(Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan, New Gokula, Vancouver)
jayatam suratau pangor
mama manda-mater gati
mat-sarvasva-padambhojau
radha-madana-mohanau
"Glory to the all-merciful Radha and Madan Mohan! I am lame and ill advised, yet They are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to me." (Cc Adi 1.15)
It was Radhastami 1974 in Vancouver, Canada. Their golden Lordships Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai and the happiest looking Jagannatha Deities in the world were already beaming on the altar. The kirtans in that small temple room were rockin' — and so was the floor. Imagine the ecstasy when we found out that Radha-Krishna Deities were coming all the way from India to be installed in our living room.
The anticipation mounted over the weeks and months, and when Their Lordships finally arrived, we felt like we were suddenly catapulted to Goloka Vrindavan in the spiritual sky. On the day of Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan's installation, even a lowly rascal like myself felt like I was ready to leave my body — no, jump out of my body — and go back home, back to Godhead immediately. Sukadeva Prabhu led the most amazing nonstop kirtan, devotees clanging kartals and dancing like wild transcendental dervishes as smoke billowed everywhere.
I'll never forget the moment the curtains opened to reveal the most attractive Deities in the universe. I was stunned and it took me a few minutes to remember that I was supposed to bow down and pay my obeisances. Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan had descended to earth on 16th Avenue that day and none of us who were there will ever be the same.
There's an old saying in Egypt that once you've seen the Nile River, you'll inevitably return to see it again. And I might add that once you've seen the spiritual beauty of Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan you'll always go back for more.
Pd
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