Located in the Rajaji Nagar in Bangalore, and a venture of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON Temple in Bangalore is a shrine to Lord Krishna.
This splendid architecture was first erected by Sri Madhu Pandit Das and inaugurated in the year 1997 by the then President of India, Shankar Dayal Sharma.
It houses a number of prayer halls, dedicated to Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, Sri Srinivasa Govinda and Sri Prahlada Narasimha.
Apart from being a shrine to the Lord, ISKCON Bangalore is also a cultural hubbub of multiple dimensions. It has a lecture hall of its own, which holds daily lectures delivered by devotees on the Srimad Bhagavatam.
It also has an amphitheatre, in which a number of events are held, such as cultural fests, dance and music programmes, educational conferences and so on.
The ISKCON Temple in Bangalore also conducts a number of festivals across the year, inviting pilgrims and devotees to it in all seasons. Rama Navami, Akshaya Tritiya, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Rath Yatra are only a few of them.
Being located on top of a hill that is far removed from any source of drinking groundwater, the temple provides drinking water to its visitors from tankers transported all the way from the ground area.
It is also well guarded by well-trained security personnel, who monitor the area all the time.
The temple also has a gift shop of its own, known as Matchless Gifts, selling aromatic incense and other devotional products. These items are manufactured from natural products, and any profit gained is donated to charitable organizations.
History of Iskcon Temple:
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness was initiated in the year 1976 by Krishna devotees from across the world. The ISKCON Temple in Bangalore was first established in 1998 under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960.
The goals of this society are derived from the Seven Purposes of ISKCON as stated by Srila Prabhupada. Initially, the temple was operating from a rented house in Bangalore.
It was around the year 1987 when the temple was moved to the grounds, on Hare Temple Road, which was then an empty "kharab land" (wasteland).
To make this land more befitting of housing the splendid temple, Sri Madhu Pandit Das, a qualified engineer who was then the President of the ISKCON Bangalore, conceptualized a beautiful temple of splendid architecture, which he then built along with Sri Jagat Chandra Dasa, an architect himself.
The construction of the temple began in 1990, and around 600 skilled artisans were employed for the purpose.
The construction finally ended in the year 1997. On the same year, the Temple was inaugurated by the ninth President of India- Shankar Dayal Sharma.
Architecture of Iskcon Temple:
The ISKCON Temple at Bangalore is known for its unique and glorious architecture.
The splendid thought and artwork that went behind the construction of this magnificent structure displays a striking amalgamation of glass and gopuram, which then becomes symbolic of the blending of traditional values with modern aesthetics.
The temple also features a 17-metre tall flag-post plated entirely in gold. as well as a gold plated shikara, which is 8.5 metres high.
The vast premises of ISKCON Bangalore, along with the rolling green lawns that dominate the outer area, also houses a lecture hall, an exhibition hall, a Vedic Museum showcasing a plethora of ancient artefacts and cultural tokens, as well as an indoor theatre which shows Vedic films from time to time.
Apart from these, the temple also has separate prayer halls dedicated to Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, Sri Srinivasa Govinda and Sri Prahlada Narasimha.
The neo-classical architecture that characterizes the temple boasts of elaborate stone carvings along the walls and the doors. The main shrine to Krishna, known as the Rajagopuram, boasts of beautifully crafted archways and splendid water fountains.
Festivals at Iskcon Bangalore:
Shri Vaikuntha Ekadashi: The Ekadashi that occurs in the month of Margashirsha (December – January) during the fortnight of waxing moon is known as Vaikuntha Ekadashi. On this day, devotees from all over the country unite at the temple to remember the Supreme Lord by chanting his name and singing hymns to his praise.
Sri Nityananda Trayodashi: Nityananda Trayodashi is the day on which Lord Balaram, in the form of Sri Nrityananda, was said to have appeared to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and helped him spread the teachings of Lord Krishna among the masses.
On this day, devotees fast for the entire day and pray to the Lord for spiritual strength. Then they celebrate the breaking of the fast in the evening with kirtans and the 'Pallaki Utsav' commemorated in the Lord's name.
Sri Gaura Purnima: Sri Gaura Purnima is the day associated with the appearance of Shri Krishna on Earth in the figure of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
The celebration of the day begins in the evening with the Pallakki Utsav, conducted with the accompaniment of the Hare Sankirtana.
Sri Krishna Janmashtami: Janmashtami is celebrated over the weekend at the ISKCON Temple, and is flanked by thousands of devotees during the season. The celebration begins sharp at the stroke of midnight and continues well into the morning.
Delicacies of 108 different types are prepared and offered to the deity, then distributed among pilgrims and devotees as Prasad.
