Priyanshi Pareek reports on Vrindavan’s new temple in making Chandrodaya Temple..
The temple aims to establish a world-class and iconic monument dedicated to Sri Krishna in the sacred land of Vrindavan, aligning with Srila Prabhupada’s vision. The Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir seeks to elevate Krishna’s presence globally and put Vrindavan prominently on the world map. This endeavour is dedicated to contributing significantly to India’s future development.
Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, currently in its initial construction phase in Vrindavan, Mathura, India, is envisioned to become the tallest religious monument globally. With an estimated cost of ₹700 crore (US$88 million), it is poised to be among the most financially significant temples worldwide. ISKCON Bangalore spearheads the temple’s planning. The ambitious design targets a towering height of approximately 700 feet (210 metres) or 70 floors, with a sprawling built-up area of 540,000 sq. ft. (~50,000 sq. m.). Spread across 62 acres of land, the project also allocates 12 acres for parking and includes provisions for a helipad.
History
In 1972, Srila Prabhupada, the revered founder and Acharya of ISKCON, expounded on the principle of Yukta Vairāgya while standing in front of Sri Rupa Goswami’s Bhajan Kutir—a humble abode where ascetics engage in spiritual practices like chanting Krishna’s names, writing, and teaching. He shared this wisdom with a group of a dozen or more western disciples accompanying him during his visit to Vrindavan, India.
He said:
Just like we have a tendency to construct skyscraper buildings. As in your country, you do. So you should not be attached to skyscraper buildings, but you can utilise the tendency by constructing a big temple like a skyscraper for Krishna. In this way, you have to purify your material activities.
— Srila Prabhupada’s lecture in Vrindavan, 29 October 1972
Motivated by Srila Prabhupada’s vision and teachings, the devoted members of ISKCON Bangalore meticulously followed his instructions and conceived the ambitious project of the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir—a towering temple dedicated to Lord Sri Krishna.
The auspicious foundation stone laying ceremony for the Chandrodaya temple took place on 16 March 2014, coinciding with the eve of the sacred festival of Holi, in the Mathura district.
Construction
Madhu Pandit Dasa held a meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee, presenting the temple’s concept. In March 2014, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated the project. Subsequently, on 16 November 2014, President Pranab Mukherjee laid the temple’s foundation stone. Presently, the temple building is undergoing construction. Notably, the original architectural design has undergone two revisions, in 2019 and 2022