At the heart of the spiritual life of ISKCON Zagreb – Gaur-Nitai Mandir are the Śrī Śrī Gaura-Nitai Deities. In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, the Deity is not a symbol or decoration, but a merciful form of the Lord, to whom devotees lovingly offer prayers, kīrtan, service, time and attention.
Śrī Śrī Gaura-Nitai are the merciful forms of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu. They distribute the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and invite everyone to spiritual life through kīrtan, bhakti, service and community.
Deity worship is a personal form of devotional service. Devotees do not see the Deity as ordinary stone, metal or wood, but as the Lord’s merciful presence in a visible form, accepted according to sacred scriptures and worshiped with devotion. Daily offerings to the Deities include prayers, ārati, kīrtan, clothing, ornaments, flowers, fragrances, food and careful service.
The small Śrī Śrī Gaura-Nitai Deities were installed through the chanting of the holy name in 1987, on Gaura Pūrṇimā, Sunday, March 15, at the former address of ISKCON Zagreb, Bizek I 5. Their worship marked an important beginning of regular temple life and the gathering of devotees in Zagreb.
The large Śrī Śrī Gaura-Nitai Deities were installed through a Deity installation ceremony in 1994 at the same address, in the presence of Śrī Viṣṇupāda and Śrī Rohiṇī-suta Prabhu. The installation took place on the day after Varūthinī Ekādaśī, on Saturday, May 7, 1994. The large Deities come from Ekacakra in India, the sacred birthplace of Lord Nityānanda, and are made of wood.
Since 2002, the Śrī Śrī Gaura-Nitai Deities have been worshiped at the current location of ISKCON Zagreb, Bizek II 36. Their worship remains the center of temple life, gatherings, prayer, kīrtan, prasādam and service at Gaur-Nitai Mandir.
