The ISKCON Temple in New Delhi, also known as the Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir, is a well-known Vaishnav temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radharani. ISKCON stands for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, founded by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1966 in New York to spread the teachings of Lord Krishna through the Bhagavad Gita.
ISKCON Delhi was inaugurated on 5 April 1998 by the former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It is located at Hare Krishna Hills, Sant Nagar, East of Kailash, South Delhi, India. Designed by renowned architect Achyut Kanvinde, the temple beautifully blends modern architecture with traditional Hindu style. The construction cost around ₹12 crores, funded by donations from devotees and well-wishers.
The temple houses beautiful idols of Radha-Krishna, Sita-Ram, Lakshman, Hanuman, and Gaura-Nitai. Its main purpose is to promote spiritual knowledge, peace, and devotion through chanting, meditation, and the study of scriptures. ISKCON also conducts Bhagavad Gita classes, cultural programs, and food distribution (prasadam), making it a true centre of love, learning, and spiritual awakening.
Devotees filled the temple, offering flowers and gifts, praying, and singing with deep devotion. The priests and disciples actively participated in performing the rituals, creating a truly spiritual atmosphere.
The temple also houses a wide collection of Hindu religious books, scriptures, and other fascinating items that catch the eye.
While visiting ISKCON on 24 April 2025, I bought a copy of the Bhagavad Gita authored by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, for just Rs 320.
Here’s an extract from the newly bought Bhagavad-Gītā.
Bhagavad-gītā is a transcendental literature which one should read very carefully. Gītā-śāstram idam puṇyam yaḥ paṭhet prayataḥ pumān: if one properly follows the instructions of Bhagavad-Gītā, one can be freed from all the miseries and anxieties of life. Bhayā-śokādi-varjitah. One will be freed from all fears in this life, and one’s next life will be spiritual. (Gītā-māhātmya 1)
There is also a further advantage:
“If one reads Bhagavad-gītā very sincerely and with all seriousness, then by the grace of the Lord the reactions of his past misdeeds will not act upon him.” (Gītā-māhātmya 2) The Lord says very loudly in the last portion of Bhagavad-gītā (18.66):
“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” Thus the Lord takes all responsibility for one who surrenders unto Him, and He indemnifies such a person against all reactions of sins.
“One may cleanse himself daily by taking a bath in water, but if one takes a bath even once in the sacred Ganges water of Bhagavad-gītā, for him the dirt of material life is altogether vanquished.” (Gītā-māhātmya 3)
Because Bhagavad-gītā is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. If one attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad-gītā. In the present age, people are so absorbed in mundane activities that it is not possible for them to read all the Vedic literatures. But this is not necessary. This one book, Bhagavad-gītā, will suffice, because it is the essence of all Vedic literatures and especially because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Gītā-māhātmya 4)
As it is said:
“One who drinks the water of the Ganges attains salvation, so what to speak of one who drinks the nectar of Bhagavad-gītā? Bhagavad-gītā is the essential nectar of the Mahābhārata, and it is spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, the original Viṣṇu.” (Gītā-māhātmya 5)
Bhagavad-gītā comes from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Ganges is said to emanate from the lotus feet of the Lord. Of course, there is no difference between the mouth and the feet of the Supreme Lord, but from an impartial study we can appreciate that Bhagavad-gītā is even more important than the water of the Ganges.
“This Gītopaniṣad, Bhagavad-gītā, the essence of all the Upaniṣads, is just like a cow, and Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is famous as a cowherd boy, is milking this cow. Arjuna is just like a calf, and learned scholars and pure devotees are to drink the nectarean milk of Bhagavad-gītā.” (Gītā-māhātmya 6)
In this present day, people are very much eager to have one scripture, one God, one religion, and one occupation. Therefore, ekaṁ śāstraṁ devakī-putra-gītam: let there be one scripture only, one common scripture for the whole world—Bhagavad-gītā. Eko devo devakī-putra eva: let there be one God for the whole world—Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Eko mantras tasya nāmāni: and one hymn, one mantra, one prayer—the chanting of His name:
Karmāpy ekaṁ tasya devasya sevā: and let there be one work only—the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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~ Bruce K. Thangkhal
New Delhi | 24.04.2025
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