Interview with Minister
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
April 26, 1974, Tirupati

Prabhupada: They spend so much money for spreading Christianity in this country. What we are spending in the foreign countries?

Minister: The last time in our state, in this (indistinct), sent thirteen (?) lakhs in America to provide one temples, Venkatesvara temple and (Hindi) Vighnesvara temple there.

Prabhupada: Where?

Minister: In America.

Prabhupada: America is a big place, three thousand miles, square miles. So I don’t think any temple has been erected in New York.

Minister: No, it is proposed to.

Prabhupada: Temple… Just like these Christian missionaries, they constructed so many churches. But those churches are now being closed. In London, I have got specific knowledge, hundreds of churches are no more being used as church. Some of them are being used as go-down. And some of the churches have been purchased by other religious sect. We have purchased one church in Los Angeles. So opening temple is good but who will maintain the spirit of temple worship?

Minister: That is by (Hindi).

Prabhupada: (Hindi) Therefore there must be side by side propaganda who can maintain the temples. (Hindi) Oh, this is anna-prasada, so I will take later on. (Hindi) That temple is being constructed under whose supervision?

Minister: That Ganapati Sthapati, in our state.

Indian man: Sthapati is a temple engineer. He will lay out the plans as per the (indistinct) sastra and as per the rules laid down for the construction all temples in India. No other (indistinct)

Prabhupada: He has gone there? No.

Indian man: Once he had been to New York. They are now preparing all these idols, etc. They will be sent by sea.

Prabhupada: So what Deity will be installed there?

Indian man: Lord Venkatesvara, Subrahmaniya-sat(?) Swami, Ganapati, Vighnesvara.

Minister: And Pancai Tattva.

Prabhupada: Pancai?

Minister: He is Rasa,(?) Surya…

Prabhupada: Oh, pancopasana. [break] He is Ramanuja-sampradaya?

Indian man: Yes, Vaisnava sampradaya.

Prabhupada: But the Ramanuja sampradaya do not recommend pancopasana. In the Ramanuja sampradaya there is no pancopasana.

Indian man: No, these are built by Hindees (?) and other custom. This temple is giving only Vighnesvara and Venkatesvara. But the construction of other temples, they are raising funds.

Prabhupada: Oh, local money.

Indian man: Yes. throughout India and also in America.

Prabhupada: That, they are raising funds for millions of years. (laughs) I know that. Birla about… Yes, about fifty years ago there was contemplation of, that Birla would construct a very big temple in London. But there was no temple at all. Now since I have gone, I have established two temples, not very big, but still one of the temple is on the seventeen acre of land. A little outside London. One big musician, George Harrison, he has donated that temple, fifty- five lakhs. And we have got one temple in rented house…

Indian man: 10:30 for darsana.

Prabhupada: 10:30. What is the time now?

Indian man: 9:30.

Prabhupada: So, you prepare yourself to go. If prasada is there, why don’t you take it? Finish.

Mahamsa: We will take at noon time. We take now?

Prabhupada: Yes, go and take. Prasada prapti-matrena bhoktavyam. Go and take prasadam. It is time, one hour. (end)