Since temple is a place where people come to take darshan of the Lord or bring something to offer to the Lord, one should be ready to receive them at any time of the day. Especially during darshan hour timings one should anticipate such visits and be ready. The spirit of welcoming should never be lost.
(Two or three devotees can work in shifts throughout the day so that one devotee is not hard pressed. This also helps in developing good rapport with visitors and congregational devotees. People relate more with persons than the policies of the temple, therefore there should be steady devotees in this service.)
Punctuality: The most important aspect of the service is that one should be ready at least 5 minutes before the darshan opens with necessary pamphlets, brochures, prasadam, etc.
Remaining organized: One should be organized. Necessary things should be at hand. One should not be running around here and there in front of the visitors for basic things like pens or paper pads.
Meditation: Before beginning the service one should pray to the Deities and Srila Prabhupada to have proper consciousness. One should meditate that those visitors who are coming to the Temple are special guests of Srila Prabhupada and the Deities & we have been given the blessed opportunity to guide them and introduce them about the wonderful process of Krishna consciousness.
1) How to receive guests on Daily Basis:
It important to properly receive the guests at different times of the day by giving them temple pamphlet, Prasadam and speaking kind words.
– During morning program: (From 5.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m.)
To see that they get chanting beads to chant,
morning prayers leaflets, flowers to offer to the Deities during
Darshan arati and to Srila Prabhupada during Guru-puja etc.
(Sometimes some important guests come early in the morning
program. One should expect such visits & greet them
graciously.)
– During SB Class:
Any guests coming during SB class, welcome them without
disturbing Bhagvatam speaker.
– After Breakfast: (From 9.45 a.m. onwards)
To be ready with preaching material (Temple pamphlets/
brochures, prasadam, etc.) before Darshan opens.
– Evening: (From 4:30 p.m. to 9:05 p.m.
To be ready before Darshan opens.
The general guideline for receiving the guests is whenever
darshan is open some devotee should be present. The Deities
should never be left alone.
Following basic courtesies should be observed while dealing with them.
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To inform them about upcoming events, e.g. Bhagavad Gita course, Festivals, Yoga Retreat, Sunday feast programs.
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If guests come when darshan is closed, request them to wait till darshan opens.
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To make guests feel at home, by creating Vaikuntha atmosphere. (This means that Temple – Hall and the premises should be clean in all aspects.)
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To offer them seat and water. (It may not be practical, however one should at least ask or guide them properly.)
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To switch on the fans wherever they are sitting, also switch on the lights if they want to read. When temple is to be closed devotees should be sensitive while switching off the lights or fans. If the guests are talking with devotees wait for some time.
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To show them the different paintings in the temple or books of Srila Prabhupada if they want or explain them different activities displayed on the notice board.
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Give them chanting beads with bead bag if they want to chant.
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Talk with them with kind words.
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Give them relevant information about the temple.
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If they want to meet with particular devotee communicate diligently.
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Don’t give those items, which they may not know how to take care of. In case you have to give explain them the spiritual significance.
How to receive guests on Sunday:
After the announcements are made it very important to focus on newcomers and later one can deal with regular visitors and congregational devotees.
Following points should be considered while dealing with newcomers.
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TEMPLE – PAMPHLET
Giving daily pamphlets
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while giving Welcome pamphlets, explain about Temple timings, Sunday program timings
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Invite them graciously to attend our programs.
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Do not insist them if they are not interested.
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Just encourage them
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While dealing with them, one should try to fan the spark of interest within them.
Daily temple schedule.
Sunday festival (GAUR-ARATI, KIRTAN, PRAVACHAN, PRASADAM.)
Deities.
Festivals (Vaishnav Calendar.)
Various Congregational Programs.
Gurukul/Orphanage
Audio CDs, VCDs, MP3 CDs, Audio tapes/books library.
(Refer the topic ‘important documents’ at the end of this manual for ‘Temple pamphlet’.)
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FOLLOW UP SLIPS/ADDRESS PADS
Since follow up slips play a very important role in cultivating guests,
following points are to be noted:
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Please see that all guests write clean and complete address. Please ask them to fill up the slips with complete name & complete address for two purposes:
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To send them a gift (a picture of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath)
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To invite them for follow up program.
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If a person shows interest in
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attending Bhagavad Gita course
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distributing books
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desiring to regularly attend programmes
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counselor system
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giving donation
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or any other information
Kindly note down on that particular slip the specific remarks.
* request them to give their E-mail IDs (if they have) for fast communication.
KINDLY DO NOT TEAR THE SLIPS FROM THE PADS.
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If a person is interested and wants to know more about our Temple program, take down their name and address, contact number in our personal diary/notebook.
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To sort (after sending gift and invitation) and give to devotees staying in those areas.
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SRI SRI RADHA GOPINATH MAHAPRASADAM
Prasadam packet to each new comer.
To regular guests also.
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BG-COURSE
7-days BG course.
Evening timings (7.00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.)
7 days different topics based on BG (Not explaining each chapter) Clears 90-95 % of our basic doubts. (E.g. why there are so many demigods, karma, different yoga systems explained by Lord Krishna.)
Power Point presentation based on related topics.
Questions and Answers followed by Snacks Prasadam.
Notes, Bhakti Yoga kit provided at the end of the course.
6-Sessions Advanced Bhagavad Gita course.
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BOOK SETS
Need for reading Srila Prabhupada’s books:
To understand our philosophy in a better way.
To advice them to go through small books in the beginning and then gradually Srimad Bhagavad Gita and then Srimad Bhagavatam.
To show them the suggested order of reading books.
To show them BTGs in various languages/ to guide them to BTG stall.
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PERSONAL TREATMENT
To ask where do they stay.
Where do they work / study. To ask them for prasadam coupon (If they have not received prasadam coupons, to give them or personally take them for prasadam. To inform them about coupon system on Sundays.)
To make them feel at home.
To show them bookstall / library / Deities.
(If they are interested in reading books or hearing tapes or CDs, you can take them to matchless bookstall or books library.)
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