Radha Govinda Gaudiya Matha (Philippines)
May 17, 2020
Dear Prabhus and Didis,
Please accept our dandavat pranams. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga.
We are the Seva Team of the Bhakti Yoga Society Inc. (Radha Govinda Gaudiya Matha), duly registered religious organization in the Philippines, run by disciples and grand disciples of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaja. For the past 8 years we have been actively engaged in Prasadam Distribution, Book Publication/Distribution, and hosting various travelling preachers. Our present rented temple had been sold and we needed to relocate very soon.
In the recent visit of our well-wisher and friend Radhakanta Prabhu from California USA, he has offered to help the Philippine seva team to establish the legacy of our beloved Gurudeva’s preaching in the Philippines. As an offering to his 2021 centennial celebration, the local sanga and Bhakti Projects Inc. (Radhakanta Prabhu’s and Ratikala dasi’s non-profit) will purchase a temple property. By doing so, we intend to increase the community of devotees and gradually situate our congregation in the surrounding areas of the new temple, thus expanding the various activities of propagating Krishna consciousness and livelihood programs of the members.
We already signed a contract to buy the property and had given earnest money as confirmation to buy the temple building. Upon completion of the requirements agreed upon by the seller and the buyer (Bhakti Yoga Society, Inc.), we will proceed to pay the full payment of P27,000,000 ($540,000). The purchase of the said temple is 50 percent (P13,500,000) sponsored by Radhakanta Prabhu and his wife Ratikala Didi and the other 50 percent ($270,000) amount will be our loan to Bhakti Projects Inc,, that is payable in 10 years.
The new Radha Govinda Gaudiya temple is located at #8 Dagupan St. Brgy. Mariblo SFDM Quezon City Philippines. It is in a residential area near the commercial main road. It has a lot area of 372 square meters with a 3 story building and floor area of more than 900 sqm with description below.
Ground floor
– marble flooring for temple room big enough to accommodate 100 persons, 2 kitchens, 1 big office room, 1 bhakti gift shop, 1 dining area or lounge, 1 book room, 1 toilet and bath, 3 car garage inside the building and 3 car space in front of the building, a Tulasi garden, 14 parking space for motorcycle (inside and outside), marble stairway with stainless handgrill, washing and hanging area.
Second Floor
has a loft before going to the rooms including 4 bedrooms each with its own toilet and a bath and walk-in closet. (1 room for travelling preachers, 2 rooms for women ashram, 1 master bedroom suitable for a yoga studio or seminars, 1 guest room, and a small terrace).
Third Floor
1 medium and 1 large room for men, 1 toilet and bath, 1 washing and hanging area. Big roof deck area suitable for garden and other activities. This area could possibly be turned into a large temple room in the future.
We would like to invite all our friends, well-wishers, disciples and grand disciples of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja to be part of this beautiful project and wonderful opportunity to glorify our beloved spiritual master, by initially helping us renovate this 15 year old temple building.
We need your help and support for the following temple renovation and improvements below.
1. Electrical & plumbing repair, including repainting the whole building inside and out.
2. Waterproofing the roof-deck
3. New altar for Deities
4. Additional guest toilet on ground floor
5. Establishing a gift shop
6. Office & kitchen equipment
7. Landscape and Tulasi garden
8. Painting wall murals
Estimated cost for the renovation is P2,000,000 ($40,000). We will need to collect this amount in the next 60 days to be able to make the temple & ashram ready to move into. This is not just a Philippine community project, but is a significant worldwide achievement being one of the few temples of the Gaudiya Math outside of India. It will serve as a beacon of light promoting Vedic culture and spiritual education for all people including Philippinos, Indians, and international visitors. Every contribution is appreciated whether it is large or small.
Anyone who donates to this important project will receive:
· An official receipt for your tax deduction
· Your name or your family’s name engraved in a marble brick in the front entranceway of the temple.
· Gifts of transcendental literature from our acaryas
Here are some of the benefits achieved by donating to build a Radha-Krishna temple according to scriptures:
“Mortals who help to construct a temple of Lord Vishnu do not return to this world, they return to the abode of Lord Vishnu” – Padma Purana
“O best of the brahmanas, many men have laid down their lives on the battlefield, being unafraid of fighting, but rarely has one gotten the chance to give his accumulated wealth faithfully to a saintly person who creates holy places.” – Srimad Bhagavatam 8.20.9
“Just by starting the construction of a temple for Lord, sins committed in seven births will be wiped out and one will deliver his forefathers who are suffering in hellish planets” and who sponsors a temple of Lord Vishnu, gains ten million times the merits accrued by Yajna, Austerities, Charities, Pilgrimage and study of Vedas. – Skanda Purana
“A person who builds a temple of Sri Vishnu will get the same results as performing the Rajasuya yagna and Ashwamedha yagna. O best of the brahmanas, as many atoms as there are in the temple, for so many thousands of years will he be able to reside in the heavenly planets.” – Vishnu Dharmottara
If one contributes towards temple construction, devotional service becomes increasingly a more tangible and feasible reality in one’s life. The intent to build temples is to provide an opportunity for fallen souls everywhere to acquire spiritual benefit (‘bhakti-sukriti’) by their participation. Temples are necessary for the spiritual advancement of people in general as they provide a place to congregate with like-minded spiritual practitioners, chant the holy names, take darshan of the deities, celebrate the festival days of the Lord and His devotees, and honor prasadam. We will have many such temples in the future in different sections of the city and in the provinces. Let’s begin here by making this a thriving self-sufficient temple for the pleasure of the Lord, and in service of all the good people of the Philippines.
Kindly donate according to your capacity in any of the following ways:
1.) Deposit or wire transfer to Bhakti Yoga Society Inc. (Banco De Oro Account #002770131660 – 277 Quezon Avenue corner Cordillera St., Quezon City Philippines, Swift Code:BNORPHMM, Routing number:0121000089).
2.) Donation thru Paypal Account: yadunath.das@gmail.com
3.) Western Union Wire Transfer: Jose Davalos #8 Dagupan St. Brgy. Mariblo SFDM Quezon City Philippines 1104
4.) Donate online: www.bhaktiprojects (especially for US donors to receive tax deductions).
5.) In the USA for bank wire instructions email info@bhaktiprojects.com
For more details on the project call Yadunatha Prabhu in the Philippines – 63+9338504705 / 63+9178345885, email: yadunath.das@gmail.com, visit our FB pages: Bhakti Yoga Society Philippines, Bhakti Yoga Society Feeding Programs, Vegetarian Dinner Club.
For more details in the USA call Radhakanta das at +1 925-352-3040, email Radhakanta@bhaktiprojects.org
Aspiring to be in the service of Hari, Guru and the Vaisnavas,
Jose S. Davalos (Yadunath Das) Radhakanta das
BYSI – President Bhakti Projects – President
