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Letter from the editor:

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the latest edition of the ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry / Mayapur

Academy Newsletter ‘Arcana News.’

As some of you may know, Damodara-priya mataji has agreed to take over the

production of the newsletter and we are looking forward to more consistent

offerings to you all. Damodara-priya mataji has been serving the exquisitely

beautiful Radha-Madana Mohana at the Abentheuer temple for many years. A

larger part of that time she has served as the head pujari. Along with serving as

ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry’s representative for Germany and Austria,

Damodara-priya mataji also teaches the temple worship unit at the Mayapur

Academy.

As always, it has been a busy period since our last newsletter and a lot has

happened. We recently finished the 8th

Mayapur Academy semester! For me

this is a real milestone and every year the quality of the courses and the

students gets better and better. Thanks to all who help putting this together

each year. There have also been a number of installations since our last edition.

Our topic for this edition is “Purity is our strength.” Along with quotes from Srila

Prabhupada there will be an article or two emphasising the necessity for purity

in deity worship and the benefits we derive from maintaining purity.

This is your newsletter so please feel free to write to us with suggestions or

comments on how to improve our service to the Lord, Srila Prabhupada and

ISKCON.

Thanks to everyone who gave feedback on the last newsletter. Your comments

help shape the content of future newsletters.

Look forward to hearing more from you all soon.

Your servant,

Nrsimha Kavaca dasa

nrsimha.kavaca@iskcon

Todays topic:

Content:

- Srila Prabhupada on purity

- Purity is our strength – Part I - How the Deity reciprocates

with His devotee – Today: Pisi

Ma´s Gaura-Nitai

- Pujari-Portrait

- DW in practice, Today: the Arati-Articles

- News/Announcements/MA-

updates

Web-sites:

Deity-Worship-Ministry:

www.deityworship.com

Mayapur Academy:

www.mayapuracademy.org

Blog: www.mayapuracademy.wordpress.com Facebook: www.fb.com/MayapurAcademy

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Srila Prabhupada on Purity:

“…If we simply imitate, oh, that will not do. So do not try to imitate, follow the simple rules and regulations, it is very nice, and above all, chant Hare Kåñëa. You'll become purified. Without being purified you cannot touch Rädhä-Kåñëa. In the Vedas it is stated, "Without becoming Brahman you cannot approach Brahman." Just like without becoming fire you cannot approach fire… Kåñëa is the Parambrahman. Paraà brahma paraà dhäma pavitraà paramaà bhavän. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gétä. Puruñaà çäçvatam, therefore one has to keep himself very purified; otherwise you cannot touch Kåñëa. That is not possible. It is fire, so you have to become fire. And how to become fire? Fire, you are also fire, but now you are covered fire, covered by this material body. Therefore you have to spiritualize this body by purificatory process…

we have to keep ourself always in the fire of Kåñëa consciousness; then everything is all right. (laughs) Otherwise, it will become dull and it will be simply idol worship. That's all. That is the difference between idol worship and Deity worship. If there is no

life, then it is idol worship, hedonism. And when there is life, feeling, "Where is Kåñëa? Here is Kåñëa. Oh, I have to serve Kåñëa, I have to dress Him, I have to serve Rädhäräëé, She is here. Oh, I must do it very nicely. And as far as possible decorate Her to the best capacity." In this way, if you always feel Kåñëa conscious, then you are fire… And if you think it is a brass-made doll, I mean to say, idol... Ye yathä mäà prapadyante täàs tathaiva bhajämy aham. If you think this is a brass-made idol, then it will remain a brass-made idol to you forever. But if you elevate yourself to higher platform of Kåñëa consciousness, then Kåñëa, this Kåñëa, will talk with you. This Kåñëa will talk with you… Real thing is bhakti. What you can offer to Kåñëa? Everything

Vaishnava-Calendar:

Purusottama-adhika Masa

17. June Purusottama-month starts

28. June Padmini Ekadasi

12. July Shuddha Ekadasi

16. July Parama Amavasya, Purusottama ends

17. July Gundica Marjana

18. July Ratha Yatra, Sri Svarupa Damodara G. disapp., Sri Sivananda Sena disapp.

21. July Hera Pancami

22. July Sri Vakresvara Pandita, disapp.

25. July Return Ratha

27. July Sayana Ekadasi

31. July Guru Purnima, Srila Sanatana G. disapp., first month of Caturm. Begins

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belongs to Kåñëa. What you have got? What is your value? And what is the value of your things? It is nothing. Therefore real thing is bhaktyä, real thing is your feeling. "Kåñëa, kindly take it. I have no qualification. I am most rotten, fallen, but (begins to cry) I have brought this thing for you. Please take it." This will be accepted. Don't be puffed up. Always be careful. You are dealing

with Kåñëa. That is my request. Thank you very much.

(Çré Çré Rukmiëé Dvärakänätha Deity Installation, Los Angeles, July 16, 1969)

Purity is our strength – Part I

Why is purity such an important aspect in

Deity-worship?

We read in the above cited lecture by Srila

Prabhupada how Krishna is the Supreme

Pure therefore in order to approach the

Supreme Pure, we ourselves have to

become pure. Srila Prabhupada: “Kåñëa is the supreme pure, pavitraà paramam. Paramam means extreme. So nobody can approach Kåñëa while He is impure.” (ÇB 7.9.1, Mäyäpur, Feb. 8, 1976).

Most of us joined the Hare Krishna movement to become Krishna conscious. That´s quite a high aspiration since Krishna-consciousness is situated on the transcendental platform, free from the influence of the three modes of material nature, such as tamas, rajas and sattva-

gunas. As long as we are still directed by these modes, we will find it very difficult to get a real footing on that transcendental platform which consists of pure sattva only.

Therefore we require a powerful method, lifting us up from the lower modes and bringing us to the mode of goodness, or sattva-guna, from where we develop a more clear understanding of who we are, who the Lord is and what our real relationship with Him is. In SB 1.2.24 we hear:”… passion [rajas] is better than ignorance [tamas], but goodness [sattva] is best because by goodness one can come to realize the Absolute Truth.”

Deity-worship is one of the five most powerful items, listed by Srila Rupa

4. Aug Srila Gopala Batta G. disapp.

7. Aug Srila Lokanatha G. disapp.

8. Aug Incorporation of ISKCON in New York

10. Aug Kamika Ekadasi

15. Aug Pratipat/Amavasya

18. Aug Sri Raghunandana Thakura disapp., Sri Vamsidasa Babaji disapp.

26. Aug Trisparsa Mahadvadasi, Radha Govinda Jhulana Yatra starts

27. Aug Srila Rupa G. disapp, Sri Gauridasa Pandita disapp.

29. Aug Balarama Purnima, Jhulana Yatra ends

30. Aug Srila Prabhupada departs to USA

5. Sep Sri Krishna Janmastami

6. Sep Nandotsava, Srila Prabhupada app.

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Goswami in his Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, which, while coming in contact with it even slightly, acts like fire, burning up all of our impurities and thus freeing us from the influence of the lower modes. Deity-worship helps us to overcome the dictate of our capricious mind by teaching us high-class cleanliness, regularity and punctuality. It helps us to steady the wandering mind by absorbing it in bhuta-shuddhi1-meditations and manasa-sevas2. In short it teaches us a pure, sattvic lifestyle.

As we can see, the aspect of purity is very closely interrelated with the process of Deity-worship. In fact it is the prerequisite as well as the effect of proper Deity-worship. Srila Jiva Goswami states in his Bhakti-sandarbha: ”… “Although deity worship is not essential, the material conditioning of most candidates for devotional service requires that they engage in this activity. When we consider their bodily and mental conditions, we find that the character of such candidates is impure and their minds are agitated. Therefore, to rectify this material conditioning the great sage Närada and others have at different times recommended various kinds of regulations for deity worship.”—Madhya 15.108.

Once Jayadvaita Maharaja addressed Srila Prabhupada on a morning walk, telling him that he recognized the Deities being in a very joyful mood when Srila Prabhupada was visiting. Srila Prabhupada simply answered:” Yes, that is my concern.” – Jayadvaita Maharaja couldn´t figure out what Srila Prabhupada wanted to really say. When they came back to the temple Srila Prabhupada repeated that remark and continued: “Yes,

1 Purifying the bodily elements by

identifying oneself as the servant of the servant of Krishna 2 Worship in the mind

that is my concern, that when I leave you will neglect Deity-worship and then the whole movement will go down.” – These words of concern from Srila Prabhupada show us that there is a direct connection between a high-class standard in Deity-worship and the success of the Hare Krishna movement. Since the process of Deity-worship has that immensely purifying effect on the practitioner, it enables him to develop a higher understanding of the philosophy and brings him to a break through into the realm of realizations which ultimately fuels his preaching spirit. “The test of preaching ability is whether one is making some disciples or not. So it appears that your preaching is going on nicely. The standard of purity which I have introduced in the Krsna consciousness movement will give you the real spiritual strength needed to preach. If you will simply stick to your principles, you will gain the respect of the whole world and our preaching work will be successful.” (SPL to Tirthapada, November 13th, 1970 – compiled in Siksamrita, 70-11)

Your own contributions, thoughts and realizations on that topic are very

much welcome! Please share them with us! Hare Krishna! y.s. DPd

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Pujari-Portrait:

1. Name: Govinda priya Devi Dasi

2. Disciple from: HH Indradyumna Swami

3. Where are you serving? Since when? “I am mostly serving in Gauradesh Temple in Koeln. This temple I visited first time in 1999. My seva to Sri-Sri-Gaura-Nitai there I started in 2002. Every now and then I am also in Goloka Dhama, serving Sri-Sri-Radha-Madana-Mohan. During two months a year I am in Poland on the Poland tour with my Gurudeva.”

4. What inspires you the most in your seva to the Deities? “Whenever I am on the altar I feel grate gratitude towards Guru and Gauranga and His devotees for allowing me at all to be there, to be so close to the Deities. Once I asked myself if I am allowed to also touch the Lotusfeet of Radha and Krishna in Goloka Vrindavan? – Probably not…. But here in this material world and with my material

body I am allowed to do so! And that is only by the causeless mercy of Krishna and His devotees!”

5. Did you had personal experiences with the Deities which you would like to share with us? “If you want to make God laughing you have to reveal your plans to Him.” – This words I am remembering ofthen while dressing the Deities. My plans how I thought to dress Them almost never work. It is Them who decide how They would like to look like, not me. I am simply assisting in fulfilling Their desire.“ – „Once while dressing Sri-Sri-Radha-Madana-Mohan, it did not work at all to put Madana-Mohan´s Cadars nicely. Without success I tried for about 20 min. until I started to deeply pray to Srimati Radharani for help. Within only about 20 seconds it worked out! – It is so important to always remember that we are simply the instruments in Krishnas hands!”

6. What kind of an advice would you give to a young devotee to increase his inspiration for Deity-seva? “Arcana-seva gives us a chance to develop our personal relationship with Krishna. This kind of seva demands from us to remain in sattva-guna. It is not at all recommendable to go on the altar in a too much rajasic attitude. I even recommend to peacefully prepare all the items required for the dressing a day before. - Each seva is full of nectar. If we are able to perform His worship properly, with the right attitude, then we get His mercy in the form of strong attachment to His lotusfeet.”

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Deity-Worship in Practice –

Today: The Aratic Articles explained:

Article Which element does it

represent

Its meaning How to offer

1. Consh

Ether auspicious atmosphere, dispels undesirable beings such as ghosts etc.

3 x blowing or 3x clapping

2. Incenses Earth offering of nice smell, creates good atmosphere

7 circles around the whole body

3. Ghee-lamp Fire meaning: fire purifies, symbol of knowledge, dispells darkness, how to offer: 4x to LF, 2x to navel, 3x to head, 7x to whole body

fire purifies, symbol of knowledge, dispels darkness, reveals the form of the Lord, burns the false ego, most important item in the arati since Krishna likes it the most

4x to Lotusfeet, 2x to navel, 3x to head, 7x to whole body

4. Water Water argyam: auspicious substance to welcome a respectable person

3x to head, 7x to whole body (in the consh)

5. Cloth Air presents, especially new cloths, dhoti, sari,…

7x to whole body

6. Flower Earth offering of nice smell, colour, form

7x to whole body

7. Camara Air against disturbing flies

few times to all the Deities, like a gracious swan…

8. Bell Ether embodiment of all sounds

added to all the afore mentioned articles

How The Deity Reciprocates With His Devotee:

Today: Gaura-Nitai and the Khira of Candrasasi (Pisi Ma)

Candrasasi once happened to go to Siuri and

stay in a house near a temple in which Gaura-

Nitai of Murari Gupta (his name is engraved

on the pedestal of the Deities), an associate

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of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, were served

by Balarama Dasa Babaji, a siddha saint.

She saw the beautiful Deities of Gaura-

Nitai and developed motherly affection for

Them. She started offering Them khira

made from 40 kg of milk every day.

Once They said to her in a dream, “Ma!”

We are hungry. We want to eat khira

prepared by you.” When she told Balarama

Dasa Babaji about this he said, “The

scriptures forbid the cooking of food for

the deities by a person not duly initiated.”

She, therefore, got herself initiated by

Balarama Dasa Babaji and started offering

khira prepared by herself to Gaura-Nitai.

Gaura-Nitai were now very happy to have a

mother, who loved Them so much. But

Candrasasi was not to stay in Siuri for long.

Gaura-Nitai knew this. They trembled at

the very thought of her going away. One

night she saw in a dream that both Gaura

and Nitai were holding her ancala (the

head-piece of a sari) and saying, “Ma! You

do not go away from here. If you go who

will give us khira every day? Besides Ma,

you are Our mother and We are your

children. How can children live without the

mother?”

Candrasasi, like a good but helpless

mother, caressed Them lovingly but

pleaded her inability to stay on in Siuri

indefinitely and asked Them to leave her

ancala. But They would not leave. In the

tug of war that ensued a piece of her

ancala was torn off and remained in the

hand of Gaura. When Candrasasi woke up,

she saw that a piece of her ancala was actually

torn off. Immediately she went to Balarama

Dasa Babaji and told him about it.

The day had just dawned. The door of the

temple was closed. Balarama Dasa Baba

opened the door. Both he and Candrasasi

were surprised to see the torn off piece of the

ancala in the hand of Gaura! Candrasasi was

overwhelmed with a strong current of bhava

that in a moment swept away her attachment

with home and all its glory and splendor. With

determination never to go back she began to

live in the temple and serve Gaura-Nitai with

motherly affection. How could she do

otherwise after finding children like Gaura-

Nitai?...

(source: Experiences in Bhakti by Dr. O.B.L.

Kapoor)

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News / Announcements:

ISKCON Baltimore, Maryland, USA:

On Saturday, May 2nd, ISKCON Baltimore (Baltimore, Maryland, USA) performed a Bhumi Puja to inaugurate the building of their new temple on the same property behind the existing temple. Pictures may be found here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.774877549300572.1073741841.519571894831140&type=3

ISKCON Goloka Dhama, Germany:

Deity-worship-Seminar with Mukunda Datta Prabhu, Head-pujari, Krishna-Balaram-Mandir, Vrindavan, June 26th until June 30th – topics: The deeper understanding of Deity-worship and the vivaha-yajna-procedure explained

Deity-worship-Seminar with Damodara-priya Mataji, July 5th until July 7th –

topic: sodasupacara-puja (puja with 16 items to Sri-Sri-Gaura-Nitai)

Ministry and Mayapur Academy Updates

As mentioned above it has been a busy

time since our last edition. Each year

ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry submits

an annual report to the GBC. I thought by

sharing some of the highlights from our

last report you would get a good idea of

what the devotees of ISKCON Deity

Worship Ministry have been offering to the

ISKCON community.

The Mayapur Academy held its 8th

consecutive ‘Diploma in Arcana’

semester this year with 50

devotees attending. All the

courses were again presented

with simultaneous Russian

translation and written materials.

Our focus for the Mayapur

Academy is to expand the

training and improve curriculum

for the English, Bengali, and

Russian speaking devotees.

ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry

now has 10 regional

representatives, with the

addition of 2 new

representatives this year.

Between them they visited 81

temples in 2014. Our prime

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organizational initiative for the future of

deity worship in ISKCON is to have

local representatives serving every

ISKCON temple in the world.

Expanding our network of

representatives will increase the

training we are able to offer. This will

enable devotees to be more effective in

their service, and the ministry will be

more effective in monitoring temples to

identify potential problems earlier and

possibly avert crises in the future.

ISKCON continues to expand with

installations of deities in 2014 14

temples submitted applications to the

ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry for

getting a certificate of readiness. In

2014, 7 of these temples received

approval and installed deities in 2014

along with an 8th temple that received

approval from an application that was

submitted in late 2013.

Work continues on “The Method of

Worship” and significant progress has

been made. We are looking for the

assistance of an experienced indexer to

bring this work to completion.

Installation / Commencement of Worship Procedure

Any center wishing to commence worship of new deities must get approval for this

worship. You will find relevant information for applying for a “Certificate of Readiness”

on our website: www.deityworship.com

The following information is under the Resources tab “Installing deities in ISKCON

centers:”

The relevant GBC Resolution

A document outlining expected worship standards and additional points to

consider prior to applying

Application request form http://deityworship.com/deity-worship-ministry-

resources/deity-installations