ISKCON Temple

Overview

ISKCON New Vedic Cultural Center (NVCC) is a temple of Radha-Krishna located in Kondhwa about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Pune. It is a pleasant and calm place in the outskirts of the city of Pune. It was recently inaugurated on the auspicious occasion of Nityananda Tryodshi which falls on 23 February 2013 and the President of India Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Vedic Cultural Centre of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on February 24, at Pune. All through the temple we can feel the presence of Lord. Also there is a huge Matchless Gift stall where we can purchase items related to Krishna. There is a Govinda's restaurant and a Govinda's stall where we get sanctified food of all kinds (south Indian, north Indian, Chinese etc.) but everything is offered to Lord Krishna.

About the temple

ISKCON is a wealthy organisation and it shows in their new temple recently opened (inaugurated by our president Pranab Mukherjee) in Kondhwa (Earlier got confused with Kothrud!). This one is called NVCC – New Vedic Cultural center and has grand plans. The one in Kothrud has also a Balaji temple, a replica of the Tirupati temple. Construction is still on (as of Mid-April 2013). The temple is architecturally very beautiful and nothing has been spared to make the interiors very appealing. The central hall has huge carvings on the roof with central dome depicting Krishna and Radha. The corridors around the main hall have murals depicting various mythological stories and also many from Krishna’s upbringing. Pune ISKCON temple has interests in promoting individual and global peace, harmony and prosperity by spreading the message of divine love and fraternity given in the Vedic texts of ancient India. As per Srila Prabhupada, the main intentions of ISKCON is to propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world. It aims to bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life. The organization spreads spiritual knowledge by publishing and distributing periodicals, magazines, books and other writings. Kichdi is served free of cost through out the day. ISKCON also runs a Govinda restaurant which serves regular vegetarian fare like dosas, parathas and some sweets.

About the Deity

There are three main “deities” – Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanachandra, Sri Sri Gaur Nitai and Jagannath, Baldev and Subhadra. There is also an idol of Sri Prabhupada, the founder of the ISKCON movement.

Festivals

There is a saying “utsava priya manavaha”, people like festivals. We are inherently attracted to festivals because every day in Spiritual World is a festival, every step is dance, every word is song - Srila Prabhupada. One special feature of Vaishnavism is the number of festivals observed throughout the year. Festivals provide an opportunity to remember Sri Krishna and His devotees and to increase one's spiritual practice. The year's major festivals are marked by fasting,usually followed by feasting. The Vaishnava year is based on lunar calendar rather than a solar calendar. This means that the date of each festival varies from year to year.

Major Festivals Celebrated are: Sri Gaura Purnima, Sri Rama Navami, Sri Chandan Yatra, Sri Narasimha Chaturdasi, Sri Jhulana Yatra, Sri Balaram Jayanti, Sri Radhastami, Sri Vamana Dvadasi, Sri Kartika Damodara Vrata, Sri Govardhan Puja, Sri Go Puja, Sri Krishna Janmashtami etc.

Other festivals celebrated are the holy appearance and disappearance days of Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur and other previous Acharyas.

Gaura Purnima festival
Sri Rama Navami
Chandana Yatra and Akshaya Tritiya
Sri Nrisimha Caturdasi
Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi
Panihati Chida-dahi Utsava
Sri Jagannatha Snana Yatra
Gundicha Marjana
Sri Jagannatha Ratha Yatra
Jhulan Yatra
Sri Sri Balaram Jayanti
Sri Krishna Janmastami
Srila Prabhupada Appearance Day
Sri Radhashtami
Sri Vamana Dvadasi
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s appearance
Sri Ramachandra Vijayotsava (Vijaya Dashami)
Damodara (Kartika) Month
Dipavali
Govardhana Puja
Gopastami and Go-Puja
Srila Gaurakisora’s disappearance
Bhishma Panchaka
Gita Jayanti (advent of Bhagavad Gita)
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s
disappearance
Vasanta Panchami
Sri Advaita Acharya’s appearance
Sri Varaha Dvadasi
Sri Nityananda Trayodasi

The day when Lord Krishna took birth is called as Janmastami. This day falls in the month of August or September. The Janmastami festival is celebrated by millions of people every year all over the world. On this day people take bath early in the morning and wear new clothes. In temples the deities of Krishna are decorated with beautiful clothes, jewels, garlands and flowers. People visit the temples to see Krishna and sing songs glorifying his activities. They read the teachings of Lord Krishna written in the Scripture called the Bhagavad Gita. They also distribute these Holy Books to everyone. At homes lot of sweets, savories and festival meals are prepared with love and then offered to Lord Krishna. These foods are then shared and relished by one and all. People visit their friends and relatives’ homes and exchange sweets and good wishes. On this glorious day all people chant the names of Krishna for bringing peace and happiness to everyone.

Arti/Pooja/seva

Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari Temple (ISKCON Pune) is open for devotees everyday. Though it has specific visiting hours, at 4:30 am, Mangala Arati is performed in the temple. Sharp at 5:15 am, Tulsi-Puja is conducted which includes praying Tulsi plant. Sringar Darshan starts at 7:30 am. At 7:40 am, Guru Puja takes place. It is followed by Srimad Bhagavatam Discourse and Dhoop Arati at 8:30 am. Then at around 12:30 pm, Raj Bhoga Arati starts. Evening at 4:30 pm Pushpa Arati and 6:45 pm Sandhya Arati are conducted which includes evenings prayers. Shayana Darshan can be taken at 8.50 pm. The Temple closes at 9.00 pm. ISKCON Temple Pune timings may be subject to change.

4:30 am : Mangala Arti
5:15 am : Tulsi-Puja
7:30 am : Sringar Darshan
7:40 am : Guru Puja
8:30 am : Srimad Bhagavatam Discourse
8:30 am : Dhoop Arti
12:30 pm: Raj Bhoga Arti
4:30 pm : Pushpa Arti
6:45 pm : Sandhya Arti
8:50 pm : Shayana Darshan
9:00 pm : Temple Closes

Address

ISKCON NVCC Temple
New Vedic Cultural Center
Katraj-Kondwa Bypass,
Pune.