Winter is almost here...

With fall well underway and the cold weather already here, I decided it was time to bring out my Deities' winter clothes. With the cold Canadian winters I had always wanted to try and knit some scarves for my Deities, however my attempts never quite worked out. These sweaters and scarves were knitted for them by one Mataji last winter. If anyone with experience knitting would like to share some tips please leave a comment.

Month of Kartik Around the Corner!

The month of Kartik is just a few days away (beginning on Saturday, October 3rd). This auspicious month also marks the one year anniversary of this blog! I am currently working on some new posts that will hopefully be ready soon. As always any suggestions for content are always welcome.

As a special treat, you can view a wonderful animation of the Damodarastakam prayers (complete with lyrics and translation) below:


Animation from my other blog: http://www.torontokrishna.com/

Nirjala Ekadasi Darshan

Is been a while since I've posted anything so I thought I'd share some pictures of my deities dressed in pink on Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi, click here for more pictures. Hopefully more posts will be ready soon, but this is a busy time of the year with Ratha-Yatra planning in full swing! To learn about Toronto's 37th annual Ratha-Yatra (July 18 & 19) visit http://www.feedyoursoul.to/! Also visit http://www.torontotunnel.com/ for a unique kirtan experience!

Candana Yatra

Govindaji and his new friend Balarama on Akshaya Tritiya

Candana Yatra starts on Akshaya Tritiya, the third lunar day of the waxing moon of Vaisakha month and continues for twenty days. Lord Jagannatha gave direct instructions to King Indradyumna to perform this festival at this time. Smearing the body of the Lord with ointments is an act of devotion, and the best of ointments is sandalwood paste. Since the month of Vaisakha is very hot in India, the cooling effect of the sandalwood is very pleasing to the body of the Lord. Source:http://www.salagram.net/parishad67.htm

Krishna Balarama in Vrindavan with their foreheads covered in Candana; and Jagannatha, Baladeva & Subhadra in Mayapur covered in Candana more pics from Mayapur here

DIY Deity Jewellery: Necklaces- Part 4

Modifying Ready-Made Jewellery

This year for Gaura Purnima I wanted to try something different than the typical beaded jewellery I always make. I like buying ready-made jewellery and it them apart for the beads and other pieces. This is really versatile for small deities as most of the ready-made jewellery available will not fit properly.

In this case, I used two necklaces purchased from a local Indian clothing store. The necklaces are basically made of jeweled pieces that have a hole on each end separated by beads on two strands of wire. I simply snipped the wires and removed the beads and jeweled pieces. I like to use these pieces individually as earrings for Radha Govindaji or nose rings Jagannatha and Baladeva.

The basic technique for Radharani's and Gaura Nitia's necklaces are the same as the Multi-Stranded Necklaces with two needles being used. The two holes in the jeweled pieces were used to weave the seed beads being around the jeweled pieces. Govindaji's necklace was simply made with a single needle and just beading around the single jeweled piece creating a pendant. Radharani's crown was also made using a similar jeweled piece along with wire and seed beads, detailed instructions for these crowns will be posted shortly.

More pictures of my deities from Gaura Purnima can be found here.

Sri Sri Radha Manohara

I was fortunate to be able to visit ISKCON Montreal and have darshan of Sri Sri Radha Manohara. These life sized deities are stunning, I believe they are the largest Radha Krishna deities in North America. View the gallery below of lordships Sri Sri Radha Monahara, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra, as well as Sri Sri Gaura Nitai from ISKCON Ottawa.

Nityananda Trayodasi Darshans

Their Lordships Shri Shri Gaura Nitia and Shri Shri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha looking stunning on the Appearance Day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Darshan of my deities from the festival can be found in my gallery.