Temple Within Books &Devotees More Important than Temple Built with Bricks and Stones

[krsna]

THE TEMPLE INSIDE THE BOOKS AND DEVOTEES

 

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada called his printing press Brhat Mrdrunga (the big clay drum). During sankirtan, the sound of the ordinary clay drum (mrdrunga) can be heard only in the immediate vicinity. But the divine message of Sriman Mahaprabhu can be spread all over the world through the publication of books.

 

At the opening ceremony of the Bagbazar Gaudiya Math, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said,

 

<font color="blue"> “... to establish internal hari-bhajan in this world, quite a few books have to be written and published. The temple which is within the books and the temple which is within the devotees are more important than the temple built with bricks and stones, because by constructing such temples, hari-katha can be preached in this world much longer.” </font color>

 

Srila Saraswati Prabhupada had among his disciples a very talented team of writers and editors who dedicated their lives to his publication mission. Among them were:

 

Sripad Sundarananda Vidyavinode, Sripad Paramananda Vidyaratna, Sripad Bhaktisudhakar Prabhu (Professor Nishikant Sannyal), Srimad Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaja, Srimad Bhakti Pradip Tirtha Maharaja,and Sripad Pranavananda Pratnaviyalankar (later Srimad Bhakti Pramod Puri Maharaja).

 

After the disappearance of Srila Saraswati Prabhupada, another name would be added to this list, that of Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, who published beautifully designed English translations of Bhagavad-gita (as Bhagavad-gita As It Is), Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Bhakti-rasamrta sindhu (as Nectar of Devotion), and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. These books would capture the hearts of thousands of people all over the world.

 

— Page 36 from Prabhupada Saraswati Thakur. Mandala Publishing. Eugene, Oregon.