The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

History

The first Hare Krishnas in Boise, Arun and Arruddha Gupta, arrived there in 1986. They are originally from India. The family worshipped in their home in Boise for 15 years, and then in 1999 the Gupta family bought the home next-door and built a facility connecting the two homes. This center area became the Hare Krishna temple.

Challenges and Discrimination

The Hare Krishna community is very accepted by the Boise community and even has an annual parade to celebrate Krishna.

Demographics

The majority of members are Indian, but there are several Caucasians and one African American. Approximately half the members are converts, while the other half were born into the movement. The community encompasses all ages, from newborns to the elderly.

Activities and Schedule

The Hare Krishna Temple has weekly services Sunday at 11 a.m. Services begin with chanting, followed by a lesson or reading from the Bhagavad-gita, mantra meditation, musical chanting, and then announcements. Following the service is a community lunch, where traditional vegetarian Indian food is served. The temple also has daily services with small programs from 4:45 a.m. to 8 a.m., which consists of devotional prayers, meditation and scriptural study. Every evening at 6:30 p.m. there is another small program of worship. Bhagavad-gita classes take place every Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. followed by dinner.

In addition to the daily and weekly services and meditations, the temple performs missionary activities, which take place every Wednesday and usually involve public Harinama, or chanting the names of Krishna in the streets, and distributing Hare Krishna books to the public. Members of the temple visit nearby prisons monthly to do ministry work and correspond with inmates from prisons around the country via mail. Furthermore, members of the temple distribute free food as part of ISKCON’s worldwide “Food for Life” program.

There are eight major holidays celebrated at the Hare Krishna Temple. They are: the birthday of Chaitanya, commemorating the inauguration of the Hare Krishna Movement; Rathayatra, a parade celebrating Krishna, usually in conjunction with the Boise 4th of July Parade; Janmastami, celebrating Krishna’s birthday; Govardhan Puja, celebrating Krishna’s protection of his devotees; Rama Navami, celebrating Rama’s birth; Diwali, celebrating Rama’s return to his capital city; Nrsimha Chaturdasi, the appearance day of Krishna in his incarnation of Nrsimhadeva; and Vyasa Puja, the birthday of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the founder and spiritual teacher of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), commonly known as the Hare Krishna Movement. The Boise Hare Krishna Temple is one of over four hundred ISKCON centers around the world.

The community participates in all interfaith events in Boise and representatives from the temple give lectures about Hinduism to classes at local schools and universities. Professors from various departments also bring their classes to the temple for the Sunday service. The temple is open for tours for students interested in studying religion.

Description

The Hare Krishna Temple is located in a building that adjoins two residential homes, belonging to members of the temple. The temple is a large hall with stained glass windows with pictures of Krishna in his youth and adulthood. There are frescos of Krishna on the ceiling and a teakwood altar in the front of the temple with statues of Hindu deities, incense, fresh flowers, and rich Indian tapestries. In the back of the temple, directly opposite the altar, is a life-size statue of Srila Prabhupada. Shoes are not worn in the temple and members sit on individual rugs for prayers, chanting and meditation. In the front of the temple, near the altar, are a harmonium and mrdunga, as well as audio equipment to deliver the musical sound throughout the temple.