Visit to ISKCON temple, Tuscon, AZ
I recently visited the ISKCON community in Tuscon, Arizona. Living on the East Coast, while surviving the polar vortex left me hankering for the warmth and comfort of the West. After careful deliberation, I chose Tuscon, Arizona to get away for a week.
The city of Tuscon, Arizona is the Pima County seat, and home to the University of Arizona. Much of Tucson’s economic development has been centered on the development of the University of Arizona, which is currently the second largest employer in the city. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, on the city’s southeastern edge also provides many jobs for Tucson residents. Its presence, as well as the presence of the US Army Intelligence Center (Fort Huachuca, the largest employer in the region, in nearby Sierra Vista), has led to the development of many high-tech industries in the area. Roughly 150 Tucson companies are involved in the design and manufacture of optics and optoelectronics systems, earning Tucson the nickname “Optics Valley”.[68]
Tuscon is home to the world famous Saguaro National Park with its eponymous saguaro cacti growing more than 40 feet tall and having a burdensome lifespan of 200 years. Imagine standing straigt for 200 years in an arborescent cactus body. Tuscon also boasts of Sabino Canyon, Mt. Lemmon and world famous hiking trails. Mt. Lemmon is 25 miles (40 km) north by road, soaring 6,700 feet (2,000 m) above Tucson in the Santa Catalina Mountains, north of the Coronado National Forest.
50,000 federal prisoners worked in 1948 to build the road to top of Mt Lemmon which is now a huge tourist destination. Outdoor activities in the Catalinas include hiking, mountain biking, birding, rock climbing, picnicking, camping, swimming in mountain stream pools, sky rides at Ski Valley, fishing and photography. In winter, with enough snow, the sky riding converts back to skiing at the destination famed as the southernmost ski resort in the continental United States. Giant saguaros greet you everywhere in Tuscon.
After booking my flight and rental car, I called several hotels in Tuscon only to find that everything was booked solid for the upcoming gem show, the largest of its kind on the planet, filled with international sellers and buyers. Over a quarter of a million people come to Tuscon from all over the world in first two weeks of February to participate in this event, generating over $100 million in revenue for the city. Diamonds, corals, emeralds, sapphires, topazes, obsidians, stones and crystals abound.
I called the temple next to see if they can accommodate me. Much to my surprise, they had a room and I was all set. On their website, I found out that ISKCON Tuscon has an award-winning vegan/vegetarian restaurant called Govinda’s. They also have twice-weekly Harināma at the University of Arizona in addition to Saturday night Harināma in Downtown, Tuscon. I witnessed two rainbows on my drive to the temple from the airport, and I felt there was something special in store.
On the temple premises, I was greeted by Caitanya Līlā Devī Dāsī who showed me my room and welcomed me. Caitanya Līlā grew up in Tuscon, and at the age of 19 was seeking something special when she stumbled upon the Govinda’s. Slowly, she started attending the weekly programs at the temple, and is now a steadfast servant of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava. She received initiation in spiritual life from His Holiness Jīvānanda dāsa Vanacārī (Disciple of Śrīla Prabhupāda)
I entered the temple sanctuary and was stunned by the intense devotional energy and mood emanating from the altar adorning Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva (Yoga-Nṛsiṁha), Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava, and Śrī Śrī Gaura-Nitāi. Śrīla Prabhupāda was present in his mūrti form, as well. I went for a long walk to soak up the sun and enjoy the palm trees, blue sky and stunning mountain views which are conspicuous by their absence in Columbus, Ohio. Tuscon is located in a valley totally surrounded by the Santa Catalina mountains.
Every morning I blissfully attended the whole morning program. Sandāminī Devī Dāsī leads by her example, entering the temple sanctuary every day at 3 AM, she completes her chanting of 16 rounds of the mahamantra before maṅgala-āratī and afterward, engages in uninterrupted and unmotivated service to one and all through out the day. After greeting of the Deities, she gently poured a few drops of caraṇāmṛta on my hand, while another devotee provided washing water. It was so touching and personal. Around 11 AM, to my great surprise, a steady stream of visitors began pouring in the temple premises to taste the sublime preparations at Govinda’s- which serves a lunch and dinner buffet to 300 guests a day. Govinda’s is a household word in Tuscon.
Oh Lord, your holy name is invested with all transcendental potencies and you have millions of names like Govinda, Gopala, Hari — I asked Sandāminī Devī Dāsī if she has a favorite prasādam story, and she fondly remembered when His Grace Parameśvara dāsa (Disciple of His Holiness Rādhānātha Mahārāja) a leading book distributor in the world for the last 20 years came to Govinda’s as a then student at University of Arizona. He would come every day for years to eat at Govinda’s and as Sandāminī Devī Dāsī puts it, he ate prasādam all the way back to Godhead. Many have become addicted to top-notch prasādam at Govinda’s and many have begun rendering devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa as a result of their culinary introduction at Govinda’s. I was amazed to see the power of prasādam distribution. Devotees had set up a Govinda’s prasādam distribution outlet at the gem show serving over 100 plates every day.
Sandāminī devī dāsī was initiated by His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedānta Swāmi Prabhupāda in 1974 in San Diego. From the outset, she joined the womens’ book distribution party, and distributed hundreds of thousands of spiritual literatures criss-crossing the country. In 1987, she and Daśaratha prabhu pioneered and opened the first temple in Tuscon, Arizona, and in 1992 they opened the Govinda’s which has served the residents of Tuscon ever since. In 1996, Sandāminī Devī Dāsī and her son Bhakta Raj along with Daśaratha Prabhu started the first temple in Phoenix, Arizona which is a thriving hub of devotional service replete with Bhakti-vṛkṣas in the city. Kṛṣṇa conscious saṅgas have also developed in the neighboring cities of Flagstaff, El Paso, and Bisbee. Her dream is to see thriving prasādam distribution, book distribution and preaching to locals in these towns and hopefully development of Kṛṣṇa conscious reading rooms and centers of devotional service in neighboring towns and cities.
The temple in Tuscon has āśrama space for about 20 residents, rooms for visiting guests, meditation gardens, fountains and two ponds. The temple is a model of efficiency where every square foot is used to its optimum capacity. Devotees work hard to maintain prasādam distribution, book distribution and Kṛṣṇa conscious outreach. In 2018, ISKCON Tuscon under the leadership of His Grace Atul Govinda dāsa reimbursed $12,000 to the BBT. Devotees maintain book scores, and every month read them aloud to Śrīla Prabhupāda who lovingly glances at the devotees. They have set a goal of distributing 75 cases of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is in 2019.
Many senior devotees including His Grace Sureśvara prabhu, and His Grace Dhirodatta prabhu, both disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda live on the temple premises enlivening one and all with Kṛṣṇa conscious association. Her Grace Divya Devī Dāsī, Her Grace Dānakeli Devī Dāsī also live close by and serve the mission of Śrīla Prabhupāda in Tuscon. Many devotees humbly serve in the background keeping the temple and its mission alive. The temple has a memorial for His Grace Ūrjasvat Prabhu who was a dedicated Harināma-saṅkīrtana leader in the army of Śrīla Prabhupāda, and who left this world serving at the Tuscon temple. It was nice to see rank and file devotees in ISKCON getting recognized for the sacrifices they made. Ultimately, if Śrīmati Rādhārāṇī is pleased, that’s what matters.
On Thursday night, His Grace Citsukhānanda Dāsa (Disciple of Śrīla Prabhupāda) gave a talk at the Krishna lounge — the place was packed with local people who had come to get a flavor of Kṛṣṇa consciousness — he led an interesting discussion from Bhagavad-gītā and then pulled out his guitar to lead a soul-stirring kīrtana. Citsukhānanda Prabhu pioneered ISKCON preaching in Mexico and Latin America. On Saturday night, about 20 devotees went downtown for Harināma Gaṅgāmantrī dāsa led another soulful kīrtana which was much appreciated by the Tucsonans.
On Sunday, both the temple and restaurant were packed with local people eager to savor Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The Sunday feast was a gala festival replete with chanting and dancing. I took a red eye on Sunday night back to Columbus, Ohio where snow and sleet greeted me.
Hariḥ oṁ tat sat
Premvilas das (Disciple of His Holiness Rādhānātha Mahārāja)