Interview with Minister – April 26, 197, Tirupati
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740426IV.TIR
Interview with Minister
- April 26, 1974, Tirupati 740426IV-TIRUPATI [07:53 Minutes]
One big musician, George Harrison, he has donated that temple
Prabhupada: They spend so much money for spreading Christianity in this country. What we are spending in the foreign countries?
Minister: The last time in our state, in this board, sanctioned thirteen lakhs in America to provide one temples, Vehkatesvara temple, and Panchayetam pitha [a temple dedicated to five gods] ...[coughs] Vighnesvara [Ganesa] temple there.
Prabhupada: Where?
Minister: In America.
Prabhupada: America is a big place, three thousand miles, square miles.
Minister: New York.
Prabhupada: So I don't think any temple has been erected in New York.
Minister: No, it is proposed to.
Prabhupada: Temple... Just like these Christian missionaries, they constructed so many churches. But those churches are now being closed. In London, I have got specific knowledge, hundreds of churches are no more being used as church. Some of them are being used as godown.
Minister: Godowns.
Prabhupada: And some of the churches have been purchased by other religious sect. We have purchased one church in Los Angeles. So opening temple is good, but who will maintain the spirit of temple worship?
Minister: That is by arcaka [the pujari, priest] Only by the arcaka.
Prabhupada: Arcaka. Therefore there must be side-by-side propaganda who can maintain the temples. [Hindi to other]. [Transl. What have you brought?]
Devotee: Balaji Prasada.
Prabhupada: Ah?
Devotee: Balaji Prasada.
Prabhupada: [Transl. Distribute it to everyone.] Oh, this is anna-prasada [grain remnants]. So I will take later on. [Hindi with minister.] [Transl. Did you bring for everyone or what?]
Devotee: Hmm.
Prabhupada: That temple is being constructed under whose supervision?
Minister: Yes, yes. That Ganapati Sthapati [Architect], in our state. Ganapati Sthapati.
Indian man: Sthapati is an engineer, sir. Sthapati is our temple engineer. He will lay out the plans as per the agama Vedic sastra [and as per the rules laid down for the construction of all temples in India]. No other way he will lay out. And he will lay out the plan and implement...
Prabhupada: He has gone there? No.
Indian man (2): No. In his village. He had once been to New York.
Indian man: Once he had been to New York. They are now preparing all these idols, etcetera.
Minister: Here only.
Indian man: They will be sent by sea.
Prabhupada: So what deity will be installed there?
Indian man: Lord Vehkatesvara, Subrahmaniya-sat Swami, [Kartikeya] Ganapati, Vighnesvara.
Minister: And Pancayei Tattva.
Indian man: And Pancayei Tattva.
Prabhupada: Pancayei?
Minister: Īsvara, Sūrya...
Prabhupada: Oh, pancopasana. [five god worship - Visnu, Sūrya, Siva, Durga, and Ganesa.] [break] He is Ramanuja-sampradaya?
Indian man: Yes, Vaisnava sampradaya.
Prabhupada: But the Ramanuja-sampradaya do not recommend pancopasana. In the Ramanuja-sampradaya there is no pancopasana.
Indian man: No, these are built by Indians in America. This temple is not supposed to be...This temple is giving only for Lord Vighnesvara and Vehkatesvara. For the construction of other temples, they are raising funds.
Prabhupada: Oh, local money.
Indian man: Yes. Throughout India and also in America.
Prabhupada: That, they are raising funds for millions of years. [laughs] I know that. Birla about... Yes, about fifty years ago there was contemplation of, that Birla would construct a very big temple in London. But there was no temple at all. Now since I have gone, I have established two temples, not very big, but still one of the temple is on the seventeen acre of land, a little outside London. One big musician, George Harrison, he has donated that temple, fifty-five lakhs. And we have got one temple in rented house...
Indian man: [talking amongst themselves in Telugu.] Ten-thirty for darsana.
Prabhupada: Ten-thirty. What is the time now?
Indian man: Nine-thirty.
Prabhupada: So, you prepare yourself to go. If prasada is there, why don't you take it? Finish.
Mahamsa: We will take at noon time. We take now?
Prabhupada: Yes, go and take. Prasada prapti-matrena bhoktavyam. [Cc Madhya 6.225] Go and take prasadam. It is time, one hour. [end]
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/ipc/interview-with-minister
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