ISKCON Bangalore A historical overview 1978 to 1990

Oct. 19, 2010 - PRLog -- In continuance of my earlier article “Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON Bangalore – A historical overview (Part 1): (1965-1977)”, which dealt with events that led to the conceptualization of a ISKCON temple in Bangalore, this follow-up article de-briefs the historical events from there-on and terminates by leading upto the beginning of the constructions of the temple on the Hare Krishna Hill located on the West of Chord Road in Rajajinagar.

The divine plan that Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna had destined had thus begun to take a ‘concrete’ shape.  The road map bulleted here in will clearly help all readers to visualize the dedicated efforts of some serious and faithful followers of Srila Prabhupada.
May 8, 1978 - The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangalore is incorporated

1978 - A grand Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath is held for the first time on MG Road, the most prestigious road of Bangalore city.

•   The Ratha Yatra is inaugurated by Sri Gundu Rao, the Transport Minister.
•   A three-day festival is also conducted near the present Chinnaswamy Stadium, next to the Gandhi Park, and nearly one lakh people attend!!!
1979 - Hansadutta Goswami is replaced by HH Jayapataka Swami as the GBC of South India

1983 - Madhu Pandit Das becomes involved in overseeing the activities of ISKCON in Bangalore, along with his responsibilities in Trivandrum temple.
1984 - Madhu Pandit Das to meets  Shankabrit Das who is in now in Tirupathi
•   Shankabrit Das formally resigns and the new management headed by Madhupandit Dasa, takes over the reigns.

Around September 1987

•   ISKCON Bangalore is operating now from a rented house in the city with a handful of devotees.
•   Under the able and dynamic leadership of the Temple President,
Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, ISKCON Bangalore applies for a 7-acre hillock from the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

o   The BDA had earlier described it as “karaab land” (waste land) as it was a huge piece of monolithic rock and could not be converted into sites.

•   The BDA sanctions the land at a cost of Rs. 11 lakhs to be paid in 90 days.

•   With practically no resources in hand, the team of devotees manage to collect the sum partly with the help of some donors and partly through loan.
September 1988

•   On Lord Balarama’s appearance day the Deities of Krishna Balarama are now moved to a temporary shed on this land.    

•   The master plan of the project on the Hare Krishna Hill is conceived by
Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, a qualified civil engineer from IIT (Mumbai).

o   The initial concept as it stood from outside was conceived by Sri Jagat Chandra Dasa who is a product engineer from IIT (Mumbai).

o   The unique combination of glass and gopuram, blended modern and traditional elements is finalized on the blue-print.

o   The original simple temple design is estimated to cost Rs.10 crore
o   Considering the nature of the sloping rocky hillock, this unique concept was further developed architecturally into the present design as it stands by Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa and Bhakti Lata Devi Dasi

•   The entire team of devotees of ISKCON Bangalore is strongly motivated by an intense desire to make this a grand and memorable temple, to be completed and offered to His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
•   Various fund raising schemes are launched to engage the people in this devotional endeavor.

•   Apart from the life membership scheme, sponsors of gopuram, kalashas and vimanas were enrolled

•   Temple construction begins in full swing by the year 1990.

More information about ISKCON Bangalore and Temple Information please visit:  http://www.iskconbangalore.org    

More information about this Articles please visit: http://www.madhupanditdas.info/?page_id=128

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In September 1987, ISKCON Bangalore was operating from a rented house in the city with a handful of devotees.Under the leadership of the Temple President, Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, ISKCON applied for a 7-acre hillock from the Bangalore Development Authority.