Blog

Wednesday, 28 April 1976

Another early-morning fire sacrifice was scheduled, this time to accompany the installation ceremony of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. Since he was due to leave for Fiji after breakfast, Prabhupada's schedule was tight. He did not take a morning walk, and received his massage well before the sun rose. After bathing, Srila Prabhupada put on fresh silk clothing and went downstairs for the ceremony. He sat on the elegant vyasasana and gave a short lecture. Then he sat back, as the installation ceremony began.

Things were disorganised. Despite their unabashed enthusiasm, not everyone knew what they were doing. As Tusta Krsna's men chanted with guitars, others, in a state of semi-confusion, ran around readying the altar and gathering last-minute ingredients. Meanwhile, Prabhupada sat down patiently on his vyasasana and waited for the bathing ceremony to commence.

Even though the beautiful Deities of Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra had been carved and exquisitely painted by Barrie, a local devotee, Yasomatinandana had foolishly suggested that they be sanded down. Consequently Rama dasa had worked furiously all the previous day and night to repaint them. And now the paint had not completely dried. Guru Krpa Swami first bathed the golden forms of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda; next, Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. As he did so paint started running from the body of Lord Balarama. Prabhupada, noticing, leaned forward intently, but said nothing.

Pusta Krsna Swami and Tusta Krsna Swami next combinedly performed the fire sacrifice. While this yajna was in progress, pujaris hurried to finish the dressing of the Deities. There were more delays. Ill-fitting clothes were unstitched and re-fitted at a frenzied pace. Since there was a chance that a hold-up would jeopardise Prabhupada's airport departure plans, Prabhupada was becoming impatient. After some behind-the-scenes "hurrying-up" by Pusta Krsna Swami, the Deity doors finally opened. Prabhupada bowed down respectfully, and stood palms together before the altar.

No sooner had he stood, though, when he noticed that the Deities of Gaura-Nitai were not wearing any crowns. Prabhupada appeared concerned and ordered the doors immediately closed.

After a few minutes, the Deities were properly dressed, and the doors opened again. After attending the first arati ceremony to the newly-installed Deities, Prabhupada returned upstairs for breakfast prasadam.


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu