Who's that on the altar?
In the ancient Vedic scriptures of India it is said that God remains a secret for those who have no desire to know Him. For those who consider the existence of God to be mere sentimental imagination or intellectual laziness, He remains remote. But for those who consider that there may just possibly be a God, and are prepared to do some searching, He begins to provide all facility and guidance for that soul, both from within, and without.
God declares that He is knowable in three features, each progressively higher than the one before. To the mystics, who understand that all in this world is temporary, He is known as the eternal, all-pervading Brahman, the 'great white light', the sub-stratum of all that exists and the abode of spiritual freedom. To the inward-looking yogis, who wish see His transcendent form beyond the light, He reveals both Brahman and His eternal form - Paramatma, the 'Super-soul', resplendent and beautiful upon the lotus within the heart.
And finally, to those greatest saints who have persevered to the point when loving devotion manifests, He reveals His innermost form and personality as Krishna and with it, the entirety of the paravyoma or 'spiritual sky'. With our present conditioned eyes and ears we cannot approach God directly, but by walking the path of the great saints we too will one day come face to face with our eternal Friend and Well-wisher.
An important feature of that path is the contemplation on, and divine service to, the worshipable form of Sri Krishna. By seeing Krishna with our ordinary eyes we can awaken our inner eyes; and by performing practical, physical acts of devotion, we can arouse our dormant devotion.
A temple is a place where the individual spiritual practitioner, or groups of devotees, can go to see an installed murti or 'form' of Krishna. This form may be carved in white or black marble or granite, moulded in brass, bronze or other precious metals, carved in wood, or painted as a picture.
When Krishna appears in this form within the temple, it is understood that He has mercifully made His appearance simply to allow His devotees to serve Him. Devotees bring fruit, flowers, and other gifts; offer incense and candles, and clean the temple with their hands. They will offer prayers, songs, and attend collective acts of worship where many items are offered to the Deity and then shared with the worshippers.
All who visit say they experience great tranquility, relief and inner happiness, and leave the temple feeling renewed. Now let us introduce you to Sri Krishna and His incarnations Who grace the altar at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
| INTERESTING FACTS: The Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Gokulananda were installed in 1973 by Srila Prabhupada. Sita-Rama Laxman Hanuman were installed in 1981. During the course of a day the Deities clothes are changed twice, and six opulent food offerings are made to Them. |
| MORE RESOURCES: Click here to see the shrine at Bhaktivedanta Manor For more photos of the Deities at the Manor go to the Deity Photo Gallery Click here to listen to the Deity greeting song sung every morning at ISKCON Temples worldwide |
Copyright
© Bhaktivedanta Manor 2008
UK Headquarters of the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness
Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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