By Nitya-priya Devi Dasi
Srila Prabhupada envisioned the TOVP/Mayapur City project as a grand display of devotional service and Vedic science (the combination of religion and science) which would attract the whole world to the Krsna Consciousness Movement.
While in Mayapur for the annual Gaura Purnima festival in 1976, he stated,
“We shall show the Vedic conception of planetary system within this material world and above the material world. We are going to exhibit the Vedic culture throughout the whole world, and they’ll come here.”
In accordance with this stated desire, the planetary display for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium main dome has been preliminarily designed. The devotees involved with this project have maintained strict faithfulness to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions.
The current drawing is merely a rough outline and does not display all of the details that will be included in the final model. The final model will also include: Ananta Sesa supporting from below, the four Kumaras hearing Srimad Bhagavatam from Ananta on Patalaloka, Lord Kurma in Mahatala, Matsya in Rasatala, and many other features.
The TOVP Planetarium Team worked diligently to put all the parts of the Vedic Cosmological Chandelier drawing together. You can see the scale of the actual model compared to the temple room area and to peoples’ actual size in the computerized picture.
Srila Prabhupada was a great spiritual reformer who knew how to preach and influence the world and those who would visit the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. We feel very fortunate to serve him by fulfilling his desire.
Keep up the good work, Prabhus. May Krsna bless you with the strength to continue and complete the Temple and Planetarium. It seems the whole world is agasp awaiting your efforts.