Hare Krishna Temple Watford – ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor

Address

Hare Krishna Temple Watford – ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor

Dharam Marg, Hilfield Ln, Radlett,

Watford WD25 8EZ, United Kingdom

Moolavar

Hare Krishna

Introduction

• Bhaktivedanta Manor is a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple located in the Hertfordshire countryside of England, near the village of Letchmore Heath and Watford.
• The temple is owned and operated by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement.
• It is ISKCON’s largest property in the UK and one of the most visited Radha Krishna temples in Europe.
• The Manor is listed as a Grade II building on the National Heritage List for England.

Puranic Significance:

• Originally called Piggott’s Manor, the property was donated to the Hare Krishna movement in February 1973 by former Beatle George Harrison, after the Radha Krishna Temple in central London became too small for the growing number of devotees.
• The donation included 17 acres of land, and the estate expanded through acquisitions of neighboring properties.
• In 1981, ISKCON campaigned to save Bhaktivedanta Manor from potential closure, as the increasing popularity of the site led to traffic congestion in the nearby village of Aldenham.
• After court hearings and appeals, the Department of the Environment granted permission in 1996 to build a road bypass for the village, which improved access to the temple.
• The Manor hosts up to 60,000 visitors annually for religious festivals such as Janmashtami.

Temple and Activities:

• The focal point of all activity at Bhaktivedanta Manor is the temple room, which features an altar made of carved wood and gilt, with three domed shrines:
  1. The first shrine houses the deities of Radha and Krishna (named Radha Gokulananda).
  2. The second shrine holds the deities of Gaura-Nitai (Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda).
  3. The third shrine contains the deities of Sita, Rama, Lakshmana, and Hanuman.

Additional Features:

• The Manor also includes:
  • A souvenir shop selling devotional items and paraphernalia.
  • A bakery.
  • A farm with working oxen.
  • College facilities and ashrams.
  • A primary school.
  • A small theatre used for performances that illustrate bhakti yoga and stories about Krishna

Century/Period

1973

Managed By

National Heritage List for England.

Nearest Bus Station

Hilfield Lane

Nearest Railway Station

Bushey Station (London Over ground)

Nearest Airport

London Heathrow (LHR) Airport

Location on Map

lightuptemple