| Temple Project Update |
| Written by Simheswara dasa | ||
“I want a temple” updateSrila Prabhupada visited Malaysia on May 1971. The late Mr. Tun Sambanthan had invited Srila Prabhupada and his disciples to his home. At her home Mrs Uma Sambanthan sat at Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet and was hearing Srila Prabhupada explaining the process of Krishna consciousness. At one point Srila Prabhupada put a sketch of a three altar temple (a look alike of the current Sri Krsna Balaram temple) on her hand and said “I want a temple like this”. Prabhupada wanted her to help build a temple in Malaysia. But she could not give a definite response. Prabhupada left Malaysia and continued on his world tour. In 1980 ISKCON was registered and continued to steadily grow and be recognised as a commendable preaching movement. Properties were purchased and utilised as preaching centres to cater for congregation growth. However it was only in 2001 that ISKCON was able to start fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s desire to build a temple when the Penang Development Corporation approved the sale of an acre land to ISKCON in the Seberang Jaya religious precinct. Kalesa dasa, the Vice Chairman of the Temple Building Project took to heart his service to diligently supervise the application from beginning to getting the approval. On 13 November 2004 the first phase building was inaugurated and named in honor of Srila Prabhupada as the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Centre. And the second phase will especially be to fulfil Srila Prabhupada’s desire of “I want a temple like this”. It is time we started the actual temple construction and the third phase Multipurpose Hall.On January 21 at 9am the Sri Sri Radha Krsna "Temple of Devotion & Understanding" Tender Board Members met with the project Quantity Surveyor Mr. John Tan at the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Centre's Gauranga Conference Room before interviewing the four prospective Contractors who had successfully registered their quotations. The temple architect Mr. Ooi Kooi Keat and his C&S Engineer also joined interview sessions. Srila Prabhupada's purports to the Bhagavad-gita As It Is Chapter 11 text 55 and Chapter 12 text 10 explain how everyone be they rich or poor, whatever their position should serve Krsna. We are pleased to see it practically happening in the Sri Sri Radha Krsna Temple Building Project. Gita 11.55 purport ”...........As far as work is concerned, one should transfer his energy entirely to Krsna conscious activities. As stated in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.255), anasaktasya visayan atharham upayunjatah nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyateNo work should be done by any man except in relationship to Krsna. This is called krsna-karma. One may be engaged in various activities, but one should not be attached to the result of his work; the result should be done only for Him. For example, one may be engaged in business, but to transform that activity into Krsna consciousness, one has to do business for Krsna. If Krsna is the proprietor of the business, then Krsna should enjoy the profit of the business. If a businessman is in possession of thousands and thousands of dollars, and if he has to offer all this to Krsna, he can do it. This is work for Krsna. Instead of constructing a big building for his sense gratification, he can construct a nice temple for Krsna,........  Artist impression of Sri Sri Radha Krishna, "Temple of Devotion & Understanding"
Interviewing a contractor  Members of the Temple Tender Board From top left: Santi Vardhana Caitanya(Project Secretary), Ir. Rupa Raghunatha B.E.(Hons. Civil) (Managing Director, KAR Consultants), Sri Gauranga(Onshore Lead Design Coordinator) , N. Sunderaj B.App.Sc(Hons)Physics (Director, Dura Int)From bottom left: Sevananda(RM Leopad – Branch Manager), Kalesa(Project Vice-chairman), Simheswara (Project Chairman), Lokaswami (RM Leopad Managing Director) .......and he can install the Deity of Krsna and arrange for the Deity's service, as is outlined in the authorized books of devotional service. This is all krsna-karma. ...............
...........One should not be attached to the result of his work, but the result should be offered to Krsna, and one should accept as prasadam the remnants of offerings to Krsna.  prasadammmmmmmmm..self-explanatory ..........If one constructs a very big building for Krsna and installs the Deity of Krsna, one is not prohibited from living there, but it is understood that the proprietor of the building is Krsna. That is called Krsna consciousness. If, however, one is not able to construct a temple for Krsna, one can engage himself in cleansing the temple of Krsna; that is also krsna-karma. One can cultivate a garden.............. ..........Anyone who has land—in India, at least, any poor man has a certain amount of land—can utilize that for Krsna by growing flowers to offer Him....................   Lotuses and other flowers from our own garden attracting bees and dragonflies.   We were an uncommon sight for these monkeys at their natural habitat .......One can sow tulasi plants, because tulasi leaves are very important and Krsna has recommended this in Bhagavad-gita. Patram puspam phalam toyam. Krsna desires that one offer Him either a leaf, or a flower, or fruit, or a little water—and by such an offering He is satisfied. This leaf especially refers to the tulasi. So one can sow tulasi and pour water on the plant. Thus, even the poorest man can engage in the service of Krsna. These are some of the examples of how one can engage in working for Krsna. Gita 12.10 purport ”...........One should be sympathetic to the propagation of Krsnaa consciousness. There are many devotees who are engaged in the propagation of Krsnaa consciousness, and they require help. So, even if one cannot directly practice the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga, he can try to help such work. Every endeavor requires land, capital, organization and labor. Just as in business one requires a place to stay, some capital to use, some labor and some organization to expand, so the same is required in the service of Krsna. The only difference is that in materialism one works for sense gratification. The same work, however, can be performed for the satisfaction of Krsna, and that is spiritual activity. If one has sufficient money, he can help in building an office or temple for propagating Krsna consciousness.  The Bhaktivedanta Cultural Centre in operation since November 13, 2004 ......or he can help with publications. There are various fields of activity, and one should be interested in such activities. If one cannot sacrifice the results of his activities, the same person can still sacrifice some percentage to propagate Krsna consciousness. This voluntary service to the cause of Krsna consciousness will help one to rise to a higher state of love for God, whereupon one becomes perfect The Tender Board Members will meet again on February 9 to interview the two shortlisted candidates. The successful contractor will be appointed soon after that. The Temple Building Committee had originally targeted December 2008 or January 2009 to begin construction. But due to additional time required to review and improve the design, the construction will now begin on late February or early March. The beginning of construction will be dedicated as an “An Offering of Love" to Lord Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu on His 522nd appearance day celebrations on March 11, 2009. Temple construction to start soon
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