Gaura Purnima in pictures

I love festivals!

Festivals are such times of inspiration where all devotees work together for the pleasure of the Lord. We get a lot more association with devotees, during festivals and this acts as a gauge on how far we have progressed in our own spiritual life. Association with devotees who are pure at heart, coupled with service and chanting gradually cleanses the mirror of our heart 'Ceto darpana Marjanam.' Festival times call for team work, clashing egos, sacrifice, selflessness and passing the test of endurance and tolerance. The ultimate result is sweet like rock candy, but only when the focal point of this circle is occupied by Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada:

SB 4.24.59 : Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Siva Simply by associating with a pure devotee, one becomes wonderfully advanced in Krsna consciousness. Sadhu-sanga, or association with a devotee, means always engaging in Krsna consciousness by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra... but he whose heart is contaminated sees things differently. Therefore by sat-sanga, or association with devotees, one becomes perfectly pure in heart. Here are some pictures on slide.com

Our congregation Deities

Thats my False Ego deflater- my daughter,who kept reminding me not to feel proud on my first effort at home made fondant frosting and decoration. The cake theme is based on Sadhbhuja form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You can see the danda, kamandalu, flute, buffalo horn, bow and arrow. The opened lotus flower represents the birth of Lord Caitanya and since we cannot physically cut the cake with nimai there, the holy names in the lotus are a representation of Nimai. 'Abhinnatvan nama naminoh.'

Bitter melon badi Shukta / Shukto-"He savoured the bitter taste of shukta even over the aromatic nectar drink panchamrita." It is kind of addictive once you aquire a taste for it.I am hooked to this, had only this for lunch today.Vrinda played the role of Nimai, actually ate the brahmin's offering, had her mouth stuffed and could not say her lines..She was good though.

I am sad that I could not get pictures of the shiksha program and much of the drama, but captured it in my mind. "CLICK."

Holi Celebrations.

Moonstruck?

Seeing the rose bushes in the morning, with green leafy buds ready to spring open with the touch of the sun's rays filled my heart with an assurance that spring is not far away. Seeing the full moon in the night sky also filled me with an assurance, that Nimai has appeared. The full moon in the sky is visible to all, but few are affected by it to the point of lunacy. Likewise Nimai has risen in the sky of Nawadvip and is visible to all in the form of His mercy of the holy names. Lucky are those who are struck by this moon and become lunatics in the ocean of love of Krishna.

Though it was Gaura Purnima I did not feel impelled to visit a temple, partly because, it would mean a late night and upsetting the schedule for the next day. I was just happy to serve our own Nimai-Nitai, by cooking for Them, bathing Them with pancamrta and reading about Their childhood pastimes. Since I was a child I have heard the pastimes of Krishna and so the childhood pastimes of Nimai were something new for me. I always like reading about Nimai and this is one of my favorites:

Nimai wants the moon.
In this way a blissful day turned into a full moon night. After engaging the servants in their evening duties, Sacidevi took Nimai into the courtyard for some fresh air. The full moon was climbing the sky. Acting like an innocent boy, the clever Nimai cried, "Mother! Mother!"
Sacidevi said, "Don’t cry. I will give You whatever You want." The Lord replied, "Mother, please give Me the moon." Saci said, "Can anyone catch the moon in the sky?"

Nimai said, "Then why did you say that you would give Me whatever I wanted? For this reason, I asked for the moon." Then Nimai began wailing. Holding the comer of Sacidevi's sari, He kept crying while rubbing His eyes with His free hand and kicking the dirt with His feet. Nimai was insistent; He wanted the moon. Gaura Raya clutched His mother's sari and yanked her hair. The next moment He hit her in the head with His hand. Still unsuccessful, He rolled on the ground and cried.
Sacimata said, "O Nimai, You are incorrigible and Your behavior is most unusual. How can I possibly catch the moon in the sky? There are already so many moons on Your body. Look how the moon has become ashamed before You. Out of shyness, he is now hiding himself behind the clouds. O my son, please listen."
Then Sacimata placed Nimai on her lap and showered Him with kisses. Obsessed with parental love, Sacidevi forgot herself in transcendental bliss. Her voice became choked up in ecstasy. Locana Dasa joyfully sings the glories of Lord Gauranga. Moonstruck yet?

Not yet, then this should do the trick!