Change of Heart

Today is birthday of Janaksuta Mataji, all the way from Mauritius. Happy birthday Janaksuta Mataji. Let us all shower our blessing on Janaksuta Mataji by chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

As the tradition in ISKCON, we say happy birthday to you and you may never take birth again. May you be very happy eternally. Birth in this life in this body is source or beginning of suffering. We will be only happy as we practice Krishna consciousness, finally we don’t have to take birth again. We survive, thrive or even act just as a soul without body in relationship with Krishna, being with Krishna existing as a soul.

Lord is waiting, ready to welcome all of us let us go back home. Do not come into this material world again that is possible only if we had complete change of heart. Until there is complete change of heart we will keep coming back. Do you all like this world? Do you want to come back again? People don’t even know about the spiritual world and that’s why, ‘jina yaha marna yaha, isake siva jana kaha’.

Then we don’t have any choice and we keep suffering in this body in the material existence. But as we come in contact with Krishna consciousness, you can return to another world, Krishna is waiting for you. There is another eternal world where we can go.

Change of heart, Sukadeva Goswami has talked about diseased heart- hrtrogam. At the end of the Rasa panchadhyay he says, we are rogis, we have disease of the heart. Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakur has said,

enechi aushadhi maya nasibaro lagi’
hari-nama maha-mantra lao tumi magi’
[Jiva Jago Jiva Jago- Vaisnava Bhajan]

So Sukadeva Goswami says of course we have heart, but it is diseased heart. Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakur says, “oh there is a medicine for curing this heart.” Harinama is the medicine to cure the heart and purify the heart. We call that as change of heart and it’s possible. Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakur has also said, who else is your friend other than Gauranga. A friend in need is friend indeed. You are in need of friend and that friend is Gauranga. You needy friend, you diseased friend, you troubled friend here is the cure. Here is the solution for you, take the holy name, change your heart and purify your heart.

I have heard this many time from Srila Gopal Krishna Maharaja, ISKCON temples are like hospital and devotees in hospital are like doctors and specially chanting is medicine. Once a very old Gaudiya vaisnava was ill, doctor had come and he was doing his diagnosis using stethoscope. He was checking the heartbeat and he heard something a kind of sound which he had never heard. He was surprised “What is this? Who is this? He is saying something and he was hearing with his stethoscope. The sound was,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

And he looked at the mouth of the elderly vaisnava, he was hardly uttering anything, in fact he was not in position of saying the name out loudly but the soul in the heart was crying for the Lord, calling for the Lord loudly. And that Hare Krishna utterance was heard by the doctor as he was doing the diagnosis.

He was not in a position to chant; he was barely chanting he was not even using his lips and other body parts or the throat to say the mantra. These parts do not have to say the mantra the real chanter is soul. And his soul was chanting. His soul was calling out for the Lord he had a change of heart. Change of heart is change of consciousness.

That is what Srila Prabhupada always said, there is a relation between revolution in consciousness and change of heart. Srila Prabhupada wanted to revolution in consciousness otherwise he used to say ‘oh the world has seen so many revolutions like French revolution, Russia revolution, industrial revolution. So, these revolutions they come and go and provided no solution. But if there is revolution in consciousness there is a permanent change and that change of heart is forever for better.

This revolution in consciousness resulting in change of heart or purity of the heart.

This whole revolution was inaugurated by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu 500 year ago. Gauranga Nityananda they are the inaugurators of this revolution.

ajanu-lambita-bhujau kanakavadhatau
sankirtanaika-pitarau kamalayataksau
visvambharau dvija-varau yuga-dharma palau
vande jagat-priyakaro karunavatarau
(CC Madhya 17.108)

Those two karunavatarau, two Lords- Gauranga and Nityananda they are the founder of this, inaugurator of this revolution in consciousness concept, which leads to ultimate purification of heart.

Srila Prabhupada founded this ISKCON organization and this Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON is executing the will of the Lord so that the world undergoes transformation and change of heart. This will of Gauranga Nityananda is being executed by the members of International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

That revolution of Gauranga and Srila Prabhupada wanted transformation. What good is information? We would like to see the transformation, change of heart, change of consciousness.

Once we were doing padayatra in England and theme of our padayatra was “Walking for change.” We were walking for the change in that country. Of course, our padayatra is to bring about change in the world, all over the world. This is the one of the strategies of Srila Prabhupada, this padayatra. To change the heart, change the world, to bring about revolution. If you wish to see the world undergoing the change, the change has to begin with our self. Let us have that strong will and great determination to see change within us and then see the change in the world.

vyavasayatmika buddhir
ekeha kuru-nandana
[BG 2.41]

The great determination will bring about change then we will be fixed on ekeha kuru-nandana, with great determination.

bahu-sakha hy anantas ca
buddhayo ‘vyavasayinam

There are so many ideas this and that because mind always changes, its ever changing, sankalpa –vikalpa.

We have to capture the mind. The intelligence should say what to do and what not to do.

This is a mission of our life this is to be done in rest of our life to achieve the mission of change of heart. We fix our vision to achieve our mission. So always be in this missionary spirit to achieve your goal.

Hare Krishna

How lila makes connection with the chanting?

We welcome you all to the japa talk. Of course, you had japa session also and now japa talk. This is japa talk. This is a part of our japa session. Today, we will talk about Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu dancing in front of ratha yatra. We will talk about pastimes of Lord which are sweet , brief and humorous.

Then you will all think what this lila has to do with chanting? Why talk of lila, this is japa talk, what is the connection of chanting and lila? Then I may not end up saying that lila but give explanation, why, how lila makes connection with the chanting. Yes, so it’s very difficult. It’s not possible to say. Ok, this is the name and we stop the name now and we are turning to the lila. This is lila, this is name. No, it is not like that. Name is lila and lila is name. Name is Krishna, lila is Krishna. So, you cannot say, this is name, this is lila this is pastime, this is quality, this is abode and these are some devotees of Krishna. In fact, this all is Krishna. This is Krishna consciousness, all is Krishna.

So, simultaneously you are chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna and also the purpose is,

‘shravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam’(SB 7.5.22-30)

So, while chanting also remembering should be there. So, what are we remembering? We are remembering Krishna and the pastime is Krishna, the pastime is Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, it is said, well known fact, ‘harer naam harer naam harer naamaiva kevalam’. Only holy name, nothing else. Holy name is the only way. So that doesn’t mean harinama only and no pastimes, no lila or no archanam, vandanam, sakhyam, dasyam or atmanivedanam. We don’t care for other processes, only nama. That is misunderstanding which Jiva Goswami has clarified.

The way Jiva Goswami explains in one of the sandarbhas is meaning of harer namaiva kevalam. Only Hare Krishna he says, with every process, with smaranam- the chanting of Hare Krishna, with padasevanam -Hare Krishna has to accompany, with atmanivedanam -there has to be Hare Krishna. So that’s the meaning Hare Krishna is associated, has to be associated with all other processes. So, then we could understand with smaranam- there is Hare Krishna.

And deity worship is incomplete without Hare Krishna chanting or some glories of the Lord should be chanted or kirtan. You cannot perform arati if there is no kirtan accompanied during that arati. So holy name is everywhere. When remembering the pastime of the Lord, the holy name is there. Anyway, this is talk of siddhant or philosophy but there is pastime we wanted to talk or remember, one pastime of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu during ratha yatra.

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, that pastime when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is dancing in front of Jagannath’s cart. And He is doing ‘udanda nritya’. He is jumping high in the sky and then suddenly He lands, there is crushing on the ground. He has become center of attraction, of the assembled devotees in particular ratha yatra procession. How could they be thinking of anything else looking at anything else other that Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s dancing? Chaitanya Mahaprabhu begins going round and round on the ground while chanting and dancing. And Chaitanya charitamrita describes or compares Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s dancing with, sometime they hold there is a rope and at the end of the rope there is a fire ball a ball of fire and they move very swiftly, you get the feeling that fire is everywhere that one ball has made the round of fire.

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was going round and round very swiftly and His body is also golden like fire, fiery flame, all those who were present there they were seeing a circle of fire. Circle of that golden form of Lord like a fire band. Then Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is exhibiting all the symptoms. Tears are coming from His eyes, like torrents of rain. As He is going round and round, the tears are coming out with great force of His eyes and all around devotees all around are getting wet like a shower. With the tears of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, they are all getting drenched; all drowned with the tears of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

In the middle of that kirtan, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He falls on the ground and begins rolling on the ground. And as He rolls on the ground that is like a golden mountain which is covered with dust, is rolling on the ground. That kind of experience everyone is having those who were watching Chaitanya Mahaprabhu rolling on the ground. Then Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gets up again and dancing continues. And assembled devotees hundreds and thousands of them are watching Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s dance.

Jagannath in chariot, sitting in the chariot, also fully focused on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s dancing pastime and the reason Jagannath Swami is looking at Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is, Jagannath considers Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as Radharani. Radharani is dancing in front of Jagannath who is in chariot. So, this is like a Rasa dance going on in the middle of Jagannath ratha yatra. There is Radha and Krishna. Radha on the ground dancing, Gauranga and Jagannath seated in the chariot.

So, procession is on. Everyone is moving forward in the direction of Gundica temple.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu continues His dance. And there are devotees around, keeping the crowd away from Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, in order to keep public away who were also very eager to get closer and possibly touch His lotus feet or embrace Him. So, this public, eager public is to be kept away.

So, Chaitanya Caritamrta describes that there are three circles around Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. There are circles of devotees around Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. These circles are doing the function of fencing against, the fence off, stay away stay away. So, the first circle is created by Nityananda Prabhu. He is next to Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. And wherever Chaitanya Mahaprabhu moves and He moves like lightening. Nityananda Prabhu is right there and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu could fall on the ground. So, it is job of Nityananda Prabhu who is Balarama, He is Anantsesa, to hold or protect Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu from falling down or other people coming near to Him.

The second circle is of very close associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu like Kasiswar, Govinda and others who are holding hands of each other and not letting anyone to come near Gauranga Mahaprabhu. They are trying to keep them away. As they are holding the hands and they are also moving in circle around in second circle around Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

The third circle and is the outer most circle is of King Pratap Rudra and his men; he is the king and he has whole battalion around holding again hands of each other and protecting Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu from the public. So, as these three circles are active, all the members in the circles are actively protecting Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

As one-time King Pratap Rudra , he was leaning on shoulder of one devotee called Hari chandan. His name is Hari chandan and King Pratap Rudra is taking close look at Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is fully absorbed in relishing the beauty and the dance of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. And while he was relishing and absorbed in drinking the beauty of Gauranga Mahaprabhu’s form, Srivasa Pandita- he is Narada Muni, Srivasa Pandita came, he was also trying to find a spot somewhere to stand and meditate on Lord’s form. Lord’s dancing and visualizing Him. So he had come and he stood right in front from where King Pratap Rudra was watching the scene and that blocked darshan of Pratap Rudra.

So of course, he had no dehabhan, bodily consciousness, he was just concerned on I want to see I want to see. He did not know where he was standing and he was happily standing wherever he stood but then Hari chandan, one of the assistants of, follower of King Pratap Rudra, he started giving signal to Srivasa Pandit, “aye, aye, move, move King in the back. He wants to see, take a darshan or see the dance of Gauranga, move, move and he was trying to push Srivasa Pandita. So, Hari chandan was giving signals and yelling and trying to move him physically.

Initially Srivasa Pandit was so much absorbed in taking darshan, he did not take note that someone was trying to bring something to his attention. But finally, he did took note that someone from behind is pushing him, trying to get him out of there. And then Srivasa Pandita, a bit annoyed and he turned behind, he gave a slap to this person Hari chandan. Why don’t you keep quiet? Don’t you see I am taking darshan? Hari chandan, he had lost his temper too and he was about to react angrily. But then King Pratap Rudra stopped, pacified Hari chandan. No, no don’t do this. This is Srivasa Pandit. He is Srivasa Pandit and you are very fortunate that you are beaten up by him. I was not as fortunate as you are that he touched you. I wish he had touched me, he had beaten me. Don’t do this. He is Srivasa Pandit let him take darshan.

So then Hari chandan was pacified and then kirtan and dancing of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is on and they all moving towards Gundica temple. So, while chanting ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna’ japa, we should remember this pastime, also pastime of Gauranga which is non-different from chanting. Name is non different from pastime. This is how we chant the mantra meditation. It will be a meditation fully absorbed in chanting.

The holy name brings us to introduce us to realize the name is His form, His name is His qualities, name is His pastime. There is no difference with the Lord or with the soul as we are chanting with the Lord and we will be reunited we will be reconnected; this is Bhakti Yoga

Today’s conference is being attended by 683 participants. Hari Hari bol! Congratulations for joining.

I do believe that we have achieved the target of 600 as we had desired. We are doing so far so good. It is the end of the month, 31 May, and we have exceeded the target! This number is beyond our expectation. Although we are not entirely steady with this number of 600, but we are almost there. It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow which is our deadline for this target. Keep going ahead, keep chanting and get more of your friends and family to join us. Devotees have assembled in Vallabha Vidyanagar, almost 300 devotees are chanting. Sacidanandan Prabhu has organized retreat for change of heart and I just saw hundreds of devotees chanting in open field. I am very thankful for the retreat and I congratulate all those who have joined. I am happy. Special thanks to Sacidanandan Prabhu .

The name of that retreat in Vallabha Vidyanagar is ‘change of heart’ but I have not seen the devotees going to any operation theater, they were not lying on the hospital beds. I did not see heart being transplanted. So, what is this change of heart? Its change of values, its change of attitude, its change of consciousness. Or it is also change of soul because soul is in the heart, soul resides in the heart. When I saw devotees of this retreat I was reminded of 10,000 sons of Daksha who were sent to forest for some rituals but Narada Muni reached there and gave discourse to them and there was transformation in the hearts of those 10,000 sons of Daksha. As there was change in heart they did not return home to their parents but they were going towards Vaikuntha, this is example of change of heart. Mrigari the hunter was killing animals and was happy to see their suffering then, Narada Muni gave answers to all his arguments and changed his heart, changed his consciousness, changed his attitude, changed his philosophy, changed his vision. Narada Muni also gave him japa mala to chant. He had agreed to chant Hare Krishna, and all change took place. Mrigari was no more the hunter, the killer of animals. He used to chant with his wife, keeping Tulsi Mahrani nearby. Initially he was thinking if I chant how will I take care of my family? Narada Muni said,

keep chanting don’t worry. Lord has said in Bhagavad-Gita,

yoga-kṣhemaṁ vahāmyaham [BG 9.22]

I provide what they lack and preserve what they already possess.

So as he was chanting and chanting there was purification of heart and Lord was pleased with him. He was chanting and calling out for the Lord. So many visitors were coming. They were all surprised to see Mrigari one-time hunter, killer of animals he has now become Hare Krishna. He is sitting down and chanting. They were amazed and pleased and started getting so many gifts. All his needs were fulfilled, by what they were bringing.

Patram pushpam phalam toyam (BG 9.26)

Take clothes from us, take milk for us, take this, take that. Lord was fulfilling all his needs. So Mrigari was following Krishna consciousness.

Once Narada Muni came to meet him, he was walking very slowly in zig zag fashion. Narada Muni asked what happened, you could come to me running when you saw me but you took so much time? Mrigari explained I could but there were so many ants on the path so I was clearing the path, so it took me longer to reach your lotus feet. When he heard this he was very much pleased so see the transformation in heart of his disciple. He said well-done. You were killer of animals now you don’t want to kill ants. This change of heart you have under gone, I am very much pleased. Now you are not killing animals you are not drinking their blood you have gone for pataram pushpam phalam. You are following all the principles of Bhagavad dharma, you are not killing animals any more you are only honoring Krishna prasad. I am very happy with this change of attitude, change of consciousness, change of values.

Once Prabhupada was asked in UAE by reporter “Swamiji, you have come so what change you would like to see, what change you are looking for?” Prabhupada responded “I want to see in the way people think.” Thinking, feeling and willing in other words change of heart, purification of minds. From dirty mind make pure mind so that is change of consciousness, change of heart, change of intelligence –pure intelligence. And all this change of heart and consciousness occurs by process of Krishna consciousness or basically by chanting Hare Krishna, reading Bhagavad-Gita, Bhagavatam, following 4 regulative principles every day we change. Gradually our attitude changes, our consciousness changes, our mind changes, its purified. Thus we have fully developed Krishna prema, evolution has taken place and we have achieved full Krishna consciousness. Complete change has taken place from mundane consciousness to spiritual consciousness.

Initially we were lusty now we are premi. Now we have love for Krishna, love for spirit soul initially we had love for matter. So it’s a big thought these are the thoughts of change of heart. Krishna consciousness is meant to bring about change in heart and change in consciousness. So keep changing every day, every day we want to be a changed person, every day changing evolving going higher and higher we are not stopping then we are fixed and confident. Now we are on the way back to home. We are going back to home back to Godhead and we will invite others also. Come to this ISKCON boat, we are going back there we will get Darshan of Lord’s lotus feet. We will also move forward and help others also move ahead.

Hare Krsna

Today’s conference is being attended by 645 participants. Hari Haribol!

I do believe that we have achieved the target of 600, as we had desired by the end of this month, 30 May, and we have exceeded the target! This number is beyond our expectation. Although we are not entirely steady with this number of 600, however we are almost there. It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow which is our deadline for this target. Keep it up, keep going ahead, keep chanting, and get more of your friends and family to join us.

That could be the reason for this huge number because today is Ekadasi. This is a serious day, a day for serious chanting. Of course, we should be chanting seriously everyday but on the occasion of Ekadasi, we should become more serious about chanting. The day has just now begun, so keep chanting seriously with attention, meditation and prayers.

Speaking of our target, target was set for King Parikshit,

‘ante narayan smriti’

At the time of death last moment of death he remembered Krishna. You can also remember Narayana, Govinda, your Istadev, your worshipable deity, or the Lord of your heart. That’s the target, the goal, that’s the vision for all of us, not just for Parikshit Maharaja.

So to achieve that goal of remembrance of Krishna, we have to practice the remembrance of the Lord every single day. That is what we attempt to do during these chanting sessions. As we noted yesterday, there are so many, unlimited number of chanters of the holy name or devotees of the Lord. There are practitioners who have been chanting the holy name of the Lord seriously, and they have achieved the goal. Now it is our turn, through our practice, to achieve the same goal.

But we may think and argue that no one has seen death, and therefore believe that “I have nothing to do with death, I am not going to die, or I am not going to die that soon.” This may be a reason why we are not taking chanting seriously. We should get rid of this thought that we will not face death at any given point in time. We could die at any time.

Padmaja, your God sister, my dear disciple, just reported to me that she lost her mother. We must remember that we could die any day. Devotees who are serious, think that this could be their last day, and they chant the Maha-mantra more seriously. Unfortunately as we are talking about death, last night, a devotee who chants with us from Burma lost her mother who was chanting with us as recently as yesterday. Today, the mother is no longer with us.

These things happen daily, at every moment and it could happen to me, or to you! In India, while the body is been taken to the cremation ground, the family chants

ramanama satya hai

This means that the name of the Lord is the only reality, the name of Ramais the only truth. Those who are carrying the body will realize that it is too late for the dead body. What good is that reminder of Rama Rama now to that dead body?

In the Mahabharat, there is a dialogue between Yaksha and Yudhiṣṭhira Maharaja. The episode known as Yaksha Prashna in Mahabharata relates to the exchange of questions and answers between Yama in the guise of a Yaksha who poses 126 difficult questions to Yudhishthira, who gives the most fitting answers to those questions. In this dialogue, Yaksha asks several questions to Yudhiṣṭhira Maharaja. One of these was ‘kim ashrayam’ what is the most wonderful thing of this world, or the wonder in this world? The following is the famous statement that you may be familiar with:

ahany ahani bhutani gacchantiha yamalayam
sheshaḥ sthavaram icchanti kim ashcaryam atah param

“Yamaraja once asked Maharaja Yudhisthira, ‘What is the most wonderful thing within this world?’ Mahārāja Yudhisthira replied (Mahabharata, Vana-parva 313.116:

“Hundreds and thousands of living entities meet death at every moment, but a foolish living being nonetheless thinks himself deathless and does not prepare for death. This is the most wonderful thing in this world.”

Every day, every moment, in the morning, during the day and the night, people are leaving their bodies. For those who are not, they think Sthavaram, I am going to stay on, I have nothing to do with death, we will be here forever or for a long time.

Yudhishthira asked a counter question, “Could there be a more wonderful thought or thing in this world than this. “Oh I am okay, I will stay on, this is the wonder of the world. Some go but I am ok. This is a wonder of this world; it is one of the wonders of the world. When he was asked ‘kim ashcaryam’, he did not say Taj Mahal is the wonder of the world or Tower of Italy or Victoria Falls or the Great Wall of China. Yudhishthira Maharaj did not mention any of those as a wonder of this world, however, he said that the wonder is that people think “I am Okay”, this is a wonder. I think we should take this death business seriously, and prepare for the last moment. That is what all the sastras and acaryas are saying. The whole of the Krishna Consciousness movement is designed to achieve this target of remembering the Lord, and never forgetting Him, and becoming Krishna conscious at the time of death ante narayana smirti.

yam yam vapi smaran bhavam
tyajaty ante kalevaram
tam tam evaiti kaunteya
sada tad-bhava-bhavitah (BG 8.6)

Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.

Lord Krishna says that whatever you remember at the time of death, that thought becomes the cause for your future birth. So let us keep chanting,

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

Chant, hear and remember. Narayana smriti comes from,

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam (SB 7.5.23)

Keep chanting and hearing, and this will result in remembrance.

As you sit for chanting and begin chanting the holy name of the Lord, whatever you have done prior to the chanting, the previous day, weeks and months and years and births all that is there on your mind as we begin chanting. That influence is constantly there, the kind of consciousness that we developed, conditioning that we developed through so many acts, thoughts, so many kinds of hearing and talking or eating, our entire lifestyle, that is very much with us as we begin chanting.

So during chanting we have to neutralize or counteract all those forces, all those thoughts and all those anti-Krishna consciousness thoughts. That is also called in language of Yoga- ‘pratyahar.’ We have fed ourselves through all five senses and now we have to counteract the effects of sense gratification by chanting. Using the power of the intelligence, we will be able to discriminate, and with the intelligence we have to take cognizance, of worldly and mundane thoughts, and be able to discriminate and select thoughts that are spiritually positive.

Not this not this, the battle between the mundane and the spiritual is ongoing during the chanting, and we should try to sort out, this thought must get out, or this one must stay on. If they are thoughts of Krishna, His qualities, form, or pastimes, then these thoughts should stay. This should form part of the meditation. So, after pratyahara, you will go higher and higher towards full concentration.

After pratyahara comes dharana, then dhyanaand samadhi which is the final stage. After pratyahara comes retention: we retain, maintain, nourish and flourish only Krishna consciousness thoughts and we try to eliminate anti-Krishna thoughts. First discrimination then elimination.

That is more than enough food for thought on this auspicious day of Ekadasi. On this day, minimize other activities and maximize Krishna consciousness activities.

I am noting that some devotees are making comments, and others are offering dandavats. Continue chanting and dancing and taking prasadam.

Hare Krishna!

As we chant, realize Krishna, the Lord as a person

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Jagannath Puri, He was meeting devotees from Kulia, Kulingram. So one year devotees asked,” how are followers to be recognized? What is their identification? What is the expectation?“

So in that year, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki Jai! He was personally talking to devotees and others; we also should talk and have dialogues. We should have the same mood and imagine and visualize the Lord’s physical presence in Jagannath Puri. Of course, there is nothing physical in the Lord’s form, because He is fully spiritual, and presents a fully spiritual form as He speaks to the assembled devotees.

The impersonalist mayavadis, wish to merge with Brahmajyoti, Brahaman, and are unable to understand the chanting of Hare Krishna. How could one relate or address to Brahaman?

Towards the end of Bhagvad Gita, Lord is asking His devotees to do four things.

man mana bhava mad bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
[BG 18.65]

Remember Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your obeisances unto Me.

So, if you are an impersonalist, how will it be possible to follow the Lord’s instructions? What would they remember about Brahman, because there is nothing much to remember, just light, and nothing more. The Lord wants us to remember Him, but if you are nirakar, nirguna, impersonalist follower of Shankaracarya, what are you going to remember in Brahmajyoti?

When we chant Hare Krishna we can remember so much. There are thousand names by which you can remember Krishna while chanting, and you can think of the meaning of these names of the Lord. Krishna says ‘mad bhakto’, become My devotee. So, how can you become a devotee of brahmajyoti?

In India, there are many impersonalists, like our Muslim brothers. There are also those other religions that subscribe to impersonalism. Unfortunately, you cannot remember and become a devotee of brahmajyoti light.

If you are chanting Hare Krishna you have to be personalist, you have to understand Krishna’s personality, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is a person, like you and me, as noted by Srila Prabhupada.

namaste saraswati deve gauravan pracarine nirvisesa sunyavadi pastatya desatarine (Srila Prabhupada Pranati)

In chanting these words, we offer our most humble obeisances to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada who saved us, saved the eastern and western world from this Shunyavad and Nirvisheshvad among so many Vads or isms, theories and philosophies. The predominant is Nirvisesvad, impersonalism, this Brahmajyoti business and Shunyavadi or Buddhadev of Voidism.

We have been saved by Gauranga, Gauravani Pracharine. Gauranga Mahaprabhu’s message, His presence, His lilas, His preaching which Srila Prabhupada presented on behalf of Gauranga. This is what we are now presenting on behalf of Srila Prabhupada, so we are being saved from this onslaught of impersonalism and voidism.

‘Man mana bhava mad bhakto mad yaji’

Worship Me, how can you worship Brahmajyoti? Can you offer a garland to brahmajyoti? Can you offer Chandan to the Brahmajyoti? Where could you smear chandan on the Brahmajyoti? Forget all of this because the Lord says worship Him. Those who understand the Lord as brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate.

[SB 1.2.11] sees the Lord as having three features and one of them is Bramhajyoti, but that’s not all, the Lord is more. He is also Paramatma, He is also Bhagavan. So the chanters of the Lord’s Holy name have to understand the Bhagavan or revive their bhagavata as we chant. We have to realize Krishna, the Lord as a person, with His pastimes, His abode, and His associates.

To become an impersonalist means it’s the end of Bhakti, because there is no devotion, nor is there a flow of feeling of emotions unto the Lord. There is no Bhakti, there is no Bhakta, and there is no Bhagavan because as per this philosophy, there just exists just a light -merge into Brahman! This is the last snare of maya, Prabhupada writes, this BrahmaJyoti.

He refers to it as Nirakar which is big maya. “I am that light, Aham Brahmasmi” you forget becoming somebody’s devotee, you want to be the Lord. Not that you are becoming devotee or servant of the Lord, but the idea that “I am Lord”.

man mana bhava mad bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru

The remaining item is namaskuru, we write and we say, “Koti Koti Dandavats” to you or to the Lord. There is no question of offering any dandavats or even one dandavat to the light, He is not a person, just a light. Offering obeisances is not possible, unfortunately they maintain that “I am that Lord”, so to whom is he going to offer obeisances ? Unto whom are you going to offer obeisances, “I am Him” this is big maya. We can say that this Mayavadi philosophy is a big illusion. Sadly, this is going on, being propagated and is continuing to spread.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said,
mayavadi-bhasya sunile haya sarva-nasa

If you listen to Mayavad theory or philosophy, everything will be finished, your devotion will be finished, and your bhakti will be finished.

Finally the Lord says in this beautiful statement of Bhagavad-Gita, ‘mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te’, meaning that if you remember Me, become My devotee, worship Me, offer obeisances unto Me, then you will certainly, surely, come to Me, come back to home, where I eternally reside, that’s where you will end up if you do these four things.

If you are an impersonalist, those who are, a lot of them out there are, there is no question of them going anywhere. There is no Vaikuntha for them, there is no Goloka for them, there is no going anywhere, even if they believe they are, this activity of going for them is maya. Form is maya, everything is maya only – the light. For them nothing else exists only Brahman, this jyoti, there is no question of going back to Godhead. The Lord wants us to go back to Him, ‘mām evaiṣyas’ meaning, “Come, where I am residing eternally.” So this mayavadi philosophy is all anti- Krishna statement and is anti-Bhagavad Gita.

Lord Chaitanya had been meeting devotees from Kulingram in West Bengal. When asked about how devotees were recognised, He said “One who chants the holy name all the time, Kirtanya sada hari all the time, that is Hare Krishna devotee, that is my devotee.”

The following year the devotees from everywhere met in Kulingram once again with Lord Chaitanya. The devotees raised the same question, “How do you recognize your devotees, Gaur bhaktas, my dear Lord.”

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “As soon as you look at a Hare Krishna devotee, see what he is doing? He will remind you of Krishna, his this act and that act will remind you of Krishna, he will be a big reminder of Krishna, that’s my devotee, that’s a Gaur bhakta.”

Yet again the same question was raised the following year. The Lord said that “as soon as he begins to chants Hare Krishna, all the symptoms of ecstasy manifests, as he chants Hare Krishna you will see tears roll down his cheeks, his body will be trembling and you can read all the symptoms of ecstasy in him, that is my devotee.”

The Lord spoke about devotees from one level to another and another beginning with one who is at least chanting all the time. Then his life is full of devotion, and then he reminds others of Krishna that is another higher level. Then highest, he is fully absorbed remembering the Lord and exhibits all the symptoms of ecstasy in his personality.

Hare Krishna

Siksastakam: Importance of singing and chanting the holy names of Lord

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has given us Siksastakam. This needs to be read carefully and studied. We should concentrate on each verse and meditate on these while chanting. For chanters, this is an appropriate way start to japa. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself would meditate on the mood of these verses before japa. Many temples recite Siksastakam before chanting to create the right mood and right focus for our mind.

The Siksastakam which is a Gaudiya vaisnava prayer of eight verses was composed in Sanskrit by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. These eight verses are concise but profound.

krishna nama-sankirtana
1. Cleanses our chitta which is compared to a mirror.
2. Extinguishes this great forest-fire of material existence.
3. Like lotus of excellence spreads cooling moonlight.
4. Gives knowledge of life which is compared to a spouse who helps us flourish.
5. Increases our bliss-intellect.
6. At each step gives taste of complete amrita (nectar).
7. Is all atma-attractive / attracts atma fully.
8. Victorious is Sri Krishna’s sankirtana.

Within his Siksastakam, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stresses the importance of singing (bhajan) and chanting (japa) the names of God. Nama ruci can be achieved if you want to increase your taste for chanting then chant with accomplished and other faithful people. By serving the vaishnavas, nama ruci will grow. If you want to chant with more attention and offenselessly, chant with the attraction for the holy names, with feeling, then serve the vaisnavas.

Do some vaishnava seva with all those that you will associate today by sharing kirtana, Srila Prabhupada’s books with them or darsana of the Deity. By doing this, Krsna will be pleased with all these endeavours and when you chant after doing all this, your taste for chanting will increase, (nama ruci will increase).

All those who are chanting with us can tell your friends and family to join. We need steady chanters. It’s not just for my disciples, it’s not sectarian anyone can join. Chanting is a meditation. And we have example of Akrura while he was on the way to Vrindavan expecting meeting. On the way, he was doing his manorath. He was contemplating on how he would meet the Lord at the end of the day, end of his travel. He was meditating. So,it is not that we do not meditate, every person in the world meditates. Every person in the world is always constantly meditating, contemplating, aspiring to meet this person, that person. And once I meet him, we will die together and we live together and people will have this kind of fun that kind of experience. Whole world is meditating contemplating.

We Hare Krishna devotees, Hare Krishna chanters they just have to change the meditation topic or object of meditation has to be changed. They don’t have to stop meditation. Again, the topic of meditation is Krishna that we have to include during chanting. As we chant,

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

We begin meditation or we could aspire for meeting or reunion with the Lord. As we chant Hare Krishna and then we could and we do say that we meditate upon name of Krishna, fame of Krishna, qualities of Krishna, pastimes of Krishna and abode, the dhama of the Lord, this is topic of our meditation.

I mean Krishna is object, these are the topic of details, these names, form, qualities, pastimes. So Akrura, while riding on the chariot on the way to Vrindavan was considering himself fortunate that he had such a rare opportunity now to meet Krishna. So, that is also meditation that is also appreciation in relationship with Krishna. So we could also be thinking like that ‘how fortunate I am able to chant Hare Krishna instead of singing or chanting some worldly songs. I am very fortunate for spiritual superiors and spiritual master. Krishna has arranged that through or from my spiritual master from other way and I am in such a fortunate position or situation’. Thar also could be there, as we chant Hare Krishna.

Also at some point prior to his journey, he had arranged his travels so that he could meet Krishna returning from the forest, cow herding pastimes. He had made this plan, strategic planning to meet Krishna at appropriate time and circumstances so we could also make such a plan or such a lifestyle reorganize, reshuffle things and try to meet Krishna early morning. I will perform arati to the Lord, and I will dance and chant in association of devotees so that kind of planning and organization this is also the part of meditation or preparation for meditation on Krishna.

This way Srila Sukadeva Goswami has described Akrura’s manorath or his meditation or his contemplation. “When I see Krishna I will stop this chariot. I will jump down as soon as I see Krishna and Balarama”, he is thinking like that. I will touch Their feet, he is thinking like that and I will eventually look at Their kind and beautiful lotus faces. He is thinking like that I will touch Them or They may embrace me also he is thinking like that and they will address me uncle so he is on the way, he is thinking this is his meditation and gradually he is going to the whole body and touching and more things to happen. He is contemplating, fully absorbed like that. And then he is also thinking that Krishna will hold one of my hands and Balarama will hold the other hand and they will both bring me inside Their home and on the way they will keep saying and greeting me and kissing me ‘uncle’. They will be very jubilant as They receive me. He is contemplating like that. So he will also address them oh! Krishna Oh !Balarama Oh! Krishna Oh! Balarama, so as we say Hare Krishna Hare Krishna so he will also say he will also address them, but at the same time he is saying Krishna Balarama Krishna Balarama Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, while saying Hare Krishna the name he is also seeing Their form. He is also experiencing Their magnanimous, Their kindness, Their quality or the whole pastime or They may be just returning from milking the cows or They are on the way to milk the cows, so he is also thinking of that pastime of the Lord, meeting Nanda Maharaj or Krishna Balarama or parents of Krishna Balarama and of course the whole thing is happening in the context of dhama Nandgram so he is also thinking.

The name is being uttered and qualities of Krishna are being experienced and beautiful form is being visualized and the pastimes are visible and the associates of course, without associates, pastimes is not possible so everything is happening the name, the form, the qualities, the pastimes and abode of all these features and aspects of Sri Krishna revealed as he is meditating.

So sometimes devotees wonder no I am only going to chant Hare Krishna, nothing else only focus on hearing and I am not going to think of anythjng else. Yes, this is misunderstanding how could you chant and not think of or contemplate upon form and how could you only chant without thinking. How could you keep the pastimes away or separate the qualities of Krishna and associates of Krishna so this what non-difference ‘abhinatvat nama namino’,

Name and the person name, we chant and the person that Krishna’s form is non-different from His qualities non different from His pastimes and His pastimes are non-different from His dhama. His associates are not some extra additional entities they are part of Him they are parcels of Him. We cannot get rid of them when we think of Krishna, I mean think of Krishna then associates are also there you are chanting and of course chanting is bringing into the form, the qualities, the whole contemplation. That is expected to happen as we chant.

So, of course this we call as mantra siddhi, the perfection in chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

So, when our chanting is perfect & pure with full attention then all these revelations are going to take place. So, this is perfection of chanting Hare Krishna, this is mantra siddhi, Krishna has revealed ,the holy name has revealed Himself. So then addressing Hare Krishna and these are My pastimes and these are My qualities and these are my associates, look and this is my Dhama. So, this is of course ultimate perfection that we talked, this is holy name as one chants and he will utter Krishna, the form, the qualities and pastimes.

So this is of course, perfection stage we are talking about perfection of chanting mantra siddhi. So those sadhakas who have not become sadhana siddha so we are only sadhakas so this is sadhana stage. Everyone does meditate, every single person in the world, the dog, even animal they are all meditating they are all doing dhyana

’dhyayate vishayan punsa sangasteshupjayate’

So they are meditating on the objects of senses. The tiger, king of forest, he is thinking of some animal as object of his senses, he is looking for some food. Like that every single entity does meditation- contemplating. Is planning to achieve that object of their so-called meditation. So in perfection, I mean in sadhana stage as we are, so we should try to get free from that kind of meditation that we have mentioned. Practicing that mundane meditation, so we have to say not this and instead ok this one, you can think of Krishna.

Krishna’s form not mundane form, Krishna’s pastimes, not activities of the politicians or worldly people, Shimla or Dehradun or kind of abroad that kind of destination no he would like Vrindavan.

yato yato nischalati manaha chanchalam asthiram
(BG 6.26)

Wherever mind goes or mind has been going so we have to drag our mind back, replace substitute mundane thoughts are to be substituted by Krishna, Krishna as object, Krishna’s form like that.

And then we have to do our manorath or planning or meditation. As we are following on the footsteps of he did. He is one of the example, as Prabhupada said, “Akrura is our hero those who wish to go to Vrindavan and see Krishna, do the way Akrura did it.”

So we could read the pastimes of Akrura’s manorath or journey to Vrindavan. How at every step he is thinking like this way, that way how will I meet and once I meet, I will do this or Krishna will do that to me so we are given this example to follow his footsteps.

This is homework for rest of our life, this is something we want to achieve in and be perfect. And attain perfection in this homework overnight, you have to practice it or do this homework day in and day out with enthusiasm and determination.

So, this will keep you busy for long time or till last breath of my life or your life so this is homework, something to contemplate upon and then implement and practice it.

Stop our talk here.

Hare Krishna!!

By chanting more and more one day Krsna will reciprocate with you

Today’s number of participants are 508. Ok we think, kind of internet facility or speed is the factor that influences the number of participants. There may be other factors also, someone may be caught by maya or some may be sleeping. You should sometime record your chanting and you could hear and review performance of your own chanting. I heard my own chanting some days ago from one of these recordings and I was surprised I wasn’t chanting all the 16 names I was missing some. I am normally proud that I chant all the 16 names.

Iti shodashakam namnam

I think the reason why I was not chanting all the 16 names of mantra I get may be distracted as I go through this conference, sometimes there are social medias, lots of obeisances, “Oh, Maharaj bless me, today is my birthday and someone is paralyzed, Maharaja, please pray this and that lot of things.” And that I think these factors get my attention and I am not chanting all the 16 names. So, let’s not just make this japa conference a social media and type of chit chat. This conference is a serious communication. Ok that will help in concentrating and hearing all 16 names. Hari Hari !

You could send your comments on Loksanga or websites. We have dedicated website for chanting also.

Chanting brings us closer to Lord and as we chant, we get lot of realisations from chanting, during chanting or after chanting. The benediction is either on the spot or ‘pratyaksh or paroksha’ may be another time we realize or we will see the fruits of chanting.

Few days ago, I was in Pandharpur devotees have been going to take darsana of Vitthal and they were coming back. I have this garland before devotees offered another garland it to me. They returned from darsana and offered me another tulasi garland from the neck of Lord Vitthal coming in my direction. And this has been happening for several days as I am chanting here, I am getting benediction of Lord Vitthal. The devotees are given flower garlands, tulasi garlands nice fragrance. This is charnamrita from the mahabhishek of Lord Vitthal, I could have distributed to you if you were next to me. But you could only see and be happy.

Then just other day in our temple Radha Pandharinath, I was offering obeisances to the deities and stood in front of them and pujari reached the lotus feet of the deities and collected some flowers and offered them to me. Initially I was thinking he was offering me just ‘patram pushpam’ he is not offering me nothing much substantial. But as I accepted these flowers and I smelled fragrance of those flowers; I was reminded Lord’s statement.

Fragrance of the flower that is fragrance of the earth, that is offered to Lord. Lord says that fragrance is Myself so I had a strong deep realization of experience and thinking that “oh this is, don’t think this is just flowers coming to you but this is a Lord’s fragrance. It is Lord”. Lord is not different from the fragrance. But Lord is a source of that fragrance of all the fragrances, this is Lord, the fragrance is Lord. This pujari has given me Lord not just flower.

And then during the day I was reading or studying Bhagavatam and then I was reading the chapter which is entitled as ‘Description of Krishna kingdom of God Vaikuntha’ then there is a description of four Kumaras visiting Vaikuntha and finally four Kumaras encountered. They are taking darsana they are in a close proximity to the Lord, that description I was reading. It is described there those time they were arriving and entering Vaikuntha lok from one gate to another. There were seven gates they had go through. They were ‘brahmavadis’, they were more fixed on ‘brahmajyoti’ aspect of the Lord that was their realization. God is brahman. As they were moving through or moving on, they were smelling flowers, fragrance of the flowers of all these kind of substances offered to the Lord. And eventually as they reach Lord’s close proximity then they literally started smelling lotus feet of the Lord and thus they were inhaling the fragrance of the lotus feet, the chandan offered to the Lord. And as we have chandan yatra going right now, chandan is offered to the of lotus feet of the Lord. And of course, the substances also get fragrance from Lord’s lotus feet. So, they were literally smelling the lotus feet of the Lord and as a result their whole realization changed. They were kind of brahmavadis first, impersonalists, neutral bhaktas but their whole devotion aroused, revived or revolution in the consciousness and they were now realizing Lord as a Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The realization changed just by smelling the fragrance of the lotus feet of the Lord. The fragrance of the Lord, it’s non-different from the Lord.

So then further realization I had, I was also smelling the fragrance of the flowers I felt the Lord as I was smelling the fragrance of the flowers. It was further confirmed as I was reading from the 3rd canto of Bhagvatam – Four Kumaras they were transformed and evolved just by smelling the flowers at the lotus feet of Lord at Vaikuntha.

Then I turned to Caitanya Caritamrita and now Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu now is in Jagannath Puri. He is going through His final pastimes. He is in Radha bhava, emotions of Radha, He is missing Krsna. Where is Krishna? Where is Krishna? And Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu one day enters one garden in Jagannath Puri and He went through very special experiences. Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu as He was looking for Krishna in fact He was smelling the fragrance and He thought that fragrance is coming from Him. He had darsana of Sri Krishna in that garden. Lord runs in the direction of that form and He is trying to grab embrace of that form which He had visualized. Suddenly there was no form so this was also fragrance connection. Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu smelled fragrance and He had a darsana of Lord that gandha that fragrance is non-different from the Lord.

When that particular pastime when Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu had a darsana and He lost darsana, the wind was blowing slowly ‘manda’ not ‘tivra’ that wind was carrying the fragrance same fragrance which He had smelled before. In whichever direction He got the smell ‘Oh! My Lord is now in this direction see the fragrance is coming from that direction.’ Wherever the fragrance came, He would run in that side thinking ‘Oh My Lord is in that side see that fragrance is coming from side.’ He is here, He was trying to embrace the Lord so as He was smelling the fragrance whichever direction, he was getting receiving that fragrance. Running in that direction and he was going round and round intoxicated by smelling the sweet deep fragrance. And He was rolling on the ground, He was jumping in the air and lots of emotions. He was going through these emotions. This fragrance from the body of the Lord was making Him move to the source of that fragrance.

These are some thoughts related with the fragrance, I was getting as I was getting these garlands, flowers from lotus feet, garland from the lotus feet of Lord Vitthal.

I thought this was the fruit of my chanting, Lord was reciprocating like this, these are the realizations out of my chanting and hearing and calling out, ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna’ these are my experiences.

May you all also experience and realize Krishna more and more; may Krishna reveal Himself to you more and more. As you chant with attention more and more.

Stop here, carry on your chanting and remembering the Lord.

Hare Krishna

Hare Krishna!

We have 561 participants so far. Today is Wednesday and that is Krishna’s day as Krishna appeared on Wednesday. In Pandharpur every Wednesday is Krishna’s day, Vitthal’s day. So it’s very special day. And I said that ‘today is Wednesday and that is Krishna’s day, Vitthal’s day, one devotee who had gone for darsana of Lord Panduranga early morning, ran to me and offered this garland. This garland is of Lord Vitthal. I am feeling blessed, Lord Vitthal has blessed me. Krishna is blessing to all of you also as you are chanting not only on Wednesday but everyday. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, we are calling to Krishna; Oh Krishna! You are great. Oh Krishna! You are beautiful. When we chant, Lord hears, He knows that we are chanting. But how we are chanting? Whether we are clearly chanting, clearly calling out His name or we are just carrying on our chanting without seriousness, addressing Him lightly. Krishna also knows if we are chanting with bhava or not, what are our thoughts? He can read our minds.

The shepherd takes care of sheep, so many of them, the goats, sheeps. Shepherd may sometime scream wolf! wolf! So he is just making a fun. There is no wolf around, but he is just making a fun and joking and crying wolf! wolf! Villagers come with sticks, ‘where is wolf?’ So if you will keep doing this ‘wolf, wolf no one will help you out, when help is actually needed. So one day wolf came and he started crying wolf! Help me. But as people had already heard him saying like this many times before, so no one took it seriously and did not come for help. When the help was really needed, wolf had actually come; no one came forward to help.

We also have to call Krsna with bhava, bhakti. Krsna, where are you? Krsna please come. Lord can be purchased with Laulyam. That is eagerness, strong desire to have darsana of the Lord.

‘Laulyam eka mulyam’, is also said in sastras.

Then we say Lord doesn’t come. Why is Lord not coming? Because you are not calling Him as Draupadi, Draupadi had called Him. It is not His fault. He is ready to come. So when we will call Him like Draupadi, then there will be no other alternative for the Lord. He has to give darsana,

Aham bhakta paradhina (SB 9.4.63)

He says: “I am the servant of my servant. We don’t call Him like Draupadi, so He is not coming. Lord wants to come but nobody is calling Him.

Why Lord is not eating? Because you are not offering berries or fruit or food like Shabari had offered. Why is He not dancing? because you are not making Him dance like gopis. Gopis make Him dance. Gopi bhava! Why is Lord not coming? because our address is not like Draupadi. So follow the footsteps of Draupadi and so many others, six Gosvamis of Vrindavan, namacarya Srila Haridas Thakur.

If we sing glories of Lord, Lord comes.

yatra mad bhakta gayanti tatra tisthami narada

There is no alternative for the Lord. There is no one for Lord other than His devotees. And there is no one for devotees other than Lord. Lord does come, there is proof. Yes, there are so many proofs. And what is the proof? Many devotees have called Him. Suradas called and Lord appeared there. Tukaram Maharaja also called on Bhandara hill which is near Dehu, there he called Lord,

‘Pandurang, Pandurang, Pandurang, Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari! Jai Jai Rama Krishna Hari!’

May be we have not called like Tukaram Maharaja called. That time even there were no instruments. We use so many kinds of instruments. When we do kirtana there is microphone and so many other facilities. When Saint Tukaram used to do kirtana, he used to pick two stones and use them as kartal.

So many examples, millions of devotees had called out for Lord many times and Lord gave them darsana every time. It is not that we are the first one who are calling Lord and desiring darsana, association of the Lord. As soon as right chemistry is there, right kind of address, right mood, intense mood and all that is there, then for sure, Lord keeps His promise.

yatra mam bhakta gayanti tatra tisthami narada (BS 5.37)

So Lord does come and He will keep coming, but there is some short fall on our part. How to chant with that mission, intention or mission, right mood, following footsteps.

premanjancchurit bhakti vilocanena
santah sadaivi hrdayesu vilokayanti (BS 5.38)

Lord comes face to face. There is no problem from Lords side but problem is on our side. Lord understands what is the condition of our minds, what is going in our minds.

ye tatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajami aham(BG 4.11)

We cannot say that Lord is not giving darsana. So let’s keep chanting with devotion, feelings, you may say that I don’t have love and bhava then how could I call Lord with love and devotion when it’s not there. So the answer is, chanting of Hare Krishna is the means and the goal. It is sadhya as well as sadhana. Soul has love for Lord, keep chanting ,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Gradually day by day, day after day more love will arouse, manifest. Chant more and revive more love, revive and survive.

Hare Krishna

Number of participants 596 so far! So, we are almost there. May be another five ten steady chanters! We have ten more days to go to achieve our target of 600 steady chanters of this conference till the end of this month. Encourage others and keep chanting!

Keep chanting the holy names of the Lord regularly constantly and you will be with Him, right then and there, and here. The Holy name is the Lord.
So, I am here in Pandharpur. Pandharpur is known for chanting also. Or it is said here locally and in shastras that this holy abode Pandharpur is known as Nada brahma. Nada is vibration of the names of the Lord, the sura, tal or nada, the note they indicate the name of the Lord. Of course, we know Anna Para brahma, the food that is offered to the Lord also becomes brahma, becomes Lord’s prasad is same as Lord. In Jagannath Puri, Lord is known as Anna brahma. So, at different holy places Lord is known by different features, His Personalities or His manifestations.

In Srirangam He is known for His sleeping pastimes, Bhuktam madhuram, in Jagannath Puri He is relishing lot of food and suktam madhuram, and likewise Lord is known as Nada brahma here in Pandharpur. That is always chanting the Holy names of the Lord here or Lord’s bhajan and kirtan is constantly chanted here in Pandharpur dham.

So, every Ekadashi or one of the two ekadashis, I think Sukla paksh, fortnight, devotees of Panduranga Vitthala come from long distances, many of them come walking and they just don’t walk, come singing and chanting, come towards Lord. And Srila Prabhupada compared these chanting parties coming to Pandharpur from different destinations, in large numbers of course they come, he compared these parties with Gaudiya Vaisnava sankirtan parties. As we Gaudiya vaisnavas use mridanga and karatals, which are the main instruments for them also which they play. And they always dance in kirtana like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu did and all the Gaudiya vaisnavas, as soon as they chant, they are dancers. So Srila Prabhupada appreciates the mood of the singers and chanters and dancers, they called Warkaris, on pilgrimage to Pandharpur while performing sankirtan. Now the devotees and associates of this dhama, they all sing the glories of the Lord, Vitthala Panduranga, who is Krishna and they compile so many abhangas and hundreds and thousands of them, which are sung regularly in every town, every village of Maharashtra.

And of course, 500 years ago Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Pandharpur and He spent here quiet some time. Chaitanya Charitamrta describes, for 11 days Mahaprabhu stayed in Pandharpur. So, Lord has said He stayed here. Lord doesn’t stay in some guest house. He was busy and mostly He was busy with two things. He was chanting and dancing on the streets of Pandharpur and also chanting right in front of Panduranga Vitthala in darsana mandal. He was chanting and dancing with great ecstasy that is one thing. Hari Hari! He spent another seven days in association of Srirangapuri, disciple of Madhavendra Puri and they spent time in nityam bhagavat sevaya and that was also kirtan sravanam kirtanam hari katha, so this was second thing, one was kirtan and other was also kirtan, the glories of the Lord, they were sharing and hearing in Pandharpur.

We have ISKCON here, ISKCON Pandharpur and we have Radha Pandharinath and we consider this dhama non different from Vrindavan. We have Radha Pandharinath here. Others consider this Pandharpur as Bhuvaikuntha of the earth or they consider Pandharpur as daskhin Dwaraka or extension of Dwaraka. But we consider it as Vrindavan dhama.

I have written a book, of course we are calling it Bhuvaikuntha and there is lot of glories of Pandharpur dhama, mahatmya, glories of Pandharpur dhama. In that book we are making this point or explain this point by giving evidence, how this Pandharpur is not just Vaikuntha, it is Goloka Vrindavan.

So, this book was written in Marathi around 10 years ago and this book is in big demand. We have published this book I think in seven editions, seven times, some more than 40000 copies have been distributed, mostly in Marathi and Hindi also. And now I have the next festival here in July, the Prabhupada ghat opening and also my birthday is coming up. By that time, we wish to make this book available in English language first time, so you could all, the devotees from around the world would also hear and understand the glories of Pandharpur dhama.

Of course, on the altar besides Vitthala Rukmini, I am talking about Pandharpur dhama deities, of course we have ISKCON, we have Radha and Pandharinath, but the Vitthala altar also has Rukmini and Radharani is also there. So that’s very clear indication that this dhama is not just Vaikuntha or Dwaraka but this is Goloka Vrindavan. And part of Pandharpur dhama is another dhama that is Gopalpur, there is Pandharpur and Gopalpur. And Gopalpur is exclusively, that is Vrindavan, Krishna’s cow herding pastimes took place there. And there are footprints of cows and calves, Krishna’s flute and all that symbols, markings reminders of Krishna’s Vrindavan pastimes. Some days, four five days of Ashadhi ekadashi festival, all the pilgrims they go to Gopalapur and they have festival called Gopalkala meaning, the cowherd boys or the pilgrims are in mood of cowherd boys, they sit around in circles and they honor Prasad called Gopalkala and they re-inact the pastimes of Krishna enjoying His meals or food, lunch on the bank of Yamuna. Near there is also the hill which is considered as the Govardhan hill of the Vrindavan and at the foothill of this Govardhan hill, Yamuna flows and enters into the Chandrabhaga river, there is the confluence of Yamuna and Chandrabhaga. So, these all manifestations, features of Pandharpur dhama exists, we also had explained in the Pandharpur book.

So, keep chanting, the dhama reminds also the glories of the Holy name and all saints associated with the dhama. One of those saints is Tukaram, who is known for his bhajans and kirtans and chanting and this also considered, it is said that Tukaram was initiated by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Tukaram has spread glories of chanting Holy names of the Lord as well as the holy glories compiled and recited by him.

Okay, so you are welcome to Pandharpur for the festival in July month. Here devotees are doing arrangements for receiving you and giving you prasadam and specially chanting and dancing and some hearing program has been planned here. So, you all are welcome to Pandharpur dhama opening. Join us and see yourself or hear and understand the glories of the dhama here and glories of the holy name here.
Okay keep chanting!
Hare Krishna!