A view of the full altar, night time. Sri Jagannatha Swami ki jay!
On the right, we can see a small altar, with Sri Hanuman Yantra.

This Salagram Sila arrived in my house in Jan 2007. Since the day I saw Madhava-lila Mataji's HDG Jagannatha Sila (check her link), I somehow desired to have a Sila to worship Him as Lord Jagannatha, and this was in 2003.

Damana Krsna Prabhu JPS (check his link), at that time told me that he could choose among the ones he had a Salagram that resembled Lord Jagannatha. He wanted to send Him to me in 2004. But at that time, my private life was not so arranged (I was leaving Nova Gokula Farm and moving to the city) and I thought it was not proper to take up one more responsibility. So I asked him to keep the Sila for me, until things got settled.
 
Then I started to think that what kind of person I believe I am to have so much mercy, to have a Salagram!
I thought this was too much for me, I did not deserve that!

In this way, I kept my desire deep inside my heart, and decided to forget all about it, and concentrate on my Jagannatha Baladev Subhadra Deities, which have been with me since 2001. I avoided even checking salagram.net website to avoid the "temptation" (laughter).

When I heard Lilavilasini dd JPS (check her link) also had a Salagram, her Sundar Gopal simply captured me. It was Dec 2006. The desciption posted about how Sundar Gopal came to her and how He looked like a small mango got me. Suddenly, I found myself with that hidden desire to have a Salagram sprouting up again from my heart. I just could not help it.

But again thought: okay, forget!

A couple of days later, I got a letter from Damana Krsna Prabhu saying he believed it was high time the Salagram came to me, and the Salagram on already on His way to Brazil. He was sending via a Godbrother, Gurusevananda das JPS, who was about to arrive in a few weeks more.

I couldn't possibly believe my eyes reading the letter. I had mixed emotions. I was thrilled with the arrival of the Lord, but at the same time, felt the responsibility I was about to take up. I wrote Lilavilasini then, mentioning to her that somehow or other it was her fault (laughter). She immediately instructed me on the standards of worship and said, "Now you pray for His arrival, and meanwhile prepare lots of ghee wicks". Lilavilasini dd is always very very sweet.

When I saw the Salagram, I could immediately see Lord Jagannatha smiling face upon me. Some other devotees would say that He was propably Matsya, or Someone Else. But I could not see anyone but Lord Jagannatha Himself.

The Salagram is small sized, and He looks like a Baby Jagannatha. His mood is much of a baby, very sweet, naughty, and in a way spoilt. Some devotees tell me to buy Jagannatha eyes or tilak to Him, but I prefer painting His lotus face, that can defeat the light of millions and millions of moons, everyday, allowing Him to manifest different moods each time.

When He arrived, while taking Him home, a name came to my mind: Bhadra Jagannatha. But everybody calls Him Baby Jagannatha.

Somedays I cannot really measure the bliss I experience by having Him in my house. My spiritual life changed completely. Last year (2007) I had a serious health problem, caused by stress, and almost left my body. I am sure I am still here by Lord Jagannatha's sole mercy. 2007 Gaura Purnima I celebrated at home, with full pancamrta abhisek.

As every Jagannatha, He enjoys eating. And He loves even more when we distribute his mahaprasadam.

Your servant,
Mitra Gopi devi dasi
 
 
 
 
 

This murti of Srila Prabhupada was the first Deity I ever had, in 1998-1999.
My Spiritual Master, HH Srila Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaj, whose Sudarsana
Salagram Sila "ring" deeply caught my heart in 2004.

Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladev Srimati Subhadra Devi & Sri Sudarsana Chakra in
red outfit. Sri Sri Radha Madhava Asta Sakhi in a picture below Them.

Lord Baby Jagannatha looking very blissful with His red nose ring.

Right below the five dots on the right cheek of the Lord (right considering
the observer's point of view) He has a line, which I believe is a brahmana
thread.

Lord Dharmeswar Mahaprabhu picture, from Srimati Visnupriya Temple, where we
can get immersed in the flow of separation Srimati Visnupriya felt for her
Lord. Jagannatha Salagram in the middle, in His red cushion, sweetly smiling
to us. Lord Narasimhadev, protecting from all sides!

This is the Lord after Snana. Note the natural pupils. I just paint around them.
 
 
 
 

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