New Gaudiya Math Temple in Delhi

Delhi, March 30, 2006.

A new Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math temple was inaugurated in Paharganj. Deities of Lord Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu & Sree Sree Radha Shyamsunderji were installed under the auspices of the President Acharya of the organization, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, who is also president of the World Vaishnava Association and president of GOKUL. He is a dearmost disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj (Founder-Acharya of All India Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math). As Delhi is same as Hastinapura, the deities of Pancha-pandavas are also installed.

Devotees from all over India and other countries gathered for the program. On the evening of the day before the inauguration ceremony (Adhivas) Srila Bhakti Vigyan Bharati Maharaj explained the meaning of Adhivas and how to cleanse our hearts so that the Lord can appear. He explained that the Supreme Lord is bound by the love of His pure devotees and on their call the Lord mercifully appears in His deity form.

The ceremonial process of installing the deities was conducted as per ‘Pancaratra’ and ‘Sree Hari Bhakti Vilasa’ scriptures. Due to the eclipse, the dhvaja-prathistha (flag ceremony) could not be performed on March 29 and was instead performed on the morning of the 30th. Prana-Pratistha (installation) ceremony was initiated by the lotus hands of Srila Gurudev. The deities received their first abhisheka bath. Thereafter the deities were dressed in a beautiful new outfit. A grand aratik was performed amidst ecstatic kirtans. All the devotees were overwhelmed by the magnificent advent ceremony of the Supreme Lord in the presence of Srila Gurudev and other exalted Vaishnavas. It is said that anyone who participates in the Lord’s Prana prathistha ceremony will certainly attain the spiritual world.

Along with the temple inauguration, the 32nd annual function of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math (Delhi Branch) was also celebrated from March 29 to April 2, 2006.

On April 2, the utsava-deities of Lord Chaitanya and Sree Sree Radha Shyamsunderji went out in a grand Ratha-Yatra procession. More than 5000 devotees participated in the procession. The procession went to the most crowded areas of New Delhi. Roads were filled with thousands of spectators, getting the mercy of the Supreme Lord and hearing the chanting of the Holy Name. Later many thousand devotees took prasadam at the temple.

Notably, Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math started its branch in New Delhi in a small building in 1986. By the mercy of Srila Gurudev, a bigger adjacent building was acquired and this beautiful 5-storey temple was constructed.