In 2004, in response to an invitation from the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, India, HH Bhakti Charu Swami built a magnificent new ISKCON temple in Ujjain – the ancient and holy city also known as Avantika, where Krishna and Balarama attended school. The beautiful marble temple was completed in just 10 months and includes five altars for the worship of Sri Sri Radha-Madana-mohana, Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, Sri Sri Krsna-Balarama, Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra and Lord Nrisimadeva. At ISKCON Ujjain Maharaja established a guesthouse, goshalla, Govindas’s restaurant, Avanti primary school, auditorium and many outreach preaching centers in Bhopal and Indore.
“Sometimes I wonder how we managed to build this temple in ten months. The only thought that comes to my mind is that it happened by Krishna’s mercy. This actually proves that if we sincerely try to serve Krishna, Krishna helps, and as a result of that all kinds of wonderful things happen.”
“This temple has been built not for us, but for you. I have not come to Ujjain to ask for anything. Rather, I have come here to give the most precious thing in the world. I have come here to remind you of our relationship with our supreme father Sri Krishna.”
“All the temples of ISKCON all over the world have only one objective – to distribute this pristine spiritual knowledge. With that objective ISKCON has been established in Ujjain and it gives me great pleasure to see that this mission is being accomplished. Today, thousands of local people have become actively involved.”
(c) copyright by Bhakti Charu Swami
