NHAI Authorities Acknowledge
the Hundreds of Petition Letters
However, this is not enough.
We have to make sure that a clear agreement is achieved.
17 August 2012 Bhubaneswar. This afternoon just an hour before a scheduled meeting between ISKCON authorities and the NHAI authorities, I had a brief interview with Sripad Atmaram Prabhu in regards to the situation of the recent demolition of temple properties including the sacred memorial hut of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). This beautiful Krishna Balaram temple in Bhubaneswar, is a world renowned pilgrimage site because it houses the memorial hut of one of India’s greatest Spiritual Masters, His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad and also because just beside it is the samadhi and bhajan kutir of the great saint Srila Gour Govinda Swami.
A Valid Court Order Until October 2012
The devotees have a court order valid until October 2012 that protected these properties from demolition threats of the NHAI in their implementation of their road widening project. In 2001, the NHAI and the local ISKCON leaders in Bhubaneswar have signed an agreement that a maximum 3.6 meters of land will be required for the construction of 6 lane road widening project. The devotees are happy to give this much land (which cuts a portion of their reception hall) from the temple (even for free) but this time the NHAI wants more than double this land. They want to get further the land where the memorial hut and the samadhi kutir is located, upto half the area of the temple pond where the Deities are brought annualy for boating pastimes during Chandan Yatra Festival. They want to take all these areas and have been maliciously planning to do this.
NHAI Officers Disregarded the Signed Agreement
On 6 August while many devotees were away and busy doing their preparations for the Sri Krishna Janmastami Day (which was 4 days after), the NHAI officers in full display of arrogance, disregarding the signed agreement paper and the court order, came with 50 armed policemen and with their bulldozers demolished the temple properties. They broke down the big nice temple gate, the prasadam and reception hall. The few devotees who were there were humbly protesting and even offering obeisances to their feet, that they wait for the temple authorities and senior devotees before they do more damage but they never cared and are determined to finish the demolition. Many devotees were persuading them to postpone the demolition after the Janmastami celebration but they in turn destroyed the just newly setup stage and temporary tenthouse which was for the Janmastami Festival. They demolished the very sacred memorial hut of Srila Prabhupad which is clearly in the area beyond the agreed 3.6 meters land. Careless and arrogant the NHAI authorities even threatened that if the devotees don’t transfer the samadhi within three days, they will break the temple stairs and the temple and dump all the ruins over the samadhi site and they will arrest the devotees.
Can We Allow this Injustice to Happen? NO!
Can we allow such injustice to happen in this country? There are false rumours going on that this land is government land so the government has the right to demolish these properties. But this is totally untrue. This is ISKCON land. And even the devotees are happy to give what was agreed but this agreement was violated by the NHAI. (see agreement paper here: Land Agreement Bhubaneswar )
We pray that the Bhajan-Kutir will be Rebuilt
Our heartfelt gratitude to Sripad Sacinandan Prabhu and other devotees by whose bold intervention the samadhi mandir of Srila Gour Govinda Swami was spared and the base of Prabhupad’s bhajan kutir was saved. We pray that very soon this will be rebuilt. Negotiations are going on. The NHAI authorities are acknowledging the hundreds of petition letters they are receiving. But this is not enough. We have to make sure that a clear agreement is achieved.
Please help to spread the campaign against this demolition and for future demolitions. And if you haven’t signed the petition, please sign at:
and watch the video!
Sent in by Krsna Karunya dasa prabhu
In one earth planet there is only one India…and in that mother land one Orissa holy thirtha of Lord Jagannath with his brother Lord Balaram and sister Subadra ma is sitting….
amoung all those special tirthas around in Orissa…Bhubaneswar is lord Shiva’s tirtha …only one 108th project of Srila Prabhupada is prominent as Iskcon a very special tirtha along .In such a holy land or city the people are fortunate to be called enough as Lord Jagannath people or so …and are respected as such religious tirtha….if…this citizens touches and tries to demolish our Gurudeva’s samadhi ….i think…IT’S GREAT INJUSTICE ,NO RELIGIOSITY, and will be in history of Orissa and a black mark for genarations to come.road does it need to be on top a SADHU VAISHNAVA? WHY DOESN’T LORD JAGANNATH’S PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND REMEMBER SRILA GURUDEVA’S SAMATHI IS RIGHT BELOW WITH HIS BODY LYING THERE….IT WILL BE HEARTLESS TO BREAK SUCH A TIRTHA .HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE AUTHORITIES WILL BE GUIDED BY THE LORD HIMSELF TO STOP THE DEMOLITION .JAI JAGANNATH BALADEVA SUBADRA MA KI JAI
Yes!
For the people.
By the people.
Of the people.
If the temple is attacked then one must fight…!
I feel as though Sachinandana prabhu did the right thing and now everyone has a chance to re-evaluate
If it was not for Sachinandana prabhu the samadhi may not be here either. That would be a great offence!!!
YS
NPdasa.
better change offence to disaster
“People Power”! Ki Jai!…..Nimai-ji You should run for the Presidency of the USA!…
“…– that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
President Abraham Lincoln (USA)
“If it was not for Sachinandana prabhu the samadhi may not be here either. That would be a great offense (disaster)”!!!…..Really?,… c’mon. Be serious….This is not Bollywood/ Hollywood or running for political office kind of stuff…is it?
Let’s stop the “drama”, beyond what is the real drama (NH issue bbsr)…. This is not the time for hype or hyperbole or politics or even PR campaigns….This is simply a chance, a new beginning for us; as disciples and followers, to be once again concerned and directly involved in serving the Instructions and Mission of our Srila Gurudeva; Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja and HDG Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Movement…..Srila Gurudeva many times said, “You see, ISKCON is Mahaprabhu’s Movement!”.
My friends and brothers and sisters, please don’t fight with me!,… I am simply repeating what our ISKCON, GBC, and Guru, Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja has repeatedly said…. I’m personally trying my best also, to understand and accept that Tattva, spoken by our dear Srila Gurudeva.
If you have a problem with that, please please, don’t make it my problem. Just deal with it!…That’s up to you to figure it out. We are now 15 years hearing all the spin, explanations and excuses, and we’re still,…. not ever closely buying it. Sorry!
With love and peace and affection, may Sri Guru and Gauranga shower Their causeless mercy on us and bring us to our real spiritual senses….!
Let us give up our duplicity and crookedness and dishonesty and selfishness and impersonalism,and….. etc!….This is an opportunity in the midst of the most recent horrible events unfolding in Bbsr to really think and rededicate our selves…..
Let us now see, who will step up amongst us, and take personal responsibility and commit themselves to the, “fight”, as Brother Nimai is calling us to???? …….I hope we will all be so fortunate!
Your servant,
Murali Krsna Swami
I do not think that I want to be President of anything baba!
Bollywood/Hollywood, interesting!
My main reply in a private email to you.
No spin-ji, we are really worried here and a lot of devotees are contacting us as they are worried as well.
We want that samadhi to stay and there are those who most probably want it to go [what to do].
You see Gurudeva did say, to only a few devotees at the time that, “…I will breathe my last breath in Bhubaneswar and pointed to the ground on the ISKCON Bhubaneswar land…” There was no tape player on, however you may contact Indra Bhata dasa [Perth, Western Australia] he was also there.
The personal struggle of our Gurudeva to get that hut on the property, and then arrange for Srila Prabhupada to come there was, if anyone cares to read it, was enormous. As I have said time and time again, and have quoted devotees who were there. THERE WAS NOTHING THERE!!! NOTHING! AND NO-ONE WOULD STAY THERE! Slowly slowly devotees began to come however they could not stay there for too long it was too harsh, the conditions were extremely harsh. The only one that could really deal with it as a westerner was Lagudi prabhu, and if you speak to him you will see how difficult it was in those early days. Even the Indian devotees would come and go, ask Lagudi prabhu he will tell you.
So that hut, in your own words to me Swami-ji, “..is the centre of the temple…”
It represents Gurudevas struggle to erect a wonderful temple in Orissa on the order of his Guru.
That hut is a landmark, spiritual landmark.
Your lowly servant,
Nimai Pandit dasa.
Yes, Just see what Srila Gurudeva was willing to do and tolerate to carry out the orders and instructions of his spiritual master, Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja; Prabhupada….ISKCON Founder Acarya!
Srila Gurudeva would proudly say while pounding his desk at that very same bhajan kutir of Srila Prabhupada in Bbsr, “I NEVER LEFT!” (my caps).
Shall we now try to follow in our Gurudeva’s mood and example or keep spinning some other excuse for not doing so???….Let us each individually make that choice and let Guru and Krsna be the judge….Now Gurudeva and Srila Prabhupada are giving us and calling us to our higher duty and responsibility….
You want to fight Nimai prabhu for the ultimate cause, I very much appreciate that!…..and calling others to do the same; also great news!
Instead of the presidcy of the US, I say, Nimai Prabhu, you as Srila Gurudeva’s longtime secratary, should be the President of ISKCON Bbsr!
Your servant,
Mural Krsna Swami
Ok! Swami-ji…!
Okay I will be the President of ISKCON BBSR and I want Murali Krsna as my VP!
I think I would last 5 minutes and then the Indians would send me packing. You know what our Indian godbrothers think of westerners.
I had to laugh when I read that.
There was a plan afoot in 1993 to have two TP’s in ISKCON. One was Sachinandan prabhu and myself. One westerner and one Indian. That would have been interesting.
Swami you make me laugh. Which is great because I have just Heard some terrible news from Delhi about BBSR.
YS
NPdasa.
As the president says,…I have to simply follow….VP?….um?…..OK!…..
May be little hard for me (playing 2nd fiddle and all) but, if I am called to serve,…..I must do my duty!
Yes Sir!…I am ready!…. Let’s Go!……….Hare Krsna!
All glories to Srila Gurudeva!
Your honored vp candidate in waiting,
MKS
Thank you to all of the devotees who are sincerely trying to help! We very much appreciate your concern and efforts!
ps. We could however learn how to better work and serve and speak to each other in a more matured and thoughtful vaisnava mood and manner, considering everyone’s point of view.
Like they say, “There is a little bit of truth in everything!, or like Chanakya Pandit taught, “An intelligent person can find gold, even in a most filthy place”. Srila Gurudeva also many times said, “There is Tattva in and on everything”!
Many times we would ask Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja, ” Srila Gurudeva, what is the Tattva on that?”. And, Srila Gurudeva would immediately explain what is the Tattva (truth from an absolute platform), on any thing we were asking about. All subjects were included!
Instead of always trying to establish ourselves or our points of view, we should ALL learn to stop and listen for the nuggets of truth that are flowing from the heart and minds of those sincere seekers, of the Truth. We just have to be more open, submissive and sincere in seeking for those golden nuggets of Truth, wherever they may manifest!
Thank you. Haribol!
Your servant, friend and brother,
Murali Krsna Swami
Thanks Maharaja!
ys Raghava
Thank you my brother Ragava. As you are well aware, Srila Gurudeva many times would say, “Truth is Truth!”. Of course it’s not, “Our Truth”, or “Your Truth” but Tattva vicar; the Absolute Truth, coming from Krsna and His parampara.
For devotees pleasure, here are some nuggets from Srila Prabhupada……
SB1.2.5 — Edinburgh, July 17, 1972—
….Everyone is dissatisfied. There is no peaceful atmosphere between the husband and the wife, the son and the father, brother sister. We remain, of course, together, but everyone is of a different opinion…
In your western country it is very practically experienced; Nobody agrees with nobody! Everyone has got his own opinions.
SP Room Conversation — June 19, 1974, Germany—
SP:…Kali-yuga means fight! Nobody is interested to understand the truth, but they’ll simply fight, “In my opinion it’s like this!” and then I say, “Well, my opinion is this!”…..So many foolish opinions and then fighting within themselves. This is the age; Kali-yuga. No standard opinion!
Everyone has got his own opinion. Therefore there must be fighting. …That is Kali-yuga. Because you have no standard knowledge. …But here, in this age, everyone is prepared with his own opinion. Therefore it is all fighting and quarreling.
Just like the United Nation, all the big men go there to become united, but they’re increasing flags. That’s all. Fighting, it is a society of fighting only. The Pakistan, the Hindustan, the American, the Vietnam. It was meant for unity but it is rendered into fighting association.
That’s all. Everything! …This is the period when foolish men have developed so many…. Instead of making a solution, the fighting just is increasing on and on. Why?….Because they have no standard knowledge!
SB 2.1.1 — Paris, June 9, 1974—
…So therefore, because they do not know, because they are not atmavit, therefore their opinion has no value. No value! We don’t care for their opinion. Here it is said, atmavit-sammatah.
One should take approval from persons who are self-realized. What is their opinion and instructions? Their, his opinion has value! Otherwise, a rascal says, “Well, in my opinion, this is how I see it…”
…We don’t accept your opinion! We take the opinion of Krsna and Krsna’s pure devotee…….we take only their opinion… Arjuna also says, iti anususruma, “Krsna, I have heard it from authoritative sources.” He never says, “Krsna, in my opinion”…, if it is done like that, then people will go to hell.” He does not give his own opinion.
He says, iti, “Thus,” anususruma, “I have heard.” This is called parampara system. Nobody should give his own opinion. He must quote the authoritative statement to support his proposition.
——
Thank you everyone. Haribol!
Your servant,
Murali Krsna Swami
I vote Nimai for president ISKCON-BBSR — God bless!
Power of the people
It seems that this campaign is moving ahead very positively.
Great.
YS npdasa.
Nimai Pandit prabhu ,we appreciate your wonderful website so much and all you’re doing to bring this devastating news to the attention of devotees around the world.
Thank you to all the concerned devotees who are helping in any way that they can. Much appreciated!