Open in App
Open in App

Prabhupada had that power, evocative power, to bring Krishna to a place, ask Him to sit tight

Nara Narayan das: The setting of the cornerstone of a temple is an extremely important thing. What happens is when this pit is established, it is actually protected by Ananta Sesa, which means that it's very well protected indeed. And, of course, the manner in which the ceremony takes place also determines the outcome of the power of protection that the pit has. Now, in the case of this particular cornerstone, Prabhupada later on confided, he said, "When we first purchased this land from Mr. Nair, I did not see how we could keep this land." He said, "But I thought if I bring Krishna here and I ask Krishna to sit tight, if He sits tight, if He stays, then I knew that it is possible we will be able to keep this land." He built the temple, and the temple is there today to prove what can be done. 
 
By the order of the pure devotee of the Lord, on his order this temple was built by Krishna's protection. So even Prabhupada did not believe it was possible, yet Krishna made it possible. So somehow this cornerstone laying was very significant in that regard because this is certainly part and parcel of Prabhupada asking Krishna to sit tight. And we know historically that when the police came to drag people away, the devotee girl Maitihili was holding onto the pole and they were pulling on her legs. And they tried to come with oxy-acetylene torches to cut down the temple; somehow they were cutting, but they could not finally get the Deity away. So Krishna sat tight. But Prabhupada had that power, evocative power, to bring Krishna to a place, ask Him to sit tight, and through the power of this pit of the cornerstone made it stick for all time.


Reference: Following Srila Prabhupada-A Chronological Series by Nara Narayana Dasa