Aashish Sharma
Catering
Our Chef
Thiru has been cooking for 20 years. He was trained by a well known chain in Mumbai, and his culinary skills led the word to spread. He has been invited to Malaysia, Singapore, Africa and Europe to train other aspiring chefs. Along the way he opened a restaurant in Uganda. He's currently based at Govinda's in Soho as the manager, serving canteen style vegetarian staples. Keeping it clean & karma free.
ISKCON - London's Anniversary
ISKCON-London Radha-Krishna Temple’s presiding Deities are Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara. They are the first large marble Radha-Krishna Deities in ISKCON, installed by Srila Prabhupada himself on 14th December 1969 at Bury Place - the original location of the Radha-Krishna Temple. They then later moved to Their present location, 10 Soho Street, in 1979. Annually, Their Anniversary is celebrated with a cultural programme including special guests, music, a glorious pushpa abhishek (showering of flower petals), and a feast.
Gita Jayanti - Bhagavad Gita is Spoken
The Bhagavad Gita is a sacred text across all Hindu traditions and is considered a summary of all ancient Vedic philosophical texts. The Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna Himself to His best friend Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, 5,000 years ago. The Bhagavad Gita, literally means "The Lord’s Song" and is understood as a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna but meant for the whole world’s benefit. On this day, devotees gather to recite all 700 verses together remembering this sacred conversation between the Lord and His dear devotee.
Rathayatra - The Festival of Chariots
Every summer, the Lord of the Universe, Jagannath, His brother, Balarama, and sister, Subhadra, are brought out of the Temple to the streets to bless everyone with Their loving large-eyed glances. This festival dates back thousands of years originating in Puri, India, where it still takes place and is attended by millions of devotees annually. The smiling Lord Jagannath and His siblings ride on huge beautifully decorated wooden chariots, pulled by the hands of Their devotees in a grand procession in the streets of most major cities in the world. Here in the UK, there are more than 13 Rathayatra festivals across the nation, the largest street parade being in London. London Rathayatra starts in Hyde Park and ends in Trafalgar Square where there is a large cultural festival.
School Visits
ISKCON Educational Services
ISKCON Educational Services offers workshops on Hinduism. Our speakers are seasoned practitioners within the Hindu tradition and are also trained in educational principles.
We warmly invite you to take advantage of the services we offer to primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, and the religious education community.
OUR AIM
To serve the religious education community by giving a much-missing authentic Hindu worldview
To demonstrate how spiritual values, as highlighted by Hindu traditions, make a positive contribution to contemporary life in Britain
To provide learning experiences which are accessible for everyone
What we offer
Primary Education
Presentation of a cultural ceremony: arati ceremony, with various earthly elements offered to Deities
Singing and learning devotional songs and mantra music
Hearing sacred stories
Acting in a drama
Dressing up in the attire of the devotees of Lord Krishna
Tasting sanctified vegetarian food
Secondary Education
Lifestyle of a Krishna devotee - how do we express our spirituality on a daily basis?
Understanding morals in Hinduism
What is worship? How is worship observed in Hinduism?
Information
Fees
Temple Visit |
School Visit |
Teacher Training |
£35.00 + VAT per hour |
£35.00 + VAT per hour Plus Travel Expenses |
£35.00 + VAT per hour |
We also offer a £3.50 per person vegetarian lunch for students and teachers during your visit.
New Here?
Welcome
Thank you for visiting our website. We strive to create an inclusive environment in which our guests can feel at home. Our desire is to make connecting to our Temple an easy process for you.
We would love to have you join us in the near future. How does next Sunday sound?
We attract a diverse array of people every day, all year round. From school and university groups to regular worshippers who come to take part in the colourful ceremonies.
Your first point of contact is the receptionist on the ground floor. You can ask any questions you may have about your visit to the receptionist who will do their best to serve you.
Though many people come for a variety of events, courses and other activities, the main attraction is our beautiful Temple Room on the first floor. This is where a beautifully decorated altar forms the focal point of worship throughout the day. In quiet hours, it is a place of deep peace and tranquility, and during worship services - joyous singing and dancing. Whatever the hour, you are sure to find it a unique experience.
Next Steps
Get Started
- Learn about us - Who are we and what do we practice?
- Find out how we engage with the community.
Get Connected
- Kick start your spiritual journey by dropping in for a Secrets from the East session.
- Explore further at our introductory events.
- Try one of our beginner courses and learn more.
- Experience our unique mantra meditation through music at one of our kirtan sessions.
Get Involved
- Grow your relationship with us through volunteering.
- Support us through a regular donation.
Get Social
- Come and enjoy our vegetarian meals at Govinda’s Restaurant.
- Looking for spiritual items? You will love Radha's Boutique!
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you!
Address
Radha-Krishna Temple
10 Soho Street,
London W1D 3DL
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7437 3662
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nearest Tube Stations:
- Tottenham Court Road (one minute walk)
- Oxford Circus (five minute walk)
Guesthouse Facilities
We are located in a small building with a lot of activity which means our space is utilised to the maximum. We therefore unfortunately have no guesthouse facilities for visiting guests and life members of ISKCON. We are very sorry for this inconvenience.
Please do not come unannounced and expect that we can arrange accommodation. We have already been in the awkward position of having to send guests away with all their luggage and belongings.
If you are planning to stay in London, we recommend you find accommodation yourself. There are hotels nearby which are a walkable distance to the Temple.
Map
Parking Map
Department | Contact |
General Enquiries (No accomodation requests.) | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
General Manager | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Courses (London College of Vedic Studies) | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Child Protection | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Donations/Life Membership | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Educational Services(Schools/Religious Education) | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Food for Life (Food Distribution Programme) | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Govinda's Restaurant & Catering | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +44 (0)20 7437 3662 Option 2 |
Press & Media Enquiries (Members of the press or media and journalists only.) | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Spiritual Mentorship System | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Radha's Boutique | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +44 (0)20 7437 3662 Option 3 |
Volunteering | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
About
Our History
The ISKCON-London Radha-Krishna Temple is a spiritual oasis in the heart of London. We are devoted to sharing the timeless culture and practices of bhakti-yoga from the great spiritual teacher, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who first brought the culture of bhakti to the Western world in 1965. We welcome everyone on their spiritual path to join us in our vibrant daily activities and events.
Originally located, since 1969, at Bury Place, opposite the British Museum, the Temple moved in 1977 to its current location at 10 Soho Street.
Popularly known as the "Hare Krishna's", we are a worldwide organisation officially called ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness). ISKCON is a bhakti-yoga tradition sitting on the Gaudiya Vaishnava "branch" of the Hindu "tree". Today, ISKCON comprises of 500 major centres, temples and rural communities, hundreds of vegetarian restaurants, thousands of local meeting groups and community food relief programmes, and millions of members on every continent and in every major city in the world.
The ISKCON-London Radha-Krishna Temple has wholeheartedly invested in serving and sharing our resources with the London community for nearly 50 years.
We are a UK registered charity (Charity number: 1132794). There are also more than 15 ISKCON centres across the UK including our national headquarters at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Hertfordshire. Find a centre near you.
Important causes to us
Our Founder
ISKCON was founded in 1966 in New York by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, affectionately known as Srila Prabhupada by his followers. With great effort and determination, at the age of 69 (when most people are retired), he journeyed from Kolkata to New York by cargo ship hoping to help the people of the Western world to reconnect with their spiritual essence. He sought to pass on the ancient teachings of bhakti-yoga and demonstrated how to practically apply this knowledge to live a happy and fulfilling life.
Srila Prabhupada has unlocked the secrets and sacred spiritual knowledge in the Vedic tradition and made them accessible to everyone. His "Bhagavad-Gita As It Is" is the largest selling edition of the Bhagavad-Gita in the Western world and translated in over 76 languages.
What we practice
Bhakti-yoga
We are open every day of the year, with daily activities running from early morning until late evening. Join us for colourful worship ceremonies, healthy "karma-free" cuisine, daily meditation, talks and seminars; or pop into our boutique for spiritual books, health and well-being products, music and more.
Yoga is more than just a physical exercise. The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit root, Yuj, which means to link up with or combine. The word "bhakti" is derived from the Sanskrit word, bhaj, which means loving service. Bhakti-yoga means to connect to the Supreme by means of loving devotional service.
And of all yogis, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.
Bhagavad-Gita 6.47
Today, some yoga practitioners consider the physical benefits of yoga to be the end in themselves. But according to the traditional yoga systems, physical exercises are just one step on the path of God realisation. The Bhagavad-Gita (the core spiritual text of the Hare Krishna movement) explains bhakti-yoga (the path of dedication and love) as the culmination of other yoga practices. Bhakti-yoga focuses on developing our dedication, service and love for the divine Lord Krishna.
Conscious Living
The lifestyle of a bhakti-yogi is one of intentional actions and choices that are in favour of becoming conscious of the Supreme. Through a variety of activities, a bhakti-yogi aims to become a devotee of the Lord, training the mind along with our actions towards selfless service to all living beings and ultimately to Lord Krishna. Living in this way, we reduce our karmic reaction because our daily activities are intentionally devoted to the divine who is the controller of karma.
Some of the activities we do daily are: meditate, sing mantra music, study and live by the sacred Vedic wisdom, have daily philosophy discourses, eat only karma-free vegetarian food, and try in all spheres of our life to live in a way that upholds the principles of truthfulness, mercy, austerity, and cleanliness.
Mantra Meditation
Meditation is a spiritual practice found in practically all religious and spiritual traditions, although the methods differ.
The Vaishnava tradition recommends the chanting of the names of God to be a particularly effective method of spiritual awakening, simultaneously opening us to an incredibly empowering experience. Bhakti-yogis use mantra meditation both on an individual level and collectively through mantra music and singing called "kirtan".
Karma-free Diet
We believe that the sourcing, preparation and eating of food should be based on principles of compassion, non-violence and balanced living. Thus, bhakti-yogis advocate a strict vegetarian diet, avoiding any animal products. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Lord Krishna tells His friend and disciple, Arjuna, to offer everything to Him and in this way everything he does, thinks, and eats becomes freed from sinful reactions, or karma. In Sanskrit, this is called "prasadam", which means mercy. This is sanctified food that has been offered to Krishna with love and devotion.
How we give back to the community
Feeding the Needy
Our food distribution programme, Food For Life, gives out freshly-made hot vegetarian food (prasadam) on Mondays to Saturdays at various locations in London. Our branch in London is part of the Food For Life Global charity that combats hunger and crisis relief by serving two million free meals a day, internationally. Find out more at www.ffl.org.
Spiritual Education Courses
Our London College of Vedic Studies, based at our ISKCON-London centre, holds regular adult educational courses with an emphasis on moral education and vocational training in specific topics such as healthy lifestyle, cooking, music, and personal development. We also have free daily discourses and taster sessions on philosophy, meditation and yoga which is open to all.
Community Development
Our centre holds annually more than 10 large public festivals with more than 1,200 participants, and more than 20,000 participants during our annual summer Rathayatra procession at Trafalgar Square. We have daily street processions where we distribute books providing spiritual knowledge and invite the public to our centre through lively music and dance. We also annually distribute more than 60,000 books to the public.We are a lifeline for cosmopolitian London - our centre provides a quiet place to spend time, connect with others and have a warm meal.
Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteers are an integral part of ISKCON-London. We have more than 300 volunteers who contribute to the day-to-day running of the Temple, organisation of events, festivals, courses, cultural showcases and all of our outreach work. Volunteering, or "seva" in Sanskrit, is fundamental to one's emotional and spiritual health. Our volunteers are given full access to hands-on work and leadership roles, and are taken care of as individuals in a dynamic and lively environment.
Mission
Srila Prabhupada founded ISKCON in July of 1966. The incorporation document states Seven Purposes of ISKCON:
(1) To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all peoples in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.
(2) To propagate a consciousness of Krishna as it is revealed in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.
(3) To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, and thus to develop the idea, within the members, and humanity, at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).
(4) To teach and encourage the Sankirtan movement of congregational chanting of the holy name of God as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
(5) To erect for the members, and for society at large, a holy place of transcendental pastimes, dedicated to the personality of Krishna.
(6) To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.
(7) With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books and other writings.
Govinda’s Restaurant
- Nutritious
- Wholesome ingredients
- Free from meat, fish and eggs
- Cooked with love
- Blessed before being served - so you can really taste the love!
MENU
+44 (0)203 687 0617
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