Manor Milestones

40 Years of Devotion Bhaktivedanta Manor: Years of Devotion 1973-2013 Bhaktivedanta Manor: 40 Years of History In the days of Queen Victoria, while in the heart of the city. Famous India was still a reluctant dominion musician George Harrison knew of of the British Empire, the great- their plight and suggested another grandfather of the Hare Krishna option; not another place in the city movement, Bhaktivinode Thakur, but outside it, a country estate where looked forward to the day when the there would be enough space; and he British would discover the spiritual would pay for it. The search began. treasure of his land, and worship Sri Krishna themselves. At the time, the Meanwhile, over in another part of British were much more interested the former British Empire, an East in the earthly wealth of India such as African dictator was in the process tea, cotton, and spices. of ridding his country of an entire Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur race of people. A total of 90,000 One man with connections to the far Indians, descendants of indentured corners of the British Empire was Mr labourers from Gujarat and Punjab, G W Williams. It was 1884, and he were expelled at 90 days notice. The was retiring, and wanted to spend his majority arrived in Britain. They left money on building a family home in their homes, their factories, vehicles, the pleasant surroundings of rural jobs, money and their schools. southern Hertfordshire. And so the But they didn’t leave their religion work began on a grand house that behind. Many of them had faith in would eventually be named Piggott’s Lord Krishna and prayed to Him Manor, after the ancient name of the to guide them, even as they arrived site. in a strange, cold land. Thousands eventually settled in north London. In 1932, the son of Bhaktivinode Thakur, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati By early 1973, Piggot’s Manor, built Prabhupada, who had inherited almost a hundred years earlier with his father’s vision, also wanted the money from India, was selected to British to have an opportunity to be the new home of Lord Krishna learn about Krishna, so he sent in Britain. Srila Prabhupada himself three of his disciples to London. By came to stay there for many weeks 1935 he had been promised a piece and personally invited his Lord in of land in South Kensington, but a a beautiful welcoming ceremony few months later he left the world. on the very day that Krishna It would be 1969 before one of his appeared in this world: Janmashtami. followers came again to London and The deities were named Radha- established Krishna’s teachings there. Gokulananda and they were Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada beautiful. Devotees felt especially That follower, now known as His privileged that their spiritual master Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta was spending so much time with Swami Prabhupada, created the them at the Manor, and that he was first London Radha-Krishna temple entrusting them with the service of in 1969, but said that London Krishna. was such a big city that it could easily accommodate at least ten The devotees at the Manor had lots such temples. He asked his student of enthusiasm, but very little money. Dhananjaya Das whether he could In fact, they had so little money start another temple in London’s that there was no heating during Notting Hill, and whether he would the winter, hardly any food beyond like a set of Radha-Krishna altar porridge, cabbage and potatoes; deities that he knew of in Delhi. It and on some days there were no was 1972. flowers for the altar. Something had to be done. Under the direction of At the same time, the original Hansaduta Das, they started going London temple was hopelessly into the nearby towns and selling overcrowded. The ancient message of incense, books and LP recordings Krishna had met with a resounding of the Hare Krishna mantra and approval by the young people of other songs. By 1974, Krishna Britain and many had moved in to consciousness was regularly being form a large spiritual community Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada taken beyond London and into the to become members of the “Friends towns of Britain. Festivals were being of Lord Krishna”, or FOLK. But Srila staged in large halls and universities, Prabhupada was unwell and devotees delicious Sunday feasts were held on around the world prayed for his the lawn, and the first cow was brought recovery. He made his last visit to the to live in the old stables. Bhajahari Das Manor for Janmashtami and devotees and Prabhavishnu Das were successive from all over Europe came to see him temple presidents at this time. and had exceptional kirtan in front of him. There was great grief when he In 1975 the first ever public passed away in November. Janmashtami was staged, as was the Diwali festival, complete with The new restaurant in London was Ramayana drama and fireworks. Srila named ‘Healthy, Wealthy and Wise,’ Prabhupada had come twice since and right from the beginning of the opening of the Manor, and told 1978 it did rather well. People were devotees that Krishna consciousness interested in the relatively new idea of would spread in Britain through theatre. vegetarianism. The new temple was Devotees took him seriously and began gorgeously decorated and visitors ate staging regular dramas, turning one downstairs and meditated upstairs. room into a theatre with a stage and The Manor, however, was overflowing lights. The next year there were almost with devotees. Again, there was not 40 devotees criss-crossing Britain in enough space for the Hare Krishna vans, selling thousands of books every community. But Vicitravirya Das week. was the temple president and things were well organised. Through1979 , In the Spring of 1976 Jayatirtha there was an increase in the number Das arrived from the USA, replacing of Indian families visiting; they were Hansaduta Das as the leader. He set relieved to be in a place where their about renovating the Manor in time spiritual culture was intact. They were for Srila Prabhupada’s visit later that able to pray to their Lord Krishna and year. The temple room floorboards they offered contributions to help with were replaced with a new floor, and the Manor’s costs. A “Mahabharata chandeliers and fresh wallpaper hung. Cultural Association” was created, A stained glass effect was created and along with it the “Mahabharata above the new, beautifully carved Youth Club” which began attracting altar from Bombay, and a large book the next generation from Wembley, display cabinet was made by a devotee Southall, Finchley, Tooting and craftsman for the reception. An orchard Harrow. Children’s summer camps was converted into a car park and a rose were held in the Manor grounds. garden created. That year, a travelling The “Life Membership” programme temple – a converted single-decker bus began. Bhaktivedanta Manor took a – took to the road, the first of its kind in bold move this year and branched out, Europe. Srila Prabhupada was happy to contributing resources to the purchase see all the improvements. of another stately home in Worcester. It Later that year, the devotees were would eventually be named: “Chaitanya evicted from the London temple, College at Croome Court.” Also in situated in Bury Place, near the this year, Sivarama Swami came to the British Museum. They all came to the country and would hold a variety of Manor and arrangements were made leadership positions for the next 23 for a women’s group to immediately years. begin raising funds for a new London In 1980, official ownership of the location. In eighteen months they raised Manor passed from George Harrison’s enough for a six-floor property – a Material World Foundation to restaurant with a temple on the second ISKCON. Early on in that year, a small floor and an ashram above that. “Commodore” computer was donated, In spring 1977, a division of the as well as a “Rotoprint” printer. They Bhaktivedanta Book Trust was were only two gifts, but they would established at the Manor and a new help revolutionise how the outreach concept launched: “The Art of Living” - was conducted. Devotees now went out three paperback books in a box. Along door-to-door to all Hindu homes in with another new book, “The Science London, and a small home gathering of Self Realisation,” and a new musical began in Southall at the home of the record album, it sold well and British Murti family. It would be the very first people came forward in large numbers of many. In the following year there was a grand installation of Sita and By March the following year the Manor Rama. They took their place alongside Radha-Gokulananda had featured on the popular BBC children’s television and looked resplendent. Television and newspapers began to programme Blue Peter, certainly a mark of acceptability feature the Manor, and the devotees developed friendships with for some. But not for the local council which issued an members of the media as well as the religious establishment. enforcement notice to stop all worshippers attending the Unfortunately, the local council issued their first enforcement temple. It was, in effect, an edict to close the temple completely notice to ban public religious festivals at the Manor. It would to the public. On the council’s suggestion, the Manor applied take another fifteen years and an enormous legal and political to build a new temple in a nearby spot they’d indicated. The struggle before the relationship changed.

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