Gold - Color of marigolds

Govinda Dasi: In 1970, in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada gave me detailed instructions for making the first Gour Nitai Murtis. He even posed with his arms upheld, saying the Divine Brothers should be in a dancing sankirtan mood. He also described the exact color for Them - a golden-yellow, like the color of marigolds. To be certain, I went to a paint store and got a sample sheet of paint colors. He looked at the sample and check-marked the exact golden yellow color. He then assured me that as soon as these Gour Nitai Deities were ready, he would come to Hawaii to install Them.

When Goursundar and I took his leave to return home to Hawaii, Srila Prabhupada told us, "People are suffering due to lack of Krishna consciousness. They do not know it, they are thinking they are enjoying. But they are suffering. Please, be compassionate upon them. Preach this Krishna consciousness in Hawaii, and help the people there to understand about Lord Krishna."

While saying this, and bidding us goodbye, tears trickled down from his eyes, he was so much absorbed in the mood of divine compassion. Though I was young and inexperienced, for a few moments I glimpsed his incredible love and compassion for the souls suffering in this world. That was a very memorable moment. I then returned home to Hawaii, not only with his new instructions on Deity making, but also his mood of how to preach Krishna consciousness.