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Philosophy: Why put peacock feather on Lord Gauranga's head ?

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    In many temples, I have seen that the deities of Gaur-Nitai are decorated with Lord Caitanya having a peacock feather in His hair (sometimes even Nitai has) . I have heard in many lectures that this should not be done as it spoils the entire mood of separation of Lord Caitanya. Yet I have observed quite the opposite of it in many temples. Is there any reason why this is being done ? Lord Caitanya is crying and saying : kva nanda-kula-candramah kva sikhi-candra-kalankrtih kva manda-murali-ravah kva nu surendra-nila-dyutih kva rasa-rasa-tandavi kva sakhi jiva-raksausadhir nidhir mama suhrttamah kva tava hanta ha dhig-vidhih (Lalita-Madhava) This verse portrays Srimati Radharani's mood of searching after krishna .. Where is Krishna with the peacock feather in His hair ? But if we put peacock feather in Lord Caitanya's hair, then His entire mood is spoilt, because Lord Caitanya always considers Himself to be separate from Krishna. For a sample image, see :
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      CommentAuthorVEDA
    • CommentTimeApr 8th 2008 edited
     
    Devotees sometimes put peacock feathers on the crown of Lord Caitanya, as well as on Nityananda and Balarama, worshiping Them as expansions of Krsna. This practice was approved by Srila Prabhupada, although he did not make it a rule. Lord Caitanya may either be offered a peacock feather - honoring His position and occasional mood as the Supreme Personality of Godhead - or decorated without a peacock feather - honoring His mood as a devotee of Krsna (as we do by not offering Him grains on Ekadasi). Lord Nityananda, being an avadhuta and being non-different from Lord Balarama, might also wear a peacock feather, although probably not always. As for Lord Balarama, sastra relates that He would sometimes wear a peacock feather but would more often wear a white feather.
    "All [the members of the Panca-tattva] should wear tulasi kanthi beads, not less than two strands, three, four strands or, my Guru Maharaj had five strands. . . . Only Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda wear crowns and nosepins" (letter from Srila Prabhupada, 20 November 1971).

    (Pancaratra Pradipa, ch. 2)

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