hare krishna
spiritual guidance and support for people in prison
about us
Hare Krishna Chaplaincy, part of ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness), supports people in prison who follow or wish to learn about the Hare Krishna spiritual tradition, also known as Krishna consciousness.
Through chanting, spiritual literature, devotional practices, and compassionate pastoral care, we help people explore their faith and develop their spiritual lives, whatever their circumstances.
Spiritual Literature
Making the books and teachings of Srila Prabhupada available to people in prison, including Bhagavad-gita As It Is, to help them explore Krishna consciousness and deepen their spiritual understanding.
Chanting & Daily Devotional Practice
Providing chanting beads, altar cards and other devotional paraphernalia, alongside guidance on the Hare Krishna maha mantra, to help people develop a daily spiritual practice and deepen their relationship with Krishna.
Pastoral Care
Offering spiritual guidance, correspondence and compassionate support to people in prison, while training and endorsing ISKCON chaplains to provide pastoral care. Where possible, chaplains also visit prisons to lead spiritual programmes, including chanting, kirtan and discussions on Krishna consciousness.
Books distributed
Programmes delivered
A New Chapter for Hare Krishna Chaplaincy
August 2026 marked a major milestone for the programme, when His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) formally recognised ISKCON (Hare Krishna) as a distinct faith tradition within prisons in England and Wales, separate from Hindu chaplaincy.
This recognition establishes a dedicated pathway for trained, security-cleared and formally endorsed ISKCON chaplains to serve in prisons. It responds to a growing demand from people in custody specifically seeking Hare Krishna spiritual guidance.
It also recognises important religious needs, including access to vegetarian food prepared without onion and garlic, and grain-free meals on Ekadasi fasting days.
The programme aims to make spiritual books, chanting and devotional practices more accessible to people in prison, alongside compassionate pastoral care. ISKCON can also contribute articles to prison newsletters and provide calendars of festivals and fasting days, helping people in custody learn about the Vaishnava tradition and observe these important dates.
Amala Manjari Devi Dasi has been confirmed as ISKCON’s Faith and Belief Adviser, helping to represent the tradition and develop its relationship with the prison service.
Explore our newsletter
Our newsletter shares accessible articles about Krishna consciousness written especially for people in prison who wish to learn more about the tradition.
“The means which I have adopted are spiritual, and they work quicker than any material means. If you give me a chance to speak to all the members in jail, it is quite possible for me to turn them into ideal characters.”
- Srila Prabhupada
Feedback from Our Prison Programmes
Whether you are in prison and seeking spiritual support, a member of prison staff, a family member or someone interested in supporting this work, we welcome your enquiry.
Contact us
contact@harekrishnachaplaincy.org
Getting Started in Prison
If you would like to begin practising Krishna consciousness in prison, you can write to us to request a worship pack, including spiritual books and a set of chanting beads.
Request Your Worship Pack
Please write to:
Mother Amala Manjari
Hare Krishna Chaplaincy
ISKCON London Radha-Krishna Temple
10 Soho Street
London
W1D 3DL