Gaura Nitai

The wonderful story about the arrival of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda in New Remuna Dham (Toronto)

by Laxmimoni dasi

At the time in Toronto, about 1973, we were worshipping a small brass pair of Gaura Nitai and had a large picture of Panch Tattva on the altar. We were really hoping that Neem wood Gaura Nitai Deities could be installed in Toronto and were making plans with Uttamasloka prabhu in Montreal to purchase two sets. At this time, Sudama Swami came to visit Toronto. He was traveling and preaching from a van. In the van was a beautiful set of Neem wood Gaura Nitai Deities!!

The Toronto devotees were alarmed however with this situation, because the van was small and the Deities could easily have become damaged. We asked Srila Prabhupada what should be done. He said that the Neem wood Deities should be installed in Toronto and the Sudama Swami should take the small brass Gaura Nitai to worship on sankirtana. Everyone was happy with this situation.

Our beautiful Gaura Nitai Neem wood Deities came to Toronto completely unsolicited, by Their causeless mercy, in order to fulfill the desire of the devotees. As chance would have it, Montreal temple received an identical set. It was rumored that they were carved from the same Neem tree. Given the close association of Montreal and Toronto temples at the time, and the strong emphasis on book distribution, this seemed like a wonderful and auspicious situation.

The small brass Deities who were originally being worshipped in Toronto, are now in Hawaii as far as I know and are being worshipped there.