Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 14, No. 12
By Krishna-kripa das
(June 2018, part two)
Paris and London
(Sent from Paris, France, on July 3, 2018)
Where I Went and What I Did
For
the second half of June I continued living at the Paris ISKCON temple
in Sarcelles, about twenty minutes north of Paris by train, and I
chanted three hours a day in public, mostly in Paris but occasionally
in Sarcelles. Two days I went out alone, but the rest of the time
others joined me. A couple of young devotee ladies from Columbia,
visiting Paris on the way to Indradyumna Swami’s festival tour in
Poland, once joined us on harinama.
During the end of June, we had one special event, the Fête de la
Musique (Music Day) in France, which is on June 21, when all kinds of
people do music in the streets. After that I took an overnight bus to
London to do three days of harinama
with
Harinama Ruci, culminating in the London Ratha-yatra on June 24. Then
I took another overnight bus back to Paris, so as not to miss a day
of harinama,
and
I chanted there and in Sarcelles for the last week of the month.
I
share quotes from the lectures and letters of Srila Prabhupada. I
share excerpts from Jaiva
Dharma by
Bhaktivinoda Thakura. I include quotes from translations and purports
by the humble servants of Srila Prabhupada from
the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
I
share notes on remembrances from Following
Srila Prabhupada DVD,
No.
2,
by Badrinarayana Swami, Yamuna Devi, and others. I share notes on
lectures by Janananda, Lokanath, and Kadamba Kanana Swamis,
speaking at Paris ISKCON, Central London, and Bhaktivedanta Manor,
respectively, all about Ratha-yatra. I
share elaborate notes on a very practical and inspiring book
distribution seminar by Vaisesika Prabhu for Bhaktivedanta Manor
devotees and guests. I
include notes on lectures in ISKCON Paris by Gaura Nitai,
Aksayananda, Acarya, Gauranga Prema, and
Prananatha
Prabhus.
Many,
many thanks to Janananda Goswami for reimbursing my travel to Paris
so I could assist with harinama
for
two months, for paying for my three-day vacation to attend the London
Ratha-yatra, and for donating toward my other expenses. Thanks to Mr.
Anil
Agarwal, a billionaire attender of the Radha-Londonisvara temple in
Central London, for his kind donation. Thanks to Ananta Nitai Prabhu
for his kind donation. Thanks to Jagattarini Devi Dasi and Sofiya for
photos of our harinamas.
Itinerary
June
25–July 18: Paris
July
19: London harinamas
and program at Parasurama Prabhu’s place
July
20: Northampton harinama
and program
July
21: Sheffield Tramlines harinama
and possible night harinama
in Leeds
July
22: Birmingham Ratha-yatra
July
23: Fly to Lithuania via Nuremberg with possible harinama
and program
July
24–30: Vaishnava Summer Festival in Lithuania
July
31–August 4: Polish Woodstock
August
5: Berlin
August
6: Dublin
August
7–12: Vaishnava Sanga Festival in Canada
August
13: Dublin
August
14: York Ratha-yatra
August
15–16: Newcastle
August
17–18: Liverpool harinama
and
Ratha-yatra
August
19: Newcastle retreat
August
20: Newcastle
August
21: Edinburgh program?
August
22–23: Newcastle
August
24: Leeds program
August
25: ?
August
26: Leeds program?
August
27: Manchester
August
28: Sheffield program?
August
29: Manchester
August
30: Accrington program
August
31: Liverpool program
September
1: York
September
2: Newcastle
September
3–28: Mayapur
September
29: Newcastle
September
30: Dublin
October
1–January 5, 2019: New York City Yuga Dharma Harinama Party
Chanting
Hare Krishna in Paris
On
the bigger harinamas
on
Thursdays and Saturdays I would lead for half an hour or so, as
here across the street from Hôtel de Ville.
The
main focus of our harinama
in
Paris during the end of June was to make people aware of the upcoming
Paris Ratha-yatra (July 8), and whenever we had enough musicians, I
would always distribute invitations.
Here
Vidura Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in the park behind the Eiffel Tower
(https://youtu.be/R4rnw_bpxYE):
Of
all the venues where we chanted in Paris and Sarcelles, the greatest
percentage of people took Ratha-yatra flyers in this park behind the
Eiffel Tower. Even a security guard talked favorably with us and
purchased an English Sri
Isopanisad for
two euros.
Here
Bhaktin Jessica, visiting from Columbia, chants Hare Krishna in the
park behind the Eiffel Tower (https://youtu.be/GyeMfPQT1Rg):
Indrani Devi Dasi, a youthful disciple of Indradyumna Swami, also visiting from
Columbia, chants Hare Krishna (https://youtu.be/FX7-tVIpW7U):
I
continued attending the Paris Wednesday night kirtans at the
apartment of Atmarama Rasa and Jagattarini Prabhu in Central Paris.
Bhakin
Jessica chants Hare Krishna at the Wednesday evening kirtan and her friend,
Indrani Devi Dasi, plays the drum (https://youtu.be/2gZiAIq2wEc):
The
guy sitting to the left of the Columbian devotee ladies in the video
above met them as they were traveling from Madrid to Paris, and they invited
him to come to the kirtan program. He enjoyed it and ended up
purchasing a French Life
Comes From Life for
two euros.
On
Thursday, which was Fête de la Musique (Music Day) in France, Radha
Sundari Dasi chanted Hare Krishna across from Hôtel de Ville in
Paris, and devotees and passersby danced
(https://youtu.be/AtEZIa_9HtU):
I
led the chanting of Hare Krishna next, choosing the tune of mine that
seems to get the most people dancing. While we were singing, a shop
owner asked us to move because we were where he stored his equipment
at the end of the day, so we proceeded from Hôtel de Ville toward
the Pompidou Centre, avoiding places with heavily amplified music
that would drown us out.
Next
Rohininandana Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna by the Pompidou Centre
(https://youtu.be/iiO8X98gWsI):
At
one point during her husband’s kirtan, Sofiya danced with three
girls (https://youtu.be/EXMYpvpLge4):
As
we were getting ready to leave, a pious Polish guitar player came by
and led the chanting of Hare Krishna with us
(https://youtu.be/8GJqH5ROGpE):
Chanting
Hare Krishna in London
Although
the overnight bus after the Music Day kirtan was an austerity for me,
it was well worth it to do harinama
in
London with Harinama Ruci for two days before Ratha-yatra.
On harinama, I would show people our invitations for the London Ratha-yatra, and since we had very few left, I would have them take photos of them. Sometimes the people said they would not still be here on that Sunday.
If they were returning to Paris, I would then show them the invitation to the Paris Ratha-yatra two weeks later, and I interested at least three people in the Paris Ratha-yatra in this way!
The first day, within
ten minutes of our entering Oxford Street, two groups of Spanish
tourists delighted in chanting Hare Krishna and dancing with us
(https://youtu.be/2Ftj-Mu0VBM):
Later
two guys chanted Hare Krishna and danced with Harinama Ruci near
Carnaby Street (https://youtu.be/sjM_knKJs1w):
Here
parents and kids dance with delight with devotee ladies as Syama Rasa
Prabhu of Harinama Ruci leads the chanting of Hare Krishna at
Leicester Square (https://youtu.be/ylWKo2_Ib3E):
Here
are several more clips from Syama Rasa Prabhu of Harinama Ruci
chanting Hare Krishna in London two days before Ratha-yatra and
passersby dancing with devotees (https://youtu.be/l7aHvKxreoE):
Before Ratha-yatra the altar for Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva, and Lady Subhadra in Central London was decorated with an impressive array of “get well soon” cards, evidence of the devotion of their worshipers.
The next day we chanted mostly along Oxford Street, and not so many people interacted with us (https://youtu.be/a-Zm5R-y_-M):
Our
harinama
party
was invited for dinner to the home of Anil Agarwal, a billionaire said to be one of the wealthiest men in the UK. He regularly attends
our temple on Soho Street, and he has received spiritual initiation.
He lives in Mayfair, “an affluent area in the West End of London
towards the east edge of Hyde Park, in the City of Westminster,
between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane. It is
one of the most expensive districts in London and the world.”
(Wikipedia) Thus it was no surprise our chanting party was less than enthusiastically received in the streets approaching his home. We chanted at his place and had an elaborate meal. Other
devotees joined us there. Mr. Agarwal donated £50 to everyone who
came and paid for cabs so we could get back to Soho Street for the
famous London Saturday night harinama.
Here
Mahavishnu Swami chants Hare Krishna at the Agarwal home in London
the day before Ratha-yatra, after the afternoon
harinama
and
before the evening harinama
(https://youtu.be/GeB9Rf4RYKQ):
Anil
Agarwal himself chants Hare Krishna and another Krishna song at his
home in Mayfair, London (https://youtu.be/vq7ROwEZFfg):
Devotees
chant Hare Krishna on Saturday night before London Ratha-yatra and
passersby dance. Jayadeva Prabhu was one of the main kirtan leaders
(https://youtu.be/IbQnYKWJatU):
The
morning of the Ratha-yatra day, Dharmaraja Prabhu of Harinama Ruci
chanted Hare Krishna from the Central London ISKCON temple on Soho
Street, passing Piccadilly Circus and along the street called
Piccadilly to Hyde Park, the beginning of the Ratha-yatra procession
in London (https://youtu.be/HQ7NVKUOf04):
Here
Govinda Prabhu chants Hare Krishna in front of Lord Baladeva’s cart
at the beginning of the London Ratha-yatra
(https://youtu.be/NHXfDj4HvX0):
The
London Ratha-yatra is overwhelming with its three carts and hundreds
of devotees. I spent a little time in front of the carts of Lord
Baladeva and Lady Subhadra, but mostly I was in front of the cart of
Lord Jagannatha. I think of myself as a dancer for Lord Jagannatha,
so I mostly stay with Him. With the procession of so many people, it
is difficult to find a place to dance for any length of time, but I
did the best I could. When I saw new people who were interested, I
would tell them about our festival at Trafalgar Square after the
procession and of our temple and restaurant in London, and then I
would return to my dancing. I learned from Tiru that Govindas got an
award for the second best restaurant in London for 2018, so I would tell people that. I
told that to one regular restaurant goer I met on harinama,
and
she said, “It should have been rated #1!” The
crowds and the length of the parade made it difficult for me to take
videos, so I gave up and just focused on dancing for Lord Jagannatha
and inviting people to our programs.
Here
Lokanath Swami chants Hare Krishna in front of Lord Jagannatha at the
end of the London Ratha-yatra (https://youtu.be/AocZsxBL-Cg):
Jayadeva
Prabhu, with his devotion to Krishna and musical talent, makes a
lively “Chanting Hare Krishna” booth at London Ratha-yatra,
inspiring both young and old and new and experienced to chant Hare
Krishna and dance with obvious joy (https://youtu.be/9Ar_Ed7CUi0):
Jayadev
Prabhu has different parts of a London Ratha-yatra audience chant
different parts of a Hare Krishna melody (https://youtu.be/vKs5uFB00GY):
I
gave a couple of very new girls mantra cards so they could sing along
with the kirtan, and they really got into it.
They
were so happy to participate in the kirtan!
Chanting
Hare Krishna from the temple to the Ratha-yatra, during the
Ratha-yatra, and during the festival afterward is not enough for
enthusiasts like Harinama Ruci. There must also be the chanting of
Hare Krishna from the Ratha-yatra site back to the temple, and in
some ways that was the most ecstatic of all. Here Dayal Mora Prabhu
sings from Leicester Square, through Piccadilly Circus and Carnaby
Street, and finally, to the Radha-Londonisvara temple on Soho Street
(https://youtu.be/DqTUDKlyfww):
One
of the nicest things about the Ratha-yatra for me was to see several
young people who have a taste for chanting Hare Krishna from coming
to our Soho Street temple. These two young ladies have just been
coming around for a few weeks or months, but they really got into
chanting both at the Ratha-yatra and this harinama
afterward.
Chanting
Hare Krishna in Paris and Sarcelles
The
Wednesday after I returned from London, I was grateful that three
devotees living in Central Paris were able to join me for harinama
since
no one from the Sarcelles temple could come. Here
Radha Sundari Dasi chants Hare Krishna by the Indian shops in Paris
(https://youtu.be/X8IiEWBLEds):
Here Jagattarini
Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna by the Indian shops in Paris
(https://youtu.be/2F0tas4IcPs)
Here Mani
Manjari Dasi chants Hare Krishna at Paris Wednesday night kirtan. I
asked her if she made up the tune or heard it somewhere, and she said
it came from a song “That Girl” by Nirvana
(https://youtu.be/v25AHkR3s4E):
Jagattarini
Devi Dasi chants Hare Krishna across from Hôtel de Ville
(https://youtu.be/YsusVfUPExQ):
Vidura
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Stalingrad in Paris by the canal
(https://youtu.be/V1oNTou_eks):
Rohininandana
Prabhu chants Hare Krishna at Stalingrad, and locals play drums
(https://youtu.be/WKlE2A3109Q):
Chandrashekhara
Acharya Prabhu visited briefly and once chanted Hare Krishna at the
Paris ISKCON temple morning program in Sarcelles
(https://youtu.be/v8hjZvMQVWw):
Photos
of Radha-Parisisvara at Mangala Arati
Funny
Photo
People
joke about how people are absorbed in their cell phones these days.
Here on a Paris train, in a group of four seats across the aisle from
me, all four persons were absorbed in their phones, in their own
worlds, not interacting with those around them.
Insights
Srila
Prabhupada:
From
a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam
7.6.2
in Toronto on July 18, 1976:
“The
bhagavata-dharma
is very clearly indicated in the Bhagavad-gita.
Therefore Bhagavad-gita
should be read very carefully, attentively, from the beginning of
life, childhood. Not that Bhagavad-gita
should be read in old age. No. From the very beginning of life. And
whole Bhagavad-gita
is bhagavata-dharma.
And when one is well conversant with the Bhagavad-gita
or the lessons of Bhagavad-gita,
then the Srimad-Bhagavatam
begins.”
“In
this age the sastra-vidhi
[scriptural injunction] is hari-kirtana
[chant
the holy name of the Lord].
The more you chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra,
the more you become perfect. This is sastra-vidhi.
And Caitanya Mahaprabhu confirmed it.”
“Guru
is necessary for him who is inquisitive of transcendental subject
matter. He requires a guru. Not ordinary man.”
“So
who requires a guru? Jijnasuh
sreyam uttamam.
One who wants to go beyond this world of darkness. Tamasi
ma jyotir gama.
This is Vedic injunction. Don’t remain in this darkness. Jyotir
gama.
Go to the world where light is there.”
“Jijnasuh
sreya uttamam. Sreya, sreya
means ultimate goal of life. In the material world, there is no
question of sreya;
it is all preya.
There are two things, preya
and sreya.
Immediate benefit, that is called preya.
. . . So we must be interested in sreya,
not preya.
Preya is
sense gratification.”
“So when one is actually in knowledge, he feels perplexed. Athato
brahma jijnasa.
Unless one feels perplexed in this materialistic way of life, his
human life is imperfect. One must feel that this material world,
actually it is not happiness.”
If
you think somebody is not worth surrendering to, then don’t make
him guru.
“We
go to friends for some help, but if we accept the natural friend,
Krishna, then there is no scarcity. Suhrdam
sarva-bhutanam.
Therefore we should learn how to love Krishna, or Vishnu. That is the
aim of life.”
Comment
by Rajadharma Prabhu: Lord Caitanya relished his mock arguing with
Kholaveca Sridhara, the Nadia banana seller, so much he would spend
two hours a day with him.
From
a letter to Toshana Krishna written in Los Angeles on November 13,
1968:
“Anyone
who gives some service to this Krishna Consciousness movement is
fortunate proportionately. At least the seed of his fortunate life is
sown there. Whether he gives service of some sort, willingly or even
unwillingly, the seed is sown, and the fortune will come
proportionately. Even if somebody looks shabby and unclean, if he
simply says this Krishna Consciousness is very nice thing, even he is
not able to take full advantage of it at the time, still he is far
more fortunate than any Rockefeller.”
From
a letter to Satsvarupa written in San Francisco on September 20,
1968:
“Our
relationship is eternal. But if somebody lags behind, so in spite of
our eternal relationship one may not meet other at the destination.
Just like a flock of birds—although very intimately related, every
one of them has to fly in the sky by individual strength. If one is
less strong, the others cannot keep him in the sky. That is the law
of nature. So long as every one of us is strong in Krishna
Consciousness, there is no doubt, you can fly in the spiritual sky
and meet together without failure. Therefore, individual strength is
most important. And that individual strength is achieved in the
association of devotees also.”
The
Humble Servants of Srila Prabhupada:
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.16.18,
purport:
“Srila
Sanatana Gosvami comments as follows: ‘Since Lord Krishna had
passed along the path some time previously, why weren’t His
footprints, which were surrounded by those of cows, cowherd boys and
so on, smudged over and brushed away? Why hadn’t His footprints
been obliterated by those of the beasts and birds of Vrindavana
forest? The answer is indicated by the word vis-pati,
master of the cowherd community. Since Lord Krishna is actually the
wealth of all living beings, all the inhabitants of the forest of
Vraja would carefully preserve His footprints as great treasures, the
very ornaments of the earth. Thus no creature within Vrindavana would
ever walk upon Lord Krishna’s footprints.’”
From
Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.16.22:
“Lord
Balarama then saw that Nanda Maharaja and the other cowherd men, who
had dedicated their very lives to Krishna, were beginning to enter
the serpent’s lake. As the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord
Balarama fully knew Lord Krishna’s actual power, and therefore He
restrained them.
“PURPORT
“Srila
Sanatana Gosvami explains that Lord Balarama checked some of the
cowherd men by speaking to them, others by physically holding them
and still others by casting upon them His potent smiling glance.
Distraught over the situation, they were prepared to give up their
lives for Lord Krishna by entering the serpent’s lake.”
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura:
From
Jaiva
Dharma, Chapter
8:
“How
should the devotees deal with such envious persons? It is recommended
one should avoid their company. Upeksha,
however, means neither that one should put a stop to all the usual
human exchanges, nor that one should refuse help to such bewildered
persons. On the contrary, if an envious person is in danger or in
distress, everything should be done to ameliorate his agony. A
grihastha-vaishnava
has to interact with so many different persons in the course of his
daily life. Through marriage, he acquires many new acquaintances.
While shopping, while taking care of family matters, in business, in
property deals, in sickness, in maintenance, in all these matters and
more, normal human dealings are an ongoing and unavoidably necessary
performance.
“How
then is it possible for the grihastha-vaishnava,
with one final stroke, to curtail all simple day to day interactions
with this envious lot? This is not the meaning of upeksha.
Upeksha
is to terminate all spiritual exchanges with the atheists, not social
exchanges. As a result of one’s karma—the resultant material
reactions from previous lives—even some of one’s own family
members may be dveshis,
envious persons. Should they be excluded? No, that is not the
solution.
“Social
exchanges are part of human behaviour, so the envious persons should
be dealt with, but without getting into deep involvement or emotional
relationships with them. In contrast, for spiritual practice serious
commitment is mandatory and spiritual association with one’s fellow
devotees means to interact upon the spiritual platform by discussing
transcendental topics, serving and assisting one another in spiritual
progress. Thus, one should avoid the association of persons with whom
such spiritual practices are not possible or suitable. This is
upeksha.”
“Thus,
in accordance with scriptural injunctions the prime duties of a
madhyama-adhikari
suddha-bhakta
are to cultivate love for the Supreme Lord, friendship with pure
devotees of the Lord, compassion for the innocent, and aloofness from
the envious. The degree of friendship that the madhyama-bhakta
establishes with other bhaktas
of this level should correspond to the level of their devotion.
Similarly, the degree of compassion he bestows upon the ignorant will
depend upon the sincerity and state of knowledge of that innocent
person. In the same way, avoidance of association with envious
persons is also in accordance with the degree of their envy. The
madhyama-adhikari
suddha-bhakta
must carefully consider all these points and then conduct his
spiritual life accordingly.
“Srimad
Bhagavatam,
10.51.53: bhavapavargo
bhramato yada bhavej janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samagamah sat-sangamo
yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau paravarese tvayi jayate matih ‘When
the time arrives for the cessation of the material life of a
wandering soul, O Acyuta, that soul attains sadhu-sanga.
And when he associates with the sadhus
there awakens in him devotion unto You, Who are the goal of the
sadhus
and the Lord of all causes and their effects.’
“Dainya
and daya
are not separate or independent excellences, but inherent to the very
character of Bhaktidevi herself. When the devotee feels: ‘I am an
eternal servant of Krishna, without possessions and penniless, and
Sri Krishna is everything to me,’—the emotion expressed therein
is dainya. Essentially, bhakti
is the bhava
of tender affection for Krishna; while tender affection for other
living entities—who are all eternal servitors of the Lord—is
daya.
Therefore, both dainya
and daya
are naturally embodied in bhakti.”
“Actually,
there is no dharma other than vaishnava-dharma.
All other religions propagated in the world, including those to be
propagated in future years, factually comprise different steps upon
the ascension to vaishnava-dharma,
or alternatively they are deviations from the essential
vaishnava-dharma.
When another religion complements vaishnava-dharma,
the devotee should respect that religion in accordance with its
degree of purity. Thus, the followers of those religions, which
actually constitute different stages on the path to pure
vaishnava-dharma,
must be accorded proper appreciation and respect. And, on the other
hand, whilst dealing with groups that have deviated from pure
vaishnava-dharma,
one must never bear malice, but engage oneself in the culture of
one’s own devotional truth. Thus, devotees should never be hateful
and show intolerance towards other religious practices. When the
auspicious moment comes in a person’s life, he will easily embrace
pure vaishnava-dharma,
of this there is no doubt.”
Badrinarayana
Swami:
From
Following
Prabhupada,
DVD 2:
When
Srila Prabhupada entered the Family Dog Auditorium in San Francisco
to give the speech after the Ratha-yatra all the devotees bowed down,
and even some of the others there also bowed down, including a couple
of Hells Angels next to me, and when they did all kinds of weapons
fell from their pockets and hit the ground, making a crashing sound.
Srila
Prabhupada began his speech, “My dear frustrated youth of America .
. . ”
Janananda
Swami:
Ratha-yatra
is very important. Even before having big temples, when there were
only storefronts in New York Cty and San Francisco, Srila Prabhupada
introduced Ratha-yatra.
Ratha-yatra
is to please Krishna and to fulfill the desires of Radharani.
Lord
Caitanya is pleased by the chanting and dancing of His devotees.
Dancing
is not just to show off but for the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha.
What
is the purpose of our classes:
[answers
from the congregation accepted by Maharaja]
To
increase the enthusiasm of the devotees to perform bhakti
to
Krishna.
To
sharpen our spiritual intelligence.
To
speak for the pleasure of the acaryas.
To
give us hope of going back to Godhead.
To
keep Krishna in the center.
To
help us become free from unwanted things in our heart.
To
learn ways to apply the teachings in our lives.
To
give spiritual shelter.
To
serve or glorify the scriptures.
Ratha-yatra
means everyone coming together from all over.
It
is interesting that God does not usually experience what the devotee
experiences by loving Him. That He does as Lord Caitanya.
Hearing
these pastimes is also purifying. Classes should be based on the
scripture and not simply to entertain. They are meant to make an
impression on our heart.
Srila
Prabhupada said that when Krishna comes He performs so many pastimes
to give us something to think about.
King
Prataparudra gives us hints about getting into the mood of
Ratha-yatra. For example, he was considering his life had no meaning
without attaining the association of Lord Caitanya.
King
Prataparudra was depending on Ramananda Raya to assist him in
governing the whole southern portion of his kingdom, and so you would
think he would be upset when Ramananda Raya told him he decided to
resign and dedicate his life to the service of Lord Caitanya. But in
reality the king was overjoyed to hear the name of Lord Caitanya, and
he allowed Ramananda to resign, and on top of that, gave him a
pension equal to his previous salary.
The
king had never seen the devotees of Lord Caitanya before, yet he
greatly appreciated their features and their sankirtana,
and
he requested the best residential quarters for them. We can learn
from that to appreciate the devotees.
Before
the parade in front of the cart King Prataparudra swept, not to show
how humble he was, but to sincerely offer service to Lord Jagannatha.
Svarupa
Damodar Goswami would sing exactly to enhance the mood of Lord
Caitanya.
The
whole Ratha-yatra is all about singing and dancing.
Two
of the main dancers selected by Lord Caitanya, were Advaita Acarya,
who was almost eighty years old, and Haridasa Thakura, who was in his
sixties.
Lord
Caitanya is testing us. It is not a cheap thing. He wants us to be
completely purified.
The
whole panacea is talks of and about Krishna.
Srila
Prabhupada told the ten thousand hippies in San Francisco, “All of
you who have seen Lord Jagannatha today will go back to Godhead in
your next life.”
To
get the mercy of Lord Jagannatha and of Lord Caitanya is the purpose
of Ratha-yatra – to awaken our natural love for Krishna through
this chanting and dancing.
Lokanath
Swami:
Gundica
is the wife of King Indradyumna.
Every
year, for eighteen years, Lord Caitanya made sure He was present for
the cleansing of the Gundica temple. He was the leader of the
sweepers. The area of the temple He personally chose to clean was the
altar.
One
devotee, during the cleansing, poured water on Lord Caitanya’s
feet, and another got the bright idea to drink the water. Lord
Caitanya took notice and objected to His feet being washed on the
altar of Lord Jagannatha.
King
Prataparudra thought, “I have heard kirtan before, the same mantra,
similar instruments, but I have never heard kirtan like this kirtan
of the associates of Lord Caitanya!” This is prema-kirtana.
In
Jagannatha Puri, one day before Ratha-yatra, people have darsana
of
Jagannatha after two weeks. This is called Netrotsava because you can
have a feast for your eyes that day.
In
1977 I arrived with my Narada Muni traveling party that day eager to
see Lord Jagannatha. At the mandapa,
the
pandas
argued
for a good amount of time that I was a Christian, who had been
somehow been converted by the Hare Krishnas, and therefore, I should
not be allowed in. They claimed they had a dream to that effect.
Seeing us not giving in, they physically picked us up and set us down
outside the simha-dvara
gate.
Meanwhile Rksaraja, a born Christian of Afro-American descent, did
not get involved with the argument, but went in the temple without
being restricted and saw Lord Jagannatha, having a feast for his
eyes. As we wondered where he was, he emerged from the temple with
tulasi
from
the feet of Jagannatha as a gift for me. I embraced him, inspired to
see his good fortune. I took it as a pastime of Jagannatha, that this
Christian got darsana
that
day while a born-Hindu was refused.
The
gopis
say
a truti
(a
seven-hundredths of a second) appears like a yuga
(an
age) in the absence of Krishna.
Krishna
as Jagannatha is on the cart, and Radharani is in front of the cart.
Radharani thinks, “We are meeting after almost 100 years, I wonder
if He still loves Me?” So She moves behind the car to test Him, and
He wonders, “Where is Radharani?” and stops the cart. Then She
appears, and They are transfixed. The Two of Them are in Their own
world.
Whether
the cart starts or stops or moves fast or slower, it is all the will
of the Lord. In any case, the pullers offer their devotion.
This
Ratha-yatra festival thus is important because the reason the Lord
appeared as Lord Caitanya was to experience the mood of Radharani.
This is the time when that is done.
Of
all festivals, Ratha-yatra is extrordinary, an “out-of-this-world
festival,” a Goloka lila
(a pastime of the most confidential region of the spiritual world).
Only
Ananta Sesa could describe these pastimes, Krishnadasa Kaviraja
Goswami admits, “I have my limits.”
The
Lord has an energy called “iccha-shakti”
which fulfills His desires.
The
devotees advised King Prataparudra to recite “Gopi Gita” because
that would nourish the feelings of Lord Caitanya in the mood of
Radharani.
Those
who share krishna-katha,
harinama, with
others are the most merciful.
Feeling
so grateful, Lord Caitanya felt He should give something to King
Prataparudra but He had empty pockets, in fact, He had no pockets at
all, and so Lord Caitanya embraced him to show His gratitude.
Especially
the mood is important for Ratha-yatra.
Thank
you, Srila Prabhupada, for giving us Ratha-yatra, now happening for
the 50th
time in London.
Male
Prabhupada disciple 1:
From
Following
Prabhupada,
DVD 2:
When
Srila Prabhupada arrived at the Family Dog Auditorium after the San
Francisco Ratha-yatra, Srila Prabhupada smiled and said, “I have
come to make all the hippies into happies.”
Male
Prabhupada disciple 2:
From
Following
Prabhupada,
DVD 2:
After
Srila Prabhupada returned from his morning walk in Los Angeles, when
Srila Prabhupada was giving us a flower, it was like Srila Prabhupada
was touching our hearts with that flower.
Male
Prabhupada disciple 3:
From
Following
Prabhupada,
DVD 2:
When
devotees spontaneously played the “Govinda” prayers for the first
time at greeting of the deities, Srila Prabhupada was so moved
emotionally that he did not speak for some time afterward.
Mother
Laxmimoni:
From
Following
Prabhupada,
DVD 2:
Srila
Prabhupada told Jagadish Prabhu: You will have to learn how do this
ceremony [fire sacrifice] because someday you will have disciples of
your own.
Vaisesika
Prabhu:
From
a book distribution seminar organized by Bhaktivedanta Manor devotees
at the Krishna Avanti school:
We
are poised for an sankirtana
explosion
with harinama-sankirtana,
book
distribution, and prasadam
distribution,
with personal contact.
Everything
is in place by the grace of Srila Prabhupada.
Lord
Caitanya is the greatest capitalist and is willing to back anyone
ready to put his life on the line for His sankirtana
movement.
Some
people think books will be replaced by electronics. But industry
experts predict the books will hold their place in human society.
I
say tata-stha
[usually
referring to our position between the spiritual and material
energies] means “open to suggestion.”
The
first book printed on the printing press was the Bible. The early
printing was on parchment made of animal skins. It would take the
slaughter of forty goats to make one Bible.
The
book Origin
of Species
made evolution popular in human society.
“Common
Sense” by Thomas Paine was the all time best-selling book, and it
inspired people to start the American Revolution.
Sampradaya
literally
means
the complete gift.
Ravindra
Svarupa Prabhu says the Gaudiya sampradaya
is
famous as the sampradaya
of
the book.
An
institution is the means through which we transmit culture through
time and geography. Culture is what is real, right and valuable.
Books
outlast people and stay in human society.
Because
our books are connected to the Absolute Truth, they are the greatest
gift.
Although
the same knowledge may be there in the electronic media, people are
still appreciating the form of the book.
Sherwin
Williams paint company had an ad entitled “Cover the Earth.” Srila
Prabhupada saw that ad and said that should be our motto.
The
Jehovah’s Witnesses make their own paper and their own ink.
Srila
Prabhupada says in Adi-lila that we should expand the preaching
unlimitedly, so if you are feeling bored in the Krishna consciousness
movement, you know what you can do.
Srila
Prabhupada knew that Lord Caitanya was backing him.
Book
distribution is easy to evaluate and thus easy to increase.
Book
distribution is high sadhana.
Principles
helpful:
Team-based
model.
Goal
driven.
Individual, spontaneous and voluntary.
Individual, spontaneous and voluntary.
Every
time you make a reasonable goal to increase, you grow. Once you make
it, you have to make a new goal to keep growing. You see how Lord
Caitanya is supplying what you need to meet the goal.
When
you become a Jehovah’s Witness you go out, when you become a Mormon
you go out, and similarly when you become a Hare Krishna, you go out.
The
Monthly Sankirtana Festival (MSF) is a fun way to do book
distribution that gets everyone involved.
We
had one devotee who had a dog named Yogi and who displayed books on
yoga on the back of the dog.
When
the everyone is involved, it brings the community to a higher level.
Srila
Prabhupada advised: Everyone should go out, one person should stay
back and take care of the temple.
If
you make it fun and attractive, people will participate.
If
their GBC, temple president, and temple board are into it, then we
can do Monthly Sankirtana Festival. The first time we go out, we tell
them they do not have to do anything more than touch the pavement.
“Everything else you do is extra.” We do not tell people they
have to go out. They can participate in other ways. They can do back
up work. They can make prasadam
to
distribute. They
can give financial support. If they cannot do any of those, they can
just be an advocate and say good things about it. Afterward we have
prasadam
and
talk about our realizations, and there are always some very amazing
realizations.
Causes
for Success:
Having
goals.
What
gets measured gets improved.
Where
attention goes, energy flows.
Work
as a team.
During
our Puri yatra
we sold 5,000 books and collected over 100,000 rupees. How were
Japanese and Chinese devotees able to sell so many books? Using the
language cards. By giving people the cards and the books, and holding
the mountain pose of yoga while waiting for them to give the laksmi
and
take the books.
“If
on the full moon day of the month of Bhadra one places
Srimad-Bhagavatam
on a golden throne and gives it as a gift, he will attain the supreme
transcendental destination.”
(Srimad-Bhagavatam
12.13.13)
Last
year in Toronto we did 136 sets during the week in Bhadra before the
full moon.
Eleven
years ago I took some five-year-olds on sankirtana.
When
kids go out, the parents want to go out too.
If
there is sufficient training, people are eager to go out. Otherwise
people could be traumatized.
Nehru
had an idea of making India the IT capital of the world, and he set
up so many IT colleges.
I
have one disciple in prison for life. He will never get out. He has
been chanting regularly for ten years. I initiated him. He was a skin
head. The chaplain who accompanied me during my fire sacrifice said,
“You are going have to send some Bhagavad-gitas.
Your
man has been telling everyone to read them.”
“How
many?” I asked.
“About
200,” he replied.
I
built houses in Govardhan for people who give a certain donation for
book distribution.
Last
year we raised $200,000 from corporations for book distribution.
We
have an event called Kirtan Oasis of mini festivals.
I
got into the management more and more because I found out it helps to
have inspiration from the top.
How
to sell Bhagavad-gita
on
its own merit:
Pick
the ripe fruits.
80%
Core (things you do and know work) and 20% (try new places and
strategies)
We
have to leave everyone with a good impression.
Hand
power:
Raise
your hand and say “Hi”!
Let
the unripe fruits go. Do not try to pick them.
Qualify:
Announce
where you are from, and ask, “Where are you from?” Say, “You are
qualified.”
Trust
the hand:
If
they accept the book in their hand, even if their mind is not yet
convinced, they will likely take it.
Mantra:
These
are books on yoga and meditation that show you how to get free from
stress.
Say
the mantra as you are handing the book and end with the book in their
hand on “stress.”
“You
have heard of stress before, right?” Have an answer for either way.
“You
do not look stressed, you look spiritual.”
“What
is your secret?” [By saying this, you put them in a superior
position, like a guru.]
[If
you say to a person, “You look spiritual,” they begin to feel
spiritual because they are spiritual.]
I
take the book back and say, “Let me show you!”
Show
them a quote on the back. Tell them of the famous people who read it.
Say it is used in the colleges. Show the quotes by college
professors.
Ask
them if they can read the Sanskrit. Say you were just testing them.
Become
a master of questions.
Infallible
donation line: We don’t sell it like in the bookstores. We only ask
for a donation. We do not need the money. It is part of an ancient
tradition. By giving a donation, it helps connect you to the line of
previous teachers and helps you enter more deeply into the meaning of
the teachings.
We
refuse to sell it. It’s too valuable. We just take a donation.
Srila
Prabhupada authorized us to offer lollipops directly to the deities.
Yamuna
Devi:
From
Following
Prabhupada,
DVD 2:
The
deity of Lord Jagannatha came before Radha-Londonisvara.
Shyamasundara carved Them. Our lives were completely centered around
Lord Jagannatha, and thus Ratha-yatra was a very ecstatic event.
Srila
Prabhupada told us to make the deity so opulent everyone will be
attracted to Them.
Mostly
people were attracted to join by the chanting of sankirtana,
a
few by prasadam,
but
mostly it was the sankirtana.
Kadamba
Kanana Swami:
Lord
Caitanya danced in front of the cart for the glorification of Lord
Jagannatha, attracting everyone, and astonishing Lord Jagannatha as
well.
In
Satya-yuga King Indradyumna asked his pandita
for
the ultimate deity to worship. The pandita
asked
the sadhus,
and
one excited sadhu
described
Nilacala. Thus Ratha-yatra has been going on since Satya-yuga.
There
had never been kirtan before Lord Jagannatha like that done by Lord
Caitanya and His associates.
The
London Ratha-yatra is immortalized being mentioned by Srila
Prabhupada in his purport to Sri
Caitanya-caritamrita.
Lord
Jagannatha is the most merciful, because He can engage anyone in
service.
According
to Kavi Karnapura, at Ratha-yatra only one person was unhappy, King
Prataparudra. Why? Because Kavi Karnapura was describing the
Ratha-yatra after Lord Caitanya had disappeared, and it just was not
the same without the ecstatic dancing of Lord Caitanya.
The
queens had a special balcony where they would view the beginning of
the Ratha-yatra, but during Lord Caitanya’s time, King Prataparudra
gave that balcony to Lord Caitanya and His associates.
The
Ratha-yatra is a victory for the gopis
– to
be pulling Krishna to back to Vrindavan thus ending an unbearable
separation. When Srila Prabhupada was in London Ratha-yatra in 1973,
it was also a victory for Krishna consciousness in the UK.
Trafalgar
Square is perfectly designed for Ratha-yatra, with a platform just
the size required for the three chariots. I have attended
Ratha-yatras in Paris, New York, and many other cities, but I have
never seen that.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura got the Gaudiya sampradaya
in
shape, strengthening it, by eliminating this and emphasizing that,
and then Srila Prabhupada spread it all over the world.
Ratha-yatra
is an essential element of this movement. Even gross mundane people
are a little bit impressed by it.
King
Prataparudra took pleasure in serving Lord Jagannatha and even more
pleasure in serving Lord Caitanya.
Now
we are performing Ratha-yatra as did Lord Caitanya and as did Srila
Prabhupada.
In
Calcutta we had a truck of bananas following the Ratha-yatra cart,
and we threw bananas to the crowd.
It
is festival. Everyone is included. Everyone has to get the mercy
today.
If
they gave me a week to speak on Ratha-yatra, I probably would not run
out of things to say.
If
you are not there with kirtan, waiting for the Lord to arrive, you
have missed something.
Comment
by Janananda Goswami: In 1973 there were only 100 or 200 devotees, so
most of the people in the Ratha-yatra procession were from the
general public. Now, of course, it is mostly devotees.
Gaura
Nitai Prabhu [from Hungary]:
Srila
Prabhupada gave his followers some nice chanting and some
encouragement before he introduced the different restrictions because
unless one has motivation, it is difficult to follow restrictions.
As
devotees we are always looking for the positive, but Yamaraja has a
service where he encounters nothing but the negative. Thus he is a
very great soul for his willness to do such a thankless service for
the Lord.
Through
the chanting of His holy names, Krishna is giving us the chance to
clean up our bad past and start a new life.
Yamaraja
was pleased to hear his servants chant the name of Lord Narayana
because he understood their spiritual life had begun.
Usually
at seventy years of age, you do not plan on doing big things. But
Srila Prabhupada did, out of compassion. His guru ordered him to, out
of compassion.
We
have compassion within ourselves, and when we become purified, we
will experience that compassion.
What
kind of plan is this, to send an old man with no money to deliver the
world? Krishna must have some additional idea.
Srila
Prabhupada is giving what was given by the mahajanas
so
we can count on it, and by following that instruction we will
gradually attain success.
Comment
by Rajadharma Prabhu: There is a song that says. “The
loss of a nail caused the loss of a shoe, and the loss of a shoe
caused the loss of a horse, and the loss of a horse, caused the loss
of a king, and the loss of a king caused the loss of a kingdom. All
because of the loss of one nail, a whole kingdom fell.” So don’t
forget to take care of little details, before they turn into huge
problems.
Aksayananda
Prabhu:
Government
is needed in this world because the activities of one person may
bother another. Such government is not required in the spiritual
world, which is governed by love. The false egoism of the material
world is a perversion of that love.
Krishna
provides religion to tidy up the activities of the material world.
The
Yamadutas concluded that because Yamaraja was determining who would
live and who would die that he must be the supreme ruler.
The
Vishnudutas were so convincing because as the representatives of Lord
Narayana, it was like Lord Narayana had personally come.
Both
the Vishnudutas and the Yamadutas argued on the basis of the
scriptures, but the Yamadutas quoted about the law of karma while the
Vishnudutas spoke of the mercy of the Lord. The mercy of the Lord is
such that it can overrule the law of karma.
The
Garuda
Purana describes
every kind of suffering one can experience in hell.
One
punishment that is particularly severe involves waking up a person
just as soon as he falls asleep and thus never letting him sleep.
The
job of the Yamadutas is to give people suffering, but because they
work for the universal government, they get no karma for it.
Yamaraja
told his servants to never come near one who is chanting the holy
name of the Lord.
Rupa
and Sanatana said that Jagai and Madhai said the name of the Lord in
the course of blaspheme but still that holy name was the ultimate
cause of their liberation.
By
the association of the Vishnudutas Ajamila came to regret his sinful
activities.
When
liberated by Vishnudutas, why did Ajamila not attain heaven? For one
thing, it was not his time to die. He had a desire to correct
himself, and so that chance was given.
Comment
by Chandrashekhara Prabhu: From the Ajamila story we can learn that
ajnata-sukriti
does
not bring us to perfection. Still the person has to consciously
practice devotional service to attain that.
Because
of our past activities, we may be blessed with the association of
devotees. But if we serve in the society of devotees without
acquiring the attitude of bhakti,
we will not attain perfection.
In
the Garuda
Purana, Krishna
tells Garuda that to benefit a relative suffering in hell one should
offer prasadam
(sanctified
food) to the relative who is punished and also to two Yamadutas who
are engaged in punishing him.
Comment
by Rajadharma Prabhu: Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami said as we advance
we are blessed with many siksa
gurus
[instructing spiritual masters].
King
Vipascit was an ocean of virtues, but accidently because of being
busy with his administrative duties, he neglected his wife and thus
had to briefly experience hell before attaining heaven. On his visit
to hell he could not imagine what people had to do to suffer in that
way nor how could they could tolerate such suffering. The sinners who
were suffering experienced a minimization of their suffering by his
presence and begged the king to stay. Considering his duty as a king
to protect people from suffering, he decided to stay out of
compassion and thus reduce their suffering. The Yamaduta guiding him
through hell went back to get him, and he explained his decision. The
Yamaduta said he would have to live in the same hellish condition as
the prisoners, but he did not mind. The Yamaduta brought Yamaraja and
Indra to encourage King Vipascit to continue on to heaven. He was
adamant to stay in hell and benefit the people. He asked the extent
of his piety, and they said he had 10,000 years in heaven. He said he
wanted to give the pious credit to those who were suffering in hell.
They said by making that offering his piety increased a thousand
times. He said he wanted give the additional piety to benefit those
who were suffering. The result was that temporarily hell was vacated
by the piety of King Vipascit. This story is from the Puranas.
Acarya
Prabhu:
Bhaktivinoda
Thakura was so perfect in consciousness as a magistrate that he
handled five times as many cases as anyone else, and even the British
appreciated his judicial decisions.
The
highest judgment that one can receive is to attain the spiritual
world.
Without
the sanction of paramatma,
the
Lord of the heart, one cannot even move one’s finger.
We
can easily witness in the lives of the new devotees around us the
truth that one who has practiced yoga in the previous life is
spontaneously attracted to it.
Krishna’s
instruction that one should constantly endeavor for perfection is
important. Sometimes we encounter people slacking off after a few
years. Bhakti Vikasa Swami went to one temple where no one went to
the mangala-arati,
and
he mentioned the problem to the GBC. The GBC replied that they have
been in the movement for ten years or more so you cannot tell them
what to do.
Seeing
the Following
Srila Prabhupada
video last night it was striking to see the whole consciousness of
the disciples was completely absorbed in concern that Srila
Prabhupada would be pleased with their activities.
In
the video Brahmananda Prabhu was saying that early devotees felt so
empowered by Srila Prabhupada that if he told them to climb Mount
Everest that they would have done it and not been tired.
We
should always consider that Krishna is aware of what is going on in
our minds.
If
we are very pure in our heart and our dealings then we can work
better as a team.
When
we see the impurities in our heart, we will become humble and realize
that only by the mercy of the Lord we can conquer over them.
The
new car of the Delhi temple was involved in an accident with a
rickshaw. The driver of the car, who was a devotee, argued with the
rickshaw driver for an hour and a half. Meanwhile Bhakti Vikasa Swami
walked back and forth chanting japa.
Finally
they consulted Bhakti Vikasa Swami about what they should do. Bhakti
Vikasa Swami said that the rickshaw driver appeared so poor it would
not be possible to get from him the cost of the car. The rickshaw
driver agreed. Bhakti Vikasa Swami then asked him to show how much
money he had, and he showed him a few thousand rupees. Bhakti Vikasa
Swami asked him to give the money to the devotee driver and asked the
devotee driver to accept it as sufficient. In this way, Bhakti Vikasa
Swami, because of his complete detachment from the scene, was able to
make a solution that they both happily accepted.
If
we do not endeavor for spiritual perfection, we will end up like the
shoe sellers fighting with other shoe sellers for the privilege of
selling shoes in Gare du Nord [the largest Paris train station].
As
soon as we identify with our material bodies, fear begins as does our
experience of material dualities.
Fearlessness is the first of the divine qualities listed by Krishna in
Bhagavad-gita,
and
it helps us develop others.
Because
we are not afraid of maya,
it
is difficult to fully take shelter of Krishna.
Fear
can protect us from offending Vaishnavas.
Because
Srila Prabhupada was fearless, his intelligence was undisturbed in
every circumstance.
There
are cases where people are so addicted to gambling, that as soon as
they get their pay check, they gamble away the entire sum, and
realizing they have no money to maintain their families, they commit
suicide out of fear.
In
Japan if a business fails, often the businessmen will commit suicide
by jumping off their buildings rather than suffer the shame of
failure.
In
India farmers and students are first and second in terms of numbers
of suicides, farmers because large companies are competing to drive
them out of business and students because of failure in their
studies.
Comment
by Rajadharma Prabhu: Although you were saying lust is the cause of
fear, these days people are not afraid of lust. I saw a bag with the
following quote attributed to Epicurus, “Let us quickly surrender
to temptation before it goes away.”
Gauranga
Prema Prabhu:
It
is difficult to observe ourselves when we are completely absorbed in
performing our activities. It is, however, possible for the Lord.
If
you could get even get a drop of what Lord Caitanya is experiencing
in chanting and dancing for Lord Jagannatha, it would make all
material pleasure seem insignificant.
Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura describes Lord Caitanya as gushing Krishna-prema in
his trip to South India. He literally flooded the world with
Krishna-prema.
Our
sadhana
is
our turning of our face toward Krishna.
Some
people think that God and the demigods need us to believe in them for
it gives them power.
If
you hold on to your anarthas
[unwanted
material desires]
you
will not make it to nistha
[the
stage of steadiness in devotional service].
There
a book called Bhava
Bhakti which
is based on a series of lectures by Devamrita Swami which I recommend
reading to come to higher level of devotion.
Devamrita
Swami was not eager to become GBC although Sivarama Swami recommended
it. Then once he had a dream with Srila Prabhupada holding
Srimad-Bhagavatam,
Tenth
Canto, Part Two, in his hands in front of him. Devamrita Swami
reached out to take the book, being attracted to read it, but Srila
Prabhupada took it and hid it behind his back, and said, “GBC.”
Then he realized that Srila Prabhupada wanted him to become a GBC.
Some
religions, like Christianity, teach that we are separated from God by a
gap, and that gap is our sinful activities, and we cannot do anything
ourselves to bridge that gap. Gaudiya Vaishnavas teach that we are
eternally pure souls that are temporarily covered by matter. The Lord
comes and gives the means by which our souls can become cleansed.
Some religions, like Christianity, think you are the body and
therefore you are impure by constitution.
Lord
Jagannatha is not just sitting there. He is in control. Sometimes
although His chariot was pulled by sufficient people, it just did not
move.
Lord
Caitanya was present in all seven kirtan groups. This is because He
wanted see all the kirtans going on and because His devotees in all
the groups wanted to see Him.
When
you have a debate between an atheist and a theist, neither the
atheist will become a theist nor will the theist become an atheist.
Why? Because God gives each arguments to strengthen their own
positions. Such debates are valuable, however, because those who hear
them may have a change in heart.
Prananatha
Prabhu:
Although
the Srimad-Bhagavatam
glorifies
the holy name from the first chapter of the First Canto
(Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.1.14) through the last chapter of the Twelfth Canto, in
fact, its final verse
(Srimad-Bhagavatam
12.13.23), the main glorification of the holy name is in this section
of the Sixth Canto on Ajamila.
Bhakti
Vidya Purna Swami explained that because of the great degradation of
this age people have to spend longer than usual in hell because of
the depth of their absorption in sinful activities.
Ramanujacarya
says that being killed in a fire or by a wild animal will not destroy
our bhakti
but the association of materialistic persons, such as demigod
worshipers, can destroy our tendency for bhakti.
-----
In
honor of Ratha-yatra season, I include the fifth verse of
“Jagannathastakam” to
glorify Lord Jagannatha, who goes out of His way to make souls
spiritually fortunate:
ratharudho
gacchan pathi milita-bhudeva-patalaih
stuti-pradurbhavam
prati-padam upakarnya sadayah
daya-sindhur
bandhuh sakala jagatam sindhu-sutaya
jagannathah
svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me
“When
Lord Jagannatha moves along the road on His Ratha-yatra car, at every
step large assemblies of brahmanas
loudly chant prayers and sing songs for His pleasure. Hearing their
hymns, Lord Jagannatha becomes very favorably disposed toward them.
He is the ocean of mercy and the true friend of all the worlds. May
that Jagannatha Svami, along with His consort Laksmi, who was born
from the ocean of nectar, be the object of my vision.”
(“Jagannathastakam,” verse 5)
