Construction work at the Rs 500 crore-'Sri Mayapur Chandroday' temple project is in full swing since its foundation stone was laid by ISKCON's Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada in 1972.
"The temple would be unique as it would not only house the planetarium that would speak secret of Vedas but it would have a hall on 1.5 acre area where 10,000 devotees can pay their obeisance at a time," Alfred Ford, grandson of iconic American industrialist Henry Ford and the president of the temple construction committee, told reporters here
Ford, who has invested Rs 200 crores in this temple project, is here in the city to participate in the religious rituals related to the auspicious 'Kartik' month.
"Though my wife is from a Brahmin family of West BengaI, I opted Vaishnav Dharma after taking 'Deeksha' (consecration) from my preceptor Prabhupada in the year 1972. In order to obey the commandment made by my preceptor I invested Rs 200 crores in this temple," he said.
Mayapur has become a symbol of harmony where without distinction of caste, creed and colour, three thousand devotees from 32 countries under the banner of Krishna Bhakti, propagate the message of the Bhagwad Geeta.