ISKCON Temple Montreal, Canada Timings, History

ISKCON Temple Montreal, located in the heart of the city, is a vibrant and dynamic spiritual center dedicated to promoting the principles of love, devotion, and service to God. Founded by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1967, this temple has become a spiritual home for thousands of people in Montreal and beyond.

The temple is housed in a beautiful building, which was acquired by the ISKCON community in 1975. Originally serving as a Protestant Church, it has been transformed into a center for daily spiritual activities, including festivals, meditation, teachings, and complimentary dinners.

ISKCON Temple Montreal is known for its Sunday festival and feast program, which is open to the public. This program provides a unique opportunity for people to experience bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion, in the traditional Vedic way. The program starts at 5 pm and includes the traditional chanting of mantras accompanied by music (kirtan), an opulent arati ceremony, readings from the Bhagavad Gita (bilingual), and a sumptuous sanctified vegetarian feast specially prepared.

Apart from the Sunday program, the temple offers a wide range of other activities for people of all ages and backgrounds. These include daily morning and evening classes on the Bhagavad Gita and other spiritual texts, as well as kirtan and meditation sessions.

ISKCON Temple Montreal also hosts special events throughout the year, such as the annual Ratha Yatra parade, which attracts thousands of people from all over the city. During this parade, a beautifully decorated chariot carrying the deities of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra is pulled through the streets of Montreal, accompanied by kirtan and dance.

The temple has a gift shop that offers a variety of devotional items, including books, CDs, and clothing. Visitors can also participate in the temple’s volunteer program, which offers opportunities to serve the community through various activities such as cooking, cleaning, and gardening.

ISKCON Temple Montreal has a rich history, having been visited by the founder of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada, on two occasions. He stayed for an extended period of three months in 1968 and made a one-day visit in 1975.

The temple has a diverse community of members who come from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. They share a common bond in their love for God and their desire to serve Him. The temple is a welcoming and inclusive space, where people of all backgrounds can come together to explore and deepen their spirituality.

In conclusion, ISKCON Temple Montreal is a vibrant and dynamic spiritual center that offers a unique opportunity for people to experience the principles of love, devotion, and service to God. With its rich history, diverse community, and wide range of activities, it is a spiritual home for thousands of people in Montreal and beyond.

Montreal ISKCON Temple Timings:

4.00 AM to 1.00 PM and 4.15 PM to 10.00 PM

Temple Daily Program:

4:30 AM to 5:30 AM Mangala-arati (morning worship) and group prayers.
5:30 AM to 7:30 AM Individual meditation period ( Japa )
7:30 AM to 8:15 AM Prayer to the spiritual master (guru puja)
8:15 AM to 9:15 AM Class on Srimad-Bhagavatam (Encyclopedia of Bhakti)
9:30 AM Breakfast
12:00 PM to 12:30 PMBhoga-Arati (Midday worship)
4:15 PM to 4:30 PM: Sandhya-arati (Four o’clock worship)
7:00 PM to 7:30 PMGaura-Arati (Evening worship)

Sundays only: Program Gaura-Arati at 5:00 PM and Sayana-Arati at 8:00 PM.

History ISKCON Temple Montreal

In July 1966, the Hare Krishna movement (also known as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) was established in New York. The movement later found a home on the west coast of the United States in San Francisco in the summer of 1967. In late 1967, the movement’s devotees found a location to set up a center in Montreal, which became the third city outside of India to house a Krishna temple.

The founder of the movement, Srila Prabhupada, visited the Quebec metropolis twice. The first visit was in 1968, where he stayed for an extended period of three months from August to October. The second visit was a one-day visit in the summer of 1975. These were historic moments spent in the presence of one of the most significant spiritual figures of our modern era.

Below, you can find photos of those visits. The black and white photos were taken in 1968, while the colored ones were taken in 1975. Perhaps you will recognize some of our current members in these photos?

We take pride in our association with such an illustrious spiritual master, and we continue to uphold the traditions and teachings that he brought to the Western world.

Montreal ISKCON Temples Major Festivals:

Advaita Acarya’s
Varaha’s
Nityananda-Trayodasi
Bhaktisiddhanta’s
Gaura-Purnima
Rama-Navami
Nrisimha-Caturdasi
Bhaktivinoda’s
Ratha-Yatra
Balarama-Purnima
Janmastami
Prabhupada’s
Vamanadeva’
Bhaktivinoda’s
Karttika
Govardhana-Puja
Prabhupada’s
Gaura Kisora’s
Karttika
Bhaktisiddhanta’s

Every Sunday Feast

The Sunday festival and feast program, which is free of cost, commences at 5 p.m. and is open to the public. This program offers an opportunity to experience “bhakti yoga” in its authentic form, as it has been practiced for centuries, through traditional chanting of mantras accompanied by music (kirtan), an opulent arati ceremony, readings from the Bhagavad Gita (in bilingual format), and a lavish sanctified vegetarian feast specially curated for this occasion.

Canada ISKCON Address:

1626 Pie IX,
Montreal,
Quebec,
Canada – H1V 2C5
Phone: (514) 5211301, +1(514)596-