03/02/98 - 1660

Shiva Ratri - Temple Construction

USA (VNN) - by Caru Das

The Utah Radha Krishna Temple construction started Monday Feb. 16, the auspicious Appearance day of the spiritual master of AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It was his guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur, who, in 1922 asked Srila Prabhupada to take Krishna Consciousness to the western countries.

Since Monday, excavation has been going on to cut a road up to the temple site, then early next week site work itself will commence, quickly followed by footings, concrete, and pads.

A nice article was done on the project by the the Deseret News, Feb 7. The article was accompanied by a large color picture of the temple to be, with the caption, "Another Utah County Landmark". A reprint of this article will appear in our next newsletter, in case you missed it. If you are only receiving e mail and would like to get by regular post the temple newsletter, flyers advertising festivals etc, please email us your postal address.

We'd like to thank all those well wishers and supporters who have encouraged the project all along. Now it has finally begun after five years of planning! Please come visit to see the exciting work in progress, and help us keep it moving forward!

This coming Sunday the 22nd we celebrate Maha Shiva Ratri with the following schedule:

4:30pm Bhajans (devotional songs) followed by dhoop (short) arotik

5:00pm Caru tells story of Lord Shiva drinking hala hala, deadly ocean of poison, and saving the universe(children in front)

5:30pm Abhisek (bathing ceremony) and Pushpanjali(offering of flowers) to Shiva Lingam, 108 names of Lord Shiva

6:00pm Sandhya Arotik (full evening ceremony)

6:20pm Sumptuous feast of vegetarian prasadam (bring a preparation to offer to Mahadev if you can)

7:00pm Additional Kirtan (chanting) in the temple room for those who like to stay

Hoping this finds you all in good health and blissful spiritual consciousness.

Your servant, Caru Das