ISKCON Bangalore celebrated Nityananda Trayodashi on 16th Feb 2011
After Lord Krishna appeared in Navadvipa as Lord Chaitanya, Lord Balarama joined Him incarnating as Lord Nityananda. To commemorate this event, Nityananda Trayodashi - a festival glorifying the appearance of Lord Nityananda, was celebrated this year in a grand manner on 16th February, 2011. A large number of devotees assembled at the Radha-Krishna mandir on Hare Krishna Hill to celebrate the festival. The festival was celebrated at two venues – the Kalyani (pond) and at the main temple hall.
To coincide with this auspicious occasion, ISKCON Bangalore inaugurated its second Panchajanya vehicle - a mini bus to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books, etc., across the city.
Many devotees assembled at the Kalyani around 6:00 pm to be blessed with the darshan of Lord Nityananda and witness the Pallakki utsava and the Teppotsava. At 6:15 pm the Deities of Srila Prabhupada and Nitai-Gauranga (Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda) were brought to the Kalyani in a pallakki. Devotees participated in kirtans and danced as the pallakki made its way to the Kalyani.
As the pallakki reached the Kalyani at 6:30 pm, the Deities of Srila Prabhupada and Nitai Gauranga were placed in the boat. Elated devotees indulged in singing melodious bhajans and kirtans. The Deities were taken around the Kalyani for three rounds in the boat. During the first round, the devotees offered flowers to the Deities to seek Their blessings, on the second and third rounds prasadam was distributed to all the assembled devotees.
As the nauka utsava (boat festival) concluded, the Deities were taken on pallakkis to the main temple altar at 7:00 pm. Before the abhisheka was performed, there was Svasti Puja and Guru Puja, followed by Maha Sankalpa and Dhyana Mantras. The abhisheka is very special as the Deities were bathed with scented water, etc., and given a sandal oil massage. After the massage the Deities were bathed with panchagavya which is a combination of milk, curd, sweetened water, ghee and honey. The Deities were then given Sarvaushadhi Snana followed by 108 kalasha snana and then bathed with herbal extracts, scented water, exotic fruit juices, flowers, etc. This abhisheka is performed once in a year, on the occasion of Sri Nityananda Trayodashi.
Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa and Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa - the President and Vice President of the temple respectively, performed the abhisheka along with other devotees.
There was a special video presentation for the devotees in which Srila Prabhupada spoke about the auspicious occasion. The main temple hall reverberated with the sweet melodies of bhajans and kirtans as the special shayana-arati was performed on the day. After the shayana-arati a decorated palanquin was brought to the altar and the pujaris placed the Deities of Lord Nitai Gauranga on the palanquin. Their Lordships were taken round the main altar thrice, amidst the tumultuous sankirtana. Visitors and devotees also followed the palanquin of Their Lordships.
The Pallakki utsava culminated in a grand arati to the Deities in the palanquin. Tambula and flowers were offered to Their Lordships during this time. This was followed by a sumptuous prasadam feast for all the assembled devotees.
Click here to know more about Nityananda Trayodashi
To coincide with this auspicious occasion, ISKCON Bangalore inaugurated its second Panchajanya vehicle - a mini bus to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books, etc., across the city.
Many devotees assembled at the Kalyani around 6:00 pm to be blessed with the darshan of Lord Nityananda and witness the Pallakki utsava and the Teppotsava. At 6:15 pm the Deities of Srila Prabhupada and Nitai-Gauranga (Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda) were brought to the Kalyani in a pallakki. Devotees participated in kirtans and danced as the pallakki made its way to the Kalyani.
As the pallakki reached the Kalyani at 6:30 pm, the Deities of Srila Prabhupada and Nitai Gauranga were placed in the boat. Elated devotees indulged in singing melodious bhajans and kirtans. The Deities were taken around the Kalyani for three rounds in the boat. During the first round, the devotees offered flowers to the Deities to seek Their blessings, on the second and third rounds prasadam was distributed to all the assembled devotees.
As the nauka utsava (boat festival) concluded, the Deities were taken on pallakkis to the main temple altar at 7:00 pm. Before the abhisheka was performed, there was Svasti Puja and Guru Puja, followed by Maha Sankalpa and Dhyana Mantras. The abhisheka is very special as the Deities were bathed with scented water, etc., and given a sandal oil massage. After the massage the Deities were bathed with panchagavya which is a combination of milk, curd, sweetened water, ghee and honey. The Deities were then given Sarvaushadhi Snana followed by 108 kalasha snana and then bathed with herbal extracts, scented water, exotic fruit juices, flowers, etc. This abhisheka is performed once in a year, on the occasion of Sri Nityananda Trayodashi.
Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa and Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa - the President and Vice President of the temple respectively, performed the abhisheka along with other devotees.
There was a special video presentation for the devotees in which Srila Prabhupada spoke about the auspicious occasion. The main temple hall reverberated with the sweet melodies of bhajans and kirtans as the special shayana-arati was performed on the day. After the shayana-arati a decorated palanquin was brought to the altar and the pujaris placed the Deities of Lord Nitai Gauranga on the palanquin. Their Lordships were taken round the main altar thrice, amidst the tumultuous sankirtana. Visitors and devotees also followed the palanquin of Their Lordships.
The Pallakki utsava culminated in a grand arati to the Deities in the palanquin. Tambula and flowers were offered to Their Lordships during this time. This was followed by a sumptuous prasadam feast for all the assembled devotees.
Click here to know more about Nityananda Trayodashi
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