Text 34] The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahiti 893

members sit down, hold Hare Krsna kirtana, hear narrations from Srimad-
Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita and enjoy music before going to bed. The
atmosphere created by this sankirtana movement lives in their hearts, and
while sleeping they also dream of the singing and glorification of the Lord.
In such a way perfection of Krsna consciousness can be attained. This
practice is very old, as learned from this verse of Srimad- -Bhagavatam;
millions of years ago, Svayambhuva Manu used to avail himself of this
opportunity to live householder life in the peace and prosperity of a
Krsna consciousness atmosphere.

As far as temples are concerned, in each and every royal palace or rich
man’s house, inevitably there is a nice temple, and the members of the
household rise early in the morning and go to the temple to see the
mangalaratrika ceremony. The mangaldratrika ceremony is the first wor-
ship of the morning. In the aratrika ceremony a light is offered in circles
before the Deities with a conchshell and flowers and a fan. The Lord is
supposed to rise early in the morning and take some light refreshment and
give audience to the devotees. The devotees then go back to the house or
sing the glories of the Lord in the temple. The early morning ceremony
still takes place in Indian temples and palaces. Temples are meant for the
assembly of the general public. Temples within palaces are especially for
the royal families, but in many of these palace temples the public is also
allowed to visit. The temple of the King of Jaipur is situated within the
palace, but the public is allowed to assemble; if one goes there, he will see
that the temple is always crowded with at least 500 devotees. After the
mangalaratrika ceremony they sit down together and sing the glories of
the Lord with musical instruments and thus enjoy life. Temple worship by
the royal family is also mentioned in Bhagavad-gita, where it is stated that
those who fail to achieve success in the bhakti-yoga principles within one
life are given a chance to take birth in the next life in the family of rich
men or in a royal family or family of learned brahmanas or devotees. If
anyone gets the opportunity to take birth in these families, he can achieve
the facilities of a Krsna conscious atmosphere without difficulty. A child
born in that Krsna atmosphere is sure to develop Krsna consciousness. The
perfection which he failed to attain in his last life is again offered in this
life, and he can make himself perfect without fail.

TEXT 34

Frond anrarag aft aera Fay |
wepiaid at a Fee] 1124!
