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April 2004

Installation of Pancha-Tattva deities in Sridham Mayapur

Hare Krishna Friends,

I hope you have all coped with the long winter OK, and are in the mood of spring. There was a monumental celebration in ISKCON's headquarters in Mayapura last month, as the Panca Tattva Deities for the large temple to be built were installed. This is very significant as Lord Chaitanya is the avatara for this yuga and his abode of Navadvipa Dham is overflowing with mercy for the fallen conditioned souls of this age. We can perform sadhana bhakti for many lifetimes but until we realise that progress is made by the mercy of the spiritual master and The Lord we have not made much advancement.

Just after the installation I received an e-mail from a god brother about the event which I would like to share with you:

"Sri Sri Panca Tattva have finally advented Themselves in life-size forms, that was the culmination of 9 years of intense work for certain devotees.

I can just share my personal feelings as I cannot know those of others. I never experienced such emotions while gazing at deities before. Lord Visvambhar is extremely powerful, His arms are huge and extended apart. He can easily embrace the whole universe. His complexion is of molten gold. A feeling of intense protection exudes from Him enticing us not to worry, He is here.

Lord Nityananda on the right of Gauranga casts one of His immense arms down inviting us to the eternal dance with Lord Chaitanya, the other arm is raised very high in glorification of Lord Krishna. Amazingly enough, His complexion is slightly reddish as in reality.

Advaita Acarya prabhu at the far left is tranquil, His huge exquisite drawn out eyes full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

Lord Gadadhara on the left of Mahaprabhu is gorgeously delicate, almost more feminine than the other members of Sri Panca Tattva. He shares with Lord Chaitanya the same degree of golden hue in His complexion whereas Advaita Acarya and Srivas Thakura are slightly whiter. Gadadhara shares the reversal order of the arms of Lord Nityananda so that it creates a marvelous arc from the upper raised left arm of Lord Nityananda.

Srivas Pandit on the far right clearly draws his physical strength from His deep humility(He has very powerful shoulders),His hands are folded firmly, His head slightly tilted on the right inviting bus again to leave this material tabernacle forever.

Despite these above-mentioned respective features of each member an overall impression of boyhood emanates from all their bodies (nava yauvana).

It's clear to many devotees that these deities are going to revolutionize the whole world or at least that of our movement. They obviously want us to accelerate our self absorption in KC and our active preaching involvement as well because the mercy has become so huge now. We ought to reciprocate accordingly. They also bring a sense of confidence and of close proximity with our practical process and it's outcome: the reunion of the lost jiva back in the midst of these 5 great Personalities. No mortal frame can remain insensitive in front of that Sri Panca Tattva.

I really believe these deities are the full manifestation of mercy that ISKCON needs so that its devotees at large become empowered to spread vigorously Their Sankirtan movement.

Your servant Madhavendra Puri dasa"

Become part of the Golden Age of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by linking with the devotees who are spreading The Lord's Holy Name around and experience the mercy and bliss of Gauranga. By telling others about this special mercy we really feel connected with the Supreme Lord. Srila Prabhupada created a house in which the whole world can live.

Your servant Minaketanarama dasa

H.H. Sridhara Swami left his body in the early morning of Sunday 14th March surrounded by devotees chanting Hare Krishna in the temple in Mayapura. He had been ill for many years and could hardly speak due to pain at the end. He performed service for ISKCON for over 30 years, spending many years in the temple at Juhu beach, Mumbai as temple president. He was always very enthusastic about performing service and visited Bhaktivedanta Manor many times including the 30th Anniversary of Radha Gokulananda festival last year. He also did a programme for the Bristol Nama Hatta Group in Nailsea in 1996.