ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra Temple Bangalore

I only just realized upon my return to Australia that ISKCON is not the name of the temple I went to rather an acronym meaning "The International Society for Krishna Consciousness."
I knew it was a Hindu temple and I understand now that ISKCON is not a religion but is associated with Hinduism. It promotes following and teachings of Hindu God Krishna.

My mom was off work on the Saturday and her coworkers wanted to take us to one of the larger temples. We were meant to meet them at noon as the temple closes at 1 pm on Saturdays. We parked at the bottom of the hill. The temple and the grounds were big. Hundred of devotees were coming in and out of the temple constantly. We found a shaded area to wait for our friends. While waiting we couldn't help but people watch. We realized that we were to leave our shoes outside the temple. Just near where we were waiting was a shoe drop off for 10 rupee per bag. It was like a potato sack and you could put as many shoes as you could fit in the bag, which was very nice for big families.
We saw several temple priests walk outside. They bore the traditional Sikha which is a small lock of hair at the crown or back of the head that is not shaved off like the rest of the hair. They also bore the traditional gold colored lines of tilaka for Hare Krishna followers on the forehead.

My mom and I decided to leave our shoes and go in together. The ground was HOT but there was a red carpet on the side of the road we were able to run on to the front ticket office. I think it was 500 rupee for my mom and I to purchase a ticket which allowed us to go through an alternate path for visitors. The path lead us in front of the devotees.

The temple actually has two smaller temples before the large one at top. We walked around through a bar lined walkway to the first temple.

The first temple help Sri Prahlada Narasimha. Narasimha is the avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. An avatar is a is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being. This image is widely worshiped in deity form and known as the "Great Protector" who defends his worshippers in times of need.

 Sri Prahlada Narasimha

Narasimha is the half-lion and half-man incarnation of the Supreme Lord who killed the demon Hiranyakashipu and saved His five year old devotee Prahlada. 

The Sri Prahlada Narasimha Deity at ISKCON, Bangalore has a unique shanta or peaceful form exhibiting six hands with Prahlada Maharaja standing by His side offering Him prayers.

The vigrahas of Sri Srinivasa Govinda and Sri Prahlada Narasimha are monolithic black granite. They are made in the traditional shilpi style of Tamil Nadu by Sri Perumal who is one of the most renowned sculptors in Mamallapuram, the centre of traditional shilpi shastra near Chennai. 

Photos of Deity's and description Taken from ( http://www.iskconbangalore.org/deity )  

When we first walked around the corner and into the first room, we were not sure what to expect as neither me or my mom have ever been to a temple before. From the moment we walked in we felt an overwhelming feeling of love. Our eyes swelled with tears at the beauty and significance of believing in something so fully. There was a small standing area and behind were about 30 or more people waiting to come to the front. There was also a collection box separating those waiting and those in the front.

The Deity was several feet back on a sort of stage-like construction and protected by gates. There was a temple priest ringing a bell which I believe is meant to ward off evil spirits. He cleaned bunches of jasmine flowers around the Deity that had been offered. He then walked towards the front where we were standing with incense. The whole time he was chanting and Hare Krishna was played on a speaker. 

A family left and another small group was allowed to come to the front. My mom and I were towards the corner. We observed not sure what to do. We had our hands in prayer position because that just felt right. A man in front of us got down on his knees and hailed the Deity and kissed the ground. Mom and I felt we should go let more people in so we left the room.

The second temple room was slightly larger. This was Govinda.

 Sri Srinivasa Govinda

This Deity of Lord Vishnu, an expansion of Lord Krishna, is also known as Venkateshwara or Balaji, the Lord of seven hills at Tirupati. He holds a chakra (disc) and shankha (conch) in two hands and blesses devotees with the other two.

Here mom and I closed our eyes and were blessed with holy water. The priest performed several rituals and chanted.  It truly was a beautiful experience. 

The main temple was a walk up steps. 

Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra

Krishna is glorified as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the Vedic literatures, saints of bygone ages and great devotees. Srimati Radharani is the quintessence of all the devotees of the Lord. Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra are the presiding Deities at ISKCON, Bangalore. This form of the Deities represents Their Lordships as always relishing the sweet and charming environment of Vrindavana with Krishna playing the flute.

Sri Sri Krishna Balarama

It is enjoined in the scriptures that whenever Krishna incarnates on this Earth to annihilate the miscreants, He is accompanied by His intimate associates. Balarama incarnated with Krishna as His elder brother in Vrindavana when They appeared on this planet in the previous age of Dvapara yuga. Krishna and Balarama played in the forests of Vrindavana and took care of Their cows along with Their friends. It is this age group of Krishna and Balaram that the Deities of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama represent.

Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the initiator of the bhakti movement in Bengal in the fifteenth century. The Srimad Bhagavatam has described His position as a hidden avatara or incarnation of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. His appearance in the Kali yuga was to propagate the congregational chanting of the holy names of God, specifically the maha mantra - Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. This is the recommended process for self-realization in this age of Kali. Sri Chaitanya was also known as Gauranga, after His golden hue. The Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga Deities represent Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda Prabhu, His intimate associate who is the incarnation of Balarama. The Deities of Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama and Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga are made of pancha-loha, an alloy of five metals: gold, silver, copper, brass and iron.

The Deities were made by Devasena Sthapathi and his son Radha Krishna Sthapathi at Swami Malai near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, the hub of traditional South Indian bronze sculpture. The sculptors are descendents of a family that worked for King Rajaraja Chola, one of the most famous Chola rulers.

Upon entering the grand room we were amazed the detail and of the beautiful ceiling. We were escorted to the front side by a temple priest. He spoke to us and asked our name and questions about ourselves. I felt a little uncomfortable but I could feel so much love and calmness surrounding the priest. I just felt scared because I thought he was quickly going to try and convert me or something silly like that and I felt guilty for not believing. 

He asked us to put our hands in a bowl of jasmine flowers. He told us the reason he was asking us questions was because during the ritual he was ask for our blessing and good fortune. My mom picked up a handful of jasmine flowers to smell and he quickly said please do not do that. He took the jasmine flowers out of the bowl and set them to the side. He then told us to follow the others into the center of the devotion area to be blessed. He sounded a big bell and walked up to the stage. One group of devotees was shuffled out and another in. He took the bowl of flowers and said the blessings and good wishes and threw the flowers to the Deity's. There were two other priests on the stage, each in front of a different deity.

There were candles burning in ghee and incense smoke rituals performed. The priests began to pick up the flowers while the main priest chanted. Then all of the priests took bowls of holy water and sprinkled the devotees. After the ceremony, we were ushered past a candle burning. Some would stop and run their hands through the flame and over the flame then their hands over their head and body. Afterwards we were offered the flowers used for blessing.

You then walk through a maze to an area for information on the center. Then a worship or devotion area for His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 

  Srila Prabhupada

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada went to America in 1965 at the age of 69 years to fulfill the order of his spiritual master. Within a short period of 12 years, he presented the Vedic literature through more than 50 books in English. Highly respected by the academic community for their authority, depth and clarity, his books are used as standard text books in numerous college courses. Alongside writing he also traveled around the globe preaching Krishna consciousness. In 1966, he established the ‘International Society for Krishna Consciousness’ in New York. He guided the society and saw it grow to a world wide confederation of more than hundred ashrams, schools, temples, institutes and farm communities. In 1977, he returned to the Holy Dham Vrindavana and left this world. His disciples are engaged in expanding this movement established by him.

At ISKCON, Bangalore, the mula-vigraha of Srila Prabhupada made in brass is installed. The Deity sits on the rosewood gold plated altar in the main temple hall. This life-sized Deity was carved by his disciple - His Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhu and is one among the very few brass deities of Prabhupada in ISKCON today.

Then to a book stand where you are able to get one free book to the value of our ticket. My mom purchased an additional book. We sat for several minutes in the big room listening to the music and worship. My moms jeans were stiff and tight and she was unable to sit cross legged. Her legs were only slightly bent and crossed. Someone came up to her us and asked her to sit differently and because she was unable we had to leave. Now was a long walk to outside and you walk through several areas down steps and around areas to buy devotion items. There were ornate figurines and light up Deity's, small statues, clothing, and jewelry. One level was hot food. There were many items to chose from and all vegetarian. We received free sweets with our ticket. I bought a small necklace of a picture of Krishna and what my moms friend said was his girlfriend. It is really nice. Outside the temple was a pot of food being offered to those leaving. We decided not to have any. 

We were not allowed to take any pictures from inside but I took one from across the street. 

My Ugadi

My mom and I woke up before dawn and walked down to the Yoga room for class. As the sun rose, our class repeated 10 Sun Salutations. Afterwards we relaxed and meditated for twenty minutes.

We had breakfast as usual and I rode in the car with my mom to her office. Our driver had been to temple in the morning. I knew this because he had something smeared on his forehead between his eyebrows.

On the way to the office we saw many people lined up outside the small temples. I asked our driver Shadakshari if he had gone to temple and he shook his head from side to side.

On the side of the road we saw workers gathered eating a porridge looking dish out of bowls made out of big green leaves. They looked like banana leaf bowls but I'm not sure.

Shadakshari dropped me off at the hotel Leela Palace for the afternoon. I walked around outside the confined walls of the hotel through the side streets and residential areas. Many of the houses had strings of mango leaves across the doors and yellow flowers hung around the windows. Women were gathering water from the car water tanks and as I walked by they motioned for their children to look at me. The children smiled and giggled at the sight of me.

I found chalk drawings in front of some of the gates to the homes. I think they were for the Ugadi.

Here are a few of the pictures I took on my walk:

Mango leaves on the doorways

Flowers for Ugadi

Gathering fresh drinking water

I was hoping to be able to see the temples but I found out that many of them are only open in the morning.

Cows wandering in the streets is a common sight throughout India.

  

The National Gallery of Modern Art in Bangalore

I travelled to India to meet my mom. Her company sent her to Bangalore to train her team of programmers. She worked most of the trip. Luckily, the company provided a driver.
 
Our driver's name was Shadakshari. He was not from Bangalore and he informed me he had a small room with a bed he would stay in. His family lived in a village 50km outside of the city. He would stay in Bangalore to work as driver for several days then go back to his family. He was not married but lived with his mother and father. He had several brothers and sisters who were married with children.  (We decided to give him the day off on the Sunday so that he may travel back to his family for a visit to celebrate Ugadi).

After dropping my mom at the office our driver took me to The National Gallery of Modern Art in Bangalore. I asked him to join me in observation as he had never been and I wanted to share the experience. My driver told me later that it is not always safe for girls to be alone.

The NGMA charges 150 rupee for foreigners and 10 rupee for Indian Nationals. 
It is an old white mansion and from what I understand it was once royal then purchased. Then in was donated to the government. It is now known as a government building.
The architecture is very cool. It reminds me of an Indian Getty. The front just looks like a large white brick box. As with every government building you walk through security with metal detectors and a bag check. The first building is a long corridor. Your are instructed to view the room on the right first. There are several guards watching you as well as a video surveillance system. The large plaques on the wall were written in English. They description on the room was well written and looked as if belonged in any national art gallery. However, the description described nothing in the room. The first room was meant to be mini paintings commissioned by the East India Tea Company. The mini paintings were commissioned to show England the lush terrain of India and the animals etc. Instead the room contained several portraits of past Indian Royals, Indian and English soldiers, posh Englishmen, and paintings the Hindu religion such as Krishna represented blue. There was not one mini painting or even a regular size painting of landscape. I found the descriptions and the rooms to be unorganized. I found the mini paintings in the second building in a hallway. The artwork gathered depicting Indian history was good and interesting, of course. I just wish some thought and care would be taken to the organization. There were literally over twenty-five guards standing around. The scultpures were very very good.
I did get a small understanding of western influence in art as well as Japanese influence. The style in the 1800s was reminiscent of ancient Persian style painting.
Some artists strived to learn and master the Italian and French style of realistic painting as well as abstract painting as well. However, a turn of events caused the art world to look internally and forge a purely Indian style of painting only showing small influences from both Western and Eastern styles.

Unfortunately as I was taking these photos from the car a guard came up and said that no pictures were allowed.

What is the Ugadi Festival?

Ugadi Festival 

The Ugadi Festival is New Years Day for the people of the southern part of India, or the Deccan plateau. It is observed by Hindus. 

The name Ugadi or Yugadi is derived from the Sanskrit words yuga and adi meaning age and beginning, "the beginning of a new age".

Yugadi refers to the start of the age of, Kali Yuga. Kali Yuga started the moment when Lord Krishna left the world.

It falls on a different day each year because the Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar. This year is was observed on April 11th. I was in Bangalore, India which is a city in Karnataka a state within the Deccan plateau during the Ugadi Festival.

The Hindus of Bali and Indonesia celebrate their New Year on the same day as Nyepi.

Legend:

The popular legend associated with the festival is that the Lord Brahma started creation of the vast universe on the auspicious day of Ugadi or Chaitra suddha padhyami. Lord Brahma created the days, weeks, months and years in order to count time and then created all other elements present in the universe (http://www.karnataka.com/festivals/ugadi/).

Celebration:

Prior to Ugadi houses are thoroughly cleaned. In the past many people would purchase nice new clothes in celebration. This year I read in the Bangalore Times that purchasing new clothes, jewelry, and gifts were down significantly due financial problems. One article claimed the reason to be because of an increase in prices and no increase in wages. 

 

The day begins before dawn with ritual showers of oil baths and ritual mantras and chants. Then the front of the house around the front door and windows are decorated with strings of mango leaves. The mango leaves signify good health and harvest for the year. People also draw colorful floral designs.

Common Rituals are:

• Reflection in Ghee: Watching one’s reflection in a bowl of molten ghee.
• Enne (Oil) Shastra: Elderly women of the family applying kumkum to the younger members and performing arathi.
• Abhyang: Taking of oil bath by all members of the family.
• New Dresses: Wearing of new clothes by all family members.
• Abhyang for Gods: Giving oil bath to the idols of Gods.
• Offering flowers: Offering flowers of neem, mango and tamarind to the Gods.
• Offering Puja: Puja is offered following the steps of Abhisheka, Alankara, Naivedya and Mangalarathi.
• Panchanga Pooje: After worshipping God, Panchanga for the new Samvathsara or Year is worshipped.
• Gudi or Indra Dhwaja Pooje: Indra Dhwaja Pooje is done next.
• Front door decoration: Decorating the front door with Kemmannu (red earth), Rangoli and Mango leaves. Sometimes neem leaves are also used.
• Bevu Bella: Eating of jaggery  and neem together in this festival to mark the presence of sweet and sour events in life’s journey.
• Oota: Offering meals to God and then eating Oota or meals as Prasada.
• Visiting temples: Visiting temples and seeking blessings of the Almighty  (http://www.karnataka.com/festivals/ugadi/).

Throughout the day six different dishes are eaten.

In Karnataka the main item is a paste called Bevu Bella. It is made from jaggery, neem buds, tamarind juice and raw mango. The significance of this item is that it denotes all the tastes of life. The bitter, sweet and sour tastes each remind us the basic fact that life is a mixture of happy and sad events and we must remain ready to accept everything in life (http://www.karnataka.com/festivals/ugadi/).

The different dished symbolize the fact that life is a mixture of different experiences (sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise), which should be accepted together and with equanimity through the New Year.

The special mixture consists of:

• Neem Buds/Flowers for its bitterness, signifying Sadness
• Jaggery and ripe banana pieces for sweetness, signifying Happiness
• Green Chilli/Pepper for its hot taste, signifying Anger
• Salt for saltiness, signifying Fear
• Tamarind Juice for its sourness, signifying Disgust
• Unripened Mango for its tang, signifying Surprise  
• Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugadi)

In addition to the rituals, the main way to celebrate the Ugadi is with family gatherings and visits to temples. The temples are also decorated with mango leaves and flowers such as jasmine.