Cleanliness

Kurma Dasa: Mid-morning, Saturday 10 February 1973, Srila Prabhupada descended to a packed temple room for the installation ceremony of Radha and Krishna. He took his seat adjoining the small brick fire pit. Then Madhudvisha carried the marble Deities Who were still covered in pink satin cloth and placed Them one by one into small bathing receptacles in front of Srila Prabhupada.
While Srutakirti decorated the sacrifical arena with coloured rice flour, Madhudvisha lifted the cloth that covered Srimati Radharani. The assembled devotees cried, “Jaya! Hari Bol”, seeing Radharani for the first time. Prabhupada gazed lovingly at Radharani, noting Her pure white complexion and fresh youthful beauty.
Then the bathing ceremony began. The devotees loudly sang the Hare Krishna mantra as Prabhupada poured a small brass pot of scented water over Srimati Radharani’s head. Next, the cloth covering was removed from Krishna. Glossy and black in complexion, Krishna also accepted the loving service of His great devotee, Srila Prabhupada by way of the inaugural bath.
To Prabhupada’s right sat the three devotees taking initiation: a young boy and girl who would become pujaris — priests — and a slightly-built elderly lady seated on a chair. Prabhupada gave a short talk on the significance of initiation, then, exacting a promise from the young boy and girl that they would not leave but rather would always remain in the service of the Deity, handed them their sanctified strands of chanting beads. The boy and girl became Ganesa Dasa and Sukla Dasi. The elderly lady received the name Aruni Dasi.
Prabhupada lit the sacrificial fire. The customary mantras were intoned to the accompaniment of kirtana and readings from sacred texts. Devotees chanted “svaha” and threw ghee-soaked grains into the flames. Prabhupada poured ghee that sent the blazing fire higher and higher. When, finally, bananas were placed into the fire, thick smoke quickly filled the room. Srila Prabhupada reminded the devotees that the smoke was “very nice” and told them not to open the windows.
Prabhupada rose from his seat. He planned to personally offer the first arati ceremony to the newly-installed Deities. While the kirtana was roaring, Srila Prabhupada left the temple room, and, accompanied by Dipak, approached the Deity room door as the pujaris were completing their altar decoration. Srila Prabhupada slipped off his brown canvas shoes and entered. Dipak picked up the shoes and placed them to the side of the door. Suddenly Srila Prabhupada turned. Setting the proper standard of cleanliness, he said: “You should wash your hands — you have just touched my shoes. You are unclean now — please go wash.”