BHAKTIVEDANTA March 2021 MANOR NEWSLETTER International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Founder Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada SRI KRISHNA HAVELI COMPLETE If you have ever been to Bhaktivedanta spiritual experience at Bhaktivedanta Manor on a Sunday evening, I am sure Manor. It is of course wonderful, you can relate to the frustration of trying much-awaited news, but like with many to find a place for your shoes. And even big projects there were some hurdles, more frustrating is trying to locate them heartache, and not to mention the on your way out! What to speak of pandemic, along the way. queuing behind a crowd of hundreds of This is how it all came other people trying to squeeze into the temple room, many times feeling like about… it’s rush hour on a packed underground In 2007 the temple wrote to the local train, only to find that you can’t get council requesting to build a small in because there is a guest speaker village or church style hall. The council visiting, with another couple of hundred responded by asking for the temple’s devotees eagerly occupying every development requirements for the next corner of floor space. 15 years. A complete needs assessment We are happy to say that we have now was carried out by Cottrell and successfully completed our purpose- Vermeulen in 2010, and an additional built hall, the Sri Krishna Haveli, which independent assessment was completed will take the pressure off the main by Rasamandala Das, who consulted Grade II listed Manor building to with various teams and the community provide a spacious environment that at Bhaktivedanta Manor to establish will allow you to fully appreciate your that in the event of having extra facility, what they would use it for. was held with guest of honour, David The various activities were put in order Cameron, the then UK prime minister. of priority based on how many times Why Sri Krishna Haveli? they had been raised and the attention that had been focused on them. Havelis are traditional buildings that These consultations moved forward can be found in many places in India. to become a public brief and the The idea of a Haveli was inspired planning application was put forward in by Havelis of Keshi Ghat and Radha December 2014. The most difficult task Raman temple, Radha Shyamasundar was balancing the needs of the temple temple and Sri Radha Damodar temple. and the local community. Ensuring that All these temples are ornate buildings our facilities will be for housing the which have Rajasthani post-medieval current needs of the temple and not to architecture, which was drawn from a increase activities, planning was granted variety of sources from Persia to India. on 21st April 2016. This was the year They were generally built from stone ISKCON celebrated 50 years since its and sandstone, with ornate windows establishment. and a little courtyard in the middle to keep it cool in the summer. In After receiving more than 6 tenders time, these Havelis became temples, from various contractors, the devotional buildings that were very construction company Vascroft was prominent around Vraj, Rajasthan and chosen to proceed with building. A various other places. grand ground-breaking ceremony as typical of the area of Hertfordshire and wider England. The design was chosen to respect the past and to look to the future, representing authentic construction of today, with sustaining features and characters. Bespoke line patterns based upon Rajasthani and formal English patterns were created by Kishori Radha Dasi to maintain a devotional culture. Mouldings were carved in teak in India and sent to the UK to be further developed. You will see this in the inner ceilings of the veranda walk-way. Sri Krishna Haveli was designed so What’s going on at the that it would sit well between the Haveli? rustic goshala and not overshadow Bhaktivedanta Manor, the mock Tudor You will be welcomed by a beautiful mansion. To complement the local area chakra garden with the heart chakra and respect the culture of the locality, at the entrance. The heart is central to oak, timber, tile and traditional red the Bhakti tradition as everything comes brick with stone paving were chosen together in the heart. There will be lively kirtans, classes by company, through which revelation of visiting speakers, weddings and other divinity takes place. These rooms will be functions in the Kirtan hall which is used primarily to host visiting schools a formal and high-quality room with that come to learn about Hinduism and beautiful wood panelling, a stage and the Bhakti Tradition. They will also be lighting. To the rear there are dressing used by the School of Bhakti. rooms for stage performers and brides Outside there is an exciting space for and grooms to be. children in the Haveli playground. This The Seva hall is conveniently situated play area was designed with ideas from beside a fully equipped bespoke kitchen the children in the Gurukula School for easy access to serve prasad to and Krishna Club. It is centred around all our guests. This hall can also be Krishna’s childhood pastimes with the subdivided into three sections and can Aghasura and Bakasura demons and be used for clubs, yoga and childrens Kaliya the serpent. Made from old trees, activities. it is an area where the children play and The upstairs learning area is called engage just like Krishna did with His Bhakti Vidyalaya with two areas friends. The playground serves as a safe for teaching: the Atma Vidya and space for children to play and creatively Paramatma Vidya rooms. Bhakti is engage, focusing on the pastimes of the means through which the tiny soul Lord Krishna. and great soul come into each other’s This life is for serving others. His Grace Srutidharma Dāsa 05.07.1958 - 10.03.2020 Farewell to the soldiers A visit from the PM Early in 2018, at the beginning of As part of his election campaign construction, His Grace Srutidharma in December 2019 Boris Johnson, das, then temple president at inspired by the community activities at Bhaktivedanta Manor, was diagnosed Bhaktivedanta Manor, visited the Sri with cancer. Serving the community Krishna Haveli. He was accompanied for more than forty years, a stalwart by Oliver Dowden, Culture Secretary, leader and servant of all, he inspired and Priti Patel, Home Secretary, as well and worked unwaveringly with others as the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire to turn this ‘from dream to reality’ as Robert Voss and other MP’s. During an offering to Srila Prabhupada and Mr Johnson’s visit he placed a garland the community. He sadly passed away around Srila Prabhupada and received on 10th March 2020. We also lost blessings from Their Lordships Sri Sri Rameshwar das, shortly afterwards, who Radha Gokulananda. worked tirelessly to raise funds for this project. Opening Delayed instructed them to complete ancillary A three-day Haveli opening was projects, which have been in a state planned and ready, when unfortunately, of disrepair and required to be done. due to the Covid-19 pandemic, The design & installation of the new cautions were put in place for the children’s playground, resurfacing of imminent government lockdown. All both cark parks, with installation of departments were set and raring to go E-charging points and new lighting. to begin use of the new facilities, but the The ladies ashrama has also been Lord had other plans. Many members of renovated and its roof replaced. The the community fell ill with the virus and temple building now has a beautiful we sadly said farewell to a few more paved path around it, for the pleasure dear devotees. of the Vaishnavas, who can now do parikrama safely, without stepping During this pandemic, the builders into potholes and puddles. The Manor continued to work on the Haveli and school, Gift shop and the Bakery also completed June 2020. needed to be relocated, so that they Finances could continue to provide their services. The projected cost of the Haveli was To make sure construction did not initially £9.6 million and with design stop the temple raised a bank loan changes, price increases and additions, of £5 million. Most of the funds have the final cost of the project is £10.65 been raised in the form of pledges, million. and the devotees are working very hard, encouraging donors to fulfill their As the builders were on site we pledges of support. Haveli Cost £10.65 Million *Tulsi green houses, Utility connections, Additional Costs* Playground, Relocation costs, Professional Fees, Muck away, Ladies ashram Refurb, Car £2.9 Million parks, Parikrama Marg, Fences and gates DonationS PLEDGES SHORT RECEIVED OUTStandinG FALL £8,913,292 £3,597,983 £1,038,725 We have secured a loan of £5 Million from the bank, against the temple and its assets Donate Online: www.krishnatemple.com/haveli THANK YOU This project has been the largest single tatra srir vijayo bhutir project, since the time of George dhruva nitir matir mama Harrison donating Bhaktivedanta Wherever there is Krishna, the master Manor in 1973. Over the last 40 years of all mystics and wherever there is we have seen incredible changes; Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will through many trials and tribulations, also certainly be opulence, victory, the devotees have continued to remain extraordinary power, and morality. That focused on their duty and getting on is my opinion. with what needs to get done. Our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation Despite the challenges of a world that is to you all for your unfailing support, constantly changing, the devotion and which has made Bhaktivedanta Manor, determination of Krishna’s devotee will an oasis of spiritual culture in the UK.