POTOMAC, Maryland (RNS) — Aryan, a member of the gleaming ISKCON temple that was dedicated Saturday (March 23) in this prosperous suburb north of Washington, takes pride in the prominence the new building gives to his Hindu community, still mostly known as Hare Krishnas and satirized as a drum-banging, chanting “cult.”“Before, the temple was down there, it was too far, you couldn’t see that from the street,” said Aryan, 18, who uses only his single initiated name given to him by his guru. “Now, this big grand temple with three domes, this big white building is just right out front on Oaklyn Drive, where so many people drive down day in and day out. For this community, it’s like a breath of fresh air.”
Initiates Mohan and Aryan, right, stand for a portrait during the the unveiling event. RNS photo by Richa Karmarkar
The new temple, an 11,000-square-foot marvel, opened just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Washington area’s community of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, as the group is formally known. Coinciding with Gaura Purnima, or “Golden Full Moon,” one of ISKCON’s high holidays, the temple opening drew thousands of devotees to celebrate the achievement of the oldest Hindu group in the region.
Hare Krishnas have a long history in the nation’s capital, dating back to the movement’s participation in anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. Tom Morrison, whose initiated name is Anuttama, first encountered the group at an anti-war protest in Washington in 1971. ISKCON had formed just five years before, when a few mostly Caucasian, formerly Jewish and Christian peace lovers in New York began following the teachings of founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a traveling Hindu monk.
Morrison soon donned their distinctive yellow-orange robes, shaved his head and fixed the white marking known as a tilak to his head. Taking a vow of poverty, he traveled with companions to evangelize in Miami, England, Cairo and India — where he met his wife. He was among the first residents of the D.C.-area ashram.
Today, the group has branches in over 100 countries, all major cities and more than 600 temples and farming communities around the world.
A young Anuttama, or Tom Morrison, laughs in a classroom during his high school years. Photo courtesy Anuttama
“Krishna Consciousness goes beyond any time, place or circumstance,” said Anuttama, who called the Christianity of his youth a “religion without all the answers.” “We learn that we’re eternal, and that everything is temporary in this life. When you get into that mood, when you want to surrender to God, al …
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Initiates Mohan and Aryan, right, stand for a portrait during the the unveiling event. RNS photo by Richa Karmarkar
The new temple, an 11,000-square-foot marvel, opened just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Washington area’s community of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, as the group is formally known. Coinciding with Gaura Purnima, or “Golden Full Moon,” one of ISKCON’s high holidays, the temple opening drew thousands of devotees to celebrate the achievement of the oldest Hindu group in the region.
Hare Krishnas have a long history in the nation’s capital, dating back to the movement’s participation in anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. Tom Morrison, whose initiated name is Anuttama, first encountered the group at an anti-war protest in Washington in 1971. ISKCON had formed just five years before, when a few mostly Caucasian, formerly Jewish and Christian peace lovers in New York began following the teachings of founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a traveling Hindu monk.
Morrison soon donned their distinctive yellow-orange robes, shaved his head and fixed the white marking known as a tilak to his head. Taking a vow of poverty, he traveled with companions to evangelize in Miami, England, Cairo and India — where he met his wife. He was among the first residents of the D.C.-area ashram.
Today, the group has branches in over 100 countries, all major cities and more than 600 temples and farming communities around the world.
A young Anuttama, or Tom Morrison, laughs in a classroom during his high school years. Photo courtesy Anuttama
“Krishna Consciousness goes beyond any time, place or circumstance,” said Anuttama, who called the Christianity of his youth a “religion without all the answers.” “We learn that we’re eternal, and that everything is temporary in this life. When you get into that mood, when you want to surrender to God, al …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]