- About ISKCON
- Philosophy
- Structure
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), otherwise known as the Hare Krishna movement, includes five hundred major centres, temples and rural communities, nearly one hundred affiliated vegetarian restaurants, thousands of namahattas or local meeting groups, a wide variety of community projects, and millions of congregational members worldwide. Although less than fifty years on the global stage, ISKCON has expanded widely since its founding by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in New York City in 1966.
ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradaya, a monotheistic tradition within the Vedic or Hindu culture. Philosophically it is based on the Sanskrit texts Bhagavad-Gita and the Bhagavat Purana, or Srimad Bhagavatam. These are the historic texts of the devotional bhakti yoga tradition, which teaches that the ultimate goal for all living beings is to reawaken their love for God, or Lord Krishna, the “all-attractive one”.
God is known across the world by many names including Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh, Rama, etc. ISKCON devotees chant God’s names in the form of the Maha-mantra, or the great prayer for deliverance: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
Many leading academics have highlighted ISKCON’s authenticity. Diana Eck, Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies at Harvard University, describes the movement as “a tradition that commands a respected place in the religious life of humankind.” In the 1980s Dr. A. L. Basham, one of the world’s authorities on Indian history and culture, wrote of ISKCON that, “It arose out of next to nothing in less than twenty years and has become known all over the West. This, I feel, is a sign of the times and an important fact in the history of the Western world.”
ISKCON’s founder, Srila Prabhupada, has drawn appreciation from scholars and religious leaders alike for his remarkable achievement in presenting India’s Vaishnava spiritual culture in a relevant manner to contemporary Western and worldwide audiences.
Members of ISKCON practice bhakti-yoga in their homes and also worship in temples. They also promote bhakti-yoga, or Krishna Consciousness, through festivals, the performing arts, yoga seminars, public chanting, and the distribution of the society’s literatures. ISKCON members have also opened hospitals, schools, colleges, eco-villages, free food distribution projects, and other institutions as a practical application of the path of devotional yoga.
Philosophy
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), is the orthodox core of Hinduism. It was registered in the West (in New York) in July 1966, but dates back over 5000 years. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1532) popularized the movement all over India. The principal scriptures are the Bhagavad-Gita (The Song of God), and the Shrimad Bhagavatam (about Lord Krishna, His devotees and His reciprocation with them).
To understand knowledge of self-realisation one must approach a genuine spiritual master. The Vedas also tell us that the understanding of the self, as being non-material or spiritual by nature, is the preliminary stage of realisation of the absolute truth. To understand knowledge of self-realisation one must approach a genuine spiritual master, just as one learns the essence of any subject from a perfected practitioner.
The conscious living entity (jiva or atma) is distinct from the body made of inert matter (Prakriti). The Jivas are the eternally subordinate fragmental parts of God (Ishvara). Both the soul and the Supreme are spirit (Brahman). Prakriti, consisting of the three qualities (gunas), is completely subordinate to the will of the Lord. Some jivas forgetting their relationship with the Supreme Lord, became entangled in prakriti and are confined indefinitely to the process of transmigration under the law of karma. All the Lord’s unlimited potencies, both spiritual and mundane, are non-different from the Lord and yet, inconceivably, He simultaneously retains His personal identity, distinct from them. There is only one Supreme Lord who has many names including, Hari (the Almighty) and Krishna (the All-attractive); all others, including the demigods, are His servants. Each jiva has an eternal constitutional position (svarupa) as servant to the Lord in one of five loving relationships (rasas). The jiva can gain liberation (mukti), or release from illusion (maya), by re-establishing his dormant relationship with the Lord through the practice of devotional service (bhakti-yoga). In this way, he escapes the wheel of birth and death (samsara) and returns to the spiritual realm. Such love of God (Krishna prema) can be re-awakened through the grace of a genuine spiritual master (guru) appearing in disciplic succession (parampara). The process especially recommended for this age, the age of quarrel (Kali-yuga) is the offence-less chanting of the holy names of the Lord, especially in the form of the Maha-Mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, as promoted by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, is accepted by the Vedas as the most effective means of self-purification in this age. The Vedas describe this mantra as a prayer to the Lord, “Please Lord, engage me in Your service”.
Devotees may accept formal initiation into the chanting of the Holy Name vowing to abstain from intoxication, gambling, illicit sexual connections and the eating of meat, fish or eggs. ISKCON members believe indulgence in the aforementioned activities disrupts physical, mental and spiritual well-being, and increases anxiety and conflict in society. At the time of initiation devotees also agree to chant a prescribed number of mantras each day.
Lord Chaitanya
Sri Chaitanya, whom devotees revere as a direct incarnation of Krishna, gave a powerful impetus for a massive bhakti (devotional) movement throughout India. Under his direction hundreds of volumes on the philosophy of Krishna consciousness were compiled. Many devotees have followed in the line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu including, in the 19th century, an outstanding Vaisnava theologian, Bhaktivinoda Thakura who brought Krishna consciousness to a modern audience.
Bhaktivinoda’s son, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami, became the guru of Srila Prabhupada and instructed him to spread Krishna consciousness in the West.
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT)
Working tirelessy over 12 years, Srila Prabhupada managed to write over 70 volumes of books – translations of Vedic scriptures into English and extensive commentaries on them.
Established in 1972 for publishing Srila Prabhupada’s works, The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) has become the world’s largest publisher and distributor of books on Indian philosophy and religion.
To date, the BBT has published over 500 million books and magazines in more than 60 languages.
History
Sri Sri Radha Giridhari temple’s history dates back to September 14th 1986, when the deities were installed in Bhayandar on the occasion of Sri Radha Asthami. In a small flat these beautiful deities of Sri Sri Radha Giridhari were installed, with a very few devotees. After the installation, problems started in the form of shortage of place, little water, no economic support and no co-operation from neighbours. But the devotees continued their services unto the lotus feet of the Lord for nearly nine years. The devotees kept searching for a new place. In 1995 a place was acquired in Mira Road. On the day of Lord Balarama’s appearance, Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev & Srimati Subhadra deities were moved to Mira Road. Prior to their move, these deities were worshipped in the travelling sankirtan bus for many years by the Juhu devotees. By the mercy of Lord Krishna, a temporary temple was built in the ISKCON property. Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev & Srimati Subhadra were moved to this new temple. Also, Sri Sri Radha Giridhari deities were moved from Bhayandar. The new temple was open to public worship on the day of Ram Navami in April 1996. Permission to build a bigger temple with finest fusion of modern and traditional elements of architecture was obtained by 2010. The construction was started and final inauguration of new Temple happened on 26th September 2015. How fortunate, privileged & honoured people of Mira Road are for they have the mercy of Sri Sri Radha Giridhari and Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev & Srimati Subhadra and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai.
Architectural Marvel
As already stated, the temple is primarily built with makrana marble - The oldest and the best quality marble in the world. It needs no chemical reinforcement like Italian marble, no pin holes, no color change and loss of polish. Thus, a life of next seven generation is guaranteed. It is also known as milky white marble. This marble has white colour, grey and panther brown looks. Actually Makrana is the name of village which produces this kind of marble. Also, known as Dungri marble. It is home to some of the world's most renowned white marble sites, from which the Taj Mahal, Victoria Memorial of Kolkata, Birla Temple of Jaipur and Jain Temple of Dilwara in the Southern Rajasthan were built. The Temple is huge and has beautiful lighting arrangement. All the entrance doors of the temple are beautifully carved. The walls are engraved with beautiful statues. The entire temple is brightly lit with attractive chandeliers. All the doors and windows are also beautifully engraved. The floor and the walls are decorated with colourful semi-precious stones, depicting peacock feathers. The engravings on the main sanctum and its ceiling are extraordinary attractive and eye-catching.
Deities of Their Lordships
- Sri Sri Radha Giridhari, Lalita and Vishakha Sakhi
- Sri Sri Gaura Nitai
- Sri Sri Jagannath Baladev & Subhadra Devi
- Srila Prabhupada
Dioramas of Their Lordships
- Sri Narasimhadev
- Sri Chaitanya Lila (all the pastimes depicted on the top mezzanine floor)
- Sri Dashavatar (All 10 incarnations of the Lord)
- Sri Sri Vitthala Rukmini
- Srinath ji
- Jaya and Vijaya
Communities
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), is a worldwide confederation of more than 650 temples and centers, 110 vegetarian restaurants, and a wide variety of community projects. ISKCON advocates preaching. Members try to spread Krishna consciousness primarily by singing the Hare Krishna mantra in public places and by selling books written by the founder. According to the doctrine of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, one does not need to be born in a Hindu family to take up the practice. There are ISKCON communities around the world with schools, restaurants, and farms.
India has the highest density of ISKCON centers in the world, with over 150 temples, 12 state-recognized educational institutions, 25 affiliated and non-affiliated restaurants, and a number of tourist, pilgrimage and retreat centres.
Governing Body Commission (GBC)
In 1970 Srila Prabhupada formed a Governing Body Commission (GBC) to help manage an expanding ISKCON. Before Srila Prabhupada passed away in 1977, he requested that executive authority for ISKCON be passed to this Commission. The GBC decides ISKCON’s major strategies and guidelines by democratic voting and in consultation with Temple Presidents and other leaders. According to Srila Prabhupada’s directions, all ISKCON temples are financially independent; yet function under the ecclesiastical management of the GBC. A temple president, who is responsible for carrying out the mission, locally manages each ISKCON temple and goals of ISKCON as outlined by Srila Prabhupada. While working under the supervision of their assigned GBC zonal secretary, temple presidents are encouraged to act with local initiative and are responsible for overseeing all functions of a temple, including educational programs, Deity worship, congregational development, ISKCON events within the community, care of temple residents, building maintenance, and financial stability. Moreover, temple presidents have the responsibility of maintaining in their local center ISKCON’s spiritual standards as outlined by Srila Prabhupada. Concisely, with the GBC body as its head, the primary function of ISKCON governance is to educate, follow and maintain the directions of Srila Prabhupada throughout ISKCON through organization and cooperation.