Sri Gaura Purnima Festival

Friday, 2 March 2018

 

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."

prerakam prachya-paschatya-sisyanam bhakti-vartmani
bhakti-nirmalam-acharya-svaminam pranamamy aham

"I offer my respectful obeisances to Swami Bhakti Nirmal Acharya, who is energetically inspiring all of Eastern and Western disciples on the path of pure devotion."

nadiya udayagiri purna-chandra gaura-hari
krpa kari ha-ila udaya
papa-tamo haila nasa, tri-jagatera ullasa,
jagabhari hari-dhvani haya

"By His causeless mercy the full moon Gaurahari arose in the district of Nadia, which is compared to Udayagiri, where the sun first becomes visible—His rising in the sky destroyed the darkness of sin; all three worlds became joyful and chanted the Holy Name of the Lord."

namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te
krsnaya krsna-chaitanya-namne gaura-tvise namah

"Again and again I offer my obeisance unto You, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, the supremely merciful, golden form of Sri Krishna, the giver of Krishna-prema."

 


Soon after the morning arati His Divine Grace started giving initiations.

 


 


 


 


Closer to midday, there was an informal class at which His Divine Grace answered devotees' questions, summarised Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama and also asked questions about the places visited to encourage the devotees to remember them.

 


 


Sripad B.A. Paramarthik Maharaj conducting fire sacrifice for the second initiated devotees.

 


In the meantime, devotees decorate the nat mandir for the evening programme.

 


 


 


 


Bhoga arati. (In the picture: after the fire sacrifice, the brahmans collect daksina and present everything to the lotus feet of their Sri Gurudev.)

 


 


 


 


 


 


At 5 p.m. the main programme starts with kirtans and speeches delivered by the assembled Acharyas and Vaishnavs.

 


 


In the centre (next to Ramachandra Prabhu) is the father of Sripad B.T. Niriha Maharaj from his previous ashram—on this Gaura Purnima day he took initiation from Srila Acharya Maharaj.

 


 


 


 


 


To the right of the temple is the land marked for future Sevak Bhavan, the festival kitchen is set up at the back.

 


Sri Nrisinghadev Temple

 


 



 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Starting the kirtan from Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita glorifying the appearance of Sri Guarahari.

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


The evening arati of Sri Gaurasundar.

 


 


 


 


 


 


Prasad-seva.

tvayopa-bhuktasrag-gandha, vaso 'lankara-charchchitah
uchchhista-bhojino dasas, tava mayam jayema hi

"Adorned with the articles that have been offered to You, such as garlands, fragrant clothing, and ornaments, we, Your personal servitors who partake of Your holy remnants alone, will certainly be able to conquer Your illusory energy (maya)."

 


prasada-seva karite haya,
sakala prapancha-jaya

"By honouring the Lord's prasad I conquer all worldly illusions."

 


Anukalpa prasad: Fruit, potato subji, nuts, sweet potato and sago.

 

 

 

 

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he will come to me—I am a fallen soul, and it is his duty to rescue the fallen souls.”

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