Mūrtis (Divine Forms)
The divine embodied forms of the Lord (in Sanskrit: the arca-murti), although seemingly made of material components such as marble and wood, have all been sculpted and painted in adherence with the authoritative descriptions of the Vedic scriptures, and have been invited to reside in Their present home according to an authorized procedure (called murti-pratistha, or “installation”) also offered in the Vedas, by which the actual eternal form of the Divine (Krishna) – through the chanting of different mantras and observance of certain rites – has come to be manifested before the material eyes of the viewers of this world.
Attended daily by an approximate number of a dozen dedicated priests (pujaris), the Deities of Śri-Śri Radha-Manohara, Śri-Śri Radha Madana-Mohana, Śri-Śri Jagannath-Baladeva-Subhadra, Śri-Śri Gaura-Nitai, and Śrila Prabhupāda and Śrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, are bathed every morning, dressed and decorated twice a day with fresh flowers, and offered five meals every day and an equal number of aratis (offering of articles to the sound of bells and music).
In this way, for the last 45 years, They have been gracing the Montreal community with Their magnanimous presence, and the constant opportunity for anyone to approach Their service. Any onlooker, however much unfamiliar, will not fail to be attracted by Their colorful attires, harmonious features, and Their ever-smiling faces.
To the practioners of the path of Bhakti-yoga, the Deities are the deliverers from mundane attraction, and the object of the highest love.
Here are the presiding deitiies of the Montreal temple, installed in the year 1976.
Here are the forms of Krishna as They are worshipped in Jagannath Puri, the famous holy site in India. Once in a year, in July, They are the object of a wonderful procession in downtown Montreal.
A vegetarian food prepared especially for the pleasure of the murtis.
Here are the presiding deitiies of the Montreal temple, installed in the year 1976.
See Them daily online!
Wisdom of the Founder
Madame Nixon: One of the most difficult things for most people outside the Krishna Consciousness movement to understand is how Krishna’s form, as worshiped in the temple, represents Krishna, or God Himself… Can you comment on this?
Śrīla Prabhupāda: Yes. At this moment, because you have not been trained to see Krishna, He kindly appears before you so that you can see Him. You can see wood and marble, but you cannot see what is spiritual. Suppose your father is in the hospital and passes away. You cry at his bedside, saying, “My father is gone!” But why do you say he is gone? What exactly has left?
Madame Nixon: Well, his spirit has left.
Śrīla Prabhupāda: And have you seen that spirit?
Madame Nixon: No.
Śrīla Prabhupāda: So, you cannot see a spirit, and God is the Supreme Spirit! In reality, He is everything—both spirit and matter—but you cannot perceive His spiritual identity. Therefore, to show you His kindness, He appears by His infinite mercy in the form of a deity made of wood or marble so that you can see Him.
