Monday, July 2, 2012

ISKCON temple at Patna to be completed by 2014

The construction of Shri Shri Radha Banke Bihariji temple and spiritual centre, Patna, is expected to be completed by 2014. Spread over two acres of land, this temple is being constructed by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Budh Marg here.
"The temple was supposed to have been constructed by the end of 2012 but because of drainage problems, the deadline had to be extended," said Nand Gopal Das, spokesperson, ISKCON, Patna. In April 2007, CM Nitish Kumar had laid the foundation stone of the temple.
 "To be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 51 crore, this temple premises will comprise mediation and spiritual centre, restaurant, medical consultancy centre, community kitchen, guesthouse and an auditorium besides the two-storey main structure," Krishna Kripadas, president, ISKCON, Patna region, told TOI. The contract for construction of the temple has been given to a Delhi-based architect, Uday Pandey, who had also designed the Geeta temple at Haridwar.
The structure will have a central dome and three 'darbar' halls on the top floor where deities will be placed. At the main 'darbar', idols of Lord Krishna and Radha will be placed along with Lalita and Vishakha. The second 'darbar' hall would be for Lord Rama with Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman while the third 'darbar' hall will have idols of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityanand Mahaprabhu. All the idols would be placed on a 24-carat gold plated throne.
The contract for making the idols of the deities, each being around 3 feet, has been given to a Jaipur-based firm, 'Pandey Moorti'. The temple will also have 84 pillars decorated with pictures of Lord Krishna and Radha.
The community kitchen on the second floor, called 'food for life', would provide food to poor and to the victims of natural calamity. The pure vegetarian restaurant, Govinda, will serve 56 food items at a reasonable price and it would be open for general public.
The guesthouse would have 60 rooms, including both AC and non-AC rooms for members of ISKCON, while the auditorium would have the seating capacity of 1,500 persons. It would be given on rent for spiritual programmes. The temple will also have an ayurvedic research centre providing medical consultancy and treatment through ayurveda, homoeopathy and naturopathy.
"We are coming to Patna with an objective to extending a spiritual education to the residents here and to change the materialistic outlook of people towards life," said Mahavishnu Maharaj, regional secretary of ISKCON. "The temple aims to launch a number of social schemes for the benefit of the not-so-privileged members of the society," he added.
At present, around 8,500 Patnaites are members of ISKCON.

About ISKCON Patna

Authorized Vaishnava temple is the heart of spiritual advancement as well as the centre of vedic culture. Sri Sri Radha Banke Bihari Ji temple is dedicated for worship of the Lord by vedic Panchratrik process. The importance of 84 pillars is well established by Sri Vishwakarma Ji himself. So, this temple will be based on 84 pillars and will be most glorious. It will consist of three deity alters.

Sri Sri Gaur Nitai - Consists of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu & Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu
Sri Sri Radha Banke Bihari Ji - Consists of Sri Krishna-Smt. Radha Rani & lalita-Vishakha
Sri Sri Ram Durbar - Consists of Lord Sri Ram-Janaki-Laxman & Hanuman. Its outer transparent portion will be designed in such a way that it will enlighten internally and naturally at day time, and it will throw focused light at night. Designed marble and wooden structures will show the advance art of ancient Bihar.

Glories of Bihar

Srila Prabhupada Ji Maharaj emphasized to spread the Vedic Knowledge amongst masses. He taught us how to know the God and by taking His shelter only we can live joyous life. He also emphasized to establish glorious temples all over the world for spreading vedic knowledge. For this purpose, he went to America in 1965 at the age of 69 and established the INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS (ISKCON) in 1966. He devoted himself in such a manner that during 12 years of efforts, he established 108 temples and other preaching centers worldwide.

He had also met the then Governor of Bihar and had talks with him for spiritual advancement of Bihar. He also requested him to follow the spiritual movement without being deviated from the Principle of secularism. Actually the land of Bihar is such a nice cradle, where Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had started Sankirtan Movement for spiritual transformation of the world 500 years ago.

"A glorious temple must be built in Patliputra the spiritual holy land and historical Capital of Bihar."
- Srila Prabhupada 

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