The Srila Prabhupada International Heritage Museum, under the guidance of TOVP Chairman Ambarisa Das and Svaha Dasi, will be constructed in three phases. The first phase will cover 1,000 square feet and will open on February 18, 2025, during the International Leadership Sanga (ILS). The second phase will expand to 6,000 square feet, and the third will reach 21,000 square feet. In preparation for the opening, devotees are invited to contribute personal effects related to Srila Prabhupada to this important legacy project.

Braja Vilas Das, Vice Chairman of the TOVP, said in a video, “For the future generations who didn’t have the association of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, this is the museum where they can experience Srila Prabhupada, experience his lectures, his talk, his walk, his language.”

He added, “This museum in Sri Dham Mayapur in the Temple of Vedic Planetarium will have many features such as interactive exhibits, touch displays, historical artifacts, multimedia presentation, and also Srila Prabhupada memoirs by Siddhanta Prabhu.”

The museum, initiated by Ramesvara Das, who donated three sets of Srila Prabhupada’s clothes, will be the largest museum dedicated to any spiritual leader in the world. According to TOVP Chairman Ambarish Das, those who donate to the museum will have their name and photo displayed in the museum along with a description of the item they gave. Their name will also be displayed on the devotional wall of fame in the TOVP.

Other notable donations received so far include a three-tier cooker, a typewriter, and a lamp from Govinda Dasi and Kusha Devi Dasi, a harmonium from Srila Prabhupada’s personal servant Srutakirti Das, Srila Prabhupada’s hat from Adhikarta Das, three original Srimad Bhagavatam sets from Mukhya Devi Dasi, and a framed piece of Srila Prabhupada’s cloth from Siddhanta Das.  Daivisakti Devi Dasi will bring items from Vrindavan that originally belonged to the Mayapur temple. She oversees Srila Prabhupada’s museum in Vrindavan and is the curator of this new museum.

In a recent interview with ISKCON News, Daivisakti Devi Dasi said, “Braja Vilas recently invited me to join the team to establish the museum. I had prayed to serve the TOVP for many years, but with no money or residence in Mayapur, I didn’t know how I could contribute. In 1974, Srila Prabhupada told me to see that his books were stocked and distributed in Mayapur and Vrindavan. So, with this idea, I began collecting Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is in as many languages as possible. I envisioned that this would be a valuable display in the TOVP. By 2023, I had gathered over 50 different languages and brought them to Mayapur. Braja Vilas and Thakur Saranga Das decided to place the collection in Srila Prabhupada’s new quarters in the TOVP.”

Museum curator Daivisakti Devi Dasi giving a lecture on Prabhupada-lilamrta in 2023.

Daivisakti Dasi shared, “In 1979, we opened Srila Prabhupada’s quarters as a museum in Vrindavan. Within those 45 years, I have come to understand the necessity of having a museum dedicated to Srila Prabhupada’s legacy. The museum has become a sanctuary for devotees who seek personal association with Srila Prabhupada in the dhama. I have also learned what inspires devotees and guests who visit Srila Prabhupada’s museum the most. Now I can share all those lessons with Braja Vilas and the TOVP team.”

Another valuable addition to the museum team is Paramarupa Das, founder of Prabhupada Archives. He has done extensive research on preservation and will share his advice on how to best preserve the items donated to the museum. On October 10th, Daivisakti and Paramarupa will meet Braja Vilas Das at Mayapur to begin designing the museum’s displays.

When Srila Prabhupada disappeared in 1977, Tamal Krishna Goswami divided Prabhupada’s most valuable personal belongings into three parts. One part went to Bombay, one part to Mayapur, and one part was kept in Vrindavan. After an attack in Mayapur in 1979, Bhavananda, the GBC at that time, decided to move all the Mayapur valuables to Vrindavan for safekeeping. Now, those items will be returned to Mayapur to be displayed in the secure TOVP museum.

Since Mayapur has a history of crises, such as floods and attacks, some devotees are reluctant to donate items to this project. In response to this, Braja Vilas has explained that the museum is 40 feet above water level. The water cannot reach it, there will be security everywhere, and it will have bulletproof displays. Advanced technology will also be used to help prevent deterioration. “Setting up our own lab there and keeping everything under temperature control will ensure that it will be the safest place possible for all of Prabhupada’s paraphernalia,” Said Braja Vilas.

Daivisakti also highlighted the importance of preserving Srila Prabhupada’s paraphernalia in the museum. She explained, “Most of Srila Prabhupada’s paraphernalia is in the possession of Prabhupada’s disciples or ISKCON temples. They may not have the facility to properly preserve these items for generations to come. Prabhupada’s disciples are leaving this world, and the things that they possess need to be collected and preserved. Otherwise, after a while, things will be lost or deteriorated.”

She added, “The most intelligent thing to do is to keep them safely in a well-preserved, completely secure environment so that for the next 10,000 years, everything will be protected. That’s why, in the very beginning, we plan to set up everything so that all of Prabhupada’s memorabilia will be properly preserved.”

To encourage devotees by her own example, she is bringing from Vrindavan Srila Prabhupada’s silver thali with katoris, spoons, and related items donated by Hansadutta Das. She humbly requests other devotees donate items related to Srila Prabhupada so that when they leave this world and go back to the spiritual world, they can be assured they have helped preserve Srila Prabhupada’s legacy.

Srila Prabhupada at his desk.

She also emphasized the need for a dedicated team to serve in the museum. “My first concern will be to establish a trustworthy team of devotees to serve in Prabhupada’s museum: maintaining the display cabinets, taking care of the life-sized murtis of Prabhupada, cooking, making offerings, performing kirtan, setting up a world-class research library, and serving as tour guides. Many devotees will be required to sustain a dedicated program like this.”

She continued, “My aim is to assist an expert team of devotees who live in Mayapur so that this museum will be an inspiration for the world. For devotees, it’s a place where they can imbibe Srila Prabhupada’s presence, his books, his preaching, and his life. I invite devotees who want to serve in Mayapur to join the team that maintains Srila Prabhupada’s museum. It requires cooperation and a strong sense of responsibility. Those interested in dedicating their lives to this service will find all arrangements made for them.”

If you would like to know more or to donate to the museum, please contact Braja Vilasa directly at +91 9635990391 or via email. You may also contact Daivisakti Devi Dasi at +91 93685 86564 or via email. Sunanda Das, Communications Director for the TOVP is also available at +1 443-621-7940 or via his email.