GBC Chairman’s Annual Address on the Auspicious Occasion of Śrī Nityānanda Trayodaśī

On the sacred observance of Śrī Nityānanda Trayodaśī, the Chairman of the Governing Body Commission (GBC), Govardhan Dāsa, presented his Annual Report for 2025 in advance of the ISKCON Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2026. Delivered through a recorded video message, the address provided a considered overview of the Society’s principal priorities, notable accomplishments, and the challenges presently facing the worldwide Vaiṣṇava community.

At the outset, Govardhan Dāsa reaffirmed the GBC’s steadfast resolve to cultivate a caring, responsible, and spiritually grounded global ISKCON society—one in which all devotees, including youth, elders, and family members, are duly valued, respected, and protected. Among the significant announcements was the introduction of the first-ever worldwide online Mahā Iṣṭagoṣṭhī. This historic initiative is intended to facilitate live participation and questions from devotees across the globe as part of the AGM proceedings, reflecting an earnest commitment toward greater transparency, open communication, and collective engagement within the Society.

Further details regarding this Mahā Iṣṭagoṣṭhī will be shared in due course. Devotees are encouraged to note the date: 8 February 2026, at 4:00 PM IST.

The report further underscored ongoing efforts to deepen connection and cooperation throughout the international ISKCON community, while simultaneously strengthening the foundational principles of the movement, understood as the sacred spiritual legacy entrusted to ISKCON by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda.

The complete video presentation may be accessed through the here.

This Annual Report is presented in conjunction with the GBC Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2026, scheduled to take place from 4–10 February 2026 in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, and is intended to offer essential context for the AGM’s agenda, deliberations, and the shared responsibilities borne by ISKCON’s leadership.

A Contemporary Voice in the Service of Śrī Kṛṣṇa

Haritā Mādhavī Devī Dāsī is a practitioner of Kṛṣṇa consciousness who employs rap music as a contemporary instrument for devotional outreach. Appearing publicly in traditional devotional attire, she presents mantra-infused compositions that communicate the essential teachings of bhakti-yoga through structured rhythm and measured poetry.
Residing in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, her efforts reflect a developing initiative within ISKCON to connect with younger generations through culturally recognizable forms, while remaining firmly anchored in the principles of sādhana and śāstra.

When Rhythm Serves Remembrance

Clad in a simple sari, tilaka marking her forehead, she stands beneath the stage lights as the resonance of kartālas gradually subsides. A moment of stillness follows, the audience attentive. Then the beat begins. With restraint and clarity, her voice enters, carrying the holy name, philosophical reflection, and an earnest devotional appeal. For many observers, the contrast between form and sound is unexpected. For her, it is simply another means of calling out to Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Formation Within a Devotional Household

Now based in Māyāpur, Haritā Mādhavī’s connection with Kṛṣṇa consciousness began in early life. Raised in a devotee family originally from Chennai in South India, she was introduced to bhakti in the late 1990s through her parents, both long-serving initiated disciples within ISKCON. Reflecting on her upbringing, she shared that by the mercy of her parents and her spiritual master, spirituality was never separate from daily life.

A significant influence came through her mother’s spiritual search while residing in the Middle East. Upon meeting His Holiness Jayapatākā Swāmī, her mother’s transformation was immediate. Within a short time, she adopted strict devotional practices and sought initiation. Witnessing this decisive faith left a deep impression, quietly shaping Haritā Mādhavī’s own inner trajectory.

Renewal Through Association in Youth

Like many raised within devotional environments, her adolescent years were marked by distraction and distance. Academic demands and social pressures gradually eclipsed the spiritual inheritance she had received. The change came during her university years in South India, through an encounter within an ISKCON youth association.

Hearing peers describe the concealment of their devotional practices deeply affected her. She recognized the fortune she possessed and the neglect with which she treated it. This realization marked a turning point. Within a year, she formally took shelter, receiving initiation in 2015 and later second initiation following the COVID period. Observing sincere spiritual happiness among contemporaries reaffirmed her commitment.

Encounter with Hip-Hop and Inner Deliberation

Alongside her devotional formation, another inclination developed. During her teenage years, Haritā Mādhavī became drawn to rap music, initially responding to its energy rather than its lyrical content. In college, she became known for hip-hop dance, an unexpected complement to her training in Bharatanāṭyam and Carnatic music.

Over time, the discord between musical form and lyrical message became apparent. Though attracted to the medium, she found its themes incompatible with her values. For years, this interest remained private. During the reflective period of the COVID pandemic, she recognized this creative impulse as an integral part of herself and began to consider its potential engagement in devotional service.

Harita Madhavi papping onstage at the 2026 Gita Mela in Mayapur.

From Experimentation to Public Offering

Encouraged by early examples of Kṛṣṇa-conscious rap during the pandemic and supported by friends in Melbourne while pursuing a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at La Trobe University, she began tentative experimentation. The initial expressions were simple and unrefined, yet sincere.

A defining moment arrived when Australian artist  Adrian Eagle invited her to perform during Melbourne’s Ratha-yātrā festival. Appearing on stage in a sari, she presented her offering with humility and resolve. The response, particularly from younger devotees, was enthusiastic, affirming the possibility of devotional expression without compromise.

Rap as an Extension of Bhakti-Yoga

Her method is intentional and grounded in the principles of bhakti-yoga—hearing, chanting, and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa. Mantras form the foundation of her compositions, followed by English verses crafted for accessibility and reflection. Emphasizing sincerity, she maintains careful reverence for the holy name and scriptural authority, underscoring that intention determines spiritual potency.

Devotional Identity and Sacred Representation

Her presentation consciously affirms devotional identity. In contrast to prevalent imagery within popular music culture, she appears as a Vaiṣṇavī, unaltered in dress or conduct. She maintains that spiritual identity need not be relinquished for expression, likening devotional attire to a uniform that clearly signifies one’s allegiance and purpose.

Challenges, Perseverance, and Gradual Acceptance

Responses to her work have varied. While Australian audiences expressed curiosity and encouragement, early performances in India were met with hesitation and critique. Even familial reservations arose. Sustained by confidence in her intention, she continued. Over time, broader exposure—particularly through recordings shared from Gītā Melā—helped audiences recognize the sincerity underlying the presentation.

Influence Upon the Younger Generation

Messages now arrive regularly from listeners and parents, many noting tangible inspiration. Youth report repeated listening and renewed interest in temple life. For Haritā Mādhavī, such outcomes fulfill the purpose of her service: to encourage engagement with the Bhagavad-gītā, chanting of the holy name, and sincere inquiry, trusting that Kṛṣṇa will guide the heart.

Continuing the Service

Looking forward, she regards this work as an opening rather than a culmination. Her themes consistently return to remembrance of Kṛṣṇa, the insufficiency of material promises, and the search for genuine love and identity. Recordings, collaborations, and invitations continue to develop, yet her focus remains unchanged: to offer a reminder that spiritual identity is eternal and to be rediscovered.

Within a genre often marked by distraction, Haritā Mādhavī Devī Dāsī’s voice resonates with clarity—not by departing from tradition, but by carrying its message forward through a new cadence.

Those interested in her devotional outreach or potential collaboration may find her work shared regularly on Instagram , where she offers performances, reflections, and updates connected to her service.

For almost forty years, ISKCON Karuna Bhavan Lesmahagow has cultivated a steady and unassuming presence—one founded not only upon formal preaching, but equally upon patient relationship-building within the local community. What began as pioneering book distribution throughout Scotland has, over time, naturally unfolded into a broader spectrum of outreach. This now includes food relief, wellness initiatives, youth engagement, and, most recently, a practical expression of care through support for a local boxing academy serving children from a socially deprived area.

The recent donation toward protective headgear for young participants at Bell’s Boxing Academy, may appear small in material terms. Yet for Prabhupada Prana Dāsa, Temple President of ISKCON Karuna Bhavan, it represents a meaningful continuation of a long journey—one directed toward sincere, trust-based engagement with those living around the temple.

The Growth of a Yātrā Through Constancy and Transformation

Prabhupada Prana Dāsa joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1983 and returned to Scotland in 1986, shortly before the formal establishment of what later became ISKCON Karuna Bhavan Lesmahagow. Over the ensuing decades, the yātrā passed through various phases, shaped by changes in leadership, physical location, and outreach emphasis. Each stage, he observed, contributed to the present stability of the temple and its ability to extend itself outward with confidence and maturity.

“This year marks forty years since I came to Scotland,” he reflected. “During that time, the yātrā has grown, relocated, consolidated, and matured.” Although administrative structures evolved, the essential purpose remained unchanged—to serve Śrīla Prabhupāda’s desire that Krishna consciousness be presented in a manner accessible and meaningful to local people.

In the early years, outreach was firmly centered upon book distribution. “We based our growth on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instruction that if one simply distributes his books, there will be no financial difficulty,” Prabhupada Prana Dāsa explained. Devotees traveled widely across Scotland and northern England, supported by a robust network of nāma-haṭṭa programs. “At one time, we were conducting as many as twelve nāma-haṭṭas each week,” he recalled.

Expanding Outreach While Preserving the Essential Principle

While maintaining full faith in book distribution as the foundation of ISKCON’s mission, Prabhupada Prana Dāsa gradually perceived the importance of cultivating receptivity within the broader public. “Although we are presenting the highest knowledge, not everyone is prepared to appreciate it immediately,” he noted. Many people encountered the temple or its teachings unexpectedly, without prior context.

This understanding led to a gradual expansion of outreach activities—not as a replacement for traditional preaching, but as a supportive means of preparing hearts and minds. “One must create a favorable atmosphere,” he explained. “Often, people first connect through practical kindness, which later opens the door to deeper understanding.”

A prominent expression of this spirit has been the temple’s Food for Scotland initiative. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Karuna Bhavan distributed meals to shelters, hostels, and temporary housing. As restrictions eased, the focus shifted toward nearby villages.

“We began delivering prasādam meals door to door,” Prabhupada Prana Dāsa said. “We placed flyers through every letterbox, because many—especially elderly residents—are not digitally connected.” Since that time, he estimates that nearly one hundred thousand meals have been distributed. The program is now formally recognized by local authorities, who refer individuals and families in need directly to the temple.

Prasadam prepared by devotees and ready for distribution through the Food for Scotland initiative.

Holi Festival of draws 300–400 locals each year for kirtan, yoga, prasadam, Q&A sessions, and cultural activities.

Local residents, volunteers, and students take part in a wellbeing event featuring yoga and mantra meditation at Karuna Bhavan.

Support for Bell’s Boxing Academy: Outreach Expressed Through Practical Care

The connection with Bell’s Boxing Academy developed from relationships formed years earlier during the construction of the Gauranga Hall. A local father-and-son building team—both involved in boxing—had once utilized an unused barn on temple property to conduct classes for children. Although the space was later reclaimed by the temple, the personal relationship endured.

When the builders’ sons later established Bell’s Boxing Academy in Lesmahagow, they approached ISKCON Karuna Bhavan seeking assistance to purchase protective headgear for the children they serve. “Initially, I was uncertain,” Prabhupada Prana Dāsa admitted. “After all, it is Krishna’s Lakṣmī.” Seeking guidance from a senior godbrother clarified the matter. “He told me, ‘Your best public relations are with the local people.’”

The academy’s response was immediate and deeply appreciative. Andrew Bell publicly expressed gratitude to the temple, emphasizing how the donation contributed to the safety of the children. In time, he himself began volunteering with the temple’s food distribution program—demonstrating how the relationship naturally became reciprocal rather than merely transactional.

On one occasion, following incidents of vandalism on temple property, Bell addressed the children directly. “He gathered around thirty children and told them, ‘These are our people. They are helping us,’” Prabhupada Prana Dāsa recalled. “From that point onward, there were no further problems.” For him, this moment clearly illustrated how mutual respect arises organically when trust is sincerely established.

Shared Development and a Vision for the Future

Prabhupada Prana Dāsa perceives a natural connection between sporting discipline, community life, and spiritual culture. Having himself been a Scottish wrestling champion, he recognizes the parallels. “No one achieves anything—materially or spiritually—without discipline,” he observed. “Sports cultivate respect, self-control, and humility.”

Looking ahead, he foresees continued cooperation with local authorities and community organizations, undertaken with deliberation and care. Rather than viewing expanded outreach as a risk, he regards it as a conscious step toward collective growth. He likened this to a “goldfish leap”—the transition from a small bowl into a larger aquarium. “It is a movement into a broader space,” he reflected, “where there is greater opportunity to grow.”

In this way, such engagements are not merely acts of charity, but shared journeys of development, through which both the temple and the surrounding community gradually mature and benefit together.

Ultimately, Prabhupada Prana Dāsa emphasizes that authenticity lies at the heart of meaningful outreach. “Śrīla Prabhupāda wanted local people to become devotees,” he said. “And local people more readily relate to those they perceive as their own.”

The support extended to Bell’s Boxing Academy thus stands as a quiet yet powerful example of this principle in practice—demonstrating how steadiness, humility, and practical compassion naturally allow Krishna consciousness to extend beyond the temple walls.

Readers may follow ISKCON Karuna Bhavan Lesmahagow on Instagram and Facebook  for regular updates and community highlights, or visit the temple’s website to learn more about its outreach initiatives and devotional activities.

The Mayapur Academy Library Opens Its Doors to the Vaiṣṇava Community

The Mayapur Academy Library has  announced that it is now open to all devotees as a comprehensive center for authentic Vaiṣṇava learning. Situated on the second floor of Chaitanya Bhawan at ISKCON Mayapur, this sacred space has been established to support serious study of śāstra, deity worship, and Vaiṣṇava culture. Devotees and sincere seekers are warmly invited to enter this atmosphere of learning and deepen their spiritual understanding.

The library functions from Monday to Friday, between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. His Grace Nṛsiṁha Kavaca Dāsa, ISKCON’s Minister for Deity Worship, has personally extended an open invitation to the devotee community to make full use of this valuable facility for study, reflection, and inspiration.

A Multilingual Repository of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Literature

The library houses an extensive and impressive collection of books authored by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, available in forty-two different languages. This remarkable multilingual assembly ensures that the timeless teachings of Kṛṣṇa consciousness are accessible to devotees from a wide variety of linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

The English collection is prominently displayed, accompanied by substantial holdings in Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, and Sanskrit, reflecting the global outreach of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission.

Among the most noteworthy treasures preserved in the library is Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Bhagavad-gītā in Braille—a complete ten-volume set. This rare and thoughtful presentation makes this foundational scripture accessible to visually impaired devotees and stands as a powerful testament to ISKCON’s commitment to ensuring that transcendental knowledge is available to all, without distinction.

Preserving ISKCON’s Sacred Literary Heritage

In addition to Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, the library maintains a rich archive of historical ISKCON publications. Devotees may study issues of The Harmonist, Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Transcendental Diaries, and numerous editions of Back to Godhead magazine.

The library also carefully preserves the complete collection of Mayapur Vyāsa-pūjā books, containing offerings to Śrīla Prabhupāda. These volumes serve both as valuable historical records and as profound sources of inspiration for present and future generations of devotees.

A Place for Study, Service, and Contribution

The Mayapur Academy Library functions as a dedicated reading room, providing a peaceful and conducive environment where visitors may sit, read, and thoughtfully engage with transcendental literature. While the books are not available for borrowing, the space is designed to encourage extended study and deep contemplation.

His Grace Nṛsiṁha Kavaca Dāsa has also encouraged devotees who possess suitable books to contribute to the library’s collection, as well as those who wish to render service through volunteering. Both donations and personal service are welcomed in support of this important educational initiative.

As ISKCON Mayapur continues to flourish as a center of spiritual culture and learning, the Mayapur Academy Library stands as a vital institution dedicated to preserving and disseminating the teachings that Śrīla Prabhupāda compassionately gave to the world. All devotees are warmly invited to take advantage of this opportunity to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.