Sri Sri Radha-Kalachandji - ISKCON Dallas - The Oldest Deity in ISKCON
Five hundred years ago in India, Kalachandji, literally translated as “the beautiful moon-faced one,” was worshipped as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by thousands of devotees.
Impeccable craftsmen constructed an elaborate temple for Him; famous artisans decorated it. Accompanied by drums, cymbals and tambouras, His followers filled the halls with melodious prayers throughout the day, and the air was sweet with myriad varieties of richly fragrant incense. Daily He was offered sumptuously prepared foods of all descriptions made from grains, milk products and fresh vegetables. Everyone, from the King to the street sweeper, visited Kalachandji, paying respects and obeisances. No one could imagine passing the day without having His audience.
From one generation to another the tradition continued, and then, suddenly, the Moguls invaded India. Fearing for Kalachandji’s safety, His devotees hid Him from the plunderers, and thus the opulence and worship which He had formerly enjoyed all but came to an end.
Then ISKCON of Dallas was established in the early 1970s under the direction of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of ISKCON. During this period of growth across North America, Srila Prabhupada personally guided the development of the Dallas center.
Years later, around 1972, Srila Prabhupada's disciples Srimati and Kausalya discovered Krsna in an antique shop in Jaipur, where He was standing to hold open a door. It was Kalachandji! Thus Kalachandji was rediscovered after hundreds of years. Prabhupada wanted them to get this Krsna, and a Radharani to accompany Him (a newly carved Deity of Srimati Radharani).
When the Deities came to Dallas in September, Prabhupada was eager to install Them. Somehow or other, the devotees got everything finished. The Deities were installed. When the curtains opened and everybody bowed down, Prabhupada got up from his vyasasana and went to the altar so he could offer arati. When he picked up the camphor lamp, there wasn't enough camphor to his satisfaction. A devotee added more, and Prabhupada said, 'No. more!' The devotee then put a big chunk of camphor on the lamp. " When Prabhupada was offering the lamp there was a huge flame shooting up from that large chunk of camphor. His hand kept inching down the lamp because it was getting so hot. By the time he put the lamp down, he was only holding it by its base. After the arati, Prabhupada wrote down; Radha-Kalachandji - the Deity of Dallas, September 12, 1972 - A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. He named Them on the spot and said that Kalachandaji meant 'black moon'.
Thus Srila Prabhupada named Them Sri Sri Radha Kalachandji and established Them as the presiding Deities of the temple.
Sri Sri Radha Kalachandji have remained the spiritual heart of ISKCON of Dallas. Located in East Dallas, the temple stands as one of the earliest Krishna temples in North America and continues to serve as a vibrant center of worship, education, and community life. Later in 1982 a restaurant called Kalachandjis was opened as well.
Please visit ISKCON Dallas: https://www.iskcondallas.org
Please visit ISKCON Dallas Restaurant Kalachandjis: https://kalachandjis.com/kalachandji/
Refs:
https://kalachandjis.com/kalachandji/
https://srilaprabhupadalila.org/read/8813
More info: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=115818
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