125th appearance day celebrations of Srila Prabhupada & his birthplace at Tollygunge, Calcutta

Important News

My dear Maharaj ji’s, Prabhu ji’s and Mata ji’s
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

We wanted to share GOOD NEWS with all of you. No, we did not get the balance money which was needed to shift 17 bharatiyas. But WE GOT a LOAN of Rs 1 crore and I am grateful that Dauji Kripa Prabhu arranged this Rs 1 crore loan (This is on top of Rs 50 lakhs which was arranged by him and given by ISKCON Kolkata for Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan).

With this, we have shifted 17 families and demolished their 17 houses and Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan is finally FREE. Since we do not want to offer Srila Prabhupada a construction site on his 125th birth anniversary on 31st August 2021, we have initiated the 1st phase of Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan in which we have started construction of 260 feet boundary wall around the property to secure it. We will also complete the frontage and area around the Jackfruit Tree. Srila Prabhupada Lotus feet are being made in white makarana marble in Jaipur and four cornerstones which will be installed on 31st August 2021. We will complete the flooring of about half the property (around 1800 square feet) in the 1st phase which will complete by the morning of 31st August 2021. The work is going on 24 hours X 7 basis.

The 2nd phase of construction will start later. In the 2nd phase of construction, we are planning an ISKCON Vrindavan Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Mandir kind of structure at Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan with a life-size murti of Srila Prabhupada.

The 2nd phase will also focus on acquiring adjacent properties and total land of around 2 acres around Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan.

As we have started work at Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan wonderful things are getting revealed every day. When we removed all the 80 years old construction in which these families lived and removed the flooring of their houses and dig for the foundation of the boundary wall, we were startled by the soil beneath it. The soil of Srila Prabhupada Jamasthan is same soil which is found in Braja (Vrindavan, Mathura). It’s yellowish, it’s soft like powder. This kind of soil is not found in Bengal. The neighbors and people around it were also startled that this kind of soil is coming out. We are placing these layers of soil which we got 4 feet down around the Jackfruit tree so that devotees can roll in it. The same soil which touched the lotus small feet of Abhay Charan. We are also raising the height of Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan by 3 feet from the road. For that, we have brought white sand from Yamuna ji and Ganga ji and we will mix it with the soil of Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan and raise the ground. Sand of Yamuna ji and Ganga carries dust of all the important holy places along their banks.

Also, there are 2 ancient Radha Krishna temples 100 meters from Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan. Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan ji and Sri Sri Radha Govind ji. The famous Kali temple is just 1 km from Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan and on the same road. Right opposite to Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan was an ancient Kund (pond) which was filled up by locals and encroached. We are negotiating with them and we are planning to acquire that Holy pond and we will again dig it up and restore the ancient pond.

Also 100 meters from Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan is Adi-Ganga or ancient Ganga. Mother Ganga was flowing here hundred of years back but later changed its corse and currently, Adi-Ganga has become a nullah. The Adi-Ganga has lots of ancient Ghats along with it. We had requested Chief Minister to revamp the banks of Adi-Ganga and to clean it up. We are happy to announce that the Chief Minister has just announced Rs 1300 crores Adi-Ganga revamp plan.

Yesterday, the Honorable Chief Minister has also directed the officials to make the papers ready so that the Government can hand over Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan papers to ISKCON before 31st August 2021. The land belongs to the Government and the Government will gift this land to ISKCON (since the removal of all the 17+3 families is complete).

We are very grateful to all those who donated especially ISKCON Juhu (HG Braj Hari Prabhu and Bhima Prabhu) who have completed the transfer of their 76.25 lakhs rupees.

We are very grateful to the GBC body, His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, His Holiness Sivaram Swami, His Holiness Niranjan Swami for donating. ISKCON Chowpatty (Gauranga Prabhu & family of the late Srinathji Prabhu) gave Rs 30 lakhs, and ISKCON Pune has promised Rs 7.5 lakhs.

We humbly request all the temples, temple presidents, and devotees to keep donating. As the donations keep pouring in a beautiful temple and tirtha at Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan will keep manifesting on.

On 31st August 2021 (from 3 pm IST onwards) we will be telecasting live darshan of Srila Prabhupada Janmasthan on ISKCON Kolkata YouTube channel.

Our senior Maharaj’s will be speaking too. At 4 pm (IST) the installation ceremony of Srila Prabhupada Lotus feet will begin. Let us all join ONLINE to celebrate this important landmark in ISKCON’s chapter.

Please find attached yesterday’s evening video and photographs of Srila Prabhupada’s Janmasthan for your pleasure.

Always at your mercy,

Yours,

Radharaman Das