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Purification by Prabhupada

Sumati Dasi: I received my second initiation from Srila Prabhupada so that I could care for the Deities, but I didn't know anything about gayatri-mantra and I didn't know that there was a way that you counted the mantras on your fingers. Prabhupada showed me the finger movements for gayatri but I didn't know what he was doing. When he did the same movements again I thought,  Oh, maybe he wants my beads, so I took my beads out of my bead bag but he said, "No." Then he took my hand in his hand, took my thumb and put it on each of the places to show me how to chant the gayatri mantra.
 
Many years later I became aware that there were times when the Guru, knowing his disciple was not pure enough to care for the Deities, would touch that person to purify him or her enough to be with Krishna on the altar. I felt, Oh, that makes sense, I certainly needed that purification.


Reference: Memories Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint - Volume 3 by Siddhanta Dasa