Gaur Nitai Deities have finally appeared in Newtown. Grand installation ceremony of Sri Sri Gaur Nitai Deity was celebrated in Kolkata from 19th May 2002 to 22nd May 2022.
Sri Sri Gaur Nitai Deities have finally appeared in Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata. Grand installation ceremony of Sri Sri Gaur Nitai Deities were celebrated in Newtown, Kolkata from 19th May 2022 to 22nd May 2022.
HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Prem Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Vijay Bhagavat Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Dayita Adi Purush Swami Maharaj, HG Sankarshan Nitai Prabhu, HG Sankarshan Prabhu (ACBSP), HG Samba Prabhu, HG Hrimati Mataji (ACBSP), HG Atul Krishna Prabhu, HG Prem Harinam Prabhu, HG Sundarvar Prabhu and thousands of devotees participated in this wonderful ceremony.
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Maharaj, HG Dayaram Prabhu attended the ceremony virtually.
HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj and HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj named the Deities Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga.
The installation ceremony started on 19th May 2022 in the morning.
Below is the brief description of the installation ceremony:
Important Events during Gaur Nitai Deity Installation
*19th May, 1st day -*
8.00 AM : Acharya Anujna, Vishwaksena puja, Vasudeva Punyah-Vachan
- Acharya Anujna: In Acharya Anujna, Temple Council Members, HG Acharya Ratan Prabhu, HG Prem Swarup Prabhu, HG Anant Bhagavan Prabhu, HG Sri Nitai Prabhu, HG Anand Vardhan Prabhu and the Pujaris – HG Vrindavan Chari Prabhu and HG Sri Ram Raghav Prabhu – and Purushottam Goyal Prabhu who sponsored the installation ceremony took a vow to serve the deities as long as they are given the service.
- Vishwaksena puja: Vishwaksena, is the commander-in-chief of the army of Lord Vishnu. He is the gatekeeper and “chamberlain” of Vishnu’s abode in Vaikuntha. He is worshipped before any important temple festival which is held as part of Pancaratra temple traditions.
The priest who will oversee installation ceremony was also selected. HG Seva Atulya Prabu who serves in GBC deity worship ministry was selected as the priest for the ceremony. He was assisted by other priests.
9.00 – 10AM : Yajna Shala Pravesh Puja
Yaga Shala- Kalash Sthapana and Aradhana
10.00AM – 12 P M : Vaishnava Homa
*Evening session*-
6.10 PM : Sankalpa
6.20 PM : *Netronmilan Darshan (Opening of the Eyes)*: Deities were requested to open Their eyes.
Touching the Deity’s right eye with the stick dipped in honey, the priest chanted the following mantra,
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who protects the demigods with an army that manifests from His body, is very dear to them. Surya, Varuna, and Agni are like His eyes. He is the Supersoul, dwelling in all things and beings, both animate and inanimate in the universe. He pervades the higher planets, the Earth and space.” (Rg – veda 1.115.1, (Sukla – Yajurveda 7.42)
Touch the Deity’s left eye with the stick dipped in ghee, the priest chanted the following mantra,
“The Lord, the eye of knowledge, the primeval cause, the well-wisher of the devotees, is eternally situated in the supreme position. May we see the Lord for a hundred autumns. May we rejoice in the Lord for a hundred autumns. My we enjoy with the Lord for a hundred autumns. May we exist with the Lord for a hundred autumns. May we hear of the Lord for a hundred autumns. May we praise the Lord for a hundred autumns. May we be undefeated by demoniac elements for a hundred autumns. So that we may see the effulgent Lord eternally.” (Sukla – Yajurveda 36.24), (Rg – veda 7.66.16.)
Curtains were opened to give darsana of the Gaur Nitai Deities to the assembled devotees. Along with kirtana and blowing of conch shells auspicious items were shown to the Lord such as cow, young Virgin girls (nicely dressed and decorated with all ornaments etc like gopis) carrying Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Tulasi plant, Bhagavad Gita etc.
6.30 PM: Vandapana (showing of different auspicious articles)
The deities were shown different auspicious articles.such as
- Earth from Yamuna, ganga, mayapura, dwaraka
- sandal paste with saffron
- Rice Paddy
- Durva Grass
- A bowl of Fragrant Flowers
- Swastika
- Rochana
- Gold jewelry
- Silver jewelry
- Copper utensil
- 2 Silver lamps, lighted (very small vilakku) etc
These auspicious items were shown to the deities by HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharaj, HG Atul Krishna Prabhu and other dignitaries.
7.30 PM : *Sayana Adivasa* (Placing the deities in an auspicious bed).
Sayanadhivasa (resting in the bed) invokes the spirit of sleep into the Deity for invoking presence of the Lord as well as the ability to bestow auspiciousness on the devotees.
Sayana – mandapa was made in the temple hall. A new bedding with lace curtains were prepared for the Two Lords. Lamps were lit around the bed. A camara, fan, umbrella, mirror, jewels, and herbs were offered to the Lord and placed next to the bed. Six types of eatables, six types of juices, and sweet rice, milk, honey, ghee, fruit, cooked rice and other items were placed around the bed while chanting mantras.
*20- 05- 2022 Friday*
*2nd day . Morning session*-
6.00 AM: Jagaran (waking up the deities): Priest went to the sayana – mandapa where the deities were sleeping, and woke Them up by touching Their feet, ringing bell and chanting mantras.
7.00 -8.30 AM: Nyasadi Homa
9.00-10 am onwards: Maha-Abhisheka (Bathing the Lord):
With the chanting of the mantras and the kirtan, Nitai Gauranga were bathed with following auspicious items
- Pancagavya Snana: Bathing the Lord with Milk, Yogurt, Ghee, Cow Urine, Cow dung.
- Pancamrta Snana: Bathing the Lord with Milk, Yogurt, Ghee, Honey, Sugar Candy Water
- Usnodaka Snana: Bathing the Lord with warm water.
- Sarvausadhi Snana: Giving herbal bath to the Lord.
- Mahausadhi Snana: Second herbal bath.
- Mangala Snana (auspicious bath): Bathing the Lord with water mixed with padmakam, rocana, durva, darbha, jatipuspa and kundapuspa.
- Bijastaka Snana (eight seed bath): Bathing the Lord with water mixed with eight seeds: barley, wheat, wild rice, sesame, millet, rice paddy, panic seed and rice which grows in sixty days.
- Ratnodaka Snana: Bathing the Lord with jewel water.
- Puspodaka: Bathing the Lord in flower water.
- Phalodaka: Bathing the Lord in fruit water.
- Gandhodaka Snana (scented water bath): Bathing the Lord in water with scents such as musk and aguru.
- Gandha (sandalwood): Smearing the Lord’s body with sandalwood pulp.
- Candanodaka Snana (sandalwood water): Bathing the Lord in water mixed with sandalwood paste.
- Sahasra dhara snana : Bathing the Two Lords with pure water showered from a “sahasra dhara” (a round tray with holes in the bottom.
- Kalasa Snana (waterpot bath): Bathing the Lord with water from eight kalasas.
Prana Pratishta: Prana Pratishta of Nitai Gauranga performed from 11.40 am – 11.55 am.
This ceremony is performed to formally request the Lord to be present in His arca – form to accept the daily worship of the devotees. Prana Pratistha is performed by meditating on the Lord entering the Deity from one’s heart, while touching the Deity’s heart holding durva grass and white rice between the thumb, middle and ring fingers chanting mantras.
Prana Pratishta of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga was performed by HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj and other senior Iskcon leaders and pujaris.
Raja – bhoga was offered to the Lord after Prana Pratishta and then the curtains were opened for Darsana and first Sringar Arati.
Devotees were eager the see the beautiful Nitai Gauranga for the first time on the altar.
Cultural Programs & Other Attractions
During the Gaur Nitai deity installation ceremony beautiful cultural programs were also held. Devotees and many acclaimed artists participated in it. Dance, drama, devotional songs enthralled the assembled devotees.
Every day around 10000 people came for Gaur Nitai Deity installation ceremony and also to participate in various cultural programs. Prasadam was free for all. Kirtan continued throughout the four-day event.
Different attractive stalls were set up like Annakshetra stall, Gauranga’s food corner, Book stall, Go Puja and Aarti stall etc.
Most Merciful Lords have appeared
All the devotees feel extremely fortunate that Gaur Nitai have finally appeared in the Iskcon Newtown temple. Everyone feel blessed. Gaur Nitai is very merciful and all the devotees hope that the Two Lords will shower Their unlimited mercy upon them.
Locana Dasa Thakura in a song beautifully explain the mercy of Gaur Nitai.
parama karuṇa, pahū dui jana
nitāi gauracandra
saba avatāra-sāra śiromaṇi
kevala ānanda-kanda
The two Lords, Nitai-Gauracandra, are very merciful. They are the essence of all incarnations. The specific significance of these incarnations is that They introduced a process of chanting and dancing that is simply joyful.
