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About Us

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Our Mission

We maintain a temple as a spiritual oasis in the heart of Honolulu, Hawaii. We have festivals where you can be uplifted through celebrations held according to timeless traditions. We also perform service (seva) for the upliftment of our neighborhood and society.

Our Founder

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was born in 1896 in Calcutta, India. His birth name was Abhay Charan and as a family man, he ran a pharmaceutical business in the city.

 

In 1950, at the age of fifty-four, he retired from married life and devoted much time to his studies and writing. He travelled to the holy city of Vrndavana, where he lived in very humble circumstances in the historic medieval temple called the Radha-Damodara Mandir. He accepted the renounced order of life (sannyasa) in 1959 and was awarded the name Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. At Radha-Damodara, he began work on his life’s masterpiece: a multivolume translation and commentary on the 18,000-verse Srimad-Bhagavatam.

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In 1965, at the advanced age of 69, Srila Prabhupada (as he was informally known) sailed to the United States in a cargo ship to preach Krishna Consciousness. When he first arrived by freighter in New York City, he was practically penniless. It was after almost a year of great difficulty that he established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in July of 1966.

 

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Our philosophy

Krishna Consciousness, sometimes referred to as "Bhakti-yoga," is a spiritual path rooted in the ancient Vedic traditions of India. Its central aim is to awaken an individual’s dormant relationship with Krishna, who is seen as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate source of all love, knowledge, and beauty. The philosophy invites practitioners to understand their true spiritual nature beyond the temporary, material world and to cultivate a life of devotion and love towards Krishna.

 

This philosophy was popularized in the West by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Core to Krishna Consciousness is the hearing, singing about, and meditating on Krishna’s names, qualities, and activities, which is commonly expressed through chanting the holy names of Krishna, particularly the Hare Krishna mantra: “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” This chanting is seen as a powerful tool for spiritual awakening and inner transformation.

 

According to Krishna Conscious philosophy, each living being is an eternal soul, distinct from the physical body, with a natural role as a servant of God. By engaging in devotional practices, individuals gradually overcome the illusions and entanglements of material life, gaining spiritual clarity, joy, and purpose. The Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam are central scriptures for followers, providing insights into Krishna's nature, the soul's relationship with Him, and the process of surrendering to divine will.

 

This path encourages a lifestyle rooted in compassion, humility, and selfless service, which not only uplifts individuals spiritually but also contributes positively to the world. Embracing Krishna Consciousness is ultimately a journey toward a loving, eternal relationship with Krishna, fostering inner peace, wisdom, and a profound sense of interconnectedness with all living beings.

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Welcomes you!

ISKCON Hawaii

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