ISKCON to Build Temple in Hyderabad
This article, "ISKCON to Build Temple in Hyderabad," was published in The Hindu, March 23, 1973, in Chennai, India.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD.
Hyderabad city will shortly have a temple for Sri Krishna and His consort Radha, under the auspices of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
This temple would be built on a valuable land donated by Mr. G. Pulla Reddy, sweatmeats merchant in the heart of the city, opposite the Brindavan hotel, on Station Road, near Abids Circle. The Society plans to build a multi-storeyed building which will house a large school for training children in the progressive values of happy, healthy and spiritual life. The main feature of the proposed building would be a beautiful temple and kirtan hall.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which is popularly known as Hare Krishna movement came to Hyderabad a few months back when Sri Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada, the head of the movement camped here and several devotional meetings and kirtan sabhas were held. A number of local people have become members of the Society, some of them its life members.
The ISKCON has been carrying on its activities throughout the world, and the Society has 102 temples in over 31 lands.
In connection with the establishment of Sri Radhakrishna temple, there would be a two day festival at Hyderabad on March 23 and 24. Sri Prabhupada, who is now in Australia will arrive here on March 23 to begin the two-day festival. On March 24, at 9 a.m. there will be a Yagna, and the marble idols of Radha and Krishna will be installed. On the same day at 10:30 a.m. the Swamiji will lay the foundation for the new building project of the Society here.
The Society has made Hyderabad as one of its permanent centres and at present there are ten devotees belonging to various countries who are carrying out their mission to spread Krishna Consciousness.
The five main purposes of the ISKCON are: (1) To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large; (2) to propagate Krishna consciousness as revealed in Bhagavad Gita; (3) to bring members of the Society together and nearer to Krishna; (4) to teach and encourage the Sankirtana movement; and (5) to erect for the members and for society at large a holy place of transcendental pastimes dedicated to Krishna.