Prem Mandir ... The inauguration of a magnificent Divine monument in Vrindavan (A summary of reports)

[Radha Madhav Dham Group]

http://knol.google.com/k/david-mccaldin/prem-mandir-the-inauguration-of-a/2pr18mcjtayt9/19#view
A summary of numerous articles and news items relating to Prem Mandir
temple and the inauguration ceremony which will take place from
February 15 - February 17, 2012 in the presence of Jagadguru Shree
Kripaluji Maharaj

The origins of Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
Once some devotees requested Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj if they
could have such an inspirational monument that could be a guiding
light for all the aspiring souls desiring the Grace of Radha Rani and
Shree Krishn. Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj consented and thus
two projects came into being: Bhakti Mandir and Prem Mandir. Vrindavan
is the holy land revealed by Shree Krishn 5,000 years ago during His
Divine Descension. Faithful souls come from great distances to be
blessed by its holy atmosphere.

On Jagadguru Divas, 2001, the foundation stone of Prem Mandir was laid
by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. Devotees surrounding the huge
excavation site to witness the event, felt that they were taking part
in the spiritual history of the world. Construction began immediately
after the foundation laying ceremony.

The entire construction of Prem Mandir is of Italian marble. The
marvelously carved building with refined craftsmanship and glorious
inlay work of semiprecious stones is a unique Divine structure in
Vrindavan.

On fifty of land, the monument will be surrounded with magnificent
gardens and beautiful fountains. On the walls of this double story
monument (122 x 195 ft.) the true theme of our scriptures, the Vedic
science of creation, the world history and the unbroken continuity of
Bhartiya scriptures for over 1.9 billion years will be depicted. The
beautiful deities of Radha Krishn and their leela songs are depicted
in an exquisite manner.

Prem Mandir is a unique, educational monument which represents the
authentic history and the religion of Bharatvarsh, relates its eternal
Divine aspect and displays 1008 Braj leela songs of Radha Krishn,
which were revealed by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.

This temple will stand for thousands of years, inspiring the souls to
reach the ultimate aim of their life and guiding them on that path.
(Information from http://www.JKP.org)

The foundation stone laying ceremony of Jan 14th, 2001
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPOPrY6A9wU

This video and testimony was made by the Kapoor family, devotees of
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj in America, who were among the
people who felt that they were taking part in the spiritual history of
the world. Watch the video on youtube.

"Our whole family had Shri Maharaj Ji's Darshan for the very first
time in June 2000. It was the inauguration of Vishva Kalyan Kendra,
Rangeeli Mahal in Barsana. A rather unexpected tragic event had us
back in India within 6 months. We happened to be in Vrindavan for only
2 days, totally unaware of the historic events that were to unfold
before us. Shri Maharaj Ji celebrated Lohri/Makar Sankranti that night
and the next day, Jagadguru Diwas, and a huge procession of devotees
gathered for the stone laying ceremony of a unrivalled monument to
Radha Krishn that would be known throughout the world. It is made of
pure Italian marble. "Anyone visiting Vrindavan will have to come
here" --- our beloved Prem Mandir !!!

"You fortunate souls who are present here, can participate in this
Divine Plan and help out, if you so desire and get blessings,
otherwise I make it anyway, regardless"
- Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj

We were blessed to be there and to video tape this historic event.
Coincidence, NO!!! It was only by the Grace of our Guru, Shri
Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj"

Watching the progress of Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEiKm5oObZM

In the years between the foundation laying ceremony and the
inauguration (to take place in 2 weeks, from Feb 15 - 17, 2012)
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj would take devotees to the site of
Prem Mandir. Here is a glimpses of a memorable occasion, during Summer
2008, when Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj visited the construction
site with devotees, and personally watched and hoisted one of the
massive Italian marble blocks onto the temple. Watch the video on
youtube.

Establishing a Satsang Hall at Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeIRd8REYKc

Aaj Ki Khabar News reported, on Feb 25th and March 1st 2011, about the
foundation stone ceremony of the massive new satsang hall being built
next to Prem Mandir. The new satsang hall, to be inaugurated in 2012
will be one of the two largest halls in the world.

This massive satsang hall will be opened by 2012; and will encourage
devotion towards Radha Krishn to spiritual seekers around the world.
This is one of two largest satsang halls in the world. The area of
this satsang hall is approx 73,000 square feet; and there is no
pillar. The satsang hall is circular shaped, and the distance between
two walls is about 275 square feet. Approx 25,000 devotees can worship
at a time.

The land worship program was started at 9:30 am and ended at 10:25 in
the presence of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. Soon after this,
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj flew on his helicopter for Allahabad
at 10:45 am. The main attraction of the program was the grand arti,
which was done by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj's eldest son
Ghanshyam Tripathiji. Thousands of devotees witnessed the whole
program. When the news crew went to ask the devotees for their views
about the temple, they all were mesmerized in offering worship.

The greatness of Prem Mandir
"Premadhin Braha Shyam Veda ne bataya,
yaate yaaya naama "Prem Mandir" dharaayaa"
The Vedas say - It is only love that binds even the Supreme Lord. That
is the reason this unique temple has been given the unique name "Prem
Mandir", the temple of Divine love.
[This is a doha (couplet) written by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj
himself]

Interview with CEO and supervisor of the Prem Mandir project
In 2010, Nandu Baba, the CEO supervising the construction operations
at the site told Agratoday.in:

"Work started here on January 14, 2001 and should finish off within a
year from now. More than 800 craftsmen, artisans and specialists from
various parts of the country have been toiling day and night to create
a pure marble temple in the original Som Nath style.
The plan and designing work has been done by the famous Suman and
Manoj Bhai Sompura from Gujarat. It is a massive marble structure with
three feet thick walls, all pure marble and the presiding deity will
be Yugal Sarkar."

According to Agratoday.in, the whole area looks as if the quarries
from Rajasthan have been brought here. The engineers are using the
latest technology available and several new experiments are being
conducted for the first time. 30,000 tons of Italian marble have been
used in the construction and carved with unique machines like KUKA
robotics. The leelas of Radha Krishn and life history of Jagadguru
Shree Kripaluji Maharaj are being displayed on the walls of the
temple. When complete it could rival the Taj Mahal, says a supporter
at the site.

Prem Mandir: A stunning gem of bhakti shining in Vrindaban
Yesterday I saw Prem Mandir and there are no words to describe its
glory. It is a stunning gem of bhakti shining in Vrindaban
- Janeshwari Didi (Disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj)

Prem Mandir Inauguration... The long awaited time has come
The long awaited time has come…the glorious Prem Mandir will be
inaugurated in Vrindaban, India on February 15-17, 2012.
[Written by Janeshwari Devi and posted on http://www.SwamiNikhilanand.com]

The festivities will include kalash yatra with Yamuna jal (water),
which will cleanse and sanctify the temple. Thousands of devotees from
around the world are expected to participate in the yatra. Vedic havan
(fire ceremonies) and rituals will be held, and the pran prathistha
(instilling life into the Deities) will be personally performed by
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, founder of Jagadguru Kripalu
Parishat and Prem Mandir. Radha Krishn deities will reside on the
ground floor, and Sita Ram will Grace the shrine on the first floor.
Every evening, the famous Ras Mandalis of Vrindaban will enact Braj
leelas.

Many years in the making, this temple is unique in Vrindaban.
Elegantly carved of white Italian marble, the temple depicts 84 scenes
of Radha Krishn leelas carved into the temple’s outer walls. Stepping
inside the magnificent temple, one can view the philosophy of bhakti
yog, as revealed by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, inlaid in the
ornate walls with semi-precious stones. Kripalu Trayodashi, the famous
concise overview of all of the philosophy of Hindu dharm in only 13
verses, composed by Kripaluji Maharaj, is displayed just next to the
shrine. Historical Saints and the Jagadgurus of India are prominently
displayed on both levels.

Prem Mandir is situated on a 50-acre site on the outskirts of the holy
city of Vrindaban (Braj District, U.P. India). The surrounding area is
being developed as a place of pilgrimage for visitors from around the
world. Here, one can participate in the satsang and take the spiritual
benefit of the Divine teachings emanating from this important
spiritual center, which will be a Divine nucleus in Vrindaban.

When completed, the center will include a fully charitable hospital, a
10,000-seat satsang bhavan (hall) – one of the largest in India –
dining and living facilities. The multi-media shops will offer
beautiful kirtans, philosophical books, stunning photos of Radha
Krishn and other devotional material for sale. A museum depicting
India’s antiquity and the history of the creation of the brahmand is
also planned.

Recent Slideshow of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj's Prem Mandir,
Vrindavan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0-TTPbSeBE

Who is Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, the founder of Prem Mandir?
According to wikipedia, Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj (Sanskrit: जगदगुरु
कृपालु जी महाराज) (born 1922), the founder of Prem Mandir, is a Hindu
spiritual leader from Allahabad, India. He is the preceptor of
Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, a worldwide Hindu non-profit religious,
charitable organization with 5 main spiritual centers – four in India
and one in the USA. JKP Radha Madhav Dham is one of the largest Hindu
Temple complexes in the Western Hemisphere, and the largest in North
America. A spiritual master and a poet-saint of modern times, Shree
Kripaluji Maharaj has influenced thousands of devotees around the
world in the path of Bhakti Marg, the path of love or devotion to
God. He received the title of Jagadguru (world teacher) at the age of
34 on Makar Sankranti day, January 14th, 1957.

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (JKP) was founded by Jagadguru Shree
Kripaluji Maharaj, our beloved Shree Maharajji, the fifth prime
Jagadguru in the last 5000 years.

Founded in 1990, Radha Madhav Dham Temple and ashram serves as the
national center of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat in the United States and
is one of the largest Hindu Temples in North America.

JKP Radha Madhav Dham Official Website: http://www.RadhaMadhavDham.org
Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Worldwide Mission: http://www.JKP.org
Swami Nikhilanandji's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/SwamiNikhilanand
Official Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/RadhaMadhavDham