Sri Gaura Purnima
Sri Gaura Purnima is the auspicious appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, also known as Gauranga due to His golden complexion. As stated in the scriptures, the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and taught the importance of devotion to Lord Krishna through congregational chanting of the holy names of God, known as the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. He appeared on Phalguni Purnima, the full moon day in Phalguna (Feb-March) in 1486 AD (1407 Shakabda) at Sridham Mayapur as the son of Sri Jagannath Mishra and Srimati Sachidevi.
sarva-sad-guṇa-pūrṇāṁ tāṁ
vande phālguna-pūrṇimām
yasyāṁ śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanyo
’vatīrṇaḥ kṛṣṇa-nāmabhiḥ
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the full-moon evening in the month of Phālguna, an auspicious time full of auspicious symptoms, when Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advented Himself with the chanting of the holy name, Hare Kṛṣṇa. (CC Adi 13.19)
His parents named Him Nimai since He was born under a Nimba (neem) tree in the courtyard of His paternal house. This festival also marks the beginning of the New Year for Gaudiya Vaishnavas.
The celebrations at IHF Boston begin with a Pallakki Utsava of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga (Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda). The Utsava Deities are carried for a procession in a Pallakki bedecked with flowers amidst grand kirtans. After the procession, the Deities of Nitai Gauranga receive a grand abhisheka (sacred ceremonial bath). Their Lordships are first bathed with panchamrita (milk, curd, ghee, honey & sugar) followed by various fruit juices. Devotees then chant prayers from the Brahma-Samhita, glorifying the Lord. A grand arati is performed to the accompaniment of the Gaura arati, a song composed by the great Vaishnava Acharya (Saint), Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. After the arati, the Deities are bathed with sanctified water from 108 kalashas (sacred metal pots) while the devotees chant the Purusha Sukta prayers. Their Lordships then receive pushpa vrishti (showering of fragrant flowers) and a special offering of several vegetarian dishes.
After the abhisheka, a Shayana arati is performed by singing Sri Sachi Tanayashtakam, which describes His transcendental form, qualities and activities. The program concludes with a grand Harinama Sankirtana!
Devotees fast until moonrise and break their fast by taking an anukalpa feast (grain-free items). On the following day, a special feast is offered to the Lord and devotees, called Jagannath Mishra Feast, named after Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s father, who arranged a grand feast to celebrate the birth of his son.
Join us for the celebrations and receive blessings from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
