RSS chief visits Iskcon’s birthplace in New York, joins food distribution drive

NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat visited the Iskcon temple in New York during his ongoing US tour, where he participated in a food distribution initiative for homeless people and spoke about the role of Krishna consciousness in overcoming conflicts and divisions.Bhagwat visited the temple at 26 Second Avenue, where the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) began in 1966.Speaking to news agency ANI, Gauranga Das, a Governing Body Commissioner of Iskcon, said the organisation now has 1,300 temples across 120 countries.“In 1966, Swami Prabhupada officially founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon). We are standing at 26 2nd Avenue, the same place from where Iskcon began, and today we have 1300 temples across 120 countries,” he said.Gauranga Das said Swami Prabhupada was credited with taking Hindu Sanatana Dharma to different parts of the world.‘A matchless gift of Sri Krishna consciousness’Bhagwat penned a message during his visit, describing the venue as an inspiration and praising its contribution to spreading Krishna consciousness.“An inspiring venue which brought really a matchless gift of Sri Krishna consciousness to the world. I am humbled and surcharged with the feeling of pure sattvic love towards he who resides in everybody and everything. Heartiest thanks to all who arranged this inspiring event for me,” his message said.Gauranga Das said Bhagwat also spoke about how people could work together for global peace and harmony.In a post on X, he said Bhagwat offered a garland to Srila Prabhupada and inaugurated the distribution of the 100,000th meal under the Zero Hunger New York initiative at the Bhakti Center.Bhagwat speaks on conflicts and consciousnessAddressing devotees at the temple, Bhagwat spoke about the importance of consciousness in bringing people together despite conflicts and differences.“In today's world, there are so many conflicts, so many dualities. The only thing that unites is consciousness. That consciousness is Krishna Consciousness - we are one and we have been having it through these dualities of this world with the strong understanding that though there are so many diversities, dualities, conflicts, really it is all Krishna,” Bhagwat said.Anuttama Dasa, minister of communications and governing body commissioner of Iskcon, also welcomed Bhagwat's visit.“Mohan Bhagwat visited us and we are very grateful that he was here. A couple of weeks ago, Hema Malini was here. Both of them visited and we talked about how we can work together to try to promote God Consciousness and Krishna Consciousness values around the world,” he told ANI.He said Iskcon was seeking to promote an understanding of shared values at a time when the world was facing conflicts and polarisation.Madison Square Garden address nextBhagwat's visit to the Iskcon temple comes ahead of his scheduled address to the Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden on Saturday at the ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’, being organised as part of the RSS centenary-year programmes.The event is being organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue and is expected to bring together Hindu-American organisations and members of the Indian diaspora around themes including shared heritage, interfaith dialogue and unity.The RSS chief arrived in New York on Tuesday as part of a three-nation outreach tour covering the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.