PLEASE POST

[Guest guest]

THE DEITY DRESSING SEMINAR

 

Three days of Absolute nectar!

SEPTEMBER 8,9, &10 2000 10 am-1: 00 PM and 3:00pm - 6:00 PM

New Ramana Reti, Alachua, Florida

 

This seminar will be conducted by Ramabhadra Dasa and will include:

 

 

First time ever; see actual dressing of installed Deities (Sri Sri Radha

Govinda) on video.

Accompanied by Power Point presentation. Both Morning and Evening dress

standards

presented.

 

Overview of Deity dressing instructional brochure.

 

Live Deity dressing demonstration on four foot "practice form".

 

Volunteer participation in dressing the practice form, covering such areas

as Turbans, Sash

(Waistcloth), Jewelry decoration, Garlands, Flower decoration, Hanging

Clothes etc. The use

of pins, blutac, Nylon, and wire will also be discussed.

 

Deity Jewelry and Dress design presentation.

 

The five most important aspects of Deity worship. Cleanliness, Punctuality,

Bhoga Offerings,

Sringara (dressing), and offering Scented Items.

 

Deity dressing Istagosthi on the last session.

 

 

Fee: There is a registration fee of $50.00 which must be received no later

than Aug. 8

 

Limited accommodations available.

 

· Call 904-462-2017 to reserve your space.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/31/2000 1:30:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

Rupa.dasi (AT) pamho (DOT) net writes:

 

> First time ever; see actual dressing of installed Deities (Sri Sri Radha

> Govinda) on video.

 

I have a humble inquiry of the organizers of this program. Why has the

privacy of the Lord been violated with a video recording of such an intimate

service in the first place? It does not seem like a very respectful

proposition to use such a video as an instructional tool no matter what the

intent. Is this part of the current standard of worship in ISKCON? yhs, Kanti

dasi

[Guest guest]

"I have a humble inquiry of the organizers of this program. Why has the

privacy of the Lord been violated with a video recording of such an intimate

service in the first place? It does not seem like a very respectful

proposition to use such a video as an instructional tool no matter what the

intent. Is this part of the current standard of worship in ISKCON? yhs,

Kanti"

 

Dear Mataji,

Pamho AgtSP

Could you please establish with Sastric quotes, letters from Srila

Prabhupada, etc. how showing such a Deity dressing training video to a group

of Pujaris (Brahmanas) is an invasion of the Deities privacy. Is it in the

list of offenses to be avoided? The video was filmed by a Brahmana with only

one other Pujari (me) on the Altar dressing Sri Sri Radha Govinda. How is

that an invasion of privacy? The day of the seminar Sri Sri Radha Govinda

will be worshiped in privacy in New York while I am in Alachua showing a

very

privately filmed Video made four months earlier, to a quality group of

Vaisnavas / Brahmanas. How is that an invasion of privacy? I know some

altars

where there are more than a dozen Pujaris moving around every morning and

seeing the Deities completely naked, is that an invasion of privacy? In

regards to invasion of privacy what is considered more private, to be seen

in

the shower or to be seen with your clothes on but not completely decorated?

Every year at many of the ISKCON temples and Hindu temples the Deities are

publicly bathed (Abhiseka) with no more than a Gumsha before large

congregations. Sometimes in Western countries persons that don't even follow

the principles also see such "private" bathing ceremonies. By the way, the

video does not show the Deity with no clothes, it starts at the point when

the Deities have clothes on. For many year's many temples have allowed

devotees to take photos of the Deities during dharshan and with the

widespread use of Video cameras we allow filming of Deity dharshans as well

as very private / intimate public Abhiseka's. Who do you know that takes

their shower in public? Well Lord Krishna does and I would venture to say

that mean's He is being intimate with us sometimes even in a public forum.

Srila Prabhupada wanted devotees to get training in all aspects of Krishna

consciousness including Deity worship and that includes Deity dressing.

While

I fully understand the principle of not touching the Deity in public I also

know there is a time and place for it. The Pujari touches the Deity in

public

on numerous occasions every year while it is a general rule that if you have

to touch the Deity then you close the curtain first.

I appreciate your concern very much and I am glad there are devotees like

you

who will look out for the protection of Krishna and you should know this

video is not for mass distribution but only for the private showing at

select

Deity dressing seminars for qualified students. Thank you very much for the

inquiry.

I hope this meets you in the best of health.

 

Your insignificant servant,

Ramabhadra das

 

P.S.

By the way I once had the wonderful opportunity to observe the dressing of

Sri Ksira Cora Gopinatha at Remuna, the famous Deity described in the

Chaitanya Charitamrta. The Pujari kept the curtain open that morning and

gave

me some special mercy. He didn't ask me for any donation for that privilege.

[Guest guest]

In regards to public dressing of Ksira Cora Gopinatha. This year myself as

well as 15 teenagers and 3 other matajis went to visit this wonderful

temple. It is their policy to leave the curtains open during the entire

bathing, oiling and dressing of these wonderful Deities. I have been to

take this darshan before and it was equally wonderful. This year we chanted

the Brahma Samita prayers at the beginning but since the entire procedure

took about 2 hours, we were chanting japa for the rest of the time. Lord

Krsna is supremely merciful and He is kind enough to allow anyone who comes

to see Ksira Cora Gopinath to see the Deity getting bathed and dressed.

 

Your servant,

Laxmimoni dasi

[Guest guest]

> In regards to public dressing of Ksira Cora Gopinatha. This year myself

> as well as 15 teenagers and 3 other matajis went to visit this wonderful

> temple. It is their policy to leave the curtains open during the entire

> bathing, oiling and dressing of these wonderful Deities. I have been to

> take this darshan before and it was equally wonderful. This year we

> chanted the Brahma Samita prayers at the beginning but since the entire

> procedure took about 2 hours, we were chanting japa for the rest of the

> time. Lord Krsna is supremely merciful and He is kind enough to allow

> anyone who comes to see Ksira Cora Gopinath to see the Deity getting

> bathed and dressed.

>

> Your servant,

> Laxmimoni dasi

 

Yes, isn't it wonderful! I was amazed, I was alone there at the dressing

time, and thought that maybe they had left the curtain open by accident, but

the pujari saw that I was looking, so I did not feel too guilty. I didn't

realise that this was their policy.

 

I was fortunate enough to stay there for two days. Apart from the nectarean

Ksira, one can also partake of the Lords other prasada, which is served at

certain times. At the time I stayed there, there was only one small concrete

room for guests, which was unbearably hot during the day. I dont know if

they have more faciltities now (I visited there about 10 years ago).

 

Your servant

Samba das

[Guest guest]

At 07:51 AM 8/11/00 +0500, you wrote:

> > In regards to public dressing of Ksira Cora Gopinatha. This year myself

> > as well as 15 teenagers and 3 other matajis went to visit this wonderful

> > temple. It is their policy to leave the curtains open during the entire

> > bathing, oiling and dressing of these wonderful Deities. I have been to

> > take this darshan before and it was equally wonderful. This year we

> > chanted the Brahma Samita prayers at the beginning but since the entire

> > procedure took about 2 hours, we were chanting japa for the rest of the

> > time. Lord Krsna is supremely merciful and He is kind enough to allow

> > anyone who comes to see Ksira Cora Gopinath to see the Deity getting

> > bathed and dressed.

> >

> > Your servant,

> > Laxmimoni dasi

>

>Yes, isn't it wonderful! I was amazed, I was alone there at the dressing

>time, and thought that maybe they had left the curtain open by accident, but

>the pujari saw that I was looking, so I did not feel too guilty. I didn't

>realise that this was their policy.

>

>I was fortunate enough to stay there for two days. Apart from the nectarean

>Ksira, one can also partake of the Lords other prasada, which is served at

>certain times. At the time I stayed there, there was only one small concrete

>room for guests, which was unbearably hot during the day. I dont know if

>they have more faciltities now (I visited there about 10 years ago).

>

>Your servant

>Samba das

 

....did you encounter any of those HUGE orange spiders almost the size of

your hand that sneak under the gap in the door on those small concrete

rooms. You could put the tip of your finger into their mouths..... So

pleased they provided mozzie nets that tucked in !!!

 

When we went there in 1980, late in the evening they would prepare this

most amazing prasadam - and I mean late, some evenings it was served at

9:30pm and on one evening at 10:30pm.

 

The Kshira was something else eh. One could picture Madhavendra Puri

Goswami relishing this nectar, along with all those through the ages who

had also come to this sacred of places where there are so many cows. The

priests there tell that the original Deity of Gopinath, Madan Mohan and

Govindaji who reside there were all carved personally by Lord Rama. They

say that when He and mother Sita were returning to Ayodhya they stopped

there, as she was thirsty. He took and arrow from His quiver and created

that river that pops out from the ground and flows nearby the temple.

Apparently Lord Rama was looking around and began to laugh, to which Sita

devi asked why He was laughing so much. Lord Rama replied to her that He

was just remembering when He would next appear !!!! Inquiringly mother Sita

asked what He would look like and what He would do, and so as He explained

He carved with His arrow the three primary forms of the Deities of

Vrindavan - Gopinath, Madan Mohan and Govindaji.

 

Just nearby the concrete rooms is the Tulasi grove, and there, is a

miniature replica of Govardhan, Radha kund and Shyama kund, etc.

 

Just nearby (a short walk) is the samadhi of Srila Madhavendra Puri

Goswami, and they still had at that time his padukas. The elderly pujari

was really excited seeing western devotees and placed his hands inside the

glass case, collecting a lot of sandalwood from them and then placing it on

our heads - he was in ecstasy doing this - and so were we.

 

The samadhi of Rasikananda prabhu is also in the courtyard of the main

temple complex just behind the offices, where you purchase the Kshira.

 

yis, JTCd

[Guest guest]

> ...did you encounter any of those HUGE orange spiders almost the size of

> your hand that sneak under the gap in the door on those small concrete

> rooms. You could put the tip of your finger into their mouths..... So

> pleased they provided mozzie nets that tucked in !!!

 

I am pleased to report that...no, I was not graced by such

creatures...fortunately! Although I did have first hand experience of the

WIERD creature that stalks Radhakund in the dead of night......But that is

not for this conference!

 

YS Samba das