Every form of the Lord has a history. Here are a few that devotees tell again and again.
The Deity of Radha and Krishna is worshipped as the Lord together with His eternal energy. In Vrindavan, many of the oldest temples trace their Deities to the sixteenth century, when the Goswamis — followers of Sri Chaitanya — uncovered and re-established forms of Krishna that had been hidden for centuries. Radha-Govinda, Radha-Madana-mohana and Radha-Gopinatha — now worshipped in Jaipur and Karauli — still receive pilgrims every day.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu appeared in Bengal five hundred years ago and spread the congregational chanting of the holy names. Their Deities are shown with arms raised in kirtan. Devotees call Them the most merciful, because They are said to overlook offences and accept the simplest sincere service.
The half-man, half-lion form appeared from a pillar to protect the boy-devotee Prahlada from his father Hiranyakashipu. Temples and homes worship Nrisimhadeva for protection of devotees and of devotional life, and His prayers are sung at the end of many morning programs.
Born in a Muslim family, Haridas Thakur chanted the holy names with such determination that he became known as the namacharya. He endured public beatings without anger and left this world in the presence of Sri Chaitanya, gazing at His face and chanting His name. His samadhi in Jagannatha Puri is visited by pilgrims to this day.
Vrinda-devi, known in her plant form as Tulasi, is the goddess of the forests of Vrindavan. She arranges the meetings of Radha and Krishna, and tulasi leaves are placed on every offering made to Vishnu. Devotees circumambulate her plant each morning.
