In 1966, a humble storefront at 26 2nd Avenue in New York City became the birthplace of a global spiritual movement. It was here that His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), introducing the timeless practice of bhakti-yoga to the Western world. Known as Matchless Gifts, this unassuming space became the epicenter of a spiritual revolution, where the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra first echoed in America.
Today, more than five decades later, dedicated devotees are striving to preserve and transform this historic site into an immersive museum — a place where visitors can step back in time and experience the beginnings of ISKCON firsthand. In this interview, we speak with key organizers who share their vision for Matchless Gifts, the challenges of preserving the space, and how devotees worldwide can participate in restoring and honoring this monumental piece of ISKCON’s history.
Srila Prabhupada teaching at 26 2nd Avenue, circa 1967.
ISKCON News (IN): Can you explain the significance of Matchless Gifts in our movement’s early history?
Matchless Gifts at 26 2nd Avenue was rented for Prabhupada by a couple of his students early on when he needed a teaching base and a place to live. They converted the storefront into a temple and rented an apartment across the courtyard where Prabhupada would live. The worldwide Hare Krishna movement, the spreading of bhakti-yoga, and the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra (which became a household phrase around the world) started in this quite humble-looking storefront. Prabhupada incorporated The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (the ISKCON of “ISKCON News” fame!) at that very place. And that name was a very bold move on Prabhupada’s part, considering that at the time, virtually no one in America had ever even heard of Krishna, and the only temple they had was the one they were in at that moment. For more details, readers can visit our website.
To honor Prabhupada and his pivotal history in this place, we’ve started a GoFundMe campaign so devotees can be a part of the project.
Read More https://iskconnews.org/recreating-1966-iskcons-first-temple-undergoing-historic-transformation/
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