Ashrama Events 2005 - Sri Narasingha Caitanya Matha

2005 [May-July] — Jagannatha Ratha-yatra, Appearance of Lord Narasinghadeva, Candana-yatra, Appearance of Srila Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami.

See Events Index below for more events from 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 & 2000.

July 2005

Sri Jagannatha Ratha-yatra
In commemoration of Lord Jagannatha’s Ratha-yatra festival in Puri-dhama, the devotees at Sri Narasingha Caitanya Matha dressed Patita-pavana Jagannatha in a beautiful sringara and decorated Him with many garlands.

Throughout the day, Indian National Television gave a live broadcast from Puri of the event, so all the asrama devotees assembled in the library to take darsana of Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra as they were carried to their chariots by their servants.

At midday a feast was offered to the Deities and honored by the devotees. The feast consisted of Khajas, sweet-dahl, paneer-butter masala, cauliflower and cheese subji, cauliflower and potato subji, papaya subji, tossed salad, rice, sambar, cake, puris, sandesa, struddle, sikharini juice, nimbu-pani, and sweet-rice.

In the evening there was a reading of the Lord’s Ratha-yatra pastimes from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta by Bhakti Vijnana Giri Maharaja.

Additional information & photos of Jagannatha Puri

Jagannatha Deity Darsana

May-June 2005

Sri Narasimha Jayanti
Devotees at Sri Narasingha Caitanya Matha along with congregation members from Mysore, Mandya and Bangalore celebrated the appearance of Lord Narasimha on Sunday 22nd May.

In the morning Srila Narasingha Maharaja spoke from the Fifth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam on the prayers offered to Lord Narasimha by the residents of Jambudvipa.

Later on, the dry sandalwood that had covered Yoga-Narasimha during Candana-yatra was removed. Then Srila Narasingha Maharaja bathed the Deity of Vira-Narasimha and the salagramas with pancamrta followed by candanodaka (water mixed with sandalwood, camphor and saffron). Next, the Deity of Yoga-Narasimha was bathed in different colored milk, scented water and flower-water. After the bathing ceremony, Yoga-Narasimha was decorated with flowers and Sripada Visnu Maharaja offered arati as Srila Narasingha Maharaja led kirtana.

All devotees honored the prasadam of the Lord and were given maha-prasada candana from the transcendental body of Yoga-Narasimha.

Candana-yatra at Govindaji Gardens
This month the festival of Candana-yatra begins. During the summer season in India, the Lord is covered with sandalwood paste to cool Him. At Narasingha Caitanya Matha, the pujaris applied colored sandalwood to Madhava and Yoga-Narasimha and painted designs on Their bodies.

Later, Srila Prabhupada was offered maha-prasada candana from the Deities and all the personal Deities of the sannyasis were also covered in candana.

Appearance of Srila Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami
Sunday 8th May saw the holy appearance day of Srila Gadadhara Pandita. At Govindaji Gardens in the morning, Visnu Maharaja's Deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhara were brought to Jagannatha Temple and bathed with pancamrta while the devotees led by Srila Narasingha Maharaja performed hari-nama sankirtana. After the abhiseka ceremony Srila Narasingha Maharaja spoke briefly to all the devotees about the pastimes of Gadadhara Pandita and his unique role in Gaura-lila.

Later in the evening, Srila Visnu Maharaja also spoke to devotees and guests on Gadadhara-tattva and the Audarya-lila of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.