On Sunday, June 21st, we were scheduled for two TOVP presentations. The first was at New Hastinapura Dhama in the U.S.A.’s capital, Washington, D.C.. This is also one of the original temples established by Srila Prabhupada and, in fact, the main Deities of Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan were the first Radha Krishna Deities in ISKCON. Alongside Their Lordships are Gaur Nitai and Sita, Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman.
The mid-day program in New Hastinapura began with an abhisheka of the Padukas and Sitari in the presence of 300+ devotees and congregation members. Anuttama prabhu, the local GBC, then introduced the TOVP Team which also included Ambarisa and Svaha prabhus. They all spoke with great earnest and candidness, inspiring the crowd to make their financial commitments to the TOVP project. The fundraising ended with $over $350,000 in pledges. The program concluded with prasadam.
Immediately following the New Hastinapura program we made our way to ISKCON Baltimore, home of Sri Sri Nitai Gaursundar and Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra. This is also one of the original temples established by Srila Prabhupada. Although only a small house, He once visited and commented that Nitai Gaursundar were the most beautiful Gaur Nitai Deities in the world. Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra arrived in Baltimore at a later time and are the original Deities carved by Mahesvara prabhu for the New York temple under Srila Prabhupada’s guidance. They continue to be New York temple’s Rathayatra Deities.
The small temple was filled to capacity when we arrived and many devotees who could not fit were outside. After an abhisheka of the Padukas and Sitari we quickly went into the TOVP presentation. Radha Jivana and Jananivas prabhus both spoke, as well as Anuttama prabhu the local GBC, and encouraged the devotees to make their pledges to the TOVP despite their own multi-million dollar new temple project underway. $120,000 was raised after which prasadam was served. As a special mercy, the Padukas were brought out to the new temple section of the property for Their blessings.
During the short visit to Baltimore we managed to fit in visits to several devotees’ homes in Baltimore and Washington, D.C.. The list is provided below:
Jaya Gaursundar das and Kaumadaki devi dasi
Amrita Ford and her husband
Dharmaraja das and Bhavika
Dixit and Kalindi
Dhiren and Nita
Mayur Mistry Surabhi devi dasi and Shanker
All glories to Lord Nityananda Rama. All glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
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