ISKCON-Temple

 

                  ISKCON Temple: A Religious Organization Dedicated To Lord Krishna 

Lord Sri Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead according to all the evidences of the Vedas. (Srimad-Bhagavatam3.2.10 Srila Prabhupada) 

Hindu religious group International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or ISKCON as it is more commonly known, has temples set up both domestically and abroad. The group, also known as the Hare Krishna movement, adheres to the Gaudiya Vaishnavism school of Hinduism, a monotheistic tradition. For devotees and visitors seeking a break from the rush of city life, the stunning ISKCON temples dispersed around the nation provide wonderful attractions. Looking for additional information on the ISKCON movement? Everything you need to know about the group, including its history, architectural style, tenets, and a list of significant ISKCON temples in India, is available on this blog.

Abhaya Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami (born Abhay Charan De) established ISKCON in New York City, USA, in 1966. He is regarded as the organization's spiritual leader. ISKCON was established with the purpose of promoting Bhakti Yoga or Krishna Consciousness. The goal of ISKCON members' words and deeds is to please Lord Krishna, whom they revere as the Supreme Being. The group has opened a large number of temples, centres, and rural settlements. ISKCON has also established over a hundred vegetarian restaurants, several local meeting groups, and a number of community projects including free food distribution programs (Food for Life Project) and eco-villages, to mention a few. They have also founded a scientific research branch in 1976, named Bhaktivedanta Institute (BI), which encourages the study of the origin of life and nature by making use of Vedic insights.

Architecture of ISKCON Temples

Numerous ISKCON temples, both in India and abroad, exhibit conventional and neo-Vedic architectural elements. For instance, the temple built at Spanish Fork, Utah, is fashioned after an Indian palace from the 15th century, complete with ornate arches, verandas, and columns. The West Virginia cathedral, dubbed the Taj of America, boasts a magnificent gold dome. Classic architectural designs are also used in a lot of ISKCON temples in India. The Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, a Vaishnava devotional movement that has been popular in India since the latter half of the 15thcentury, is the tradition that ISKCON adherents follow.ISKCON followers form the largest branch of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Bhaktivedanta Swami took this tradition to the Western world and spread it through his write-ups and translations of Hindu Holy Scriptures like the Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita, and Chaitanya Charitamrita among others. These works are now regarded as the scriptures of ISKCON and are available in many languages.According to ISKCON doctrine, Lord Krishna is the true God and the origin of all other incarnations of the Almighty. Radha is viewed as Krishna's female counterpart and the personification of heavenly love. A key component of the ISKCON movement is preaching. The major ways that adherents of this group disseminate awareness of Lord Krishna are through singing Hare Krishna hymns and mantras in public spaces and by handing out publications written by the founder-guru. Within the organisation, these activities are referred.

 

 

 

Lesser-known Facts about ISKCON Temples

· The ISKCON temple in Bangalore is advertised as the organization's biggest complex ever. It has a 56-foot-tall flag post that is gold-plated.

· The Ramayana Art Gallery, Mahabharata Light and Sound Show, and Bhagavad Gita Animatronics are all featured at the ISKCON temple in Delhi.

· The Astounding Bhagavad Gita, possibly the largest religious work ever printed, is also kept at the ISKCON temple in Delhi. The book is more than 800 kg heavy.

· George Harrison, one of the members of the Beatles, was a follower of the Krishna Consciousness. He is believed to have provided financial support to the ISKCON temple in the UK.

· Abhaya Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami, the founder of ISKCON, was a family man running a small pharmaceutical business before he renounced the worldly pleasures and took the religious path.

In most Indian cities, ISKCON temples are popular tourist destinations. You can always enter these elaborate temples and immerse yourself in the spiritual atmosphere, architectural magnificence, and tranquilly of the site whether or not you subscribe to the religious views promoted by the organisation. Don't forget to add the ISKCON temple in your itinerary the next time you're in one of these cities.