ISKCON Arcana Journal -1- The Beginning Days

The ISKCON Deity Worship Journal

Memories

The Beginning Days

An excerpt from the book ®r…la Prabhup€da and his Disciples in Germany

A˜aratha D€sa: When I looked in the temple room I realized that hardly anything was prepared for the installation. Not that I knew exactly what was needed for the ceremony, but I had heard that the Deities were bathed with milk and yoghurt and afterward a fire sacrifice was held. But I didn’t see any indication that these things were being prepared. I asked some devotees, but they didn’t even pay attention to what I said; they were busy talking to guests and taking care of the press and the TV crew. So I thought, ‘What to do? I have to phone ®r…la Prabhup€da. Something has to be done.’

Nanda-kum€ra, Prabhup€da´s servant, answered the phone... he gave me several instructions, especially that the Deities had to be wrapped in white cloth, and that we needed big containers for the bathing. So we got a bedsheet from the neighbours, which we tore into three parts, and some big pots from a nearby hotel.

Revat…nandana D€sa: When we arrived, ®r…la Prabhup€da smiled at the enthusiasm of his disciples, but his demeanour changed after he entered the temple room and looked around. "What is this? No fruits? No flowers? What are these pots that you want to bath the Deities in?" The anger in his voice made everyone freeze. I cannot bring the Lord of the Universe here. This is a farce! How can you think that with so little preparation Lord Jagann€tha will live in this place?" But after deliberating for a few seconds, he relented: "All right, go ahead. But I don’t think this is very nice. "

A˜aratha D€sa: Eventually Kior… came in with the fruits — a huge plate of fruit salad — and was promptly sent back to the kitchen. Some unbroken fruits were quickly brought, and Nanda-kum€ra began bathing the Deities. When he finished, he brought the Deities behind the curtains to be dressed.

Revat…nandana D€sa: When it was time to light the fire, I picked up the ladle for the ghee with my left hand, being left handed, and the wood with my right hand. When I realized what I was doing, I tried to switch the two quickly without anyone noticing it, but ®r…la Prabhup€da had already looked at me disapprovingly, as if to say, ‘My disciples — just see!’

A˜aratha D€sa: While all this was going on, Nanda-kum€ra and I were busy dressing the Deities behind the curtain of the altar room. When we finally put their Lordships on the altar, we realized that the canopy was too small, or rather the columns supporting it stood just in front of Jagann€tha and Baladeva. Nanda-kum€ra thought for a second and said, "We have to take it off". So we lifted the canopy off the altar. But where to put it? There was no room. We had to take it out, and there was no other way than to carry it through the packed Temple room over the heads of everyone. ®r…la Prabhup€da who was lecturing looked on with some surprise.

But now the temple room looked pretty empty. There was only the altar and a bare wall behind it. On one side, a large painting of Pañca-tattva leaned against the wall, and while looking at it, I had an idea. "Why don’t we put that behind the altar?" I suggested. "Great idea", Nanda-kum€ra said. But there was nothing to support the painting because the altar didn’t reach back to the wall. The only solution was to put something on the floor. So Nanda-kum€ra stuck his head through the curtains and shouted, "Bring books!" Heads turned in surprise. Because quite a few books were needed, a human chain had to be formed to pass the books to the altar. When the curtain finally opened, the arrangement looked quite acceptable, and Nanda-kum€ra performed the first €rat… for the Deities.