In this ceremony for the opening of the new wing of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur, Srila Gopal Krishna Goswami delivers a devotional address that intertwines historical recollection, theological justification, and a fundraising appeal. He begins by honoring Prasad Raval, the bureau chairman, for his extensive temple-building work and unwavering support for the project, noting his annual contributions through Vyasa Pooja. Goswami then recounts the origins of ISKCON’s presence in Mayapur, highlighting Srila Prabhupada’s 1971 acquisition of a five‑acre plot, the laying of foundation stones for the temple and the planetarium, and Prabhupada’s repeated instructions to build a temple that would honor past acharyas and bring devotees to Godhead. The speaker emphasizes that the new Lord Nrsimhadev temple fulfills the desire of Lord Nithyananda (identified as an incarnation of Balarama and Lakshmi) and the wishes of the acharyas, positioning it as the largest Vedic temple ever built, destined to attract thousands of global devotees, disseminate the Holy Name, and enhance the prestige of Vaishnavas. He highlights major contributions from Amritaprabhu and his wife, notes that about 100,000 devotees have already donated, and urges all assembled followers to contribute further, arguing that collective support will enable the project’s completion and bring governmental recognition.
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PRASAD RAVAL is the chairman of the bureau. He had built many, many, many temples in North India, and he is eagerly waiting when this temple will be completed. And he is ready to do anything possible to complete this temple. One of the big supporters of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium. All his Vyasa Poojas, he has opened the door. Every time, every year, the TVOIP team goes to his Vyasa Pooja. Of course, there are many disciples who have been thinking, "Oh guys, these Temple of Vedic Planetarium are taking the show." But irrespective of what it is, he used to every year allow the Temple of Vedic Planetarium to collect in his Vyasa Puja. Very big support. His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj. Without his help, it is not possible. Not possible. Let us hear from His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, the chairman of the Bureau. And he had made the Bureau members to fully support this temple.
Hare Krishna.
Hare Krishna.
So, very happy to be here on this auspicious day.
So, very happy to be here on this auspicious day.
You all know that Lord Nithyananda has stated that one day there will be an Advaith temple here in Mayapur.
As you know that once Lord Nithyananda, he stated that once there would be an Advaith temple here in this town.
Mayapur.
In Mayapur Dham.
And I try to fulfill that dream.
So we are trying to fulfill that dream.
Bhaktivedanta Thakur had stated the day will come devotees from the whole world will come to Sri Dham Mayapur.
So Srila Bhaktivedanta Thakur mentioned that all across the globe devotees will come to this place.
And chant and dance along with Bengali.
So chant and dance on the Holy Name.
After Śrīla Prabhupāda established ISKCON in America, he had inspiration he should go to India to preach.
So when Śrīla Prabhupāda was in America, he had the dream that everyone should come to India for preaching.
Prabhupāda came to India, and in 1971 ISKCON obtained 5-acre plot. So 1971, we got 5-acre plot with great difficulty because the local people didn't want to sell it.
So local people were not very willing to sell it.
So Prabhupāda told us on numerous occasions that if you build a temple for Bhaktivedānta Mahāprabhu, Bhaktivedānta Mahāprabhu will take you back to Godhead.
So Śrīla Prabhupāda on various occasions mentioned that if you make this beautiful temple here, then Śrīla Bhaktinoda ṭhākura will take you back home, back to Godhead.
Prabhupāda wanted this.
Hari-bol! Yes, everyone!
He wanted to please his ācāryas, previous ācāryas.
So you'll get mercy of the previous ācāryas.
Prabhupāda laid the foundation stone here for the temple sometime in 1971.
So Śrīla Prabhupāda, in the year 1971, he laid the stone here for the temple.
In 1977, he laid the foundation stone for the planetarium.
So 1971, he laid the stone for the Vedic Planetarium.
Sometimes people ask us, why do you build so many temples? There are already so many temples. What's the need of another temple?
So sometimes people ask that there are already so many temples, Why you want to make more temples?
Here is the reason.
Here is the reason.
Firstly, why we want to build this temple is because it is all Nithyananda's desire.
So firstly, we want to make this temple, why? Because it is Lord Nithyananda Prabhu's desire.
Who is all Nithyananda?
So who is Lord Nithyananda?
Incarnation of Balarama and Lakshmi.
So he is Lord Balaram himself.
So Lord desires an outstanding temple to be conducted.
So that's why to fulfill the Lord's desire, we are making this beautiful, gorgeous temple here.
Then, and the reason why we want to do it is because Ācārya's desire.
And secondly, why we want to make such a beautiful temple here? Because that's the desire of the Ācāryas. We want to fulfill it.
Prabhupāda wanted to please the Ācāryas.
Śrīla Prabhupāda wanted to please the Ācāryas.
He was coming to Vrindavan, went to Vrindavan, and inspired the construction of different temples.
So just like all the Ācāryas were inspired by the Lord to make different temples.
So, that's the only reason. Ācāryas decided, Prabhupāda wanted to fulfill their desire.
And ultimately, of course, you want to make a beautiful temple because that is Śrīla Prabhupāda's desire.
Then, since this will be the biggest Vedic temple ever built, thousands of people from the whole world, So this is going to be the biggest temple in the world where thousands of people would come and worship the Lord. So this temple is a very historical temple and a very important project, praise God.
So certainly this temple is really an extraordinary temple and very important for all of us.
Thousands will come, they will get exposed to the Holy Name.
So everyone who will come to this temple will be inspired to take the Holy Name. They'll buy Prabhupada's books and also read Śrīla Prabhupāda's books. Buy and purchase.
We have seen that in the cities, we have big temples. The big temple develops, thousands of people come for darshan.
As we see all across the globe, wherever our temples are there, thousands of people, they come and take darshan of the Lord.
They take books.
They take books.
We are This is the temple room where Lord Nrsimhadev is going to be installed.
So this is going to be the temple room where all the facilities are going to be installed.
Lord Nrsimhadev.
Okay, Lord Nrsimhadev would also be installed.
This is going to be the biggest temple room for Lord Nrsimhadev deity.
So this is going to be the biggest temple room all across the globe.
God is Inconceivable. God is inconceivable.
So the Lord is inconceivable.
He can manifest himself in any form.
He can manifest himself in any form.
He incarnated as Hiranakashi Pu, half man, half lion.
So to kill Hiranakashi Pu, he came as half man, half lion to protect his devotee, to protect his devotee, Prasad Maharaj.
So this Lord Nrsimhadev temple is very special.
So this Lord Nrsimhadev temple is certainly very special.
So the challenge before us is how to complete this project.
So challenge before us is how to complete this temple.
So many of you have already given.
So many of you have already given.
Have you heard that?
And we have heard that the biggest contributor has been Amritaprabhu and his wife. So Amritaprabhu and his wife, they have already significantly contributed for the temple.
Prabhupada told him we should build a temple, that Buddha temple. He took Prabhupada's instruction to heart.
So Srila Prabhupada gave him this instruction to make the temple, and he took that instruction to his heart.
He's done as much as he He could possibly do, as much as he can possibly do.
And whatever possibly he could do, he has already done.
But this temple should be funded by everyone.
This temple is being funded by everyone.
Should be funded. Should be funded.
Should be funded by everyone.
About 1 lakh people donated for this temple.
Already 1 lakh people have donated for this temple.
And we say that— I read an article, India is making more millionaires than any country in the world.
There was an article where it mentioned that Indians are making more money than anyone in the other part of the world.
More millionaires.
More Indians.
More millionaires in India.
There are more millionaires in India than any other part of the world.
So, it's an earnest appeal to all the devotees over here to please help in completing this project.
So we request all the devotees who have assembled here to kindly contribute to complete this project.
This project is unique.
This project is unique.
It will enhance the prestige of the Vaishnavas, it will popularise the Holy Name, and I am sure that all the government agencies in Delhi and Bengal will be very proud of this temple also.
So this temple will certainly increase and enhance the prestige of the devotees, would spread the Holy Name, and also various government agencies would be connected to the temple.
So if we all resolve that we want to help, then Kṛṣṇa will give us the means by which we can do it. So He needs help. So He needs help and We should be willing to do it.
And we should be willing to do it.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Hare.
