Biggest News: The "Bhumi Puja" or Ground Breaking Ceremony is
scheduled for Sunday, May 6th. All the astrologers have calculated
that this is a most auspicious date. It is Narasinghadeva Chaturdasi,
the advent day of the Lord's incarnation as Sri Narasingha, Who came
to save the great child-saint, Prahlad. It is said that Sri Narasinghadeva
clears the path of all obstacles and assures success for any devotional
endeavor begun on this day.

Everyone is invited to witness this most auspicious ceremony. Previously,
only great kings and sages had the opportunity to participate in this
celebration. It is said in the Vedas that participating in the inauguration
of a temple of the Lord is a most potent spiritual venture. Offering grains
and prayers and circumambulating the ceremonial fire is said to be the
same as visiting all the holy tirthas and bathing in all the sacred rivers.

Note: If you are reading this before May 6th and would like more information
on how to attend the celebration or about how you can help sponsor the puja,
please contact us at bnarayan@compuserve.com. (Even if you cannot attend
personally, you can contribute towards sponsoring the puja and our priests
will offer grains and prayers on behalf of you and your family.)

Architectural Team: After personally interviewing a number of architectural
firms in India, we have selected Sunil Batta and his team, to complete the
construction drawings for the new temple. Sunil and his company are highly
qualified and experienced with both the latest in modern building
techniques and the traditional art of temple building, coming from the
Vastu Silpa Shastra. Sunil's firm has extensive experience in temple design
and construction. With the help of several members of our temple board and
due to Sunil's inclination towards religious work, we also managed to
negotiate an excellent price. He will be working in concert with a team of
USA-based and licensed architects and consultants who will get us all the
way through the building permit and construction phases. With this key
element of our team now in place, the temple plans should develop quickly.

Construction Plans: The boundary adjustment has been approved, the
tentative improvement map, grading plan, and parcel map, have all been
submitted to the City of Escondido engineering and planning departments.
By the grace of the Lord, the wheels are turning.

Yours in the service of Lord Krishna,

Badrinarayan dasa
858-272-7711 or bnarayan@compuserve.com

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