Beautiful chaos reined on the grounds of the Atlanta temple on the final golden evening of the Panihati Festival. Grinning devotees paraded around with tiny clay pots and giant clay pots, offering chipped rice to everyone they met.
I caught sight of Pankajanghri Prabhu – the esteemed pujari of Radha Madhava in Mayapur – and wove my way through the melee.
When he turned to me with his light brown eyes, I took a deep breath and asked him, “Haribol Prabhu, I have a request,”
He raised his eyebrows. “Yes?”
“Well, it is my life goal to dress Radha Shyamasundar in Alachua. I would like your blessing that one day I may dress Them,”
“Are you brahmin-initiated?” he asked.
“Ha! No. I’m not even first-initiated. But nevertheless, I’m shooting for the moon, this is a life goal of mine,”
Sikhi Mahiti Prabhu, who stood next to the famous pujari, added in, “Yes, she’s been aspiring for Radhanath Swami for a few years now,”
“Hm, there’s quite a waiting period for Radhanath Swami, no?”
“Yes, Prabhu.”
So then he intoned, “May Lord Nrisimhadeva remove all of the obstacles in your path so that you may dress Radha Shyamasundara in Alachua,”
I fell quiet.
“Thank you, Prabhu,” I murmured. I folded my palms. He nodded to me, and we both parted into the festival melee.
I was in shock. I whispered his words over and over.
A blessing from a Vaishnava is more powerful than any prayer of my own. Now it is only a matter of time.
“Thank you, Prabhu,” I murmured. I folded my palms. He nodded to me, and we both parted into the festival melee.
I was in shock. I whispered his words over and over.
A blessing from a Vaishnava is more powerful than any prayer of my own. Now it is only a matter of time.
Pankajanghri Prabhu worshiping Lord Nrisimhadeva in Mayapur
Radha Shyamasundara in Alachua
2 comments:
Next time you are in NY you can dress Sri Sri Radha Damodara if you like.
http://www.gauravani.com/2520-as-kindred-spirits-the-mayapuris-and-lokanath-maharaja-at-ashtanga-yoga-nyc
Ys
Kaustubha
You will Dress Radhe Shyam very soon.
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