Kartik and the TOVP

By Sunanda Das

There are many transcendental ways of interpreting the Lord’s most special lila as Damodar, the child Krishna Who is bound by the belly to a wooden grinding mortar with rope by Mother Yasoda. This article focuses on the significance of Mother Yasodas’ rope always being two inches too short, no matter how much rope she kept adding. And how the TOVP, like Lord Damodara’s own body will only be bound and finally completed by great endeavor, devotion and love on our part, and the final mercy of the Lord.

The comparison is not hard to understand; even material things require much endeavor and the permission of the Paramatma for their success. There are five factors in all action according to the Lord in Bhagavad Gita and the fifth and most important is the Supersoul. And in the case of devotional service and the Lord’s lila, He is certainly the main contributing factor, utilizing His yoga-maya to bring about His pleasure pastimes. But endeavor, emotion, and devotion on the part of the devotee are an intrinsic part of that lila to increase the Lord’s pleasure. The Lord must taste the struggle of the devotee to achieve his service objective, to make His pleasure complete.

The construction of the magnificent, immense, historic and expensive Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is the epitome of devotional endeavor for ISKCON as an Institution. It is the fulfillment of a long-standing order coming through the disciplic succession of Gaudiya acharyas and the deepest desire of our Founder-Acharya, Srila Prabhupada to “make it (the Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir) rise, bigger and bigger until it becomes the full moon. And this moonshine will be spread all over the world.” Once satisfied by our hard endeavor, the Lord will be pleased by our mutual endeavors, complete the temple, and bless us with complete satisfaction and His unlimited mercy.

This 2018 Kartik is a month to make a vow of charity and sacrifice to help the MISSION 22 MARATHON to complete the TOVP. It is a month to remember Sridhama Mayapur with every lamp offered. The TOVP Team have rolled out yet another donation option that is ideal for all devotees during this month, whether they have already given to the TOVP or not: The Daily Victory Flag Seva Opportunity. Our goal is to stretch our limits and raise $500,000 during this Kartik.

Please go to the link below and offer a Victory Flag with your Kartik lamp and give the Lord your whole heart of love and devotion. In the end you will experience the greatest satisfaction and bliss of assisting His lila in the final manifestation of the TOVP.

https://tovp.org/fundraising/tovp-daily-victory-flag-sponsorship-an-ideal-kartik-seva/