Page 28 - OPIHI (English)

14 nAthdwArA

the history of the deity His eyes look downward, guiding us

According to Çré Caitanya- to devote ourselves to His feet.
caritämåta, the Deity of Çrénäthajé The Deity appears in a large black
is none other than the Gopäla stone, from which His form emerges
Deity who appeared in a dream in bas-relief. The stone itself,
to Mädhavendra Puré, the great surrounding the Deity, bears several
spiritual forefather of Çré Caitanya marks: a parrot by the Lord’s head,
Mahäprabhu. The Deity had been two sages seated on His right side
lost, so in the dream the Deity told and a third on His left, and below
Mädhavendra Puré to find Him on the sages a snake, two cows, another
Govardhana Hill, extricate Him snake, a lion, and two peacocks. On
from the thickets, and establish Him
in a temple. “Please pull Me out of
this forest, make a beautiful temple
for Me, and hold a great festival.”

Commanded by the Lord,
Mädhavendra Puré inspired the local
villagers to rediscover the Deity
and perform the festival to install
Him atop the hill. So the followers
of Lord Caitanya and those of Çré
Vallabhäcärya are united in adoring
this Deity of Çrénäthajé as the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.

the BeAutiful form of
ÇrénäthAjé

Çrénäthajé is Lord Çré Kåñëa in His
pastime of lifting Govardhana Hill.
Thus the Lord’s left hand is upraised.
His right hand, closed in a fist, rests
on His waist. It is also said that the
Lord waves His devotees towards
Him with His left hand and keeps Not exactly Saks Fifth Avenue. A
the nectar of devotion in His right. shopkeeper sells essential oils that
pilgrims will offer to Çrénäthajé.