Issue 5 Juli 2015 Monthly -magazine on Deity-Worship

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1 Issue 5 Juli 2015 Monthly e-mail-magazine on Deity-Worship Content: - Nectar from Srila Prabhupada page 2 Today: A devotee

21 - How the Deity reciprocates with His Devotee page 2-4 Today: Bhakta Manohar Das and the Padma Vesha (Lotus dress) of Lord

1 1 Issue 5 Juli 2015 Monthly -magazine on Deity-Worship Content: - Nectar from Srila Prabhupada page 2 Today: A devotee should try to understand everything in relationship with Kåñëa, SB How the Deity reciprocates with His Devotee page 2-4 Today: Bhakta Manohar Das and the Padma Vesha (Lotus dress) of Lord Jagannath of Shri Khsetra Puri (Jagannatha Puri). - Portrait of a pujari page 4-5 Today: H.G. Hridaya Gauranga Das, Berlin - News/Announcements page 6-7 Temple-Opening in Berlin, 19 June, 2015

2 Nectar from Srila Prabhupada: A devotee should try to understand everything in relationship with Kåñëa SB 3.29.

2 2 Nectar from Srila Prabhupada: A devotee should try to understand everything in relationship with Kåñëa SB ahaà sarveñu bhüteñu bhütätmävasthitaù sadä tam avajïäya mäà martyaù kurute 'rcä-viòambanam WORD-FOR-WORD MEANINGS aham I; sarveñu in all; bhüteñu living entities; bhüta-ätmä the Supersoul in all beings; avasthitaù situated; sadä always; tam that Supersoul; avajïäya disregarding; mäm Me; martyaù a mortal man; kurute performs; arcä of worship of the Deity; viòambanam imitation. I am present in every living entity as the Supersoul. If someone neglects or disregards that Supersoul everywhere and engages himself in the worship of the Deity in the temple, that is simply imitation. PURPORT In purified consciousness, or Kåñëa consciousness, one sees the presence of Kåñëa everywhere. If, therefore, one only engages in Deity worship in the temple and does not consider other living entities, then he is in the lowest grade of devotional service. One who worships the Deity in the temple and does not show respect to others is a devotee on the material platform, in the lowest stage of devotional service. A devotee should try to understand everything in relationship with Kåñëa and try to serve everything in that spirit. To serve everything means to engage everything in the service of Kåñëa. If a person is innocent and does not know his relationship with Kåñëa, an advanced devotee should try to engage him in the service of Kåñëa. One who is advanced in Kåñëa consciousness can engage not only the living being but everything in the service of Kåñëa. How the Deity reciprocates with His Devotee: Today: Bhakta Manohar Das and the Padma Vesha (Lotus dress) of Lord Jagannath of Shri Khsetra Puri (Jagannatha Puri). Lord Jagannath is connected with numerous Vesha (dressing for appearance) on stipulated days linked with specific incidences happening in the past to remember them and to inspire the devotees. The dressing has become the ritualistic regular tradition in Srimandir, Puri. Padma Vesha (to dress Lord

He can not sit peacefully in the Ratnasinhasan (His lionthrone) when His Bhakta is tortured and unable to meet Him. There are many incidences recorded in history which prove that fact.

3 3 Jagannath with Lotus flowers) is one of such important Veshas. Lord Jagannath is reputed as devotee friendly : Bhakta Vatsal and Bhavagrahi, receiver of pure devotion and Bhakta Rakhyakari, protector of the dignity of devotees for ages together. He can not sit peacefully in the Ratnasinhasan (His lionthrone) when His Bhakta is tortured and unable to meet Him. There are many incidences recorded in history which prove that fact. One such incident was that of Bhakta Monohar Das, who was living in village Sahapur, on the bank of the sacred river Rishikulya in Orissa. The period, according to the history, is during the rule of King Udyot Keshari, towards the last part of the 10th century A.D. in Orissa. Orissa Review * June This devotee, Sadhu Manohar Das, started his journey from distant village Sahapur to Srikhetra Puri on foot covering a long distance and reached Sri Khsetra Puri on the Amabasya day of Magha month. For days together, he walked on the road to reach Puri. In course of his long journey, Manohar Das, on his way found a tank in the road side and found beautiful hundred-petalled red lotuses flowering and floating on the water of the tank. It came to the mind of devotee Manohar Das, out of devotional sentiment that some flowers can be collected for offering to the Supreme Lord at Puri. Accordingly, forgetting the distance and time factor to reach Puri, he collected some fresh lotus flowers and packed those in his Gamuchha (Red towel) with a knot. He reached Puri Dham and stayed at Badachhata Matha, just adjacent to the Sri Mandir. Throughout the painful and long journey, his mind and thought was ever filled with joy that he is going to offer lotus flowers to Lord Jagannath. No other thought disturbed him. He proceeded and reached inside the temple. The Sevakas asked him what he has knotted in his Gamuchha. He opened the knot and showed the lotus flowers. But alas! Those lotus flowers were no more fresh. Those have already dried, some have rotted and the color changed to pale and black. The Sevakas beat him with cane sticks for wanting to offer rotten flowers and due to severe injury and mental shock Manohar Das fell on the ground unconscious. The people of Badachhata Matha, brought him back and put him to rest in unconscious stage in the Matha. In the dream, Gajapati, Maharaja of Puri could see the Lord telling him to go to Manohar Das, to take the lotus flowers from him and offer to Him and allow His devotee Manohar Das to enter the temple to share His sevas and darshan. The Gajapati told the contents of his dream to the Rajaguru. The Rajaguru asked for Manohar Das, and the Lotus packed Gamuchha to be brought to the Sri Mandir. In front of the Vigrahas he opened the knot, asked the Sevakas to offer these Lotuses. And aho! The lotuses, though previously dry and black in color, became again fresh, red and purple colored and emanated divine and sweet fragrance. Being put on the

Badachhata Matha offers Khiri seva to the Lords on this day in Srimandir. That Khiri Prasad is distributed next day to the devotees. (by: Somanath Jena, a retired Addl. Secretary to Govt.

4 4 Vigraha the Lord showed His smiling face as if blessing all. To remember, such exchange of love between the Supreme Lord and the devotee, and to inspire other devotees, each year Padmavesha is made on the day fixed. Badachhata Matha offers Khiri seva to the Lords on this day in Srimandir. That Khiri Prasad is distributed next day to the devotees. (by: Somanath Jena, a retired Addl. Secretary to Govt. of Orissa, lives at Walliganj, Baripada, Mayurbhanj, Orissa ) Pujari Portait: Today: Hridaya Gauranga Prabhu, Berlin 1. You are a disciple from? HH Kavicandra Maharaja 2. In which place are you serving? Since when? I am serving in the Jagannath Temple ISKCON Berlin, I met the devotees there in 2002, that year I started to help in the kitchen 3. Since when are you serving the Deities and how did you get attracted to that seva? In 2005 the deities came back to our ISKCON Temple. That year I started to help with the service for the deities, even though I wasn t initiated at that point. I was always attracted to Jagannath, and from the very beginning I was drawn to serve in the kitchen. That just seems to be a natural environment for me. When the deities came to our temple I wasn t particularly attracted to do pujari seva, but that s just what was asked from me (and some other devotees). From that time on I did more and more direct service for the deities, I improved my cooking, I learned how to dress them, I accompanied them for different Ratha Yatras. When it became clear that I was going to do a substantial portion of the deity seva in our temple, I thought it would be wise to take the pujari course in Mayapur, which (with the

5 5 blessings of my authorities) I did in the winter I served as head pujari from that time until the end of What inspires you the most in your seva to the Deities? The most inspiring thing is to be a personal servant of the deities and to be an instrument to distribute the mercy. There is nothing more satisfying than giving out Mahaprasadam from the altar, be it food or flowers or special items from the deities. That is also why I love to cook for the deities, because I know it will make not only them happy (at least that is my hope) but also it will make so many devotees happy. At the end of the day I just like making other people happy, and there is no happiness more great and real and valuable than the happiness of receiving the mercy of the Lord. And being the instrument for that gives me the greatest satisfaction. 5. Did you have personal experiences with the Deities which you would like to share? In general I think personal experiences with deities is not something to share publicly. Also I am not very advanced or pure, I don t have mystical dreams of Jagannath, he doesn t talk to me or things like that. But it is fascinating to see how his will is being executed and how he keeps me engaged in his service, even though I feel completely unqualified to do so. The greatest ecstasy I experienced in this service was when we took the Lord to festivals (like kirtan mela or the sankirtan festival) where we could dress the Him every day and offer Him many opulent preparations daily. I am sure he enjoyed that too, yet he lovingly accepts every little service the devotees offered him during the last years when he was on a journey through different living rooms. So the personal experience to share would be this: the deities have an individual relationship to everyone, and in that relationship it is not external things that count. It is the devotion that counts. And although I don t have much devotion myself I can see how so many wonderful devotees are helping and doing their best to serve Jagannath and he reciprocates with every single one of them. And without these inspiring examples I would probably not be doing what I do. 6. What kind of advice would you give to a young devotee to get attracted to Deityworship? I think that is something that has to grow naturally. Of course many temples have a lack of pujaris, but if we put someone in that position who doesn t really want to do it... what s the use? In the same time I have the experience that many devotees want to do that service prematurely (specially in our temple, since we were not always able to keep the standard of having only brahmanas serve the Lord). So my advice for anyone who wants to serve the deities or who wants to get attracted to the worship is the following: Read about it. Talk to other pujaris. Take association from experienced pujaris, ask them about there experiences. Do as much personal service for the Lord as you possibly can in your position, like bringing flowers and bhoga, cleaning the Lord s paraphernalia, cleaning his temple, pray to your worshipable deities, help in the kitchen. In that way you will establish a relationship and that will naturally grow into the seva you desire.

6 If you have any questions concerning Deity-worship please send them to the following e-mailaddress:damodara-priya.sns@pamho.

News/Announcements: Temple-opening in Berlin: By the mercy of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra the Berlin-yatra got again a new

6 6 If you have any questions concerning Deity-worship please send them to the following they will be then forwarded to H.G. Pankhajanghri Prabhu and in the next issue of Sri Murti seva you will find the answers. News/Announcements: Temple-opening in Berlin: By the mercy of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra the Berlin-yatra got again a new temple! The temple is located at: Jagannatha Tempel ISKCON Berlin e.v. Berliner Allee Berlin mail@tempelberlin.de On the weekend of June 19 th to 22 nd 2015 the Devotees of the Berlin-yatra, after waiting for two long years, had the good fortune to open a new temple, a new home for Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra. For that occasion an elaborate opening and welcoming-ceremony was held under the competent guidance of Amara Prabhu.

7 Sadasiva Prabhu, the temple president, was happily welcoming the honored

that auspicious occasion. Hare Krishna! Jay Jagannatha!

7 7 Sadasiva Prabhu, the temple president, was happily welcoming the honored guests such as H.H. Sacinandana Swami, H.G. Vaidyanath Prabhu and H.G. Jayagoura Prabhu as well as all the many Devotees, friends and guests for that auspicious occasion. Hare Krishna! Jay Jagannatha! Dates of the different Ratha-yatras in Germany: Berlin: 22 nd August 2015, noon, starting from: Breitscheidplatz, Gedächniskirche Leipzig: 29th August 2015, noon, starting from: Marktplatz

Issue 6 Octobre 2015 Monthly -magazine on Deity-Worship

Issue 6 Octobre 2015 Monthly -magazine on Deity-Worship 1 Issue 6 Octobre 2015 Monthly e-mail-magazine on Deity-Worship Content: - Nectar from Srila Prabhupada page 2 Today: About how to properly dress Gaura-Nitai - How the Deity reciprocates with His Devotee