My Visit to the Los Angeles Temple

I cannot tell you how very happy I was to be in the temple yesterday with devotees like myself. I felt like I could breath again because i  am around people who share the same interest with me about God and spirituality. At least in a temple devotees there love Krishna. And as soon as I stepped into the temple I sure did feel Lord Krishna's protection. Lord Krishna I know would not let anything happen to me. He's already shown me that He protected me on the way here to California when I was stranded at the airport but He got me through it. And if something did happen, He would be showing His mercy to me by helping me to rely on Him more.

I had gone upstairs to the gift shop first while I waited for the next Aarti service. I got a nice 10 inch murti figurine of Krishna and two books about Lord Nrsimahadeva. Then I went downstairs and had lunch. Krishna must have known I was coming...there was pasta for lunch lol! I sat in the Govinda's restaurant and there was another soooo very cute murti figurine of Krishna next to the table I was sitting at. It was the same place I sat at last year when I was there. I  just wanted to sit next to Krishna lol. Here is a picture of Him. It felt like I was sittign there having lunch with Krishna just like the cowherd boys used to do that.

After awhile I sat and studied the Bhagavad Gita for an hour looking for some comforting verses about being away from the temple and devotees. Im still going over Ch. 6 Text 30. That one seems to be the most comforting, so Im doing my best to try to see Krisnha everywhere since He is God and can see everything we do. I also wrote in my notebook as welll for my blog to post here to pass the time.

Then finally i headed into the temple. I chanted some japa  rounds and for a few minutes sat quietly enjoying the peace and quiet and the wonderful smells of incense in the temple. When 4:30pm came around, I anxiously went up to the altar doors. I was anxious to see Krishna's beautiful Lotus Feet and His beautiful Lotus Eyes. His Lotus Eyes do show a l ot of love to anyone who comes into the temple to see Him. It's very nice to see God in this way as a Deity since we cannot physically see Him with our materially covered eyesight. But Krishna is mericful and allows us to see Him in this form. He can appear in any form He wishes.

When the doors opened I found that the Deities were wearing a very pretty green outfit. Lord Jagganatha was looking cute as He always does. Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda was looking very nice as well, and Radha and Krishna well, They just took my breath away. I stood there for a good 15 minutes taking Darshan of Them. Radharani looked so pretty with a gold trim around Her vail and she had a flower basket in her hand. I love it when She holds a flower basket in Her hand. And Krishna well, He always looks beautiful no matter what outfit He's wearing. :) Here are some more pics to show you:

Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda

Lord Jaggantha below here in this pic

And Radha and Krishna the Divine Couple

Also after the Aarti I was talking to a nice mataji there. Her name is Karuna. I wasn't sure if she was an initiated Prabhupada disciple or not. But she was very kind to me. She asked me what my name was, where I was from, and who my guru Maharaj was. I also told her I felt homesick being away from the temple and she said for me it's definately a sign of a devotee. I love being in the temple and I'd hate to leave it. I don't think I'll shall be leaving the temple any time soon after I get back. I'll be going back to the temple where I live but I have to get back to the Toronto temple as soon as possible as I am much happier there. I miss going to Mangal Aarti in the temple in the morning.Anyways Karuna Mataji had given me some Maha prasadam(food that was offered to God Himself) which was fruit and some sweets to take home I thought that was very kind of her. I hope I can see her again if I go back to the LA temple again.