Page 68 - GOTIL (ENG) Sample

The Procession: A Reminiscence

by Rasarāja Dāsa

[The following story, lightly edited herein, originally
appeared as an article in Back to Godhead magazine, Nov/
Dec 1991.]
In Madras the reigning Deity of Kṛṣṇa is known as Pārtha-
sārathi. And as in many Kṛṣṇa temples, on festive days the Lord
goes out on procession. The main Deity stays in the temple, and
the pūjārīs bring the Lord out touring in a smaller form, known
as the utsava-mūrti, or festival Deity.

“Ammā,” I shouted, throwing down my school bag, “give
me tiffin.” I’d just returned from school and wanted to
85
go quickly out for play.
“Wash your hands and feet first,” my mother responded
from the kitchen. I ran into the bathroom, splashed water
everywhere, and ran back into the kitchen.

“I saw a procession of Lord Pārtha-sārathi going
somewhere,” I volunteered as I sat waiting for the tiffin
to appear.

My mother, reaching into the upmā pot, suddenly stopped,
turned around, and fired a volley of questions: “Lord
Pārtha-sārathi? Where did you see Him? Why is He going
out today, and at four in the afternoon?”

85. Ammā — Tamil for “mother.”

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