close-ups

Here's a few close ups of the Archa murthys

last updated 5th September 2011

The Altar on Sri Radha-astami - 5th September 2011

Kanaih - Balaih Govardhan silas

and Nitai Gauranga

Govardhan sila dressed as Radhika due to the yellow complexion and cameod face impression within the sila

Sri Sri Kanaih Balaih - Krishna Balaram murthys

Sri Sriyuts Balaram, Subhadra and Jagannath

Sri Sri Radhika Raman Salagram sila and sila vihara

Sri Sri Radhika Raman murthys with Radha Rani's lotus feet showing

see below for a close-up of Her most merciful lotus feet.

This is the one day per year that Srimati Radharani's feet are exposed for the blessing upon Her devotees.

Worshipping Srimati Radharani's lotus feet
(from Sri Radha Rasa Suddha Nidhi by Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati)

Dhani Dhani Radhika ke Charan

The lotusfeet of Sri Radhika are my only treasure

(from Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi)

alam visaya varta ya naraka koti bibhatsaya
vrtha sruti kathasramo bata bibhemi kaivalyatah
paresa bhajanon mada yadi sukadayah tatah kim
parantu mama radhika pada rase mano majjatu

May my mind always float in the ocean of divine nectar emanating from the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani. No more fear of millions of hells. Studying of the scriptures has become simply troublesome. Merging into the brahman effulgence is terrible. The ecstatic symptoms of devotion to the Lord that are felt by the great devotees like Suka have lost their charms.

upasya caranambuje vraja bhrtam kisori ganaih
mahad bhirapi purusair apari bhavya rasotsave
agadha rasa dhamani svapada Padma seva vidhau
vidhehi madhuroj jvalam iva krtim mamadhisvari

O Radha! You are my sole Ruler and only shelter. Countless gopis of Vraja swarm around Your lotus feet and worship them wholeheartedly. Your lotus feet are an inexhaustible fountainhead of the quintessence of universal love and are inconceivable to great saints. That is perhaps the reason why great devotees are striving with ever increasing courage and hope to catch the sweetness and beauty of the grace that flows from Your lotus feet. O Queen! Will You be pleased to show me the particular manner in which I should serve Your lotus feet?

atisnehaduccair api ca hari namani grnatah
tatha saugandhadyair bahubhi rupa carais ca yajatah
paranandam vrndavana manu carantam ca dadhato
mano me radhaya padamrdu lapadme nivasatu

Lotus chanting of the holy name of Lord Hari with love attracts my mind towards Sri Radha's feet. This attraction becomes very strong as soon as the delicious ingredient of Sri Radha's service is added to the chanting. Meditation on blissful Krsna as He roams about in Vrndavana has put me under the shade of the tender feet of kind Sri Radha.

kamam tulikaya karena harinayalatka kairankita
nanakeli vidagdha goparmani vrdai tatha vandita
ya sanguptaya tatha upanisadam hrd yeva vidyo tate
sa radha carana dvayi mama gatih lasyai kalilamayi

My only shelter is Sri Radhika's lotus feet which I yearn to worship with love and devotion. These lotus feet of Srimati Radhika are painted by Krsna's soft fingers with a feather dipped in the most fragrant red-colored juice. The gopis follow Krsna's example and worship the same feet for the happiness of all living entities. These feet are glorified in the Upanisads, and are found in the depth of the hearts of pure devotees.

vrndavanesari tavaiva padaravindam
premamrtaika makaranda rasau gha purnam
hrdyar apitam madhupate smaratapa mugram
nirvapayat parama sitala ma srayami

O Vrndavanesvar! O Sri Radhe! I pray for the shelter of Your lotus feet. Your lotus feet are treasure house of nectar of divine love. Syamasundara keeps them safely and dearly in His heart. These feet are the supreme cooling remedy for the blazing fires of this material world.

yadi snehad radhe disasi ratilam payata padavi
gatam me svaprestam tadapi mamnistham srunu yatha
kataksai raloke smita saha carair jata pulakam
sama aslisyamyuc cai atha ca rasaye tvatpadarasam

O dear Sri Radha! When out of sheer compassion, and moved by Krsna's overwhelming love for You, will grant Him His prayers to message Your lotus feet? At that time, I shell look at the ecstatic smiling faces of both of You, and so encouraged I shall hug Your feet with my hands, and taste the nectar of Your lotus feet to my full satisfaction.

yasya aste bata kinkarisu bahusas catuni vrndatavi
kandarpah kurute tavaiva kim api prepsuh prasadotsavam
sadrananda ghananuraga lahari nisyanda padambuja
dvandve sri vrsabhanu nandini sada vande tava sripadam

O Vrsabhanu-nandini! I bow down to Your lotus feet with great awe and reverence, from which selfless love is ever pouring forth in abundance. In His ceaseless and tireless efforts to win Your grace, Sri Krsna, the God of love of Vrndavana and Supreme Almighty, always solicits the favors of Your servants with love and affection.

radhapada saroja bhaktim acalam udviksya niskaitavam
pritah svam bhajatopi nibhaira maha premnadhikam sarva sah
alingatyatha cumbati svavadanat tambulam asyer apayet
kante svam vanamali kamapi mama nyasyet kada mohanah

I know, and it has been confirmed by all reliable authorities that Madana-Mohana Krsna would be so ecstatically delighted to see pure devotion unto Sri Radha's lotus feet that he would descend from His worshipped throne to embrace, kiss, give His chewed betel nuts, and garland to Sri Radhika's devotee. When shall I be blessed with such devotion, getting such treatment from Krsna as my reward for devotion to Radha's lotus feet?

sat premasindhu makaranda rasau gadhara
sarana jasramabhitah sravada sritesu
sri radhike tava kada caranaravindam
govinda jivana dhanam sirasa vahami

O Radhika! When shall I enjoy the fortune of having my head used by You as Your footstool? Your feet, which are the life-treasure of Govinda, will then be a crown on my head. They will further bathe my head with a pure nectarine flood of love that always flows among Your devotees.

The Altar - Sunday 7th August 2011

Srila Prabhupad with his super fragrant "Early cheer" garland

Nitai Gaur and Kanaih - Balaih Govardhan silas

Krishna Balaram murthys

Baladev, Subhadra and Jagannath

Sri Sri Radhika Raman ji

2nd June 2011

May 2001 for Indradyumna swami's Vyasa pujan

some of our group of devotees who came to help us celebrate

the offering to Srila Prabhupad and Indradyumna swami

my wife made this set a couple of years ago with materials she got from UK & Vrindavan

Kanaih Balaih - Krishna Balaram

Sri Sri Radhika Raman

Group photo

Gaura Purnima - 20th March 2011

Kanaih Balaih Govardhan silas and Gaura Nitai below.

Sri Sri Radhika Raman

Lord Balaram, Lady Subhadra and Lord Jagannath

Krishna Balaram murthys

S hot just after the feast was offered to the Godz

.........my wife Vedavati devi dasi doing the offering,
..........while Atmananda prabhu ACBSP was giving his talk about the life of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Savoury offering plate: palak paneer (spinach and curd), Sabhudana kitri, "Meat eaters delight" with potatoe, fried curd, fried eggplant and whey, Gauranga potatoe, Buckwheat groats "rice", Apple chutney, Pumpkin soup, buckwheat puffs with avacado yogurt and parmesan cheese dip, Aloo & Sago tikis, and salad.

Hmmmm the sweet offering plate: buckwheat base cheese cake, ekadasi style cake with dates and walnuts etc, boyson berry srikhand, pistchio barfi, ekadasi cookies, fruit kebabs, and fruit juice punch.

No special occassion really - just a day of new enthusiasm
This was the 2007 Gaura Purnima set

These nice crowns were just sent in by Sheela Muralidhar from the UK (and Bangalore)
she got them in Bangalore for Jagannath Baladev and Subhadra - Thanx