Back to Godhead Magazine #38-04, 2004
2004 / #38-04
Articles
WelcomeWelcome to Our Special Panca-Tattva Edition THIS ISSUE is dedicated to a momentous event in the history of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON): the inauguration of the worship of life-sized deitiLettersA Sense of Belonging I have finally found what I have been searching for my entire life. I have always been spiritual but never had an organized religion that filled my needs. I almost gave up and resigned myself to beinFounder’s Lecture - The Rising Sun and MoonMayapur, India March 26, 1975 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda Founder-Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness In the late fifteenth century, Caitanya Mahaprabhu and NityanandPrecious CargoBy Braja-sevaki Devi Dasi The sun and moon of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda are wonderful because They have appeared simultaneously. Descendents of a long line of South Indian deity carvers cast the Panca-tattva deities aMajestic Commentary On a Memorable EventPraises of the members of the Panca-tattva by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s main biographers capture the significance of the Mayapur installation. AN ORDINARY PERSON knows few words that can describe an event as vibrant, humPoetryTwice in One Age They Come By Braja-sevaki Devi Dasi A gold moon shines in the Bengal sky; grace descends to earth; A village on the Ganga’s edge, unknown in its true worth; Five separate personalities, the form of God cOne Lord in Five FeaturesThe members of the Panca-tattva characterize the inconceivable unity and variety of the Absolute Truth. By Satyaraja Dasa ALTHOUGH Lord Caitanya is the incarnation of Krsna for the current age, He is generally unknown beMatter to SpiritThe Anatomy of a Deity Installation Vedic rites and mantras mark the appearance of Sri Panca-tattva in their deity forms. By Sri Prahlada Dasa and Braja-sevaki Devi Dasi AS THE FESTIVITIES and formalities unfolded in theIn Memoriam - Jagajivana DasaThe staff of Back to Godhead would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Jagajivana Dasa, who passed away on May 2 in Clearwater, Florida. He was a Back to Godhead associate editor. JagajSrila Prabhupada Speaks OutAdvanced in foolishness This exchange between His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and some of his disciples took place in Mayapur, India, on January 16, 1976. Srila Prabhupada: If a man does not read thHare Krsna PeopleActions Speak Volumes A quiet, unassuming devotee from Australia has played a major role in bringing the Panca-tattva deities to Mayapur. By Braja-sevaki Devi Dasi AS THE preparations for the installation of Sri Sri PancReaping What They SewA team of women from around the world meet the king-sized challenge of sewing outfits for Sri Panca-tattva in time for their installation. By Braja-sevaki Devi Dasi GROUP OF BUBBLY, CHATTING women, their colorful saris rAn Outsider’s ViewA visit to Mayapur proves to be an unforgettable experience for a group from the Emerald Isle. By John Alexander John Alexander and his group of fourteen children and five adults from a school in Dublin, Ireland, visitedGuest EditorialPrabhupada’s Desire Fulfilled INSTALLING A WORSHIPABLE deity begins in a conception stage, when the desire or thought manifests in the heart and mind of one person. In the case of Sri Panca-tattva in Mayapur, nearly thirVedic ThoughtsSend your favorite quotations to: Vedic Thoughts, Back to Godhead, P. O. Box 430, Alachua, FL 32616, USA. Locana Dasa Thakura declares that the two Lords Nitai-Gauracandra—Lord Nitai and Lord Caitanya—are very merciful.