DESPITE the shaven heads, saffron robes and chants of Hare Rama Hare Krishna, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has long been associated with all that is westernised and elitist. Now, in its silver jubilee year, ISKCON is putting in major efforts to shake off this image and project itself as a people's movement.

To this end, the ISKCON Bangalore centre has launched a massive temple project (See Box) involving people's participation, cutting across barriers of race, caste, and social standing. On August 21, during the Krishna Janmashtami celebrations in which over 60,000 people are expected to participate, ISKCON will flag off its Sudhama Seva scheme. People, enrolling in this scheme are to put aside one rupee a day for five years. With the Seva Scheme to cover about 20,000 people, ISKCON proposes to raise about Rs 3.5 crores of the Rs 10 crore estimated for the temple construction.

"Each persons who contributes in his own small way towards the temple, will identify himself with it. This is exactly what we want as this is to be a people's temple and not just for the rich or foreigners," says Bangalore ISKCON President Madhu Pandit Dasa. "This will help explode the myth that ISKCON gets its funds through foreign grants and rich industrialists," he says.

Indeed, much of the Rs one crore already spent in constructing the basement and ground floor of the temple has been met by the business community and industrial houses like the Khodays and UB but the Sudhama Seva scheme is expected to change all that. The temple will be completed in 1995 to coincide with the centennial celebrations of its founder Acharya AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

But why spend this colossal amount on a temple in the first place? "Every person in society is under tremendous pressure today. He needs a place which can nurture his inner spiritual aspirations," says Madhu Pandit Dasa. The temple is not merely a place of worship but a centre of spiritual learning where the ancient Vedic tradition of India is preserved and propagated, says he.

The temple complex will house a centrally air-conditioned kalyana mandir for those who can afford it. Funds from this will be diverted to another marriage hall set upon a 10 acre plot nearby which will be offered to people free of cost. There will also be a free medical hospital on the premises.

ISKCON's westernised image can be attributed to the fact that its founder Srila Prabhupada propagated Krishna Consciousness in the West, travelling 14 time around the world between 1965 and 1977. The Krishna cult held a magnetic appeal to the foreigners and they enrolled in large numbers. Today, ISKCON has about 350 centres all over the world and 34 in India with millions of followers world-wide. A recent edition of Newsweek says this is one of the fastest growing religions in post Communist Russia.

ISKCON preaches the Gita philosophy, and it has held not just Westerners, but young Indians in thrall. For instance, Madhu Pandita Dasa is an M.Tech from IIT Powai and one of the architects of the temple. Gouranga Dasa is a computer professional and gave up a lucrative job with MICO to join the movement. They say the "service is Worship" theme of the movement attracted them.

It was in the Seventies that film actor/director Devanand made a film "Hare Rama Hare Krishna." Starring Zeenat Aman, the film portrayed hippies smoking pot, and chanting "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" deliriously. ISKCON authorities feel this was a great set-back to their movement and they are still trying to live it down.

"We may use cars and computers in the service of the Lord, but we lead ascetic lives. Let alone drugs we do not even take tea or coffee," says Madhu Pandit Dasa. ISKCON philosophy, he insists, is very different from, say, the Osho's philosophy, All members of ISKCON have to follow four regulatory principles-vegetarianism, no gambling; no intoxication, and no illicit sex. Infact ISKCON has been winning accolades for its de-addiction programmes for drug users all over the world, through an integrated routine of yoga, meditation and a vegetarian diet. And in Bangalore? "We have not had any such programmes, but three people have stopped using drugs after they joined the movement," says Madhu Pandit Dasa.

What is the ISKCON stand on the Varnashrama Dharma of the Gita which recognises Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vysyas and Shudras? Says Madhu Pandit Dasa, "Lord Krishna never made the classifications based on birth, only on the kind of work they did." Caste irrespective, ISKCON performs the thread ceremony and recognises as brahmins all those who follow its principles. They are trying to change the rigid caste hierarchy especially in the villages by travelling extensively, selecting spiritual leaders for their village centres from the backward and minority castes and training them. "It is an extremely difficult task, but we hope to step up our village level activities soon after we complete the temple," says Gouranga Dasa.

The Society has steered clear of involvement in the country's politics as it sees itself as a universal movement. It also wants nothing to do with the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid controversy and has gone to great lengths to dissociate itself from this, even changing the name of the Alilu (squirrel) Seva with its Ram connotations to the present Sudhama Seva.

ISKCON, with its object of reviving God consciousness in society by giving a scientific perspective to the Vedic tradition, has specific activities for school children. It holds regular music, painting and Gita recitation competitions, and preaching sessions in schools. "Children have brought in their parents to ISKCON," reveals Gouranga Dasa. He believes this will go a long way in clearing the air of negative feelings towards ISKCON.

- Sandya Karnad

THE seven acre plot atop the Hare Krishna Hill on the West of Chord road is a beehive of activity. Construction work for ISKCON's ambitious Rs. 10 crore temple project launched about eight months ago, is progressing at a brisk pace. Already the ground floor, which will house the centrally air-conditioned Vedic Samskara Hall, is nearing completion. In its final avtar, the edifice will rise about 10 storeys high in the Neo-classical style. The four planes of the gracefully sloped mirrored glass canopy has been designed to allow for free play of natural light and wedged in between, on each side, will stand a traditional gopuram.