I spent months volunteering with a Hare Krishna Workaway in London. I want to share this story with you as not many people get the chance to participate in such worshiping services. There is a large presence of Hare Krishna in London. Especially when it’s outside of your religious views. It’s not something people think much about. When I was asked to attend the Morning Program at Hare Krishna Temple Soho, I knew I couldn’t miss this chance. Hopefully, this provides some colourful insight and inspires you to get out there and participate in events you normally wouldn’t!
This opportunity arose when I was volunteering at Food For All in London, which you can also read about here.
3:30am calls
A few years ago, I never have guessed that I would be back in London. Volunteering the help feed the homeless whilst staying in the back of a car park… or that I would get up at 3:30am to participate in five hours of a Hare Krishna Morning Program. Yet here I was, hurriedly walking along the quiet streets of Holborn. I was with a couple of my fellow volunteers and friends, Black Cat and Joaquin, from Food For All; we didn’t want to be late and be the last ones entering the temple. How embarrassing that would be!
Arriving at the temple
We made it to the Temple in Soho just in time and far warmer than we should have been. I was the newbie so I was unsure of what to expect. Black Cat guides us in and we shed our coats and shoes, my bare feet welcoming the cool soothing tiles. The temple room is upstairs. When I walk in I have to drop to my knees in a quick prayer to the Lord. Some chose to lay flat-out on the floor, but I folded over like the child’s pose in yoga. Wearing tight high-waisted jeans may not have been the smartest option for me today, but I am covered up. I knew I had been eating way too many pastries lately.
Not being a religious person things like that escape my mind sometimes. If I’m going to take part in a religious ceremony I want to be as respectful and involved as possible. I scamper to my feet and wait for the ceremony to start. My friend walks over to the other side of the room to be with the men; men and women are constantly on either side of the Temple to each other. Huddled close to Black Cat, I try to relax and take in my surroundings.
The temple room is rectangular. At one end of the room sit the deities on an altar. On the other, a statue of the founder sitting cross-legged at the opposite end. His name is Archarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Walls are adorned with beautifully striking artwork centered around Hare Krishna. I won’t be able to accurately describe what happened in this ceremony but I will try my best!
First is Mangala arati
At 4:30am we begin with the Mangala Arati. This is essentially a reception/ceremony where the deities are welcomed. A conch is blown three times and everyone falls silent at first as the curtains open to reveal the deities.
I’m standing at the back of the room at this point as the music starts. I’m given a sheet of laminated paper with the song lyrics so I can follow along. It’s written (and sung) in Sanskrit so I lost my way pretty quickly!
The priest at the front sings two lines and we copy, with him methodically banging a drum and swaying. The look on my face must have been apparent as Black Cat helped me get back on track chanting, thankfully. Several others have small instruments and the song starts slow and graceful, with everyone rhythmically swaying and singing. I’ve half buried my face behind my colourful song sheet and concentrated, letting myself be surrounded by the calming atmosphere.
That is, until the beat picks up pace and my eyes dart up to look at what is going on in front of me. Things have certainly changed as the chanting quickened and got louder. Some of the priests have started to jump up and down in exaltation. The music escalates as the beating of the drums becomes louder and I find myself unable to keep a smile spreading across my face.
“Wow,”, I think to myself, “Let’s get this party started!” You wouldn’t think that it wasn’t even 5am yet!
It's a rich sensory experience
I sway deeper into the music and let myself be carried away with it. I didn’t even feel uncomfortable as everyone else was way more into it than I was. This was fun!
A woman at the side of the stage continues the ceremony. She has woken up the deities who appear still in their pyjamas. Now she entices them with water and sweet Indian treats for breakfast. Incense is wafted to please them with a nice smell – this is all about the senses, as they have them and so do we, and this theme is followed throughout the Mangala Arati.
Kafta is spread on a ghee wick in a lamp as a celebration of light which illuminates their body. This would have had more significance before electricity as it was the only means by which to see the Lord. It also signifies the illumination of consciousness. There is a diya lamp used as an offering, as they are made of ghee and cows are sacred. Argu is offered next which is water, and a cloth. This signifies something nice and new to give as a gift to a guest. There are flowers which are offered as something nice to smell for the Lord’s pleasure. These are laid at his lotus fleet, as he treasures these above gold and jewellery. A fan provides a nice breeze and a chamara to gently blow away any dust or dirt.
A lot seems to be happening
Whilst we are still singing and dancing some of these things are then passed around from person to person in the temple; we smell the flowers, have some water dripped on our heads, and waft the smoke over our faces to cleanse us. This is the most upbeat and fun part of the morning! The ceremony is finished with blowing the conch three times again and the curtains are closed.
Secondly, Tulasi arati
At 5am begins the Tulasi Arati where we dance in a circle around a small tree elevated on a stall. There is a male and female circle, of course, and whenever I catch Joaquin’s eye as we pass each other we can’t help but smile. It’s difficult not to be happy in a place like this. This tree signifies Srimati Tulasi-Devi who was a pure devotee of Krishna. I’m starting to get the hang of things now so I fall into line and slowly dance around the circle, listening to the chanting and trying to do everything correctly.
The chants have calmed down a little but they are still beautiful and some of the attendees gracefully spin around as they sing. Everyone gradually takes it in turns to pour small drops of water at the root of the tree. This circulation is to dissolve you of your sins with every step you take. Tulasi Arati continues for 30 minutes until 5:30am, and after that, there is a break until 7am.
Thirdly, meditation
The music dies down and suddenly I’m at a loss of what to do as everyone goes on about their own business. Some people use this time for meditating, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, doing chores, etc. Joaquin disappears upstairs with the men and Black Cat is talking to a priest so I’m left to my own devices, but thankfully a lovely lady named Rebecca saved me. She gave me my own Japa prayer beads and showed me how to use them.
I settle myself down on the marble floor of the temple with my cushions, cross my legs (and fingers), and begin to meditate. Each verse of the mantra is one bead and you work your way along each bead, going round and round for as long as you can. Sounds easy, if you’re not tired and struggling to keep awake like I was! Not quite used to waking up at 3:30am just yet. To spare myself the embarrassment of falling asleep I divided up my time between chanting, my mindfulness meditation, and reading their holy book, the Bhagavad Gita.
The temple is peaceful as there are only three other ladies in here with me. The still air is filled with their hushed voices as they quietly chant. This is their private time.
Fourthly, Shringar arati
7am comes around quicker than I expected and the room begins to become more lively again as more people enter and ready themselves for Shringar Arati. This is a ten-minute ceremony and is dedicated to Lord Narasimha, the half-man half-lion avatar of Krishna who protects against evil. The story behind this avatar is really interesting and gory but is quite lengthy so I won’t talk about it here, but it is a good read. There are more songs and chants for this too, like with every Arati.
Fifthly, guru puja
At 7:10am begins the Guru Puja which is an offering to the founder of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). The altar is opened again at 7am too but for the most part, we are turned towards the Guru. This time a female priest sings the chants and we follow. The mantra of Hare Krishna is also sung a lot during the ceremonies and these are usually the points that I join in because at least I know these words! Otherwise, I’m happy just to sway and take in my surroundings as I try to understand everything.
We give offerings again of much the same things as at the beginning with the Mangala Arati – someone comes around and offers flowers to smell, water is dripped onto the head, and a ghee lamp to carry the smoke over our head. You can also place some flowers at the Guru’s feet as an individual offering to him. The offering is all about purifying the consciousness. Everything we do has a meaning and is important, which I think is quite a nice sentiment to take away with you into your everyday life too.
And lastly, class
From 7:30am it is time for class so everything is put away and we settle down cross-legged on cushions ready to pay attention… sitting cross-legged for one hour is not easy! Of course, I’m the one that’s fidgeting the whole time. The lessons focus on different chapters of the holy book. In all honesty, I can’t remember which chapters we looked at that day but it was focused on the mind. We would read through the Sanskrit paragraph and repeat it after the teacher, analysing the translation and going through the meaning behind it.
It was so interesting to look at things from another perspective, and what made it even more exciting was that breakfast was to be served after this!
During class at 8am the curtains opened again for the Dhoopa Arati, which is another worship ceremony of the deities. 8:30am came around and it’s time for brekkie! It’s Indian-inspired and I opt for a little bit of everything, naturally. I’ve worked hard this morning and it works up an appetite. After breakfast, we help to wash and clean everything, and I find an opportunity to speak to a couple of people. Everyone is genuinely so kind and welcoming, and it’s fascinating to talk to people who live such a different life and have different beliefs than me. The aspiring devotees are so fully engrossed and, well, devoted, to this life. You can’t do it in half measures.
What I learned from this experience
When everything was finished we slowly walked back to Krishna Castle, feeling uplifted and happy but seemingly unable to move our feet very fast at all. There is still work to be done when we get back at 10am and we get to it straight away. I’m partly worried that if I stop moving I’m just going to fall asleep where I stand!
I am becoming more and more interested in doing new things and saying “yes” when people invite me to try new experiences. I would rather try something and not enjoy it than forever wonder and miss out. “FOMO” is a real thing! Whatever happens, at least it’s a story to tell.
Fortunately, this was a very positive experience. To be able to become involved in something so different from what I believe in yet feel so comfortable with it is an amazing thing. Hare Krishna is a happy community as you celebrate their deities. It’s not about fear but love, it’s about spirituality trying to be the best person you can, and helping others. There is something beautifully fun and colorful about it.
The Morning Program at Hare Krishna Temple was a fun and informative experience, they welcomed and looked after me and if I ever find myself back there I’ll be able to join in even more next time!
Get out there and explore the world around you, immerse yourself in different religions and cultures, I guarantee you will learn a thing or two! At the very least you can dance like nobody is watching.
