Bangalore: Archbishop Most Rev Dr. Peter Machado accompanied with a team of Priests paid a courtesy visit to the famous ISKCON (International Society of Krishna Consciousness) Temple, Bangalore on Monday the 25th January 2021. The pandemic situation had delayed the visit by over a year. As the temple authorities pursued once again this request was considered which paved the way for the Archbishop’s visit.
Inaugurated in the year 1997, Bangalore ISKCON temple is one of the largest temples attracting thousands of devotees’ every day. Over the years of their existence their main concern was to provide mid-day meal to poor school children which has earned them much goodwill and world wide recognition. Their vision statement is to ensure that no child is deprived of basic education for want of food is to be appreciated.
The visiting team from the Bengaluru Archdiocese was taken around on a detailed guided tour across key temple areas and explained the spiritual significance in detail by Shri Naveen Neerada Dada, Head of communications.
Shri Madhu Pandit Dasa, President Bangalore ISKCON and Shri Chanchalapati Dasa, Senior Vice President of ISKCON and Chairman of Akshaya Patra received His Grace Archbishop Peter Machado and his team with a warm welcome and held pleasant conversations on maintaining inter- religious dialogue, unity and promote harmony among all people.
The delegation was presented with screening of a detailed documentary of the mission and vision of ISKCON, Akshaya Patra initiative and the state of the art technology used in kitchen equipments, the clock-like precision of the working of its dedicated staff in providing food for 1.8 million of children across schools in and around Bangalore City day after day is truly commendable.
Archbishop after visiting the temple and understanding the work done by ISKCON Bangalore and their multiple initiatives said, “Your service is much more powerful than any religious propaganda. In our country we have such a great religious heritage which should unite us, rather than dividing. ISKCON Bangalore is doing what Mother Teresa used to say, ‘The hands that serve are holier than the lips that pray’”
“I can say that ISKCON Bangalore is making such small miracles in the life of a new generation of our nation by feeding the children and motivating them to study well and to become good and promising leaders. I wish God’s blessings to all the volunteers in their efforts ".
During the meeting, His Grace Archbishop introduced the 10-member team and held informal discussion on various issues of common concerns. It was interesting to note both the President and Chairman of ISKCON Bangalore are Ex-Josephites’. They paid rich tributes to the Jesuit Priests and Sisters who have moulded them for what they are today. They recalled with gratitude and fond memories the weekly short magazine ‘Soldiers of God’ and the regular moral science classes that influenced their high moral values of life which they practice even to date.
Source - ARCHDIOCESE OF BANGALORE
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