Author Archives: Temple of the Vedic Planetarium

From door knobs to big domes – the work continues on. Adjustments, refinements and accuracy on the drawings to fit the site conditions are in full swing for various elements of this grand building. Sharing some Architectural frames in this report.

AN INSTITUTION WITH SOCIAL CONSCIENCE We have been reaching out to the poor and needy in West Bengal since 2013 to make sure that they don’t go to sleep on an empty stomach. We feed half a million people annually, completely free of cost. A wholesome meal comprised of Dal (bean soup), Chawal (rice) and

Celebrating 5 Anniversaries in 1 Festival The TOVP Team is pleased to announce the upcoming, all-auspicious Radha Madhava Golden Jubilee Festival from March 2 – 5, 2022. This will be a festival to beat all festivals, commemorating the anniversary of five important years in the history of ISKCON. 50th Anniversary of Chota Radha Madhava’s Installation

Moksada Ekadasi, observed on the 11th day of Shukla Paksha (the waxing phase of the moon) during the lunar month of Margashirsha, is a very special Ekadasi in two regards: it is the all-auspicious day on which Lord Sri Krishna spoke the Srimad Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra at the place

Signs of Life: A Semantic Critique of Evolutionary Theory By Ashish Dalela (Rsiraja Das) This book challenges the fundamental ideas in the Neo-Darwinian theory of evolution from the perspective of mathematics, physics, computing, game theory, and non-linear dynamics. It argues that the key ideas underlying evolution—random mutation and natural selection—are based on notions about matter,

Sri Navadvipa-Dham Mahatmya by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur represents the revelation of the glories of the Holy Places of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s birth and early life’s pastimes in Navadvipa, equating the entire Navadvipa mandala to Vrindaban. Its nine islands represent the nine processes of devotional service. This edition, translated by His Holiness Bhanu Swami and prepared

We would like to announce the passing of one of ISKCON Mayapura’s most loyal and devoted supporters, Srimati Madhavi Bhattacharya, wife of Dr. Sri Bhattacharya. She left her body on the auspicious day of Krishna Rasa Purnima, November 18, in her home in Kolkata. She and her husband were the biggest supporters of the ISKCON

Dear Friends, Yesterday, after more than four months of absence, I finally returned to Sridham Mayapur. Burning with impatience this morning I went to the construction site of the TOVP, accompanied by our Construction Manager, His Grace Premavatar Gauranga prabhu, who showed me the various directions in which work is now underway. We bowed to

As everyone knows, the Nrsimhadeva Deity will be installed on a separate altar in the East Wing of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. The temple room of Nrsimhadeva will be smaller than the central hall, but nevertheless it will be beautifully decorated and very majestic. The Grand Opening of this wing is scheduled for

Godhead is Light. Nescience is darkness. Where there is Godhead there is no nescience. These words were immortally etched on Srila Prabhupada’s original Back to Godhead magazines in the mid-1940s. They are forever true, and the Hare Krishna movement was founded with this underlying principle in mind. The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, as envisioned

The 11th day of the waning phase of the Moon (Krishna Paksha) in the month of Margashirsha (November–December) is observed as Utpanna Ekadasi. It is believed that fasting on this Ekadasi relieves one from the reactions to sins of past and present lives. This day is also known as Uttpatti Ekadasi. The narration below of

Stephen Hawking on Trial: Confronting the Big Bang By Pierre St. Claire (Vaiyasaki Dasa) The wee Doctor behind the electronic voice on trial? Stephen Hawking’s influence was significant. Nonetheless, renowned cosmologists have detected serious errors in his Grand Design theory of the universe. Stephen Hawking On Trial documents the flaws in the final theory of

This short video by Mayapur TV and the TOVP presents Srila Prabhupada sitting on his Vyasasana in his quarters at the TOVP located on the Pujari Floor. He receives daily Guru Puja and offerings of foodstuffs, while he views the construction work on his personal CATV video screen. Srila Prabhupada’s presence in the TOVP cannot

Below is a narration of a conversation between His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and Bhavananda prabhu in Mayapur, 1977: In 1977 I was on the roof of the Lotus Building with Srila Prabhupada. He was walking the perimeter and chanting japa. At one point he stopped on the North side and was looking across the

The annual worldwide GIVING TUESDAY event is scheduled this year for Tuesday, November 30th. This day is set aside by world leaders as a day to help make the world a better place to live and improve life for all by giving to the charity of your choice. While giving in charity for hospitals and

This Ekadasi has four names: Utthana – Haribodhini – Prabodhini – Devotthani, and it is the second Ekadasi (Kartik Shukla, light fortnight) in the month of Kartik. It is said that Lord Vishnu goes to rest for four months during the period known as Chaturmasya. Starting from Sayana Ekadasi, which is the first Ekadasi that

The article below appeared in WUFT News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville. Meet Alfred Ford, the great-grandson of Henry Ford and a Gainesville resident When most people hear the name “Ford,” they think of cars. But one heir to the company wanted to change that in

Forty-four years ago this year, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada left this world for the divine abode of Sri Krishna and His pastimes. During his empowered life as a preacher of Krishna consciousness from 1965-1977 he accomplished more than practically any acharya in history, bringing the opportunity for the highest attainment of Goloka

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 fast, chant extra rounds and stay up all night chanting and

The Festival of Diwali, lights, has become India’s largest and most important annual holiday and is celebrated by over 1 billion people, mainly of the Hindu religion, and can last up to five days depending on the celebrants. It is observed by the lighting of dipas or lights usually made of ghee wicks, placed in

By Michael A. Cremo (Drutakarma Das): The Forbidden Archeologist I presented this paper at The Sanskrit Tradition in the Modern World conference at the University of Newcastle, England, on May 19, 2000. The interactions among science, Hinduism, and Christianity are as complex as those in the three-body problem of astrophysics. In practice, astrophysicists select a

Every Krishna bhakta looks forward with great anticipation to Kartik Maas, the month of Damodar. During this time we make a special effort to remember the pastime of Mother Yashoda binding her naughty son with a rope to a grinding mortar as punishment for stealing butter. In her frustration to bind the unbindable Supreme Lord

Life and Origin of the Universe (Vedanta and Science) By T.D. Singh, PhD (HH Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Swami) Since the dawn of civilization, all philosophical, scientific, religious and even artistic works, in principle, have centered around the study of life, its meaning and the origin of the universe. What is life? What is the origin of

On October 14 and 15, ISKCON worldwide celebrated the Grand Welcome Ceremony of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP). Through Mayapur TV, the two-day event was broadcast live on YouTube and multiple ISKCON related Facebook Pages, and viewed by hundreds of thousands of devotees, and attended

On October 14, during the Grand Welcome Ceremony of Srila Prabhupada to the TOVP, the TOVP Team will launch the first-ever e-Abhishekam online virtual murti bathing ceremony. Every devotee will have an opportunity to virtually ‘bathe’ Srila Prabhupada from a choice of several different auspicious substances. There is no cost for this unique seva opportunity.

This video of HG Hari-Sauri Prabhu was made in 2020 in preparation for the planned installation of the new Prabhupada murti in the TOVP in February of this year. Due the pandemic, the installation was rescheduled for October this year, but again has been postponed to 2022. Instead, we are observing a Grand Welcome Ceremony

The Grand Welcome Ceremony of Srila Prabhupada’s new murti to the TOVP, Srila Prabhupada Vaibhava Darshana Utsava, will be celebrated in a few days on October 14 and 15. With the help of modern broadcasting technology, devotees all over the world can participate by watching this historic occasion from their own homes in over eight

This video of HG Jananivas Prabhu was made in 2020 in preparation for the planned installation of the new Prabhupada murti in the TOVP in February of this year. Due the pandemic, the installation was rescheduled for October this year, but again has been postponed to 2022. Instead, we are observing a Grand Welcome Ceremony

This video of HG Pankajanghri Prabhu was made in 2020 in preparation for the planned installation of the new Prabhupada murti in the TOVP in February of this year. Due the pandemic, the installation was rescheduled for October this year, but again has been postponed to 2022. Instead, we are observing a Grand Welcome Ceremony

This is the third Sampradaya Acharya video, by Pujya Shri Shri Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Sri Padru of the Madhva Sampradaya. Vishwaprasanna Teertha was born on March 3, 1964 at Pakshikere, Haleyangady. He is the successor of Vishwesha Teertha and is 34th in the lineage of the Pejavara Mutt, starting from Sri Adhokshaja Tirtharu, who was one

This video of HH Bhakti Purushottama Swami was made in 2020 in preparation for the planned installation of the new Prabhupada murti in the TOVP in February of this year. Due the pandemic, the installation was rescheduled for October this year, but again has been postponed to 2022. Instead, we are observing a Grand Welcome

This video of HH Indradyumna Swami was made in 2020 in preparation for the planned installation of the new Prabhupada murti in the TOVP in February of this year. Due the pandemic, the installation was rescheduled for October this year, but again has been postponed to 2022. Instead, we are observing a Grand Welcome Ceremony

In the first Sampradaya Acharya video by Shri Cheena Jeeyer Swami, head of the Sri Sampradaya of Ramanujacharya, he stated that, “in recent history I could not think of anyone except A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as the acharya of the modern times.” This second video by Sri Dwarkesh Lal Ji Maharaj, Head of Shatha Peethadheesh

This video of HH Lokanath Swami was made in 2020 in preparation for the planned installation of the new Prabhupada murti in the TOVP in February of this year. Due the pandemic, the installation was rescheduled for October this year, but again has been postponed to 2022. Instead, we are observing a Grand Welcome Ceremony

On October 14 and 15 ISKCON devotees worldwide will celebrate and participate in the most auspicious and historic occasion of the Grand Welcome Ceremony of the new Prabhupada murti to the TOVP: Srila Prabhupada Vaibhava Darshan Utsava. To commemorate Srila Prabhupada’s 125th Appearance Anniversary Year, we have invited His Divine Grace to reside in the

For the first time in ISKCON history, and to honor the 125th Appearance Anniversary Year of Srila Prabhupada, the TOVP management is organizing an online Sampradaya Samelan (summit) that includes the head acharyas of the four Vaishnava sampradayas. On October 14, during the first day of the Welcome Ceremony of Srila Prabhupada’s new murti to

Vaishnavism is not a new religion or recently invented philosophy. It is actually the oldest religion and philosophy of all, and even more so, it is the eternal function of the jiva in relation to the Supreme Lord, sanatana dharma. That function is loving devotional service in one of five primary relationships, neutrality, servitorship, friendship,

This video of HH Jayapataka Swami was made in 2020 in preparation for the planned installation of the new Prabhupada murti in the TOVP in February of this year. Due the pandemic, the installation was rescheduled for October this year, but again has been postponed to 2022. Instead, we are observing a Grand Welcome Ceremony

On October 14 and 15 ISKCON will combinedly celebrate the Grand Welcome Ceremony of Srila Prabhupada’s new murti to the TOVP – Prabhupada Vaibhava Darshan Utsava. Prabhupada will now be personally present in the TOVP to inspire and direct us for its completion. This is Gaudiya Vaishnava history manifesting right before all our eyes, as

On September 1st, 2021 a specially designed and minted coin commemorating the 125th Appearance Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada this year was released by Indian Prime Minister, Sri Narendra Modi. This historic honoring of Srila Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of ISKCON is most important for the future of ISKCON and humanity. The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium has