Hari Hari!
Priya Mataji, I like the idea in your temple that you take it in turns to be 'head pujari' - although in this sense there really isn't one! it reminds me very much of the Radha Ramana system of worship, one that Prabhupada appreciated a lot.

I do like hearing all these attitudes - it is certainly healthy to express one's feelings in a group such as this, and I wish (even though this is foolishly late of me - so please forgive me for his too) to beg forgiveness for what may have been taken as my harsh statements in this discussion. Over the last couple of days, it has been very hard to get the time at work to sit down and write a proper reply, but I will try to now - Krishna I certainly agree that the only new things the deities are offered are what you mention, so we should do our best to keep it always exciting for them ( I know I love trying new things with our deities at home). Also as many of you have stated it is a wonderful way for different moods to be expressed by the pujaris, different expressions of bhakti, and also the expression of one's realisation. Thinking of the Lord's form and meditating on this, as to what would look nice, what one could do to please the Lord by adding a slight different flair to the dressing - is a form of realistion that should be cherished and encouraged, not stunted - This is how we develop in our Krishna consciousness. This encouragement really is seen from all the different forms of dressing I have seen from recently looking at he Darshan book CD - I hope you have seen it, it truly is wonderful to be taken around the world and see so many wonderful darshans! and I do think a healthy alternative to he 'head pujari' system is that which mother Priya talks of. - much more conducive to the idea that none of us is the master, we are simply trying to serve the real Lord and Master - Krishna. Yet, still, prabhu's please bear with me, when I take darshan of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda, Sri Sri Sita Rama Laxmana Hanuman and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, I find it very hard to fault anything that is done (behind the curtains or otherwise) - as each time They melt my heart, Their Lordships seem so pleased, and if They are pleased - so too is this insignificant fault finding servant of the servant.

ys. being reminded of the need to constantly beg forgivness at the Lotus Feet of the vaisnavas,
Krish.

indeed. variety is the spice of life.

it is also service to the devotees to see different dressing when the curtains open in the morning. krsna LOVES to look beautiful and what to speak of variety.

i appreciate mother priyas approach as well to say. who are we to say what krsna will or will not like in the matter of dressing. unless very sloppy (which should never be the case lol) each persons style of dressing can be seen as beautiful and the rasa they have with the lord.

arun ji. what i kno of standards set by srila prabhupada and the nectar of dressing comes from the senior devotees that have been kind enough to share with me. for example krsnas turban should always have fresh flowers. the deities should always have fresh flowers, they prefer it to jewelry. they can have necklaces of scented jasmine, roses, marigolds, tulasi garlands. and that the garlands should always match the outfits the deities are wearing. prabhupada also wanted the use of pins to be expert, too many makes them look like puppets. an expert pujari will use the right amount and it will hold perfectly. as much as possible u should try and always face the deities when dressing them. never brush the wigs, oil them. be careful to never cover the eyes of the deities with the pagari (turbans). also that the necklaces and beads match perfectly the outfit. that is high class not just cheap plastic pearls.

this is some of the nectar that prabhupada personally taught ramabhadra dasa, jyotiraditya dasi and sarada dasi that has been passed down to us. thanx to my wife satarupa dasi for some of the above memories that i had fogotten.

haribol
ur dasa
manu