What is ISKCON Doing in Ayodhya?

By Devashekhara Vishnu Dasa

After the historic consecration ceremony of the Rama Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, conducted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, millions of devotees are pouring in to take darshan of Ramlala murthi. Ayodhya has now become a center of religious and spiritual activities. ISKCON devotees participated in the grand festivities, with many senior ISKCON leaders and sannyasis such as H.H. Lokanatha Swami, H.H. Radhanatha Swami, H.H. Bhakti Purushottama Swami, H.H. Bhakti Rasamrita Swami, H.H. Bhakti Vinoda Swami, H.G. Devakinandana Dasa, H.G. Yudhishthira Govinda Dasa, etc., invited to participate in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. The overall camp from January 10 to February 25 was maneuvered under the leadership of H.G. Sanak Sanatana Dasa.

Events leading upto the grand opening of Ayodhya

Ayodhya is a historic city situated on the banks of the holy Sarayu river. Its history can be traced to Treta-yuga and is the birthplace of Lord Ramacandra. Ayodhya has been historically ruled by kings of the suryavamshi clan, and it is one of the seven holy places according to Vedic scriptures that grant liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Many ascetics and pilgrims converge every day to take darshan of holy places and hear from various sadhus to gain spiritual progress. For centuries, this place has also been deeply connected with Jainism, and Lord Rishabhadeva has also taken birth in Ayodhya.

ISKCON currently has a preaching center in Ayodhya, which undertakes various preaching and outreach activities in and around Ayodhya, such as university preaching, Jagannatha Ratha-yatra, daily distribution of 1000 free meals, weekly harinama-sankiitana, Sunday love feasts, etc. Since this was a special occasion, ISKCON India leaders decided to participate in a grand way. In order to wholeheartedly participate in the grand occasion, various activities were planned.

Sri Rama Padayatra distributing the message of Lord Sri Rama

The Sri Rama Padayatra covered a distance of over 600 km. It was flagged off by Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Government of India, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, from Indraprastha (Delhi) to Ayodhya, with devotees from various countries participating. The padayatra had various halts with welcome ceremonies for the padayatris at various places. Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Brijesh Pathak, and Transport Minister Shri Daya Shankar Singh, along with other ministers of the Uttar Pradesh state government, welcomed the padayatris at their halt in Lucknow. The padayatra reached Ayodhya Dham on January 20. This padayatra was undertaken under the leadership of H.H. Krishna Chaitanya Swami.

A Mega Kitchen for free prasadam distribution

ISKCON is well-known worldwide for distributing sumptuous, sanctified food in various situations — be it earthquake, pandemic, or historic events. In order to cater and distribute sumptuous prasada, a mega kitchen was set up with modern amenities under the leadership of His Grace Gauranga Prabhu in a designated plot allocated near Udasin Ashram in Ayodhya. Sanctified food offered to Krishna was distributed at multiple locations, with the most important one situated on Ram Path on the premises of Mayor of Ayodhya Pt. Girishpati Tripathi. A full meal was served with a changed menu every day. There was a designated place for incoming VIP guests and senior devotees. Every day, 10,000 meals were distributed. 

Half a million books distributed

Book distribution, called brihad-mridanga by Srila Prabhupada, is a major service undertaken by ISKCON devotees. In order to spread the message of Vedic Sanatana-dharma and the message of Srila Prabhupada, more than two lakh copies of Bhagavad-gita books in various languages were distributed. Overall, over half a million books of Srila Prabhupada were distributed, which was overseen by His Holiness Bhakti Vijay Bhagavat Swami Maharaja.

Medical Camp to serve devotees

A medical camp to serve devotees was set up. Devotee doctors from various specialties of Bhaktivedanta Hospital arranged for a month-long medical camp to cater to health-related issues for devotees thronging to Ayodhya Dham. It was a free medical camp.

Daily Harinama-sankirtana

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that his names would be chanted across every town and village, and Ayodhya Dham was not missing either. Every day, devotees took a bullock cart carrying deities of Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada, along with devotees from various countries joining in maha-sankirtana every evening. It started in front of the main gate of the Rama temple and ended at the iconic Lata Mangeshkar Chowk. Devotees across age groups chanted and danced to the beats of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

It was a mass preaching effort and herculean service for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada at Ayodhya Dham. It is going to have a lasting impact on the minds of the people here. It was a complete package of devotional service, covering all aspects — holy name, book distribution, prasada distribution, medical services and padayatra. This whole service has created tremendous goodwill for ISKCON in Ayodhya and will help us in preaching activity locally and elsewhere.

The service done by ISKCON in Ayodhya received tremendous media coverage, both from international and national media channels and newspapers. Devotees were also invited for live panel discussions on various news channels.

Devashekhara Vishnu Dasa is the Co-Director of ISKCON Communication in Uttar Pradesh and Co-Incharge of ISKCON Ayodhya.