“This is Krishna conscious vision: ‘Oh, there are so many skyscrapers. Why not construct a nice skyscraper temple of Krishna?’ This is Krishna consciousness.”
– Srila Prabhupada
As long as I can remember, I have taken and interest in Architecture. Perhaps this was because I grew up in the city of Chicago, where the skyline was an ever changing array of looming Skyscrapers. I studied Architectural drafting & design in college, and for some time, thought that was my calling. Although I never became an Architect, I did in fact become a builder/carpenter/woodworker and my interest in Buildings, especially large monumental construction projects has always remained. Two project I have been keeping my eye on, are the two large temple projects being undertaken by devotees in India. Namely the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, and the Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir. Today we are posting some images and information on both projects with some links for you to follow for more information.
Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir
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Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir
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Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir
In pursuance of Srila Prabhupada’s desire, devotees of ISKCON Bangalore conceptualized and initiated the iconic project of Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir. This project is driven by the ardent desire and combined energy of every devotee of Lord Sri Krishna, from all over the world, to build a glorious temple in Vrindavan that will highlight the importance of Vrindavan, the holy land of Sri Krishna, and His immortal message to the world.
It was the desire of Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, that the glories of Sri Krishna and Sri Vrindavan Dhama shall be spread all over the world through which people irrespective of caste, creed, colour, nationality or gender, can find everlasting happiness through Krishna consciousness and get rid of the sufferings of material existence.Aside its architectural marvel which is a fusion of modern and traditional Indian temple architecture Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir will be a centre of spirituality, heritage, culture and knowledge. It will not only house a temple for the worship of Lord Sri Krishna, but will also become a platform for disseminating the profound message of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, delivered in a modern context.
We believe India truly has immense talent and brilliance to contribute for the global good, provided we build our character on the basis of the ancient wisdom that we have inherited. Srimad Bhagavatam describes the four pillars of spirituality – truthfulness, compassion, austerity and purity. No civilized society can exist or function outside the framework of these values.
Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir aspires to provide the impetus for and facilitate this transformation of the society, Chandrodaya Mandir aspires to provide the impetus for and facilitate this transformation of the society, to make Indians responsible global leaders who are guided by a spiritual worldview and imbued with sublime values.Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir endeavours to bring about an awakening among Indians and create a nation that is not only full of talent, creativity and energy but also adorned with exalted values and character.
Srila Prabhupada said we must try to give human society the opportunity for a life of happiness, good health, peace of mind and all good qualities through God consciousness.With the aim to proclaim the status of Vrindavan as one of India’s spiritual capitals and also carve a niche for India in the spiritual map of the world the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir is being created with these salient features:
• It will be a grand skyscraper temple with a height of 700 feet (210 metres), one of the tallest and largest religious structures in India with a footprint of 5 acres
• A look-alike of the verdant forests of Vrindavan will be recreated around this magnificent temple with varieties of lush vegetation, green pastures, elegant vistas of fruit bearing trees, flower laden creepers serenaded by bird songs, clear water lakes with lotuses and lilies and waterfalls that tumble from small artificial hillocks – all recreated from descriptions in the Srimad Bhagavatam and other source books of Lord Sri Krishna – to transport the visitors to Krishna’s times in Vrindavan
• While the Yamuna creek provides a boating opportunity for the visitors and the Krishna Lila attractions in the forest provide an entertaining experience for all the family
members, the Bhagavad Gita Expo will ignite the minds and invigorate the intellect with the stupendous wisdom given by Lord Sri Krishna that forms the bedrock of culture and philosophy of life in India
• From the ground level, a capsule elevator will rise up through the temple core, taking visitors through different planetary systems in the universe as described in the Vedic literatures, through an immersive sound, light and diorama show. The capsule elevator will finally reach the visitors to the Viewing Gallery at 700 feet for a breathtaking panoramic view of Braj Mandal
• The Krishna Heritage Museum will showcase the rich heritage and artistic celebration of Lord Sri Krishna in diverse cultures of India, practiced and perfected over thousands of years
• The temple is planned to be an effervescent platform and vibrant with cultural, spiritual and social services throughout the year
• Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir will be actively involved in social, environmental and cultural services like welfare programmes for the widows of Vrindavan, restoration, up-gradation and rejuvenation of the important sites of Braj where Lord Sri Krishna performed His pastimes, restoration of River Yamuna to her original and pristine glory, zero waste initiative, establishment of Cultural Centres, distribution of free sanctified food, conducting various training and educative programmes, supporting organic farming, handicrafts, cottage industries, providing training and employment opportunities to economically weaker sections of the society and establishing market for their products
Text Pasted from: vcr.org
Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir
Founders Vision
Srila Prabhupada was a true visionary. He always had very big ideas for the spreading of Krishna consciousness and the ideal Vedic culture.
One of Srila Prabhupada’s many gifts to his followers, and the entire world, was his detailed vision for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Srila Prabhupada had a clear vision for the temple, and he expressed it on many occasions. He wanted a unique Vedic Planetarium to present the Vedic perspective of life, including a gigantic display of the material and spiritual worlds, which could be viewed by pilgrims on different levels as they traveled through the Planetarium.
Now here in India we are constructing a very large Vedic Planetarium…within the planetarium we will construct a huge, detailed model of the universe as described in the text of the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. Within the planetarium the model will be studied by onlookers from different levels by use of escalators. Detailed information will be given on open verandahs at the different levels by means of dioramas, charts, films etc.
As in everything he did, Srila Prabhupada was acting in fulfillment of the desires of the previous Acharyas, or spiritual preceptors. A grand temple for Mayapur was predicted by none other than Lord Nityananda, the most intimate associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, some five hundred years ago.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, the father of the modern day Krishna Consciousness movement, narrates a description of the future development of Mayapur given by Sri Nityananda Prabhu to Srila Jiva Goswami:
When our Lord Caitanya disappears, by His desire, the Ganges will swell. The Ganges water will almost cover Mayapur for a hundred years, and then the water will again recede. For some time only the place will remain, devoid of houses. Then again, by the Lord’s desire, this place will again be manifest, and the devotees will build temples of the Lord. One exceedingly wonderful temple (adbhuta-mandira) will appear from which Gauranga’s eternal service will be preached everywhere.
In July of 1976 Srila Prabhupada expressed his preference for the outer design of the temple. While visiting Washington, he instructed Yadubara Prabhu and Vishakha Mataji to take photos of the Capitol building. When they inquired why, he replied:
“I wanted both of you to take various detailed photographs of that Capitol.”
“The Capitol Building.” Yadubara nodded. “For what purpose, Srila Prabhupada?”
“We shall have a planetarium in Mayapur,” Prabhupada told him. “To show spiritual world, material world, and so on succession of the planetary systems, everything. A building like that. We are acquiring three hundred and fifty acres of land for constructing a small township to attract people from all the world to see the planetarium. … You take all details, inside, outside. That will be nice.”
Later the same month he met George Harrison in London and happily informed him:
“We are just attempting a big planetarium in Mayapur. We have asked government to acquire land, three hundred and fifty acres. That is negotiation going on. We shall give a Vedic planetarium…the construction will be like your Washington capital, like that.”
“A big dome?” George asked.
“Yes.”
It was also during this last visit to America that Prabhupada asked Ambarish Prabhu to provide the funds for the new Mayapur temple:
“Now you all together make this Vedic Planetarium very nice, so that people will come and see. From the description of the Srimad-Bhagavatam you prepare this Vedic Planetarium.” He turned to Ambarisha prabhu. “How do you like this idea, Vedic Planetarium?”
“It seems like a very nice idea.”
Prabhupada laughed. “You also like? So finance this project, Vedic Planetarium.”
“Where will this be?” Ambarisha asked him.
“Mayapur. My idea is to attract people of the whole world to Mayapur.”
Srila Prabhupada said that the secret of success in spiritual life is to manifest the desires of the previous Acharyas. Therefore our mission is to please Srila Prabhupada and the previous Acharyas by manifesting this temple in a way that most closely follows the instructions and vision of Srila Prabhupada.
We invite you to join us on this journey of fulfilling the vision of that great visionary, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada – the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Text pasted from: tovp.org
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