From Russia with Krsna Prem

[Guest guest]

>From Russia, for a Krishna temple

 

Express Features Service

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=78177

Mumbai, March 7: IF his parents had their way, he would be spending

his life in labs and classrooms. But then Bhaktivigyan Goswami

Maharaj, Russia's first sanyasi, has always done exactly what he

wants to do.

 

So today he's in Mumbai to propagate Krishna consciousness and seek

funds for a massive Krishna temple in the heart of Moscow.

PHOTO LINK

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Seated at the spacious lecture hall of the International Society for

Krishna Consciousness, Chowpatty, the 48-year-old adjusts his

saffron robes, saying: ``It's been a long struggle for Krishna's

followers in Russia. The government has allotted 2.5 acres of land

for a temple at Leningrad Sky Prospect, a 10-minute drive from

Kremlin. It will be a massive structure, inspired both by

traditional and modern architecture.''

 

It's been a tough journey for Maharaj (he does not want to reveal

his earlier name) too.

 

Over two decades ago, while doing his PhD in Biochemistry at the

Moscow university, he came in contact with Krishna followers. ``I

started asking questions. When I looked for answers, neither

Biochemistry nor any religion could satisfy me. I eventually found

peace with Krishna consciousness. I don't regret joining the

movement,'' says Maharaj, who is the chairperson of the Russian

Society for Krishna Consciousness.

 

``There are 60-70 million Krishna followers in Russia, around 10,000

in Moscow alone. The movement's flourishing there,'' says the guru,

who has even faced prosecution by the KGB, the former Russian

intelligence agency.

 

Many of his colleagues were jailed. Three of them, he recalls, died

after being tortured. ``We endured all sorts of hardships. We still

face opposition from the orthodox Church in Russia. But we will not

stop our mission''.

 

Krishna must be smiling from heaven.