ISKCON Temple
ISKCON Temple, Bangalore Overview
Located in Rajajinagar area of Bangalore, ISKCON Temple is a revered shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna. The temple under the guidance of Madhu Pandit Dasa and was inaugurated in the year 1997 by Shankar Dayal Sharma. Apart from a religious shrine, ISKCON temple is a cultural complex accommodating dedicated deities of Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, Sri Srinivasa Govinda and Sri Prahlada Narasimha.
ISKCON Temple is known for its activities of engagement involving ardent devotees of Lord Krishna. The temple enrols members for life and arranges programs in their community centres for Krishna consciousness and awareness of the Lord. The temple community also organises songs and recitals admiring and praying to Krishna in public processions. Lectures and prayer services are regularly conducted here as well. In addition, the ISKCON temple community conducts a wide variety of activities directed towards rediscovering spirituality on an individual level as well as creating a spirit of harmony in the community.
History of the Temple
ISKCON temple Bangalore is a part of a charitable society with the aim of propagating Krishna Consciousness through the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. The society was registered in the year 1978 under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 and became operational in 1987. The same year, the leaders of the society approached the Bangalore Development Authority for the allotment of land to construct the temple. A seven-acre hillock with a huge rock in the midst of it was allotted to the ISKCON temple authorities on August 3, 1988. Since the site wasn't fit for construction, a temporary temple premise was arranged there.
To overcome this predicament, Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, a qualified civil engineer and who was also the president of the ISKCON Bangalore Society conceptualized a beautiful architecture for the temple with the help of Sri Jagat Chandra Dasa who was an architect himself. Construction of the ISKCON temple began in full swing in the year 1990 and six hundred skilled artisans worked ceaselessly for seven years to accomplish the edifice. The ISKCON temple and cultural complex were inaugurated by the then President of India, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma on May 31, 1997.
Architecture of ISKCON Bangalore
The architecture of Bangalore's ISKCON temple is a magnificent presence and is credited to being the largest ISKCON complexes in the world. The most distinctive feature of this temple is its gold plated flag post which stands at a height of 17 metres, followed by its gilded Kalash Shikharas which is at a height of 8.5 metres. An example of neo - classical style of architecture, the ISKCON temple is embellished with the most exquisite style of stone carvings. The main shrine which is also called the Rajagopuram has beautiful archways and water fountains welcoming you into the temple. Inside, beautifully ornamented idols of Shri Radhe Krishna adorn the temple. In addition to this shrines, separate prayer halls are dedicated to Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, Sri Srinivasa Govinda and Sri Prahlada Narasimha are present here as well. The ISKCON temple complex has an expansive verdant garden and an amphitheatre for conducting various cultural programmes as well.
Festivals at ISKCON Bangalore
A number of festivals are celebrated with great vigour and gaiety in the ISKCON temple premises. The year begins with the celebration of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Ratha Yatra, in which Lord Krishna and Balarama appear in beautifully decorated chariots to bless their devotees. This festival is followed by the celebration of Sri Nityananda Trayodashi in February when Lord Balarama appeared as Nityananda Prabhu. March sees festivities around Sri Gauri Purnima which is the birth anniversary of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Ram Navami and Brahmotsav are celebrated in April. Sri Narasimha Jayanti and Sri Hanuman Jayanti are celebrated in the month of May and Panihati Chita Dahi is celebrated in the temple during June.
Following these is the yearly celebration of Garuda Panchami which is celebrated in the end of July. August is a big month of celebrations, as several important festivals such as Shri Radhashtami, Jhulan Utsav, Sri Balarama Purnima and Shri Krishna Janmashtami are celebrated in this month. Other festivals that are celebrated here include Vamana Jayanti, Deepotsav, Govardhan Puja and Shri Vaikuntha Ekadashi.
How to Reach ISKCON Temple
The ISKCON Temple is located on the Hare Krishna Hills, in the North Bangalore. It is well-connected to the various parts of the city through different modes of transport. Bangalore has an extensive bus network operated by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). You can easily find buses to reach the Hare Krishna Hills.
The closest metro station to the temple is Mahalakshmi Station. The temple is merely 5-minute walk from there. Alternatively, you can also hire a taxi from any part of the city to reach the temple.
Where to Stay
If you plan on staying somewhere near the ISKCON Temple, you can try out Hotel Venkat Presidency, Hotel Grand Bee, Minla Hotel, Sheraton Grand or Hotel Abhimaani Vasathi.
Activities in ISKCON Temple
The temple authorities conduct a number of different activities aimed at different groups of people. Cultural education classes are conducted for children studying in classes V to IX to imbibe spirituality and Krishna Consciousness in them, and youth programs are held along the same lines for young adults. Similarly, Krishnashraya and Life Sublime are spiritual programmes conducted in different locations including houses so as to bridge the gap between people and Krishna, the Supreme Lord. The temple also focuses on protecting and providing better living conditions to cows, which are Lord Krishna favourite animals.
The ISKCON Temple Experience
The peaceful setting and spiritual vibe of this place are a soothing experience and a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Best Restaurants Nearby
The temple has impeccable food and prasadam services within its complex. Nitya Annanda in ISKCON provides sumptuous lunch from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. Krishnamrita is another prasadam distribution program under the temple's premises, which prepares delicious food using Sattvic techniques. Mid day meals under the name of Akshaya Patra are also provided for underprivileged children in partnership with various government and government - aided schools.
Tips
1. Cigarette, Biri, Tobacco or other intoxicants are strictly prohibited inside the holy premises
2. Photography is not allowed inside the temple
3. Remove your footwear before entering the premises
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