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USA August 23, 1999 VNN4577 Related VNN Stories $15 Million Manhattan Sky-Scraper Temple Launched BY IRG NEW YORK, USA, Aug 23 (VNN) — The recent New York IRG (ISKCON Reform Group) meeting held in Manhattan on Sunday 15th, August, announced a major project to reacquire a skyscraper temple in the heart of Manhattan just as Srila Prabhupada desired. The IRG program began with a rip-roaring Harinam with 40 devotees down 2nd Avenue, (where Srila Prabhupada founded the first ISKCON temple), led by the world famous kirtan leader Locanananda Das, to the meeting hall, where he was joined by many more enthusiastic devotees. He then led a tumultuous kirtan for over an hour, after Srila Prabhupada's Guru Puja. The main purpose of the meeting was to launch the project to reacquire Srila Prabhupada's skyscraper temple (with elevator!) in Manhattan. The devotees maybe aware that Srila Prabhupada used to possess such a magnificent building in Manhattan's mid-town district, on W. 55th st, a true 13 storey skyscraper. However due to mismanagement and disobedience of His Divine Grace's desires, (nothing new there!), the wonderful temple was sold. Unfortunately the original temple is not for sale, having been converted to apartments. However brokers have already identified a number of suitable buildings, all multi-storey, and all in the heart of Manhattan. Pictures of some of these where shown in the meeting. The devotees were very enthused to hear about this project to revive the preaching of Krsna Consciousness in the United States. The temple will be dedicated to daily harinam and book distribution parties, just as the old temple was. A number of book distributors have already signed up to move in as soon as the building is acquired. The temple project will include a restaurant, guest house, massive prasadam distribution and both a men's and women's book distribution party. Madhu Pandit prabhu, the temple president of Bangalore, will be fully involved working with the New York devotees to develop the project. He gave a wonderful slide show at the meeting on the Bangalore temple. He explained how just as the Bangalore temple sprung up from nothing due to Srila Prabhupada's desire, similarly, this temple in Manhattan will also manifest, because Srila Prabhupada has desired it. Also certain developments regarding the IRG were discussed, which will be announced at the next IRG meeting, which will be held in London, on the 5th September. For information of this meeting please e-mail: mahajale@cwcom.net To facilitate this project it was also decided to relocate the IRG office from Alachua to New York. Plans for the temple are already underway, and involve the setting up of a Non Profit corporation, with Adridharan, ISKCON Calcutta Temple President, and Madhu Pandit Prabhus as Directors. A fundraising committee to raise the down-payment to buy the building, involving prominent members of the Indian congregation, has already been formed and will begin to meet every Wednesday. Already many well-wishers have come forward and made pledges. A special and unexpected event marked the closing of the meeting when the famous scholar His Grace Pradyumna prabhu mysteriously entered the hall, having by chance heard the devotees from the street. He was very surprised by what he saw when he came in. He was happy to see the devotees and chatted with them. It was Pradyumna prabhu's letter that was applauded by the entire GBC at this year's Mayapur meeting. Applications are sought from devotees who would like to serve in this temple. Of particular interest are book distributors, and devotees who served in the original 55th street temple. Those who would like to revive the spirit of pre-77, and are interested to assist this project by either joining the fundraising committee, or serving in the temple when it is started, should please send an e-mail to myself at: adridharan@hotmail.com Special thanks for the financing and organisation of the program to Jayanandana, Brahma Bhuta, mother Vani prabhus and all the other wonderful devotees who helped. Those who are in New York City, can contact the devotees there direct on: Jayasp@aol.com (212) 780 0686 Related VNN Stories  Comment on this storyContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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