Step back into a vibrant chapter of Bhakti history with this latest archival release from Prasad.Life. This video, compiled from the rare recordings and photographs of Gopati das, preserves the sights and sounds of the Cleveland, Ohio, temple during its most formative years.
From 1972 to 1976, the Cleveland temple was housed in a magnificent Greek Revival mansion in East Cleveland. Reputedly built by the daughter of John D. Rockefeller, the home sat just down the hill from the legendary oil tycoon’s own estate.
Before the devotees arrived, the grand structure had served for many years as a boarding house. The devotees transformed this historic space into a stunning temple and a vibrant home for the community, a transformation captured in the rare photos of the temple grounds and interior included in this video. While this historic building no longer exists today, its spirit as a sanctuary of devotion remains immortalized in these frames.
The transformation from boarding house to grand Sri Sri Radha Muralidhara's home was significant including a six foot oval lotus stained glass window behind the green onyx altar and restored vaulted church doors with stained glass peacock windows.
The temples in the midwest frequently collaborated and the Cleveland Vyasasana travelled to Chicago in June 1974 for Srila Prabhupada on the Rathayatra cart with the large Jagannath Deities from Detroit. In August of 1975, a newly reupholstered Vyasasana travelled to Detroit for Srila Prabhupada to greet devotees on in the foyer of the Jefferson Avenue temple and at a Wayne State University lecture event.
The heart of the Cleveland community was Sri Sri Radha Muralidhara, who arrived and were installed in 1974. The video offers an intimate look at:
The Installation: Rare photos from 1974 documenting the arrival of Sri Sri Radha Muralidhara.
The Altar: Pictures of the beautifully decorated altar with the Deities from 1973 to 1975.
The Greeting: Experience a transcendental "Deity Greeting" kirtan led by the then-temple president, Batu Gopal das, accompanied by the masterful mridanga playing of Prabhanu das.
Note: Following their time in Cleveland, Sri Sri Radha Muralidhara eventually moved to their current home at The Bhakti Center in lower Manhattan, NYC. The temple site in Cleveland is now an empty lot.
The devotion of the Cleveland temple extended far beyond its walls. This video compilation features footage of major festivals where the Cleveland devotees joined their godbrothers and godsisters to celebrate Krishna.
Detroit Ratha-yatra (1973): Witness the early days of Chariot Festivals in the Midwest.
Chicago Ratha-yatra (1974): Historic footage of Srila Prabhupada participating in the festival.
Govardhana Puja: Community celebrations honoring the sacred hill.
At Prasad.Life, we are dedicated to sharing these "Historic Kirtans" to inspire a new generation of practitioners. This video is a testament to the hard work and love of the early pioneers who turned a Rockefeller-era mansion into a powerhouse of Krishna consciousness.