Sri Radha Krishna-chandra Temple ( kn, ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಧಾ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಮಂದಿರ) is one of the largest Krishna-Hindu temples in the world. It is situated in

Bangalore Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...

in the

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

state of

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

. The temple is dedicated to Hindu deities

Radha Krishna Radha-Krishna (IAST , sa, राधा कृष्ण) are collectively known within Hinduism as the combined forms of feminine as well as the masculine realities of God. Krishna and Radha are the primeval forms of God and his pleasure potenc ...

and propagates Monotehism as mentioned in ''Chandogya Upanishad''.

History

In May 1997, Bangalore ISKCON Temple was inaugurated by the ninth

president of India The president of India ( IAST: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Droupadi Murmu ...

—

Shankar Dayal Sharma Shankar Dayal Sharma (; 19 August 1918 – 26 December 1999) was an Indian lawyer and politician from the state of Madhya Pradesh who served as the ninth President of India, from 1992 to 1997. Born in Bhopal, Sharma studied at Agra, Allahaba ...

.ISKCON Temple Bangalore website, Temple History
/ref>

About temple

Features of the temple

There is a gold-plated dhwaja-

stambha A stambha (''tower'' in English) is a pillar or column found in India. In the context of Hindu mythology, it is believed to be a cosmic column that functions as a bond, joining heaven (Svarga) and earth (Prithvi). A number of Hindu scriptures, ...

(flag post) 17 m (56 ft) high and a gold plated kalash

shikhara ''Shikhara'' (IAST: '), a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak", refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India, and also often used in Jain temples. A ''shikhara'' over the ''garbhagriha'' chamber ...

8.5 m (28 ft) high. There is free distribution of Sri Krishna prasadam to all visitors during the darshana hours.

Shrines (altars)

ISKCON Bangalore has six shrines: # Main deities is of

Radha Radha ( sa, राधा, ), also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. She is the avatar of goddess Lakshmi and is also de ...

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

# Krishna

Balrama Balarama (Sanskrit: बलराम, IAST: ''Balarāma'') is a Hindu god and the elder brother of Krishna. He is particularly significant in the Jagannath tradition, as one of the triad deities. He is also known as Haladhara, Halayudha, Balade ...

# Nitai Gauranga (

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (; born Vishvambhar Mishra) was a 15th-century Indian saint who is considered to be the combined avatar of Radha and Krishna by his disciples and various scriptures. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping Krishna ...

and

Nityananda Nityānanda (; born circa 1474), also called Nitai, was a primary religious figure within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Bengal. Nitai was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's friend and disciple. They are often mentioned together as ''Gaura-Nitai'' ...

) # Srinivasa Govinda (also known as

Venkateswara Venkateswara, also known by various other names, is a form of the Hinduism, Hindu god Vishnu. Venkateswara is the presiding deity of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, located in Tirupati, Sri Balaji District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Etymology ...

) #

Prahlada Prahlada () is an asura king in Hindu mythology. He is known for his staunch devotion towards the preserver deity, Vishnu. He appears in the narrative of Narasimha, the man-lion avatar of Vishnu, who rescues Prahlada by slaying his wicked fa ...

Narasimha Narasimha ( sa, नरसिंह, lit=man-lion, ), sometimes rendered Narasingha, is the fourth avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. He is regarded to have incarnated in the form of a part-lion, part-man being to slay Hiranyakashipu, to end rel ...

# Srila Prabhupada

Darshan timings

The temple is open from 4:30 a.m. to 5:00 am. The day begins with
Grand arati
ceremony called mangala-arati followed by worship of Tulasi Devi, Sri Narasimha Arati and Suprabhata Seva for Sri Srinivasa Govinda. The temple again opens at 7:15 a.m. for Shringara Darshana Arati. 5:15 a.m. to 7:15 a.m.: Japa Meditation session. The temple remains open until 1:00 p.m. In the evening the temple is open from 4:15 to 8:15. During weekends and public holidays Temple timings are 4:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. without any break in the afternoon. The evening arati starts at 7:00 where devotees sing kirtan. In the main temple the arati is performed by three priests. This arati is followed again by kirtan where devotees can be seen dancing to the rhythm of " Hare Krishna Hare Rama".

Festivals

ISKCON Bangalore celebrates festivals that are either related to avatars of Lord Vishnu or with

Vedic culture upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the ...

. Main festivals that are celebrated within the temple are: *

Rama Navami Rama Navami () is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birthday of Rama, the seventh avatar of the deity Vishnu. people from different parts of Jharkhand attended the world famous international Hazaribagh procession organized in the city every ...

* Brahmotsava *

Narasimha Jayanti Narasimha Jayanti () is a List of Hindu festivals, Hindu festival that is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the Hindu calendar, Hindu month of Vaisakha. Hindus regard it to be the date the deity Vishnu assumed his Narasimha Avatar, avatara to ...

*Panihati Chida-dahi *

Ratha Yatra Ratha Yatra (), or Chariot festival, is any public procession in a chariot. The term particularly refers to the annual Ratha Yatra in Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and other East Indian states, particularly the Odia festival that involve a ...

*Balaram Jayanti *Jhulan Utsav * Sri Krishna Janmashtami
Swagatam Krishna
* Vyasa Puja * Sri Radhashtami * Deepotsava *

Govardhan Puja Govardhan Puja (), also known as Annakut or Annakoot (meaning a “mountain of food”), is a Hindu festival in which devotees worship Govardhan Hill and prepare and offer a large variety of vegetarian food to Krishna as a mark of gratitude. For Va ...

Vaikuntha Ekadashi Vaikuntha Ekadashi () is a Hindu occasion and festival. It is primarily observed by Vaishnavas, who regard it to be a special Ekādaśī. It coincides with '' Mokṣadā Ekādaśī'' or Putrada Ekādaśī. It is observed on the 11th lunar da ...

*Nityananda Trayodashi * Gaura Poornima *Krishna Shringar *Kumbhabhisheka

Social services

Khichdi Prasadam in Donna (Iskcon Bangalore)

ISKCON Bangalore provides free food to those in need. The

Akshaya Patra Foundation The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a non-profit trust of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), located in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The organisation operates the Midday Meal Scheme (a school lunch programme) in India. Mi ...

is one initiative started by members of the temple, which has received praise from United States President Barack Obama for feeding and educating children across India. A TV documentary has also been made on Akshaya Patra Foundation"Obama’s accolade for Akshaya Patra" from Bangalore Mirror, 12-12-2008, hosted on the ISKCON Temple Bangalore website
The

is principally involved in implementing the Mid-Day Meal programme to the children in Government and Government-aided schools across India. It follows a Public-Private Partnership model of operation, and hence has been working in partnership with the Central and State Governments. It was set up in the year 2000 and runs the world's largest NGO-run Mid-Day Meal Programme. Akshaya Patra is currently operating in 27 locations across 11 states of India. It is reaching out to over 13,500 Government and Government-aided schools feeding 1.6 million children every day.

Gallery

File:Iskon temple.JPG, Iskcon Temple at night, Bangalore File:4-PA300301 Iskon Temple, Bengaluru.JPG, 'Iskcon Temple'(2013) File:3-PA300293 A pond.JPG, 'A Pond near the Temple campus'(2013) File:2-PA300285 Iskon temple.JPG, 'Gopuram'(2013) File:ISKCON-KrishnaLilaPark.jpg, ISKCON Bangalore, Krishna Lila Park @ Vaikunta Hills, Kanakpura Road File:ISKCON-KrishnaLilaPark Sudarshana.jpg, Krishna Lila Park Shrines (altars): Sudarshana File:ISKCON-KrishnaLilaPark Narasimha-Jagannadha-Baladeva-Subhadra.jpg, Krishna Lila Park Shrines (altars): Narasimha, Jagannadha, Baladeva, Subhadra

References

External links

ISKCON Temple Bangalore official websiteಇಸ್ಕಾನ್ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು (ಕನ್ನಡ)ISKCON Revival Movement official websiteThe journal of the Hare Krishna MovementA Worldwide Community of Devotees of Lord Sri KrishnaISKCON cow protectionHare Krishna websiteISKCON Telegram channel
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iskcon Temple Bangalore Hindu temples in Bangalore Radha Krishna temples Tourist attractions in Bangalore