Sriman Alfred Ford, an heir to the Ford dynasty and active Hare Krsna devotee, is determined to build the temple complex and Vedic planetarium depicted above in Sridhama Mayapura, Bengal, India.
The Communist party, and now the Communist government, of Bengal is determined to stop the religious project. They claim that the Hare Krsna movement is an enemy of communism and an agent of the United States.
Spokespersons for the Hare Krsnas counter that they are an enemy of no government that allows religious freedom. As for Ford, no one denies his status as an American.
But the Hare Krsnas being recognized as agents of America? The truth is that as a new religious movement anywhere outside India, the Hare Krsnas are trying to become a church--that is, part of the establishment. They would prefer to be a team player in any country of the world.
Ironically, the Hare Krsna movement has its historical origins in Bengal, where, for all practical purposes, it is the establishment. They were there first, centuries before modern communism became a reality (the Station Agent says it has never been a reality, although it should be).
Perhaps it should be, but why does it have to be anti-religion?
I predict that Ford's dream will eventually come true, that his efforts and his estate will make it come true--by the grace of God. I just hope he lives to see it.
There will be numerous ceremonies during the construction, and people will hear the recitation of Vedic mantras which will sound like Ravi Shankar's recording, below.
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