Dear Matus, Nityananda!! Gauranga!! Hare Krishna!! The meaning of rudhi-vrtti is "direct or primary meaning or sense". When this term is further qualified by the adjective vidvad (learned) it becomes "the realized direct meaning". Avidvad rudhi basically means unrealized knowledge which we may think is the direct meaning. So, what Shrila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta is stating is that only the realization of achintya bhedaabheda philosophy (simultaneous oneness and difference with the Lord) will help us to come to the platform of understanding the actual direct meaning of each and every word in creation in relation to the Lord and attain the platform of vidvad rudhi which is also known as Vaikuntha Naama in the Shrimad Bhagavatam.
Nityananda!! Gauranga!! Hare Krishna!! What happens when you have a duplicate photo or video or book or an audio about the Lord on your computer. One has to practically delete it to make space in the hard drive for the Lord's service. Another practical scenario is when we record a video in high quality, it makes a very huge file. Then we compress it to the right size for internet and DVD. If we do not delete the original huge video files, then the hard drive will become full within a few days. So, I do not think that deleting a devotional file from one's computer in such cases in an offense in any way, since it is for the further service of the Lord.
Nityananda!! Gauranga!! Hare Krishna!! I don't exactly understand this question. If the original photos of the Acharyas are available like upto Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, they should be used on our altar rather than paintings of these Acharyas which were done later. And if the original photos are not available, then paintings which are painted by Gaudiya devotees with the right consciousness and understanding can be used on the altar. Though all painted forms of the Lord according to the scriptures are transcendental, camera photos of installed Deities which are served and worshiped sincerely daily are more prominent than the paintings. That said, the devotional art and paintings are an extremely wonderful benediction to this material world since they are like windows to the spiritual world.
Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna All glories to Swami Gaurangapada! All glories to Srilla Prabhupada! All glories to Nitaai and Gaura Naam!
Initiation is beginning of real life. It came upon me as ultimate guru-krpa or mercy of Gurudeva. There is no question of any qualification. It is mercy of guru. I would like to write down in this diary some off my insignificant realisations, just in order to glorify my eternal spiritual master and this sublime process of chanting Nityananda Gauranga and Hare Krsna maha mantra and to encourage anyone who may reading this just to have faith in spiritual master. We may lose all hope in ourselves, but Gurudeva have faith in us, and therefore we are still here, by his mercy.
Last week my brother and his wife told me that they will received initiation into chanting Nityananda Gauranga and Hare Krsna from Gurudeva via internet conference! What blessings! Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna! I was very happy to hear this and my brother asked me to came if I found some time. At that time I felt great inspiration within to bring Deities of Nityananda and Gauranga to their home. My brother is very attached to Lord Jagganatha and he have Jagganatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Deities, but I felt very inspired to bring Nityananda and Gauranga Deities. He agreed.
Night before initiation I had dream of Gurudeva. He was waking me up and telling me something about initiation. When I wake up I thought this is all my speculation, so soon I try to forget this and continue with ordinary daily activities.
Usually I am 1000% busy with ordinary jobs activities,and taking care of my little 2 year old son, but by Lord's arrangement just few days ago my wife Marija and my son went to some relatives to town Ruma, so I was free to attend their initiation. Now i can see that this was perfect arrangement of Lord, because otherwise I would probably stay at home. Also, that day I worked second shift on radio from 13PM so I was free all morning. All this may look like coincidences but I can understand that Guru and Krsna mercifully helped me to accept spiritual life more seriously.
I wented to house of my brother and his wife around 6 AM. They were already dressed in vaisnava clothes, ready for initiation. they arranged beautiful altar and were waiting for Gurudeva to made call. I did not want to make any disturbance and wanted to stay behind silently chanting.
Soon after that Gurudeva contacted them and said that he will begin in about 15 minutes. I just shortly typed on chat that I just want to thank him for bestowing his mercy upon my brother and his wife. "Who is this" he replied. " Davor's brother, Igor" I answered.
Then Gurudeva mercifully corrected me by writing that my brother and his wife are more advanced then me and that I need to try to make further advancement. I replied shortly yes, and then Gurudeva wanted to see me via camera.
I bowed down before him, feeling like complete idiot and fool. What a rascal I am. Evidence that Lord Gauranga and Nityananda are giving mercy to most fallen. I give up all hope in me. But Gurudeva did not. He say to me "we must hope against hope." That is only hope for us, mercy of guru.
I felt at that moment that I want to die, to vanish anywhere. Fool I am, otherwise I will accept this process seriously and fully embrace Gurudeva's mercy and orders.
Then Gurudeva told that all free of us may be initiated and asked me to think about that. What? I thought. It struck me like thunderbolt? What is this now? I started to pray to Lord Nitayananda within my hearth. Why are you doing this to me? You brought me here and now you are trying to embrace me here. I was dressed in jeans without tilaka, without anything. Why are you playing on such way Nitaai? - I thought. I tried to escape and to live ordinary life. My plan was to live so-called ordinary life and then in old age go to Ekachakra-Dham and die. But now you brought me here before your pure devotee.
After several minutes Gurudeva came back on-line again and asked us are we ready. He asked me if I thought about that and I just reply - guru-krpa. That is my real position, nothing more then guru-krpa, mercy of guru. What is my qualification. There are no qualifications. Our only qualification is fortune to bow down before spiritual master.
He asked us to do acamana and we do it. I thought, Oh I am not dressed properly, impure within and without, so I chanted Nityaanda and Gauranga Mantrarajas while taking water from acamana pot. By chanting Mantrarajas, I thhought everything is becoming pure.
After that Gurudeva asked us to chant Mangalacarana mantras for invoke all auspiciousness. We chanted,, repeating after him and after that he asked who will receive initiation first. I embraced my brother and said his name, and he agreed.
I felt great joy by witnessed this special occasion. That meant me a lot, to see my brother initiated into chanting Nityananda and Gauranga Naam and Hari Naam. What else I may desire? If I do not succeed in attaining pure love for Lord Gaura-Krsna, if I become swallowed by Maya, he may succeed and help me. Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna
Dayala-Nitai! Such wonderful name. We embraced each other. Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna
After that his wife, Djurdjica was about to become initiated. She repeated Nityananda Gauranga and Hare Krsna Maha Mantra three times after Gurudeva. It is very hard to properly pronaunce her name for non-slavic lenguage speakers so Gurudeva asked aboutproper pronancuniation. He said that now she will have name that everyone knows and it will be easy to remember - Jaganattha devi dasi! Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna!!!!! Haribol! Such wonderfull name.
Then Gurudeva asked me to repeat after him. My hearth start to cry and tears started to flow down. I feltlike fool before Gurudeva, and my voice choked while I was trying to repead Holy Names after him. I cried like little baby, unable to move. His voice vibrated and I just listened to this sound knowing that this is most blessed moment in my life. He then gave me my new life and new name Ishana Thakura das.
Gurudeva spoke several instrunctions, but I was so shocked that I just stay like stone. One of his words came deep into my hearth, and from that moment I am thinking constantly about that. He said to me - "Dive deep into Naam". That is my goal, that is what I must to do, to dive deep into Naam.
I am writing this from my subjective perspective. Initiation is begining into chanting. Gurudeva said on initiation that disciple is receiving seed of devotion and that job of disciple is to water that seed by regular chanting.
I am still completly shoched upon mercy that Gurudeva gave to me. I am not feeling that I deserved to be part of his transcedental family, but he is so mercifull. Now I must gave something to him. What I can do. " Dive deep into naam" he said to me. That I may try, to make my sadhana strong and unshapable by his mercy. To completly accept vaisnava behavior and tradition. To eat only prasadam. To pray to Lord Nitaai to help my Gurudeva in his mission of spreading Holy Names.
Guru-krpa is everything. this is not movement of qualifications, This is mercy movement. Thank you Gurudeva for have hope in me, evan when I lose all hope. I have feeling that I am now learning to pronaunce and chant again. It seems something different.
I just wanted to share my personal point of view to this most blessed moment in my life. Mercy of Guru is everything in our life. Now I am chanting Nityananda Gauranga and Hare Krsna with goal to satisfy my Gurudeva. He told me to dive deep into Naam. I have no qualification, but his strong desire brought me here and gave me new life, new name, new future. By his desire all is becoming possiable in our life.
jogyato vichare kichu nahi pai tomara karuna sara karuna na hoile kandiya kandiya prana na rakhibo ara
If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of. If you are not merciful unto me, I can only weep, and I will not be able to maintain my life.
I am writing this into diary so that I may be able to remember this thoughts. If anyone is reading this please, listen to my words - mercy of spiritual master is all what we should pray for! If we may always remain under protection of his teachings, by chanting Holy Names, serving vaishnavas, and helping him somehow in this divine mission, we will attain all hapiness.
Dive deep into Naam. Dive deep into Naam. So I am going to chant my rounds with desire to someday fullfill desire of my Gurudeva.
Nityananda ! Gauranga ! Hare Krsna! All glories to Swami Gaurangapada!
Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna! My humble pranams!
Now-a-days in order to advertise Lord Gauranga Krishna and attract people, we see places where people sell everything from plastic pendants to clocks, wallpapers, T-shirts, pants, Pens, dolls, bottles, plastic covers, shopping backs, bracelets, showcase items, calendars, even japa bead bags, etc..etc all of which contain pictures of the Lord or His devotees. It is not uncommon to see the names or pictures of the Lord on T-shirts and other such products. But the Lord's picture, His name or anything that has His paraphernalia are all Him. A picture of the Lord is a deity and the deity must be exclusively meant for worshipping, not for use and throw. You and I would never throw the Lord into the dustbin would we?
The goal is not to attract people and get followers. No. "Na dhanam na janam na sundarim...." (Sikshastaka 4). Advertisement and show off stuff to pull in the crowd is not our goal. Our goal is to make ourselves pure devotees and give that pure devotion to others. Our goal is to make people into devotees. One may get the temptation to attract the crowd thinking that it will increase devotion. But eventually one might only become a crowd puller and forget devotion.
Our clothes will become unusable by wear and tear and after a while we will be using them as rags for example. Then the name of the Lord has to be dirtied, torn and thrown on the floor and used to clean filthy items. Calendars are not useful after one year and we cannot keep so many pictures in any place except our hard disk. Of course calendar pictures can be framed so that they can be used for deity worship. Japa bead bags and clothes need washing and for that the poor Lord and His devotees have to be thrown, spun and scrubbed in a washing machine. Pens often fall on the ground or get old and then we throw them away.
Showcase or statue deities are not appropriate because having the Lord and not worshipping him by neglect is not right. Given the culture, I do not know how far showcase dolls and deities can be avoided, but atleast once bought they must not be damaged or thrown away. One good way to solve the problem is to give them away to people who need deities for worshipping and who don't have any.
One can see very clearly that wherever this kind of commercialisation enters into spiritual life, then devotion is lost. So many people have started complaining that devotional centres and Holy Places have now lost their purity due to commercialism.
Therefore one hidden and unapparent reason for people not advancing is because of these problems. Devotees please listen! In case one is unknowingly been a part of this, then please say "No" to it from now on and keep the deity only for worshipping.
That is my humble request which comes from my experience. I am sorry and I apologise right here if my words are harsh. Still I feel that I have only done my service in pointing out a problem that often goes unnoticed. I humbly request the sangha to contribute their opinions on this issue and correct me wherever I am wrong. I would sincerely like to have some feedback on my latest realisations.
When I was a small kid, I was quite addicted to computer gaming. Every day I would be excited just thinking about the time when I could get my hands on the joystick and I was always waiting for some opportunity to get to the computer. The moment I was alone at home, I would start playing games. I could hardly wait for the chance to play games and it was something that was always running in me till finally I managed to realize that it was a problem and that I had to come out of it.
There is always a deep inner intention within the heart that always keeps on running no matter what happens to the outside world and no matter what we do, where we are or what we become. That is what all of us must very deeply look because that is our real intention. The Lord as His name is a wish fulfilling tree -- He can give anything. But He gives us exactly what is there deep down that runs on inspite spite all external changes. I may do all 64 types of devotion 24 1/2 hours a day if possible, but if in my heart I am always planning for some other material thing, then my progress comes to a grinding halt because even in the middle of all my devotional activity, somewhere deep down there is always a desire for something else.
The symptom of this disease is seen by the fact that one is not willingly trying to do well in devotion -- instead it appears to be forcing and doing under compulsion. Prabhupada once described how a woman who is more interested in her paramour keeps serving her husband, but internally she is always looking the other way. It's something like that -- we do devotion, but always we keep having one eye towards maya. A person is chanting, but internally thinking about yesterday's TV serial -- no.
If in one's heart one has really made up the mind to go to the Lord, then one can get there in a short time. Some people need only a few days and others need trillions of years. Advancing in devotion really has nothing to do with time. How many years or how many number of names. What matters is quality, quality. If chanted correctly, one name Himself can deliver a person.
Brahma's abode is still material, we are aiming for only the Lord and nothing else. Devotional advancement is measured not by years, not by opulence, not by seniority, not by anything except QUALITY. So the simple solution is -- please boost the quality of devotion by giving room for the Lord in the deep part of your heart so that whatever you may be doing, still deep down you will always be somehow trying to go to the Lord. Reverse that paramour logic so that you may look like your doing this or that, but internally you're always having your eye on the Lord and thinking about the time when you'll chant.
So to sum up, I say, Be a devotion addict brother! Just wait for that chance when you can chant peacefull and be excited about the next time you can get dancing in a kirtan. Put your addiction in the Lord and you'll never have a dull moment ever. Become a bhakti addict!
As far as the second one is concerned, how long it takes, it all depends only on one thing -- What is there at the very bottom of the heart. If despite everything we always have the Lord as our goal at the bottom of our heart we can attain Him in just a few days. It is possible and it has happened, so it is not an exaggeration. However if we try to worship the Lord, but deep down in our heart we give room for all other desires and other goals, than only God knows how long it will take.
To tell the truth it only takes as long as we want it to take. If we keep thinking that it will come only after a very long time, then that's how long it will take because it means that we've made up our mind to get it only after a million years.
Even after chanting for 25 years, 30 years, one may still have difficulty. It's only because of having one part of the heart turned somewhere else all the time. Introspect, find out what you're really thinking while chanting. And just say "NO" to that and forget about it. Make devotion your aim and one can succeed very easily. The Lord gives exactly what one desires at the bottom of the heart.
It takes years of struggle to become a solider or a pilot or a sportsperson or a great virtuoso or a multi billionaire -- but those are all material. But to get God is far easier. It only needs full acceptance, that's all. Bhaktivinod Thakur has promised that God can be reached in a few days. Even those in Satya Yuga or the abode of Brahma cannot get this chance and they are all jealous in a way of how even dogs and pigs in this Golden age, the 10000 years after Mahaprabhu's advent in Kali Yuga get the Lord easily what to speak of human beings. So the time has come stop looking at the distractions and make the Lord as the goal.
I read somewhere that yogis undergo penance for trillion of years just to attain his (Lord Brahma) abode, because his happiness is so great. Was this in the Satya yuga, how many years of penance would be required in this age, including brahmacharya?
Photography Film Is Made from Animal By-products. Why a Digital Camera is a Good Options.
We are requesting the food, cosmetic and body care companies to voluntarily indicate on their products if they contain any animal by-products at all, that they do not contain animal ingredients except for dairy and egg products or that they do not contains any meat, fish or egg products or whether they are vegan or vegetarian.
Films contains gelatin made from pig and cow by-products which is a great reason to use digital cameras. Many of the digital cameras do a great job and are violent-free.
Congratulations and felicitations to the new initiates! Your example is an inspiration to me to really get my practice strong! This is such a wonderful day for everyone!
Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna! My most humble pranams!
It is so wonderful to read all that has happened. When I remember all of you, it just fills me with great spiritual joy and simply remembering you brings me into Gauranga Krishna Consciousness. You are all far too senior for me. All I can do here is talk and write, but for me even basic requirements seem so far away because of millions of lifetimes of contamination.
Today is the most auspicious day of Ratha Yatra when Lord Krishna is performing his pastime of returning to Vrindavana after 100 years of separation just in time to see the new canditates for recruitment into his spiritual family. All I can do is to wish all of you all the very best for your spiritual life because anything more would be too rude and offensive. I am sure that in the future that great things will be achieved by the devotees on NITAAI Sangha and that the present and future generations will thank you.
I know very well where I am and I know that diksha is a very long way away. Still I am quite overwhelmed and tears came to my eyes when I saw how much mercy you have given us so unconditionally. Your mercy is what makes any part of the Lord's unfathomable plan to deliver the fallen souls feasible. So I pray that all of you will please bless me with genuine humility and sincerity so that I may atleast be just another tiny dust particle serving your lotus feet now and in the future wherever I may be.
Thank you Hadai and Matus for your kind blessings. Thanks you Ishana Thakura dasa for a wonderful offering message on this glorious day. I have changed his name.
The original RathaYatra in Puri was very ecstatic today. I had so many deep realizations while looking at the Lords, singing and pulling the rope of all the three Chariots. 500 Photos and 8.5 hours Ratha Yatra video coming soon.
Wonderful Ishana Thakura dasa, just make sure that Your old name is replaced in the database of the users of this forum with Your new wonderful name ;-) Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna! Your servant, matus
Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna All glories to Swami Gaurangapada! All glories to Srilla Prabhupada! All glories all glories to Nitaai and Gaura Naam! Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna.
Today is Ratra-yatra, great festival of Lord Jaganattha, Lord of Universe. Today we had rare oportynity to realize that He is Jagannatha, Ruler and Omnipotent Lord, Supreme Controlor, and completely independent Lord and that His pure devotees and spiritual master are most merciful.
Sorry if my post will be subjective or without some precise order, I am writing what I am feeling in hope to share some small realisations with devotees who are fortunate to be in contact with Swami and Nitaai and Gaura Naam chanting process.
om ajnana timirandasya jnana-jnanan salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah
"I offer my humble obeisance unto my dear spiritual master who with pure spiritual knowledge has illuminated my consciousness which was covered by nescience."
It is said that Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu, dancer of Navadvipa, is known to be mahavadanyaya or most merciful. But that is not true! Most merciful are His pure devotees and pure devotees of Lord Nityananda, avadhuta. Today we witnessed that guru-krpa or mercy of spiritual master is everything.
jogyata-vicare, kichu nahi pai, tomara karuna - sara
"If you examine me, you will find no qualities. Your mercy is all that I am made of."
That is true. We do not possess any good quality. Our only good fortune is that we came in contact with pure devotee, with our spiritual master. Nothing else. I am puppet in maya's hand in complete illusion. But my Gurudeva have strong desire to bring me toward lotus feet of Lord Nitaai and his desire to help us is so strong that we are getting Lords mercy only because of that. He is introducing us to Lord, pray to Him to accept us, our only link with Supreme.
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija
Guru-krpa, mercy of Gurudeva, it is everything. Seed of the creeper of devotional service may be received only via mercy of pure devotee and Supreme Lord.
We rejected Krsna and we are trying to imitate Him. We want to control and enjoy this material world. We made zillions aparadhas toward Lord in almost unlimited previous births. How many pain we gave Him? How many pain we gave to our Gurudeva when he is mercifully came here for us? He took this birth to deliver Nitaai and Gaura Naam to this world and to deliver us, fallen jivas back to home, to connect us with Supreme Lord.
That is topmost mercy. We are foolish, fallen souls completely under influence of maya, but our fortune is that we came in contact with our spiritual master.
"If the conditioned soul engages in the service of the Lord and simultaneously carries out the orders of his spiritual master and serves him, he can get out of the clutches of maya and become eligible for shelter at Krsna's lotus feet."
We do not have any other way of getting out of maya. We should dive deap into Naam only to please our Gurudeva. If Nitaai and Gaura Naam become our life and soul, if we become unstoppable in our chanting we will please our Gurudeva.
I have my ups and downs in spiritual life. Many lessons learned on hard way. Many lessons will be learned also. Spiritual life is not easy thing. That is because we are conditioned, falllen. We can not taste sugar because we are eating salt. But Lord Nitaai gave us His most intimate associate in form of our Gurudeva to help us. That is our wealth.
nitaiyer carana satya,tahara sevaka nitya
"The only eternal truth in this world is the two lotus feet of Lord Nityananda and the servants of These feet are the eternal and immortal associates of the Lord."
If we dive into Naam, best we can we will be able to satisfy Gurudeva and whole guru-parampara and via Their mercy attain all perfection or pure devotional service. That is process. Mercy of guru is all what we have. My hearth melted, Gurudeva under your mercy. You kindly accepted most fallen person under your shelter. You are giving everything. And what I am giving to you. Nothing. What I can give? Only cry out Nityananda Gauranga and pray to Them to help me to someday understand particle of your glory and to be part of your mission. You mercifully pull me back and gave me everything.
Today I have witnesed to exstraordinary manifestation of your causeless mercy. In your post dated 2007-04-21 you wrote to me:
"...They confer Their supreme causeless mercy on the soul without considering whether the soul is qualified or not or whether the soul has passed through the different stages of saadhan bhakti. "
I will never be able to success in spiritual life with my own efforts or by practicing perfect sadhana. My only hope is within you, in your mercy. I may try to chant and embrace vaisnava culture and etiquette, but only with your mercy that may bring some result.
You said today that this is just beginning of spiritual journey. Our only ticket is Naam. You gave me Naam evan I am most fallen and useless person. You gave me Naam evan I was not wearing tilaka, tulsi beads or vaisnava dress. You gave me Naam evan I tried to hide and escape. That is your causeless mercy. Today you gave me new hope and new life. Today you bestowed your causeless mercy upon my brother and his wife, (Dayal-Nitaai das and Jagannatha dasi) and other devotees. . You are so merciful, more mercifull then cintamani gem, philosopher's stone—capable of transforming base metal into solid gold, because you are able to transform our iron hearths into pure golden-like Nitaai-Gauraa prema.
I am praying to all vaisnavas to help us in our spiritual journeey and bless us. Only then we will be able to make any progress. Thank you dear vaisnavas on your blessings and good wishes. Only via your mercy we may attain some success.
Sorry for making this post long and unorganized. I want to write much more, but have job to do - to chant my rounds, Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krsna Hoping to become servant of vaisnavas, guru and Naam Ishana Thakura das
Dear Guruji, friends and newly initiated devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga.
Pranams and blessings to all newly initiated devotees. May your journey back to Lord Gauranga Krishna be glorious. The path to the goal is the goal. Step by step. Whenever you fall there is only one thing to do: stand up! Never give up.
Initiation is extremely powerful. After I was initiated blessing after blessing came over me. I didn’t deserve any of the Lord’s blessings but Guruji offers you at the feet of his guru, and his guru at the feet of his guru, all the way back at the feet of Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda is the pure manifestation of love for Lord Gauranga. He will pick you up and put you at the feet of Lord Gauranga Who is the pure manifestation of love for Krishna. You are now walking the natural path of the soul. How wonderful dear Katyayani Radha devi dasi, Ishana Thakura dasa, Dayala Nitaai dasa, Jagannatha dasi, Advaita Prabhu dasa, and Mani Manjari devi dasi. What an auspicious day!
Jaya Jaya Jaya, most wonderful to hear. i hope i can attain service to and blessings from these wonderful devotees of Yours, Swami Gaurangapada Gurudeva. Wishing them all the best from the core of my heart. Nityananda! Gauranga! Hare Krishna!
Dear Devotees, Nityananda!! Gauranga!! Hare Krishna!! Jaya Shri Guru Parampara!! On this most Holy Day of Shri Ratha Yatra Festival, many wonderful devotees from around the world have accepted Diksha or Initiation into the Holy Names of Nityaananda, Gauraanga, and Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Raama Hare Raama Raama Raama Hare Hare via internet video conference.
Their spiritual names are now Katyayani Radha devi dasi, Ishana Thakura dasa (Igor), Dayala Nitaai dasa, Jagannatha dasi, Advaita Prabhu dasa, and Mani Manjari devi dasi. Please bless them so that they can rapidly advance in the chanting of the Holy Names which they have received today and attain the direct audience of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga Krishna very soon. I am very happy and proud to be their Gurudeva and have offered them to the lotus feet of the Acharyas of our Guru Parampara. Videos of the initiations and today Shri Ratha Yatra will be posted soon.
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga.
“The Deity form of the Lord is said to appear in eight varieties -- stone, wood, metal, earth, paint, sand, the mind or jewels.”
The mind is the most subtle and most mobile of the above. With our minds we can always see the Lord and with our minds we have Him always with us; no matter where we are. We perceive stone, wood, metal, earth, paint, sand, and jewels with our senses that leave an impression on our minds. In Puri, Lord Jagannatha can’t be seen in His temple by non-Hindus and yet by His unlimited mercy He comes out of the temple every year to be seen by all. That impression can never be taken away from our minds.
“The installed Deity can never be abandoned of service.” When we travel the Deity of the Lord in our minds is always with us and thus always accessible to our worship and way more practical than traveling with anything bigger than a miniature Deity.
Of course eventually the Lord tells His devotee how He likes to receive our service. In the end it is not a matter of objective interpretation but rather a subjective interaction with the Lord which is the ultimate connection of the jiva with Him. Objectively following the guru, sadhu and scripture is the sure way to connect with the Lord. Subjectively as soon as that relationship is experienced from the heart many refinements take place. The heart of His devotee is where the Lord is. When we fall at the feet of His devotee, we fall favorably at the feet of the Lord. The installed Deity in any form as described above is identical to the Lord Himself. However it is up to our ability to perceive the Lord identical to Himself (in any material) with our minds. And how do we get that ability? By the mercy of the Lord! How? By His reciprocation to our love and devotion for Him! That’s what ultimately enables us to see the Lord. No material will reveal the Lord within unless we receive His mercy. With His mercy any material will reveal the Lord because our love is unable to see anything separated from the Lord. The plastic keyboard I am tapping these words on is all Lord Gauranga Krishna. I tap really careful because I do not want to hurt Him. The air I am breathing in and out is all Him. Every atom and all sub-atomic levels are Lord Gauranga Krishna. Is there anything that is not Him? Is there any place where His spiritual world is not present? Is there any place where His pastimes are not present? Please tell me the secret where He is not because I know He is cheating me on so many levels…
Dear Damodara Svarupa dasa, Nityananda!! Gauranga!! Hare Krishna!! Thank you for your question. We can understand the desire of the Lord through the scriptures. It is stated in the the Shrimad Bhagavatam 11.27.12:
The Deity form of the Lord is said to appear in eight varieties -- stone, wood, metal, earth, paint, sand, the mind or jewels.
PURPORT
Srila Jiva Gosvami explains that certain Deity forms, such as those made of sand, are manifested for a brief time to fulfill a personal desire of the worshiper. Those, however, who desire to attain pure love of God should worship the permanent form of the Deity (made, for instance, of marble, gold or brass), and they should maintain continual worship. In Krishna consciousness there is no scope for neglecting the worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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Though the synthetic resins are also ultimately part the external energy of the Lord, they are man-made and originally not a part of His creation in the form of nature whereas wood, stone, gold and jewels are. They are typically manufactured by esterification or soaping of organic compounds. The classic variety is epoxy resin, manufactured through polymerization-polyaddition or polycondensation reactions, used as a thermoset polymer for adhesives and composites. This process is not considered very pure. It is manufactured by our extreme manipulation of the Lord's external energy.
I am not saying it is bad and it may have many practical uses in day to day life also and even in other things for the Lord. But for invoking the Lord in the Deity, one needs to follow a high degree of purity and standards and preferably the Deity should be made from a fully natural constituent or one which as close to being fully natural as possible. If there is love and devotion, the devotee will also consider what the Lord wants and what He does not want from the scriptures and try to give Him that. Meat and wine are also part of His creation but He does accept those as a direct offering. So even though He basically accepts our love and devotion, He has some preferences also. Besides the synthetic resin forms are mostly hollow which is not a possibility in making a worshipable Deity of the Lord. A Deity should have a solid body inside out since the Lord enters into that Deity form to accept our service. A hollow synthetic resin statue is more like a diorama or exhibit.
Of course as you said, ultimately it is the Lord's desire and Lord Gaura Krishna can appear anywhere and everywhere He chooses to accept our service. So ultimately is His choice. But we try to make it easy for Him by trying to know and follow His directions on how He would like to appear in Deity form as the Archa Vigraha. I hope this helps.
Everything we see and everything we don’t see is made by God and belongs to Him. Why is it then that we, humans, tend to grade things and make statements that some things/plants/animals (which He eventually created) are to be avoided or cannot be presented nor offered to God? Who are we that we are to reject parts of His creation?
God Himself says: “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it” (BG9.26) So why would God hesitate if I use wood, resin, stone, copper or even gold to make a statue of Him and offer that to Him?
If we just think about it, we take a leaf from a tree and offer that to God. We take a small piece of His Own creation and offer that to Him. What is the practical use for God by giving Him something He already created/owns? In the BG-verse 9.26, the answer is given: the love and devotion in the offering is what really matters to Him.
So, whatever the material of the statue, it is the prayer, the love and devotion for God which is really important.
Nityananda, Gauranga, Hare Krishna, Damodara Svarupa dasa
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