ISCKON Temple: Sri Sri Radha Madhava temple complex.
On the left side of the main temple room is a murti of ISKCONâs Founder-Acharya, Srila Prabhupada in his Vyasasana.On the right side, on the main altar are the presiding deities: the beautiful larger than life size Sri Sri Radha Madhava, surrounded by Their Ashta-sakhis eight principal gopi friends â Sri Lalita, Sri Champakalata, Sri Chitra, Sri Tungavidya, Sri Vishaka, Sri Indulekha, Sri Rangadevi and Sri Sudevi, along with Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Giri-Govardhana. The small Radha Madhava Deities in the altar goes out in procession during Ratha-yatra and other festivals like Jhulana-yatra swing festival or boat festival. These Deities also come out in procession on a chariot every Saturday after Sandhya-arati during winter from the beginning of the Kartika Damodara month till Gaura-purnima.In the center of the temple is the merciful deity of Lord Nrisimhadeva. This rare form of Nrisimhadeva is known as âSthanu-Nrisimhaâ and this is the only place where this particular form of Nrisimhadeva is known to be worshipped. With bent knees and in great anger with reddish eyes, He is ready to spring out of the pillar to attack the demons and protect His devotees. The Deity was installed here in 1986 after the temple was attacked by dacoits.
The third altar past Lord Nrisimhadeva, adjacent to the main temple hall is the Sri Sri Pancha-tattva temple. The most attractive and magnificient larger than life dieties of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with His associates Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita Acharya, Sri Gadhadhara Pandita and Sri Srivasa Thakura were installed in 2004, which was a remarkable event in the history of ISKCON. The small Pancha-tattva deities were installed earlier, in 1996.
Timings of some of the prominent daily events here are:
Mangala-arati: 4:15AM closes at 5:00AM Darsana-arati: 7:00AM Srila Prabhupada Guru-puja: 7:30AM Class on Srimad-Bhagavatam English and Bengali separately: 8:15AM Bhoga-arati: 12 noon temple closes at 1:00PM and reopens at 4:00PM Sandhya-arati: 6:30PM Class on Bhagavad-gita Bengali: 7:45PM temple closes at 8:30PM
Srila Prabhupadaâs Pushpa Samadhi MandirThe magnificient memorial shrine of Srila Prabhupada is the largest of its kind in India. The tall majestic marble dome dominates the skyline and shines beautifully in the golden rays of the sun at sunrise and sunset. The garland which adorned His Divine Grace while placing him in Samadhi has been brought and laid down in the Pushpa Samadhi Mandir. A larger than life size brass murti of Srila Prabhupada has been installed and worshipped here. The Samadhi Mandirâs gardens are very beautiful and extensive. They never fail to attract the attention of all guests. Upstairs, inside the Samadhi, a large diorama display depicts Srila Prabhupadaâs life and struggles to establish ISKCON and its preaching mission. Outside, the walls are decorated with terra-cotta displays of Krishnaâs pastimes from the Srimad-Bhagavatam. A large auditorium is in the basement with facility for stage lighting. It is equipped with a sound system and seminars, festivals, ISKCON film shows and cultural programs take place here.
The Samadhi Mandir is open for general guests from 7:30AM to 1 p.m. and 3:30PM to 8:30AM
Timings of some of the prominent aratis are:
Srila Prabhupada arati: 4:00AM Srila Prabhupada Guru Puja : 7:30AM Bhoga-arati : 12:15PM Sandhya-arati : 6:00PM Srila Prabhupadaâs Bhajan KutirWhen you walk in through the âmain gateâ, on the immediate left is the straw hut where Srila Prabhupada stayed from 1972 to 1976 while the first main building the Lotus Building was built. A 24 hour kirtana takes place here following Srila Prabhupadaâs instruction that there be continous chanting of the holy name in the dhama. On the left side are Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara, large neemwood Deities who traveled throughout India on Pada-yatra. These Deities also come out in procession on a chariot every Saturday after Sandhya-arati during winter from the beginning of the Kartika Damodara month till Gaura-purnima.
Deity darsana and arati timings are similar to the timings of Sri Sri Radha Madhava. Additional explanation of the Bhajan Kutir is posted here.
Chaitanya Lila exhibitionThis is in the main temple. It is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. You will find more information on this here.
Srila Prabhupadaâs personal quarters:On the second floor of the Lotus building are two rooms currently Room 18 that were used by Srila Prabhupada as his personal quarters in 1976-77. These rooms have been maintained as when His Divine Grace was present. The first room was Srila Prabhupadaâs darsana room and in the next room, Srila Prabhupadaâs personal Deity of Sri Mayapur-chandra and the imprint of Srila Prabhupadaâs lotus feet are there. In the darsana room, a larger than than life size murti of Srila Prabhupada is present and behind this murti is a display of his personal belongings and books. On his right is a display of his books that have been translated into many languages.
GoshalaISKCON Mayapurâs Gosala takes care of more than 200 cows and bulls who are looked after with care. A veterinary doctor performs timely health checks. As our cows grow old and unable to give milk, they are not abandoned rather they are retired within the Gosala. The Mayapur Gosala also sells health products derived from the cow such as Ghee, Yogurt, Go-ark distiled cow urine and others.
