NNA |
Updated: May 22, 2022 10:28 p.m. STI
Saitama [Japan]May 22 (ANI): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan, Krishna devotees at the ISKCON temple in Tokyo have expressed joy in glorifying Krishna and Indian culture in foreign countries including Japan.
Expressing exuberance in spreading Indian culture through Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta across the world, one of the devotees said, “I have the holy book of Bhagwat Gita with me. Indian temples and after a long wait of four years now I am blessed to come here and be part of the ISKCON community.”
Another devotee, Hari Narayanan, said, “I have lived in Japan for 25 years and have been associated with the ISKCON temple from the very beginning. I am very happy to be part of ISKCON.
Moreover, the global sales manager of Hitachi expressed his joy in translating the Bhagwat Gita into many other languages which now play a stellar role in spreading Vedic literature across the world.
“We distributed Bhagwat Gita in different languages. We also organize social gatherings to celebrate all holidays by coming together,” he added.
Rohan Agarwal, another devotee has been associated with the ISKCON temple for 16 years now. One of the women devotees said that among the daily ceremonies that take place at ISKCON is the chanting of Hare Rama Hare Krishna 108 times.
One of the members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness said, “When we are here in the ISKCON temple, we feel like we are in India.
Shri Ram Gopal, another temple devotee said, “Wherever we go, we do Keertan. Our job is to sing and glorify Krishna. Every city in the world should sing Krishna.
Notably, the ISKCON mandir encourages its devotees to build an everlasting relationship with Lord Krishna through love and devotion. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised ISKCON and said it had taught the world the true meaning of faith – zeal, enthusiasm, cheerfulness and faith in humanity.
Prime Minister Modi, on releasing a special 125 rupee commemorative coin on the occasion of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s 125th birthday, said: “Today there are hundreds of ISKCON temples in different country of the world and spreading Indian culture. ISKCON declared the world that for India, faith means zeal, enthusiasm, good humor and faith in humanity.”
Recalling ISKCON’s role during the natural disasters the country was facing, the Prime Minister said, “I remember there was an earthquake in Kutch in 2001, how ISKCON came forward to serve the people. Whenever the country has experienced a calamity, be it the tragedy in Uttarakhand or the devastation of cyclones in Odisha and Bengal, ISKCON has worked as a support for the society.”
“India can bring a lot to the world. The greatest example is our knowledge of yoga. The world can benefit from India’s sustainable lifestyle and science like Ayurveda,” he added.
Swami Prabhupada founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) commonly known as the “Hare Krishna movement”.
ISKCON has translated Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta and other Vedic literatures into 89 languages, playing a stellar role in spreading Vedic literature across the globe. He also established more than a hundred temples and wrote several books, teaching the way of Bhakti Yoga to the world, the statement said. (ANI)
