New ISKCON temple in Chennai

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

 

 

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The temporary temple building to be used during construction of larger temple.

 

 

 

 

</p>Devotees attending satsanga at the new temple

 

 

 

 

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Sri C. Ponnaiyan, Minister for Finance, Government of Tamil Nadu, offering respects to Srila Prabhupada

 

 

 

 

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Sri C. Ponnaiyan, Minister for Finance, Government of Tamil Nadu, attending the arati and kirtan at temple.

 

 

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.

 

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@eth.net

Website: www.iskcon.net/chennai

 

Your servant,

Sumithra Krishna das.

[karthik_v]

This is very good news. Especially the fact that the government is supportive of spiritualism. Recently, the government of Jayalalitha announced anna dhan [free food distribution] at the Sri Rangam temple. Perhaps, ISKCON should also contact them for the same. I think J N Das, who has served the poorest of the poor in Orissa, Karnataka and earlier in Tamilnadu, often times while starving himself [and without informing anyone about that], should also contact Tamilnadu government and see if they can support such a scheme which he could initiate in Tamilnadu.

 

ISKCON, as well as the other independent organizations started by ISKCON devotees, does a tremendous work in distributing free food [ prasadam ] to the poorest people, *WITHOUT* indoctrinating and inducing anyone to convert. Often times, what they lack is organizational and PR skills. Mostly, they raise funds by themselves, which are meagre, and render a great service. This applies to J N Das also. Yet, if they can take the help of a government that is sympathetic towards Hindu cause, this will only increase the scope of their service manifold.

 

ISKCON has a tremendous advantage due to another reason. An ISKCON temple is the epitome of social equality. That is the only place where you can see a Harijan perform puja or deliver a lecture on BG, while a Brahmin may be cleaning the toilet and getting initiated by him.

 

Often times, I have criticised ISKCON for being dogmatic on a few issues. But, when it comes to putting into practice what they preach, none can compare with them. Srila Prabhupad said that one's varna is by guna alone and ISKCON implements it with its heart and soul.

 

In a country like India, where millions of Harijans have been battered for centuries, due to such practices as untouchability, ISKCON brings in fresh air. What else can be more appealing to the people and the government than the fact that a hitherto untouchable person is now the priest in the temple? And that is an excellent way of empowering those poor souls that this indeed is their religion. After all, many of the great pioneers of the bhakti movement have been from the so-called outcaste community or lower castes.

[Guest guest]

This is just a beginning. I understand that they are planning to build a gorgeous temple that will be the center for millions of people in south india and around the world. This will hopefully usher in a massive spiritual revolution. The temple has jivan in it and can relate to the community in a very unique way. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj!! All glories to the devotees serving this cause tirelessly!!!

[Guest guest]

It is a surprise that someone should be going hungry to be able to be feeding others. One whose hunger for Lord is not being upset by the hunger for food is surely the blessed. Is it that the poor who are receiving the foods are blessing the givers?

[Gauracandra]

This is very nice. How big is the Chennai congregation, and can they finance this construction internally? The Iskcon model is very flat organizationally, with each temple independent of the other temples. Sort of a loose confederation of temples. I have always thought this was unfortunate because if there were greater organizational focus, we could build one temple after another every single year. Consider this, if you get 2,000 people to contribute $1000 per year, you could build a $2 million temple every single year. Even if you just had these same people give $250 per year for 4 years (about 70 cents per day) you could build a $2 million temple every 4 years in the U.S. The key is to focus the energy on a singular project. But so much of our energy is disbursed. That being said I find it uplifting to see this group attempting to construct a beautiful temple in Chennai. It is also very good to see what is being done in Utah (from another post).

[Pritesh01]

Are pics of the Deitys available?

[karthik_v]

 

How big is the Chennai congregation, and can they finance this construction internally?

 

 

About 1000 people regularly attend Sunday programs. I doubt they can finance 100% internally, unless some rich industrialist donates.

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Many of the congregation members are college students, so that will also limit their ability to help finance the temple.

 

[karthik_v]

That is true.

[Guest guest]

As someone else already said, I doubt it can be financed internally. I saw some pictures from earlier this year and it seems like temple construction is coming along nicely. It is a big temple, so it will take time to complete the whole project. Perhaps a few years. I saw some architect renderings of what it will look like when construction is complete. It will be an amazing temple!

 

 

This is very nice. How big is the Chennai congregation, and can they finance this construction internally? The Iskcon model is very flat organizationally, with each temple independent of the other temples. Sort of a loose confederation of temples. I have always thought this was unfortunate because if there were greater organizational focus, we could build one temple after another every single year. Consider this, if you get 2,000 people to contribute $1000 per year, you could build a $2 million temple every single year. Even if you just had these same people give $250 per year for 4 years (about 70 cents per day) you could build a $2 million temple every 4 years in the U.S. The key is to focus the energy on a singular project. But so much of our energy is disbursed. That being said I find it uplifting to see this group attempting to construct a beautiful temple in Chennai. It is also very good to see what is being done in Utah (from another post).

[Guest guest]

I did see the board when we drove past, but since I am abroad, I would like to see the pictures of the beautiful temple. can some one post some pictures please?