Websites from the ISKCON Universe
We departed from Boone, North Carolina where the Sadhu Sanga Retreat took place for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Monday, May 25th, arriving at the home of Gopal Gauranga das and Anandini Radha devi dasi for evening prasadam. From there we went to the home of Shyamsundar das and Radhika Sundari devi dasi who were our hosts
The post TOVP Daily Tour Diary Days 75-76 – Arrival in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and TOVP Program appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
The Sadhu Sanga Retreat in Boone, North Carolina is North America’s largest devotee gathering attracting almost 2,000 devotees each year from all across America and Canada for kirtans and lectures by some of ISKCON’s favorite kirtan leaders and senior devotees. We departed from Charlotte, North Carolina by car on Friday, May 22nd for three days
The post TOVP Daily Tour Diary Day 72-74 – The Sadhu Sanga Retreat appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Thursday, May 21st we spent more time on office and tour related work and then prepared for the TOVP presentation in Pavitra Gaura’s home that evening. The devotee congregation in Charlotte is quite large and there are several Bhakti Vrksha programs going on weekly. Around 50 devotees came and after a puspa abhisheka of
The post TOVP Daily Tour Diary Day 71 – Charlotte, North Carolina TOVP Program appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
With only one extra day in New Orleans, the many eager devotees there could not get enough association with Jananivas prabhu. On Monday, May 18th we visited the homes of devotees with the Padukas and Sitari for kirtan, Krishna katha and prasadam. For breakfast we went to the home of Satya Gaura das, for lunch
The post TOVP Daily Tour Day 68: Visits to Devotee Homes in New Orleans appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Sunday, May 17th, the TOVP North American Tour arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana to visit the ISKCON temple, fondly named mini-Mayapur by His Holiness Jayapataka Swami because of its congregation of Bengali devotees, many from Sridhama Mayapur. We were greeted by a rousing kirtan and brought to the temple room where the Lord’s Padukas
The post TOVP Daily Tour Day 67 – Vaisnava Taxi Drivers in New Orleans Pledge Half-a-Million Dollars to the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Saturday, May 16th we left Bloomington, Illinois for the Chicago temple. However, along the way we paid a surprise visit to His Holiness Radhanath Swami who was staying nearby. Arriving at the temple, we set up our TOVP presentation banners and prepared for the Sunday program. The Chicago temple is a very large building
The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 66: Chicago TOVP Presentation appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Thursday, May 24th we left Phoenix on a flight to Chicago. We planned to drive to our first stop in Bloomington before going to the Chicago temple that evening, but changed our mind and stayed overnight in Chicago due to a late arrival time. The next morning, Friday, May 25th we paid a visit
The post TOVP Tour Diary Days 64 & 65: Departure from Phoenix, Arizona and Arrival in Chicago, Illinois appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
While in and of itself plumbing is not a glorious activity, when used in the Lord’s service it becomes a glorious detail to the TOVP project and an essential and important element in its all-around long-term preservation. Piping work on the temple started last June, 2014 under the guidance of Gammon Construction. Recently, plumbing work
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On Tuesday, May 12th we departed from SanDiego and flew to Phoenix, Arizona. The temple there is presided over by Sri Sri Radha Madhava Hari, Gaur Nitai and Srinathji. We spent the rest of the day catching up with office related work. On the morning of Wednesday, May 13th we visited the landsite of the
The post TOVP Daily Tour Days 62 and 63 – Arrival in Phoenix, Arizona and TOVP Program appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
The TOVP domes are coming up very fast! On the main dome, the 9th and last ring is now 50% completed. The 3rd ring on the planetarium dome is almost finished and for Nrshimha Dev dome, the 3rd ring just commenced!
The post General update on the Domes …
On Monday, May 11th we caught up with office related work and visited two devotee families for prasadam. For breakfast we went to the home of Phanesvari devi dasi and her husband, and in the evening to the home of Bipin Chaturvedi and his family. In the evening we paid a visit to the Shree
The post TOVP Daily Tour Day 61 – Visit to Local San Diego Devotees’ Homes and the Shree Temple appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
The San Diego temple is also known as New Govardhana Dhama and is presided over by the beautiful Sri Sri Radha Giridhari. Having arrived in San Diego the night before, Sunday, May 10th was a day of some rest and then preparation for the TOVP presentation at the Sunday program that evening. During the Gaura
The post TOVP Daily Tour Day 60 – San Diego Temple TOVP Program appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On the afternoon of Saturday, May 9th we arrived in Laguna Beach, California where the Pancha Tattva have resided for over a quarter of a century. With little time available, we quickly got ready for our TOVP presentation as devotees started arriving during the Gaura arati. The Temple President, Tukarama prabhu, introduced the TOVP Team,
The post TOVP Daily Tour Day 59 – Arrival in Laguna Beach, California, Home of America’s Pancha Tattva appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Before departing from Las Vegas on the morning of Friday, May 8th we brought Lord Nityananda’s Padukas to the new temple site to bless the project with His causeless mercy for the success of the preaching there. Afterwards, we departed for the Laguna Beach Temple, stopping overnight at the home of Dr. Nanda in Apple
The post TOVP Daily Tour Day 58 – Onward to Apple Valley, California appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Thursday, May 7th, we paid a visit to the home of Doyal Nitai das and Priya Kumari devi dasi for lunch prasadam. Then in the evening we made our way to the Krishna Lounge with the Padukas and Sitari to give darshan to the devotee community. Around 40 devotees and guests attended the program
The post TOVP Daily Tour Day 57 – Las Vegas Darshan and Program appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Wednesday, May 6th, we departed from Los Angeles for Las Vegas, Nevada, also known as Sin City, stopping briefly for prasadam at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Agarwal. Las Vegas is a community of devotees that is growing and in the process of renovating a building into a new temple. We arrived late
The post TOVP Daily Tour Day 56 – Departure from Los Angeles and Arrival in Las Vegas with Harinama appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Monday and Tuesday, May 4th and 5th, the TOVP along with the Padukas and Sitari visited the homes of a few families for darshan and prasadam. These included the home of Suresh Krishna das and Sundari Gopika devi dasi and were accompanied by Amani Gaura Hari das and Shastra Krt das.
The post TOVP Daily Tour Days 54 and 55 – The Padukas and TOVP Team Visit Local Los Angeles Devotees appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Saturday, May 2nd, we celebrated Nrsimha Caturdasi at the Los Angeles New Dwaraka Temple. The TOVP presentation began in the evening and gradually the temple began to fill up with devotees. A water abhisheka and puspa abhisheka of the Padukas and Sitari took place during the arati. Svavas prabhu then introduced the TOVP Team
The post TOVP Daily Tour Days 52 and 53 – Nrsimha Caturdasi and the Sunday Feast TOVP Presentations at New Dwaraka Dhama appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
New Dwaraka is the North American ISKCON Headquarters and home to Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarakadisha. It is also one of the original temples opened during Srila Prabhupada’s presence and the place of many of his pastimes, including the famous morning walks along Venice Beach. Under the able leadership of Svavas prabhu, who is also the
The post TOVP Daily Tour Days 50 and 51 – Arrival in Los Angeles, New Dwaraka Dhama appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
The making of the acharya murtis is a procedure that requires several steps: Step 1 First, a clay model of the acharya is made based on shastric descriptions and certain known poses that distinguish him from the other acharyas. Step 2 Second, a plaster mold is created using a custom, in-house mixture of sand, cement
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On Sunday, May 17th, the TOVP North American Tour arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana to visit the ISKCON temple, fondly named mini-Mayapur by His Holiness Jayapataka Swami because of its congregation of Bengali devotees, many from Sridhama Mayapur. We were greeted by a rousing kirtan and brought to the temple room where the Lord’s Padukas
The post Vaisnava Taxi Drivers in New Orleans Pledge Half-a-Million Dollars to TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Wednesday, April 29th, on the auspicious day of Rohini ekadasi, a special home program was arranged by Giridhari das, a disciple of Radhanath Maharaja who lives in Singapore, for several wealthy Indian friends of his from Silicon Valley. He flew all the way from Singapore for the occasion. After some initial informal talks and
The post TOVP Daily Tour Day 49 – Afternoon Home Program and TOVP Presentation at ISKCON Silicon Valley (ISV) appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Tuesday evening, April 28th, Jananivas, Samik Rsi and Sunanda prabhus attended a program at the home of Sanatan Sundaram, Gandharvika Radha and their daughter Priya Kishori. The small home was packed with devotees enthusiastically chanting and dancing while the Padukas and Sitari were bathed, offered arati, and adorned with flowers. The 3 TOVP Team
The post TOVP Daily Tour Day 48 – Ecstatic Evening Program at the Home of Sanatana Sundaram and His Family appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
The San Jose Temple (ISV) is home to some of the biggest book distribution scores in North America. This dedicated team of grhastha devotees living outside the temple, under the inspiration and guidance of His Grace Vaisesika prabhu, distributes almost as many books as some of North America’s full-time book distributors. On the weekend before
The post TOVP Daily Tour Day 47 – Arrival in San Jose, ISKCON Silicon Valley (ISV), and home program at Hansa Priya Mataji’s Home appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
The day following Portland, Sunday, April 26th, we caught an early flight to nearby Boise, Idaho where another growing congregation of devotees is developing under the leadership of Anantarupa das. However, while going through the airport security Lord Nityananda decided to give his darshan to a security officer who opened the Lord’s carrying case and
The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 46 – Arrival in Boise, Idaho And TOVP Program appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Saturday, April 25th we left Vancouver on a short flight to Portland, Oregon, to bless a small, budding community of devotees under the guidance and care of Jaisacinandana Das with the mercy of Lord Nityananda. 75 devotees attended the TOVP program presented by Radha Jivan and Jananivas prabhus, along with kirtan and darshan of
The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 45 – Arrival in Portland, Oregon And TOVP Program appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Friday, April 24th we had a chance to relax from our hectic schedule after 6 weeks and take a breather: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 44 – A Day of Rest appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Thursday, April 22nd we visited the home of Chaitanya Hari, one of the temple managers, for prasadam. In the evening he had arranged for a second fundraiser for the TOVP at the temple, and after Radha Jivana prabhu’s and Jananivas prabhu’s talks another $150,000 was pledged by the attending devotees bringing the Vancouver pledge
The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 43 – Lunch prasadam with Chaitanya Hari And the Thursday Evening Temple Fundraiser appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
A group of consultants from Chennai came to the TOVP to discuss working together on the TOVP’s MEP (Mechanical, Electric, Plumbing) systems. The group consisted of Bhaskar S., Roopa V., Sankaran, Mohan Reddy, R. Shaktikumar and Raga P.N.. Sachitanuga also came from Pune, and along with Sadbhuja, Vilasini, Premavatar Gauranga and Radha Vallabha they all
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On the morning of Wednesday, April 21st, before departing from Saranagati, we stopped at their Govardhana Academy where Jananivas prabhu spoke about how he became a devotee and what he likes about being a devotee. Upon returning to Vancouver we went for lunch prasadam to the home of Tulsi das and Chaitanya Priya dasi. Chaitanya
The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 42 – Return to Vancouver and Lunch and Dinner Programs Fourth Generation Devotees Make Pledges appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Tuesday, April 21st we made a one-day excursion to Saranagati Dhama, a devotee farm community in Ashcroft, British Columbia (Canada) and Lord Nityananda arranged for us to meet a special disciple of Srila Prabhupada along the way. Adi Yajna owns and operates a Tour Bus company called Chaitanya Coachways out of Calgary, Canada. Due
The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 41 – Arrival in Saranagati Dhama in Canada And Evening Program appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
His Holiness Prahladananda Swami explains Srila Prabhupada’s vision of spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world through a cultural conquest. The TOVP represents this conquest through an architectural angle, amongst others, and the TOVP is a fitting monument for that purpose.
The post His Holiness Prahladananda Swami Speaks About the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Maharaja stresses that the TOVP Project is not only one of the most wonderful projects of all time, but will be ISKCON’s most significant offering to the world in Kali Yuga. This temple will have a massive impact on the whole world and its opening will herald a new phase for ISKCON on a worldwide
The post His Holiness Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Speaks About the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Concreting for the Main and Nrshimha Dev domes has begun.
Layers of cement will be added to the now present stainless steel structure to reinforce the grand cupola.
With a total of 34 layers, each of 1.2 M tall, the concrete work should be completed by…
Work on the final ring, which is number 9, has commenced! Today the first of the 24 sections was put into place without any problem. We will be adding more pieces in few days. Within a months time, the 9th ring will be completed! With this, the main part of the temple dome structural frame
The post Final 9th Ring of the Main Dome is Nearing Completion appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Departing from Calgary on the morning of Sunday, April 19th we flew to Vancouver, Canada, one of the country’s largest devotee congregations, and had lunch at the home of Harirani dasi. We quickly made our way to the temple, home of beautiful Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan, Gaur Nitai and Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. We
The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 39 – Departing Calgary, Arrival in Vancouver and TOVP Presentation appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Monday, April 20th the TOVP Team and the Lord’s Padukas visited the home of Kalarupini dasi who, along with Bhaktin Katelin, prepared and served us prasadam. In the evening we were invited to the home of Virendra Sharma where many devotees came to hear Jananivas speak. The Padukas were worshiped along with kirtan and
The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 40 – Visit to Kalarupini dasi’s Home and Evening Program at Virendra Sharma’s Home appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
We departed from Edmonton on the morning of Saturday, April 18th, driving to Calgary for our TOVP presentation the same day. We arrived in Calgary for lunch at the home of Veda Vyasa das and Rasalila dasi and made our way to the temple, home of Sri Sri Radha Madhava of Canada. During the Gaura
The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 38 – Departing Edmonton, Arrival in Calgary, Canada and TOVP Program appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On the evening of Friday, April 17th we did our TOVP presentation along with kirtan and abhisheka of the Padukas during the Gaura arati. Bala Krishna prabhu, the temple president, introduced the TOVP Team and Radha Jivana spoke in Hindi to the large gathering of Indian guests and devotees. $60,000 in pledges was raised and
The post TOVP Tour Diary Day 37 – Edmonton, Canada TOVP Program appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
On Wednesday, April 15th we departed from Montreal, flying into Edmonton on the Western side of Canada. We spent the next day, Thusday, April 16th resting and catching up on office and other backup work, and in the evening Jananivas prabhu spoke to a gathering of 15-20 devotees.
The post TOVP Tour Diary Days 35-36 – Edmonton, Canada appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.