Narasimha caturdasi @ Jagannath Temple, Bangalore

Hare Krishna,

Yesterday was the auspicious appearance day of Sri Narsimha deva.

Had the fortune of being a part of an ecstatic celebration at Jagannath Temple, ISKCON, Bangalore.

The temple is small, but with a strong and devoted congregation. The devotees thronged the temple's main hall, kitchen, yard and the entrance. Everyone was involved in some service. At one side matajis were working with flowers and prabhujis were involved in cutting vegetables, decorating the entrance and Srila Prabhupada's altar.

Jagannath's altar was already decorated beautifully with flowers and leaves.

At around 6:15, the program started with tulasi arotik, followed by Gaura Arotik. Then after much wait, the deity of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha were brought out and were welcomed with loud chantings of Hari bol!.

Then the usual process of abhisheka started, with conches blowing, and devotees reading the Brahma Sanhita verses. All in all the environment was really charged up.

Then we chanted 108 times the following mantra:

ugram veeram mahavishnum
jvalantham sarvatho mukham
narasimham bheeshanam bhadram
mrityor mrityum namamyaham

After that prabhuji announced that all the devotees dressed in Vaishnava attire can also have the most blissful opportunity of doing milk abhisheka of the deity. And by mercy of Mayapur Sashi prabhu, I learnt how to wear a dhoti a month back only. And as a result I was also dressed in vaishnava attire. It was a great experience to bath the lord.

Then the fragrant oil abhisheka of the deity started. Narasimha deva would sometime turn green sometime red and sometime yellow as if expressing different moods. The scene was really beautiful.

Finally the abhisheka ended after long 2 hours. Then bhoga was offered to Sri jagannatha Sri Baladeva and Srimati Subhadra. In the meanwhile Prabhupada's purports of SB Canto 7, Chapter 7 were read which descriped the Hiranyakashipu and Prahlad Maharaja's conversation concluding in appearance of the most magnificient and effulgent form of lord - half lion, half man.
Then the darshans opened, kirtana was ecstatic. Some one announced that it was Mayapur Style Kirtan. offering arotik to the lord. We all proceeded towards prasadam feast. It was very relishing and very hot too.

Yesterday was an eventful day when I got to see the enthusiasm and devotion of Bangalore devotees. The community is small but yet very much involved. It felt like being a part of a big family.

May this day come again and again.

Hari bol!