ISKCON Temple of Greater Chicago - Naperville, IL

The ISKCON Temple of Greater Chicago in Naperville, also known as Radha Shyamasundara Temple, is a newly inaugurated spiritual and cultural hub serving the Chicagoland community. It provides a peaceful and vibrant environment for worship, meditation, and spiritual growth, embodying the principles of bhakti yoga taught by its founder, Srila Prabhupada. The temple is dedicated to fostering spiritual enrichment and promoting the universal message of devotion to Lord Krishna.

Key features

Diverse deities and shrines: The temple features a handcrafted altar with deities of Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara and Lord Caitanya. It is common for ISKCON centers to feature other deities, such as Lord Jagannath, Balaram, and Subhadra, based on their traditions.

Cultural and community center: The new 25,000-square-foot facility includes a community hall, classrooms, and a bhakti yoga lounge. It is a central point for the local community, bringing people together for spiritual and social gatherings.

Major festival celebrations: The temple hosts vibrant and authentic celebrations for major Hindu festivals like Janmashtami and Navratri.

Regular spiritual services: The temple offers daily worship and provides a peaceful atmosphere for devotees to engage in spiritual reflection and upliftment through hours of kirtan and chanting. The priests are trained in Vedic rites and can explain the meaning behind the rituals.

Community meals (Prasadam): Free vegetarian meals are served to all visitors, including the weekly "Sunday Love Feast," which is open to the general public.

Religious education: The temple provides free educational classes for all ages, including Sunday school for children, reading groups for spiritual study, and summer camps.

Life-cycle ceremonies: The temple offers various Vedic samskara (purifying ceremonies) for different stages of life, including weddings, engagement ceremonies, and memorial services.

Welcoming and inclusive environment: The temple extends a warm welcome to people from all backgrounds and faiths, offering a peaceful atmosphere for personal reflection.

Accessible facilities: With a spacious campus and a new facility, the temple offers wheelchair-accessible entrances, restrooms, and parking.

Outreach activities: The temple organizes various outreach activities, including harinam sankirtan (street chanting) and book distribution.

Volunteer-driven foundation: The mandir is built on the selfless efforts of dedicated volunteers (seva) who contribute their time and skills to serve the community and temple operations.