Now, however, after many sleepless nights for Syamananda and Frank, a young carpenter who had volunteered his services -- a brother of one of the devotees -- the altar would be revealed for all to see.
Previous altars had usually consisted of box-shaped structures. But, Syamananda had planned something completely different. Sincerely trying to transform what he had seen from the pictures in Srila Prabhupada's books, he had based the new design on a two-tiered frieze of moulded metallic-gold lotus petals.
The result was quite unique. Some devotees assisting in the construction work had described it as "space-age sci-fi baroque". Syamananda had purposely designed it with no edges or corners. Rather, everything was based on repeating, serpentine curves, in what he had hoped would evoke a mood "somewhere between a palace in Vaikuntha and an expanding lotus flower".
High up near the ceiling at the back of the altar would stand Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. Between and below them were large, smooth chromed pillars that resembled the inverted stems of pewter goblets. Towards the front of the altar, amidst the continuing gold lotus petals, would stand the smaller Radha and Krsna Deities installed the previous year by Srila Prabhupada. Behind them, at the apex of sweeping, apricot coloured marble steps, was a small slab of marble ready for the new larger Deities of Radha and Krsna due to be installed the next day. Syamananda anticipated Prabhupada's reaction. He was confident that since Prabhupada praised the basic box-shaped altar that he had built last year, he would certainly like this one.
At seven in the morning, as Prabhupada stood in the temple room, and the crush of devotees eagerly squeezed in closer, a conchshell blew three long blasts. The white concertina-doors drew back, and there it was, mystically appearing out of a fog of fragrant frankincense smoke.
Prabhupada stood motionless, with head slightly back, carefully surveying the whole scene. Madhudvisa pressed Syamananda to the front of the crowd so he could be on hand when Prabhupada made a comment or asked questions. Syamananda stood breathlessly, but Prabhupada said nothing. Turning, he walked silently to his vyasasana for guru puja and class.
Syamananda was devastated. It wasn't long, however, before the reality of the situation dawned on him. Since he had put in so much more work this year than last, he had expected proportionate response -- praise, actually -- from Srila Prabhupada. He had become over-confident and proud.
To dismantle this false pride, Prabhupada had decided to stay aloof, thus teaching his disciple a great lesson. Later, in the quiet of his room, Srila Prabhupada commented privately that he liked the new altar.
- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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