ISKCON Temple Chennai

ISKCON Chennai Facade (Wikimedia Commons)

ISKCON Temple at Night (Wikimedia Commons)

ISKCON Chennai Prayer Hall (Wikimedia Commons)

ISKCON (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple is located at Akkarai, Sholinganallur a Chennai suburb on the East Coast Road (ECR). The temple devoted to Sri Radha Krishna and Rukmini. Also there are deities being worshipped include  Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra and Gaura-Nitai. ISKCON's Radha Krishna temples are well known for their awesome ambiance, level of worship standards, spic and span look and the Spiritual Vibrations and Aura. At ISKCON centers spread the realization of self and the realization of God from the spiritual texts of the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatham and Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya.

The Sri Radha Krishna Temple of ISKCON premises shifted from Burkir Road, Thyagaraya Nagar to a place called Akkarai located on the East Coast Road ( Chennai Mahabalipuram Road ) at Chennai. It was inaugurated in April 2012.  It is just 1 1/2 km from VGP Golden Beach and the IKCON temple's name board is visible from right side of the road. The temple is situated in a 1.5 acres of pristine land amidst lush greens  and it is one of the largest temple in Tamil Nadu. It is a quite place for meditation.

Swami Prabhupada (Wikimedia)

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON is carrying the message of Lord Chaitanya to the entire world and he also visited Chennai in February 1972. In 1975 an ISKCON center was at No.50, Aspiran Gardens, 2nd St., Kilpauk, Madras-600010 which later shifted to Kilpauk Garden Road and in 1988 to Burkit road in T.Nagar.

Inaugurated in its present premises in 26 April 2012, the temple spread across 1.5 acres of land, the Sri Radha Krishna Temple of ISKCON is the largest Radha Krishna temple in Tamil Nadu.

 Radha Krihna Rukmini & Lalitha and Vishaka

The main deities at the three teak-wood altars of the temple are Krishna and Rukmini. Also houses the deity of Satyabhama who is one amongst the eight wives of Krishna. Apart from them, other deities that are worshipped include Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra and Gaura-Nitai.

The main temple complex is built on five levels. At the entrance there is a splendid Chakras sculpted on the marble floor and this represents the universe or bhu-mandal. The complex has the vast 7000 square feet hall on the first floor, spacious 'prasadam hall,' in the basement and the calm and serene auditorium on the ground floor for meditation, spiritual bajans and other regular ISKCON programmes. Besides this temple complex has few other buildings and temples greenery all around giving cool air and shade. The book store at the portico sells ISKCON publications,   souvenirs and Hindu spiritual books and craft store also sell pictures, icons, handicrafts, pooja articles etc.

The temple timings: from 7:30 am to 1pm and from 4pm to 8:00 pm. The last aarti (worship), known as 'sayana arati,' is at 9:00 pm, which lasts about 15 minutes.

How to get there:  ISKCON – Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple, Hare Krishna Land, Bhaktivedanta Swami Road, Off ECR, Akkarai,Sholinganallur, Chennai-119. Ph: +91- 44- 24530922/23. Distance from Chennai: Approx 23.1 Kms

Temple located about 9 Km distance from Sholinganallur to ISKCON temple  via Akkarai.