Opinion of a ToVP Staff Mataji

When I first moved to Mayapur in October of 2009 the air was still calm and the landscape was still undisturbed. Nothing was out of place; no pounding of metal, nor the grinding of wheels was heard on the grounds. The buzz about building the grand temple had still not hit my ears. I was distracted by the mango trees, tropical birds singing outside of my window, and constant sunshine (I’m from Seattle – the rainiest state in America).

Gaura Purnima was just on the horizon and I was ecstatic for my first festival in the Holy Dham. The ground breaking ceremony was not on my ‘to-do’ list of social activities. I had no idea what they were even breaking ground for! Boy, was I caught up in the sights and sounds of Mayapur. But that was the day that changed my whole purpose of being in the Holy Dham. I had been fervently praying to the Lord for some type of service and He so kindly reciprocated with something just for me.

In March I had the pleasure of meeting Sadbhuja Das, the Managing Director of the ToVP, and he asked if I was interested in becoming his new secretary. What mercy. I agreed, and the next Monday I was in the main office with my own desk. Embarrassingly enough I still had little idea about what the temple project really meant. I mean, I knew it was being built, but did not know the history and Srila Prabhupadas vision for Mayapur. I had my work cut out for me.

The first thing I remember doing was being asked to read “Srila Prabhupada on Mayapur”; a book of quotes and letters regarding the plans, project and future of Mayapur. As I was reading my jaw dropped. How did I not know about all of this?!?! Where was my head? Oh yeah… Maya had it in her grasp! One quote really caught my eye and describes the project so effortlessly:

“This Mayapur is meant for this purpose, to spread Krsna consciousness movement all over the world as it was desired by Caitanya Mahaprabhu”.

8/2/1977 Mayapur, Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture.

So simple, and yet so profound. Immediately I got it. There was a bigger picture than just building another temple, and I wanted to do anything I could to help it fructify even if that meant to sort books on shelves. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krsna explains that one can do any kind of work, but that work must be dovetailed in the service of the Lord. Always think of Him no matter where you are or what you do. So this was my start at devoting all I could to the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

I am learning so much here in the offices of the Mayapur project. The place is rampant with wide eyed devotees running here and there, dhotis and saris flying in the air. The ToVP is a big one, but it is not out of grasp. The determination of our staff is unrivaled, and enthusiasm is high. We tackle any obstacle that comes our way with knowledge and tact. Krsna states that one needs to be more tolerant than a tree and more humble than a blade of grass, and this is certainly what I am learning by being around so many devoted vaisnavas.

I am still distracted by the birds, trees and sunshine; that will never change. But now I have a greater purpose in my life in Mayapur than just skipping barefoot down the cobblestone. I am helping to aid one of the biggest projects to spread Krsna consciousness! Lord Caitanyas Sankirtan movement has inspired so many people to the service of the Lord, and now it has done so for me. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to add my strengths (and some weaknesses) to help the greater good of mankind.

– Mandakini Dasi