Sri Sri Radha-Parthasarathi Temple And ISKCON Vedic Cultural Center

LOCATION: New Delhi, India

PURPOSE: To serve as a center for India's greatest glory her Vedic knowledge and culture

PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT: A. P. Khanvinde, recipient of the Indian government's Padma Shri

award for distinguished service

CONTRACTOR: Tarapore and Company, Madras (contractors for Delhi's 5-star Taj Mansingh
Hotel, and the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium)

MATERIALS: Steel: 880 tons. Cement: 5,500 tons.

Marble: 25,000 square feet. Stone: 75,000 square feet.

Stone chips: 260,000 cubic feet. Wood: 2,000 cubic feet.

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS: 250

COST: Rupees 12 crores .

DATE OF COMPLETION: December 1995

JOURNEY THROUGH THE TEMPLE

This temple was designed and constructed by Achyut Kanvinde for the followers of Srila
Prabhupada. It is one of the largest temples in Delhi with separate rooms for priests and
servicemen. The huge halls in the complex are used for administrative purposes that are
divided into four different sections.

Temple priests offer 6 different aartis to the main deities daily, which include Mangala Aarti,
Tulsi Aarti, Dhoop Aarti, Raj Bhoga Aarti, Pushpa Aarti and Sandhya Aarti. Janmashtami
festival is celebrated at a grand level at this ISKCON Temple.

One of the high points of the Iskcon Temple is the central prayer hall housing some
magnificent idols of Radha-Krishna, along with the idols of other deities and enlightening
spiritual lines and shibboleths. Another attraction is the temple museum that exhibits
multimedia shows of the great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Every Sunday, certain
special programs like kirtan, aarti, pravachan and prasadam are held at the Delhi Iskcon
Temple. The Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple of Delhi gains special significance at the time
of the Janmashtmi festival, the birthday of Lord Krishna. Huge celebrations are organized at
that time and hundreds of devotees throng the temple to get a glimpse of the deity.
 Model of the ISKCON temple complex showing all blocks
Site and surroundings

1. The Temple

2. The Museum of Vedic

Culture

3. The Center for Vedic

Studies

4. The Vedic Center For the

Performing Arts

5. The Ashram

6. Krishna Jayanti Park

KEY: 1. MAIN ENTRANCE
A. TEMPLE [PEDESTRIAN'
LVL 1. PRASAD HALL & 2. RECEPTION AREA
PRIESTS' QTRS. 3. PLAZA
LVL. 2. PRAYER HALL 4. SHOE ROOM
5. POOLS & CASCADES
B INSTITUTIONAL BLK. 1 6. GUEST RECEPTION
LVL1. MUSEUM 7. EMERGENCY EXIT
LVL. 2. MUSEUM 8. ENTRANCE
LVL. 3. GUEST FLOOR (GUEST,VIP,MUSEUM)
9. SERVICE ENTRANCE
C. CONNECTING BLK. 10. COURTYARD
LVL.1. LIBRARY [SERVICES]
LVL.2. GUEST RECEPTION 11. RESTAURANT
LVL 3. WALKWAY ENTRANCE [below
12. TICKET COUNTERS &
D. INSTITUTIONAL BLK. II PUBLIC TOILETS
LVL.1. ADMINISTRATION [below]
LVL. 2- AUDITORIUM 13. ENTRANCE TO
LVL. 3. MUSEUM PRAYER HALL
14. DEITY AREA
E. RESTAURANT BLK. 15. V.I.P. ENTRANCE0
LVL.1. RESTAURANT MUSEUM
LVL 2 SHOPS & PLAZA.
The Concept
The many aspects of the new center will bring alive the spiritual culture of India.

1. THE TEMPLE
Dedicated to the service of Radha and Krsna, the temple is the center of
attraction for the entire complex. Its unique latticed towers a fusion of traditional
design and modern possibilities will extend ninety-eight feet above the highest
point of the hilltop. With carved stone, wood, and marble, the temple will bring to
life the advanced artistry of ancient India in devotion to Lord Krsna.

2. THE MUSEUM OF VEDIC CULTURE

The museum will show various aspects of the Vedic philosophical and cultural
heritage, both through simple exhibits and dioramas and through sophisticated
multimedia programs.

3. THE CENTER FOR VEDIC STUDIES

For serious students of Vedic culture, the center will provide classes, seminars, and
conferences. The center's Library for Vedic Research will house an extensive
collection of Vedic literature, both in original Indian languages and in foreign
translations. The center will also offer special programs for school children.
4. THE VEDIC CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
The center will offer performances in music and dance by
India's foremost artists. Performances will take place in a
traditional open-air amphitheater, facing the temple of
Radha and Krsna.

5. THE ASRAMA
The true essence of a place of Vedic culture resides with
the enlightened people one finds there. The center will be
home for devotees fully dedicated to studying, living, and
teaching the Vedic culture.

6. KRSNA JAYANTI PARK

Groves, waterfalls, ponds, and gardens will be an integral
part of the project. And the Krsna Jayanti Park, dedicated
to the pastimes of the Lord, will provide a setting where
spiritual life can flourish in tranquil surroundings.
 The circulation of the complex around the
contour is such that the entrance cum restaurant
block is situated at the lowest contour along is
connected to the entrance area and is at the mid
level of the hill; and it is connected to main temple
block which is situated at the topmost level of the
hill and is the main feature of the complex.

The main entrance to the complex is from the road

which is adjacent to the main road. The entrance is
highlighted with a huge archway, in the front with
steps rising towards it The vehicular access is
avoided right at the entrance as the parking area
for the complex is opposite to the entrance arch-
way. Hence the whole complex has a pedestrian
movement throughout the site, with levels and
contours; which makes the visitor devotees feel
interesting to roam around the whole structure.

The entrance archway leads towards the

restaurant on its left side. The restaurant is available
for the residents as well as the outsiders became of
which one is inclined to visit the structure. The
archway is followed by a series of courtyards
having levels leading towards the reception plaza
emphasised by another huge dominating archway.
The reception plaza leads to the main temple block
on its left and to the Institutional block to its right.
Hence the plaza acts as the junction, between the
temple block and the institutional blocks.
Govinda restaurant:
Area-291 sqm.approx.

A large hall comprising of 150 sitting capacity.

Provision of buffet service.
Conference may be used a functional hall.
The right side of entrance holds the reception and the cash counter.
Institutional Block Quadraphonic 16 track sound system
Ground floor: Stage productions
Multi media Auditorium: Two bookshops
Area- 450sqm. One open to visitors who do not have tickets and the
Seating capacity-370 other one in the audi lobby.
Audio-visual presentation, multiprojector slide show , 9
projectors, video LCD projectors , laser light
Vedic Expo: The Bhagvat Gita
Experience
A 45 min. walk through the 9
different rooms with high tech
and sophisticated concepts of
reincarnation , divine nature ,
eternal time, physics, yoga and
universe.
First floor
The Mahabharata Experience: 23 high relief of episodes
from mahabharata synchronized light and sound show
The Ramayana Experience:
An art gallery dedicated to lord ramachandra . A series
of 23 paintings.
Forbidden Archeology:
Display of Archeological facts, Contradiction to current
god less theories of evolution and civilised development
of man . Written and designed by Michael Cremo.
Mysterical Orbits:
4Models
27Panels
3video books
Explantion to vedic cosmology ,advance astronomy
and vedic flying machines.
Chaitanya Charitamrita:
Teachings of Lord Chaitanya through sculpture and
artifically presented Bengal jungle
Bhaktivedhanta Book Trust Foundation ( BBT): Pictorial
exhibition of the ISKCON movement 12 Backlit Panels
explaing 4 mottoes of ISKCON
TEMPLE BLOCK

Dedicated to the service of radha and krishna , the temple is the

center of attraction for the entire complex. Its unique latticed towers a
fusion of traditional design and modern possibilities will extend ninety-
eight feet above the highest point of the hilltop . with carved stone ,
wood and marble , the temple has bring to life the advanced artistry of
ancient India in devotion to Lord Krishna.

While approaching towards the temple block , on passes through a

series of levels having a couple of shops. the shops will be utilizes for
setting different paraphernalia’s prasadam etc., and id positioned in
such a way that the devotees passes through the shop while going to
the temple. Also the central space near the shop is highlighted by the
sloping pergola. after the shopping area the levels are then divided
into two parts. from one steps , one goes t the temple hall while the
other steps leads to the prasadam hall i.e., the dinning cum kitchen
area which is below the temple hall . the temple hall consists of an
open courtyard in front consisting of garuda stambha and is
highlighted by a series of self supported beams and columns.

1,2,3 - deity area

4- temple hall
5- Open courtyard area( meant for chanting 108nama)
6-Courtyardbelow
Temple hall
Prasad hall Open courtyard
The centre for auditorium
vedic studies
museum
S.No. BLOCKS ISKCON DELHI S.N BLOCKS ISKCON DELHI
S.N BLOCKS ISKCON DELHI
o.
o.
1 ENTRANCE BLOCK No.OF AREA OF 1 TOTAL
2 FOOD FOR NO. OF AREA TOTAL
UNITS UNIT AREA 4 EDUCATION NO. OF AREA TOTAL
sqm. LIFE UNITS OF 1 AREA
AL AND UNITS OF 1 AREA
UNIT`
A SECURITY ROOM 2 0.5 1 MULTI UNIT`
A OFFICE 1 12 12 MEDIA
B ENTRANCE COURT 1 50 50 CENTRE
B KITCHEN 1 30 30
C SHOE ROOM 2 12 24 A ENT . LOBBY 1 50 50
C STORE 2 12 24
D WATER TAPS 3 0.75 2.25
TOTAL 54 B RECEPTION 1 12 12
E RECEPTION 1 12 12 C LIBRARY - - -
F INQUIRY 1 8 8 3 ADMINISTRT No.OF UNITS AREA TOTAL D EXHIBITION 1 NA NA
ATIVE BLOCK OF 1 AREA HALL
G DONATION 1 8 8
UNIT sqm.
E AUDITORIU 387 SEATS 1.16S 580.54
H LIFE MEMBERSHIP 1 8 8 A RECEPTION 1 8 8 M QM
I EVENT FACILITY 1 8 8 B WAITING 1 12 12 F TICKET 1 4 4
AREA COUNTER
J MEDIA 1 8 8
C PRESIDENTS 1 12 12 G WAITING 1 15 15
K GROUP TOUR 1 8 8 RROM AREA
L PUBLIC TOILETS 2 30 60 D V.I.P. ROOM 3 12 36 H PUBLIC 2 10 20
E SEC.ROOM 1 10 10 TOILETS
M SHOPS 4 10 40
F CONF. HALL - - - TOTAL 551
N PRASADAM HALL 1 8 8
G ACCOUNTS 1 15 15
TOTAL 245.25
H STORE 1 12 12
I TOILETS 2 8.75 17.5
S.N BLOCKS ISKCON DELHI S.No BLOCKS ISKCON DELHI S.No BLOCKS ISKCON DELHI
o. . .
5 RESTAURAN NO. OF AREA TOTAL 6 TEMPLE NO. OF AREA OF TOTAL 6 TEMPLE NO. OF AREA OF TOTAL
T UNITS OF 1 AREA BLOCK UNITS 1 UNIT` AREA BLOCK UNITS 1 UNIT` AREA
UNIT`
A ENTRANCE 3 15 45 K DEITY 1 24 24
A CASH 1 4 4 PORCH DRESSING
COUNTER CHAMBER3
B PRAYER HALL 1 200 200
B OFFICE 1 10 10 L STORAGE FOR 1 18 18
C DEITY 1 15 15
GAS
C ATTENDENT 1 4 4 CHAMBER1
M PRASADAM 1 200 200
D SITTING 100 1.5sq 150 D DEITY 1 20 20
HALL
AREA m CHAMBER2
N PRASADAM 1 35 35
E COMMON 20 1.5sq 30 E DEITY 1 15 15
KITCHEN
HALL m CHAMBER3
O STORAGE 1 40 40
F WASH AREA 1 3 3 F PARIKRAMA 1 3M WIDE
P PREP.ROOM 1 20 20
G TOILETS 2 4 8 G SRILA 1 1 1
PRABHUPADA Q WASHING 1 24 24
H KITCHEN 1 45 45
STATUE AREA
J STORE 1 15 15
H PRASADAM 1 0.8 0.8 TOTAL 769.8
K WASH AREA 1 10 10
I DEITY 1 24 24
TOTAL AREA 305 DRESSING1
S.N BLOCKS ISKCON DELHI S.N SERVICES ISKCON DELHI
o. o.
7 RESIDENTIA NO. OF AREA TOTAL A PUMPS 6,4 OF H.P , 2 OF 15 H.P
L BLOCK UNITS OF 1 AREA 2 SUBMMERSIBLE BORING FOR
UNIT` GROUND WATER
A PUJARI 3( 2PER 14 52 B A.C.PLANT 2 A.C. UNIT EACH 80 TR
ROOM ROOM)
C A.H.U 11, ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION –
B STAFF ROOM 4( 4/ROOM) 30 120 100UNIT/ HR
C BRAHMACH 5(6/ROOM) 30 150 D D.G.SET 3, NO1-380KVA
ARI ASHR NO 2- 320 KVA
NO 3- 125 KVA
D RECEPTION 1 6 6
E LIFTS 1 LIFT IN GUEST HOUSE FOR 8-10
E WAITING 1 18 18
PERSONS
LOBBY
1 SERVICE LIFT IN TEMPLE BLOCK
F OFFICE 1 8 8
F STAIR CASES
G ROOMS 20 15 300
G WATER NA
WITH
TANK
ATTCHD
TOILETS H WATER NA
TANK ( FIRE-
TOTAL 670
FIGHTING)
I PARKING 100 CARS