Hare Krishna Temple - International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) — Attraction in Toronto

I don't know how to rate a temple but I am going to give it 1 less 🌟 because of the scheduled viewing.

Tip: On weekdays you can only view the deity during a fix schedule of intervals and the rest of the time the doors to view the diety are closed. Check the schedule before you arrive.

The facade of the temple, or I should call a church is one of a kind. Here in Toronto it would be foolish to ask for temple with a gopuram. However, what Iskcon has done is probably leased or taken over one of the existing churches in the city (or church like building) and developed a temple inside. The architecture is beautiful

On the inside is what you will see in every Iskcon franchisee is a large praying area with an idol of the Guru and right at the end of it all, are the 3 doors to the 3 roopas (forms) of lord Krishna. On the walls you will see 14 painting series that depicts the journey of how lord Vishnu took the avatar of Lord Krishna and his tales from childhood to the time he participated in the Kurukshetra war of Mahabharata. The paintings are beautiful and well captioned for everyone to understand.

They have coat hangers so you can hang your coats away and pray in peace. There is a seating area in the praying hall where I guess people who can't sit on the floor could sit and pray from.

The temple is quiet and peaceful. I am sure that hours when there is no aarthi will be a good time for prayers and contemplation.

I am not sure about the quality/taste of the prasad, but I am sure like everywhere it would be nice.

There is so much more to this institute than just being a temple. It's a place to network, develop skills, serve people, devotee matrimony (Yes, you heard that right. Find another Iskcon devotee to be your companion for life.), cultural activities, festival celebrations, poojas and aarthis, donations, volunteering, mentoring programs, consultations, processions, activities for kids and lots more.

To arrive you could walk from St. George or Rosedale subway stations.

Take your entire family to the temple, it will be a time well...

Background: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement or Hare Krishnas, is a Hindu religious organisation. ISKCON was founded in 1966 in New York City by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada known to his followers as Guru and spiritual master.

The cathedral ceilings and traditional balcony area overlooking the main altar space and where the deity house, makes for an interesting blend of East and West aesthetics. The building used to be a Christian church. PROS: The temple is located in the heart of Toronto and the building itself is historic and has interesting architecture.

Prayer on Sundays:  The weekly Sunday program is at 6pm. They always welcome newcomers, and you'll get the see the temple full of people singing, dancing, and meditating. Vegetarian meal served at the end for free of charge.

Annual celebration of Lord Krishna birth and Rath Yatra are a must witness.

GOVINDAS - The inhouse vegetarian restaurant serves lunch and supper daily. The restaurant offers plenty, good buffet at nominal price (under$10). You can even find a deal on Groupon.

CONS: No air conditioning in the temple. Street parking has restrictions. Paid parking is far...

I recently visited the Krishna Temple in Toronto and I was blown away by the beauty and serenity of this spiritual haven. From the moment I walked through the doors, I was transported to another world, filled with the sweet sounds of devotional music and the peaceful atmosphere of a truly spiritual space.

The atmosphere is peaceful and serene, with devotees quietly going about their prayers and offerings, and the air is filled with the scent of incense and flowers.

The staff is incredibly welcoming and friendly, and they are always on hand to answer questions and provide information about the temple and its practices. They make every visitor feel at home, regardless of their background or beliefs.

In addition to the beauty and peaceful atmosphere, the temple also offers a variety of programs and food donation programs that are open to everyone.

It is a truly beautiful and spiritual space, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, or anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of spirituality and religion. Whether you are a devotee or simply curious about Hinduism, this temple is sure to leave a...