ISKM China has set up a new altar for Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. Here is an article by Nimai Nitai Prabhu about the new altar.
We wanted to get a new altar for Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. We only thought of putting a piece of white marble-like stone on top of the table that was covered by a cloth. It would have cost around 1000 Chinese Yuan. When we spoke of the project to one of our community member, Liu Yan mataji. She immediately liked the idea and arranged for our going to visit some stone tile showroom. After visiting the showrooms and seeing the beautiful stones, I got the idea of making a full stone altar. After sketching a ruff design, the clerks told me that the actual price would be around 5500 RMB, which was way above what the temple had planned. Bhaktin Liuyan then assured us that the price was not an issue. After hearing this I felt quite happy to see her devotion in wanting to build a beautiful altar for the Lord.
I then went back to the temple and started to look for some designs from ISKCON temples. I liked the altar in Hungary where they have Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, we designed a simpler version and got the quotation, a bit below 8000 RMB. When I told the price to Bhaktin Liu Yan, she immediately transferred 8000 through WeChat (Chinese equivalent of WhatsApp).
A week later the workers came and started to build the altar, having to cut stone in the process, the whole temple became covered with stone-dust. We had to clean for 3-4 days after the altar got installed. But we finally have a beautiful stone altar for Their Lordships. We will be changing the backdrop as well as the pictures (we’ll put smaller size ones). But here is what it looks like so far…. Hare Krishna!
“So, even if one cannot directly practice the regulated principles of bhakti-yoga, he can try to help such work. Every endeavor requires land, capital, organization, and labor. Just as, in business, one requires a place to stay, some capital to use, some labor, and some organization to expand, so the same is required in the service of Kṛṣṇa. The only difference is that in materialism one works for sense gratification. The same work, however, can be performed for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, and that is spiritual activity. If one has sufficient money, he can help in building an office or temple for propagating Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Or he can help with publications. There are various fields of activity, and one should be interested in such activities. If one cannot sacrifice the result of such activities, the same person can still sacrifice some percentage to propagate Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This voluntary service to the cause of Kṛṣṇa consciousness will help one to rise to a higher state of love for God, whereupon one becomes perfect.” BG 12.10
