Quotes about TOVP

I have named this temple Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, the Rising Moon of Mayapur. Now make it rise, bigger and bigger until it becomes the full moon. And this moonshine will be spread all over the world. All over India they will come to see. From all over the world they will come.

Letter to Ramesvara - October 25, 1974

In 1971, as a young devotee in Calcutta, Giriraja Swami approached Srila Prabhupada, “I have been trying to understand what your desire is, and two things seem to please you the most: distributing your books and building the big temple in Mayapur.” Prabhupada's face lit up, his eyes opened wide, and he smiled, saying: “Yes, you have understood... If you all build this temple, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur will personally come and take you all back to Godhead.”

Srila Prabhupada to Giriraja Swami

Prabhupada: Yes. So we... We are... We have got very good scheme so that people from the world will come to see the Vedic idea of planetary system. This is the ambition. So you kindly help us.

Conversation with Vedic Astronomer, April 30, 1977

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He appeared in this land of Mayapur; therefore He is said here as "the moon." Therefore we say candra, Mayapur-candra. Now, as Sri Mayapur-candra is rising... Rising. Rising means He is to distribute the moonshine all over the world. This is the idea, moonshine. Sreyah-kairava candrika-vitaranam. Sreyah-kairava. Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally said. Don't keep Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu compact in your room and take some monetary profit. This is not required. This is not required. You must allow Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to rise more and more so that this sun, moonshine, may be distributed all over the world. That is wanted. Therefore, this temple is situated. Of course, we shall try to construct a very nice temple for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This morning we were thinking of this. So, from this place, this moon, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, will distribute. Sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam. The Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Hare Krsna movement... Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. This is spoken by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.

Morning Class - CC Adi 1.6, March 30, 1975, Mayapur

Sources (of funds) means we get contributions from all over the world. All of our branches will gladly contribute. Practically this institution is the real U.N. We have the co-operation from all nations, all religions, all communities, etc. It will be an international institute. To see the planetarium and how things are universally situated has nothing to do with sectarian ideas. It is a scientific presentation of spiritual life.

Letter to Jayapataka, June 26, 1976

We are going to exhibit the Vedic culture throughout the whole world, and they'll come here. Just like they come to see the Taj Mahal, the architectural culture, they'll come to see the civilization culture, the philosophical culture, the religious culture by practical demonstration with dolls and other things... Actually it will be a unique thing in the world. There is no such thing all over the world. That we shall do. And not only simply showing museum, but educating people to that idea. With factual knowledge, books, not fictitious.

Morning Walk - February 27, 1976, Mayapur

Prabhupada: We are just attempting a big planetarium in Mayapur. We have asked government to acquire land, 350 acres. That is negotiation going on. We shall give a Vedic planetarium.
George Harrison: Is that the one you were talking about? With all the...
Prabhupada: In the Fifth Canto.
Gurudasa: The planetarium will be 350 feet high and show the cosmology of the spiritual world.
Prabhupada: The construction will be like your Washington capital, like that.
George Harrison: A big dome.
Prabhupada: Yes. Estimated eight crores of rupees.

Room Conversation - July 26, 1976, London

Srila Prabhupada and Ambarisa prabhu at ISKCON Detroit, 1976

Prabhupada: 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. How do you like this idea, Vedic planetarium?
Ambarisha: It seems like a very nice idea.
Prabhupada: You also like? So finance this project. (laughter) Vedic planetarium.
Ambarisha: Where will this be?
Prabhupada: Mayapur. My idea is to attract people of the whole world to Mayapur. So all of you now make a complete idea how to make Vedic planetarium.

Conversation - June 15, 1976, Detroit

We must have a nice center at Mayapur because we are expecting there students from all over the world. Plans of the temple have already been made and you should have received them by now. The buildings should be exactly in the same pattern. The size may be changed according to the engineering technology. I have shown in London the Westminster Abbey to Syamasundara, Bhavananda and Nara Narayana. Perhaps you have also seen it. I want the inside just like the Westminster Abbey. You will understand from the plans what is my desire in this connection.

Letter to Tamala Krishna Goswami - September 16, 1971, Mombasa, Kenya

Prabhupada: I wanted both of you (Yadubara and Visakha) to take various detailed photographs of that Capitol (Washington, D.C.).
Yadubara: The Capitol Building. For what purpose, Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: We shall have picture, planetarium in Mayapur.

Room Conversation - July 6, 1976, Washington, D.C.

My only desire is that our temple (in Mayapur) must be a living temple by chanting Hare Krishna Mantra and distributing prasadam, as well as distributing books to the intelligent class of men….I am glad hundreds of visitors are coming by our songs. You are already working hard there, now work harder and Krishna will give you all facilities. My full blessings, with Krishna's consent, are upon you all. Hope this meets you in good health.

Letter to Jayapataka Swami - June 1, 1974

In June, 1973 Prabhupada was in Mayapur and was staying in the Lotus building. That building was erected at the backmost border of our ISKCON land. The bhajan kutir was at the front border of the land next to Bhaktisiddhanta road. The empty land between consisted of many paddy or rice fields. It was all just empty flat fields where Prabhupada had planned for the main temple to be constructed. During a morning walk, Prabhupada and I were standing in front of the bhajan kutir. I turned to him and said, “Should we demolish this since we don't use it anymore?” Prabhupada was quiet for a moment and then he said “No let the people see - this is what we were”, and then with a grand swing of his right arm he pointed up to his right and said, “and this is what we have become.” And of course, as we now know he was pointing directly to where the TOVP stands today.

Bhavananda Das

It was Bhaktivinoda Thakura's aspiration that the Europeans, Americans and Indians all together dance jubilantly and chanting "Gaura Hari." So, this temple, Mayapur Chandrodaya temple, is meant for transcendental United Nations. What the United Nations has failed, that will be achieved here by the process recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Arrival Address - January 15, 1976, Mayapur

Here at Sridhama Mayapur, Srila Prabhupada gave further impetus to the main temple project. It will be a 30-story skyscraper temple based on the following verse of Brahma-samhita:

goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya / devi mahesa-hari-dhamasu tesu tesu
te te prabhava-nicaya vihitac ca yena / govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.43]

Lowest of all is located Devi-dhama [mundane world], next above it is Mahesha-dhama [abode of Mahesha]; above Mahesha-dhama is placed Hari-dhama [abode of Hari] and above them all is located Krishna's own realm named Goloka. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, who has allotted their respective authorities to the rulers of those graded realms.

There will be the main temple that will extend upwards the full 30 stories, as well as different levels depicted in doll tableaus, first the material world, devi dhama; then mahesa dhama, then vaikuntha dhama, and finally goloka vrindaban. Already a competent engineering firm in Calcutta, which is the only firm in India to use an IBM computer in its calculations, has been contacted for making the foundation. “It will not be difficult”, assured Srila Prabhupada.

Letter from Bhavananda to Ramesvara - October 25, 1974

Tamala Krishna: Your descriptions, especially this Planetarium, will at first
meet with a lot of heavy reaction. It is not going to be embraced immediately
very favorably. It means that everyone who calls himself a Ph.D. is a fool, that
students will laugh at their teachers, if what we say is correct. There will be
chaos in educational circles. (Prabhupada chuckles)
Prabhupada: All right.

Bhumandala Diagram Discussion - July 2, 1977, Vrindaban

Srila Prabhupada was extremely enthusiastic about the plans. He wants the Planetarium to demonstrate the Vedic alternative to modern scientific cosmological propaganda, illustrating the structure of the universe as described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Impressed with Saurabha's work, Prabhupada suggested that the plans be presented to the state government with an application for official acquisition of the land we require. Prabhupada always thinks big; he even suggested that we try to get them to relocate Calcutta's Dum Dum airport nearby. For Prabhupada no vision is impossible, because it is for Krishna.

A TRANSCENDENTAL DIARY Vol. 1 - January 21, 1976, Mayapur

Prem Yogi showed Srila Prabhupada some illustrations from the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Fifth Canto, and explained them briefly. Prabhupada was impressed with his proper understanding. Prabhupada showed him the Mayapur model and explained what we intended to do there. Srila Prabhupada then expressed his concern: “We must exactly follow the description of Bhagavatam. As we are going to spend many crores of rupees, and there will be those who will try to find fault in our resentation, 'Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.' I have explained whatever I could already in my books. Now my brain is no longer able to work properly. You young men can tax your brains to understand the Sanskrit and English descriptions and present them.” Prabhupada also mentioned that there was a connection from this planet to other planets. “It is in Switzerland. There is a big mountain that goes up and up to where no one can see. It is going to other planets. I have seen it.”

TKG's Diary - May 30, 1977, Vrindaban

In this morning's class Srila Prabhupada described his ambitious plans for showing the higher regions of the universe in the Vedic Planetarium he's proposed for Mayapur. “There is a Siddhaloka. We shall show how this planet works, Siddhaloka. The description of the Siddhaloka is there in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Siddhaloka persons, they can go from one planet to another without any machine, or airplane. Like the yogis, those who are perfect yogis, they can go from one place to another without any vehicle. There are many yogis still existing. They take bath in four dhamas—in Hardwar, in Jagannatha Puri, in Ramesvaram. And similarly... yogis can do that. They attain anima-siddhi, eight kinds of perfection. So the Siddhaloka means they are born siddhas. They haven't got to practice this mystic yoga system.” To illustrate this point he gave the simple, effective example of some siddhas that live within our immediate experience. He pointed out how birds and insects can fly automatically, but we cannot; we have to create so many big machines. Prabhupada's idea in having a planetarium is to show that the statements made in the Vedic scriptures are authentic and based on scientific fact, not simply mythology, as commonly mis-understood. “There is no question of disbelieving,” he said. “It is not to be rejected, 'Ah, there cannot be any ... This is unbelievable.' We have got this information from the sastras. We are staunch believer: 'Yes there are siddhas.' That is called theism. One who believes in the statements of sastra. “Very highly intelligent persons, thoughtful persons, philosophers, scientists, mathematicians—they are called also muni. They came also to satisfy the Lord. Not these ordinary munis, but very exalted munis and siddhas from Siddhaloka. “There are many lokas, Caranaloka, others. They are all described. So if there is chance, we shall present these lokas, how they are situated, where they are situated, how they are moving, how the sun is moving around them. The sun is not fixed up; sun is moving. “All these things, we have got such dream to show. If there is opportunity, we shall do. The modern scientists or astronomers, they say, 'Sun is fixed up. The earth is moving.' So we don't say that. It has got its orbit. So there are so many things to be known still from Vedic literature, it is not yet unfolded, but we are trying.”

A TRANSCENDENTAL DIARY Vol. 1 - February 15, 1976, Mayapur

Although the title “Temple of Understanding” has been bandied about as a name for the new temple, Srila Prabhupada rejected it as soon as Saurabha first delivered the plans. This morning, on his walk, he gave a proper title, revealing as well a little of his vision of its importance. He said it will be called the “Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.”

A TRANSCENDENTAL DIARY Vol. 1 - February 26, 1976, Mayapur

In 1977 I was on the roof of the Lotus Building with Srila Prabhupada. He was walking the perimeter and chanting japa. At one point he stopped on the North side and was looking across the rice fields towards the Yogapitha temple. In 1977 it was open fields all the way to the Yogapitha. Imagine there were no other buildings of any sort. Prabhupada turned to me and said, “What is more important about a man? Where he was born or the activities he performed?” I replied that I thought the activities were more important. Prabhupada replied, “Exactly. So that is the birthplace temple of Lord Chaitanya and this ISKCON campus is the preaching activities of Lord Chaitanya. I want you to build a temple that is so wonderful that no one will go to the birthplace temple but everyone will come here to ISKCON”.

Bhavananda Das – 1977

Quotes about Mayapur

I have given you the Kingdom of God (Mayapur). Now take it, develop it and enjoy it.

Morning Class - 1975, Mayapur

Here in Mayapur we are trying to create a place of inspiration for people throughout the world. It is in Mayapur that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, appeared.

Letter to P. R. Mohapatra

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in the land of Bharata-varsa, specifically in Bengal, in the district of Nadia, where Navadvipa is situated. It is therefore to be concluded, as stated by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, that within this universe this earth is the best planet and that on this planet the land of Bharata-varsa is the best; in the land of Bharatavarsa, Bengal is still better, in Bengal the district of Nadia is still better, and in Nadia the best place is Navadvipa because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared there to inaugurate the performance of the sacrifice of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Therefore, this is the best among all the places in the universe. The Krishna consciousness movement has established its center in Mayapur, the birthsite of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to give men the great opportunity to go there and perform a constant festival of sankirtana-yajna, as recommended herein (yajnesa-makha mahotsavah), and to distribute prasada to millions of hungry people hankering for spiritual emancipation. This is the mission of the Krsna consciousness movement.

Srimad Bhagavatam Purport, 5.19.24

So, it was the desire of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura that Europeans and Americans would come here and chant Hare Krishna mantra. That prophecy is now being fulfilled, and that is my satisfaction.

Arrival Address - September 27, 1974, Mayapur

Dear Mr. Hunter,
Please accept my greetings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter with enclosed contribution towards the development of our Mayapur City in West Bengal, and I thank you very much. We are trying to construct a city where people from all over the world can come to visit and live according to the Vedic tenets of "simple living and high thinking.'' I am pleased to hear that you are appreciative of our humble efforts and if you would like to contribute in the future towards this great spiritual city you can send your contributions to me.

Letter to Mr. Hunter, June 5, 1976

We are making a very gorgeous plan at Mayapur and if you altogether can give shape to this plan, it will be unique if not in the whole world, then at least in all of India. This membership program is so nice that you can make members all over the world. So, this temple should be subscribed by money raised all over the world and it must be very unique. Our mission is solid. Our philosophy is not utopian. Our men are being trained for exemplary character. So, we shall have a unique position all over the world provided we stick to the principles, namely unflinching faith in Spiritual Master and Krishna, chanting not less than 16 rounds regularly and following the regulative principles. Then our men will conquer all over the world.

Letter to Tamala Krishna and Gurudasa - August 23, 1971

I am in due receipt of the BBT Trustees report and have heard your proposal for funding the Mayapur project. Yes, your proposal sounds very nice and you may do it. It is very good that this project be a world-wide effort.

Letter to Ramesvara - August 23, 1976

Throughout the world there is no institution to impart education in the matter of spiritual understanding. So, we are going to open a big center in Mayapur where this education will be internationally imparted. Students from all parts of the world will go there to take education in this important subject.

Letter to Atreya Rsi - August 20, 1971

I want that you shall distribute prasadam (sanctified food) at least to hundreds of persons daily, and advertise very widely all over Nadia Province for people to come there and take prasadam daily without charge .…. Try to expand this program as much as possible at Mayapur and let me know.

Letter to Bhavananda - August 1, 1972

So, under his (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati) effort, assisted by his disciples, this place has gradually developed, and our attempt is also to develop this place. Therefore, we have named this temple Mayapur Chandrodaya. We have got great ambition to develop this place nicely and gloriously, and fortunately we are now connected with foreign countries, especially with the Americans. Bhaktivinoda Thakura's great desire was that the Americans would come here and develop this place, and they would chant and dance along with the Indians.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Appearance Day Lecture - Feb. 21, 1976, Mayapur

“The flood of love of Godhead swelled in all directions, and thus young men, old men, women and children were all immersed in that inundation.”

When the contents of the storehouse of love of Godhead is thus distributed, there is a powerful inundation that covers the entire land. In Sridham Mayapur there is sometimes a great flood after the rainy season. This is an indication that from the birthplace of Lord Caitanya the inundation of love of Godhead should be spread all over the world, for this will help everyone, including old men, young men, women and children. The Krsna consciousness movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is so powerful that it can inundate the entire world and interest all classes of men in the subject of love of Godhead.

Caitanya Caritamrta - Adi 7.25

So, what is your idea if we purchase some land there (in Mayapur)? But if we do something there, it must be done very nicely. Otherwise, it will be an insult to your people who are so rich. People must go there to see the American home and the American devotees. That is my idea.

Letter to Brahmananda - November 7, 1969

So we should remember, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he took this Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction very seriously, and he wanted his disciple to do. Bhaktivinoda Thakura also wanted that ... This Mayapur is meant for this purpose, to spread Kishna consciousness movement all over the world, as it was desired by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Pṛthivite ache yata nagaradi grama sarvatra pracara. So, the beginning is there. We are preaching all over the world, and you, my dear friends from Europe and America, you have taken this Kṛishna consciousness movement. Again, I shall repeat the same logic: andha-paṅgu-nyaya. Andha means blind, and paṅgu means lame. Both of them are useless. Andha can walk but cannot see, and the lame man can see but cannot walk. Now let them both combine together. So, the whole world is suffering for want of Kṛishna consciousness, or spiritual life. If American money and Indian culture mix together, the whole world will be benefited. That is my ambition. Take Indian culture and help with American money. The whole world will be happy.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Appearance Day Lecture - Feb. 8, 1977, Mayapur

Prabhupada: You are fulfilling his mission. He wanted that European, American should come here. It is all Bhaktivinoda Thakura's blessing.
Jayapataka: Only by your mercy you have brought us to this Krishna consciousness movement.
Prabhupada: Yes. I am simply messenger. Mercy is of Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Prabhupada. Before your coming they predicted that "Somebody will bring." Maybe that somebody I am. [laughs]. Bhaktivinoda Thakura predicted. So anyway, Krishna has given us nice place. Stay here.

Arrival Address - March 23, 1975, Mayapur

Do your best and simply depend on Krishna. We are not acquiring the land for sense gratification. It is for Krishna's glory. nimitta-matram bhava savyascin (BG 11.33). Just like Arjuna was asked to fight by Krishna, so it was Prabhupada's dream to make Mayapur a transcendental city.

Letter to Jayapataka - June 6, 1976

On arriving once in Mayapur, Prabhupada entered his quarters, leaned back in his seat, and relaxed with his legs on his desk. He then drank from his water glass. “Ah, Mayapur water,” he said. He then related how Mayapur is the spiritual kingdom and that living and dying in Mayapur is the same. He said that if you live in Mayapur, then you are living in the spiritual world, and that if you die in Mayapur, then you go back to the spiritual world.

Jayapataka Maharaja - Little Drops of Nectar

Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we have constructed temples in both Vṛndavana and Mayapur, Navadvipa, just to give shelter to the foreign devotees coming from Europe and America. Since the Hare Kṛishna movement started, many Europeans and Americans have been visiting Vṛndavana, but they have not been properly received by any asrama or temple there. It is the purpose of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to give them shelter and train them in devotional service. There are also many tourists eager to come to India to understand India’s spiritual life, and the devotees in our temples both in Vṛndavana and in Navadvipa should make arrangements to accommodate them as far as possible.

Caitanya Caritamrta - Madhya 25.183

The members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness should go to India during the birthday ceremony of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Mayapur and perform sankirtana congregationally. This will attract the attention of all the important personalities in India, just as the beauty, bodily luster and sankirtana performance by the associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu attracted the attention of Maharaja Prataparudra.

Caitanya Caritamrta - Madhya 11.96

The best time and place is Mayapur on Lord Caitanya’s Appearance Day. That is not only the best for me but for everyone. Mayapur is meant for that. If possible, all devotees from all our centers should go for 8 days at that time.

Letter to Tamala Krishna Goswami - July 20, 1973

Otherwise, when funds are there we shall construct very nice centers in Vrndavana and Mayapur, that’s all. Let many foreign students and disciples come to India for staying with us in these places. We shall be content to sit down there, chant and have kirtana very vigorously 24 hours, if anyone calls us we shall go for a few days and have program.

Letter to Giriraja Dasa - December 28, 1971

Just like here at Mayapur, because we have this very nice house, people are coming to visit and stay. They attend the aratis and listen to my lectures, and take prasadam. If we did not have this house, then they would not come. So this is the meaning of a temple. There must always be activity. Not that we have a nice house for comfortable living. We simply want to bring people back home, Back to Godhead. That is the purpose of our temples, of our books, and our festivals, and preachings.

Letter to Uttamasloka Das - November 24, 1974

This is actual picture of Krishna, Radha-Madhava giri-vara-dhari. Original Krishna this is. Radha-Madhava giri-vara-dhari. Vraja-jana-vallabha. His business is to please the inhabitants of Vrndavana. That's all. He has no other business. And the vraja-jana also, they have no other business than to please Krishna. That's all. This is original Krishna.

Purport to Jaya Radha-Madhava - February 14, 1971, Gorakhpur

On the third morning after introducing Jaya Radha-Madhava, Prabhupada again sang it with the devotees responding. Then he began to explain it further. “Radha-Madhava”, he said, “have Their eternal loving pastimes in the groves of Vrndavana.”

He stopped speaking. His closed eyes flooded with tears, and he began gently rocking his head. His body trembled. Several minutes passed, and everyone in the room remained completely silent. Finally, he returned to external consciousness and said, "Now, just chant Hare Krishna."

After this, the Radha-Krishna Deities of Gorakhpur became known as Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, and eventually made Their way to Mayapur.

Prabhupada Lilamrta

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness now has its world center in Navadvipa, Mayapur. The managers of this center should see that twenty-four hours a day there is chanting of the holy names of the Hare Kṛishna maha-mantra.

Caitanya Caritamrta - Adi 17.123

If you make it a first-class temple (Mayapur), there will be no lack of visitors for preaching, you will never even have to leave that place for preaching. And if you serve nice prasadam, the whole of India will come. So stick to our principles very rigidly, and everyone will come to see these American Vaisnavas.

Letter to Jayapataka Swami - July 30, 1972

Jayapataka Swami: Prabhupada was so happy that we had cows. He said, "This is very auspicious." He said, "If the cows are grazing on the land where we're going to build the temple, then by passing cow dung and walking over the land it's going to make it very auspicious for the temple." Prabhupada wanted us to feed the local villagers. So even before we had a building, we had a big pot for cooking and distributing prasadam. Prabhupada used to go on walks, and he liked to walk along the pathways in between the fields. He called these the little highways. As he would be walking them, the villagers would offer him respect and pay obeisances. It was a very informal, friendly environment with all the local villagers. Prabhupada would walk out in the fields and then he would look and say, "Here there will be a spiritual city one day."

Following Srila Prabhupada, Remembrance DVD 4 - March 1973

The report that Hindus and Muslims are taking prasadam together is very encouraging. Please continue this program. All the Muslims in Mayapur have now been very friendly toward us. For the last 50 years our Godbrothers were there but they could not make arrangements for the Hindus and Muslims to take prasadam together. The picture is very attractive, and is fitting the devotees.

Letter to Bhavananda - March 25, 1972

You have learned from the devotees who have been here, what a large scope our plans are for these two centers in India. During the festival hundreds of devotees from countries all around the world all very much appreciated that these transcendental spots, Mayapur and Vrndavana are place of spiritual inspiration for all devotees of ISKCON. They are the best places in the world to come and chant Hare Krishna and prepare for going Back to Home, Back to Godhead.

Letter to Bhavatarini - March 4, 1974

In another discussion later in the day with Bhavananda Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada decided that the Deities for the proposed new temple in Mayapur should be life-size, like the Hyderabad Deities. He wants to install Panca-tattva —Lord Caitanya, and His personal associates — with at least five predecessor gurus, Radha-Krishna, and the eight principal gopis.

A TRANSCENDENTAL DIARY Vol. 1 - February 2, 1976, Mayapur

We are going to have a very big project at Mayapur. We have to acquire 350
acres of land from the Government and construct a spiritual town at the expense of Rs. 200 Crores. The plans and contemplations are going on in different phases, now when Caitanya Mahaprabhu will be pleased it will be taken up.

Letter to Dinesh Candra Sarkar - August 26, 1976

The Godbrothers have agreed to cooperate. We have to take such cooperation that the American property (in Mayapur) is not infringed on by the Communist government. Without the help of local devotees, it will be very difficult to protect this property. I know how to do it, but first let us get report on how much they are cooperating. I want to preach village to village this Hare Krishna kirtana, prasadam distribution, and book distribution. Let us cooperate.

TKG’s Diary - August 31, 1977, Vrindaban

Many students from America will very soon go there to learn the art of doll making as desired by you. It is better to go there and learn the art instead of the teacher coming here. Mayapur is already wonderful being the transcendental birthplace of Lord Caitanya. By utilizing Western talents to develop this place certainly it will be unique in the world.

Letter to Jayapataka and Bhavananda - May 9, 1973

I especially wanted to stay in India for this Mayapur celebration. Such festivals should be held very grandly. So I think you should plan that we shall definitely be coming to Mayapur and hold a grand festival there for Lord Caitanya’s Appearance Day celebration.

Letter to Jayapataka Maharaja - January 21, 1972

I am very anxious to know whether we are going to have our Mayapur function (Gaur Purnima)? I want very much to hold this function this year with all of my students and I ask you to kindly serve me by making this possible. It is a very
important day and it will be a great service to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. So please arrange for this program.

Letter to Jayapataka Maharaja - January 5, 1972

This program is very, very important. If you can help to organize our cow program in Mayapur, it will be a great credit for you. We must be able to grow our own fodder for the cows. We don’t want to have to purchase food for the cows outside from some other party. That will run into a great expense. Cow protection is the business of the vaisyas and along with our preaching, this is the most important work.

Letter to Hasyakari - May 26, 1975

“Child is the father of Man”, so if you can train these children in Krishna consciousness by kind instruction, feeding them, it will be great service to Lord Caitanya. For the last 50 years the Gaudiya Math people are there but their relationship with the local inhabitants is not so cordial. If we continue this philanthropic work to give them enlightenment and food without any discrimination, it will be appreciated by all people.

Letter to Jayapataka Maharaja - May 17, 1972

The monsoons came, and the Ganges spilled over her banks, flooding the entire ISKCON Mayapur property. Acyutananda Swami had built a straw and bamboo hut where Prabhupada was soon to stay, but the waters rose until Acyutananda Swami had to live in the bamboo rafters. He wrote Prabhupada that had it not been for Bhaktisiddhanta Road the damage would have been extensive. Prabhupada replied, “Yes, we were saved by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Road. We shall always expect to be saved by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja Prabhupada. Always pray to His Lotus Feet. Whatever success we have had in preaching Lord Caitanya’s mission all over the world is only due to His mercy.”

Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, Satsvarupa Goswami

Prabhupada felt affection and deep gratitude for those devotees dedicating their lives to the Mayapur project. One night he called Bhavananda to his room and began asking him about the devotees. Suddenly Prabhupada began crying. “I know it is difficult for all you Western boys and girls,” he said. “You are so dedicated, serving here in my mission. I know you cannot even get prasadam. When I think that you cannot even get milk and that you have given up your opulent life to come here and you do not complain, I am very much indebted to all of you.”

Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, Satsvarupa Goswami