Grand New Temple Opens in Navadvip
Posted March 28, 2008
Some 15,000 devotees and guests from around the world came last week
to the newly built Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Math temple in Navadvipa,
India and participated in a one-week parikram
(circumambulation of the sacred town). The parikram continued from
March 15 through March 22.
Earlier, on March 14, the Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Vinoda-bihari, Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Laksmi-Varaha and Srila Bhakti Prajnana
Kesava Gosvami were moved from a temporary small mandir and
installed on the main altar in the new temple. The installation
included a transcendental bathing ceremony and a fire sacrifice to
drive away inauspiciousness and to invoke success. The fire sacrifice
was conducted by H.H. Akincana Maharaj, H.H. Parivrajakacarya
Maharaj, Jiva-priya das and Giridhari das.
Srila B.V. Narayana Gosvami presided over the morning's activities
and was accompanied on the stage by several disciples, along with
sannyasis from the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti, headed by Parijataka
Maharaj. Narayan Maharaja spoke of the transcendental, established
truths and unlimited mercy of the Deities, who are non-different from
the personalities whose forms are on the altar, saying: "From temples
like this one, the glories of the transcendental forms, names,
qualities and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be
spread all over the world.
"Our previous acaryas (self-realized spiritual masters) like
Sri Ramanujacarya, Sri Madhvacarya, Sri Sankaracarya, Sri Madhavendra
Puri and Sri Sanatana Gosvami have also performed the responsibility
of establishing temples. Madhavendra Puri established the temple of
Gopal in Vrndavana, and the Deity of Gopal was later moved to
Nathwar. Srila Sanatana Gosvami established the temple of Sri Madana-
mohana.
"In the Bible it is stated, 'God made man after His own image and likeness,' he continued. "Can they cut that statement from the Bible? The Qur'an also states that Allah created man after His own image. Something in this world cannot manifest from nothing. All forms have manifested from the original form of Sri Krsna. Therefore, we are very fortunate that Sri Sri Radha and Krsna have taken the combined form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for our benefit."
The grand new Kesavaji temple is on Koladvipa, an island named after Lord Koladeva (another name of Lord Varaha, who appeared here in a previous yuga).
1. Fire sacrifice for Deity installation and temple opening
2. Deities of Sri Sri Laksmi-Varaha
3. Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Vinoda-bihari
4. Murti of Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Maharaj