ISKCON TEMPLE

Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir Vrindavan

Avery popular temple flocked by devotees worldwide, Krishna Balarama Mandir is also popularly known as ISKCON Vrindavan and locally known as Angrez Mandir. It was established by Founder of Hare Krishna Movement - A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

The main deities are Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar and Sri Sri Gaur Nitai. Adjacent to Gaur Nita, there are deities of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada (Guru Maharaj of Srila Prabhupada). There is 24-hour kirtan going on here in the main temple hall. It was re-started by Sripad Aindra Prabhu in 1986.

History:-

The place where Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir stands today in Vrindavan is the place where Krishna and Balarama used to play with their sakha friends in soft sands of Vrindavan. Hence, the central deities are of Krishna Balarama.

The temple was conceptualised and inaugurated by Srila Prabhupada on eve of Rama Navami in 1975. Srila Prabhupada personally oversaw the construction and development of this temple.

There's popular incidence known amongst vrajvasis and devotees who were there in Vrindavan when the deities arrived at midnight prior to the opening of the temple. As the truck carrying the deities entered Vrindavan and reached the temple, the weather changed into a beautiful ambience, there was a singing of birds, peacocks, the cows started meowing and the monkeys started jumping around Vrindavan. There had never been such sight for devotees here and people were perplexed on why the whole environment has changed at midnight. It was later realised by devotees that the deities are home!

The picture of Srimati Radharani that is most popular the world is none other than that of the Srimati Radharani at Krishna Balarama Mandir.

Srimati Radharani is in a slightly different pose here, and Srila Prabhuapda personally posed for her while giving a brief on how Radharani at this temple would be. He said as long as She is dancing, our movement would go on very nicely.

Anybody can get captivated by taking darshan of Srimati Radharani at Krishna Balarama Mandir. You can check the picture on phone and computer screens, but the visual and emotions that would churn when you are taking darshan of Radha Shyamsundar live is a different experience altogether and very difficult to describe in words.