| | | | | Asoka Chakra is imbibed even in the Indian National |
| Charity to ISKCON | | | | Flag. |
| | | | 8. The King Solomon Temple in Jerusalem: The King |
| Your Life-Time Opportunity Most beneficial to your | | | | Solomon Temple in Jerusalem: The Lord commanded |
| own self in the service of God | | | | of King Solomon: “He will build me a House, and I will |
| Shri Krishna (God) owns everything. There is nobody | | | | establish his (Solomon’s) throne forever”. |
| equal to, let alone greater then Shri Krishna in all the | | | | 9. King Indrayumna built the temple of Jagannath: The |
| three worlds since time immemorial. Shri Krishna does | | | | master of the world is at Jagannathpuri, also known as |
| not need anything from you. If you give to Shri Krishna, | | | | Puri. King Indrayumna observed fast onto death at |
| then it is to your own merit. People want to see God. | | | | Mount Neela, later he performed a horse sacrifice and |
| But you should do something that God sees you. | | | | built the magnificent temple for Lord Vishnu at |
| There are millions of devotees throughout the world | | | | Jagannath Puri. According to the legend, Indrayumna, |
| who are already giving all their lives and efforts and | | | | the king of Malava in Sata Yuga was a great devotee |
| resources to Shri Krishna consciousness. But, if you | | | | of Vishnu and built Jagannath Temple. Indradyumna got |
| give anything to Shri Krishna consciousness (God | | | | Visvakarma the architect of Gods, to build a |
| consciousness), then it is the best thing that you could | | | | magnificent temple to house the idols and Vishnu |
| do for your own self, in this world and the next world | | | | himself appeared in the guise of a carpenter to make |
| as well, both in life and thereafter. If you offer anything | | | | the idols on condition that he was to be left undisturbed |
| to Shri Krishna with love and devotion, Shri Krishna | | | | until he finished the work. |
| returns it a thousand times back to you. Shri | | | | 10. Maharaja Man Singh built Sri Sri Radha Govindaji |
| Krishna-conscious charity is also the highest Dharma | | | | Mandir: Built in 1590 by Maharaja Man Singh for the |
| activity that you can do. Giving to Shri Krishna | | | | original Govindaji deity discovered by Srila Rupa |
| consciousness is also the highest welfare activity that | | | | Goswami. Govindaji was removed from this temple |
| you can do for the entire human civilization. The | | | | and reinstalled in Jaipur when the Muslim Emperor |
| following are some examples of people who gave to | | | | Aurangzeb destroyed part of the temple in 1670. |
| Shri Krishna and Shri Krishna reciprocated/ rewarded | | | | 11. Wealthy Seth family of Mathura built Rangaji |
| them by giving them eternal respectability and glory. | | | | Temple - This South Indian style temple was built by |
| Had the following people not given to Shri | | | | the wealthy Seth family of Mathura in the year 1851, |
| Krishna-consciousness, then Shri | | | | and is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha or Rangaji, a |
| Krishna-consciousness would not have been affected, | | | | form of Lord Vishnu lying down on the Sesa Naga |
| but these great souls would never have got the great | | | | (celestial serpent). |
| goodwill that they enjoy that they got by giving to Shri | | | | 12. Vijayanagara king Krishna Deva Raya (AD |
| Krishna consciousness. So, giving charity to Shri | | | | 1509-1529) built Krishna temple at Hampi: One of the |
| Krishna consciousness only goes to your own merit: | | | | largest temple complexes in Hampi is the Krishna |
| 1. Canakya Pandit: The diplomatic enclave in New Delhi | | | | temple, built by the Vijayanagara king Krishna Deva |
| is named Chanakyapuri in honour of Chanakya. | | | | Raya (AD 1509-1529) for the consecration of the |
| Canakya Pandit starts his Niti-Sastra by paying | | | | image of Balakrishna brought by him from Udayagiri |
| Homage to Lord Sri-Visnu and glorifies Vaisnavas. | | | | after his victorious campaign in Orissa. |
| Lord Sri-Visnu blessed him by making his niti-sastra | | | | 13. Mathura Krishna Balram Mandir - Built by the |
| immemorial and even the most sophisticated place in | | | | International Society for Shri Krishna Consciousness |
| Delhi is named after him, i.e. CanakyaPuri where all the | | | | (ISKCON), it is one of the most beautiful temples in |
| emb***ies and high commission of many countries are | | | | Vrindavan. The principal deities of this temple are |
| located. | | | | Krishna, his brother Balram and Radha (Krishna’s |
| 2. King Akbar – built four temples for Sri Sri Radha | | | | consort). |
| Govindaji in Vrindavana: King Akbar is respected as a | | | | 14. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj- “Is there a greater |
| great saintly king and he is as much respected for his | | | | hero, a greater saint, a greater bhakta and a greater |
| intelligent warfare skills as he is respected for being a | | | | king than Shivaji?” |
| saint and building four temples for Sri Sri Radha | | | | 15. Ganga King Narasimha Deva built Sun Temple at |
| Govindaji. After Emperor Akbar’s visit to Vridavan | | | | Konark: This temple was built in 1278 CE by the Ganga |
| in the year 1570, he gave permission for four temples | | | | King Narasimha Deva. Konarak is a Sun Temple in |
| to be built by the Gaudya Vaisnavas, which were | | | | Orissa. It is a beautiful temple almost in ruins and getting |
| Madana-mohana, Govindaji, Gopinatha and Jugal | | | | buried in the sand. |
| Kisore. | | | | 16. King Suryavarman II built Angkor Wat Temple: a |
| 3. George Harrison and Hinduja Group of Companies: | | | | temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu by, who |
| The famous Beatle singer George Harrison gifted a | | | | reigned between 1131 and 1150. It was constructed |
| twenty acre land at Watford, London to Hare Krishna | | | | over a period of 30 years and is world famous for its |
| movement for the purpose of building a temple several | | | | beauty and splendor. |
| years back. His name is permanently glorified with | | | | 17. Chola emperors Rajaraja-I built Rajarajeswaram |
| Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple built on that land. Hinduja | | | | Temple in Thanjavur: The greatest of (985 A.D - 1012 |
| Group of companies maintains the running expenses | | | | A.D) the son of Sundara Chola (Parantakaa-II) and |
| of that temple and it adds tremendously to the | | | | Vanavanmahadevi built this magnificent temple |
| prestige of the Hniduja Group being ***ociated with the | | | | Brihadisvaram at Thanjavur - the capital of Chola |
| Bhaktivedanta Manor. | | | | dynasty. Later during Nayak kings rule, the |
| 4. His Divine Grace Jagat Guru A. C. Bhakti Vedanta | | | | subramaniyar temple was built inside the temple. |
| Swami Srila Prabhupada: Revered and respected as | | | | 18. Tirumala: All the great dynasties of rulers of the |
| Jagat-guru and savior of whole world, Srila | | | | southern peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri |
| Prabhupada, a great devotee of Lord Krishna, wrote | | | | Venkateswara in this ancient shrine. The Pallavas of |
| many books which are most widely distributed | | | | Kancheepuram (9th century ad), the Cholas of |
| worldwide. Many years after his p***ing away, he is still | | | | Thanjavur (a century later), the Pandyas of Madurai, |
| worshipped in 600 temples throughout the world by | | | | and the kings and chieftains of Vijaynagar (14th-15th |
| more than 50,000 devotees every day. | | | | century ad) were devotees of this shrine. |
| 5. Birla group of companies: Laxmi – Narayana | | | | 19. King Krishnadevaraya built Tirupati temple. It was |
| temples: Birla industrialists have built six temples all over | | | | during the rule of the Vijaynagar dynasty that the |
| India for Sri Sri Lakshmi Narayana (Sri Vishna – Sri | | | | contributions to the temple increased. Krishnadevaraya |
| Krishna) and these temples are also known as | | | | had statues of himself and his consorts installed at the |
| Birla-Mandirs and are visited by thousands of devotees | | | | portals of the temple, and these statues can be seen |
| everyday. This is the highest honour that any business | | | | to this day. There is also a statue of Venkatapati |
| person can expect to get ever. | | | | Raya in the main temple. |
| 6. Mahatma Gandhi, National Father of India: Gandhiji | | | | 20. The Maratha general, Raghoji Bhonsle visited the |
| became Mahatma by reading Bhagavad Gita daily | | | | temple and set up a permanent endowment for the |
| throughout his lifetime. It is stated in Gita Mahtmaya | | | | conduct of worship in the temple. He also presented |
| that reading Bhagavad Gita is even more purifying | | | | valuable jewels to the Lord, including a large emerald |
| than water of the holiest river Ganges | | | | that is still preserved in a box named after the general. |
| 7. King Asoka The Great – built Sarnath Temple: | | | | Among the later rulers who have endowed large |
| King Asoka is respected as Asoka the great and | | | | amounts are the rulers of Mysore and Gadwal. |