ISKCON Chennai moving to own land

[Guest guest]

ISKCON moves to own land in Injambakkam

 

ISKCON Chennai shifted from its rented premises in T.Nagar to its own 6.5

acre land in Injambakkam, Off East Coast Road, a kilometer from VGP Golden

Beach, on the 29th September 2002 in the morning hours.

 

More than five hundred devotees assembled at T.Nagar to participate in the

last worship to be conducted there for the deities of ISKCON - Their

Lordships Sri Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama, Sri Sri Jagannath Baladev

Subhadra, Sri Sri Gour Nitai and Sri Sri Lakshmi Nrsimhadev.

 

At 8 am, Sri C. Ponnaiyan, Minister for Finance, Government of Tamil Nadu,

visited the temple and spoke a few words complimenting ISKCON for

propagating spiritual culture and positive vibrations that can destroy the

negative emotions in people such as greed and jealousy. His remark, "My

family deity is Lord Krishna and the family deity of Tamil Nadu Chief

Minister Dr. Selvi J. Jayalalithaa is also Lord Krishna" met with a loud

applause from the assembled devotees. Sri Ponnaiyan went on to say, "On

behalf of the government of Tamil Nadu, I assure that we will give all

support for the construction of a gorgeous temple for Lord Krishna in

Chennai".

 

The temple authorities thanked Sri Ponnaiyan for visiting the center and for

his promise of support and presented him with a big laminated picture of

Lord Krishna, a garland that had been offered to Lord Krishna and Krishna

prasadam.

 

Sri Ponnaiyan waited as the deities were placed in cars that were decorated

with flowers and garlands and then got into his own car leaving information

that he would visit Injambakkam later the same day.

 

As the vehicles holding the deities of Lord Krishna moved, over fifty cars,

vans and bikes preceded and followed them making a grand royal pageant. The

traffic police at Venkatnarayana Road signal gave special permission for the

vehicles to take a direct right turn which is normally not allowed.

 

The pageant arrived at about 9 am at the ISKCON Road in Injambakkam, Off

East Coast Road, which is about a kilometer from VGP Golden Beach. A white

board with clear writing said - 'ISKCON - Hare Krishna Land' with an arrow

pointing into the road.

 

As the deities continued in Their vehicles slowly, the devotees walked on

singing Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare

Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare congregationally.

 

At the Hare Krishna Land, a 5000 sq. feet one storey building stood neatly

painted in rose colour. Built strictly according to vastu, the kitchen,

offices and ashram have their places in the ground floor. On the first floor

is a long hall for devotees to congregate. On one end on a pure marble floor

stands three altars with the deities. On the other far end, on a grand

mandapam made of teak wood sits a life-like and life-size murti of His

Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON.

 

Sri C. Ponnaiyan, Minister of State for Finance, Government of Tamil Nadu

joined the devotees again and waited till the deities gave darshan after the

bhoga offering. He watched the arati that was offered to Them by ISKCON

Chennai president His Holiness Bhanu Swami and accepted the blessings and

prasadam of Lord Krishna before leaving.

 

Sri C. Ponnaiyan was very much impressed and inspired by the grandeur of the

deities and the devotion in the kirtan of the devotees and volunteered to

help the movement in all possible ways.

 

His Holiness Bhanu Swami gave a Srimad Bhagavatam discourse explaining how

life is full of insecurities from the very beginning of life in the mother's

womb and how therefore it was important to follow the eternal path of

Krishna bhakti.

 

Full lunch prasadam was served to over one thousand devotees who were

present at Hare Krishna land in Injambakkam.

 

Now, almost a month since we moved in, we are happy to note that many people

are driving in to see the temple. Several of them are voluntarily giving

donations. All this is due to the glory of Srila Prabhupada and his

dedicated followers. We are all happy to be a part of his eternal plans for

preaching Krishna consciousness.

 

We will be grateful if our international family can also help us by giving

us donations for our project so that we can finish the temple quickly and

attract more people. We will also appreciate any suggestions and advice that

you can give so that we build not only a "gorgeous" temple as Srila

Prabhupada wanted. Thank you very much for all your blessings and prayers.

 

Hare Krishna.

 

Our new phone numbers at Injambakkam - 501 9147 / 501 9303.

 

Mobile:98400-85099.

 

Address: ISKCON, Bhaktivedanta Swami Road (Off East Coast Road, Opposite

Coastal Kitchen), Hare Krishna Land, Injambakkam, Chennai-41.

 

E-mail: iskconchennai (AT) eth (DOT) net

Website: www.iskcon.net/chennai

 

Your servant,

Sumithra Krishna das.