Gaura Purnima in Guanajuato was a long anticipated celebration, with Srila Guru Maharaja’s arrival in Mexico, his bringing the Deity of Mahaprabhu from the asrama in Jardines Govinda to Guanajuato, along with our dear godbrothers and godsisters.
The night before Gaura Purnima the Deity of Sri Mahaprabhu was welcomed onto our altar, visiting from Jardines Govinda for a few days, while a more permanent photo from Govindaji Gardens of Mahaprabhu (almost exactly life-size) was installed by Srila Guru Maharaja.
Gaura Purnima morning began with kirtana by Bhakti Srirupa Madhava Maharaja and class by Guru Maharaja, followed by a day of cooking – cooking for Mahaprabhu as well as for the public in the restaurant. We took the opportunity to close the restaurant early in the evening in order to properly observe Sriman Mahaprabhu’s appearance, with a floral abhiseka, further kirtanas, and initiations. Srila Guru Maharaja gave the beautiful analogy, that while these devotees had been chanting the Hare Krsna Maha-Mantra for a year, or 2 years, or 5 years, they had been knocking on Krsna’s door, and today Krsna was opening the door and letting them in to His family – Narayani now as Govinda Dasi and Daniel as Yuga Dharma Dasa.
The hari-nama initiations were followed by two second initiations – Jahnavi Dasi and Purusottam Dasa, with the appreciation that while there are numerous qualities required for brahmana initiation, the three most significant are those of mercy, austerity and cleanliness.
After bhoga-arati, maha-prasadam was honoured by all, with a carefully conceived selection of traditional Mexican and traditional Indian preparations including a lasagna made of pakoras, cranberry filled rasa malai, triple decker blueberry, blackberry, strawberry cream cake and Tamales Jarochos with ghee and panir, for the pleasure of Mahaprabhu, Srila Guru Maharaja and the devotees.
