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Nombre de Usuario: Archive
Mensaje Número: 54
Registrado: 01-2003
| | Enviado Martes, 28 de Enero de 2003 - 09:06 pm: |  |
2002/11/21
Dear Maharajas, Devotees and Matajis:
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All Glory to Srila Prabhupada.
ISKCON Chennai shifted from its rented premises in T.Nagar to its own 6.5 acre land in Injambakkam, Off East Coast Road, a kilometer from VGP Golden Beach, on the 29th September 2002 in the morning hours.
More than five hundred devotees assembled at T.Nagar to participate in the last worship to be conducted there for the deities of ISKCON - Their Lordships Sri Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama, Sri Sri Jagannath Baladev Subhadra, Sri Sri Gour Nitai and Sri Sri Lakshmi Nrsimhadev.
At 8 am, Sri C. Ponnaiyan, Minister for Finance, Government of Tamil Nadu, visited the temple and spoke a few words complimenting ISKCON for propagating spiritual culture and positive vibrations that can destroy the negative emotions in people such as greed and jealousy. His remark, "My family deity is Lord Krishna and the family deity of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Dr. Selvi J. Jayalalithaa is also Lord Krishna" met with a loud applause from the assembled devotees. Sri Ponnaiyan went on to say, "On behalf of the government of Tamil Nadu, I assure that we will give all support for the construction of a gorgeous temple for Lord Krishna in Chennai".
The temple authorities thanked Sri Ponnaiyan for visiting the center and for his promise of support and presented him with a big laminated picture of Lord Krishna, a garland that had been offered to Lord Krishna and Krishna prasadam.
Sri Ponnaiyan waited as the deities were placed in cars that were decorated with flowers and garlands and then got into his own car leaving information that he would visit Injambakkam later the same day.
As the vehicles holding the deities of Lord Krishna moved, over fifty cars, vans and bikes preceded and followed them making a grand royal pageant. The traffic police at Venkatnarayana Road signal gave special permission for the vehicles to take a direct right turn which is normally not allowed.
The pageant arrived at about 9 am at the ISKCON Road in Injambakkam, Off East Coast Road, which is about a kilometer from VGP Golden Beach. A white board with clear writing said - 'ISKCON - Hare Krishna Land' with an arrow pointing into the road.
As the deities continued in Their vehicles slowly, the devotees walked on singing Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare congregationally.
At the Hare Krishna Land, a 5000 sq. feet one storey building stood neatly painted in rose colour. Built strictly according to vastu, the kitchen, offices and ashram have their places in the ground floor. On the first floor is a long hall for devotees to congregate. On one end on a pure marble floor stands three altars with the deities. On the other far end, on a grand mandapam made of teak wood sits a life-like and life-size murti of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON.
Sri C. Ponnaiyan, Minister of State for Finance, Government of Tamil Nadu joined the devotees again and waited till the deities gave darshan after the bhoga offering. He watched the arati that was offered to Them by ISKCON Chennai president His Holiness Bhanu Swami and accepted the blessings and prasadam of Lord Krishna before leaving.
Sri C. Ponnaiyan was very much impressed and inspired by the grandeur of the deities and the devotion in the kirtan of the devotees and volunteered to help the movement in all possible ways.
His Holiness Bhanu Swami gave a Srimad Bhagavatam discourse explaining how life is full of insecurities from the very beginning of life in the mother's womb and how therefore it was important to follow the eternal path of Krishna bhakti.
Full lunch prasadam was served to over one thousand devotees who were present at Hare Krishna land in Injambakkam.
Now, almost a month since we moved in, we are happy to note that many people are driving in to see the temple. Several of them are voluntarily giving donations. All this is due to the glory of Srila Prabhupada and his dedicated followers. We are all happy to be a part of his eternal plans for preaching Krishna consciousness.
We will be grateful if our international family can also help us by giving us donations for our project so that we can finish the temple quickly and attract more people. We will also appreciate any suggestions and advice that you can give so that we build not only a "gorgeous" temple as Srila Prabhupada wanted. Thank you very much for all your blessings and prayers.
Hare Krishna.
Our new phone numbers at Injambakkam - 501 9147 / 501 9303.
Mobile:98400-85099.
Address: ISKCON, Bhaktivedanta Swami Road (Off East Coast Road, Opposite
Coastal Kitchen), Hare Krishna Land, Injambakkam, Chennai-41.
E-mail: iskconchennai@eth.net
Website: www.iskcon.net/chennai |
