THE International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is building a huge temple plaza in Bangalore at a cost of Rs. 10 crore. The complex, to be built in the neo-classical style, is to be more of a cultural centre than a temple, with ISKCON aiming to revive the traditional Vedic culture among people who live in an increasingly materialistic world.

The centre, which is under construction on an area of seven acres on a hillock in Rajajinagar I Block, is unique in many ways. It is a blend of the traditional architectural styles of south Karnataka's and Tamil Nadu's temples, altered to suit modern construction materials, structural techniques and design.

The project is conceived and executed by a small team of competent and qualified engineers - all members of the Krishna cult. The team headed by Madhu Pandit Das, an M. Tech graduate from IIT, has already completed about 10 per cent of the work.

THE complex has three floors. The main temple building consists of the garbhagriha, where the deity is installed, the Vedic Samskara Hall, a mini auditorium, lecture theatre and library. The deities to be installed are Sri Radha Krishna, Sri Krishna Balaram, Sri Gouri Nitai, Sri Lakshmi Narasimhadev and Sri Venkateshwara.

One of the main attractions of the place would be the auditorium with a seating capacity of 350. It would have nine projectors, and a computer-controller multi-media show in which 20-30 minute-long films on Lord Krishna And Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu will be screened every day for visitors. An exhibition of moving dioramas depicting Sri Krishna Leela is also planned. The plaza is to have a full-fledged Vedic library in addition to an audio-video library for ISKCON members.

The centrally air-conditioned ground floor - Vedic Samsakara Hall - with a seating capacity of 1,500 will be used for performing rituals. Facing this posh hall will be a free community hall attached to a dispensary of holistic medicine, for the poor. A massive dharmashala (feeding hall) will stand behind the main building.

To harmoniously synthesise traditional styles with modern hi-tech architectural elements, the wedging of all four sides of the gopurams will be fitted with gold reflecting glasses imported from Italy. In the night, when the light inside seeps through these glasses, the temple will shimmer with an ethereal glow.

The courtyards will house the brahmacharis' ashram, gruhasthashram, a school, a guest-house for visitors from abroad and an amphitheatre.

ISKCON's Krishna consciousness movement was begun in 1966 in a humble way with a small centre in New York City. Today, it has established centres in Canada, England, and Germany, and, of course, three centres in India. Hundreds of people are now inmates of ISKCON centres all over the world and millions, who have been drawn to the movement, now "practise" Krishna consciousness in their own homes.

But, is there any need to have such an overwhelmingly massive temple to draw people to the worship of Krishna? Yes, says Madhu Pandit Das. "Man's requirements extend beyond eating, sleeping, mating and defending. Giving and taking knowledge is an essential activity of society. A temple is a place where learning and exchange of spiritual knowledge take place. So society needs such places as much as it needs schools for material education. A beautiful temple will surely attract more people than a grass hut would do," he says. The centre will strive for the creation of an awareness of certain aspects of life which the Vedas stress as important, exactly on the lines of teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu the l5th century saint whose rapturous hymns heralded the birth of the Bhakti Movement.

What connection do material things like buildings, money, management have with spirituality? Says Madhu Pandit Das: "Everything belongs to God and when material energy is used in His service, it is as good as spiritual energy. Sri Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON, taught us to spare nothing in the service of the Lord." Raising Rs. 10 crore for the complex was, of course, not a big task at all. "People donate funds voluntarily, inspired by our objective," says Madhu Pandit and adds: "There is a general notion among people that ISKCON is run by foreign funds. Of course being an international organisation, ISKCON does have funds all over the world. But the way in which Sri Prabhupada conceived and organised the worldwide society calls for more local participation. Each ISKCON centre is financially independent except in the case of an international project like Mayapur or Vrindavan in Mathura, which is our world headquarter. Our goal is to preach and when we are in Bangalore our aim is to involve Bangaloreans in the service of Lord Krishna."

Prestigious business houses like the Hindujas, Khodays and the Mallya group have promised funds for the project. The Hindujas have already given a token gift of Rs. 1.5 crore for the project.

Many engineers, doctors and business management post-graduates who have become inmates of the temple render voluntary service.

Fifteen years ago, Sri Prabhupada passed away. Many of his disciples, including His Holiness Jayapataka Swamy, who is the seniormost disciple now, have remained with the movement, continuing the mission of Sri Prabhupada. The management of the society is in the care of a governing body commission.

ISKCON is also planning to build full-fledged temples in Mysore, Hubli and Mangalore, and to start 1,000 ISKCON village centres all over the State.