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Sewing for Sweet Krishna

krishnas temple wearing green and white velvet

There were a number of things that made this time wonderfully exciting for me, and I have SO MANY pictures I feel I could do at least 6 blog posts to cover them all! Only- I don’t think I will, so I might just tell you all about how KRISHNA CAME- CONQUERED – LEFT!

He first arrived to visit in January 2018, and due to a series of unexpected events (all of exciting nature – like, the Hawaiian floods, then volcanoes, then unexpected disappearances in the family, and great moves across the continent!) He ended up staying with me for 8 glorious months of dedicated sewing time, having Him RIGHT HERE for fittings, sitting at my table and available to be closely measured and doted on.

Instagram was full of my different WIP clothes for Krishna, and every weekend was a speed sewing fest. I think I’ve been too busy to focus on anything else! Actually, I lured my sister into leaving Krishna with me, when she dashed home in March, by promising 10 complete outfits with turbans, and not to do anything else until they were done! It was tricky, I had a few distractions, but I MADE IT! 10 beautiful outfits for Krsna, in 3 weeks. Ok maybe more like in 8 months, but by now I have capped the Krishna wardrobe collection, running on to more like… 16? I have to count!


We had a lot of fun naming the outfits creatively!
This is His outfit list:

Lotus (definately one of the favorite outfits!)

Mango Lion;

this one was made thinking about Lord Nrsringadev, with more of a shako style turban for Krishna. It’s an interesting and functional outfit where you can remove that floaty orange silk overskirt, and style it more simply with just the vest, pants and shawl.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiImERzACv4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
MANGO LION OUTFIT

Purple Majesty

This outfit, such a hit! The purple is one of her favorite colors, and purple and gold = sensational. The Blue and the Purple are almost the same in style, with the puffy pant and the overskirt, top, topped with big turban.

They’re both super majestic and formal and a bit dancey.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh2N12bA6tg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Purple Majesty

Turquoise Lake – this first blue one is the Turquoise lake… it has a matching blue overskirt too.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BitEy1HAFxz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Green & White freshness

One of my earlier efforts, before I went all out lavish after a bit more direction from my sister toward “mathura prince Krishna style”.

It’s still got that glorious dhoti, and the nice useful vest which will probably be great in the changing seasons weather, like the Autumn coolness or unpredictability of Spring.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhSJaiXjha6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
GREEN AND WHITE OUTFIT

Majestic Prince (the turban for this outfit is my sisters favorite turban – it’s also the biggest and most full on ornamented!)

Honestly I struggled a LOT with this outfit! I made the maroon velvet top, which I think veers towards luscious velvet bathrobe. And pairing it with YELLOW was such a hard choice but it’s so INDIAN I think, and super authentic. The Turban just kept getting bigger and bigger! Still, it’s one of my sisters favorites, she confided.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiquLULATfT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
This outfit is called MAJESTIC PRINCE

Rose Red

Gasp! Stunning.

Royal Red coat and oriental dhoti

so cute, this coat is made from heavy braid, and topped with a soft silk shirt and a fair bit of braid.
The braid was donated by MadyaLila from Ashraya! It’s the extra’s for one of her Ashraya outfits, so as she told me delightfully, she’s so happy to be twinning with Krishna!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhplEgogxJX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
ROYAL RED COAT
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bee0kv9DKkx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Royal Red IN PROGRESS

Bathing outfit – Krishna’s swimming gear, named so because it’s simplicity and pastel colors

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhiaCAzgkI7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
BATHING OUTFIT
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhh6abQA6rD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
BATHING OUTFIT

Royal Blue – can’t find a photo, but it’s a vest and royal blue dhoti. I’ll try and add a picture later!

Emerald – the most incredible dhoti with reams of expensive gold braid, decorated in pearls!

Now he has hair though, the crown doesn’t fit. The simplicity of this is just to my taste!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgLGu_1HKdo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
EMERALD OUTFIT
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiGgNeDAY8g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Balaram Lustre

Balaram Lustre outfit started out with this pristine white velvet, and the concept of a rolled side turban with that higher on one side Rajput Princely style element. It came out REALLY NICELY, I felt, but I did warm up all the white with some blue vest.

I’m particularly keen on the pearl drop elements at His beautiful waist.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkKt6A9gxG3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
BALARAM LUSTRE

Peacock Outfit

This beautiful outfit has the best set of pants, they’re the final product after 4 attempts at pants, I think I finally made the best type for Him.

They are made from a blue shantung silk, and the outfit has a matching oriental green skirt, with a green silk fitted top. I have also paired it with a high waist belt, as you sometimes see in ancient Indian paintings and sculptures. LOVE IT!

Forest prince Peacock outfit - shantung blue silk pants for Krishna deity, Green oriental silk overskirt, ornate braidwork and forest green shantung silk vest. Krishna deity wears a crown of opulent red green and pearl gems.

Fresh forest flowers – this one is a rejected outfit… I made it, I like it, but it’s not been popular due to the large flowery print, and so it’s one I’m keeping here to model off SIZES. To me it’s very Rajput. And I love it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkhuEyQA18m/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Love, Sita

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Deity Worship – caring for Krishna

Nitai Gaur deities sita's lords raised arms chanting and dancing deities beautifully dressed and decorated with flowers and wigs

Looking after the Lord is pretty sublime. What nicer activity is there than caring for Krishna?

In this day and age there are no hard and fast rules that you need to follow to look after deities of Nitai Gaura or Krishna.

While the nectar of devotion does outline offenses against deities because we have become so far from able to observe all the specific ins and outs it is better for home deity worship to instead understand very practical considerations.

The rules and regulations if you look at them objectively are all there to guide us into nicely caring for the deities, as we would a guest whom was most valued.

If you keep that in mind, then it is very simple to provide the same intention of worship for Krishna and Gaura Nitai. Then even if we are not perfectly correct we are still sincerely trying to be pleasing by establishing a relationship of love.

A lot of times my friends ask in desperation how to look after deities! Especially now, when I do a lot of instagram posts about deity clothes, deity painting, and so on. By no means am I an authority, so all I can share is what I learnt from my dear mother in growing up in how she cared for her deities and so I am happy to offer at least that example, as well as my own understanding on the WHY, that might help inform your decisions when you are not exactly sure what is the pleasing choice.

The most important I would suggest is keeping your practice regular, so that the Lord knows when he is going to eat, bathe, dress, sleep.

You do not have to institute a temple like regime at home, but you should daily visit Krsna and offer Him something, or what is the point of inviting Him to inhabit this archa vigraha form and accept your worship?

The wonderful reason that we are trained in deity worship and adopt it is because it gives us the opportunity to develop a very real loving and caring relationship with the Lord. Whether it is Nitai Gaura or Gopal Krishna the intention is the same. Learn to serve with love*.

There are no hard and fast rules – but you may, depending on the type of deity you have, wish to offer the Lord baths, fresh clothes, & a bed to rest in, along with food, flowers, water or arotik.

To give a practical example, this is my regime of caring for my Nitai Gaura, and my role model is my mother, who has very wonderfully cared for her beloved Gaura Nitai for the past decades. I remember their installation when I was a child as the most incredible event! It was amazing to me and I still vividly remember the sounds, textures, sights – Beautiful deities standing in glowing red translucent bowls being poured over with ghee, rosewater, and the one which really astonished me was yoghurt… more later on what you can do to install your deities.

My deity worship practices:

I bathe before I visit my lords, and ring a bell to alert them that I am coming to see them. I open the altar doors pay my respects and request that they please arise and take their bath.

With prepared warm water in a jug scented with drop of rosewater, I ask them to step into their big bath, “Please step into your bath now my dear Lord Chaitanya”,  and undress them. Pouring the water nicely over the body of the Lord I then take a nice cloth and dry them, “Please step out of your bath now my dear Lord”, before dressing them again for the day.

Once dressed I used to show them their own beautiful reflection in a mirror but it broke and I haven’t replaced it yet…

Then we offer food and have a kirtan with arotik & gurupuja.

I leave lights on for them in the evening and offer them dinner with more kirtan, and then before I go to sleep I invite them to take their rest (usually I say, “please take your rest now my dear Lord Chaitanya/ Nityananda) lay them down (physically placing them in beds) after removing their ornaments and dressed only in the dhoti from the day, cover them with their blankets and lights off.

My mother also reads them a passage from scripture for their pleasure once her Lords are resting and before the lights go out. Such a nice practice!

It’s nicer to have specific pajamas! And dress them in that… I used to completely undress them to put them to bed (it’s very hot here in Australia, and they use only a sheet in summer and a sheet and light blanket in winter) but then I was concerned that they would become cold while waiting for their bath (They stand up out of bed first and I put the beds away to allow room for the bath).

I do not have a specific time which I wake them up or put them to rest or offer dinner, it flows with our family life, but usually I wake them up at 6am and then in bed between 9-11pm. The breakfast offering is before 8am because after that we are getting ready for school. Sometimes I will simply offer fruit, sometimes make it special.

Now it doesn’t have to be this full on, or it could be more so! Some people change their deities garments monthly, or only on appearance days, or every weekend. Some people are far more elaborate than I am! They might be very practiced at having exact times to attend the deities, but in our family we do what we can, and what we can do is care for Krsna like another of the family members, so we do our best and pray that it will be enough.

Marble deities are very fragile, and usually one will not move them about on the altar. Instead of actually laying them down to rest, one can prepare a bed for them, and invite them to take their rest upon the bed. (not physically placing them into the bed).

The most important aspect of worshiping deities of Krishna and Nitai Gaur is to remember that what they appreciate the most, what we can offer them, is the Holy Name. Having an altar there and plonking food down and paying obeisances and moving away… it’s good that you are offering your food but what Krsna enjoys is hearing His names! So better to streamline your deity care, and offer more kirtan with love.

This is my humble attempt to share my practice with you, and offer some practical advice on daily application of deity worship. Please remember it is a relationship between you and Krishna – offer with love and don’t stress out.

Things that we can do to be considerate:

Wash our body before visiting the lord.

Wash our hands before touching the lord or His paraphernalia (his arotik tray, clothes, food, etc)

Be attentive to the Lord while the altar is open or uncovered (don’t conduct other conversations, ignore him, subject the deity to anything unpleasant like nasty noise(Screaming kids!) or fighting.. etc Sometimes it is necessary to pause and gently guide your children before the Lord, don’t freak out it happens when you are raising kids, all the more reason to give your guidance in the most appropriate way with the well-being of your kids in mind).

Offer the lord only vegetarian food (duh, sorry, I just put it in because you know… just in case).

When offering the Lord water to bathe in – give Him fresh clean water that you haven’t put your hands in – the water should be nice and fresh. I get the tap water to the right temperature on my wrist before filling a jug.

Give the Lord a nice sitting place (put some effort into decorating the room of the Lord – this one is fun! You will do this naturally anyway)

Give the Lord a nice resting place (that bed for night time?)

Offer the Lord various refreshments thoughtfully

Offer kirtan for His pleasure..offer Him His own Holy Names with love!

*Don’t worry-  Krishna will help guide you from within your heart, and externally so you may refine your deity worship and offerings… sometimes (ok often) when I am preparing a little offering to my Lord I get the inspiration.. oh it would be nicer if you also offered…

We can get inspired by visiting other nice devotees and see what they do to worship their Lordships too! I know there is just SO MUCH MORE that can be done, but if like me you are in family raising stage of life you probably need to keep things simple, or just need some inspiration to get started.

I hope that my humble thoughts on this will not offend the more learned, and if I am mistaken then please feel free to correct me.

Love,

Sita

 

 

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Remember Krishna – the solution to all of life’s problems

remember krishna radha decorated with garland with fairylights poster

Please read on where I am sharing the most beautiful spiritual wisdom talk shared by my own spiritual teacher, who has given us all this gift of transcendental knowledge.

Take heart; Remembering Krishna makes it possible to have actual life.
When you remember Krishna big mountains seem like very small hills you can easily cross.
When you’re not remembering Krishna even small hills look too hard.
When you remember Krishna you have courage facing difficulties & challenges.
When you forget Krishna even the smallest obstacles seem insurmountable, you experience frustration, anxiety, depression.
When you remember Krishna you experience hope.
We forget Krishna & experience hopelessness.
When we remember Krishna we experience purposefulness.
When we forget Krishna we experience life is without any purpose.
When we remember Krishna we are surcharged with spiritual strength.
When we forget Krishna we become spiritually weak.
When we forget Krishna we are like a blind person, we cant see which way to go or where to aim.
When We remember Krishna we can see very clearly what path to follow.
When We remember Krishna our hearts fill with love, appreciation & gratitude.
When we forget Krishna we have hate, anger, feeling resentful, jealousy.
When we remember Krishna we experience tolerance, patience, forgiveness.
When we forget Krishna forgiveness is beyond our reach. We cannot forgive those who offend us.
Simply by remembering Krishna we have life – with forgetfulness of Krishna we have darkness & death.
We should always remember Krishna, and organise our life so that we always remember Krishna.
Chant japa – japa is the private practice of chanting names of Krishna solitarily.
If we neglect to spend time everyday chanting our japa, if we take lightly this instruction from our Spiritual master and don’t spend time alone with Krishna chanting japa then our remembrance of Krishna is weakened.
Some disciples think they are so busy that they don’t have time. They think that they cannot put aside an hour of the morning to chant the names of Krishna.
This is a big mistake. There is no meaning to ‘service’ without remembrance of Krishna.
If we neglect to follow the our vow of spending time with Krishna then we are undermining or rejecting the relationship with our spiritual master and Krishna.
when we neglect this basic central instruction to chant japa by ourselves with Krishna focused on hearing th enames, the form and pastimes of Krishna then we are neglecting the most wonderful opportunity that has been given by Krishna to come into contact with His representative and receive His holy names.
First make sure to remember Krishna by spending time every day chanting japa. Every opportunity here and there through the day we can do more japa.
Hearing the names of Krishna, putting on a cd of Krishna chanting, listening to the names of Krishna and hearing pastimes of Krishna, the names and forms of Krishna & chanting in congregational kirtan.
Organise your life so you are engaged in Krishna.
We eat and drink throughout the day – we can offer that to Krishna.
Remembering Krishna.
We offer obeisances to our Spiritual Master by thanking him for filling our hearts with transcendental knowledge – the truth of my identity that I am part and parcel of Krishna. He is my dear-most friend.
Remember Krishna means remembering our relationship with Krishna, not philosophically but in tasting love for Krishna, in remembering our loving relationship with Krishna.
Transcendental knowledge and love for Krishna are one and the same.
The realization of transcendental knowledge means loving Krishna.
My dear Krishna, you are the heart of my heart, the life of my life, let me take shelter of you. Just rest your heart and mind in Krishna – this is rememberance of Krishna.
This remembrance of Krishna saves us from the greatest dangers, the darkest night.
In all situations just remember Krishna, this is the solution to all of lifes problems.
Just remember Krishna means love Krishna.
Love Krishna and remember Krishna is one and the same. Please chant the names of Krishna

My notes from a lecture given by Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa Prabhupad a bonafide disciple of a bonafide spirtual master coming in a long line of spiritual teachers, originating from God Himself.

Any errors are due to my own note-taking & poor memory, and I beg you will forgive me for them.
For more nectarian instruction visit www.wisdom.yoga
Follow instagram @scienceofidentity for regular spirtual wisdom love bursts on your insta feed!

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Choosing a Krishna Deity

Youthful krishna deity dressed sweetly in flowers from the forest playing his flute on a ornate pink background

I have long admired the Krishna deities which my friends and family have worshipped.

Krishna has so many different moods!

We know that, looking at a deity of Krishna it doesn’t matter from what His form is created. Be it carved wood, formed clay, poured metal or crafted marble – Krishna is so captivating and beautiful that it is His form and transcendental loveliness which prevails. The way in which He captures His dear devotees and accepts their worship is always different. In His adornments, the decorations He wears and the look in His eyes – dreamy, naughty, reassuring, loving, mirthful, reassuring – it’s all there when you begin a relationship with Krishna in His deity form!

But it’s kinda hard to commit to a purchase of a Krishna statue, before you begin worshiping Him.

krishna syamasundar deity with red garland, peacock feather black syamasundar marble deity formAfter so much wonder and bliss and attraction to so very many different deities, I am personally dithering and have been for years – dark Krishna or light Krishna? Because really… it doesn’t matter, it’s just KRISHNA I want!

White marble krishna deity radha kauai deity dressed beautiful garments from remember krishna silk dhoti and garments
Radha’s Krishna deity

But even so, I’ve been looking and looking at deities, thinking, I would really like Krishna to look after here, to make Him garlands and clothes and rest my eyes on Him as I chant japa and sing to my Lords.. or like I used to, have Him with me as I work ready to bedazzle my eyes and capture my heart.

deity on my work desk with little photo frames Krishna deity while I work looking lovingly at me
Krishna used to be with me like this, standing at my desk with me all day long. It was so nice! He has gone now, as He was just on a long term babysitting.

It’s this ever-going-around circle in my head. This morning I looked at the deity of Krishna I have recently painted – a black soapstone Krishna, who was imperfectly carved, but now, He is just so CHARMING! And if He were mine I know that I wouldn’t change Him for any other! He has this very JOYFUL and HAPPY look (which is just so perfect for the bubbly devotee who will be taking Him home) and it was such a delightful flash of perception. Krishna is Krishna. He will inhabit a deity form and the color texture quality etc are all immaterial because… it’s Krishna! He is above the material considerations and will sneak in and steal our hearts.

So – do I know whether I want a black marble Krishna or a white marble Krishna now? Yes. Black or white (light blue I should say) either way I am happy.

Krishna deity in white marble with flute, peacock feather and effulgence

Now its all about looking for Krishna at the right age. What’s the right age? Any age of Krishna! I’m kind of joking, but I do think that Krishna makes His own arrangements that He comes to you just as He should.

Look at youthful and blushing Krsna here: Youthful krishna deity dressed sweetly in flowers from the forest playing his flute on a ornate pink background

The mistake I don’t want to make again:

When I ordered my own dear Nitai Gaura deities, I had ordered the exact same deities that my sister has. (My sisters deities are SO SO SWEET!) Her Gaura Nitai deities have these meek and mild faces, so far removed from looking at the world, but focused on Krishna, and this dainty posture, arms raised high.. Oh I just LOVE them!

So I placed an order, with the same supplier, for these deities. But then, to my consternation, the supplier sent back a picture of the deities they were sending. I wailed and woe’d! It was absolutely NOT a set from the same mold. They were different in a zillion ways. I tried again –  I emailed back and said – “NO! These are NOT the deities I want.” And I resent the picture of my sister’s Lords, pointing out the differences. OK – next I got a pic back (of the same deities) with painted base to mimic the bases on my sister deities, and painted faces… Oh, so not the point!… So I gave up, and said ok, well, if that’s what you are sending me what can I do.

And then. They arrived.

Nitai Gaur deities sita's lords raised arms chanting and dancing deities beautifully dressed and decorated with flowers and wigs

The minute I cracked open the box (they arrived in this massive crate! So well packed and stored, and it was obvious this Immense TREASURE had arrived on my doorstep! So the minute I opened the box and before I had even untied them and lifted them out, I had lost my heart. I cried out of happiness and wonder. Krishna had chosen how to come to me and They were perfect. I have to laugh about it now, that I thought I knew best.

Krishna knows how you want to relate to Him. He knows your heart.

My deities have this amazing welcoming presence. They have wide open hearts and arms open welcoming and lifted up as they dance. They have very curved dancing hips and one foot is lifted off the ground – They are dancing all the time, and I dress Them in clothes that won’t get in the way of Their transcendental dancing. Their eyes are big and lustrous, They have beautiful smiles that are at once grave and happy, and to see them is to see how They invite us into the spiritual world.

Worshipping Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda deities is so nice; we develop the mood of service. If I’m lazy out of bed or lazy to cook dinner I remember that I haven’t woken up my Lords or offered them food, actually it keeps me more regulated! And I worry about them, while I am cooking, if they will like it and try and keep the mood of cooking it nice. Mostly I’m super lazy, so it helps to have this little prompting!

When my parents took care of my Nitai Gaura while I was away for a week, years ago, here’s my Lords with their Lords:

nitai gaur deities in two sizes, small gaura nitai large nitai gaur deities both beautiful

My parents  darling Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda deities, but they love to come and visit my Lords and offer worship with kirtan.

If you think you might like to order the same set (haha!) you can contact me to get the name of the supplier!

Read my blog about different types of deity forms that may work for your family -:How to choose a Krishna murti for Family Life

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Easiest dhoti in the world for Krishna deity

Following on from my first HOW TO MAKE A DHOTI FOR KRISHNA post, I have put together a very simple guide, with some ideas and explanations about the reasons for pleating, and how and where to pleat.

This really is the worlds easiest dhoti… or maybe I should say, realistic dhoti, after all there are some dhoti which are just a sarong and that is probably easier style.

It’s also extra fun because I have temporarily in my custody this beautiful Krishna deity I painted! Isn’t He lovely? Syamasundar Krishna in all joyous happy beauty. (If you are painting deities then please check out my tips on painting deity forms)

As long as you know how to sew and hem a simple rectangle, then this DIY tutorial is all you need to get started on making your own clothes for Krsna! If you have your deity standing in front of you then you can easily work out the length you need to cut.

I love it if I have Krsna in front of me it makes sewing for Him SO much easier! In general I would allow 1/2 of waist width for the front pleats, 3cm extra for the back pleat, and then 1.5 times waist width for the length to pass between Krishna legs and fold into the back of his dhoti at the back.

Always sew on your braid before you do your final stitches to secure the ends and add your press studs!

If anything in this tutorial is unclear, please refer to my step-by-step tutorial which is detailed with images! Here’s that link again 

There’s a whole catalogue of Krishna videos on my YouTube channel which you may or may not follow – not everything makes it’s way to my blog, we’ve diversified across social media platforms, hah! Please subscribe and follow me on YouTube & Facebook! I promise to keep it Krishna conscious! I don’t promise not to totally obsess over art, Krishna, deities, and more 🙂