ISKCON Temple Salem

Introduction to ISKCON Salem

The beautiful and modern ISKCON Salem is in Karuppur, Salem district. It is half a kilometer from Periyar University and the Government College of Engineering.

History of ISKCON Salem

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), or the Hare Krishna Movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organization. Acharya—His Divine Grace A.C. Bhakti Vedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada - founded the ISKCON society in 1966 in New York. ISKCON's spiritual principles and policies spread to all continents within forty years.

Swami H.H. Bhakti Vikasha Maharaj has been blessing and guiding the devotees.

A few enthusiastic ISKCON members arrived from Andhra Pradesh in 1999 and opened the first ISKCON center in New Fairlands in Salem on rental premises. They started distributing books and conducting Sunday programs in the evenings.

The idols of deities Sri Gaura-Nitai arrived in 2002 at a temporary place on Gandhi Road. In 2003, a small piece of land was acquired in Rajaram Nagar, and the center was temporarily transferred there. Later, three acres of land were purchased near Salem main road, known as Bangalore-Madurai road.

The Architecture of ISKCON Salem

Gokul Chandra Prabhu Croatian Brahmachari, who manages ISKCON Salem, has been residing in India for the past thirteen years.

Traditional building materials were used for the most part, with a few exceptions, including a few residential huts, a library, and a kitchen. Large cut stones with natural limestone mortar without modern cement were used for the foundation. The sun-dried bricks were used to construct the walls.

ISKCON Salem sprawls over three acres of land. The main deity, Radhe-Krishna, is enshrined in a separate shrine, which is full of white. Beautiful sculptures of Radhe-Krishna and his childhood are carved on the temple's inner and outer walls.

There is an organic farming, Goshala, and a Prasadam Seva center in ISKCON Salem.

The devotees of ISKCON believe that chanting his holy names can connect them with the Almighty and help them develop a relationship with him.

Devotees perform Harinama Sankirtana prayers by going out on the streets, dancing, and singing different holy songs, accompanied by Mridangas and Kartalas. This is an integral part of prayer in all ISKCON centers, including ISKCON Salem.

ISKCON Salem conducts public, corporate, congregational, and youth events and programs.

Festivals in ISKCON Salem

Gaura Purnima (March), Narasimha Chaturdashi (May), Rama Navami (April), Janmashtami (August), Govardhana Pooja (September-October), and Ratha Yatra (Chariot festival) in June-July are the festivals grandly celebrated in ISKCON Salem.