Govinda Prem: Hare Krishna,all world wide vaishnavas are invited for the opening of this grand temple opening for programe.other details below
History of ISKCON in Kenya
August 1971, Mumbai
One day while meeting with an Indian man, Mr. R. B. Pandya from Mombasa, Kenya, Prabhupada mentioned his illness. Mr. Pandya said he owned a house on the ocean at Mombasa, where it was always sunny and warm to recover his health. Mr. Pandya invited Prabhupada to go and live there as he liked. Taking the offer seriously, Prabhupada began to think of going to Africa – not only for health, but for preaching too.
Nairobi
September 9, 1971.
As Shrila Prabhupada disembarked in Nairobi from the East African Airlines 707 jet, he wore a wool CHADAR over his shoulders.
MR. Kul Bhusana, a journalist and friend of Brahmananda Swami approached Prabhupada with questions. He asked Prabhupada what he had come to teach, and Prabhupada answered, “Modern civilized man has forgotten his relationship with Krishna or God, and is therefore suffering.”
“Have you come only for Hindus?” asked Mr. Bhusana.
“No,” Prabhupada replied, “for everyone.”
After spending one night in Nairobi, Prabhupada and his party flew the next day in a small propeller aircraft to Mombasa. Mr. Pandya was away and his family, although not very enthusiastic to opened their home to Shrila Prabhupada.
As soon as he felt better, he was ready to preach. Mombasa, he said was a small place, and Nairobi, the capital, would be better for preaching. So he returned to Nairobi.
September 18th, 1971.
In Nairobi, Shrila Prabhupada demonstrated how a SANNYASI should preach. For one month he strictly followed Vedic Tradition by staying only three days or less in the home of each of his Indian hosts.
On one occasion a Mr. Devji Damji invited Prabhupada to stay at his home to bless his house and Temple in his room. Mr. Devji Damji invited Prabhupada to sit on a sofa. Prabhupada sat down and they bathed his feet with milk, water and rose petals. Then they put chandana, Red kumkuma, rice and Jasmine Flowers. Shrila Prabhupada was always grateful to Devji Damji & family as they were helping Shrila Prabhupada in spreading the Krishna Consciousness in Nairobi. Mr. Devji Damji also promised to help Shrila Prabhupada to have Hare-Krishna temple in Nairobi.
Prabhupada wasn’t satisfied preaching only to the Indians. He wanted to preach to the Africans also. But since a Krishna Conscious person does not make distinctions based on the body, color or creed. Prabhupada said the Indians had a duty to share their spiritual culture with the Africans.
But Prabhupada wanted the Africans. “It is an African country,” he said simply. “They are the proprietors. We should be preaching to them.”
Prabhupada also organized Nairobi’s first outdoor KIRTANA performance. The devotees went to Kamakunji Park’s largest tree, a historical land-mark connected with Kenyan Independence. The devotees distributed sweet bundi, and the people in the crowd really enjoyed themselves.
The night of Shrila Prabhupada’s lecture at the University of Nairobi, two thousand African students filled the auditorium, with hundreds more standing outside to look in through the doors and windows.
This marked the beginning of ISKCON era in Kenya
9. Mombasa:-
Subsequent to the opening of Nairobi temple (as shown hereafter), In 1973 Mombasa’s Hare-Krishna centre was established. In 1986 a NEW ISKCON temple (the current temple), with assistance from ISKCON life members as well as other friends from the local Indian community, was established. Temple President H.G. Madhav Dev Das oversaw the temple construction project, which was completed in one year. Friends donated most of the construction materials and handled all the planning, contracting and building.
10. Nairobi
After Shrila Prabhupada left for Bombay in December, 1971. His disciple Brahmananda Swami bought a house, on Muhoroni Close off West Nagara, Nairobi, by the help of Devji Damji and other Indians.
As soon as Shrila Prabhupada was informed about the purchase of the house, Shrila Prabhupada planned to fly to Nairobi immediately, and he wanted to carry large Radha-Krishna Deities with him. The Deities he had previously sent to Nairobi had been broken in Shipping, so this time Prabhupada brought with him strong bodied Madhudhvisa Swami to carry the 36” marble deities. With special permission from the airlines, Prabhupada boarded, followed by Madhudhvisa Swami who held in his arms the 100 pounds deity of Krishna. After setting Krishna in place beside Prabhupada’s seat, Madhudhvisa Swami left the place and came back carrying Radharani.
At the airport Prabhupada and Madhudhvisa Swami carefully put the Radha-Krishna deities into a taxicab and rode with them to the address of the ISKCON centre. Prabhupada rang the door bell, and when Brahmananda Swami opened the door and saw his spiritual master he cried out, “Prabhupada!” and bowed down.
Facilities at New Temple
1. Modern / Appealing design / Unique Temple Design
2. Large Temple and Big Deities room
3. Gift & Book Shop
4. Sant Nivas exclusively for Priests
5. A Large Garden at the main entrance with a Pathway surrounding It, ideal for chanting while walking in natural environment enhanced with a water color fountain in its centre. Additional spaces on temple sides for various events.
6. Ample Parking for visitors vehicles, within and outside the secured temple premises.
7. Modern and equivalent to multi Star rated, self contained 24 Room A/C & Non A/C Guest House + 2 Pent Houses, accommodation available for a spiritual and peaceful stay of the visitors.
8. A Large A/C Banquet Hall accommodating over 400 persons, for functions, marriages and stage events.
9. An Exclusively fully Vegetarian (with food offered to Krishna) A/C Restaurant, and a Conference Hall available for Meetings, Conferences, Lectures or Birthday Parties.
16. Our Future Projects
1.Expantion of Food For Life Program
2. Vridhashram
3. Low budget residential accommodation for devotees keen to render devotional services
4.Vedic Cutural (BCEC) Bhaktivedanta Cultural & Educational Centre
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