Sri Krishna Mandir (Hare Krishna Movement, Geylang)
Geylang, Singapore, Singapore
- Deities
- Radha Krishna
- Traditions
- vaishnava
- Worship status
- active
- Darshan hours
- Varies by temple and season; consult the temple directly for the current daily schedule before visiting.
- Best time to visit
- Janmashtami is the community's largest annual observance.
- How to reach
- In the Geylang area of Singapore, reachable by MRT and road within the city.
- Festivals
- Janmashtami (August/September)
- Associated saints
- A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Location
Search for "Sri Krishna Mandir (Hare Krishna Movement, Geylang)" on Google MapsThis temple's exact coordinates aren't confirmed yet, so the link above searches by name and city rather than pointing to a verified spot.
Singapore has a distinctive relationship with the Hare Krishna movement compared to most countries in this directory: the Singapore government banned the International Society for Krishna Consciousness by name in the 1970s, barring foreign ISKCON monks (and Founder-Acharya A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada himself) from entering the country and refusing the society’s attempts to register under the ISKCON name. Rather than disappearing, the local Gaudiya Vaishnava community adapted by registering under different names, continuing devotional practice at what is known today as the Sri Krishna Mandir in Geylang, alongside a related congregation, the Gita Reading Society, meeting at the Gauranga Centre in Serangoon.
Sources consulted differ on whether Singapore’s formal ban on ISKCON specifically remains in force today or has effectively lapsed in practice, but they agree that an active Hare Krishna congregation continues to worship, chant, and mark festivals such as Janmashtami at the Geylang temple. This entry documents that congregation, understood as part of the same Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition founded by Prabhupada even though it does not operate under the ISKCON name itself.
Sources
- historical record: Cross-checked against Wikipedia's Freedom of religion in Singapore and Religion in Singapore articles during this research pass: both confirm that ISKCON was banned by the Singapore government in the 1970s (foreign ISKCON monks and Founder-Acharya Prabhupada barred from entry; attempts to register the society under the ISKCON name refused), and that Hare Krishna devotees continue Gaudiya Vaishnava practice today registered under other names, specifically the Sri Krishna Mandir in Geylang and the Gita Reading Society at the Gauranga Centre in Serangoon. The two articles differ on current characterization: 'Freedom of religion in Singapore' states ISKCON activities are 'now permitted' and the movement 'operates within the legal framework,' while 'Religion in Singapore' states the ISKCON ban 'remains banned today' — this entry treats the underlying, corroborated fact (an active Hare Krishna congregation at Sri Krishna Mandir, Geylang, not registered under the ISKCON name) as the reliable takeaway rather than resolving that discrepancy.
For review
- ISKCON's legal status in Singapore is unusual and disputed between sources: banned as a named organization in the 1970s, with conflicting Wikipedia characterizations of whether that ban is still formally in force today. In practice, Gaudiya Vaishnava ('Hare Krishna') worship continues at the Sri Krishna Mandir in Geylang, registered under a name other than ISKCON. Treat the ISKCON association in this entry as descriptive of shared tradition/lineage, not current formal corporate registration.
- Exact founding/establishment year of the Sri Krishna Mandir, Geylang could not be confirmed via the sources checked in this session.