The auspicious installation ceremony of Sri Sri Prahlad Nrisimhadeva in Manipur

Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra Manimandir and one of the

‘Bhaktivedanta Institute on Wheels’ bus
Dear devotees,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to our beloved Srila Sripada! All glories to his
divine master Srila Prabhupada! All glories to all the vaishnavas! All glories to Sri Sri Prahlad
Nrisimhadeva!

By the desire and blessings of Srila Sripada, on November 4th and 5th the installation ceremony of
Sri Sri Prahlad Nrisimhadeva took place at the Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra Manimandir in
Manipur.

Sri Sri Prahlad Nrisimhadeva arrived in Manipur in 2002. The deity of Lord Nrisimhadeva was carved
in South-India out of black stone. He has six arms (sadbuja) and holds His Sudarshan Chakra,
Conch, Lotus and Club. His right hand is giving blessings and protection to His devotees and His left
hand is resting gently on his lap. The Lord is sitting on Ananta Sesha whose five heads rise up
above His head. His dearest devotee Sri Prahlad was carved separately and is standing with folded
hands on Lord Nrisimhadeva’s right side.

Srila Sripada originally planned to install His

Lordship during the grand temple inauguration
scheduled for November 21, 2007. He also made
plans for a separate temple to be built for Lord
Nrisimhadeva next to the Manimandir. However,
after the terrorist attack at the Sri Sri Radha
Krishnachandra Manimandir on Janmastami this
year, Srila Sripada decided to invite Lord
Nrisimhadeva to come to Manipur earlier than
planned. He desired this for the protection of the
devotees and for creating peace in Manipur. Srila
Sripada fixed the installation day for November 5,
2006, Rasa Purnima. The deities of Sri Sri Gaura
Nitai, Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladeva, Srimati
Subadra, Srimati Lalita and Srimati Vishaka were
also installed on Rasa Purnima as it is a very
auspicious day and very dear to Guru Maharaja.
 A couple of days before the terrorist attack, a devotee reported hearing
some loud sound coming from the room where Lord Nrisimhadeva was
kept. The room was completely locked and no animals could have come
inside. The devotee, who was staying in the next room, said he heard the
loud unusual noise on two different occasions. He informed Srila Sripada
about it. Srila Sripada took it as a sign that Lord Nrsimhadeva wanted to
make His appearance. And thus he made arrangements to install Lord
Nrisimhadeva on November 5th.

For the installation, Vimala Mataji from London, went to South India and
arranged for eight brahmanas to come to Manipur and perform the
ceremony. With their help she purchased all the paraphernalia and
ingredients necessary for the installation and the worship of the Lord.
Ramachandra Prabhu, a Burmese-Manipuri brahmachari, was requested
to be the pujari of Lord Nrisimhadeva. He accepted and went to get
additional training from Pankajangari Prabhu, Lord Nrisimhadeva’s main
Ramachandra Prabhu pujari in Mayapur.

In Manipur, the devotees built a beautiful black granite altar for the Lord and His altar room was also
painted black. The deity, which weighs about one and a half ton, was then moved onto the altar. As
per the directions of the South-Indian brahmanas, wood, bricks and additional paraphernalia were
bought for the ceremony.

On November 4th afternoon, Vimala Mataji, Govinda Hari Prabhu and the eight brahmanas arrived in
Manipur. Vimala Mataji was also carrying Lord Nrisimhadeva in His shila form, who came from the
Gopaldeva Mandir in Nabadwip. They were all welcomed at the airport by kirtan and traditional
Manipuri Govinda Mala (garlands). The older brahmana, Sri Parthasarathi, had come to Manipur by
Srila Sripada’s invitation 22 years earlier, to perform the installation ceremony of Sri Sri Radha
Krishnachandra on Magha Purnima, January 18th 1984. Sri Parthasarathi told us that at that time in
Manipur it was very cold. He remembered how one evening Srila Sripada had come to his room to
check on him, and how Srila Sripada had personally placed a chadar (shawl) on him to make sure
he would be warm enough for the night. As he told the story his eyes filled with tears remembering
the kind nature of Srila Sripada. He said that even if you had a thousand tongues you could not
properly glorify Srila Sripada. His son who had also come then said that it is very rare to get the
association of an Acharya like Damodara Swami (Srila Sripada).

Vimala Mataji The brahmanas and Govinda Hari arrive in Manipur The head priest
and are greeted by Krishna Mangala Prabhu Sri Parthasarati
 After getting settled at the temple and taking prasadam, the
brahmanas with the help of the devotees started the preparations
for the ceremony. They set up two Yajna Kundas in front of Lord
Nrisimhadeva’s altar, one for Lord Nrisimhadeva and one for
Sudarshan Chakra. Originally the brahmanas were only going to
install Sri Sri Prahlad Nrisimhadeva, but after hearing about the
terrorist attack, they decided to also install Sri Sudharshan Chakra
for the protection of the devotees.

All the matajis happily strung flower garlands and decorated the
temple and the Yajna Kundas as directed by the brahmanas.
Devotees also performed 24 hour Hari Nama kirtan for the entire
two days of the installation ceremony. Lord Nrsimhadeva’s body
was first cleansed and oiled and thus became very effulgent. The
brahmanas set up three gates around the Yajna Kundas in order to
invite the Lord and the demigods from all directions. Those gates
were opulently decorated with flowers and mango leaves.

In the center of the temple the brahmanas carefully drew with

colored powders certain auspicious designs and then the older
brahmana drew Sri Garudadeva in grains on a cloth. They placed
different paraphernalia and auspicious items all around. On two
tables near the altar and the Yajna Kundas, they placed Kalashes
(pots) filled with water and decorated with garlands, beautiful
clothes, mango leaves and coconuts. One table with the pots had
the Sri Sudarshan Yantra. The water in those pots was ultimately
used to bath the deity and in this way the stone was purified and
the life force of the Lord could appear in the deity.

Throughout the preparations, two of the brahmanas were

continuously chanting Vedic mantras to purify the environment and
invoke the blessings of the Lord and His devotees. The sound
vibration of their chanting made the whole atmosphere surcharged
with spiritual potency.

Srila Sripada’s older sister and Kunti Mataji

making Tulasi garlands for Lord Nrisimhadeva
Sri Parthasarati and his son dancing to Preparing the water pots for The water pots for Lord
the devotees’ kirtan Sri Sudarshana Nrisimhadeva with Srila
Sripada
Around 9:00 PM, the brahmanas began performing different functions for the ceremony. There were
about fifty devotees in the temple. The moon was shining brightly in the sky and the mantras
chanted by the brahmanas seemed to float on the cool night breeze blowing through the windows.
The brahmanas then called everyone to come close to Lord Nrisimhadeva’s altar and began to
perform the prana pratista – opening of the eyes and invoking the life force in the deity. Eyes made
of silver were then placed on the Lord. And in unison all the devotees chanted in ecstasy: ‘Sri
Nrisimhadeva Ki Jay!!!’ By the blessings of Srila Sripada and Srila Prabhupada, the Lord was now
here with us in His deity form. He looked extremely powerful and yet peaceful.
Different aratis were performed and then the fire Yajna started. The brahmanas told the devotees to
look carefully at the flames during the fire sacrifice. They said that Lord Nrisimhadeva will appear in
the flames of the fire. They instructed those with cameras to take lots of photos. Later they were very
happy to see these photos and showed the different forms of Lord Nrisimhadeva in the flames to the
devotees.

Then the brahmanas performed a small abhishek for Sri Sri Prahlad Nrisimha. Water, milk, turmeric,
flowers and honey were poured over the Lord. He was cleansed and then dressed in new clothes.
There was a final arati and then the Lord was put to rest. It was at Mangal Arati time that this first
part of the installation ceremony came to an end. Everyone present felt great joy from seeing the
wonderful installation ceremony of Lord Nrisimhadeva.
 Lord Nrisimhadeva,
Ananta Shesha and
Prahlad Maharaja

Lord Nrisimhadeva’s
profile with arms
raised up

Lord Nrisimhadeva’s
Three eyes Lord Nrisimhadeva,
mouth wide open Lord Nrisimhadeva’s
profile

Lord Nrisimhadeva’s
profile coming out
from the pillar
The concluding part of the installation ceremony started again around 6:00AM November 5th. It was
Rasa Purnima and Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra were dressed very beautifully in Their traditional
Manipuri Rasa Lila dress and decorated with many beautiful flowers. Sri Prahlad Nrisimhadeva were
also beautifully dressed in opulent South-Indian style dhotis and shining jewelry. Many Manipuri
vaishnavas started arriving at the temple, bringing offerings of fruits and pink and blue lotus flowers.

The brahmanas made an amazing Sudarshan Chakra from colored rice. They then started the fire
sacrifice again. 108 auspicious herbs were placed on leaf plates to offer to the fire. The brahmanas
were very friendly and let everyone participate in the ceremony. All the devotees circumambulated
Lord Nrisimhadeva and Sri Sudharsan with the leaf plates chanting, ‘Jay Jay Sri Sudarshanah!’ and
then handed them back to the brahmanas. One by one the different herbs were placed in the Yajna
and the brahmanas explained that the smoke from these medicinal herbs purify the environment and
remove any disease from the body.

Srila Sripada’s Vyasasan Sri Sudarshan Chakra made from Offering lotus flowers to the Lord
colored rice
After the fire sacrifice, Pushpanjali was performed by the brahmanas and then Lord Nrisimhadeva
was prepared for the Maha Abhishekam. Many devotees and the brahmanas bathed Sri Sri Prahlad
Nrisimhadeva with large quantities of milk, yogurt, honey, flowers, scented water, crushed fruits and
finally turmeric powder. Throughout the Pushpajali and Abhishekam, the temple was filled with the
sounds of brahmanas chanting, Hari Nama kirtan and the auspicious sound of the traditional double
conch blowing of Manipur.
Sri Sri Prahlad Nrisimhadeva were then dressed opulently and decorated with flowers. A final arati
was performed. About 700 guests had come to see the Lord and witness the ceremony. All the
vaishnavas present were then invited to honor traditional Manipuri style Prasadam.

In the evening the brahmanas distributed to the devotees the prasadam from the ceremony, the
water pots (kalash), maha garlands, maha clothes and fruits. They also gave the puja paraphernalia
for Lord Nrisimhadeva’s worship to the pujaris. The devotees in return then offered dakshina and
new clothes to the brahmanas. It was a very sweet exchange, full of love and appreciation. All the
devotees felt happy knowing that the brahmanas were satisfied and many of them expressed in
different ways how they felt the presence of Srila Sripada throughout the ceremony.

The brahamanas cooking
Brahmanas
Radhacharan Prabhu with the brahmanas
The eight brahmanas in front of the
Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra Manimandir
The next day before leaving the brahmanas cooked their
own South-Indian style Prasadam and invited the
devotees to honor Prasadam with them. They explained
that they felt blessed to take Prasadam in the company
of the devotees. The devotees then proclaimed that they
were the ones blessed to take Prasadam with them.
During Prasadam, one brahmana said that they usually
have a dream/vision before they start this type of
ceremony. He then told the devotees of the dream that
he had the night before the Yajna started. He said he
saw Srila Sripada and Srila Prabhupada together in the
Sri Sri Radha Krisnachandra Manimandir walking
around and making sure all the arrangements were
made for the installation of Lord Nrisimhadeva. He then
said that he felt Srila Sripada was present during the
entire ceremony.
In the afternoon the brahmanas left Imphal, Manipur.
They were met in the Calcutta airport by the BI devotees
who gave them Prasadam for their onward journey to
Chennai.
A group of devotees from Manipur will be going through
Chennai in December after the Puri conference for
purchasing the Kalash and Chakra for the Manipur
temple domes. With great joy they are looking forward to
again visiting the brahmanas and sharing Prasadam
together. The brahmanas are collecting mantras and
prayers for Lord Nrisimhadeva and Sudarshan Chakra
that they will give to the Manipur devotees in December.
Before the brahmanas left Manipur, they said that now
with the presence of Lord Nrisimhadeva and Sudarshan
the devotees will have full protection and there will be
peace in the beautiful land of Manipur. The devotees
were happy to hear this as this was the expressed
desire of Srila Sripada.
Sri Sri Prahlad Nrisimhadeva Ki Jay! Sri Sudarshan
Chakra Ki Jay! All glories to the Lord and all His
devotees! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to
Srila Sripada!
WDX
Photos by Sukadeva Prabhu & Sacirani dd