The Whorl at the Center of the Lotus

Another snapshot.  This picture looks like Vrindavana at the grand opening.  Srila Prabhupada is completely surrounded by his male devotees on one side and the women on the other.  One of the women is his sister, I think.  Prabhupada is like a lotus.  He wears light, tan-saffron, a delicate garland, and his head is tilted slightly to one side as he plays karatalas.

Srila Prabhupada is satisfied in seeing Krishna.  He installed the Deities for our benefit.  Here he is fulfilling the Gurv-astakam verses, chanting in Mahaprabhu’s kirtana, leading his disciples in Deity worship of Radha and Krishna in the gorgeous temple puja.  He is also delivering the rainfall of mercy to put out samsara’s fire.  He should be worshiped as good as God because he is the confidential servant of Krishna.  He is very dear to Krishna and can reciprocate with Him in many forms, including the arca-vigraha.

Prabhupada worked hard to build and open the temples.  Now we continue to serve him by keeping the temples alive with sravanam-kirtanam.  Thank you, Srila Prabhupada, for giving us this glimpse of you receiving darsana of the Deity.  You look quiet and self-sustained, as if you are all alone, even though you are pressed on all sides by hundreds of devotees.  Therefore, I say lotus.