Bhumi Puja at ISKCON Kondaveedu
By Basu Ghosh Das
Pictures of the program can be seen by all (no need of being a Facebook
user) at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/qf7s7qs
Kondavvedu is a historical place, where Rajas (Kings) of the then Reddy
dynasty built a fort on a hill, located in the Guntur district of Andhra
Pradesh, in South India.
The ruins of the old Kondaveedu fort on top of that hill, is located near a
small village some 25 kilometers West of Guntur city.
More information on the place and it's history can be seen on the internet
here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kondaveedu_Fort
It is significant that the New Capitol of the recently bifurcated State of
Andhra Pradesh is going to be constructed at Amaravati, just 50 kilometers
North of Kondaveedu. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the
new capitol of Andhra Pradesh yesterday.
Presently one of the leaders of ISKCON in Andhra Pradesh, Sriman
Satyagopinath Das, who is temple president of three temples, at Rajamundry,
Anantapur, and Guntur, through his efforts has obtained eighty one acres
land from the Andhra Pradesh State Government at Kondaveedu .
Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated two years ago into two States, i.e. Andhra
Pradesh remains the name for thirteen mostly coastal districts of the old
A.P. State, and a new State of Telangana was formed from land-locked
districts surrounding Hyderabad city, and some outlying areas. The word
“Telangana” is derived from “Trilinga Pradesh” - the land of three Shiva
lingas. The land was allotted before the bifurcation.
Yesterday. October 22, 2015, on the auspicious day of Sri Rama Vijaya
dashami, bhumi puja (worship of the earth) and installation of a Deity of
Ananta Shesha was performed on the Kondaveedu land.
ISKCON GBC for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Sriman Revati Raman Das, ISKCON
Baroda temple president Basu Ghosh Das, ISKCON Nellore temple president
Sukhadeva Swami, ISKCON Chandigarh Temple President Bhaktivinoda Das, and
Ram Murari Das, temple president of ISKCON Vijayawada were present at the
function. Acharya Samskritananda Hari of Kaushalya Pitham at Baroda also
was present.
The Swarna Hamsa (Golden Swan) temple will be constructed on sixteen acres
of land. The projected cost of the temple and surroundings is Rupees two
hundred crores.
Several donors were introduced, and felicitated at the conclusion of the
function. Their immediate gifts to the project were announced during the
function.
The bhumi puja rituals were performed by Shitalanga Gauranga Das of Udupi.
He performed sthala shuddhi, kalasha sthapana, bhagavad avaahnam,
shodashopachara and anantadev pratishtha. Also prithivi puja, bhuta and
devata bali. Vaastu aradhana, purusha sukta, sri sukta, and vastu yajnas.
Prayaschitta homa, vaishnava homa and purnahuti.
Then in a pit excavated for the shilanyaas, he performed the shilanyaas
rituals, along with leading devotees and donors. Anantadev and navashaktis
were installed in the excavated pit.
Many congregational devotees and donors, mostly from Guntur, attended the
function. Three buses of congregational devotees came from Rajahmundry to
attend the function.
Students of the Gayatri Nritya kala niketan (dance academy) from
Rajahmundry, dancing in the traditional “kuchipudi” style that originated in
Andhra Pradesh, performed several traditional dances to entertain the
gathering. The performance was well received by audience. The dances,
performed in traditional costumes, were quite attractive and well performed.
Prasad (full meals) was distributed to devotees at the function, as well as
in the nearby villages. Prasad was prepared for five thousand persons.
Nearby the Swarna Hamsa temple land, ISKCON Kondaveedu is running a goshalla
situated on twenty two acres of land. Presently there are thirty six cows,
calves, and bulls that reside there.
More information on the project can be seen on the project website:
http://iskconkondaveedu.com/
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