Happy Diwali and Govardhana Puja from the TOVP

Wed, November 11, 2020 / Published in Festivals, Fundraising

Happy Diwali and Govardhana Puja from the TOVP

For Vaishnavas, especially Rama Bhaktas, Diwali is a celebration of the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after killing the demon-king Ravana. Philosophically it symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali also falls on an even more important day for Krishna bhaktas, Govardhana puja, the day the Lord lifted Govardhana Hill to protect His devotees in Vraja from the torrential rains sent by King Indra. Both have a spiritual tie to the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Consider the far-reaching effects the TOVP will have on the history of the world by awakening millions of people to real spiritual knowledge and the mercy flow of Krishna prema from Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is the manifestation of the vision of Bhaktivinoda Thakur and Lord Nityananda’s prediction that, “from this unique mandir the eternal service of Lord Caitanya will spread.”

As an analogy, we can compare the TOVP to Govardhana Hill. Just as Krishna lifted Govardhana and held it up for seven days with the ‘help’ of the cowherd men and boys to protect them from Indra’s rains, in the same way Lord Caitanya is raising the TOVP with all our ‘help’ to protect humanity from the ignorance and illusion being poured down on the human race for the next ten thousand years.

So, let us continue to “Raise Lord Caitanya’s Temple by the Hands of Every Devotee” and bring forth the deepa (light) of knowledge for the next ten thousand years, as Srila Prabhupada said:

“I have given you instruction, it will never stop; it will go on. At least for ten thousand years it will go on.”

June 21, 1976

You can help today on this auspicious occasion and during the month of Damodar, the month of prayer and giving, by sponsoring one of five abhishekas for the Grand Installation Ceremony of the new Prabhupada murti in the TOVP in October, 2021, his 125th Appearance Anniversary Year. This will be our combined guru dakshina and welcome to the TOVP for our Founder/Acharya, and every ISKCON man, woman and child can participate in this historic celebration.

Sponsor an abhisheka today!.

We wish you a most auspicious and spiritually uplifting celebration, and a healthy and safe remainder of the year.