Addicted to Attending Mangal Aarti

Okay I confess. I am addicted to attending Mangal Aarti which begins at 4:30am in the morning sharp. I do feel groggy when I get up at 3am but i don't like to rush to get ready which is why I rise an hour and a half early. Usually after 15 minutes I am more awake and eager to see Krishna first thing in the morning. I normally start chanting my rounds at 3:30am and I can finish half of them before Mangal Aarti. I chant at least 20 rounds now everday. I feel obligated to do that now since my guru Maharaj told me to chant 4 extra rounds if there is any extra time during the day. Today however is Ekadashi so I might chant more than 20 rounds.

Anyways, this morning I felt anxious to see Krishna. My regular time to go in the temple is 4:15am, but this morning I found myself going in at 4am. I had brought my books with me and my ipod to take notes from Prabhupada's lectures after I had finished my rounds. I like to be at Mangal Aarti when the Deity doors open. I hate being even one minute late to Mangal Aarti. I  can remember back when I was first living in New Vrndavan or I should say just visiting, I was running a bit late and I woke up so fast took a quick shower, ran back to my room to get dressed and as soon as I was done I heard the conchell go off, and RAN down stairs. I didn't even brush my hair that morning. So this is why I get up at 3am so I don't have to rush.

There have also been times in Toronto I would go to a late night home program with Maharaj and a few others. I was dead tired when we got back to the temple. I remember the one program we went to in Missassauga for a Janmashtami home program i was so exhausted I was close to tears. Maharaj came over to me to see if I was okay and he told me not to cry. He knew I was about ready too because I felt so exhausted and cramped from the crowds of devotees in this tiny temple room in the house. Maharaj told me that I didn't have to attend Mangal Aarti the next morning, and said that I could chant rounds on the way back to the temple for the next morning. but I was so tired I was out like a light in the car. I only slept for two hours after I got back to the temple and still got up for Managal Aarti. I was stubborn about it. I HAD to attend Mangal Aarti.

This morning I woke up at 3am and started chanting my rounds at 3:30am. I was finished with most of them before Mangal Aarti. I was in the temple room at 4am on the dot. The Deities were wearing a beautiful orange outfit this morning Krishna was absolutely stunning! He just keeps looking more and more beautiful every time I see Him every morning. Seeing Krishna first gives me energy through out the day.

The only thing I miss during Mangal Aarti is hearing my guru Maharaj lead the kirtan. His voice is so soothing first thing in the morning. But I just heard on mayapur.tv that he will lead Tulasi Puja Aarti tomorrow. Definately need to tune in for that to see and hear him.