Opening temples is good, but maintaining the spirit of worship within them is essential for lasting spiritual impact.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Interview with Minister — April 26, 1974, Tirupati 740426IV-TIRUPATI [07:53 Minutes] Interview_740426IV-TIRUPATI Prabhupāda: They spend so much money for spreading Christianity in this country. What we are spending in the foreign countries? Minister: The last time in our state, in this [indistinct], sent thirteen lakhs in America to provide one temples, Veṅkaṭeśvara temple, and [Hindi] Vighneśvara temple there.
Prabhupāda: America is a big place, three thousand miles, square miles. Minister: New York.
Prabhupāda: So I don't think any temple has been erected in New York. Minister: No, it is proposed to.
Prabhupāda: Temple... Just like these Christian missionaries, they constructed so many churches. But those churches are now being closed. In London, I have got specific knowledge, hundreds of churches are no more being used as church.
Some of them are being used as godown. Minister: Godowns.
Prabhupāda: And some of the churches have been purchased by other religious sect. We have purchased one church in Los Angeles. So opening temple is good, but who will maintain the spirit of temple worship? Minister: That is by [Hindi].
Prabhupāda: [Hindi] Therefore there must be side-by-side propaganda who can maintain the temples. [Hindi to other] Oh, this is anna-prasāda. So I will take later on. [Hindi with minister] That temple is being constructed under whose supervision?