Where is Gaura-nitai?
I’ve got an altar all set up for Them, but still, They do not come!
About a year ago, right after Scoot 66 ended, I stayed with Rati and Dwija at New Vrndavana. It was then that I really fell in love with worshiping Gaura-nitai deities.
I’ve never been a huge deity fan, never really had the desire to regularly worship deities. Until last August.
I thought about it for a bit, talked it over with Rati and Dwija and decided this was the best move for me.
After a bit of searching for already-made and previously loved deities (ending with a big NO in the direction of Sri Galim of 80s New Vrndavana infamy), I decided to order a set to be made by the same deity maker who made Rati and Dwija’s set you see above.
That was almost a year ago.
They were supposed to be ready by Christmas so that Rati’s mom, who is an amazing painter, could paint Them. Christmas came and went and no deities.
Other time frames were set and broken and still no Lordships. Now, I realize that I have very little to do with the comings and goings of God, but still…
When I last heard from the deity maker, he said that They were already cast and just needed to be sanded and painted. This was in March.
Yesterday I sent him an email stating that I’d be more than willing to sand and paint Them myself. Which is mostly true.
I’ve never sanded or painted anything aside from Tom Servo. But that experience taught me a lot. Especially how to work with resin (which is what these deities are made of) and small details in the paint. I have a steady hand and know what I want.
My original idea was for Them to be a yellow-yellow-orange color. Similar to a set I’ve seen from Ekachakra. But then, I saw the Gaur Nitai Dolls in silver at Krishna Culture and was really taken by the color.
I think I could replicate that. I’ve done some searching and learning about paints and faux-metal coating and I really do think that I can pull this off. It’s definitely not traditional, but then neither is my “nothing from India on the altar (except maybe wood)” rule that I’ll be very strictly enforcing, especially when it comes to clothing.
So will They ever show up? I’m guessing that They will eventually. Maybe by this Christmas or by next year’s Gaura Purnima. Until then I’ll just stare at the empty altar and be jealous of Rati and Dwija.
Update!
I just got this email from the deity maker…
“I am out of home just now – will return in a week and will have, finally single focus time for their Lordships.”
I replied, again mentioning that I would be willing to sand and/or paint the deities.
Hopefully this is all good news.
No related posts.
08/15/2009 at 10:25 am
You are using the wrong calendar. You aren’t using the IST – Iskcon Standard Time calendar.
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eric Reply:
August 15th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Yeah, sorry for not using the 1973 calendar. It’s just not easy to sync up.
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08/16/2009 at 10:17 am
scott, you’re hilarious!!!!!!!!! lol!
wait, so if they’re already cast, why doesn’t he just send them to you?
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eric Reply:
August 16th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Well, he’s away now and originally he was to paint Them. Maybe he wants to take another year or so to do that.
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08/16/2009 at 11:37 am
Here’s something to consider. Our present alter has taken quite a few years to manifest and is still a work in progress. First came the TV cabinet, someone moved and needed to get rid of a bunch of stuff. The first thing I thought when seeing it was “that would make a good alter” because it’s big, has doors and cupboard space. So we bought it and promptly installed Sri TV, singing the Govindam prayers whenever opening the doors. After some time, we decided to make the living room into Rati’s bedroom and her old room into a temple room. Into this dedicated temple room went the TV cabinet, minus the TV. Instead, we had pictures of Panca-tattva, Srila Prabhupada and BT swami. After some time, one Janmastami morning, mother Rupa asked if we wanted a brass Srila Prabhupada murti. Yes please, we said and skipped off into fairyland. The following year, Nitai-Gauracandra arrived. So my feeling has always been that Nitai-Gauracandra came once everything else, at least the basics, were already in place. I’m not sure how this applies to you since I know you’re always prepared. You’re the most prepared person I know in fact. If I remember correctly, you have a temple room and alter already but I couldn’t remember if you were using it yet. If not, my suggestion is to start regular worship of Panca-tattva and Srila Prabhupada and wait for the Brothers to come knocking. Alternatively, go kill the pedophile and rescue Gaura-Nitai.
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eric Reply:
August 16th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
I guess I really wasn’t too clear on this. Actually, I didn’t say at all. We definitely have an altar. It’s quite nice. All pictures, of course.
Since we have a whole room that is nothing but a temple room, there won’t be doors (though, perhaps a “room divider” if we ever strike it rich).
I’ll have to take pictures of it – no idea why I haven’t. It’s completely not finished, but it *is* red and black! Maybe I took the “spiritual communism” thing too literally.
The SWAT team to rescue the child rapist’s Gaura-nitai deities is something I’d do either way. Just for kicks, really.
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eric Reply:
August 16th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I’ll have altar pics up soon, I hope.
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08/16/2009 at 12:03 pm
Rati & Dwija’s altar is really gorgeous, and inspiring. I will have to send you pictures of my temple room in my home some time.
We have two main altars. One is a 300 year-old Japanese chest with rice paper doors, and gold-leafed lacquer doors. Inside are three levels, all gold leafed and deeply carved. We have Srila Prabhupada on the left side, and Ganesh, Saraswati and Hanuman on the right. On the next level at the left is a framed picture of the Pancha Tattva, then brass Radha Krishna a little above, and Lord Nrsimhadeva on the right.
On another alter we have a 3′ high wooden carved statue of Lord Visnu. Below that we have a 3′ bronze statue of Laxmi standing. In another place we have solid bronze Ganesh sitting on a bronze throne about 3′ tall.
On another altar, which is actually an antique Mexican carved desk, we have a statue of Nataraj, and large photo book of Buddha, pictures of Gaura Nitai, and a smaller altar with statues of Siva-Parvati, and Keshava Vishnu (300 year-old antique from Mathura).
On the largest altar, which is a large Teakwood cabinet with doors, we have 24″ high marble Radha Krishna murtis – Sri Sri Radha Krishna Murari.
All the murtis in our temple are beautifully dressed and decorated.
Each day I prepare flower arrangements from our garden.
Each night I spend some time in our temple room chanting, offering incense and candles,etc.
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08/16/2009 at 8:11 pm
Did you pay in advance for your Gaura Nitai? If so, that may be the reason there is no incentive to complete them, if he already has your money. That happened to me in the past too.
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eric Reply:
August 16th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
I did, yes. I’m sure that’s part of it as well. Mostly, it seems like he just doesn’t want to do it anymore. That’s understandable, I’ve kept doing things that I really didn’t wish to do anymore – mostly out of obligation. I wish I were in the position to take over doing what he does. Maybe I’d grow tired of it too, but until then, I bet I’d love it. Probably as much as he did when he first started.
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08/17/2009 at 10:03 am
“It’s definitely not traditional, but then neither is my “nothing from India on the altar (except maybe wood)” rule that I’ll be very strictly enforcing, especially when it comes to clothing.
So, might I ask out, of curiousity; what you’d be be dressing them in? Does this mean no Indian-style clothes or just nothing “Made in India”?
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eric Reply:
August 17th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Well, nothing made in India. Rati and I are working out some styles. Her deities (above) are decorated almost entirely by stuff she’s made herself. The styles will be India-inspired, but won’t be the mass-produced and over-starched deity clothing from the subcontinent.
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08/17/2009 at 6:03 pm
Your present altar looks really nice. I like the backdrop. How about a large photo of the Pancha Tattva of Gaura Nitai. When I joined ISKCON in 1970 we didn’t have any Deities yet, in the smaller temples, like Santa Barbara, CA., just paintings or photos of Deities on the altar. It seems like a large photo on the wall might look perfect for that area.
Carpets keep your feet and butt warm in winter. You live in a cold area after all.
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eric Reply:
August 17th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Thanks, Suresh! I do like the idea of a *real* painting of the Panca-tattva on the wall. I’ll have to see how that goes. I’m just going to let the altar sort of create itself and see where it goes.
As for the cold area, nope, Seattle is way high up north, but we don’t really get all that cold. I like that.
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08/20/2009 at 6:36 pm
Another idea is get a large photo of a painting like you suggested, and then have it texturized to look like an oil painting. Lots of places do that these days. I don’t know what the technique is called, but they print it out on special paper that makes it look like an oil painting. The nice thing about photos is there is less work involved than taking care of actual Deities. You can still offer them incense, and paraphernalia, just like Deities, but they would already be dressed and decorated.
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eric Reply:
August 21st, 2009 at 1:13 pm
True, all very true. But I want deities.
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08/21/2009 at 7:16 am
these are the “pajama pants” i was talking about.
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eric Reply:
August 21st, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Where? What?
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Rati Reply:
August 21st, 2009 at 5:18 pm
the picture above that you posted, silly. blue pants, peach chaddars and backdrop, yellow roses…. the picture for this post. janmastami. they’re pale blue raw silk pants. only dwija thinks they look like pajamas.
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08/23/2009 at 9:20 pm
They are called “Canvas Prints”. I hope you get your Deities. Too bad you paid for them in advance. Sometimes the devotees act like pirates – “take all you can get – give nothing back”.
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11/21/2009 at 8:09 pm
Haribol!!!! Prabhu Dandavats
Your altar verynice everything so cute
small glass for Gaura nitai,Prabhupada and your guru
Very simple but full beauty……Nice divisibly
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04/22/2010 at 9:57 pm
can you please tell me the name of the deity maker
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anil sharma Reply:
March 25th, 2012 at 12:34 am
Respected sir,
HARE KRISHNA
we would like to introduce ourself as one of the oldest manufacturers of stone handicraft items & statues in jaipur india. we are artisions and we provide our all exporters best quality and reasenable price.our spaciality is iskcon deities like radha krishna statue,goura nitai statue,krishna balrama statue and all kind of god statue & marble articles.
if you have an order please let us know and also please visit our website.
awaiting for yours promote reply
best regards
ANIL R. SHARMA
m/s the shayona art & crafts
m/s gujrat marble moorti art
jaipur-01 (raj.) INDIA
tele no.- 91-141-2314242 / 4027028
cell no.- 91-9829014646 / 9829190080
http://www.godstatueart.com
http://www.theshayona.com
http://www.indiamart.com/theshayona-art-craft
info@godstatueart.com
sales@godstatueart.com
[Reply]
11/28/2011 at 10:42 am
Respected sir,
HARE KRISHNA
we would like to introduce ourself as one of the oldest manufacturers of stone handicraft items & statues in jaipur india. we are artisions and we provide our all exporters best quality and reasenable price.our spaciality is iskcon deities like radha krishna statue,goura nitai statue,krishna balrama statue and all kind of god statue & marble articles.
if you have an order please let us know and also please visit our website.
awaiting for yours promote reply
best regards
ANIL R. SHARMA
m/s the shayona art & crafts
m/s gujrat marble moorti art
jaipur-01 (raj.) INDIA
tele no.- 91-141-2314242 / 4027028
cell no.- 91-9829014646 / 9829190080
http://www.godstatueart.com
http://www.theshayona.com
http://www.indiamart.com/theshayona-art-craft
info@godstatueart.com
sales@godstatueart.com
[Reply]