The Hare Krishna movement of spiritual awareness (ISKCON) is widely active in Hungary and their 660 acre (268 hectare) estate called Krishna Valley in Somogyvámos stands out as the centre of their Hungarian operations and is highly recommendable for a day trip (120 miles or 193 km from the property). Krishna Valley offers Hinduist Vaisnava religion, tourism and organic farming with around 25-30 thousand visitors annually, glimpsing into the daily life of the residents (Krishna devotees). For a small entrance fee, individuals and groups are welcome to take a tour around the organic garden, the cowshed, the apiary, the gift shop and may also enjoy a healthy and cheap freshly cooked meal in the vegetarian restaurant.
If you won’t or can’t travel to Somogyvámos, alternatively, it’s easier to visit the Govinda Cultural Centre and Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant in Debrecen (45 miles or 72 km from the property).
The ‘Founder Acarya’ of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness was Srila Prabhupada (1896 – 1977) who listed seven “purposes” for ISKCON in 1966:
1. To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and piece in the world.
2. To propagate a consciousness of Krishna (God), as it is revealed in the great scriptures of India, Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
3. To bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna, the prime entity, thus developing the idea within the members and humanity at large, that each soul is part and parcel of the quality of Godhead (Krishna).
4. To teach and encourage the sankirtana movement (congregational chanting of the holy name of God), as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
5. To erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes dedicated to the personality of Krishna.
6. To bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life.
7. With a view towards achieving the aforementioned purposes, to publish and distribute periodicals, magazines, books, and other writings.
As ISKCON expanded, Srila Prabhupada often spoke of his desire to establish places of pilgrimage on every continent. New Vraja-dhama (Krishna Valley in Somogyváros) contributes to the achievement of his goals.
secondhomehungary 