From the Communications Office, Sri Mayapur Dhama

adbhuta mandira ei haibe prakash
gauranga nitya seva haibe vikasa

'One astounding temple will appear, from which Lord Gauranga's eternal service will be preached all over the world'. - Lord Nityananda in the "Navadwip Mahatmya"

Contents:

1) Editorial 
2) News 
3) Managing Directors' Report Abhirama Dasa 
4) Fund raising Development Kalakantha Dasa 
5) An Interview with Madhumati Dasi 
6) Acknowledgements

1) EDITORIAL

A hot topic these days is globalization. It means big corporations developing global markets: Kentucky Fried Chicken selling in India, and so on. The term also covers satellite broadcasting, which goes everywhere, and the spreading of a global 'culture' rooted in Hollywood, New York and London. (Then there is the Internet!) How will the Vedic culture fare in this globalize world?

Will it be a mere sideshow, on a par with the Zulu or Mayan cultures? Or a relic of the past to show the tourists in Khajuraho or Konarak?

What roles do Vedic and Vaishnava culture have to play? Will we even get on this new world stage? What is our way forward?

Read this bit of conversation, held during a morning walk with Srila Prabhupada in the fields of Mayapur, in 1976:

Srila Prabhupada: . . . simply "Temple of the Vedic Planetarium," that's all. We shall show the Vedic conception of the planetary systems within this material world and above the material world. We are going to exhibit the Vedic culture throughout the whole world, and they will come here.

Jayapataka Swami: The whole world will be coming here to visit.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Just like they come to see the Taj Mahal. They come to see the architectural culture. And they will come to see the civilisation culture, the philosophical culture, the religious culture practically demonstrated with dolls and other things.

Jayapataka Swami: And we will be advertising that all over the world.

Hrdayananda Goswami: It is a perfect plan.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes.

Jayapataka Swami: There can be a model of that temple in every ISKCON temple all over the world.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes.

Jayapataka Swami: Then advertising: "Come here."

Srila Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Actually it will be a unique thing in the world. There is no such thing all over the world. That we shall do. And not only simply showing a museum, but educating people to that idea.

Hrdayananda Goswami: Preaching.

Srila Prabhupada: Right. With factual knowledge books; not fictitious.

 Srila Prabhupada envisioned a world class building, more beautiful than the Taj Mahal. He wanted to establish the authenticity of Vedic culture in the global contexts of architecture, civilization, philosophy, and religion. He desired exhibits to educate the public, and wanted people coming to Mayapur from all over the world.

Recently, in our presentation to the GBC, Abhirama Prabhu demonstrated that the design concept for this beautiful world class temple is complete. He stressed the urgency to take the project forward by raising funds in India for the first phase. Abhirama said to the GBC, 'If you neglect this, we will stall. Our momentum will be spoiled.'

Five members of the GBC offered their involvement in the work of the Sri Mayapur Project Development Committee, and Ambarish Prabhu has also stepped forward. We are getting good support from the big centres in India. The signs are good.

And not a moment too soon! The global 'culture' must be challenged. Manipulation and exploitation produce too many horrible results: degradation of the physical and psychic environments, breakdown of family values, and conflicts among nations. The global ad men do not know about the spirit soul. The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium will challenge and then guide their soulless global culture. The Mayapur Project can make a difference not only for ISKCON and India but for the whole suffering globe.

Please keep Srila Prabhupada's Mayapur Project in your prayers.

Your Servant,

Bhagavat Dharma Dasa

E-mail: bhagavat.dharma.mg@bbt.se

Sri Mayapur Project Web Page: http://www.mayapur.org

(We have been unable to update our Web site for some time because of bad connections from Mayapur. Please check it in April.)

 2) NEWS

Thank you to all who responded to our appeal for flood relief in Mayapur. A special mention goes to Radharadhya Prabhu, from Germany, for his generous contribution.

 The Sri Mayapur Vikas Sangha received word from the Indian government that their project of developing the work of the weavers in the area has been accepted for government assistance. Details will follow. The SMVS is also awaiting clearance by the West Bengal government for a health programme sponsored by the United Nations Development programme.

 Many devotees have read the excellent Mayapur Journal, produced since 1989, by Gaura lila Prabhu in Switzerland. The Journal, distributed for a small subscription fee, keeps many devotees in touch with Mayapur. The Journal also encourages donors in Switzerland to contribute generously to the gurukula, the cow protection program and flood relief. Because Gaura lila is now involved in bringing a spiritual rock opera called 'The Song Divine' to the London stage, he has produced his closing issue of the Journal this spring. A big thanks to Gaura Lila Prabhu from all of us in the Mayapur Project and from the residents of Mayapur. May Lord Gauranga bless your new venture with success! (Please see Section 5 for an interview with Madhumati Dasi about the future of the Mayapur Journal, which we will be producing from now on.)

 The GBC members made two resolutions about Mayapur this year. First, they added Gopal Krishna Maharaja and Sesa Prabhu as GBCs for Mayapur. Sesa will take responsibility for all of the schools and higher education projects. Second, six devotees will help the Sri Mayapur Project Development Committee: Bhakti Caru Maharaja, Gopal Krishna Maharaja, Radhanatha Maharaja, Siva Rama Maharaja, Ambarisha Prabhu and Anuttama Prabhu.

 During the last seven weeks, devotees relished the Mayapur Institute of Higher Education courses on sastra, cooking, Deity worship, writing, yoga, fund raising, teaching, social development, and communications. With 304 students enrolled in 31 courses, offered by 27 senior devotees, MIHE's premiere semester got off to a good start. Here's a breakdown:

English Medium Students:  177  
From Mayapur:        92  
From Elsewhere:      85 
Bengali Medium Students:  127 

Students on full scholarships in both mediums
Gurukulis:        23   
Gurukula teachers:    33

Kurma Prabhu, one of our popular teachers, said, "Thanks to the MIHE staff, we now have an excellent institute for devotees, where they can make wonderful use of their time in the dhama. I encourage all devotees to take advantage of the great opportunities the MIHE offers."

 3) A REPORT TO THE GBC

INTRODUCTION 
Abhirama Dasa  - Managing Director of the Mayapur Project

 Once again I have the pleasure to report on a year of significant progress for the Sri Mayapur Project. Our most important step has been the completion of the temple design. We believe it will be one of the most important architectural achievements in centuries. It is quite dramatic.

As you hear about and look over our work, please do not underestimate the importance of excellent design; it alone may encourage the elite to support its construction. Prince Charles has watched the development of this design for some years now, and has offered to visit Mayapur when we begin! We see that many world heritage groups act to protect the Taj Mahal, even though it is a Muslim tomb. People will support beautiful design, even if they do not support the religion behind it. Srila Prabhupada said about this project, "They will come for the architectural culture," and we believe we now have a design that will achieve our spiritual master's purpose.

Pada sevanam and I have laboured to understand the roots of our Gaudiya Vaishnava culture in the muddy Ganges clay of Bengal. We have tried to portray the spirit of our movement's roots in Gauradesh, which included Bengal, Orissa, and Bihar. You will notice the Bangla style chajjas, or curved arching roof edges. The main dome, or shikara, is influenced by the architecture of Orissa. We blended these elements into the overall design as integral and harmonious expressions of our roots, while also showing international aspirations for our future by the bold scale and eclectic details.

We have also moved into more detailed designs for the campus or town around the temple and have brought it to an advanced stage. Jayapataka Swami inspired us to rework the basic vastu grid, of 8x8, into one of 9x9, which may conform more accurately to the predictions given in the shastras. Although I resisted this for years, we were finally able to find a way to change the pattern without wasting the work done in Bangalore four years ago.

We also reworked many details in the design to make it practical to build in the present context. Flood control is one of the keys to turning this swampy farmland into a world centre of spiritual culture, and we have a complete design from the engineers of Mott McDonald in Cambridge U.K. for building a simple dyke around the perimeter of our land.

Many other important things have been achieved. Most important, we have laid the groundwork for the fund raising, with Ambarish taking his role as a leader to heart, and Kalakantha backing up Ambarish's leadership. The future will depend on the success of our fund raising, and you must all take some dramatic, effective steps this year to consolidate the gains we have made.

My greatest concern lies in this single thing: your commitment as leaders to get behind the project. I request you to do only one thing this year: work out some way that we can begin fund raising in India. Initial responses from a recent survey conducted in India by Bob Kovacevich of Avatar, our fund raising consultants, seem to show that the leading donors are enthusiastic. We just have to begin to ask them. Please show the leadership and courage, and they will eagerly follow. If you neglect this, we will stall. Our momentum will be spoiled. Please respond effectively to this one need.

In summary, I am very happy to say that we have completed the theoretical design work and have moved toward more substantial, detailed designs. We have developed a new phasing strategy, which allows us to begin at once on the smallest of the three domes. This building will house the planetarium theatre and many exhibits. It can be completed and opened for tours within six years and cost less than $20 million. We are ready to begin moving into a construction mode, so it is now time for you, the leaders of ISKCON, to get behind this project if you want to fulfill this mandate of Srila Prabhupada.

We have much to do at the architectural level, and will be working on design details until the last brick is laid, but the design concept is clear, and it is time to begin setting up fund raising and construction.

As I have been promising, we are ready to begin the construction next year, in 2001. This means that it is time for each of you to consider how to put the resources of this Society to work on behalf of the Founder's wish that a world headquarters should come up at Sridham Mayapur. This is to be our Vatican, our Mecca!

I have been extremely honoured to have had the backing of all of you over these last several years. Leading this project up to this stage will always be one of the highlights of my life. If I die tomorrow, my heart will have a little peace that at least I contributed a fraction of my life to something of real value to the world.

I can only pray to the Vaishnavas to continue to engage me somehow or other in the service of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, and I will try with all my heart to please Srila Prabhupada. I have many personal challenges ahead of me, which cannot be avoided. I will try hard to continue to make a contribution, but I must confess it has been a huge personal strain.

Please, each one of you, take some trouble this year to put the fund raising on track in India! Thank you. Your prayers and guidance will be my only hope.

 4) THE FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN FIRST STEPS 
By Kalakantha Dasa

During this year, we took some first steps towards fund raising. We have now identified a clear and conventional course that is firmly supported by the project's leading donor, Ambarish prabhu.

Plans considered early in the year for raising money through sales and development of planetarium and museum presentations were dropped when it became clear that the market for such presentations was either too weak or required too much compromise.

A focused effort in the UK to promote and raise funds for Mayapur regional development generated the support of some very influential people, which, with continued input, should translate into a source of funds for this aspect of the project.

We are now pursuing three basic goals: to carry on our efforts to gather and hold support for the Mayapur project among devotees, to map out a realistic fund raising effort guided by a professional, and to begin fund raising work in India as a necessary first step to an international campaign.

To reach these goals we took these specific steps:

1) We cooperated with Back To Godhead magazine to produce a special end of the millenium Mayapur issue, meant to inform and encourage ISKCON devotees around the world. Thirty thousand copies were distributed. Comments about the issue have been excellent.

2) After researching options, we selected a new fund raising consultant, Bob Kovacevich of Orlando, Florida, who owns Avatar Fundraising Co. Bob met Srila Prabhupada in 1968 as a college student in Boston and visited the Boston temple for some time before loosing track of devotees. After developing a successful career in fund raising, he is now very pleased to be working with the Mayapur Project.

3) Under Bob's guidance we are conducting a Mayapur Project Study in India. Such studies are standard starting points for major fund raising campaigns. They provide key prospects with the opportunity to learn about a project and express their questions and concerns in an objective way. This information in turn gives project leaders a means to realistically gauge the potential support and important priorities for developing the project.

Under the enthusiastic leadership of campaign chairman Ambarish Prabhu, the leaders of several ISKCON India temples have extended much cooperation in the effort. The results should be compiled and presented to the SMPDC trustees by early May. With the results of the study in hand we will generate a step by step fund raising plan and develop a case for support, the essential document that prepares donors to contribute.

A general projection for the entire project calls for about 1000 crores, or roughly US$250 million. The primary target, which includes the temple, surrounding gardens, gateways and so on, is estimated at $100 million. The secondary level, which includes the infrastructure for the township, educational development, dyking etc, plus the tertiary level of regional development will take up the balance.

Of this we project 40% to come from private investments. Ambarish Prabhu has pledged about 5%, and a similar commitment may be expected from the BBT. The remaining 50% must come from other private donors. To raise these funds is an opportunity for all followers of Srila Prabhupada to help him fulfil the vision of Lord Nityananda and the previous acharyas.

 5) An Interview with Madhumati Dasi

Madhumati Devi Dasi comes from Vancouver. She joined ISKCON in 1974 and was initiated by Srila Prabhupada. She has served as a book distributor, a pujari, and a gurukula ashrama teacher. She now takes care of her own children. In recent years, she worked as an insurance agent to support her family. She visited Mayapur for the first time last year and became inspired to serve in Mayapur. She is now in charge of fund raising development for the Mayapur Project in Mayapur.

Question: How did you become involved in Mayapur?

Answer: I prayed to Srila Prabhupada that I could do something worthwhile for him. Last year, after I visited, I also prayed to Lord Nrsinghadeva and asked Him to remove any obstacles that prevented me from returning quickly. I got inspired about the Mayapur Project after talking with Abhirama Prabhu.

Question: What will your role be in Mayapur?

Answer: I saw myself as the little spider, who in his own way helped Lord Rama build the bridge to Lanka. Now I have been given a service like Hanuman's. I will direct the fund raising for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur, and develop an international support network, modelled on Gaura lila's successful Mayapur Journal.

Question: How will this network function?

Answer: The Mayapur Journal is a window into Mayapur. Gaura lila inspired many people to visit, and he formed an association of inspired Swiss supporters who contributed to many projects in Mayapur. I want to help develop an international association to support Mayapur and continue the Journal in the same mood. We will give the Journal a new name: Mayapur International. Working with the existing association in Switzerland, we will set up other groups of supporters around the world.

Question: What can we expect in 'Mayapur International'?

Answer: You will discover the depth and extent of the Mayapur Project. You will meet residents of Mayapur and learn about various Deities. You will sit in the classrooms of the four schools here, and visit the cows and learn how they are protected. You will walk on the pathways where the new temple will be and cycle to Lord Caitanya's birth site and pastimes places. You will also visit the home of Bhaktivinoda Thakur and learn of his vision for the Mayapur Project. It will be a voyage of discovery, and we invite everyone to come along.

Question: Why do you think the Mayapur Project is important?

Answer: I feel that in these uncertain times, we can all safely unite under the banner of Srila Prabhupada's Mayapur project. It is certainly one of his most dear desires, and we know our Vaishnava history: this development was envisioned by our previous acharyas and is supported by them. I'm very inspired to get devotees directly involved in the project.

Question: Do you see any specific importance of the Mayapur Project at this time?

Answer: Like many devotees of my generation, I went through a period in my life when I kept some distance from ISKCON, although I maintained my attachment to Srila Prabhupada. In recent years, through the kind association of the Vaishnavas, and also through my own personal realisation of the value of my human life, I came to the point of feeling compelled to serve Srila Prabhupada through thick and thin. By coming in contact with the Mayapur Project and Srila Prabhupada's vision to build this temple, I have gained a lot of strength and energy and faith. I think many other devotees can gain in the same way, by giving even a little of their energy to something very dear to our acharyas.

Thank you, Madhumati Dasi!

To get involved with Mayapur International, please contact madhumati.acbsp@bbt.se

 6) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the following devotees who helped with this issue: Abhirama Dasa, Kalakantha Dasa, Madhumati Dasi, Pancaratna Dasa and Tattvavit Dasa (our editor). (Text COM:3093269)

© CHAKRA 23-Mar-2000

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