ISKCON Temple, Vrindavan

ISKCON Vrindavan, also called Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir, is one of the major ISKCON temples in the world. It is a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple located in the city of Vrindavan, Mathura district, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.^[1] The temple is dedicated to the Hindu gods Krishna and Balarama. The other deities of temple are Radha Krishna and Gauranga Nityananda.^[2]

ISKCON Temple, Vrindavan
Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Temple
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Mathura district
Deity	Radha Krishna Krishna Balarama Gaura Nitai
Festivals	Janamashtami, Radhashtami, Gaura Purnima, Holi
Location
Location	Vrindavan
State	Uttar Pradesh
Country	India
Architecture
Type	Hindu architecture
Completed	1977
Temple(s)	3
Website
iskconvrindavan.com

History

Radha Shyamsundar at ISKCON Vrindavan

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder–acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, inaugurated the Krishna Balaram Mandir and installed deities (murtis) of Krishna–Balaram, Radha–Shyamasundar, the gopis Lalita Devi and Vishakha Devi, and Gaura–Nitai on Ram Navami (April 20) 1975.^[3]

Deities

Radha Shyamasundar at the temple on Radhashtami

The presiding deities of the temple are Krishna and Balarama at the central altar. On the right altar are Radha Krishna as Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar with the gopis Lalita and Vishakha. On the left altar are Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with Nityananda, and ISKCON founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his guru Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.^[4]

Near the temple, at the entrance to the complex, is the samadhi mandir of Prabhupada, built of white marble.

Festivals

• Krishna Janmashtami - Birth anniversary of Krishna
• Radhashtami - Birth anniversary of Radha
• Balarama Purnima - Birth anniversary of Balarama
• Gaura-purnima - Birth anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
• Nityananda trayodashi - Birthday anniversary of Nityananda
• Gopashtami - Festival dedicated to pastimes of Krishna with Cows
• Holi - Festival of love and colours, Major festival associated with pastimes of Radha Krishna
• Sharad Purnima - Festival associated with the maharaas of Radha Krishna and gopis.
• Kartik Purnima - Festival associated with raslia of Radha-Krishna and gopis.
• Chaturmaas
• Kartik Damodar Maas - Kartik month celebration which is believed to be the most auspicious month for the worship of Radha Krishna
• Diwali - Major Hindu festival dedicated to Sita Rama (another form of Radha Krishna)
• Appearance and disappearance days (birth and death days) of Vaishnava acharyas and saints.

Gallery

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  ISKCON Temple, Vrindavan
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  Outer appearance of temple
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  Entrance of ISKCON Temple, Vrindavan
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  Alley inside temple
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  Inside area of temple
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  24 hours kirtan is performed inside the temple
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  Deities of temple - Gaura Nitai
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  Deities of temple - Radha Shyamsundar
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  Deities of temple- Krishna Balram
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  Wall art of Radha Krishna inside temple
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  Wall art of Radha Krishna on swing inside the temple
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  Samadhi temple of Srila Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON temple, Vrindavan
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  Idols of Radha Krishna inside temple museum
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  Idol of goddess Vrinda inside temple museum
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  Statues of Krishna Balram outside temple museum

See also

• Prem Mandir Vrindavan
• Banke Bihari Temple
• Radha Rani Temple, Barsana
• Radha Raman Temple
• Nandmahar Dham
• Radha Damodar Temple, Vrindavan
• Radha Madan Mohan Temple, Vrindavan
• Radha Krishna Vivah Sthali, Bhandirvan