What's a miniature festival?
It's obvious. Something very small and happy!!!!
Yes, it's true. A miniature festival is as simple as that!
But won't something so small also be boring? Please consider the mighty advancment of our technological age!!!
Well, I can only say that a miniature festival at Gopinatha dham is not boring, despite it's size. And this week we are celebrating two!!!
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Vasant Pancami - the first day of spring in Vrindavana.
Every year on this day, our Gopinatha with His gopis, enters a fragrant garden of delicate jewelled trees, surrounding a beautifully decorated temple. Beside that temple is a decorated swing with velvet cushions which moves gently back and forth from the cool breezes blowing off the nearby lake full of lotus flowers and white swans.
I am describing what I wish I could actually see!! Sadly, a mortal being like myself, who's absorbed in worldly life, cannot actually see this perfection of beauty.
Yet sometimes after hearing something children like to draw. Although still a child, they want to capture what they have heard. Their artwork is considered substantial and appreciated even when the composition is childish.
So here is our child-like festival. Here is Gopinatha.
Devotees came to see Him and gave Him sweets,mangos, passionfruits. We had kirtan and offered flowers and prayers.
But next morning when I entered the temple room I saw that the spring festival in Vrindavana was over, and Perth summer's heat continued once more.
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Adwaita Saptami - Appearance day of Adwaita Acharya
There is a saying "It's not exactly what you know but who you know". Even in spiritual life this goes. For example, if someone knows the executive head of parliament and can arrange a personal meeting with you, he's a valuable contact.
Today is the auspicious day upon which Adwaita Acharya appeared in this world. He appeared in order to bring about the advent of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
If we receive the favor of Adwaita Acharya, Lord Caitanya and Nityananda will also show kindness towards us.
Behind this simple statement, is the profound philosophy of Sri Caitanya Caritamrita by srila Krishna dasa Kaviraja. There it is explained that Adwaita Acharya is the appearance of MahaVishnu combined with SadaSiva. When He saw the world "devoid of devotional service" He therefore decided to call for the Personality of Godhead to descend.
Lord Krishna advented Himself as Lord Caitanya along with His eternal associates who are equally glorious, for the purpose of spreading the chanting of the Holy Names, which "drive away all sins and flood eveyone with love of God!"
I wish we could sit together in front of our miniature Panca-Tattwa seen here, and discuss this subject matter in depth. Here, there is only a drop.
Nevermind. Even a drop is very sweet.
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