Monday, February 27, 2006

Rust,green and teal are the main colors in today's dress. Then there is Giridhari's amazingly colorful chodder. Garlands today were petal with some whole roses and Giridhari's had two big almost daisy like flowers. Both Mahaprabhu and Giridhari had necklaces made for this one.Gandharvika only had earrings. This is the first sari where Gandharivika's veil is attached to the skirt. This morning the seamstress for the small Deities came to fit a skirt. Except for being much too long it fit excellently.
Pedaling betweent the multiple showers today was hard but not impossible. The ducks were in ecstacy. They even got out of the way of the brave few pedalers who were out today. i only went by the bike shop and then back by the beach along the beach. Then i saw the rain on the way so i made for the asram as fast as my dui cakra ratha would take me.
Even though tomorrow is the amyavasa the Deities don't have a night dress for that day. No no i can't disguise, the one and only night dress made for Monday night.
Creamy white with red along with little bits of teal throught, this was a Janmastami dress of a few years ago. The first one made in Vrndavana and sewn together here. Greater societies do that a lot but because they have more Deities and more to put out for a dress theirs are much more oppulent than this. The garlands for this one are tamer than yesterday. They look more planned with more symetry like ones that might be professionaly done. Each day's are spectacular in their way.
Oooooooh the rain has returned. A day to pedal the nowhere bike. Nothing to see, nothing to say, just the holes in the walls, the gap in the door and things hanging from the rafters.
The most elegant chinese silk outfit for the night's dress. In Navadvipa, when the devotees there heard that here the Deities have "pajamas",they asked "why do they need pajamas? They go out dancing at night?" And i don't believe they know what these dresses look like

Saturday, February 25, 2006

"Look at the garlands!" That's what the first couple of people to see the Deities today said. There were Iris,Fusscia, roses, carnations. Giridhari's went around and under his left arm warpping around his right foot. It followed the curve in his stance. There were as many colors as there were flowers. That showed nicely against his yellow dress. Mahaprabhu's deep blue and Gandharvika's red-purple also made the garlands stand out. One said to anothe, "this is one you haven't seen yet" But it was a janmastami offering of a couple of years ago. "Well, it just looks so good, it's like I haven't seen it before" Krsna is the supreme hypnotist.
A more overcast day today. The pedalers were dressed in case of rain, but still they were out in force. Down by the beach two dogs chased each other from opposite sides of the street. One was big enough to make me take care that i not get in between them so they wouldn't come after me.
In the evening, the dress was simple enough that the Deities didn't have to wait so long for me to put it on them. Purple, green, gold and fusscia for Mahaprabhu. Giridhari has fusscia,green with a purple comberbund. Gandharvika is deep blue almost purple,with a fusscia polo.

Friday, February 24, 2006

She's like a rainbow, comes in colors everywhere. The seamstress tried to get in every color she could think of in the outfit. She did a good job of it. It's the old pattern which doesn't fit quite as well as the newer ones but it's still a very good dress.
Pedaling through the town today i saw some folks putting the finishing touches on a bank building. They were carrying in an automatic teller machine. Then i went on down by the beach where i saw the suffers getting some rides in the wonderful afternoon. Then up by the natural bridges and back up to the temple. Spring is back in the air for the next few days.
Tonight's dress is the usual Friday night. With the peacock crowns and effulgences. This evening there were lots of flowers so the garland bowl filled quickly.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Are you comming to the Seva Asrama? Is the arati starting on time? This dress is made of black and deep forrest green with a crystal bead fringe. One of the most elegant outfits they have. So fine and well designed.
Another wonderful day for cycling. As i pedaled past a theater near a bicycle shop i saw a man changing the sign for the next attraction. He hadn't started so i didn't see the new one. Still the beach and other usual haunts were full of people trying to take advantage of the better weather. In Monterey people waited all day to get a sight of the cyclists in the Tour of California. After such a long wait the sight lasted only about thirty seconds before they wizzed past.
This evening the dress was another NrsimhaCaturdasi dress. Green and purple. First they wore it on Wednesday night but since it looked to be more purple it moved to Thursday night.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

The backward dhoti outfit today. A Nrsimha Caturdasi offering. Today it had the usual jewelry the white and orange beads, Mahaprabhu had a strand of red and orange. Giridhari had a plain white strand while Gandharvika had a choker of red green and white along with a strand of fresh water pearls to go with the white and orange beads. Dollars and diplomacy have fallen sloppy dead for sure.
Today the tour of California came through. The rest of us just pedaled in their dust. i pedaled so long that i had to use a light again this evening.
The dress tonight is green and silver. Some silver glitter came off and got on to the altar and on my own clothes too.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Today's is a dress of the original pattern. Simple and beautiful. Today i put different jewelry. Some dresses have jewelry that i put on each time the outfit goes on. But this one doesn't and i don't remember ever using this combination of jewelry with this dress.
A very nice day for pedaling. Pedalers are returning to their rides. It was a wonderful ride today. The usual route but it seemed faster and fresher.
Tonight the Deities were back on Their usual schedual. The orange, Gandharvika wears a pannel skirt, the first one made for her.

Monday, February 20, 2006

his dress was first called simply red and purple as i may have already said. Then those who had taken the position of a hair dresser weren't quite sure of the names of the outfits. So the seamstress tried to simplify by writing the colors of each outfit . Then following that i tried to continue. With each new dress i’d write the name and then the colors. Calling it a dictionary i said the first few were written by danielle webster and the rest were written by the devil himself. that still didn’t solve the problem. So i began posting pictures of each day’s dress. So then the former name of this dress vanished and it became known as the evil Muni and Yudhisthira
Pedaling today was quite good, crisp and cool. A divided session. first around the usual trace. From the asrama down through the hospital parking lot to the farm fresh to the market and back. Then down by the beach quickly returning for the arati.
This evening with the cold back the chodderes remain. A greateful Monday night that sees the Deities ready for an early night.

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Purple, silver and a bit of gold. Giridhari starts with silver ankle bells and works up to a silver crown. Mahaprabhu has a choker that has several different strands of beads. Gandharvika has silvr and purple jewelry along with a ganga-yamuna belt. She has a panneled skirt that scallops. Her choli features laced sleeves along with straps that cross in the back.
Pedaling through the dark clouds and still somewhat wet roads was chilly chilly fun. A few are getting back out.
Tonight the weather is dictating the return of the chodder. The rain and wind have chased away all the springlike weather that was here last week. This dress is made from remanents of a previous outfit. When this once upon a Gaura Purnima dress was taken apart,one section became a different night dress. Then for some months these pieces sat in the sewing room. Near Guru Maharaja's appearance our seamstress decided to make a night dress and this how it came out.
Today's dress with it's cramy beige, orange chodders and boarders, along with flowers made of ribbons is called, asi have said before, hiranya padma. That is the golden lotus. Offered on Radhasatami, today is the appearance day of one who can cut down the pride of a golden lotus and the representitive of Srimate Radharani, Srila Saraswati Thakura. He was a very revolutionary figure in the line of Mahaprabhu. Likewise this outfit stands unique.
Pedaling today, was once agian done between the rain drops. The cold has been notable and all the natives think it as bad as it gets. Still a brave few do get out to show that we'll pedal through the pleasure and the pain, through the sun and through the rain. With big smiles or with tears we'll go on for all our years.
Tonight the Deities were tired it seemed for they had me dress them in less than an hour. Which was good since it was quite late.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Today Giridhari has a purple coat with yellow dhoti and chodder. With this one he wears the short crown along with a peacock feather effulgence. Mahaprabhu wears green with purple chodder and sash. Topped with a gold crown, his necklaces are deep green and white. Gandharivika has a blue sari with ganga-yamuna designs. She wears a similarganga-yamuna belt. One of Her necklaces is red with a heart in the center. The second is blue and white with blue stones in the center that are in the shape of tiger’s claws. Her crown is silver and red with deep blue accents. A new hair dresser started today. Good enough and i’m sure there will be improvement in time. And why did the swami and i keep laughing at each other during mangala arati?
The rains are back. Today there were several showers followed by clear and almost sunny streaches. i had to pedal between the rain drops again today. many fewer pedalers out there today due to the change in the enviornment. But still a good enough day to get in some quiet miles.
Another Friday night. This is the night before a holiday so there is much decorating going on in the temple itself. Preparations for a big offering are begining in the kitchen. Dressing the Deities has much background noiseto listen to.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

To get to Krsna and his dhama and entourage you have to "follow the angeles". This dress of green, yellow, red jewels and a gold and black polo was offered for the appearance day of our topmost guardian angel in 2002. Mahaprabhu has a skinny chodder and belt of yellow while his dhoti and kirta are green. Giridhari's dhoti and coat are yellow with red jewels and a thick green belt. Gandharvika has a yellow choli, green sari with a black polo. Well made and great looking.
Pedaling today was still cold but sunny. Around the beach to the natural bridges back past the boardwalk over the railroad bridge and back up to wake the Deities and view long range plans for Their asrama.
An outfit that is purple and orange with a white dhoti for Mahaprabhu. As the story behind the name of this night dress indicates, it doesn't matter what the rules of physics say, what Krsna the supreme hypnotist, says gores.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

The dress today is lime green and very hot pink. Giridhari's chodder and Gandharvika's skirt have hanging on the edges. Gandharvika's skirt has ruffles with them. They wore gold chokers with matching earrings. Mahaprabhu has a green kirta with gold. These seem to be the Indian's favorite colors 'cause so many times when they give cloth to the Deities it is in these colors.
i began pedaling after i woke the Deities this afternoon. So it got dark. The wind has gone but it took the warm temperatures with it. When i returned my cheeks looked as if i were sunburned. In the dark things seem so much quieter. But it's fun to pedal around in the dark sometimes.
This evening the clothes are of a cloth that when held one way looks orange and a different way it looks green. The sorcerer's apprentice said as he looked at each piece how much he'd like to have it for his oun. A funny night indeed.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Today's was a Janmastami outfit so Giridhari had more jewelry made for Him than Mahaprabhu and Gandharivka, but Mahaprabhu's kirta had so much beading on it that it seemed as if it could have been a Gaura Purnima dress. Gandharivka's dress is also has a lot of work on it so as she won't feel leftout.
A little cooler than recent days but still nice pedaling today. The usual trace down by the beach and the twin lakes. Ducks and geese cross the road honking and flapping their tiny wings and waddling as fast as they can.
Another greatful Monday night dress. One of the many with all three in different colors. Mahaprabhu has blue, Giridhari has orange pants with a cream color coat while Gandharvika has blue and orange geometric shapes on her simple skirt,choli and veil.
Tueday sees the light blue like that of the temples in India. Once the asrama was painted that color. The painting store called it "heavenly cloud". Trimed with silver and red some say it looks almost red white and blue. Hahahaha.
A fresh wind blows against the empire today. Pedaling was as if going up hill the entire way. Still many pedalers were out to take the air. The ducks of yesterday were staying on the beach though and not being so bold as to brave the traffic.
This evenings dress is of an orange hue for the devotees will see it on Wednesday morning when the Deities wear pink or orange. That way it fits the color scheme of the day. A heart enchanting day for sure

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Mahaprabhu’s chodder is different on each side. The seamstress wondered if anyone would ever notice. So far no one has. The blue jewel on Ghandharvika’s chest had the chain supporting it break and took sometime to repair. Krsna wore different jewelry than usual with thus dress. An old dress with some new twist.
A morning and afternoon pedaling today. If one won't do then try two. The spring like days encourage to pedal as often as possible. In the morning down by the tennis and basketball courts. Then along the beach. Afternoon nearly the same in reverse order. Then back for the Sunday program.
This is the night before the purnima. There isn't a special dress. The Chinese red and cream embroidered with flowers. Giridhari has an accordian chodder. Gandharvika's skirt seems a bit off center to me but what do i know?

Saturday, February 11, 2006

"there she is,Miss America" Mahaprabhu in smokey blue and silver, Krsna is deep purple coat with lighter purple dhoti, Gandharvika is in a white sari with multi colored flowers embroidered. Krsna plays his silver flute that came from Vrndavana. The silversmith had not heard of making a flute with an elephant's head on one end so he had to make a mold especially for this one. Parvat Maharaja telephoned from Navadvipa to remind one of the devotees to be sure and remember. The devotee in Vrndavana that took the message said they were to bring dried fruit and sweets to last a year. hmmmmm. We still laugh about it.
All along the beach board walk sufferers keep the view. While all the pedalers come and go skateboarders too.
This evening's dress was offered on the day of Vyasa puja, the most blessed event

Friday, February 10, 2006

Krsna's skirt and chodder were flying today. It was in the tradition of another world. Must have been the arrangement of Prabhu Nityananda that the maker of this dress was here for his festival this evening. A simple, yet beautiful outfit.
Pedaling today began in the warm sunshine but ended in the chilly fog. The usual run by the beach up to the downtown and back home back to the asrama and the celebration of Nityananda Prabhu
Tonight the Deities were dressed twice. Once to fit the dress for Gaura Purnima and the other time in their night dress. They just must have wanted to celebrate that little bit more.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Teal, fushcia, and a little gold. Those are the colors of today's dress. One of the first outfits that Mahaprabhu's kirta opens along his left arm instead of down the front. Garlands made by three different people today. They all looked the same yet had their own personality at the same time. Giridhari's earrings came from Brazil. Quite colorful and big. Somehow though they seemed to go with the dress.
Today was even a little hot. As i went along the usual path by the beach the other pedalers i saw were in short sleeves and shorts. No sign of warm winter gear. Down by the post office i saw someone pushing a shopping cart while talking on a cell phone. Hmmmmmmmm. Once agian my old friend darkness came to talk with me. Ah, but i was better prepared this evening. i had a small light in my pack and so avoided being blinded by headlights along with the hassle i would get from the po lice.
The outfit they wore this evening was made so fast that it was a miracle. Made on Janmastami day for Srila Prabhupada's appearance day which is the next day. Wow

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Ekadasi today. The small deities outfits usually match the big ones. This one is from the second Gaura Purnima the Deities were here for. The pattern was still a bit off and so this dress is way to big. Gradually, though, Krsna chose an excellent seamstress for his small form. Giridhari's cape and dhoti have stars since once Srila Govinda Maharaja saw a Deity dressed with stars on the dress and thought it quite impressive. Today both He and Gandharvika had gold belts that were brought from Navadvipa in early 1996.
Today the darkness snuck up on me. The light has been staying longer so today i was pedaling along without cares and out of nowhere darkness came upon me to say "hello my old friend" Before that i had gone along the way of the beach and seen sevral ducks and geese along with the usual sufferers. Fortunately it is the gaura paksa and there was enough moonlight to see my way back to the asrama.
This evening the mint green and silver takes the Deities to their resting place. Since the spring flowers are begining to appear there are fragrant narcissus, jasmine, and lavender.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

"I really like it when the Deities all wear different colors" Someone told me that a couple of days ago. Today's dress must rate among their favorites then. Mahaprabhu has a mango orange yellow kirta and dhoti with a green chodder and sash. Krsna has yellow with red and blue stones with purple chodder and belt. Gandharvika has a deep blue sari with a magenta polo. In some societies syamantri is considered beauty. So the Dieites are always dressed in the same colors, trims, chodders everything. How many times do three people dress exactly alike anyway?
Spring is in the air here. More people out pedaling every day. And each day they seem just a little happier than the day before. As i pedaled by a mall a car in front of me began a right turn and then stopped square in front of me. As a went by i heard a pedestrain say "target practice huh?" i don't know what he meant by that though.
This evening the temerature cooled just a bit but not enough to require a chodder. The dress is a burnt orange shade with a little lighter orange for chodders and pannels of Gandharvika's skirt. Krsna's vest looks like a long coat and blends so well with his kirta unless you know he has it you probably don't know it's there.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Someone told me that they called this outfit "the magican is dressed in satin and velvet in colors to be seen with eyes you've not used yet." That's good since Krsna is the magican that gives the magicans of this world their power of illusion. Also Krsna can't be seen with our fleshy eye so the colors of his body or clothes can only be seen with divine eyes, which of course,we've not used yet. i like the name, but i think i'll use it for an outfit that's not been made yet.
The pedaling is getting better each day. The light is lasting noticalby longer now. Down by the natural bridges past the old Lipton factory through a park and then past the boardwalk over the rail bridge and then down by the beach along there for a stretch then back to the temple.
This evening Mahaprabhu's nose jewel fell off and took me some time to find. The blue,cream and orange is the usual dress for Monday night. last week Krsna had played a trick on me and wore the Tuesday night dress instead. Tonight his tricks were more subtle, like the missing nose jewel.
Strands of pearls, golden trim are flowing into devotees open eyes enchanting and inviting all
images of crystal crowns sparkle before all like a million mirrors
and call us up and out of this mundane universe

A nicer day today. Some wind but warmer again. Many people out pedaling. Most wave as they cross my path. There are people who, though they don't pedal, see me each day. i'm surprised how non pedalers remember me. Many times people i don't know will tell me how they see me everywhere. "You're amazing," they say "you pedal every day"
This evening is quiet a little early. There is another program downtown which took some of them away from here. The Deities are danceing into the night,in the ninth

Sunday, February 05, 2006

One year while SGM was here he said that Gandharvika came here an Indian girl but now she’s become an American. Today’s dress cannot but be an example. Although a very elegant, stylish dress with rich colors and opulent texture along with sheer chodders, there is one thing that i speak of as the example,that is that Gandharvika’s skirt has bells that ring in the gathered scallops at the bottom . Now that brings the tongue in cheek question,, ‘can this be called bell bottoms?’
The creamy beige dhoti,kirta and darker beige,almost brown chodders of Mahaprabhu and Krsna with the little bits of green and orange rust color flowers and such make it completely captivating for the eyes

Wow! The wind today made it feel cold again. The wool jerseys were out today. A route similar to yesterday's but without the pedlars of critical mass. A crisp day, not bad for pedaling.
The chodders are back tonight. The effulgences are quite big in the day outfit but flexible enough not to be too much trouble. Also Gandharivka's diamond nose ring showed itself to me. i was happy about it since it had been lost for a few days.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Did the ground hog see his shadow? i couldn't find anyone who could say. Will winter end tomorrow? Or go on for six more weeks time? Today's green with some hint of purple is another silver dress. The lime green with purple at the end of the backdrop with silver beads draped as a vailence.
Even pedaling today it was overcast enough that i couldn't have seen a shadow. None the less pedalers were out in force. Helmets and sunglasses from the road of the asrama to the little seventh street park. Round by the harbor cross the bridge going right going over the railroad track and onto a more heavily traveled street. Cyclists everywhere smiling and waving and looking so fine.
This evening's dress was offered on Nrshma Caturdasi. i began using it for Thursday morning cause it has green but later i felt the purple was the more dominant color so i've been using it for Friday morning as i am this week.
Your peacock feather dipped below one eye and your kirta was purple flock. Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika had mostly pink along with tiny bits of green trim and pearls. Big carnation garlands made the folks take quite a few double takes.
All along the boardwalk the sufferes came and went all us pedalers too. A moist day but still some time for pedaling was there.
This evening the lotus nails were there. Then the floor heater reached up and grabed nila by the toe. Yeah there was blood on the track tonight.