Today the Deities are wearing white satin with yellow gold trim turban and rhinestone crowns
the shimmer before my darkend eyes like a millions rising at one time and calling me to leave this mundane universe
so as all the outfits, i've given this one a name, This one was offered last year on Srila Govinda Maharaja's appearance day so it's called across the universe.
Srila Sridhara Maharaja taught us thataffection is above all else and that everything in devotional service is based on affection. In the eleventh verse of the tenth chapter of Bhagavad-gita, He gives a unique translation saying that Krsna being conquered by the lovein the hearts of the pure devotees described in the preceeding verses, when they feeling the darkness of separation from him, he comes before them to say "here I am, see me here'. He says that once mother Saci had cooked Nimai's favorite dishes and began to cry saying "Nimai's favorite dishes and he isn't here to eat". Then for a brief moment through her tears she saw Nimai eatiing. Then she doubted herself saying "But Nimai is now a sannyasi in Puri how could he come here?"
Later he sent Jagadananda to Navadvipa with prasadam and news of his life for Sacidevi. Mahaprabhu told Jagadananda to tell Sacidevi not to doubt that vision, that he really did go there eat what she had cooked.
So important to have an affectionate relation with the Lord and his devotees.
One day i hope the devotees will bless me with enthusiasm for developing that kind of affection.
This evening the Deites wore red and cream colored Chinese silk, which is named the touch that kills for it was offered on one Nrsimha caturdasi, the cloth being given by Yudhamanyu Prabhu.

Where did Nityananda go?
Once Srutasrava Prabhu told me he was in kirtana where the devotees were chanting "Gaura Nityanada bol haribol haribol. He said one of the participants was chanting "Where'd Nityananda go I don't know I don't know
Today someone came to the temple and asked that very question. i answered that since Radha and Krsna are also on the altar Nityananda Prabhu can't be there along with Mahaprabhu. That's because Radha and Krsna arein the madhurya rasa and Gaura Nitai are in the sakhya rasa. The madhhrya rasa is antagonistic to the sakhya rasa. So since Mahaprabhu is Krsna trying to taste the love that Srimati Radharani tastes in her relation with him,Mahaprabhu is also madhurya and so can be there. So where did Nityananda go? i don't know. But that is as much explanation as i could give.
the outfit the Deities wore today was offered on Radhastami a few years back. The devotees kept asking what i named this one. It took a while and then when i was putting it on Them, Vidura pointed out to me that there are bells on Radharani's skirt. "That should inspire you" He said, and it did,i named it 'She'll be there with bells on'. This evening They are wearing one which Radharani's skirt looks like a sari one of the devotees used to wear. Mahaprabhu's dhoti is pearly white. It was offered at this time of the year, for Srila Guru Maharaja's appearance day. Krsna's clothes are orange with purple trim. So there are two choices of names. One is from a story that the gopis had to cross the Yamuna once. Krsna had told them to go and serve Durvasa Muni. They asked how to cross the river since there wasn't a boat or a bridge. He told them to say "Krsna is a brahmacari" Since brahmacaris usually wear orange that was one choice. The other was a little more seasonal. By the time Guru Maharaja's appearance came around that year Christmas songs were already being played. So the second choice is"i saw Vraja kissing Santa Claus"

i've offered arati to the Lord for thirty years or more
butreallyi've justlaughed and joked and fractured slokas
and pedaled miles by the score.
Bathed and dressed the deitiesin the morning, afternoon aw well as evening too.
Monday is red
Blue on Tuesday
Wednesday is pink
Thursady brings green
Friday is purple
Saturday is white
and Sunday is gold.
Each day has a color, those who taught me say.
Heep toit very steadily and attraction and affection willgrow day by day.
The practionor for the Lord and the Lord for His own