Sun, October 24, 2021 / Published in Festivals, Fundraising

Kartik and the TOVP

Every Krishna bhakta looks forward with great anticipation to Kartik Maas, the month of Damodar. During this time we make a special effort to remember the pastime of Mother Yashoda binding her naughty son with a rope to a grinding mortar as punishment for stealing butter.

In her frustration to bind the unbindable Supreme Lord with a rope that is always two inches too short, Krishna’s heart finally melts seeing his mother’s extreme effort, and He allows her to bind him in His ecstasy of reciprocal love. He thus fulfills His own desire for ever-increasing pastimes of bliss with his pure devotees.

During this auspicious month we chant the beautiful Damodarashtakam, offer ghee lamps to the Lord and chant extra rounds. In essence, Kartik and its vratas are meant to increase our love for the Lord. While this is a voluntary effort on our part, many times, like with Yashoda mata, the Lord tests us and puts us into a challenging situation where we have no alternative than to surrender to Him. It’s His sublime way of putting on the pressure to remind us of who we are in relation to Him, and testing our eagerness to be His servant.

How does that relate to the TOVP? After all, the TOVP is just a building under construction. What does the above example have to do with building the TOVP?

The answer could take several pages to explain in detail, but the essence is that by Srila Prabhupada’s order we have undertaken this humungous, time-consuming and expensive TOVP project, and it is completely dependent on all devotees to help complete; it is not one person’s project. And that is the Lord’s mercy on us all, to give us a chance to experience some transcendental anxiety in our combined service of completing the temple at Prabhupada’s command. The Lord wants us all to be a part of this great adventure of manifesting this Crown Jewel of Prabhupada’s ISKCON society.

And the funding, like the rope mother Yashoda used to bind the Lord, always falls short. And we always need to keep asking for more donations and come up with new schemes to inspire devotees to give more. More, more, more, the Lord always wants more service, more anxiety, more love, to increase the ever-expanding ecstasy of reciprocation with his devotees.

So, here is the new donation campaign. Actually, this started the beginning of September with the release of the India Govt. minted Prabhupada 125th Anniversary Year coin. We are just reminding devotees that they can get one of these rare coins from the TOVP, which will remain as an heirloom in their family for generations to come. Of course, during this auspicious month you can also sponsor any Seva Opportunity or make a Pledge Payment or General Donation.

The coin is available for $1,250 / ₹1,25 Lakhs / €1,250 / £1,250. A two-year installment payment plan is an option for long-term payments. That’s a payment of $50 / ₹3700 / €85 / £37 a month for two years.

Reserve your coin today as supplies are limited!

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RESERVE YOUR COIN – INTERNATIONAL! RESERVE YOUR COIN – INDIA ONLY!