About

In early 1977, Srila Prabhupada came to Bhubaneswar. Although arrangements had been made for Srila Prabhupada to stay comfortably in the government state guest house, Srila Prabhupada at once rejected saying that he would only stay where his dear disciple Gour Govinda has built a mud hut for him. Srila Prabhupada stayed in Bhubaneswar for seventeen days & laid the foundation stone on the auspicious occasion of Lord Nityananda’s appearance day.

At the time of his birth, an astrologer predicted that Srila Prabhupada would travel to the west at the age of seventy and establish 108 temples across the world. ISKCON Bhubaneswar is the 108th and last founded project of Srila Prabhupada, where he completed the 9th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam and started his commentary on the 10th canto, unveiling the face of Lord Sri Krishna to the world.

Some devotees accompanying Srila Prabhupada were surprised to see this site practically in the middle of forest. They objected to Prabhupada telling it would be better if they build something at Puri. Why should they waste their time and money here. But Srila Prabhupada was adamant. “No! This place will be the heart of the city.”Regarding discussion with Srila Prabhupada about the details of building this temple, Gour Govinda Swami said, “Prabhupada drove everyone out and called me into his room. He was there and I was there, no third person was there. No tape recording was going on. Nothing was there….chalo! It is recorded in my heart. It is my asset. In a whispering voice he told me, “Gour Govind, they are objecting to a temple being built here. They want it at Puri. But I said, ‘No!’ I will do it here. This will be one of the best temples in the world, and it will be under your leadership.”

At that time he told me, “You have to stay here. You have to do it”. Srila Prabhupada also instructed Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja to accept disciples who would help him in his mission of preaching Krishna Consciousness throughout Odisha and build this magnificent Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Temple.

In 1991, after sixteen years of determined endeavors, Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja fulfilled the instruction of his spiritual master with the opening of a magnificent temple of Sri Sri Krishna-Balarama, which now attracts thousands of people! to Krishna consciousness. Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja said, “I have opened a crying school here in Bhubaneswar. Unless we cry for Krishna, we cannot get his mercy.” This was the message he preached so vigorously all over the world.

ISKCON Bhubaneswar is famously known as the Crying School all over the ISKCON world.