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Sri Sri Gaura Nitai
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"In every town and village my name will be known."
The presiding Deities in the Brisbane temple are Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, or Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda appearing in Deity forms. To the uninformed they may appear to be "idols," but in fact they are forms in which the Lord appears to accept the devotee's loving service.
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Lord Caitanya is an incarnation of Krishna who appeared in 1486 ad in Bengal. His purpose was to inaugurate the yuga-dharma, or supreme religious activity for this age, chanting the transcendental mantra:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Lord Caitanya's life and teachings are documented in the Caitanya-caritamrta, a biographical scripture written in Bengali and translated into English with elaborate Purports by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
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Sri Sri Gaura Nitai were originally caste by Bhaskara das in Melbourne, and were installed in a travelling temple-bus. Later they resided at New Govardhan farm, in the "White House," before moving to the present temple.
The Brisbane temple was started at St. Lucia in 1979. In 1983 the temple opened in Graceville by the Brisbane river, and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai arrived there. Plans are well underway to start and entire new temple project with a school, housing and more at Jindalee.
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