Sri Sri
Radha Govinda – Our Worshipable Deities
Radha Govinda were brought from Jaipur, India by Prithu Prabhu. He had promised Them that if They would come with him he would find the most beautiful place in Ireland for Them to reside. So on 20th July 1986 in a very elaborate ceremony Radha Govinda were installed on a golden altar on Inis Rath Island, also known as Govindadvipa, Govindas Island. We understand that They are directly the supreme personality of Godhead and the service we render to Them can never be decreased.
They have seven food offerings and aratis every day without fail. Radha Govinda are 4 ft tall. The small Radha Govinda are non different from Them so some services are done through the small deities. For instance They can be put lying down in Their beds, bathed daily and brought out on a palanquin or have an Abhishek on festival days.
The daily service begins by waking Them at 3.45 am with an offering of three different types of milk sweets followed by Mangal arati at 4.30 am. Then between 5 am and 7 am They are massaged, bathed, dressed and decorated with fresh flower garlands and jewellery. Sweets are also offered again during this time. At 7 am there is Deity Greeting.
Then They have breakfast offering and arati. At noon there is a big offering called the raj bhoga, king of offerings. After arati They are put to sleep till 3.45pm when They are woken up to a nectar drink and fruits. After that arati someone is already cooking Their dinner and offering another arati at 6.30 pm. Then They are undressed and dressed again in a night outfit. There is a last offering and an arati before They are put to sleep again after being read a bedtime story from Krsna Book and an offering of kheer.
Every year seven new outfits are offered on special festivals and the altar is elaborately decorated. Radha Govinda have a whole room full of animal statues, Gopis, boats, fountains, vases and backdrops as well as over 80 day outfits and over 60 night outfits. Every year the embroidery is done in Vrndavana, cloth is bought there as well as massage oils, incense and jewellery and crowns.
Radha Govinda are amazing. They give us a purpose for living, a reason to get up in the morning. In His deity form Krsna gives up His supreme majesty and gives us a chance to become His protecter and provider. This is inconceivable because otherwise the chance to render direct loving service is only available in the spiritual world.Krsna really doesn’t need it but He puts Himself in a subordinate position just so we can be benefited. The altar service and cooking is for second initiated pujaris but everyone can find a way to serve Radha Govinda and it is all absolute. Dressing and cooking for Them, maintaining Them and Their temple, growing flowers, singing for Them, visiting Them, praying to Them. The more we include Them in our life the more we become attached to Them and the attachments of the mundane world pale in comparison.
