Srila Prabhupada arrived in New York in September of 1965, after crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a freighter - The Jaladuta. After spending a month in Butler, Pennsylvania, at the home of his sponsor, he came back to New York City to begin his preaching movement. He struggled for almost 6 months -- during which he was subjected to a bitter New York winter, theft of his meager belongings, as well as abuse from a drug-crazed roommate. Yet he was determined to bring about a spiritual revolution.
In May of 1966, Srila Prabhupada, with the help of just two followers, rented a storefront in New York's Lower East Side - here at 26 Second Avenue. The storefront was previously a curio shop with the name, "Matchless Gifts." Early visitors to Srila Prabhupada's new center were struck by the prophetic name.
In July of 1966, Srila Prabhupada incorporated his institution, ISKCON, with headquarters at this storefront. Later, he often fondly remembered those early days, as he saw the Hare Krishna Movement quickly grow into the world-wide movement we see today.
From 1966 to 1968 ISKCON was headquartered here at 26 Second Avenue. As the numbers of followers grew, the storefront became too small. Then, the temple moved to larger locations, leaving the humble storefront behind -- but never forgotten.
About twenty-five years and hundreds of worldwide temples later, the directors of the Brooklyn-based Hare Krishna temple, led by Ramabhadra Prabhu, re-leased the original ISKCON temple at 26 Second Avenue. Then to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the founding of ISKCON, members of the Krishna temple in Brooklyn renovated the site, rededicated it, and reopened it to the public in July of 1991.
Since that time, the Hare Krishna temple here at 26 Second Avenue has become a beacon of Krishna consciousness in New York City. Moreover, to followers of the Hare Krishna movement from around the world, it is a sacred place of pilgrimage, a tirtha, being the place from which Srila Prabhupada began the dynamic expansion of Krishna consciousness in New York, and throughout the world.
Pl visit: http://www.krishnanyc.com
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