ISKCON Radha Govinda Temple

The ISKCON temple on Albert Road, Kolkata is the foremost centre of the ISKCON Society in India. ISKCON or the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is a Gaudiya Vaisnava Religious Organization. This society began its spiritual journey in 1966 in the New York City, by his Divine Grace A.C. Bhakti Vedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. After establishing many temples all around the globe, Swami Prabhupada came back to India in the year 1970 with his several foreign disciples. All these disciples were shaven headed Westerners, with Sikhas, Vaishnava Tilaka and saffron robes. They played Mridanga and Kartalas and chanted Hare Krishna and Sanskrit Verses. They created an immediate sensation in Kolkata. Presently, ISKCON has over 600 temples, centres and communities in almost every part of the world.

Location of ISKCON Radha Govinda Temple

ISKCON started its movement in this country from the address 3C Albert Road, Kolkata. The first idol in India was also installed in the Radha Govinda Temple of Kolkata, in May 1971. Whenever Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON society visited Kolkata, he resided in 3C Albert Road. He usually resided in the room adjacent to the temple hall, which contained a small type writer, a dictating machine, Srimad Bhagavatam and a picture of his beloved spiritual master, Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati. He met his guests and disciples here and also took the decision of purchasing the Mayapur land, in this room. This room still houses his personal belongings.

For darshan of The Lordships Sri Sri Radha Govinda ji and Sri Sri Jaganath, Baladev and Subhadra Devi, guests have to visit the temple upstairs. There is a nice book store and souvenir center here.

History of ISKCON Radha Govinda Temple

Srila Prabhupada, the founder of the ISKCON society was born in Kolkata, India on the auspicious day of Nandotsava, the festival day to celebrate Krishna’s birthday. It was in 1896. His father was a pure devotee of Lord Krishna and wanted his son to become a great devotee of Radharani, the most beloved devotee and consort of Lord Krishna. From childhood he was drawn to religion and in 1965 he travelled alone from India to New York to establish the culture of Krishna consciousness in the West. In 1966 the first centre was founded in New York and soon he established 108 temples in most of the major cities around the world. The objective of this educational non-profit making organization is to popularize Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sankirtan movement and it started its journey in India in 1971 in the Albert Road centre. It is expected that with its worldwide acceptability, this philosophy will continue to thrive for the coming 10000 years and more.