By Nandita Mehta
ISKCON’s Congregation Development Ministry is continually working to help temples and devotee communities grow and flourish by providing various preaching programs, such as Bhakti Vriksha, programs for children, and more. They also want to highlight the success stories from communities and events worldwide that would inspire devotees.
In this article, they highlight the expanding devotees’ service in the Whitefield area of Bangalore, which has grown into a large congregation of more than one thousand devotees and is growing even bigger. The CDM hopes the readers will be inspired to preach enthusiastically and grow as a community.
ISKCON Whitefield Bhakti Center
Here’s a narration reflecting how devotees’ determination, with the blessings of the Acharyas, led to the expansion of ISKCON Bhakti Centers, the celebration of Janmashtami at numerous locations, and the spreading of Krishna’s conscious message to tens of thousands of devotees.
The dawn of their journey
It all began when the devoted ISKCON followers from Whitefield, a vibrant locality in the eastern part of Bangalore, made their way to Sri Narasimha Giridhari Mandir (SNGM) in the northeastern reaches of the city. This temple, renowned for its extensive and well-maintained cow shelter, or Goshala, is fondly known as the ISKCON Temple Goshala. The large and lovingly cared-for shelter became a central draw for the community, blending their spiritual practices with a profound devotion to cows, who hold a special place in Lord Krishna’s heart.
Navigating Bangalore’s notorious traffic often meant that commuting took a significant chunk of devotees’ time, leading many to wish for an ISKCON Bhakti Center in Whitefield. Such a center would allow them to engage more deeply in their devotional practices and make greater strides on their spiritual path. The prospect of having a local hub for bhakti would not only ease their travel burdens but also foster a stronger, more connected community.
Fueled by their unwavering devotion and Krishna’s divine blessing, the community celebrated their first Janmashtami in Whitefield in 2011. This milestone was a harbinger of great things to come, culminating in the establishment of the Bhakti Centers in Whitefield and the areas around it.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/cdm-highlights-the-stunning-success-of-the-whitefield-bhakti-center/
Comments