The 19th of March saw the 526th appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu which was observed by all the asrama devotees and guests.
The festivities began at 10:30am with darsana arati. All the devotees took darsana of Sri Sri Gaura-Radha-Madhava in their new clothes. The beautiful cloth was from China and had been given by Sripad Madhava Maharaja.
Sripada Giri Maharaja gave class on the appearance of Mahaprabhu. Maharaja spoke about the predictions found in Srimad Bhagavatam as well as Nimai Pandita's bala-lila and the reasons for Mahaprabhu's descent.
Throughout the day, devotees sang bhajanas. Caitanya Dasa and Sri Gopala Dasa led the devotees in chanting Srila Sridhara Maharaja's 'Prema-dhama-deva Stotram'.
At 3:30 in the afternoon, Giri Maharaja and Gaura Gopala Dasa Brahmacari performed a Vaisnava homa. Oblations were offered to Mahaprabhu, Laksmi-priya and Visnu-priya with Vedic suktas.
Caitanya Dasa gave class at 4:30 in Kannada to guests and devotees, speaking on the glories of Mahaprabhu and His message.
Mahaprabhu's bathing ceremony (abhiseka) began at 5:30. As the pujaris bathed the Deity of Mahaprabhu in various substances, devotees sang bhajanas and chanted the maha-mantra.
After the abhiseka, Mahaprabhu was presented various auspicious items and was then taken on His ratha around the temple to the accompaniment of hari-nama sankirtana.
When the Lord was brought back to the temple, naivedya was offered and sandhya-arati was performed for the Deities.
Although the asrama devotees had only expected about 60 guests, this year we received about 100. Nevertheless, there was ample prasadam for everyone. The cooks prepared about 50 preparations for the pleasure of Mahaprabhu.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ki jaya!
