By: Hanuman dasa
IskconTimes: On January 16th -17th, 2012, devotees from Nelson
Hare Krishna Society and Sri Krishna Mandir (Singapore) celebrated a
two-day Vigraha Pratistha (Deity Installation) ceremony and Vastu Puja
(temple inauguration ceremony) at Krishna Farm in Motueka Valley, New
Zealand.
The official ceremony was overseen by His Grace Sundar Gopal Prabhu,
Gokulacandra Prabhu, Hanuman Prabhu, and conducted by Raghupati Prabhu,
Tattva-vit Prabhu, and Mahaprabhu Prabhu. On the first day devotees observed the instillation of Srila Prabhupada. The eyes of the Deities were opened and all the prescribed auspicious articles were presented before the Deities for Their pleasure after which They were put to rest.
On the 2nd day of the ceremony, devotees performed the inaugural Abhisheka ceremony with Panca Gavya and Pancamrita. Then Prana Pratistha ceremony was performed accompanied by the fire sacrifice wherein a formal request was made to the Deities Sri Sri Nitai Gauracandra to enter into and manifest Their potencies in the marble forms, and accept our service thenceforth.
One of the most significant aspects of the festival was the joining and loving cooperative mood shared between devotees from Sri Krishna Mandir and the Nelson Hare Krishna Society. His Grace Sundar Gopal Prabhu and a team of leading devotees traveled to New Zealand at their own inconvenience and expense to spend twelve days on Krishna Farm solidifying the relationship between the two temples. During this time devotees discussed the necessity of uniting together for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and the forwarding of the Krishna consciousness movement. Both temples maintain many programs for pushing forward the sankirtan movement and are dedicated to following the standards set by Srila Prabhupada.
It is their hope that this spirit of loving cooperation between disciples and followers of Srila Prabhupada will spread throughout out the world, thus establishing Srila Prabhupada in his rightful position as spiritual master of his glorious movement.
