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The Hare Krishna teachings were brought to London by three American married couples, disciples of the founder, Shrila Prabhupada, in 1968. With their unusual haircuts, forehead markings and eastern clothing they were immediately noticed, even in swinging London. At first, not having any financial support, they lived wherever they could, going out to sing the mantra, playing their drums and cymbals as they walked through the streets of the city. The Sunday Times published an article with their photographs: "Krishna chant startles London."
Soon, they gained the interested attention of one of the Beatles, George Harrison, who had encountered the Hare Krishna devotees earlier in America. Together with John and Paul, they recorded a single of the mantra which got them onto "Top of the Pops". Funds from sales of the record, which sold 250,000 copies, plus donations from The Rolling Stones, enabled them to rent a building in Bury Place, near the British Museum, and convert it into a temple.
Shrila Prabhupada, the spiritual master, arrived in England for the first time in September 1969 and was hosted for a few weeks by John Lennon and Yoko Ono at their home near Ascot. During this time he installed the very first Radha-Krishna altar in the new London temple. George Harrison, inspired by his many meetings with Shrila Prabhupada, incorporated the teachings into his songs, titling his albums "Living in the Material World", and "All Things Must Pass".
As the small group near the British Museum grew ever larger it became obvious that a new building was required in which the burgeoning number of devotees could live. In 1973 George Harrison purchased a manor house set in 17 acres in Hertfordshire and later that year it was named 'Bhaktivedanta Manor'.
By
now many books had been published and the devotees formed enthusiastic teams to
sell them all over the British Isles. Vigorous book distribution, festivals, and
talks at universities through the 70s attracted many new members. By 1978 the
central London temple was relocated into a prestigious six-storey building just
off Oxford Street. A vegetarian restaurant, "Govinda's", was established
on the ground floor with temple, shop, offices and dormitories above.
In 1972,
more than 100,000 Hindu Indians were expelled from the former British colony of
Uganda in Africa. Holding British passports, they came and settled largely in
London. The majority of them were already followers of Krishna and when they came
to know that there were Krishna temples established in London they quickly became
visitors, then firm friends and supporters.
The movement gathered even more
members through the 80s as a mail-order warehouse and members' services department
was begun, catering to the spiritual needs of the thousands of people throughout
England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland who now claimed 'Hare Krishna' as their religion.
Centres in Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Belfast and several in the Midlands
were all begun at this time and have remained to the present.
The movement continues its vigorous outreach and has either a regular group meeting or other form of presence in more than 50 towns. There are popular restaurants in Dublin and Swansea, and a resource and study centre in Oxford.
| INTERESTING FACTS In 1973 George Harrison purchased a manor house set in 17 acres in Hertfordshire and later that year it was named 'Bhaktivedanta Manor'. By 1978 the central London temple was relocated into a prestigious six-storey building just off Oxford Street |
Copyright
© Bhaktivedanta Manor 2008
UK Headquarters of the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness
Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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