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News from Sri Nrisingha Palli: Adhivas Day

Thursday, 31 December, 2020
Nabadwip, Nadia, West Bengal
Photographs courtesy of Sripad B.N. Sadhu Maharaj

 

 

pujya-sri-guru-varga-vandita-mahabhavanvitayah sada
paurvaparya-parampara-prachalita-prajya-pramurtakrteh
bhakter nirmala-nirjharasya nibhrtam samraksakam sadaram
vande sri-gurudevam anata-sira acharya-varyam nijam

"I bow my head in eternal obeisance to my Gurudev, the best of acharyas, Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj. He is the ever vigilant, stalwart guardian of the current of pure devotion whose highest form flows from our most worshippable Sri Rupanuga Guru-varga in their exclusive dedication to Mahabhav, Srimati Radharani."

vaisnavera pada-dhuli tahe mora snana-keli
tarpana mora vaisnavera nama
vaisnavera uchchhista tahe mora mano-nistha
vaisnavera namete ullasa

"The feet dust of the Vaishnavs is where I sport and take bath, Vaishnavs' name is the water oblation. My mind is intently fixed upon the remnants of Vaishnavs, and I am elated at the name of Vaishnavs."

gangara-parasa ha-ile paschate pavana
darsane pavitra kara—ei tomara guna

"If the Ganges touches someone, they are purified some time later; but one becomes purified just by seeing you, O Vaishnava Thakur. Such is your power."

 

 


 


The new land (to the right of the temple) is just down the road, a five-ten-minute's walk from the temple.

 

     
Their Lordships Sri Sri Gaura Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Sri Laksmi-Nrsinghadev and Sri Prahlad Maharaj.

 


 


Sri Gurupadpadma teaches:

"Wake up in the morning, take darsan of the Lordships' mangal-arati, do parikrama of the temple, practise dancing, chanting, and other devotional processes together with devotees—if you start your day in this way, then the whole day will go well. 'Ye dina grhe bhajana dekhi grhete goloka bhaya. On the days when I see devotional service taking place in my home, I feel that Goloka has manifested there.' (Saranagati)

"If you start your day from first taking darsan of the Lordships at dawn, then doing parikrama of the temple with devotees and kirtan, with affection, love, extracting love from your entire being, then the whole day will be favourable—it means the day will be spent amidst service to the Lord, striving to make the Lord happy, performing activities that are pleasing to the Lord.

"Mangal-arati of the Lord is the first pastime the Lord performs during a day. 'Prabhate harilam tava mukha, dina yabe bhala. If I see Your face at dawn, the whole day will go well.'If you start the journey of your day from the darsan of the holy Deities, it will bring you benefit. There are such people that if you see them, your whole day becomes spoilt. If you join mangal-arati, kirtan, parikrama of the Lordships, then you will be careless, happy, rich and appreciated—such mentality is not good; it brings inauspiciousness because even thought the day is spent in the service of the Lord, in practice of Krsna consciousness, in hearing, chanting, but if you observe this practice early in the morning without heart and soul, you will not get a good result.

"Those who can do it seriously, earnestly, extracting love from their hearts, get benefit very soon. 'The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day.' (John Milton) If you look at the early morning, you can see how the rest of the day will go—in the same way, you can see a person's attitude, background, likes, dislikes in their childhood and you can understand what kind of person they will grow up to be. If your day starts from first of all making the Lord happy, then the whole day can pass in the service to the Lord. If your day starts in the association of pure devotees, then it is very good, this is a very happy thing.

"However, one does not get the association of pure devotees all the time in their life. Does it mean that it is not necessary to join the morning pastimes of the Lordships if there is no such association? This is not so. The Lordships' early morning pastimes bestow benefit only upon those who practise spiritual life. It is better to eat chipped rice than not eat at all, but some will say, 'If I was not given rice, then why must I eat chipped rice?' Such thinking is not right. In the same way, even if you do not get pure devotees' association, you will get benefit from taking darsan of mangal-arati.

"The more you can do with love and affection, the more you can practise with love and affection, the more result or benefit you will get. Sri Guru-varga arranges a programme for the benefit of practitioners' life so that they could stay awake in remembrance of the Lord from morning to evening."

 


During the holy morning class. Sri Gurupadpadma speaks to the assembled devotees preparing their hearts for the festival.

 


Sripad Sajjan Maharaj at his service.

 


After the morning class, many of the devotees grasp onto various service opportunities around the temple and land a helping hand in preparations for the festival.

 


A squad of sweet servitors at the kitchen seva.

Sri Gurupadpadma teaches:

"The Lord’s main place is the bhoga-mandir. You must pour out your mind, your soul into cooking bhoga of the Lord—cooking should be done privately, secretly, nobody should see it. It is necessary to immerse yourself into such meditation, into such service. In terms of service value, after cooking comes the service of dressing the Deities. When you put a garland on the Deities, people see it and shower you with praise, but nobody sees the cooking service. Those who help the cooks are also benefitted. You can do the shopping and buy good products, but you do not cook the preparations well—everything is then in vain. Therefore, it is necessary to do the cooking service very attentively and timely."

 


Cleaning peas—a choice service for those who have extra patience and dedication.

 


 


Nimai Prabhu battling the fire and gigantic cast iron pots.

 


Meanwhile, flower specialists come to add final touches to the decoration of the nat mandir.

 


 


Devotees honouring maha-prasadam at noon.

 


 


His Divine Grace takes a stroll downstairs.

 


 


Sripad Niriha Maharaj placing painted auspicious pots at the Vyasa-asan.

 


 


 


Sri Vyasa-asan is now complete and resplendent.

 


A roti/chapati squad.

 


 


More vegetables being chopped for the evening offering to the Lordships.

 


 


Tarok Krishna Prabhu caught on camera.

 


Handing out mattresses for the arriving devotees.

 


 


 


 


During the evening arati.

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

 


 


 


Sri Gurupadpadma reads the quote from the back cover of Guidance 4:

"Sri Gurudev is the only shelter for a disciple. Those who have become disciples live in complete adherence to their guru. If one retains independence, they cannot be called a 'disciple'—they can take the mantra, they can take initiation, but if they do not accept guidance or disciplining of Sri Gurudev, they cannot be called a real disciple. Gurudev has a vast wealth. Those who are born into his lineage, can get the right for his wealth. Gurudev's wealth is not temples, buildings, houses, money; his wealth is faith, devotion and love.

"What happens after initiation? It is necessary to practise hearing and chanting, worship Deities and do service. You must serve with love, affection, extracting loving devotion from your very life. You must always think about what makes Him happy. You must be anxious to make Him happy and always be alert and conscious of His happiness. Sacrifice your selfish interests for His happiness, serve for His happiness.

"Sannyasis always sit amidst fire blazing on all four sides. This fire is Hari-katha, kirtan, service to the Lord, and service to the guru. You must progress in your practising life keeping the sacrificial fire of your service ablaze."

 


 


 


 


On the order of His Divine Grace, Sri Kamalendu Prabhu distributes masks for the devotees' protection.

 


 


His Divine Grace always joyfully observes prasadam distribution.

 


 

 


Pictured: His Divine Grace takes a walk to the kitchen to give instructions to the cook and make sure everything is smooth and nothing is required.

Thus finishes the holy adhivas (eve) of the festival. Everyone retires to rest with much joy and a full heart.

 

 

 

 

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