ISKCON Arcana Journal -1- Appreciating the Lord in His Deity form

The ISKCON Deity Worship Journal

Appreciating the Lord in His Deity form

by Yogevara D€sa

THE WAY IT WAS when I joined in London, 1969, we saw the temple Deities as our Friends. Everyone, without exception, chanted for an hour in front of R€dh€-London…vara. The energy was amazing. It was occasionally so strong we would start jumping and dancing - during japa.

We carried photos of Them, staged plays for Them and brought Them little gifts.

Anyone could make an offering to the Deities - maybe not on the altar, but people were always dropping in to offer a flower, lead a k…rtana (they started quick back then, melodic and meditative, full of inner feeling), read a chapter from KŠa book, doing any little thing for Their pleasure. We knew They liked it because they smiled. (I remember George Harrison dropping in for a k…rtana at Bury Place one day in 1970. Kicky.)

We would all gather in the evenings to put them to bed as the curtains slowly closed.

Excerpt from Prabhupadanuga, the Article: As It Was