Barsana Dham Begins

Worldwide attention turned towards the International Society of Divine Love (ISDL) on October 7 and 8, 1995, for the joyful deity establishment ceremonies of Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani at Barsana Dham Ashram in Austin, Texas, USA. The ISDL was founded by Ayodhya-born H.H. Shree Swami Prakashanand Saraswati. During the two-day event, manifold marigolds showered from the sky, thousands of devotees danced in the processions, fireworks sparkled the sky, ten mahatmas offered inspiration, messages from the US President and spiritual leaders of the world were presented, performers danced and sang, Vedic verses reverberated and the darshan of the deities and the beautiful temple were revealed for the first time.

Barsana Dham, the largest Hindu temple complex in the United States, has become a landmark of the Texas hill country and a place of pilgrimage for millions in the Western world.

"I have witnessed 15 or 16 pran pratishtha celebrations, but today what we have witnessed was unique, marvelous, matchless--our rishis were dancing. You are making history!" said H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswati (Muniji) of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, India.

Many respected mahatmas graced the ceremony: Swami Buaji, founder, Indo-American Yoga-Vedanta Society, New York; Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, publisher of Hinduism Today, Hawaii; Swami Vishwa Hiteshi of Vishwa Seva Ashram, New York; Tyagi Kumaraswami of Kauai's Hindu Monastery, Hawaii; Sri Yogi Hari, founder of the Yoga Vedanta Science and Arts Center, Florida; Swami Chidananda, minister in charge Vivekananda Vedanta Society, Chicago; Chaitanya Goswami, Radha Raman Temple, Vrindaban; and Sri Pandit Ramesh Tiwari, Edinburgh Hindu Temple, Trinidad.