History
The Hare Krishna movement, as it's commonly known, started in 1965 in New York City and in San Francisco soon thereafter on Valencia Street. In 1975 the temple was moved to a larger facility at it's current Stuart Street location. The Sunday Love Feast has been an integral part of all Hare Krishna Temples and continues to this day. Aside from the good food there is a healthy dose of spiritual communion, Krishna consciousness, through the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra and discussions on the Bhagavad Gita. The Feast program is free and open to all.
Specialties
The Hare Krishna Temple of Berkeley is one of the oldest Hare Temples temples in the United States having been opened in 1975 after moving from it's San Francisco location. Historically, the Bay area is also noted for having the first Rathayatra Parade of Chariots in the western world in 1968, now an annual event that has been traditionally celebrated in India for thousands of years. Thus, the temple is also known as New Jagannatha Puri Dhama after the original city where this parade takes place. Activities include morning and evening programs of chanting and kirtan, studies of ancient spiritual texts such as Bhagavad Gita, vegetarian meals, and other devotional or bhakti yoga services. The Hare Krishna Temple serves delicious, made from scratch, all you can eat vegetarian meals for lunch daily from 1-2pm. Sunday features our world famous FREE Love Feast and Festival that starts at 5:00pm with chanting and a Bhagavad Gita discourse. All are welcome to visit. Hare Krishna!