Mayapura's "Adbhuta Mandira" Rejected By Iskcon?

By Richard Shaw Brown

Vande gurun isha bhaktan! The prediction was made 500 years ago that in the future an "Adbhuta-mandira" or a wonderful temple would appear in Mayapura. And now, five centuries later, that wonderful "Adbhuta mandira" has manifest itself by the mercy of paramahansas Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and his son Srila Sarasvati Prabhupada. This great, powerful, and beautiful temple is named Sri Yoga-pith Mandira and it is located right where Lord Sri Krishna-Chaitanya appeared on Earth.

I first beheld this Great Temple in late 1968. We (some brahmacari's and sannyasi's) accompanied Tridandi Swami B.H. Vana Maharaj and Krishnadas Babaji Maharaj to Mayapura for the "Golden Anniversary" celebration marking 50 years since Srila Sarasvati Prabhupada first established his transcendental Gaudiya Math mission. We stayed as guests of Srila B.V. Tirtha Maharaj at the 4 Vaishnava Acaryas (1st ever) Gaudiya Matha located near to Sri Yoga-pith Mandira.

We slept on the kirtana hall floor next to Srila Yati Maharaj. He wrote a wonderful English translation and commentary of Sri Krishna Karnamrita that is completely free of Karma or Jnana. He now heads the original Sri Gaudiya Matha as passed down to him from his Gurudev, Srila Tirtha Maharaj, after a few other important disciples of Srila Sarasvati Prabhupada, including Srila Sraman Maharaj and Srila Vana Maharaj, had passed away. Foolish Iskcon people, as usual, speak ill of Srila Yati Maharaj. Just remember that he is the transcendental spiritual master of thousands of jivatma's who regard him as siddha and worship Lord Krishna through him. He is "guru-tattva" so how can one speak ill of him? He is at least a great, bona fide and life-long Vaishnava! To speak ill of him would be serious SATAM NINDA or the "mad elephant" offense most feared by all Hari bhaktas.

During the Golden Anniversary celebrations we joined with 1 lakh of devotees dancing around Sri Yoga Pith Mandira; there were hundreds of mridangas and it was a radical and over-whelming experience. All the disciples of Srila Sarasvati Prabhupada, with the exception of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Goswami Maharaj, had joined together in one place from all over India. Because I was the only "sahib" present and by the mercy of Srila Vana Maharaj I could meet almost all his Godbrothers and offer them my dandavat-pranamas.

THE MAIN POINT is that the "Adbhuta Mandira" or Wonderful Temple predicted for Mayapura is already there. It already exists! Anyone can visit Sridham Mayapura to respect and gain strength from this great temple. It's spiritual power is unlimited. It is the Lord's birth place and it was established by the exalted Srila Thakura Bhaktivinode and Srila Sarasvati Prabhupada, both of whom are eternal associates in Lord Krishna's "nitya lila," known as Kamala Manjari and Nayana Manjari respectively.

I feel very disappointed when I am told by Iskcon leaders that Sri Yoga Pith Mandira is NOT Adbhuta enough; it is NOT the Adbhuta Mandira predicted 500 years ago. The REAL Adbhuta mandira is going to be built by Iskcon at a cost of "one BILLION dollars!" Rather than show their respect to Sri Yoga Pith Mandira they think that they must surpass the temple of Lord Chaitanya's birthplace!?

Iskcon leaders told me they would make theirs physically "bigger" (a completely mundane consideration), "more beautiful and materially grand" (a completely mundane consideration), and it would attract more people to the Iskcon organization (a completely mundane consideration). Not to mention all the collecting of Iskcon "laxmi points" that would be endlessly required of one and all who believe that the proof of Hari bhakti is measured by the amount of money collected, with full attachment to the material results!

CONCLUSION: From a spiritual view-point and at the feet of Lord Chaitanya's devotees I would like to say that in my 1/10,000th tip of a hair opinion, Iskcon's proposal to 'materially' surpass the Lord's Adbhuta Mandira is both Jati-buddhi and OFFENSIVE. Just because Sri Yoga Pith Mandira is run by the original and bona fide Gaudiya Math institution (the opposing party fell down, remember!) in stead of the Iskcon institution, that is no reason to deny it or neglect it and over-endeavor to collect endless money in order to far surpass this Great Temple with a 'materially bigger' temple controlled by Iskcon.

Please be sensible, non-sectarian and non envious: All who are blessed please worship Mayapura's Adbhuta Mandira, Sri Yoga Pith Temple, which is already firmly established by the predecessor Acaryas.

Believe it!