Devotees in Singapore have been visiting local prisons for the past 20 years, bringing inmates meaningful connections with the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. Approximately 10 members regularly attend this weekly service. They aim to share the spiritual teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, boost the morale of the inmates, build good character values and provide spiritual solace to the inmates. The believers are warmly welcomed by prison leaders and staff. Below, devotees share some of their experiences with prisoners and the impact of Krishna consciousness on their lives. This service is led by Chandrashekhara Acharya Das and her son Gopalak Krishna Das.
Sessions are held on weekend mornings and begin with Hare Krishna Kirtan, followed by Nursingha prayers. Usually, a dedicated counselor asks one of the inmates to lead a Nursimha prayer song, and is often greeted with enthusiasm. After this, a dedicated counselor speaks based on passages from the Bhagavad Gita, sometimes as a multimedia presentation with slides and video clips. They often use scriptural entertainment and parables to elaborate on scripture, focusing on character development and values. This is followed by one round of Maha Mantra chanting. Since inmates are not allowed to hold Japa beads, a counselor demonstrates how to count Japa chants using his fingers. Through the efforts of devotees, sponsored copies of the Bhagavad Gita and other books are provided to Hindu prisoners. These are their personal copies and can be read while in their cell.
Reactions from inmates have been positive and, at times, quite inspiring. Many inmates chant and read books regularly. Some prisoners specifically request a vegetarian diet to help them comply with the four regulatory principles. They also expressed their gratitude for the personal copies of the Bhagavad Gita they received from devotees. Prisoners worked to repair broken relationships with their families and loved ones, and positive changes were seen in prisoners’ families. Some former prisoners have joined our regular program and come to the temple regularly.
Below, devotees share some of their experiences with four prisoners and the impact of Krishna consciousness on their lives. Note: All names have been changed to protect identities.
inmate story
Inmates are encouraged to write letters to their counselors during the annual Volunteer Appreciation Day. Believers have received many such letters over the years. Believers in this service also share their experiences. Below are some stories shared by worshipers and the prisoners themselves.
give hope
One of the inmates, Jeya, wrote that it meant a lot to him that we asked them to chant the sloka. He said he was ostracized by his family as a sinner because of his violation of the law. They deliberately excluded him from family prayers for his deceased grandparents, with whom he was very close. In fact, his presence during the prayers was considered ominous, so much so that he was asked to leave the place before the prayers began. When we encouraged him to chant the slokas of the Bhagavad Gita during our sessions, he was hesitant at first because he believed that he was not pure enough to chant. But after many sessions and encouragement from his counselors, he was able to find the courage to chant. I must add that Jeya has a sweet voice and he can sing slokas very well. This gave Jeya a sense of acceptance that she was not in a hopeless situation. If he has hope that his chanting of these slokas will be accepted, he also has hope that his efforts to change his lifestyle will be accepted by society.
Chanting helps keep a calm head
Another inmate, Arunasalam, had a short temper by nature, which, combined with a bad relationship, led him to a career in crime. He was incarcerated and attended a prison counseling program. He noticed that lay counselors were unperturbed when the group became loud and careless. One day he approached the believer and asked him if he had ever been angry. The devotee replied that yes, he would get angry, but then he would sing the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra silently. Therefore, if you think calmly, it will become clear what to do next. Arunasalam pondered this point and also noticed that whenever the room became a bit noisy, the devotees always took out the karatar and chanted it. He decided to adopt this practice and began chanting regularly. And gradually he realized that it was helping him – he became a calmer person! Because of this, he experienced concrete ways to improve himself and move away from his crimes, which prompted him to continue the process after his release. Arunasalam still maintains contact with his followers.
Moving from the “family” home
Like many inmates, Selvam had a broken family and soon fell into the wrong circles, which led him to a life of crime. During a counseling session in one prison, he told a follower that the prison was his family’s home – his father had spent most of his life in prison until his death. . His mother was currently in prison, along with his sister, uncle, and cousins. He also added that his own life path has already been chosen and is a life of crime and prison. The devotee asked him to consider leaving his parents’ home and living in another apartment. The devotee further added that Lord Krishna is our Supreme Father and all he has to do is seek help from Him. When we sincerely strive to change for the better, it will attract Lord Krishna to help us. Selvam just smiled. Over the next few months, he continued to attend sessions and listen to the program, but he did not fully participate. Selvam did not communicate with his followers after his release. A few years later, the devotee met Selvam. Selvam worked as a supervisor at a home improvement company. In fact, the believer saw him working at his friend’s neighbor’s house. Selvam was close to tears seeing the devotee and he remembered the conversation he had earlier. He said he had moved from this “family home” and that many coincidences had come his way. He said he believed the coincidence was the result of the Lord watching over him. He expressed his gratitude to the devotees for the counseling program and said how the messages from the Bhagavad Gita and chants brought about changes in his mind and life.
second chance
Then there is the amazing story of Shivaraj, who walked towards the gallows with a smile on his face. Shivaraj was a hardworking man who cherished his family. He provided a nice home to live in and devoted his time and money to the education of his children. Unbeknownst to his family and friends, Shivaraj frequently crossed the Singapore-Malaysia border on dangerous missions to smuggle heroin into Singapore. He understood the gravity of his act and one day decided that this would be his last trip. Unfortunately, he was caught on that trip and sentenced to death under Singapore’s extremely strict drug laws.
Initially, Shivaraj was inconsolable and unable to accept his situation. Fortunately, his childhood friend was a believer in his ISKCON. He visited Shivaraj and handed him a book called ‘The Science of Self-Realization’. After a few weeks, the devotee was surprised to see that Shivaraj had changed. He was like a child full of curiosity, and during the many visits his followers made to see him, he asked many spiritual questions. Next, he was given the Bhagavad Gita and a “second chance”, which he accepted with great joy.
The fateful day came when Shivaraj was to be hanged. Prison wardens later described how calm Shivaraj appeared as he bravely walked towards the gallows. Prisoners usually scream, cry, and try to resist before being hanged. Prison wardens said he told them he was a soul, not a body, and that he chanted the Maha Mantra repeatedly until his last moments.
Believers were reminded of the following scripture: “Whatever state one remembers when he leaves the body, O son of Kunti, that state will surely be attained” (BG 8.6).
Looking back at the end
The stories of Shivaraj, Selvam, Arunasalam and Jeya are just a few of the many stories that dedicated counselors witness in the course of their service. Believers participating in prison counseling services are addressing fundamental social issues. By changing an inmate’s mindset, they can truly change their behavior and actions, allowing them to contribute positively to society.
Photo by Jimmy Chan.