This was the first of the Janmastami/Radhastami combinations. It features pieces of which some are in both and others are in one or the other. Today it was mostly the Janmastami version. With garlands with calalilies in the center. Buy the end of the day some of the petals had condensed and left the string still they were quite nice.
Let me pedal through the fields, with the smell of poppies full of spring rain perfuming the air. Hey there were 28 days of rain out of the 31 in March. A record for that month at least in California. Still there was some good pedaling inspite of the weather challenge.
This evening the first remake of the the dress that was worn on September 11. The Bengalis at the Math were quite supportive of the American devotees in their midst after that day. Even though before they had been a bit aloof, after news of the day their attitudes changed to the friendlier.

Mahaprabhu's kirta has a million shinny mirrors. Plenty of way to see how it's tomorrow or just the end of time. The pale green with an equally light purple trim. Silver ribbon draws in silver ankle bells, crowns and flute. Yeah, lately things don't seem the same.
They call it stormy Thursday. And in the evening the drizzle began. i came up for the short way home and popped it neatly inside my (hahaha) Going Pedaling in the Storm.
Orange,purple and white. The colors in the dress tonight. Yeah, Krsna is a brahmacari and while they thought i was in my sleeping bag,i saw vraja kissing santa claus.

The papers all told me not to look straight on into the solar eclipse, but baba,that's what the fun is. Today was a solar eclipse as well as a dark moon day. So of course the honey bee dress was one two three four what the Deities wore. Giridhari's bracelets have bees on them while Gandharvika and Mahaprabhu have bee hives on theirs.
Faces were in full view today. The rain let up just long enough to get in a good ride. There was some fog on the way back up to the temple which made it extra hard but a good session allaround.
Green and orange tonight. Giridhari's coat has threads that if you look from one direction the look orange from another they look green. With the help of the apprentace the Deities got to bed a little early this evening.

Blue and gold. With peacock crowns and effulgences. Some people thought that there may have been a question about the tiny feather in Gandharvika's crown. But then i found some pictures of Math Deities in Vrndavana wearing the same crowns so they were allowed to fly. Hyacinth and rose garlands today. Simply wonderful. Since this is one of the early outfits it goes on just a little simpler and without so much effort.
Today i had to climb on my trusty trainer. 'cause the rain was taking this day to get in the tear in sky. The trainer went no where of course but there was still plenty of pedaling.
This evening's dress is a good one for these types of nights. It's thick and vevety like something you would wear on a winer night to stay warm without too much need for a wool chodder.

It's money that matters whatever you do. You know that it's true even if you're buying clothes for the Deities. The fabric in today's dress is excellent. The boarder is great. Inspite of that since there was only need of three dresses it didn't cost so much. The tailor didn't get a big payoff. So the dress wasn't made quite like the seamstress wanted and had asked it be done. Creamy with red sash and chodder for Mahaprabhu. Giridhari has mostly just the creamy colored silk with red chodder. Gandharvika has a red choli and skirt. Her veilis the creamy material. It's done well but just not what was really asked for. So the tailor said it's money that matters whatever you do, it's money that matters you know that that's true.
Rain again? That's what all the pedalers were asking today. So it was back to pedaling on the trainer. Where the rain wasn't formed of water and the wind didn't have a place to blow.
This evening of the greatful dvip saw that the hairdresser has been unable to get anyone to assist with the service for a few days now. Perhaps tomorrow. Giridhari's pants show that the patterrn has never really been refined enough. There's always a lot of folding and adjusting to get them to look right. hmmmmm.

The small Deities dress for today must have been made with the summer months in mind. Mahaprabhu and Krsna have vests instead of kirtas. Also their dhotis weren't made backwards. The garland maker today was very pleased that all the roses in Gandharvika's garland pointed up. The two in the center even lined up that way. The orange orange pleats in Gandharvika's skirt features some gold paisleys that contrast with the deeper gold sequins on the rest of her dress.
Along the beach and through the forest down to the town Back to the asrama by nearly the same route. After the rain of the week the pedalers turned out to take advantage of the dry and almost sunny day. What a ride. Perhaps the classiest of any i've ever had.
The red and creamy embroidered silk. The acordian chodder of Giridhari and the traditional dress of both of
Gandharvika and Mahaprabhu. Simply marvelous.

Shooting colors through the air, roses in her hair. Yes it was Ekadasi today. This dress has all the colors of the rainbow in it. One of the devotees made jewelry for this dress about a year ago using jari and beads. It came out so well that the former jewelry vanished and this set gets put on each time They wear this dress.
Wow,no rain in the afternoon today. So it was down round by the beach and "the village". Back up the hill over to the geese at pleasure point. Then over the bridge at the harbor right to the park and back to the asrama.
The most blessed event this evening. The garlands perfuming the altar. Gandharvika's, held in her hands, formed a heart which everyone likes a lot and hopes that when they make her garland she holds it that way.

Another dress that features a cape for Giridhari. Yellow with red jewels. From the strap around his neck there are strands of beads that are enough to make him look well turned out. Gandharivka and Mahaprabhu have crowns and effulgences but Giridhari's crown is so large that he doesn't have need of one. Most of the time the dress is made and then jewelry and crowns are picked to go with. This one is backward. The crowns were purchased a year or two before and the dress was made to match them.
The new bike arrived today. So pedaling was little limited also it was necessary to pedal between the rain drops. It all happened and is promising.
This evening the Dieties wanted tostay up a little late telling stories of their previous pastimes.

One unique thing about this dress is that Gandharvika's choli has the left sleeve sewn together and the right one is fastened each timeit is put on. This morning it reminded me of the fact that She is a left wing gopi. That is while others like Ruknini have a mentality that says "I am Krsna's" Radharani thinks "Krsna is mine!'
And it's that mood that kelps make Her relation more tasty for Krsna.
Up,down back and roundabout that's how i pedaled today. Through the town and by the beach. Past the Capitola wharf to rouse the dying city with a living cyclists' cry!
It's just a miracle that Gurudeva allows me to dress the Deities each night in such wonderful outfits. That's the name of this night dress. i dressed them and cooked the sweets simultaneously. Somebody said i must know when to hold them and when to fold them.........

Once again the Deities are in pink and green. Jewels hanging from the skirts of Gandharvika and Giridhari make this a shinny and tinkling outfit. A typical dress from other societies. Wigs were set so well today, no loose hair in their eyes.
Pedaling in anticipation of the new ride. Around the usual route down by the beach over near the twin lakes and sunny cove. The ducks and geese are out.i'm sure they enjoyed all the rain that's been lately.
O deer doe, the sorccerer's apprentace was sick this evening and so i dressed them up alone. It was quiet and fast. Gardenias brought by one devotee make the altar smell so nice. How the Deities must be enjoying like anything.

It's the red in this blue and silver outfit that makes it really scream. So if it makes you want to get up and scream, it must be "smoking hot". Who would be "smoking hot" other than an Urvasi? So that is the story of this dress' name. Today hyacinth flowers made the garlands very fragrant too. Quite a day.
On this day i pedaled a bike that may well replace the one that was taken last week. It seems to be pedal worthy enough and it made it through the rainy day test ride. So perhaps it will be the next one to pedal downt the road with me each day.
This evening i started to use the outfit from last week but by the prompting of the Lord remembered that the other dress was what he was going to wear this evening. So as it was written so it was done.

This was one of the early outfits. There weren't enough red ones for Monday.So even though this one is really more of an orange rust color and Gandharvika has a pale blue sari, i used it for a red dress. The wig stylist thought it strange but that's the only reason i could think of for today's amzaing technicolor dream chodder.
Rain, rain, and more rain today. Inspite of the fact that this is supposed to be the first day of spring, the weather was chilly and rainy. Still pedaling the older rig, i rode between the rain drops but got nowherre fast.
Since Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika both have blue in their dresses this one gets put on for Tuesday morning. Giridhari gets a creamy white coat and orange pants.

The color of the foam on ghee. That's how the seamstress describes the shade of this satiny outfit. There are rusty orange designs on the kirtas and Gandharvika's choli. The chodders, Mahaprabhu's sash and Gandharvika's veil are a brown with appliques of the color of the dress. The appliques on the veil have a tinkling like ankle bells. A very rich looking and feeling dress. Offered for Srila Govinda Maharaja's vyasa puja.
Pedaling wasn't as hard today. The wind wasn't remembering any names it had cried throught the past. A sort of tour the bike shops looking for the best price on a replacement for the recently departed.
In the ninth with the score tied, Srila Guru Maharaja appeared to deliver an ocean of nectar to those of us drying up. Giridhari in his long red coat and dhoti, Gandharvika wearing deep blue that appears almost purple. Mahaprabhu with a purple kirta, green pants and red sash and chodder. This was offered on the ninth day of the waning moon of kartik.

Sounds of laughter, shades of white and gold are ringing in my sudha ears inspiring and inviting me
unlimited, eternal bhava which shines around me like a million suns and calls me on and on across the universe. This outfit was made for vyasa puja last year and i call it across the universe because of the unspoken line that most people fill in "jaya gurudeva". Which is something everyone says in one way or other on Vyasa puja day.
Pedaling was slower and seemingly harder today. For one thing there was a substantial wind and for another, my older bike is heavier and takes more effort to pedal. Still it was a good day. Down to a shop to look at new bikes and then back round by the beach up to buy some fruit and milk for sweets. Then on to wake the Deities.
The evening's dress is simple to put on them. Gandharvika has deep blue with a red polo. Giridhari has a green and mulitcolored cumberbund. Mahaprabhu has a purple kirta along with green pants with a fusscia sash. The most blessed event, vyasa puja.

One year when Srila Govinda Maharaja visited he said that Srimati Gandharvika had come as a young Indian girl but now she's become an American. When the seamstress conceived of this dress she wanted to use a tierra for a belt for Gandharvika. When she found out that i decided to call it "Miss America" she just couldn't handle it. Anyway today the garlands had some kind of jasmine in them that looked impressive. And the dress is non the less very good.
Just enough day light and time to get in a little pedaling today even if it was on an old bike. But i only use the word addiction with a few members of my family.
Tonight was a quick dress night. Tell me lies the kind you can't disguise. If i had to explain the name of this night dress that's what i'd have to do.

Deep forrest green with black and silver grey. A very classy dress. Giridhari has elastic in the cuffs of his pants which makes them fit a lot better than the other pairs without. Gandharvika has silver grey pleats in the front of her sari. The sorccerer's apprentace says i'm writting the words to a story no one will read. It's true i respond. But that doesn't bother me. i like making stories of what, how and such of the Deities are dressed.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Today's pedaling was really good until i stopped in to buy some things for the Deities. When i came out my bike, lock and helmet were gone. i'm sure i locked them. Perhaps i didn't do it properly. At any rate Krsna took it from me today.
Purple and more kelly style green is the dress tonight. At least the Deities will see Saint Patrick's day in in green. i don't know if the rest of the day there will be any green. We'll all just have to wait and see.

Last night the Deities wore the same Nadiya Sasadhara that they wore today. Yesterday i asked the seamstress which crowns to use with it and she told me silver. But today when i dressed them i used gold ones. She liked it much better. Did anyone else notice if they looked different than yesterday? i just can't say
Pedaling down by the city college and then back round the beach through downtown and off to the natural bridge. A bit breezey but at least it stayed dry. There were joggers with mp3's jogging under the trees, a lady who picked up and carried her son, while a lonely one cried out for love but had none. The sea gulls watched all of this fun and i pedaled hard as i could to in time get done.
This evening the sorcerer's apprentace dressed the Deities by his own mental strength. Or so he said. Last night some one had made a necklace for Mahaprabhu butit could not be found. Then this evening as i picked up Gandharvika's skirt what to my drooping eyes should appear? The necklace that i'd thought couldn't be there.
Does Madhavendra Puri come to mind?

The Gaura Purnima day. A couple of years ago many people had come to celebrate the Lord’s appearance. A foreign student asked “was it really true that this was our Saint Patrick’s day?” The speaker said it was. That worked it’s way into the name of the outfit. This morning at the mangala arati the Saint himself led the kirtana. The temple president got locked out of his room while showering and had to come wearing a tee shirt and a green towel. In the morning the Deities wore last year’s outfit. Red yellow and mango. The color scheme was suggested by one of the young girls. That made that one called out of the mouths of babes.
The evening saw this year’s new dress. This one is a ganga-yamuna style that is silver and gold. So this one’s name will be nadiya sasadhara. because though the words seem to mean the white rabbit of nadiyathe translation given is “moon of nadiya”
Another dry day for us pedalers. From the asrama in the usual begining. But at brommer and seventeenth i took the right and went back to seventh. Up the usual way to a metaphysical bookstore to get some sandalwood oil to massage the Deities along with some metaphysical incense to offer Mahaprabhu for his appearance day.
Since the new dress was put on for the sandhya arati, the devotees asked that it be left on for the morning and the next day too. So at the end of the festival day i submited.

This dress has butterflies all over. As the seamstress described what each Deity would wear she said Mahaprabhu has green with a velvet coat and Giridhari has a white dhoti with multicolored jewels topped by a red velvet coat. As she began to describe Gandharvika's dress i thought to myself "please please don't say She wears bluuuuue velvet" butinspite of my inner request those were her very next words. This morning someone else came with a different song, goddess with the blue dress on. Wow, so many ways to see the many dresses of the Deities. Just like the Lord himself, each devotee will see them according to their own relationships.
The whole day was dry today. The pedalers were out to take full opportunity to make up for any lost time.
From the asrama to the cement boat to the natural bridge people pedaled in droves.
The grateful dvip on this night before Gaura Purnima. The temple was being decorated as i dressed Them tonight. It just happens to be at the time when the shamrocks are taking center stage in the mundane world so they've made their appearance in the temple decor. Of course there are flower garlands, beads and euculyptus leaves to fill in and make a very nice scene. There will probably be more tomorrow too.

The deep blue with green and red make this an especially beautiful dress for Gandharvika. The mango red of
Mahaprabhu’s kirta and pants are tradtional colors for Mahaprabhu. In the verse krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra parsadam yajnaih sankirtana prayar yajanti hi sumedhasah Mahaprabhu is described.”In this age of Kali, those who are intelligent perform the congregational chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in this age always describing, the glories of Krsna. That incarnation is yellowish in hue and is always associated with his plenary expansions and his personal expansions as well as devotees” and associates. Hearing one devotee speak on this verse he was trying to speak in a Bengali way and so he called the word “yellow” jellow. Perhaps the others hearing the speech probably didn’t unerstand why i burst into laughter. i just couldn’t not ask the question to myself ‘If Mahaprabhu is ‘jellow’what flavor is he?’ The answer would have to be ‘mango’ thus the color of this dress fits perfectly. Giridhari has yellow with colored jewels with a purple chodder and belt. Where the purple comes from, i just can’t say, but whatever it is it’s certainly put a spell on me.
The rain kept comming today. If i could capture the watts produced by the trainer i could probably power the temple for the afternoon. Still i keep on pedaling even in the face folks who would say i'm certifiable.
This evening the chinese silk, white boys smooth as milk, as is said in the play where i first heard the Hare Krsna mantra. It's simpler and simpler to put on after the Deities have worn this dress so many times. Yet it remains ever fresh as the Deities themselves.

The clouds are low and yesterday and today they brought hailand snow. Wow i thought that by now winter would have been gone. This dress is light and water color which seems more summer or spring. But the dragon flies can transport our consciousness to where the clouds overflow with cotton candy.
There was enough break to pedaloutside today. The roads were a might wet and gritty still it was good to be able to be outside.
The night dress was simple to put on and since the day clothes were also light and simple to take off the Deities were able to go into their night pastimes early.

The day of Sri Hari, ekadasi. With his broad cape and blue stars through the perilis storm. The gold plated belts were among the first things the devotees brought from India for the Deites. Giridhari's stands out against his deep blue sash while Gandharvika's is a little more lost in her multicolored veil.
Hail was the story of the day for pedaling. Rain, thunder and lighting too. Such a day surely required inside the barn pedaling. This winter just keeps comming. i think the old groundhog was right. Six more months of winter are on the way.
Oh no no no you can't disguise. The dress tonight is getting a little worn in a few places but only eyes such as those of a pujamainiac really sees that right now.

Follow the angles. That's the way out of here. Of course the angles are the pure devotees in our guru varga. Today the regular garland maker couldn't do the service so two others began to replace but it became four before the service was complete. When the choosen two finished, the sorccer's apprentace told them to hang the garlands on some hooks. One came untied and had to be redone. Finished right? Ha! That night the flowers settled and made them smaller than they first seemed. So the garlands had to be rearanged. Then while the sorccer's apprentace brought them in he broke another. So he had to make one to replace it. What was left of the original became a flute garland. Soon the apprentace finished and put things away. Mission accomplished right? No. That garland was so short that it had to be augmented. So i went out to the compost heap where i perchanced to find a field of daffoldills. i had our dog keep watch so i could pick some without the neighbhor dogs interfering. After all that the service was now complete.

Pedaling today was a prelude to tomorrow. A fresh wind blew against the asrama today. So chilly it was that i decided not to venture out but to stay in and pedal no where fast. Still i thought free, as the magnificent flying creatures overhead. This time i was viewing the Paris-Nice pedaling in my mind.. And the only one not pluged into the peleton was i who just wanted to pedalaway, but if the weather forcastsare true it'll be tomorrow before there's thin ice to cover the new day.
This evening the sorccer's apprentace has gone home so i quietly slipped the Deities into their i saw Vraja kissing Santa Clause.

There is always lots of excitement for the new dresses. This one seemed like a little more 'cause of all the work done on the peacock feathers. This one is also the only one in which Mahaprabhu has a bundi. Also Gandharvika has a few peacock feathers on her skirt. This was the first Gaura Purnima.
Today i pedaled even though i had to take my bike in for it's three month tune up. It was the usual trace around the twin lakes around by the bike shop around by the shoppers corner and then retracing the route back to the asrama with the bike singing on tune.
This evening's dress is the silver and mint green that Mahaprabhu has a short kirta and long skirt in. Also Giridhari's chodder is very very long. It made the sorcerer's apprentice laugh so much he.....

A royal blue for the queen of worshipers today. This is the color she chooses for herself. It is trimed with silver. Giridhari has yellow with gold buttons and some orange in the boarder. Mahaprabhu has mango orange. His chodder doesn't match. Gandharvika has a big blue stone necklace and a silver circle with a blue star as her jewelry.
The rain couldn't decide if it was here or not today. There was enough time between storms to get in enough pedaling outside. What a relief. The trainer has gotten it's fair share of use this winter.
The orange panel skirt for Gandharvika this evening. Giridhari has a vest and a sash. Mahaprabhu has a sash that's all the extra for him. All have earrings that were made for each of them for this dress.

One early dress. As i recall it was the first red one. Gandharvika has a long sleeve choli in this one. That only happens in a couple. This is the first dress that Gandharvika's veilis attached to the skirt. It's got two big peacocks on the polo. Giridhari has a waist coat that flairs a bit. Mahaprabhu has a red sash that's kind of unique to this dress.
Six of one today. i pedaled outside 'till the rain came today. i had to finish on the trainer. It was a warmish day due to the overcast but when the rain came so did the cold. Well, that's the way winter goes.
The same Monday night dress as always. The small Deities have the same night dress. They get changed in the afternoon as well as the morning and evening. The big Deities accept the service through them. That is the small Deities get bathed and the big Deities are bathed. The small ones are laid in bed and the big ones accept that and on and on.

"Orginally the absolute truth was one. Now they have separated themselves eternally for pastimes. They again have united. i bow down to He who is internally Krsna yet outwardly Srimate Radharani" This dress was a Gaura Purnima offering and just happend to work out that Gandharvika and Giridhari are in yellow and blue while Mahaprabhu is in green. This is the first dress that Gandharvika wears a sari like the real thing.
Raining so hard have to take cover
how many days have i pedaled inside?
Keeping my mind fixed on an ancient race
thought i saw the pyrness, but i could have been wrong
This evening's dress took the scraps of the 'tell me lies' outfit and combined them with some red to re emerge as an offering for Srila Guru Maharaja's appearance day,the ninth day of the waxing moon of Kartik.

Today the hiranya padma took center stage. The golden lotus with garlands that looked asif they were from the vanamali text book. That is the flowers look like they came from the forrest. From the old pattern because Mahaprabhu's left sleeve doesn't open. Also Gandharvika's choli is one piece too.
Pedaling was good today. Another day that could have either rain or a downpour. Fortunately for this pedlar neither one manifest.
This evening the most blessed eventis the dress. Another one that is simple one that goes on easily so the Deities didn't have to wait to enjoy their night time pastimes
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One,two,three,four ask me what the Deities wore. This dress was the first Janmastami offering. Are Giridhari's pants pink or red? The seamstress couldn't understand how i could even think they are red. They just are so much toward red i had no idea that they are any other color. This dress is so big that Giridhari's skirt looks as if he could use it in place of a parachute. Gandharvika's veil is a little short, almost like it wasnt' to be put on as a veil is with a sari. Mahaprabhu's dress is simple and plain. Since it's an early one the patern wasn't developed like it is now. The pattern has been fine tuned since and has evolved into what it is now by the process of elimination and a new acceptance.
After getting a divya bath today, that is being in the rain while the sun is shinning, i met up with Roy G. Biv. He didn't have a pot of gold but said that engagement in the mission of Guru Maharaja was streets above the mere pot of gold most folks hope for from Mr.Biv.
Oh no you can't disguise, this night dress came about by seeing it in the sewing room and reminding the seamstress that those colors should be made into a dress.

Today it's the bells on the next to last ruffle of Gandharvika's skirt that brought the name to this dress. Mostly green with just a bit of purple in the trim. This is a Radhastami offering. While Mahaprabhu came fashionably late that year, Gandharvika was there with bells on. Even though Radharani is very merciful on her appearance day we've always tried to be on time, clean and as close to the rules as possible for her service to her Lord.
Weatherman said that it would be a rainy day but it was quite sunny and mild. Into the night the rain did arrive. The afternoon saw pedalers comming out to try and steal some of the sunshine for pedaling. People that pedal 'cause the state took their driver's license, people that never learned to drive a car, folks that can't afford it next to those who want to train for the next big race but the kind that i like best are those who pedal just because they like to pedal. They haven't forgotten the joys of childhood.
A simple evening dress of various hues of purple that in spite of it's simplicity all flows together so well and so elegantly it's hard to believe that it was made for the day after Janmastami.

What a long kirta you have Mahaprabhu! That's almost like a tunic! With the belt and turban no wonder this dress is called 'Superstar'. Even though this one was a Gaura Purnima offering and got the name from the star on the bracelet of Mahaprabhu,the small Krsna has two pink stars on his dhoti. Sometimes it makes one wonder what the reaction would be if someone dressed like the Deities do.
What's the song being chanted while the Govardhana Silas are being bathed? First there's a verse from Srila Saraswati Thakura that says that Govardhana Hill has an even higher place than Vrndavana because Giridhari and Gandharvika have their pastimes of divine love there. The second is one that says that Gaura and Gadadhara become Kisora Kisori in their Vrndavana pastimes. That one is because Srila Sridhara Maharaja told me once that if i would meditate on Kisora Kisori, the Deities who i first worshiped, while i was doing the service here than they would accept the service through the Deities here. He said it would be like the story of Madhavendra Puri and his Gopal in Vrndavana who accepted the sandalwood offerings offered to Ksiracora Gopinatha in Remuna.
A second day of a bit of sun in the middle of the day and more pedalers were out. i went out twice even. First time downtown and second round by the beach to see if the sufferers were also out. Along with joggers and walkers they were.
This evenings dress is one which Giridhari's coat has thread that looks orange from one angle but green from another. It also has a line of brass buttons that make him a little like a military man.

Amavasya! The dark moon day. The honey bee outfit. Even the bracelets have bee hives on them. What's with Mahaprabhu's dhoti? Someone asked. It's like Giridhari's kick pleat. Was the answer. Giridhari has a bamboo flute he plays with this dress. It too has flowers and honey bees painted on it. Though we've been told not to dress the Deities in all or mostly black the back drop is just that, mostly black. A fine outfit.
The rain and wind let up just long enough to get some pedaling in today. They called it stormy Monday and Tuesday was just about as bad. There was mud and grime everywhere. All those who ventured out for pedaling were covered with it.
The velvet night dress. It seems like the Deities knew how cold it was going to be tonight and so made sure i put that dress on them. The right sleeve in Giridhari's coat fits just snugly enough to make it real difficult to put on him but still doable. Usually he makes me forget to put on the jewelry for his outfit and then watches as i try to correct my mistake but tonight he had me do it right the first time.