Author Archives: Temple of the Vedic Planetarium

ISKCON, Chowpatty, in academic collaboration with the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies in Gainesville, Florida (BIHS) and the Bhaktivedanta Research Center in Mumbai (BRC), will be hosting an international hybrid cosmology conference at the Govardhan EcoVillage (GEV) just north of Mumbai, November 4–6, 2022, titled “Puranic and Siddhantic Cosmology: Within an Experiential Mathematical Framework.” For

Dear Devotees, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am writing this message to you during a solemn yet joyful time when we recall the disappearance of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON. It is solemn because of the very heart-wrenching reality that Srila Prabhupada left our

The 11th day of Krishna Paksha (Moon’s waning phase) in the month of Kartik (October – November) is celebrated as Rama Ekadasi, named after Lord Vishnu’s consort, Goddess Rama. The day is also known as Rambha Ekadasi or Kartik Krishna Ekadasi. It’s recommended to chant extra rounds and stay up all night chanting and hearing

I will share with you some photos of festival pandals in West Bengal and other parts of India during Durga Puja this year. This has become an annual tradition and has been increasing over the years. These pandals exactly replicate the design and outdoor decorations of the TOVP. It is wonderful to see this. Such

This is a short but inspiring video overview of the major milestones in the TOVP construction progress since 2009. Please watch with devotion and help support this magnificent and historic project desired by Srila Prabhupada so we can open it in 2024. Make the TOVP First! TOVP 2024 MARATHON KI JAYA! WE RUN, YOU WIN!

We are pleased to present a collection of new TOVP Dome and Chatri photos by our main photographer, Thakur Saranga das. We hope this will instill confidence and inspiration in devotees that we are progressing towards the Grand Opening of the TOVP in 2024. Please consider this time to continue to support our construction by

Dear Worldwide ISKCON Devotees and Congregation, Please accept our obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. We would like to wish you a happy Kartik month full of divine service to Lord Damodar, and hope you and your family are well and in blissful Krishna conscious spirits. This time of the year is always greeted with

Dear Worldwide ISKCON Devotees and Congregation, Please accept our obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. We would like to wish you a happy Kartik month full of divine service to Lord Damodar, and hope you and your family are well and in blissful Krishna conscious spirits. This time of the year is always greeted with

Pasankusa or Papankusa Ekadasi is one of the most significant Vedic fasting days, and is observed in the Ashwin month on the eleventh day (Ekadasi) of Shukla Paksha. Therefore, the festival is also popular as ‘Ashwina-Shukla Ekadasi’. According to the Gregorian calendar, this festival is celebrated either in the month of October or September. Pasankusa

The Times of India recently published another article about the TOVP in the TIMESNOW section titled, ‘World’s Largest Religious Monument to Open in India’. Please read and share the article below. You can read the article in full here.     TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH Visit: www.tovp.org Support: https://tovp.org/donate/ Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com

TOVP Chairman, His Grace Ambarisa Prabhu, is pleased to announce to the worldwide ISKCON community the future opening of a beautiful, inspiring and permanent Prabhupada Museum in the TOVP, to preserve and display various artifacts related to ISKCON Founder/Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The museum will open its doors along with the

Ekadasi is the 11th day of the lunar phase of the Moon. Indira Ekadasi is celebrated in the Krishna Paksha (waning Moon phase) in the month of Ashwin (September–October). Since this Ekadasi falls on the Pitru Paksha (15 days in the month of Ashwin dedicated to ancestors), it is also known as ‘Ekadasi Shraddh.’ This

The TOVP Fundraising Department is pleased to announce our newest Seva Opportunity, the Murti Nirman Seva Campaign, offering sponsorships of all the murtis and artwork adorning the temple interior. Every part of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is sacred and worshipable, from the dome tiles to the marble floor. In fact, the Lord’s house

On September 8, 2022, Gaudiya Vaishnavas worldwide will celebrate the holy appearance day of His Divine Grace Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakur, the pioneer of the Krishna consciousness movement in the modern world. We all owe an eternal debt of gratitude to this great acharya for bringing the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu into our lives.

On August 31, 2022 the Times of India travel section, TravelTimes, published information about the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. Although the Grand Opening dates are incorrect (the actual opening is scheduled for December 2024), it will certainly help get the word out and increase awareness about this historic ISKCON project. You can read the

The Ekadasi Tithi in the month of Bhadrapada, Shukla Paksha (bright phase of the Lunar cycle) is known as Parivartini Ekadasi or Parsva or Vamana Ekadasi. On this day, Lord Vishnu, who is in a state of yogic sleep (Yoga Nidra), changes his posture. Hence, it is referred to as Parivartini Ekadasi (which literally means

The TOVP Fundraising Department is pleased to announce our newest innovation to accept cryptocurrency donations towards our numerous Seva Opportunity campaigns. Crypto donations will be managed by our partner nonprofit, Every.org, an organization that facilitates donations for thousands of nonprofits in the US. All U.S. and International cryptocurrency donations are paid to Every.org who disburses

This urgent and exciting message from His Grace Braja Vilasa das, Co-Chairman and Director of Development of the TOVP, expresses the importance of opening the temple on time in 2024 for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and our acharyas. Please watch and take advantage of this historic opportunity by sponsoring one of the new TOVP

Annada Ekadasi, also known as Aja Ekadasi, is observed during the waning phase of moon (Krishna Paksha) in August/September. The importance of this Ekadasi was mentioned by Lord Krishna to Yudhisthira and is found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana. It is believed that a person who observes this Ekadasi becomes free from the reactions of

A few months ago, we launched the TOVP Srila Prabhupada Murti Nitya Seva Campaign wherein devotees can sponsor Prabhupada’s daily offerings of bhoga and puja, or an outfit to wear. On the auspicious occasion of his 126th Vyasa Puja, we encourage devotees to take advantage of this unique seva opportunity to serve his Mayapur murti.

A few months ago, we launched the TOVP Srila Prabhupada Murti Nitya Seva Campaign wherein devotees can sponsor Prabhupada’s daily offerings of bhoga and puja, or an outfit to wear. On the auspicious occasion of his 126th Vyasa Puja, we encourage devotees to take advantage of this unique seva opportunity to serve his Mayapur murti.

On the auspicious occasions of Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja 2022, the TOVP Communications Department is pleased to announce the release of two new online flipbooks on the TOVP website for the pleasure and inspiration of all devotees. These books are viewable, downloadable and shareable, and we sincerely hope the reader will enjoy the

On the auspicious occasions of Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja 2022, the TOVP Communications Department is pleased to announce the release of two new online flipbooks on the TOVP website for the pleasure and inspiration of all devotees. These books are viewable, downloadable and shareable, and we sincerely hope the reader will enjoy the

The TOVP Team would like to take this opportunity on the most auspicious occasions of Krishna Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja 2022 to wish all devotees a most transcendental and blissful celebration this year. As the world continues to progress towards the darkness of ignorance under the influence of Kali and his agents, we

Also known as Shravana Putrada or Pavitra Ekadasi, Pavitropana Ekadashi falls on the 11th lunar day of the fortnight of the waxing moon in the Vedic month of Shravana which in the Gregorian calendar falls in July or August. It’s recommended to chant extra rounds and stay up all night chanting and hearing the Lord’s

We like to show you a short video review of the current state of several outdoor areas of TOVP. These are the upper open terraces, which are located at the base of the Domes, Stone Balusters (railings) and spacious halls at the top of the Chatri Towers. The terraces, located outside the domes, are extremely

I would like to show you a short video about some of the exterior elements of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium: Peacock and Cornice Embellishments. A lot of work has already been completed, and this includes many, many architectural pieces made from GRC (Glass Reinforcement Concrete). In this video I will tell you a

Kamika ekadasi is celebrated as Krishna Paksha ekadasi in the month of Shravan. Observing this ekadasi is considered as auspicious as performing an Ashwamedha Yajna. As Gaudiya Vaishnavas, our main aim during ekadasi is to decrease bodily demands so we can spend more time in seva, especially hearing and chanting about the Lord’s pastimes and

Unique Sponsorship Opportunity: The 31 Dresses Campaign – sponsor an entire set of 31 Deity dresses for one day during the 3-month long TOVP Grand Opening Festival, scheduled for the Fall of 2024. This includes Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Sri Pancha Tattva, Sri Nrsimhadeva and the fifteen new sampradaya acharya murtis. A new set of

We have just installed the two remaining bas relief panels on the walls of the ventilation shafts of the Temple Room. These are large 16ft./5m. panels made of fiberglass and reinforced with metal inserts. The weight of each panel is more than 550lb./250kg. One panel shows the Rasa Lila dance of Lord Sri Krishna and

TOVP Architecture Dept. Report From the Head Architect The TOVP is a project that perpetually works on multiple paradigms at once: design, working drawings, and material research whilst simultaneously casting elements all across the country and building them coherently in Mayapur. The design team makes sure to put thought into the minutest detail to ensure

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita, 4.11: ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham mama vartmanuvartante manusyah partha sarvasah As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pritha. For the bhakta, the reward for his surrender and service is love of God, not anything

The assembly and installation of the new TOVP flagpole was finally completed! It is made of high strength combined stainless steel pipe and is 9m (30 ft) high. A TOVP flag is fixed on it and an aviation light and lightning arrestor are placed at the highest point. Assembly and installation of this structure at

The beauty of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium exterior and interior will be a hallmark of this future wonder of the world. But the frontage temple grounds will also present a gorgeous display of attractive features. The temple 45-acre frontage will be adorned with luscious gardens and attractive walkways, interwoven with calming water displays

Sayana Ekadasi (Shayani Ekadasi) (lit. “sleeping eleventh”) or Maha-ekadasi (lit. “The great eleventh”) or Prathama-ekadasi (lit. “The first eleventh”) or Padma Ekadasi, Devshayani Ekadasi or Devpodhi Ekadasi is the eleventh lunar day (Ekadasi) of the bright fortnight (Shukla paksha) of the Vedic month of Ashadha (June – July). Thus, it is also known as Ashadhi

Please take a look at these elegant marble railings that will be placed on all three levels of the museum floors of the main temple room. These wonderful railings, with exquisite peacock reliefs, are made of the highest quality marble and brought to us here directly from Makrana (Rajasthan), the only place in India where

On a recent Press Conference with Nadia News, Braja Vilasa and other ISKCON Mayapur leaders announced the schedule for the Grand ISKCON Mayapur Ratha Yatra 2022. Starting on July 1st, from 2-9pm, the Rajpur Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra deities will be taken on Their 5km (3 mile) Rathayatra journey to the ISKCON Mayapur campus for

The first painted TOVP bas-relief by Ambhoda devi dasi of ‘Krishna Balarama and the Cowherd Boys’ is now finished. View the beautiful artistry and sublime colors painted onto the bas-relief panel made by local Mayapur artists. This is the first of four bas-reliefs to adorn the four corners of the TOVP.   Watch the TOVP

From the Head Architect Every space matters. Every line drawn on the AutoCAD defines that space. With great deliberation and calibration the drawings are released on the site one after another after another after another… With a total amounting to over 8,000 detail drawings, we gear up towards the upcoming milestones. Refining, reforming, evolving …and

The 11th day of Krishna Paksha (Moon’s waning Phase) in the month Ashada (June – July) is observed as Yogini Ekadasi. This year the Ekadasi is observed on June 24 worldwide. It is considered a very auspicious and rewarding day to fulfill one’s wishes and destroy all the sins of a lifetime. This day is