While Srutakirti decorated the sacrifical arena with coloured rice flour, Madhudvisa lifted the cloth that covered Srimati Radharani. The assembled devotees cried, "Jaya! Hari Bol", seeing Radharani for the first time. Prabhupada gazed lovingly at Radharani, noting Her pure white complexion and fresh youthful beauty.
Then the bathing ceremony began. The devotees loudly sang the Hare Krsna mantra as Prabhupada poured a small brass pot of scented water over Srimati Radharani's head. Next, the cloth covering was removed from Krsna. Glossy and black in complexion, Krsna also accepted the loving service of His great devotee, Srila Prabhupada by way of the inaugural bath.
To Prabhupada's right sat the three devotees taking initiation: a young boy and girl who would become pujaris -- priests -- and a slightly-built elderly lady seated on a chair. Prabhupada gave a short talk on the significance of initiation, then, exacting a promise from the young boy and girl that they would not leave but rather would always remain in the service of the Deity, handed them their sanctified strands of chanting beads. The boy and girl became Ganesa dasa and Sukla dasi. The elderly lady received the name Aruni dasi.
Prabhupada lit the sacrificial fire. The customary mantras were intoned to the accompaniment of kirtana and readings from sacred texts. Devotees chanted "svaha" and threw ghee-soaked grains into the flames. Prabhupada poured ghee that sent the blazing fire higher and higher. When, finally, bananas were placed into the fire, thick smoke quickly filled the room. Srila Prabhupada reminded the devotees that the smoke was "very nice" and told them not to open the windows.
Prabhupada rose from his seat. He planned to personally offer the first arati ceremony to the newly-installed Deities. While the kirtana was roaring, Srila Prabhupada left the temple room, and, accompanied by Dipak, approached the Deity room door as the pujaris were completing their altar decoration. Srila Prabhupada slipped off his brown canvas shoes and entered. Dipak picked up the shoes and placed them to the side of the door. Suddenly Srila Prabhupada turned. Setting the proper standard of cleanliness, he said: "You should wash your hands -- you have just touched my shoes. You are unclean now -- please go wash."
The conchshell blew. Open doors revealed the beautiful Deities situated on Their new altar surrounded by billowing plumes of frankincense smoke. To the accompaniment of melodic chanting, Prabhupada gracefully offered the auspicious articles one by one: first the incense, then the blazing camphor lamp, ghee lamp, and scented water. Prabhupada gracefully offered each article in large, elegant circular movements of his hand. The silk cloth, the scented white carnations, and the peacock fan were offered with similar deep devotion.
Srila Prabhupada gazed at the beautiful forms of Radha and Krsna with a fixed intensity of concentration that inspired the assembled devotees. It appeared that Srila Prabhupada was seeing Radha and Krsna face to face.
While kirtana continued, Prabhupada returned to his room and gave his two young disciples the mantras required for second initiation. He reiterated the importance of the sacred connection to the spiritual master -- diksa -- and again stressed that the Deity should now be served with great care and attention. "Look after Krsna very nicely," he said.
Later, Prabhupada expressed his pleasure that the devotees had made nice arrangements to receive Radha and Krsna in Melbourne. He particularly commented on the beauty of Srimati Radharani, and named the Deities Sri Sri Radha-Vallabha.
- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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