(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 August 2012, Stockholm, Sweden, Lecture: Lord Balarama’s Appearance Day)
Srila Prabhupada had installed deities all over the world. Each time, Krsna was there, Krsna was manifesting and Prabhupada was experiencing it. But during the installation of Krsna-Balarama, on Ramnavami in Vrndavan, Srila Prabhupada was so ecstatic that he personally did the aarti and became so overwhelmed with happiness as it was the ultimate victory. A time of success as he had returned from his mission.
During that very first aarti, Prabhupada was just beaming. He turned around towards the crowd… he just never finished the aarti… never blew the conch shell… he just started preaching to the crowd by describing the glories of Krsna and Balarama. One could say that Srila Prabhupada was over the moon!
So these Krsna-Balarama deities stand there on the central altar in our movement because as Prabhupada explained, “So many temples are there in the world and they may or may not close but never let an inch of Mayapur and Vrndavan temples deteriorate!”
There is no question that these temples are the main temples that we turn to. The Krsna-Balarama deity had received that amazing welcome from Srila Prabhupada and that amazing prayer from him too, “To shower all those who are under his care with Their mercy and blessings of devotional service.”
