New Temple for Hyderabad
This article, "New Temple for Hyderabad," was published in The Hindu, August 18, 1976, in Chennai, India.
From Our Hyderabad Correspondent
For the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, (ISKCON) Hyderabad has emerged as the main center in South India, and a Rs. 16 lakh temple called the Radha Madanmohan International Center is being inaugurated on August 18. It has been built on a piece of donated land on Nampally Road. ISKCON's other centers in South India are Madras and Bangalore.
Krishna Consciousness began a decade ago from a rented place at Second Avenue in New York city, U.S.A. In 1965, Acharya A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, at the age of 70, packed a metal suitcase with books and few personal belongings and boarded the steamship Jaladuta to sail to the West. He arrived in Boston on September 18, 1965. In New York, some young students joined him and the ISKCON was formed. In his storefront temple at New York, the Swami lectured on Bhagavad-Gita, distributed 'prasad' and led his tiny group in the chanting of 'maha-mantra'.
The basis of the movement is the Hare Krishna mantra and the devotees believe that chanting this mantra cleanses the mind. It is explained by the devotees that chanting of this mantra lifts one directly to spiritual knowledge.
The movement is world-wide fanning across the U.S., Europe, Australia, South America, Japan, Indonesia, Africa and India. According to the President of the Hyderabad ISKCON, Mahamsa Swami, there are over 100 temples of Krishna Consciousness all over the world with 10,000 full-time devotees.
Talking to the devotees here - busy giving finishing touches to the temple - one is convinced that they are neither "crazy" nor are they "misguided youth". All of them fluently quote from the Bhagavad-Gita and talk with a deep sense of conviction about their love for God, especially Krishna.
Mahamsa Swami says that Krishna Consciousness is a way of life and the main purpose is to develop the "love of God". In 'kaliyuga' he adds, chanting the name of God (naam sankeertan) was the best way to awaken the dormant love of God lying buried in the individual. Caste, creed, religion, colour, sex and other bodily designations are transcended.
Every one who joins the movement is assigned a role to play, this is decided on his or her aptitude and propensity. The devotees follow four strict principles: "no meat, fish or egg, no intoxicants including tea and coffee, no illicit sex and no gambling." The emphasis is on simple living and high thinking.
The ISKCON at Hyderabad plans to start Sanskrit classes soon for devotees and outsiders. It is also finalising plans for setting up an agarbath manufacturing plant to meet the needs of the various temples all over the world. At the Hare Krishna Land here, the bhajans and kirtans are not only attended by devotees but also by outsiders.
An important project, ISKCON will be launching is community farming on a 600-acre area near Medchal, about 40 km from here. This is expected to benefit people living in the villages of Dableepuram, Nuthankal, Konaipalli and Lingampally. ISKCON devotees would impart simple, practical and economical agricultural techniques to peasants. A dairy farm is also to be set up here. The other centres being planned to be set up here are: handloom weaving, nature cure hospital and a 'gurukula' school.
The temple that is getting ready is built on just about 1000 sq yards. Sculptors, mostly from Tamil Nadu, are busy giving the final effects. Provision has been made for a printing section, library and a number of rooms for 'brahmacharis' in the basement and on the sides. The temple will be inaugurated on 'Janmashtami' day by Acharya Prabhupada.