Why is the Temple in the current position, what happened to the previous location?
The current site is the original site that Srila Prabhupada chose for the temple, and it is on land owned by ISKCON.
Why has the design changed and what is the inspiration behind the new design?
The 'new' design has been developed by the design team by going back to Srila Prabhupada's original instructions on how the temple should be built, and what type of architecture it should be modelled on.
What will be the effect on Mayapur of the new temple?
The construction of the Temple of the Vedic planetarium will benefit the local economy through job creation as well as by attracting visitors from around the world who will in turn support local businesses. The new temple will serve to increase the significance of Mayapur as a holy place among the followers of Vedic culture all over the world.
How long will it take to finish?
We are planning for the superstructure and internal fittings to be complete within five years of construction starting. The completion of the external decorative work will take some years beyond that to complete.
Why a planetarium and why in Mayapur?
Srila Praphupada wanted a city where people from all over the world could come and live according to the Vedic tenets. That city is Mayapur. The Temple of the Vedic planetarium will have museums and exhibits that will teach visitors about Vedic culture and explain the science of the Vedas.
What is ISKCON?
ISKCON is the acronym for the 'International Society for Krishna Consciousness', a worldwide association of devotees who study, practice and teach the science of Krishna consciousness according to Bhagavad-Gita and other timeless Vedic scriptures. Over four decades ISKCON has grown to comprise of over 350 temples, 60 rural communities, 50 schools and 60 restaurants. Find out more about ISKCON here
How many sets of deities will be there in the Temple Of Vedic Planetarium (ToVP)?
There will be the same two main deities along with the standard disiplic succession. That is, Guruparampara, Panchatatva, and Radhamadhava in this exact sequence, as following Srila Prabhupada’s orders and desire regard this matter.
Where will the deities be?
The deities will be placed in three individual altars. The combined length of this is a total of 135 ft length (41 meters). These elegantly striking altars will be decked with blue marble and gold inlays. The attached image is a work in process, a conceptual drawing at its early stage, which will be further refined with time.
Where will Lord Nrisimhadeva be?
Lord Nrisimhadeva will have His own temple. When standing in front of the temple, while looking directly to the right, this temple is completely in vision. Even when taking it from the perspective of one standing in the middle of the temple room, Lord Nrisimhadeva's temple is fully visible. This is in allowance of the TOVP being built in a very open fashion, where there is easy access from one room to another.