New Gaudiya Temple In Bristol UK

July 8, 2003

My dandavads to you all. All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Devotees in Bristol UK are attempting to purchase a building which will be used for a temple, ashram and preaching centre.

Raghunatha Bhatta Dasa, a diksa disciple of Srila Gour Govinda Swami and a siksa disciple of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja has been practising Krishna consciousness for twenty two years and has been very inspired to start a temple in the Bristol area.

He says "We came here one and a half years ago and have been preaching out of a small rented storefront.

Many western guests come to visit our storefront for our weekly Sunday feast programme.

We also have had many Indian guests, but many cannot relate to our worship of Gour Nitai because outside of Gaudiya Vaisnavism most do not all know who They are. Therefore there is a great need to have a nice attractive place with the worship of Radha Krishna as well as Gour Nitai. Also for newly aspiring devotees we need a nice ashram to provide a place where they can come and get trained up in the principles of devotional service activities, as well as the facility for devotees to live and practice bhajana and preach.

This building has the potential for up to 12 or more bedrooms for ashrams and also, by building an extention to the existing building, a large temple room as well. It is located on a high hill with beautiful views overlooking the southern part of Bristol. Much open space and yet easy access for travelling to and from the city as it is situated on a bus route on a main road just 10 minutes from the city centre. We want to have such a nice place to invite nice devotees to come and visit and give us their association."

The Bristol Gaudiya Math

By Raghunatha Bhatta Dasa

Under the direct guidance of HDG Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja (our beloved Siksa Guru) and under the inspiration of both HDG Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja (our beloved Diksa Guru) and HDG Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (our beloved Param Guru)

Are now in the process of purchasing a very nice building to be used as a Temple, Ashram and Preaching Center. We already have received some very generous donations from some kind devotees, but another £15000 minimum is needed for the balance of the down payment. We were considering taking another loan out to come up with the balance, but decided it unwise to take another loan on top of a mortgage.

So we called Srila Narayana Maharaja and after explaining the situation as well as briefly explaining the property he suggested that we should get it at once without delay. But then we explained that we needed more funds for the down payment. He replied that £15000 was nothing. He said that He would help, but that we should first approach the local people, especially the Indian population whom we are preaching to (we are now working on this) as well as devotees, who are favorably inclined towards our endeavors, to help us, Gurudeva said "Don't be ashamed to ask for help.

This temple is for Krishna." So we are humbly requesting that you please help us with a donation according to your means. If you are not wealthy and can only donate a little then that would be so much appreciated. But if you have the ability to give a somewhat larger donation then that would so much help us to fulfill the need of a very nice spiritual oasis in the Bristol area.

There are a lot of devotees here in the Southwest of England and Wales who would be so inspired as such a good temple could help offset the onslaught of Kali Yuga, by providing a place where sadhus can come and distribute their mercy in the form of Hare Katha. We also have some plans to install Radha Krishna Deities as soon as we have a few more qualified brahmanas. Our mood here is to go beyond sectarianism and always welcome all bonafide sadhus coming in the line of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, who are favorably inclined to our Guru Parampara, up to the present link. We hope that you may share our vision and help us in any way possible. Hare Krishna.

For more information and/or bank details where to send your donations please contact:

Raghunatha Bhatta Dasa

Tel. 0044 (0) 117 908 5886

Fax 0044 (0) 117 908 5884

Email: rbd@bizonline.co.uk

Your Servants at the Bristol Gaudiya Math

PS. SPECIAL BONUS FOR THOSE WHO CAN GIVE A MINIMUM OF £50.00 WE WILL SEND YOU A FREE GIFT OF 14 SRILA BHAKTIVEDANTA NARAYANA MAHARAJA'S BOOKS ON CD.

GAURA PREMANANDI HARIBOL !!

For details of this CD please visit

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/2469/gurudeva/