyāpur, distributing Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books is at the very heart of our mission. Some devotees will travel across India, meeting people from all walks of life, while others will continue distributing books right here within the campus — but the mood remains the same: to give everyone an opportunity to come closer to Krishna.

Śrīla Prabhupāda often emphasized that if someone simply sees or holds one of his books, they receive benefit — and if they read it, their life can transform. So every book given is like planting a seed of bhakti in someone’s heart.

As the Sankīrtan team begins their journey, we send them forward with our prayers and gratitude. May Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityānanda, and Śrīla Prabhupāda guide them, protect them, and allow them to touch many hearts.

We look forward to welcoming them home again around Gaura Pūrṇimā, filled with realizations, mercy, and stories of how Krishna worked through them.

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

All glories to the Sankīrtan devotees.

Bhisma Panchaka in Mayapur! || How to observe Bhishma Panchaka

The last 5 days of the month of Karttika are traditionally known as the Bhishma Panchaka or the Vishnu Panchaka. Grandfather Bhisma fasted for these five days, preparing to give up his life. In the Hari BhaktiVilasa, it is said that if one is capable, one should observe fasting from certain foodstuffs on the Bhishma-panchaka for the pleasure of the Lord. This is optional. “The fast should begin by remembering Bhismadeva on the Ekadasi day and should end on Purnima [the full moon]. The Padma Purana say that one pleases the Lord and makes spiritual advancement by such austerities.

Various Levels of fasting:

Type 1

One can eat products of the cow for each day:

First day: Cow dung (Gomaya)

Second day: Cow urine (Go-mutra)

Third day: Cow milk (Kshiira)

Fourth day: Cow yoghurt (Dahi)

Fifth day: All products of the cow mixed (Pancha-gavya)

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Type 2

If one can’t follow level 1 then please take fruits and roots.

Fruits with lots of seeds should be avoided like guava, pomegranate, cucumber etc. Boiled potatoes, raw banana and sweet potato can be taken. We can use sea salt for taste. Cashewnuts (PLAIN) raisins, dates can be taken. Milk products to be avoided.

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Type 3

If one can’t follow level 2, one can take “Havishya.”

References: Padma Puraana, Brahma-khanda, Chapter 23; Skanda Puraana, Vishnu Khanda, Kaartika Maahaatmya section, Chapter 32; Garuda Puraana, Puurva Khanda, Chapter 123.

Ingredients for Havishya as mentioned in Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa (13.10-13)

The following are ingredients that can be used in making Havishya, which is

like a khichari made with these items.

Aatap rice

Unadulterated Ghee from cow

Saindhava salt (sea salt)

Milk from cow

Milk with cream

Ripe Banana

Kaala-Shaaka

Wheat

Fruits (Skanda Puraana, Naagara Khanda says they must be with a small seed

or with few seeds only)

Mango

Jackfruit

Labali fruit

Roots except kesa grass root

Pippalii

Haritakii

Naagaranga

Ikshu-dravya or sugarcane derivatives (other than gur or mollasses)

No oil in any form

The following ingredients though part of Havishya need to be avoided in the month of Kartika:

Mung dal, Til oil, Beta-shaaka, Shashtikaa-shaaka, Radish, Jeeraa, Tamarind

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Special Offerings to the Lord during these days

Following flowers to be offered to the Deities during the Bhishma Panchaka days as per Garuda Purana.

First day: one must offer padma (lotus) flowers to the feet of the Lord.

Second day: one must offer bilva (wood-apple) leaves of the thigh of the Lord.

Third day: one must offer gandha (scents) to the navel of the Lord.

Fourth day: one must offer java flower to the shoulders of the Lord.

Fifth day: one must offer malati flower to the head (siro-desa) of the Lordship.

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Ideally, one should take bath in Ganges or the other holy rivers every day and offer tarpana 3 times for Bhismadeva by saying the following mantra:

Tarpana

om vaiyaghra padya gotraya

samkrti pravaraya ca

aputraya dadamyetat

salilam bhismavarmane

Arghya

vasunamavataraya

santanoratmajaya ca

arghyam dadami bhismaya

ajanma brahmacarine

Pranam

om bhismah santanavo birah

satyavadi jitendriyah

abhiradbhiravapnatu

putrapautrocitam kriyam