Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathy Mandir, commonly known as the ISKCON Temple Delhi, is the famous Lord Krishna and Radharani’s Vaishnav Temple in the form of Radha Parthasarathy. The temple was opened on April 5, 1998, by the then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
ISKCON Temple Delhi is one of the many temples operated by the International Association of Krishna Consciousness of India (ISKCON), also known as Sri Radha-Parthasarthy Temple. It is located on the top of a hill in the East of Kailash and can be easily reached via East of Kailash Metro Station.
There is a painting gallery of Ramayana inside the ISKCON Temple Delhi and a large animated video globe with the teachings of Bhagavad Gita. There is also a library containing many spiritual books. It also has a quality vegetarian restaurant called Govinda’s, which offers up to 18 healthy dishes for lunch and dinner buffets.
What is the History of ISKCON?
The names of ISKCON temples all over the world come from the International Krishna Conscious Society (ISKCON). It is a spiritual institution established in 1966 by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in New York.
Its core beliefs are based on 5,000 years of Hindu classics, especially the Bhagavad-gita. ISKCON devotees believe that Krishna is the source of all incarnations of God, so they call him “the supreme personality of Godhead”.
All ISKCON temples are formed to spread the dedication spirit of devotees who devote yoga. ISKCON belongs to Gaudiya-Vaishnavism sampradaya. Here, Vaishnavism means “worship of Vishnu”, and Gauda refers to this form of Vaishnavism originating in the Gauda region of West Bengal.
Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, hopes to build temples in all major cities in India. As a result, the ISKCON temple in Delhi was able to spread knowledge of Vedic culture and established a close relationship with Lord Krishna.
Prabhupada also said: “These temples are psychiatric hospitals. Just like a sick patient going to the hospital to heal the condition, a person comes to the temple of Jehovah to meet the gods, listen to kirtan and preach, and inspire people, A lesson dedicated to the Lord for his life.”
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How is the architecture of ISKCON Temple Delhi designed?
The ISKCON Temple Delhi was designed and built by Achyut Kanvinde. In 1993, he agreed to be commissioned by the Free Aid Committee to build this monastery for followers of Srila Prabhupada, one of the largest monasteries in India.
It includes many rooms for priests to use and provide services. It has many halls and various seminars for management purposes. The main temple gives way to three shrines under the three minarets, each of which is 90 feet high.
These are dedicated to Radha-Krishna, Sita-Ram, and Guara-Nitai. The outer surface of the temple has fine artwork, while the inner temple has a kaleidoscope mosaic depicting all stages of Krishna’s life.
They are decorated with colorful clothes and expensive gold and silver jewelry. The temple’s museum is also worth a visit because its extraordinary paintings and outstanding objects have brought a profound insight into Indian spiritualism. The museum also introduces the history of India.
Here, you can also easily and simply explain the great epics of India, such as “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana”. Robot performances and light and sound performances are two other popular attractions in the museum. They easily display various religious ideas.
The periphery of these shrines is the “parikrama” compound, which displays pictures of different ISKCON temples. Many images of Radha-Krishna also decorate the complex.
What are the Seven Purposes of ISKCON?
Srila Prabhupada gave “ISKCON’s seven purposes” in the ISKCON merger document. these are-
(1) Systematically spread spiritual knowledge to the entire society, and educate people of all countries on the spiritual life technology to stop the imbalance of life values and achieve true unity and peace in the world.
(2) Spreading Krishna’s consciousness, as revealed in “Bhagavad-gita” and “Holy Book Bhagavatam”.
(3) Unite the members of the society with each other and be closer to the main entity Krishna, thereby developing ideas among the members and the entire human race, that is, each soul is a component of the head of the quality (Krishna).
(4) Teaching and encouraging the Sankirtan congregation to shout holy names as revealed by the doctrine of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
(5) To establish a holy place beyond the secularity for the members and the whole society, devoted to the personality of Krishna.
(6) Make members more closely connected to teach a simpler and more natural way of life.
(7) To achieve the above purpose, publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books, and other works.
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What are the Things to Do at the ISKCON Temple Delhi?
Vedic Culture Museum
ISKCON has a museum within the temple complex, which has all the modern facilities for spreading knowledge of Vedic culture. The most outstanding part of the museum is the display of various gods made of bronze. Visitors also like the video fair held here.
Ramayana Art Museum
This room is particularly attractive to devotees because Ramayana’s famous scenes are displayed here with multimedia, lighting, and sound effects.
Bhagavadgita Animatronics robot show:
The ISKCON temple organized an Animatronics robot show, which is a unique show that attracts a large number of tourists. The interesting aspect is the clay robot, which tells the teachings of Bhagavad-gita.
Vedic Performing Arts Center
ISKCON Temple has an open-air amphitheater, and shows are held from time to time. Tourists from all over the world come here to showcase their skills and depict various scenes of Hindu epics.
Mahabharata experience
Light and sound performance depicting the Mahabharata story.
Bhagavad-Purana Exhibit
The Bhagavad-Gram Exhibition is the most important verse of Vishva Hindus. The largest holy book in the world: “Amazing Bhagavad Gita” is the largest printed book in the world, weighing more than 800 kg and measuring more than 2.8 meters in size.
What are the points to remember while visiting ISKCON Temple Delhi?
1. It is forbidden to drink alcohol in the temple premises.
2. Take off your shoes before entering the temple.
3. Because this is a religious place, dress conservatively.
4. Arprit Prasadam is available outside the main temple
How to Reach ISKCON Temple Delhi?
ISKCON Temple Delhi is located in the East Kailash area on top of Hare Krishna. The best way is to travel by the metro. The nearest metro stations are Nehru Place Station and Kailash Colony Station, a 5-minute walk from the temple.
If you are departing from Nizamuddin Railway Station, ISKCON Sant Nagar is only 5 km away. Taxis, rickshaws, and buses depart from all parts of the city.
What are the timings of the ISKCON Temple Delhi?
| Day | Morning | Evening |
| Monday-Sunday | 04:30 Am – 01:00 Pm | 04:00 Pm – 09:00 Pm |
| Monday-Sunday | Mangala Arati 4:30 Am, Japa (Mantra) Meditation 5:15 Am, Darshan Arati 7:15 Am, Guru Puja 7:30 Am. Srimad Bhagavatam Discourse 8:00 Am | RajBhog Arati 12:30 Pm, Usthapana Arati 4:15 Pm, Sandhya Arati 7:00 Pm, Bhagavad Gita Discourse 8:00Pm, Sayana Arati 8:30 Pm. |
Conclusion
ISKCON was founded by its founder Acharya Srila Prabhupada until his resignation on November 14, 1977, which was one of the spiritual institutions founded by the grace of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in July 1966.
ISKCON mainly belongs to Gaudiya-Vaishnava Sampradaya, which is popular as a monotheistic tradition in a wide range of Hindu culture. It is based on the 5,000year old Sanskrit text Bhagavad-gita from the Bible. It was established basically to serve as the center of India’s greatest glorious Vedic knowledge and culture.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Is Iskcon really Hindu?
International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement or Hare Krishnas, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organization. ISKCON was founded in 1966 in New York City by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Is Hare Krishna part of Hinduism?
The Hare Krishna movement is a branch of Hinduism, formally known as Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Its name comes from its chant — Hare Krishna — which devotees repeat over and over. It was started in the 16th century by Sri Chaitanya of Bengal (1486-1533). Public dancing and chanting became its trademark.
How can I join Iskcon ashram?
In one way or another make contact with an Iskcon member either on-line, at a temple, through an outreach group, a preaching center or some other way, and through them make contact with an authority who can admit you to a temple or introduce you to the person you want to serve as your guru if that is the sort of.
How many Iskcon members are there in the world?
Founded in 1966 in New York, ISKCON boasts more than 600 centers and millions of adherents worldwide who worship the Hindu deity Krishna, a central figure in the Hindu religion.
Is the camera allowed in Iskcon Temple Delhi?
Be careful about temple timings to ensure that your trip goes smoothly. Photography is not allowed in this place. You will not be allowed to carry the camera inside.