By Madana-gopala Dasa,
As ISKCON leaders from across North America gather in the U.S. capital, Madana Gopal Dasa reflects on the shared history of America and ISKCON as they both celebrate significant milestones—250 years for the U.S. and 60 years for ISKCON:
I would like for us to take a look at the United States Capitol building for a moment through Srila Prabhupada’s eyes.
Most visitors see the Capitol as the seat of the United States Congress. Srila Prabhupada understood its political importance, of course, but during his Washington visit in July 1976, he saw something else here. He saw an architectural idea that could be engaged in Krishna’s service.
On July 6, while speaking with Yadubara Dasa and Vishakha Devi Dasi, Srila Prabhupada suddenly told them that he wanted detailed photographs of the Capitol building.
Yadubara naturally asked, “For what purpose?”
Prabhupada explained that they were planning to build a new facility in Mayapur. It would present the spiritual and material worlds, as well as the succession of planetary systems described in the Vedic literature. Then, referring to the Capitol, he said simply, “A building like that.” He told them, “You take all details, inside, outside.”
That’s an extraordinary moment to remember while we stand here. A government building in Washington was being observed by Srila Prabhupada not merely for what it was, but for what it could inspire in the service of Lord Chaitanya.
He also explained that the Mayapur project was intended to attract people from all over the world to see the planetarium. Notice the scale of this. His movement at that time was only ten years old.
Notice his vision: his movement was still young, but Srila Prabhupada was envisioning an international spiritual city in Mayapur and a temple that could invite the entire world to reconsider the nature of the universe and humanity’s place within it.
Only twenty days later, in London, Prabhupada was taking prasadam with George Harrison. He again described the Mayapur project and said, “The construction will be like your Washington Capitol, like that.”
George immediately understood the visual idea and said, “A big dome.”
And Prabhupada replied, “Yes, a big dome.”
So when we look at this dome today, we’re looking at one of the explicit architectural inspirations that Srila Prabhupada discussed for the Mayapur project.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/america-at-250-iskcon-at-60-a-reflection-in-washington-dc/
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