November 1999
From the Communications Office, New Delhi, India

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 of this issue:

                1) Editorial
                2) News Bytes
                3) Rising to the Challenge - Pada-Sevanam Dasa
                4) The Mother of All Floods - Gaura Sakti Dasa
                5) The Launch of a Team Spirit!
                6) Acknowledgements

1) EDITORIAL.

Our devotees and supporters always want to hear substantial news on the progress of the Mayapur Project. Therefore, on one occasion, a good friend offered me the criticism that this newsletter focused too much on what a small group of people does.

He had a point, and I will try to focus on more events and positive steps. In this issue, however, risking my friend’s criticism again, I focus on two Project members who have far-reaching responsibilities. And I take a look at our developing team spirit.

Pada-Sevanam prabhu has given many years of service to the team. He talks about the progress of his work as Chief Designer, and shares personal observations and realisations.

Gaura Sakti prabhu was in Mayapur during the recent heavy floods. He has a lot of engineering experience and heads the construction department, so I asked him what plans he has to protect the devotees, the construction work and the properties in future floods. I learned that we have some technical expertise in dealing with floods, but that for some factors we cannot proceed without professional help.

Our team spirit came into play at the beginning of October, when we held a launch event in London for The Mayapur Trust. More than one hundred people attended our evening event at a London hotel, to back the cause of ensuring safe drinking water in the villages around Mayapur. The next day, we met as a team with our engineers in London.

After six months in England, I have returned to Delhi with my family. There is a positive and professional mood in the office here. Abhirama asked Sunil Bhatta, of GRUP India, our project management consultants, to assume responsibility for the master plan and architectural works, and this has proven to be efficient and productive.

After a short time in Delhi, I will go to Mayapur, with my family, for four months, to help set up an outreach office, and to work with devotees to develop publications and our web site.

I hope you enjoy this issue. I am sorry our issues have not been as regular as we’d like them to be. Please check our website regularly, at www.mayapur.org Once we get a team working in Mayapur we will do our very best to keep ISKCON and the larger world informed and inspired.

By the way, please get the new Back to Godhead. We worked closely with the BTG staff on a special Mayapur issue. They have covered the daily life and worship in Mayapur, as well as the plans for the project. This is a special extra-colour issue of the magazine. I hope you find it inspiring.

Best Wishes.

Your Servant.

Bhagavat Dharma Dasa

Internet: bhagavat@netcomuk.co.uk  
COM: bhagavat.dharma.mg@bbt.se

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

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2) NEWS BYTES.

Bhaktivedanta Gurukula Needs a Generator
BY DHARMATMA DASA

To improve the conditions for the Bhaktivedanta Gurukula students and staff, I am humbly canvassing devotees to donate funds for a generator. A generator will offset the numerous power outages, which cause very uncomfortable conditions in the classrooms and ashrams. A generator with a cable and a panel box will cost about 172,000 Rs, or approx. $4000.00.

I am contributing $1000.00 to get this generator. Any of you willing to donate, please contact me in the USA at 904-462-5115 or at DGorrick@aol.com or contact Vedasara prabhu and mother Racitambara, the managers of the gurukula: Vedasara.HKS@bbt.se or Racitambara.ACBSP@bbt.se

Mayapur Flood Appeal.

ISKCON Mayapur needs help as a result of this devastating flood. If you can contribute in any way, we need to hear from you.

We need funds for Prasadam distribution to the flood victims in the villages, and we also need help to restore ISKCON Mayapur.

If you can contribute in any way, please contact Dayaram Prabhu, at dayaram.jps@bbt.se

The Mayapur Festival and the New ‘Mayapur Institute of Higher Education’.

Organizers plan to make the year 2000 Gaura Purnima festival a memorable event in Mayapur. While the year 2000 has no deep meaning for Gaudiya Vaishnavas, the Mayapur devotees want to make a special effort to please the Lord and his servants. You can find details at www.mayapur.org/festival2000

Janmastami Dasa has begun the Mayapur Institute of Higher Education (MIHE). Enlivening seminars will be held around the time of the festival. See the schedule he has lined up at www.mayapur.org/mihe

The Mayapur Trust On Line

The Mayapur Trust website is up and running, hosted by ISKCON Net. The development has been done by Krishna Kirtan dasa, and we are very happy with his work. Please surf to http://www.mayapurtrust.org 

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3) RISING TO THE CHALLENGE.
An Interview with Pada-Sevanam Dasa

Pada-Sevanam prabhu has given many years of service to the Project team. His responsibility as Chief Designer for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is a weighty one. I caught up with him in Delhi and asked him about the design, and about his path back to Mayapur.

Q. I have seen many versions of the Temple over the years. Do you keep redesigning it? Or are you pushed by different managerial and financial considerations?

A. Certainly, we have had design changes. Many people have made contributions, large and small, and then moved on to other projects and other stages of life. But the changes have always happened for sound reasons.

One of my main concerns is to focus on the principles of the design. Externally our models may look different, but the principles remain the same. Srila Prabhupada began the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium on behalf of his predecessor acharyas. Our responsibility has been to develop a Temple that is more than just a religious building. We see the Temple as a mesocosm, an intermediate gate between the material and spiritual worlds.

Q. Please tell us about the principles involved.

A. The development of the fine arts, described in the Vedic literatures, begins with music. Further manifestations are dance, literature, painting, sculpture and finally architecture, the culmination of the fine arts.

There are principles of design embedded in all these arts, such as harmony, contrast, tala (rhythm), measure and balance. Attunement to these principles gives us some appreciation of an objective aesthetic.

As we investigated these principles through the study of scripture and the study of ancient buildings, we came to understand that many of the ancients also embodied the same principles in their sacred constructions. For instance, take the proportional relationship of the radii of the Earth and Moon and their interaction. Ancient people saw a sacred geometry in the way the universe was constructed by the hand of God.

This building should harmonise with the Lord’s creation, and give all those who enter it a sense of their connection with Him. On the human level, we have studied the system of chakras within the body, and incorporated those principles in the design. On the cosmic scale, we have studied the geo-centric movements and distances of the planets and the positions of the stars.

The temple is a bridge between heaven and earth, between the microcosm and the macrocosm, between the realm of man and the realm of God. Before a person even sees the Deities, he should feel the presence of the Universal Architect in the building.

Q. You have developed these principles while you were in the West. Indeed, your ideas have come to the attention of Prince Charles, well known for his interest in sacred architecture. How has returning to India affected your life and your life’s work?

A. It was never my desire to live in an Indian city like Delhi. I am a little older now than when I previously lived in India, and in a different stage of life. I also realise now that that this Temple has a life of its own, and that I am a servant, trying to do the right thing. Somehow, I feel a depth and a taste for my service, which seems to compensate for the daily grind of dealing with Delhi - especially the long and very hot summer.

Of course, it was a positive step to bring the design back into the Indian cultural context. Many people, studies and examples of the culture are more available to us here. If you peek a little below the surface, the Vedic culture is still very much accessible.

Our recent realisation is that this temple must grow out of the soil of Bengal, culturally, artistically and architecturally. We will use local materials for dyke-making, foundations and brick-making. As Gaudiya Vaishnavas, we have a great heritage. We have incorporated the famous Bengali arch now in the design, and we have incorporated many local style motifs.

Q. What lies ahead? What steps have to happen before construction? Will you go to live in Mayapur?

A. Now we have reached the stage of refining our design. We are gradually freezing the concept. Everyone involved seems satisfied. We seem to have solved the aesthetic, cultural, structural and financial questions. We know the utilities needed and their location. Now we must look very closely at fine-tuning, with reference to sacred measure and proportion.

I see that Mayapur will go through a lot of changes in the years to come, in preparation for the Temple. I think there will be a shift of understanding. Mayapur will grow from a campus to a township. The way of running a town will need to be very different. The township will still have a rural feel, and simple living and high thinking must remain our goals. Although we are constructing on a large scale, we will try to balance the effect, by incorporating and maintaining gardens and open spaces.

I am personally eager to see that rural atmosphere maintained. I initially moved to Mayapur from Australia, and lived at the gurukula village for almost five years. I developed a deep appreciation for the natural, peaceful and beautifully maintained environment there, where education and brahminical life are practiced so nicely.

I see this environment as the real Mayapur. This practice of Vaishnava culture is what we are presenting to the world. There is no reason why this has to be threatened by the large temple or by the many residents and guests.

I am looking forward to going back to live in Mayapur. I want to make my base there, although I will still have a lot of travelling to do in the next few years.

As for the construction, I think we have to be clear that we are not just building a temple for those of us in ISKCON. This is an offering for the whole world, a way to enhance communication of Lord Chaitanya’s message to everyone.

I feel that this temple can be achieved only if we embrace a larger community than we have previously considered. We need financial, but more so, emotional support from a broad spectrum of people. They may not be strict ISKCON Vaishnavas, or even Vaishnavas at all. Each person who contributes will move closer to the goal of his or her life. This is a world-scale project, envisioned by Srila Prabhupada to make a real impact in the world. I have found people inspired by this project in all walks of life.

Srila Prabhupada told devotees in Mayapur many times that the Lord will reciprocate with the desire of his devotees. In fact, he began saying this when ISKCON Mayapur consisted of just a few huts in the rice fields. Those of us on the Project team have a strong desire to complete this task for Srila Prabhupada, and there is a thriving community in Mayapur who pray and preach with great enthusiasm every day. I am sure that the Lord will reciprocate with the pure desire of His Divine Grace and all his sincere followers.

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4) THE MOTHER OF ALL FLOODS
How should we protect the Devotees and the Temple?
Insights by Gaura Sakti Dasa

This year Mayapur experienced the worst floods since 1978. At one stage, the water in the temple room was over five feet deep. Unusually, the water fell and rose again four times. I asked Gaura Sakti Dasa, head of construction, why it was happening, how badly it affected the devotees and whether it can be prevented in the future.

Q. What was the cause of such terrible flooding this year?

A. There were a number of factors. The main one was an unusual pattern of torrential rainfall in this part of India.

The Bhagirathi River is a part of the Ganges. A huge, man-made barrage, at Farrakah, in north Bengal, manages the water flowing toward the delta and the Bhagirathi. There are many other barrages and dams across tributaries of the Bhagirathi. Good practice demands that when pressure threatens to overwhelm the dams, water must be released. This can result in huge pulses of water travelling down the Bhagirathi’s course.

There is also a political dimension. The Farrakah barrage is subject to a confidential agreement between India and Bangladesh. A new treaty came into operation two years ago, and since that time, we have seen unusually high and low water levels in the Bhagirathi.

Q. You were in Mayapur for some time during the floods. How were the devotees affected?

A. Well, there was a severe disruption in everyone’s life and devotional service. Food and drinking water were in short supply. The electricity and the telephones were cut off. The peacefulness of Mayapur was disrupted. The cows and other animals were threatened, and the gardens were wrecked. There are many elements of danger in such a situation. Four hundred devotees remained in Mayapur at this time and tried to continue as best as possible. Some tried to provide food and help for local villagers.

Q. How can you protect the devotees and the construction?

A. A good engineering plan must take into account all elements of uncertainty. We give weight to each element, and look carefully at various plausible scenarios. Of course, cost factors have to be taken into account. This year, the Ganga rose to 10.6 meters above mean sea level, 3.6m above the normal level here. The highest flood ever recorded rose to 10.75m above sea level. We have to plan to deal with the worst-case scenario, in a cost-effective way.

Q. It seems that the need is urgent. Why has nothing been done so far?

A. We understood many years ago that to build the temple and township, we had to incorporate flood protection, but first we had to have a detailed master plan and a detailed study of the topography of our land. Items such as storm drains and sewers had to be planned before we could see what flood protection was possible and desirable.

We decided to seek professional guidance in this area, and eventually settled with a company called Mott McDonald, a London firm with wide experience in flood mitigation in India and Bangladesh. Their engineers spent several weeks on our site in Mayapur, studying the land and the Ganga flow. We also continued our own investigations and studies. Eventually, Mott McDonald presented us with the idea of earthen-wall dyking, which was also our own conclusion. We felt that this was the best way to go - to build a dyke around the ISKCON property well above the highest recorded flood level. Mott gave us a detailed plan. The earth walls are carefully engineered to cope. They also suggested a pumping station to remove storm water.

Q. Will you have to have this earthen dyke in place before you begin construction?

A. Well, there are two arguments right now.

To put a dyke around the whole property is obviously going to be expensive, although it is very much needed.

There could be a cost-effective way to protect the Temple area, as we begin construction. We have to remove a large volume of clay from the ground before we begin ground improvement works and the foundations. We feel that the volume of clay may build into a dyke protection around the construction area. This will be a temporary measure, which will allow us to start construction while plans for the larger dyke are settled and implemented.

Whether to take this pragmatic measure, or wait for the full protection is a subject of debate right now, among our professional advisors and ourselves. Basically the flood protection work can begin when we have the finances in place. We see this as a necessary investment. The goal of a flood-free Mayapur is an attractive proposition. We believe that many more devotees will consider coming to live in Mayapur if we get this right, as will many investors who want to start businesses and run hotels, guest houses, and so on.

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5) THE LAUNCH AND THE TEAM SPIRIT

Abhirama prabhu, our managing director, has the rare skill of bringing talented people in a timely way to the Project, and working with them and supporting them, to develop new dimensions of our work.

He met Braja Sevaki Dasi, from Australia, who has experience working in the media and as a personal assistant to government ministers and high-level business people. Braja has an impressive resume.

She came to London and began developing relationships with people in the restaurant industry, with a view to engaging them in supporting the Mayapur Trust. This UK charity was founded to support the human development work of the Sri Mayapur Vikas Sangha (SMVS).

Braja then turned her attention to the celebrity world, and contacted Art Malik, a well-known Indian actor in London, and the team of ‘Goodness, Gracious Me’ (GGM), a comedy show put together by talented Indians, broadcast by the BBC. She garnered their support and commitment.

The culmination of Braja’s work, and Abhirama’s support, was the launch of the ‘Safe Drinking Water Campaign’ by the Mayapur Trust, at a prestigious hotel in London, on October 8th. In attendance were Baroness Flather, an active, Indian-born member of the UK House of Lords, Art Malik and Kulvinder Ghir of GGM.

Ambarisha prabhu, the chairman of the Mayapur Foundation in the USA, opened the proceedings, asking those present for their support. Pancaratna prabhu, director of the SMVS, gave a very personal and effective speech about his twenty years of experience in Mayapur.

The campaign publicises the problems faced by the Nadia District villagers, whose water supplies are contaminated by arsenic. We have begun an initiative to test and mark polluted wells, with help from the Indo-Canadian Environmental Facility, but there is a great deal more work to do.

Braja is working now with Divya Simha prabhu, of the Mayapur Trust, to develop all the contacts we made and to expand their goodwill towards Mayapur. We expect a national newspaper feature in the next few days.

Braja’s leadership in this area has given us greater insight into the task ahead. We will launch similar initiatives around the world to gather support for the construction of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium and other developments in Mayapur.

The day after the launch, we met with our engineers, Alan Baxter Associates, to review their progress on the Temple. Ambarisha Prabhu played an active part, as did Ranchor prabhu, who was the first designer engaged by Srila Prabhupada for the Project, in 1971.

After the meeting, we made our now customary climb to the top of nearby St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Cathedral, at two-hundred-and-fifty-feet high, gives us a good idea of the scale of the Temple we are going to build in Mayapur. It was built in the seventeenth century, and has survived the ravages of time, air pollution and the London blitz.

The launch event, the meeting, and perhaps the sense of achievement at having reached the small parapet high above the London streets brought out several comments about a developing team spirit. I snapped a few shots with my camera before we climbed down and went back to our homes and work. Look for them on our web page at www.mayapur.org

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6) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

I would like to thank the following devotees who helped with this issue: Pada-Sevanam Dasa, Gaura Sakti Dasa and Tattvavit dasa, who did the editing, and who is bringing us up to a higher standard.

© CHAKRA 2nd-Nov-1999

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