Today I am leaving Kumbha-mela. I am going to Pune for Bureau meetings. In transit I will be in Bangalore for some time.
There is so much to say to inspire you to keep chanting. We had Utsava in Pandharpur and then here in Kumbha-mela. Utsav increases our ‘Utsaha’ (enthusiasm). We become more enthusiastic and inspired. That is the very reason why Prabhupada arranged, Mayapur-Vrndavana festivals. The devotees come and get their battery charged.

He would say like that. Used to invite us to get inspired. That also happened here with us in these few days in Kumbha-mela. Specially yesterday’s highlight was that we distributed lots of books. You will be pleased to hear that yesterday 22000 Bhagavad-Gitas were distributed here. By this you will also feel inspired to read Srila Prabhupad’s books. Those who really understand Prabhupada’s books take up the chanting. The essence of the teachings of the scriptures and Srila Prabhupada’s books purports are meant to inspire the whole world to take up chanting. That is the essence of all instructions.

We had nice holy dip yesterday. It took lot of time to get there. So many parties were there. You will be amazed to know that three crore pilgrims took bath yesterday at Triveni Sangam. Everyone was fighting to get there. aham purvam aham purvam Whenever Lord Dhanvantari emerged with the Kumbh – the pot filled with nectar, then demigods and demons , suras and asuras started fighting to get that nectar. Bhagavatam describes – aham purvam aham purvam. Yesterday all the parties were fighting to get their first. Aham purvam I will go first. On our way to take bath there we were chanting continuously,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Bathing in the nectar of Hare Krishna mahamantra! Those who were hearing that were already bathing in that nectar. Chanting and hearing. Hearing is important. Only chanting is not enough. If hearing doesn’t happen then it is incomplete. You are chanting and others are hearing, but what about you, the chanter? They say ‘ Charity begins at home.’ So it is giving charity to yourself. Feed the holy name to yourself. Drink! Let the soul drink the holy name.

We had a lot of association here. Sadhu-sang. We were remembering and reminding ourselves, when we were taking the holy dip at the confluence that the River Saraswati is not visible here. Out of Ganga,Jamuna and Saraswati. We were able see the waters of the Ganga coming from one direction, and of Jamuna coming from Vrndavan side and they were merging. But where was Saraswati? She is quite mysterious and invisible to our eyes. Here at Kumbha-mela understanding is – Saraswati appears from the mouth of the Sadhus.

When Sadhus speak Hari-katha , Upadeshamrit- srunvanti gayanti grunanti sadhavaha as said in Bhagavatam. Sadhus are always busy hearing and talking about the Lord. When the Name of the Lord , Katha of the Lord emanates from their lotus mouth, Sarswati makes her appearance here at Triveni Sangam. So sadhusanga is most essential. If you take a bath and did not listen and associate with Sadhus who are learned and devoted then that kind of bathing is described by the Lord himself in Bhagavatam as gokhara – no better than the ass of the cow. We had a lot of association here. Giving association , taking association. We had lots of ISKCON devotees from all over the planet.

Here is the devotee who has set up all the arrangements over here. He missed you. I missed you all here. So next time , Haridwar Kumbha-mela in 2022, after 3 years in February-March around Gaur-purnima time, you can come to Haridwar Kumbha-mela. You will find Sanak-Sanatan Prabhuji again organising the Mela arrangements. We had a good time here and feel enthused and inspired to carry on our devotional services. This year’s target for distributing books in Kumbha-mela is 400 thousand books. Devotees mostly from Delhi , NCR and some other places are distributing books.

Tons of books are being distributed and lots of Harinama. In that way, we were making nectar available on all days, and not only on Shahi-snan day. Yesterday, 10 February this nectar will appear at Triveni Sangam and Shahi-snan will be conducted. But in between also everyday the nectar of Harinama was made available by chanting party all over Kumbha-mela. There was Harinamamrit, and Kathamrit, prasadamrit was made available. Full prasada was made available. Yesterday I spent one hour distributing prasada.

Very well organized kitchen here by Chowpatty devotees. Gauranga Prabhuji had come. They have designed ‘chapati’ making machine. It’s amazing. They cook 1000 chapatis/ hour. You should be inspired by the devotees preaching endeavour. Srila Prabhupada had said in 1977 Kumbha-mela, we don’t come to Kumbha-mela to attain liberation, we are already liberated. We are engaged in devotional service of the Lord, So we are already liberated. We come here to propagate devotional service of the Lord. We give Krishna. ‘Take Krishna’ in form of the holy name, in form of prasada. We all are trying to execute Srila Prabhupada’s instructions about Kumbha-mela.

My time is running out. I have to reach the airport . Thank you once again. We had 290 participants today. See you all again another day.
Hare Krishna!

There is a whole township here on the banks of the Ganges, chanting and dancing and distributing prasada. Devotees are busy here giving out the real nectar. The holy name is the nectar. Holy books like Bhagavad-Gita are the nectar. Krsna prasada is the nectar.

Here we are surrounded by lots of Hare Krishna devotees chanting and dancing. After the churning of the milk ocean the nectar finally emerged. Demons and demigods, Suras and Asuras we’re fighting. This occasion is a kind of anniversary of that event which took place millions and billions of years ago. Again all assembled pilgrims are kind of ‘fighting’ or struggling to get that nectar at the confluence place of Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati on this particular day. There is a time duration when the same nectar again appears. There are millions or crores of people aspiring for that nectar .

They will gather and bathe and drown in that nectar. I am just saying this to inspire you, so that you take to the chanting seriously. Nectar of the Holy name. Make sure that you are drinking that nectar now and always. Only because you are saying the holy name, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you are drinking and drowning in that nectar. You have to pay attention. By hearing you are drinking. So make sure you are hearing and not drowning in so many other thoughts. The mind is wondering all over, that means you are not hearing and not drowning yourself in that nectar of the holy name. You have to practice that kind of hearing and that kind of chanting without distraction. Then we get a concentrated dose and we literally swim in that nectar. Bathe in that nectar.

That is what Chaitanya Mahaprabhu talks in Siksastakam. anandabhudhi vardhanam pratipadam purnamrita swadanam sarvatma snapanam . Try and understand what is sarvatma snapanam . Atma is the soul, the real self and snapanam is bathing. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is talking about the soul bathing and swimming in that anadambhudhi i.e. param vijayate sri krsna sankirtanam. All glories, all victory to such a holy name. When we end up drinking such nectar, drowning in that nectar, then you have conquered the world, conquered the mind, conquered your senses, then one conquers death. One goes beyond birth and death. That kind of victory is attained by the chanter. However it has to be chanted attentively, offencelessly. All the offences should be avoided, specially offending vaisnavas. At times people hate vaisnavas, hate devotees. We harm them , hurt them – physically, verbally or mentally. So stop offences. It is nonsense.

You bathe and you are purified. Then when you come to the bank of river, don’t throw the dirt on again. That snan is kunjarshauchvat – like the bathing of an elephant. The elephant really enjoyed taking a bath, but as soon as he comes on the banks of river he throws the dirt back on again. That also is not to be done. Every effort should be made to not throw the dirt again. Chanting is purifying like bathing. Then after chanting, as we say, “ Stay high – Do not go low”. Attain that status.

I need to go early today. Being a ISKCON mahant for Kumbha-mela , I have to lead the procession , for Shahi-snan. It’s an honor from Kumbha-mela organisers. They have recognized ISKCON, as an authentic vaisnava organisation. It was recognised, authorised in 2008 Kumbha-mela. ISKCON was offered mahantship. That’s how I ended up becoming a mahant. Now we can participate in the procession. Many groups, akhadas , Khalsas arrive. Only Big leading sadhus get to lead the procession to go down to the Triveni Sangam. People watch standing on either side of the procession. There are big crowds greeting the Sadhus. Trying to get blessings of the Sadhus.

Today is Somavaty Amavasya. This Amavasya on a Monday is considered to be extremely auspicious. Today is Amavasya and today is Monday also. This is happening after 72 years. That is another Sangam making today a very auspicious bathing date.
Try to get more and more devotees to Chant with us. We wish you happy journey ‘back to home.’

Every day Chant ‘Hare Krishna’ and be happy.