IMPORTANCE OF PLACE and POSTURE DURING JAPA!

You fill up your lungs with air. When we take in a little air we don’t say the mantra properly. If you take a deep breath and say the mahamantra, then it is loud and clear. Then slowly release the air as you say the mahamantra. Then there is boost. Slowly release the air as you say the mahamantra. When you take lot of air in and then release it, you are also doing pranayam, which is ultimately meant for concentration and meditation. By this your blood will be purified and oxygenised which will reach the brain and you will remain fresh and your memory will become sharper. There are lot of benefits of doing this. Otherwise the way we breathe is also not good for health. It also doesn’t lead to effective chanting . It’s only whispering, because the air is less, and you are not making an endeavour to say the name and hear the name with attention. We are in another world and then we stop chanting. You should take a deep breath and then chant 3, 4 or 5 Hare Krishna mahamantras in one breath. Then again take a deep breath and repeat it same way. It has lots of benefits. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but many devotees practice that way. You can also try.

Here we are in Mayapur dham. As I told day before, I left Noida yesterday and arrived in Mayapur dham. I was chanting in Delhi, and Noida also. Those who attend the conference regularly, they know every few days I am in another location. Chanting is something that doesn’t change. Chanting is constant. Location changes. If you go to another place that doesn’t mean you stop chanting. I do something new at each place, but chanting is the constant factor. For you also, wherever you are, if you are stationed in your comfort zone, your home or if you are travelling, and you have to go to another state, another country, another continent, still you chant. No matter what but you stick to chanting. I also had fortune to offer aarti to Panchatattva today.

As I say from time to time, that you have to do preparation for chanting. Attending mangal-aarti , Tulsi aarti is part of that preparation, so I kind of prepared myself for chanting by worshipping Pancatattva. I am here in the dham and the dhamvas also strongly recommended. One of the five sadhanas is Dham-vas. I will not say the other four.You can find it out. We have Dham-vas also. Power or influence of dham also certainly becomes very favourable for your chanting. Since our topic is chanting, I am drawing chanting connections from that. Our ISKCON temples are dham. We could always go to various ISKCON temples and get the benefit by visiting the dham and chant there. Otherwise there is also – tirthi kurvanti tirthani . ( SB. 1.13.10) You could make your home tirtha. If you have an altar or photograph or some Deities, or if you are making your home look like Vaikuntha. Tulasi maharani is there. You can have a cow. Make sure you don’t have a dog. Have a cow. If a dog is there, he could be in his own place. If he walks all over that is not desirable. You can have Prabhupada’s books at home. In your kitchen when you are cooking for the Deities, and you are always chanting your Hare Krishna also, so then your home could be termed as, or experienced as Tirth or Dham. Being in the dham certainly helps to concentrate on chanting.

Offer your obeisances to Vaisnavas before chanting. Beg for their mercy. You could do this. Biggest trouble for us is Vaisnava aparadha . We are expert at offending Vaisnava. Very naturally and spontaneously we commit Vaisnava aparadh. Part of the preparation is, we could also remind ourselves, about what the ten offenses against the holy name are. That is done in all the temples. Individually also your can do that and offer prayers –

vanca kalpatarubhyaca kripa sindhubhy evaca/
patitanam pavanebhyo vaishnavebhyo namo namaha//. ( Vaisnav pranam mantra)

These are also preparations, before you chant. While offering pranam mantras to the Vaisnava this morning , I was happy, the way I offered my obeisances to Vaishnavas . That was with some feelings. Premanjan Prabhu madean announcements. So while announcing he said, ‘ matha niche karun’. He was telling that for the visitors, that they have to bow down their head. As he said that , I bow down with some feelings. Sashtanga dandavat, which means , eight part of your body are involved in offering Dandavats for gentlemen. Ladies do Panchang pranam . Some things are common. Obeisance’s are offered with the body, words , mind and also soul is there. Mind, intelligence and ego , real ego, -the chetana, consciousness, most subtle being ,’also offers obeisance’s. !
I was happy and wondering whether all the previous times that I had offered my pranams to Vaisnavas if I really did I offer my obeisances? I just had this thought. The first time I was offering my obeisances that I had special feelings while offering Vaisnava pranams. That is begging for forgiveness. Begging for their mercy also, very humbly, emotionally, devotionally.

Keep chanting. You should also sit properly. Prabhupada also gave several instructions about chanting, but one that stands out which he gave in middle of , one of the Japa sessions ( it was recorded) was – “ sit properly.” So what is sitting properly? Your backbone and neck should be straight, sitting like a yogi. That is sitting properly. Two days ago I had a conversation with one yogi, who is now a Bhakti-Yogi in Delhi temple regarding sitting properly. He said that if we sit with the back bone relaxed and neck down, it’s not a yogic posture. You try sitting in this improper way and you will feel that your breathing is kind of blocked. You can’t speak clearly in that posture. He was explaining that when we sit properly our lungs open up. When we sit down bending like a rainbow there is a blockage. It’s like the position when you are in the womb of your mother. You can’t sit properly. You can’t speak properly. You are not taking in sufficient air and then when we chant, there is not a thrust or boost behind the names you utter. You are just whispering. It is not loud and clear. Not only for breathing, but there is a blockage in the internal communication which goes on through the nervous system. That whole thing is also put under stress. It doesn’t help you to think properly or remember. You are not sharp enough. So it is a very important aspect which we don’t pay much attention to. This is a pranayam which is aimed at concentration, remembrance and total absorption. We don’t give a full Japa seminar over here, only some tips or guidelines, some inspiration, some encouragement for all of you to go on chanting properly and attentively.

I am inviting you , if you can come by today or tomorrow morning to Mayapur, like lots of devotees are pouring in. Temple was flooded. Tomorrow is Maha Abhishek of Pancatattva. We are eagerly waiting for that. We will chant during Abhishek. You can watch on Mayapur T.V.

Hare Krishna!

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Gauranga we have been chanting. Today we had 333 participants , which is again the biggest ever. Some 30 devotees did some chatting. Exchanging Dandavats and some other comments. Rasanidhi’s small daughter was chanting today. She doesn’t even know what is chanting. Hari-Kirtan’s daughter had been chanting. We had been getting more and more chanters for the conference. Those who were chanting alone are now chanting with their families. Most of our temples and students at different VOICE and BACE are also joining.

Some of you don’t keep your videos on due to various reasons. Lot of Ukrainians and Russian devotees are pretty regular. Although they are 3.5 hours behind India, they still manage to chant on conference. All the inconveniences you undergo are taken note of . When we take trouble like this, it pleases the Lord more and we get more blessings. We have our doctor devotee chanting with us whenever possible. You could also prescribe Hare Krishna to your patients. That is also medicine. The doctor was taking the doses of Hare Krishna this morning, so I am pleased to see that. Many of you are regular to attend the conference. Some are like aaya ram gaya ram’ . Devotees keep a sadhana card to maintain a record of their daily chanting and reading. You could also do something like that. Keep a note of how many sessions you attended this month.

I will like to extend my apologies in advance that tomorrow I will not be able to join this conference. Tomorrow I will be flying to Mayapur at the time of the japa conference. Once I was in the train and managed to conduct the conference. I will be chanting my rounds. So chanting will take me to dham – from Nama to Dham. Chanting and chanting, ultimately we wish, hope, pray and certainly we will go from Nama to Dham. This chanting of the holy name will take us Back to Godhead. Just take note that you should keep chanting. I will make an effort the day after to chant with you from Mayapur – from the land of Gauranga. There is maha-Abhishek of Gauranga coming up on the first of March. There is Sravanutsav. I will be participating in that. There is Kirtana-Mela in Mayapur. There is Navadwip mandala Parikrama. There are GBC meetings happening in Mayapur. So these are some of the coming attractions from Mayapur.

See you and chant with you the day after. Today is a big day for ISKCON. Today afternoon at 4 pm there is unveiling of the astounding Bhagvad-Gita at Radha-Parthasarathy Temple in New Delhi by none other than the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi. It’s a big event and I will be also part of it. The glories of Bhagvad-Gita As It Is will be broadcasted further by this unveiling of largest Bhagvad-Gita. It weighs 800 Kg. It’s pages are 2.5 ×2 meter in length and breadth. It’s really astounding. We are looking forward to that happening this afternoon.

I am going to share some of the comments you had been making or your comments on others comments. I had whole print out, and have selected some of those comments to comment on, but it may not happen today. We will have to close the session now and carry on with day’s activities which includes more chanting. We haven’t completed our prescribed number of rounds. So have a nice Krishna conscious day.

Hare Krishna!

I am all the way back, in Aravade , which used to be my home. My brother Ramdas and his family is chanting with us. Like that I am able to reach out to devotees and disciples in every nook and corners of the world. We have a temple now in Aravade and my brothers and sisters in law and my friends have become my disciples. Now they are also taking advantage of this conference. I am happy to see them and to see you all chanting. You could also get your near and dear ones to chant.

Make sure they all are chanting in the early morning hours, at least in India. This is the best thing to do. To chant Hare Krishna in the early morning hours. The tendency is we keep planning about different household affairs and other affairs and then we keep running around. So don’t do that. First business is to chant Hare Krishna. You could also do mangala aarti and this and that, Tulsi prayers and then chant Hare Krishna. I think because of this conference, leaving aside all other business , sitting down and chanting is becoming a priority. Don’t chant while I am talking. Some have that habit, but in that you cannot hear properly as we as cannot focus on chanting, so that is also distraction. You are coming , sitting down and chanting at a fixed hour in early morning hours. No eating , sleeping, mating and defending is happening. You are only chanting. You are staying awake. Here you are not eating, not sleeping. At least you are not in the bed. You may be sitting and nodding. That is also good. Most of you are fully awake and chanting. Chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna means you are not doing prajalpa. You are not doing anything else. So like that, as soon as you sit down to chant, chant perfectly. You are not doing so many other undesirable activities. You stay away from prajalpa or sleeping because you are sitting and chanting Hare Krishna. You are doing harer nama eva kevalam. (C.C. Adi 17.21) Chanting is one of the activities and there are so many more. There are so many activities, words and kriyas in the world? But you are not doing that. As soon as you start chanting, means you are doing only harer naam eva kevalam. Keep Chanting, with the aim of making Krsna happy. The best thing you can do is to chant Hare Krishna. As soon as you are chanting, the Lord is pleased with you, the chanter.

I have said this several times when I also see you chanting , I feel happy. When you see others chanting doesn’t that make you happy? Through this conference we inspire each other to chant and also our goal is to chant better. As we do – bodhayantaha parasparam ( BG. 10.9) inspiring each other , we become more happy. As we see other devotees doing sravanam, kirtanam pada sevanam ,arcanam, vandanam Nava-vidha Bhakti, we become Happy. When we see other devotees engaged in so many varieties of different devotional activities and services, that should make us happy. As I see you chanting, I become happy. You may also become happy seeing me chanting. Are you happy seeing me chanting?

Devotees are offering dandavats to me and many times to you also. When you are offering dandavats to someone it means you are happy with him. Children are also chanting. So nice to see kids chanting instead of all the playing business. As Narada Muni said, he was not interested in playing when he was a child, but he was serving mahatmas , Bhaktivedantas. Like that many of our ISKCON children, when we see them chanting, it’s very pleasing. When I see you chanting , I am pleased. I also begin praying for you. You may pray for me, so that we continue to chant, while remembering our dear lord – Gauranga, Krsna, Radha-Syamsundar, Radha-Madhava or Jagannatha, or Sita-Ram depending upon your istadev or aradhya dev. But basically our Gaudiya Vaisnavas aradhya dev is Radha-Krsna. The mantra that the Gaudiya Vaisnavas , we are chanting is Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. That’s the mantra and mantra- devata is Radha-Krsna. Radha Krishna becomes our worshipable Lord. We worship our worshipable Lord Radha Krsna by the chanting of Hare Krishna .devaan devayajo yanti ( BG. 7.23) demigods worshippers go to abode of demigods and those who worship ghosts go there. Those who worship forefathers go to their planet, pitru loka. But those who worship me – yanti madyajinopi mam (BG. 9.25) they come to my planet where I eternally reside – Goloka Eva namni nijdhamni ( BS. 5.37). Then that becomes our final destination, where Radha Krsna eternally reside. The mode of worship is – yajne sankirtnaihi prayaha.( SB. 11.5.32) Then our destination becomes Goloka. Back to Godhead. That Srila Prabhupad has always talked about.

By now you must be aware of the huge Bhagvad-Gita on the planet. It has been made in Italy. It was transported to New Delhi. Prime Minister of India will be unveiling that tomorrow at 4.30 pm. I am also attending that function. So see you another day .

Hare Krishna !

CHANTING IS THE ESSENCE OF DEVOTIONAL LIFE.

Yagnai sankirtanai pryaha
yajantihi sumedhasa (S.B.11.5.32)

We have to worship the Lord in this age of Kali by chanting the names of Lord Hari. So be focused on the holy name and remember the holy name is Krsna.

Hare Krishna! I am very happy to always see you chanting.

Bhaja gauranga kaha gauranga laha gauranger nama re, /. je jan gauranga bhaje see amar pran re. ( Sung by Lord Nityanand)

So it says Bhaja Gauranga- worship Gauranga. Say Gauranga! Gauranga! . Laha Gauranger nama re – recite the names of Gauranga. So Hare Krishna Hare Krishna is the name of Gauranga. One may say – kaha gauranger nama re – Oh! but I am not saying Gauranga’s name. I am just saying Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. But that is Gauranga’s name. What he said-

pruthvite aache yat nagaradi gram sarvatra prachar hoibe mor naam. ( Caitanya Bhagvata)

Gauranga said my name will spread. This Hare Krishna Hare Krishna is His name. Hare Krishna is not only Krsna, but Radha and Krsna combined. When we chant Hare Krishna , we are chanting Gauranga’s names, through this – bhaja gauranga kaha gauranga laha gauranger nama re, je jan gauranga bhaje sai hoi amar pran re. Those personalities are very dear to us are dear to Gauranga. So all you chanters are very dear to me. That vaisnava poet says chanters of the holy name are my life.

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
puṇya-sravaṇa-kirtanam
hrdy antah stho hy abhadraṇi
vidhunoti suhṛt satam (SB1.2.17)

This sravan – kirtana is punya , the most pious deed. punya shravan kirtanam. When you chant Hare Krishna, you are punyatma. You are mahatma. And then chanting is – hrdy antah stho hy abhadraṇi, vidhunoti suhṛt satam. All the dirt accumulated in the heart is cleansed. hrdy antah – means in the heart. hrdy antah stho means in the core of the heart. This is where the dirt is hiding. The holy name will reach there, grab that dirt ,and throw that out of the heart. That is cleaning. ceto darpana marjanam ( Siksastakam verse 1) We have to make sure that we are bringing the holy name all the way to the heart. Through the ears – cetaha pranganaha , in the courtyard of the heart, courtyard of the consciousness is where our mind, intelligence and false ego is, and then ultimately in the pure state which resides in the heart. We have to bring holy name, bring Krsna there.

That is what is meant by attentive hearing. We have to hear, and once the holy name is heard, it will reach the heart. The soul is hearing. You are hearing and the Lord in the heart is also hearing your offering of chanting to Him in your heart. You are addressing him, calling out. If you have heard, if you are attentive, sincere, then that will reach the heart. hrdy antah stho hy abhadraṇi and then ceto darpana marjanam takes place. The cleansing will take place vidhunoti suhṛt satam

The next verse is
naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu
nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā
bhagavaty uttama-śloke
bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī ( S.B. 1.2.18)

So it says naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣu – abhadra, amangal all the anarthas , inauspiciousness in the heart will be cleansed. This transformation takes place as we do nityam bhagavata sevaya. Nityam – kirtaniya sada Hari . Prabhupada explains this nityam bhagavata sevaya as granth- bhagavat, scripture – Bhagavata and person Bhagavata. As we do the different types of services, like fundraising which we did yesterday for TOVP. This is an example of serving person-bhagavata. As we chant Hare Krishna we are also begging for service. ‘O! Lord please engage me in Your service.’
ayi nanda tanuja kinkaram patitam ma vishame bhavambudho – ( C.C. antya 20.32)

O! Lord I am so fallen , pick me up, engage me in your devotional service. That’s the prayer. When you chant ‘ Hare Krishna’ we are saying please engage me, Prabhupada used to say , ‘ I am yours , please accept me. I am yours, please engage me.’

So practical devotional services also , we do and then that is also serving the holy name. The holy name is – vancha kalpatru. It fulfills our desires. We had been praying, please engage us in TOVP project and the whole team arrived here yesterday – HG. Jananivas Prabhu along with Lord Nityananda’s padukas, HG. Braj Vilas Prabhu and specially last night we had HG. Ambarish Prabhu and his good wife Svaha mataji here. We had a wonderful event. The results were beyond our imagination. We ended up raising three crores ( five hundred thousand dollars) for TOVP here in Noida. We could say that the holy name blessed us. The holy name is also Nityananda. Hare Rama Hare Rama is also Balarama. He gave us strength. Hare Rama Hare Rama is also Nityanand Rama.

His padukas were there. We were praying to please engage us . Then Nityananda Prabhu came here in form of the padukas and gave us opportunity to serve. This was all His mercy. Temple devotees were arranging such a program for an adbhut mandir. For an adbhut mandir we did an adbhut fund raising event. The results were astounding. Our Anand Prada Mataji , Ajamila Prabhu became pillars of devotion. I consider this as the mercy of the holy name. We were praying to the holy name and then the holy name which is the Lord engaged us in service of raising funds for TOVP. nityam bhagavat sevaya. We are serving Bhagwan and mahabhagvata Srila Prabhupada at the same time. Chanting Japa is also service to the Lord. It’s a devotional service. Not that we are just sitting around and saying Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. Nava-vidha Bhakti, which begins with sravanam, kirtanam , visno smaranam, padasevanam.

Everything begins with sravanam kirtanam – chanting of Hare Krishna. If that is done perfectly, then you will end up doing everything else also perfectly. If chanting is imperfect, then everything else you do for sure is also imperfect. If you improve your chanting, then you will improve your whole devotional life, whole devotional life style. All aspects of your devotional life will be improved by improving your chanting. Try to chant, endeavor to chant, make special efforts to chant perfectly, purely, attentively, regularly , devotionally , offenselessly.

I admire all the devotees. Russian devotees, Ukrainian devotees , they are going out of there way. There is a time zone difference. The talk that we are doing in English, they don’t understand , but they still stick to this conference and keep hearing. Thank you. Jananivas Prabhu! Thank you once again for your association. Today’s Bhagvatam class is being given by HG. Jananivas Prabhu. Thank you for your association. Thank you for engaging us in service of Nityananda’s lotus Feet. To make Lord Nityananda’s prediction come true by completing TOVP.

Wherever all you all Prabhus are you have to support and donate for the best cause of opening TOVP so that we can open the temple in three years time. Please come in 2022 to Mayapur. Do your train bookings, plane bookings. I could come with Padayatra there. So see you there for temple opening.

Three years from now!
Nityanand padukas ki Jay!
Sril Prabhupad ki Jay.
Gaur premande Hari Hari Bol!

DON’T SERVE MAYA!

Parama Karuna used to chant everyday with us from Nagpur, now he is in China for business tour and is chanting from there. Like that devotees are taking advantage of the japa conference. Even when they are traveling they get association during chanting and a little bit of my association and also hundreds of you chanting with us. I am in Noida.

Today we have special VVIP visitors visiting Noida. We have Nityanand Padukas here. So we welcome Nityanand Padukas. We have HG. Jananivas Prabhu here today. It’s a very big day today for ISKCON Noida. They have arranged a fundraising program for TOVP in the auditorium this evening. Guess who else is coming! We have a very special guest this evening as well, Ambarish Prabhuji ( Alfred Ford) will be attending . Today HG. Jananivas Prabhu will be our guest speaker for morning japa talk. ISKCON Noida devotees are around me. We have a fundraising program for Prabhupada’s TOVP project. We are very thankful to Jananivas Prabhuji for bringing Padukas – Lord Nityananda’s footprints over here. We are very, very grateful. He never leaves Mayapur. You must be knowing his glories and his steady service. Steady like a rock and with great determination he has stuck to Mayapur, to the Lotus Feet of Radha-Madhava, Pancatattva and Lord Narasimha. He has been doing service year after year almost for fifty years now.

Nityananda Prabhu’s Padukas are on the altar and I was offering aarti to Radha-Govind. But the special attraction was Nityananda Prabhu’s Padukas. I was eagerly awaiting Their arrival. I had been thinking about the Lotus Feet of Nityananda Prabhu for several days. As they were on the altar and as I was offering aarti to them, I heard a voice from within. I could say it was very clear & loud. The voice was WHY? WHY? WHY? And then the following thoughts were “ Why should you serve Maya? Tell me. Any good reason? Any body in the world could convince me or you, why you should remember or serve maya- Why? Why? Why? So I thought that was Lord Nityananda speaking. He is the original guru. He was questioning me why should you sleep during chanting. You are serving maya that way right? So that was the blessings of Lord Nityananda, the revelations of Lord Nityananda.

So today I would request HG.Jananivas Prabhuji to speak. We had been around four hundred devotees chanting on this conference and listening. We would like to hear how you had been maintaining steady devotional service, steadily staying on in Mayapur. steadily serving their Lordships and steadily also chanting. You are also known for your dance. You have been doing this year after year. So what is the secret? You kindly share that with us , with chanters from around 20 countries.

HG. JANANIVAS PRABHUJI

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.

Thank you for inviting me to Noida and in this program. Lord Nityananda’s shoes are here for everyone to take shelter of. Maharaja said why should we remain steady with Maya? We had been steady with Maya for billions and billions of births. By Prabhupada’s grace we have been able to see through the grand hoax of Maya. Trying to enjoy this material world which is like an ocean full of Sharks & alligators and Timingila fish. It will swallow our Bhakti. So take shelter of lotus Feet of Radha-Govindji. Attraction for Maya is very strong. But not stronger than the Holy name.

Why I am remaining steady? Actually I am physically and even with mind not steady, but somehow or the other by the process of vaidhi sadhana bhakti we can externally engage our senses in the service. It purifies. I like the holy name and Krishna consciousness and specially the philosophy because we know we are going back to Godhead. We know who Krsna is in the wonderful land of Vrindavan. There is one purport in Gita. – one should become captivated by hearing the descriptions of Krsna , his dhama and his activities. I thought it was such a wonderful thing. We will explain this attraction. Nothing else would really make sense. Here is Krsna, The Supreme personality of Godhead. Here is his dhama. Here is his abode. Here is Govardhan. Here is Jamuna. All these are wonderful things we have been searching for and Prabhupada gave us that in reality, so l am very thankful. Just hold on to his lotus feet and we can go back to Godhead. We can maintain in this material world and I have don’t have any attraction, but somehow or other I can maintain. Someone made a comment let me become steady then I will chant the holy name

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.

Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!
HH. Lokanath Swami Maharaja ki Jai!
Samaveda Bhakta Vrnda ki JaI!

HUMILITY – ORNAMENT OF VAISNAVA!

I am hearing lots of praises for this microphone today . Devotees are saying wonderful microphone. “Wonderful holy name is being chanted with wonderful microphone, and wonderful devotees are listening to it.” I get lots of requests for blessings. Devotees are seeking blessings all the time and offering pranams. I am being bombarded with dandavats every few minutes, not to me alone, but all the participants of the conference. That’s the right mood. All the humility at your command, when you enter the association of devotees or devotee family which is busy with chanting. Offering dandavat means you are bowing down. That is how one becomes the recipient of the holy name, when you bow down. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has already declared in his verse –
trinadapi sunichen tarorapi sahishnuna amanina manden kirtaniya sada Hari. (Siksastakam -verse 3).

If you have to light even a candle or incense, if you hold it straight, and light it, it will take longer or may not even burn. But when you hold it slanting or ‘stick bows down’ then it lights quickly. So like that , when we bow down , we become more eligible candidate to receive the mercy.

Vidya dadati vinayam vinyat yati patrata. ( Hitopadesh – verse 6)

When you acquire knowledge, you go to VIHE in Vrindavan and you become vidvan ( learned) or vidushi. That Vidya makes you humble. Only ignorant people are falsely proud. As soon as you become knowledgeable, you become humble , because vidya dadati vinayam. They are the qualities of a Brahmin. Krsna said the qualities of Brahmin are vidya vinaya sammpane brahmane( BG. 5.18). A brahmin is that person who is vidyasampanna (knowledgeable) and vinaysampanna ( humble). He is equipped with vidya or knowledge. That knowledge makes him vinayi or humble. So we should be knowledgeable. We should be acquiring knowledge. Studying Bhagvad-Gita, Bhagavatam will make us humble. Because we will be realizing that God is Great and we are insignificant, just tiny parts and parcels, very tiny. That should make us humble.

During our Padayatra to Badrikasrama we were seeing the tall peaks of the Himalayan Mountains all around us. We were walking midst of those mountains like a speck of dust , towards Badrikashram. It was quite a humbling experience. In the midst of the Himalayan Mountains, the tallest mountain on earth and you are walking at the foothill of the mountain peak, like a tiny ants crawling. That was a humbling experience. As we read, Gita, Bhagavatam, Caitanya Caritamrita we become more and more Krsna realized. We understand the greatness of Krsna and at the same time we become self realized. God is great , and I am such insignificant, tiny part and parcel. So that is what makes us humble. This humility makes us eligible to receive the mercy of the Lord. So vidya dadati vinayam, vinayat yati patrata. You become the retainer or beholder of the mercy of the Lord. That’s where Dharana , Dhyana and samadhi begins. We hold because we are humble, eligible and you will hold, retain and maintain that. Then you become happy and joyful, since you have already received the mercy of the Lord. This is one part, which is good enough, Have you understood what we said? Importance of being humble.

Someone wanted me to speak on one of the Siksastakam , so this can be also considered as commentary on one of the Siksastakam – trinad api sunichen tarorapi sahishnuna amanina manden kirtaniya sada Hari.

One of the mataji is raising her arms in the air. This is also humility. Surrendering. We are surrendered. It’s big body language, raising arms. So vinayat yati patrata, patratvat dhanam aapnoti. Then when you are patra, you could acquire wealth. Patra is a container so you will receive and hold it.

This mantra is wonderful. patratvat dhanam aapnoti. This chanting that we are doing is dhan. Golokera prem dhan . Dhan or wealth is coming your way and your soul is the patra, the holder. So all morning long we are making you richer as we chant –

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

We start acquiring dhanam early morning. Everyone starts making money at 10.00 am. But devotees start earning at 5.00 am . They are ahead of the world. Devotees wake up early, and start collecting wealth.

Further it says dhanat dharmaha tataha sukham. So dhanat dharmam – like dharma, artha kama moksha. This should be employed for Dharma. for becoming Krishna conscious, . Dhan or wealth is wisely invested then the end result is tataha sukham i.e. you become happy. This is also what we understand, Early to bed, early to rise makes one healthy wealthy and wise. You become wealthy, because we inhale fresh air enriched with lots of oxygen. We should inhale lots of oxygen in the morning. We don’t have to stop chanting. We have talked a few times about the technique of chanting, that while chanting you take a deep breath and you chant, then release the breath slowly while chanting the maha mantra. Chant 3, 4 or 5 mantras, in one breath during which the air is released. Then take a deep breath again and repeat it the same way.

There are lots of benefits of this. I don’t have time to explain all those now, but don’t think this is just a yogi business or astanga yogi business or hatha yoga. It may be or it is but we can also use this in our service of bhakti yoga for chanting. You will also become healthy and wealthy if you chant the way I was just explaining. In order to fill up your lungs, as soon as you begin filling up your lungs, what happens? You come to a position that is favourable for remembering Krsna meditation.

We are also meditators. Dhyan-yogis. Bajarangi Prabhuji does this and Madhav-kirti Prabhu also keeps talking about it. There are several other devotees, japa-yogis who follow this. The blood is oxygenated and reaching your brain. Then you will not fall asleep as someone was sleeping this morning in the middle of the chanting. You try this technique, then you will overcome the sleepy state. You will remain awake. Healthy, Wealthy and Wise. If you sleep early, and get up early in the morning, that will make you healthy, wealthy and wise.

Memorise this mantra vidya dadati vinayam, vinayat yati patrata, patratvat dhanam aapnoti and dhanat dharmaha tataha sukham

It is Krsna connection or Hare Krishna -mahamantra connection. It is a guideline for the chanters of the holy name. This has elements like humility and how to become eligible. ‘How could I the receive mercy of the holy name?’ someone asked. This is the answer to that question. Be humble.

Today we will stop here. It’s time to greet Radha-Govind Dev. See you tomorrow again.

Hare Krishna!

Are you able to hear me? Okay, those who want to hear, they are hearing me. I will like to convey for the pleasure of Radha-Govind Deities and for the pleasure of the devotees that today we had 325 participants. Maybe 10 – 20 countries are part of this conference.

Try to finish all your 16 rounds in one sitting, that’s the best. You have stopped chanting now and that means you have only chanted 6, 8 or 10 rounds in morning, in association with full attention and concentration. Early morning hours are favourable for chanting with attention. Brahmamuhurta is the mode of goodness time. Early morning hours conditions are favourable. Mind is fresh, more cooperative, not preoccupied. As we go through the day, lots of things happen and we keep thinking about lot of things. Then in the midst of all these thoughts, we are trying to chant Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. We may not hear it.

There will be no attention. Chanting becomes inattentive. So try to chant in the morning. It is observed that sometimes devotees are not able to chant in the morning and then with many other things, it may become night. The other day I was doing some review of the chanting performance, and I realised that the chanting of only 10 or 12 rounds that we do in the morning and then for the remaining rounds it should be worked out. Later we have to do a lot of running around for Krsna which arouses a lot of passion. The mind can’t concentrate, can’t hear and ends up hearing other things. Mind gets dragged everywhere.

So I would encourage you to chant the prescribed number of rounds in one stroke. When the mind is preoccupied with so many other issues, then such a mind becomes a stumbling block. Between you and Krsna there is a stubborn mind which is preoccupied and is standing like a block. It’s like regulator of a fan. When the regulator is on one, the fan moves slow. On three it moves a little faster, but on 5 it runs really fast. What the regulator does is it regulates the amount of electricity that reaches the fan. This is a device which regulates the amount of current reaching the fan. We do not want our mind to be a stumbling block. If the regulator blocks the current, then the fan moves very slowly. Like that the mind regulates our communication with the Lord.

The Lord is revealed to different degrees. When the mind is preoccupied with thoughts of other activities, other assignments it means that those other activities are our number one priority. Chanting becomes less important. There is only vague hearing. If the mind is more fresh and not allowed to be engaged in other engagements and not allowed to wander, then like a fan which makes a connection with the regulator , it will establish a connection with Krsna . Sometimes there could be a blockage. There can be complete, inattentive chanting. There can be 100% inattentive chanting. So the degree of attention or inattention depends on the purity of the mind. For attaining purity, you have to do lot of endeavours and chant Hare Krishna sincerely. Did you get the point?

When you chant again and again you get used to it. Those who are staying next to railway tracks don’t hear the sound of the trains. Param Karuna Prabhu’s home in Nagpur is next to railway tracks. The home members were not even noticing the sound of railway trains coming and going. But when we were there, we were only hearing the train sounds. So the mind could also act like that. After hearing and hearing and hearing the railway sounds, a time comes when you don’t hear. There is a kind of dislike so you try to keep that at the back of your mind. This could happen and this does happen with chanters. When we say inattentive chanting, devotees are chanting. They are saying Hare Krishna Hare Krishna and the whole mantra, but they are not hearing. Then there will be other sounds and thoughts. It becomes like two tracks. The mind is busy with so many other things while chanting. Some kind of chanting and also other thoughts are going on. Then one round, two rounds are finished. Like that 16 rounds are finished. It’s a risky business! Like that one could go on year after year after year, not hearing. When we sit down to chant the mind is elsewhere. The mobile could be next to them, or for grhasthas the TV is on and they are chanting. So do you think that you are such a great yogi? In the midst of all this you are completely oblivious of the surroundings and you are fully absorbed in chanting no matter what is happening around you? This is not our state as sadhakas. We have just started chanting.

So this inattentive chanting is also an offence. According to Bhakti Vinod Thakur, inattentive chanting is the source of all other offences. There are ten offences to the holy name, but the origin of these ten offences is inattentive chanting. When your chanting is inattentive, it gives rise to anarthas. Like this, we become too familiar with the holy name and there develops some kind of dislike. At least you should be neutral. We dislike somebody or are neutral to someone. Like that we take positions. Either we like chanting, or we dislike , or we are neutral. We have to hear properly, sit properly .

Our Bhurijan Prabhuji, reformer of chanting says that at the beginning of the mantra should be heard properly. Every time you start with new mantra, make sure you have heard the beginning attentively. This is a tip or hint. You have to hear Hare Krishna and then you have to hear more. When you chant Hare Krishna you heard Hare Krishna, but then what did you hear. The inner voice asks what Hare Krishna meant to you? What did you derive out of hearing? What happens when you hear Hare Krishna? That is going even more deeper. When we hear Hare Krishna something has to happen. If we really hear, then jiva jago, the soul has to wake up. You are looking around, looking for Krsna. When we say Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, here are so many Krsnas. The mind is full of Krsna’s thoughts. Krsna’s names, form, qualities, pastimes. There is an ocean of Krsna thoughts. That is some food for thought.

Try to improve your chanting everyday. Make it better and better.
Hare Krishna!

We had 316 participants today. We have two Bhuvaikuntha BACE’s , one in Pune and other in Pandharpur. Devotees from both these places are chanting with us. Padayatra India have joined from somewhere in Central India. They always complain about not getting my association. But now most of the mornings they are chanting with us. I think I am with them and they are with me. I visit Russia once in 2 – 3 years. But now daily they are getting my association. There are around 40 devotees from Russia and Ukraine chanting with us. So continue chanting with us. “ Let’s chant together” is the theme of this conference. Keep chanting.

Several of you are writing , “ Maharaj please bless me.” I was thinking, you are getting my association, as well as of so many devotees. Isn’t that a blessing? We have the mahamantra, the best mantra, Hare Krishna mahamantra. Isn’t that a blessing? What more blessings do you wish to get. ‘Please bless me , please bless me.’ You are already blessed due to all these. So keep chanting. As I participate in this conference, my own chanting slows down. I am taking your darsana, trying to keep an eye on you. I see some of you yawning and very tired. So I have to inquire, ‘ Are you tired?’ As I pay attention to who is chanting and how they are chanting. In this process my chanting kind of slows down. There are some sacrifices for me, but I don’t mind. I am doing this for your benefit. To give you association or to give you a boost in your chanting. Also as I said, when I see hundreds of you chanting, this is like a ‘Virat-rupa’ – Universal form. So I see you all devotees, but I was wondering ‘Where is Krsna? Where is Krsna?’ and then suddenly Krsna appeared on the screen.

Guru Maharaja responded, ‘ Not this! Vaikuntha-Nayaka is not Krsna. Not this, As King Pariksit was looking at different personalities around him, thinking – Where is that Supreme personality of Godhead whom he saw in the womb of his mother. I want to see him again. He was examining and eliminating Not this! Not this personality whom I had seen. So I was wondering this morning , ‘ Where is Krsna?’ These are devotees, fine, I am happy, but ‘Where is Krsna?’ Then suddenly somebody started showing their altar and Deities. This happens rarely and it happened today. Immediately I was at their altar, taking darsana of Laddu Gopal and other Deities. I found my Krsna whom I was looking for. Then I also had thoughts. The Krsna I am looking for and you are also supposed to be looking for is with us, as we as we chant

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

So my question should also be your question, ‘ I am seeing devotees, that’s fine, but where is Krsna? This ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna’ , which you are chanting and I am chanting, and everyone of us is chanting is – ‘Krsna’. Krsna is with us. Krsna is here. As he has also promised or declared ,- na aham vasami vaikunthe na ca yoginam hrudayeshu va , yatra gayanti madbhaktaha tatra tisthami naradaha. ( Conversation between Narada and Visnu) Sometimes you may not find me in Vaikuntha or in the hearts of Yogis, but I am certainly there where devotees are chanting my glories or ‘Hare Krishna’. So we had to realize, where is Krsna? – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna is Krishna. You don’t have to go very far to look for Krsna. Chant ‘Hare Krishna’ and hear that. Then try to realize that, this ‘Hare Krishna’ is Radha and Krsna. That is the whole exercise of chanting, to realize this abhinnatva -abhinnatvat nam namino. ( CC Madhya 17.133) The name of the Lord and Lord are non different. We have to understand the statement that the Lord and his names are non different. It is acintya(inconceivable) . But through cintan which is also mananam which is also hearing and smaranam (remembrance). So through this smaranam, cintanam, mananam and chanting of the Hare Krishna mahamantra bring the name to your mind. Japa means mananam. Reach out to the soul in fully spiritualized or Krsnaised state of mind Ceto darpan marjanam ( Siksastakam verse 1) takes place. Mind is part of cetana.

Mind, intelligence and false ego remain no more. Only real eternal ego remains, aham dasosmi – I am spirit soul. So this is the cetana. No more mundane mind and no more mundane intelligence. Dadami buddhiyogam tam yen mamupayanti te.( BG. 10.10) Lord gives divine intelligence by intervention. Divine way of discriminating and sorting out. This is Krsna. All this mind, intelligence and ego which we call subtle body. Then – machhitaha madgat pranaha bodhayantaha parasparam ( BG. 10.9) Then that citta or consciousness and intelligence, your self gets glued to the lotus Feet of Lord, the whole form of the Lord. The name, form, pastimes and qualities are non-different. Form is non-different from qualities which are non-different from, pastmes and like that. Paraphernalia and associates all become one entity through purified consciousness as ceto darpana marjanam takes place.

We are part of that spiritual world. We are no more in Noida or New York. As Prabhupada would say I am not in Europe. He was thinking of Radha Damodar in Vrindavan. So ‘Where is Krsna? The answer is ‘Hare Krishna’ is Krsna. The holy name , Harinama is Harinama Prabhu. He is a person.

This is a forum we have provided. We asked you to write your comments, questions, and realizations. and we try to address and have a dialogue. Some of you have to leave early, as temple programs start as I can see Nagpur devotees getting up. But these talks are getting transcribed, so you can always revisit, read and contemplate further. So keep chanting and omplete your 16 rounds every day. You can always chant More. We say kirtaniya sada hari which includes chanting more.
HARE KRISHNA!

We have 41 participants from Russia today. We are kind of getting settled on the number of 300 participants. We don’t have to settle on this, we can go over and above. Get more of your near and dear ones to chant on this conference.

I am here today at Rohini in Delhi. Rohini is one of the colonies of Delhi. This Temple is not yet open, but still there was a function of Nityananda Trayodasi on a big scale. Completion of the temple may take another year and half or so, but already the temple was full of devotees. Before the opening itself the temple is full and then I was saying what are you going to do once the temple opens? Many, many more would be joining. Holy name is spreading. The temple is full of devotees chanting and dancing, and receiving all the mercy and drowning in the ocean of mercy of Nityananda Prabhu. You will be surprised to know there are 15 temples in the Delhi and NCR region itself. In one City 15 temples is a large number and they are huge temples.

It was Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instruction suno suno nityanand suno Haridas prati ghare giya karaha amar aagnaya prakash. Sri (Caitanya-Bhagavata, Madhya-Khanda -13.8-10)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu would tell Nityanand and Haridas,”Go door to door and share my instructions with them.” What is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s instruction?

bolo krsna bhajo krsna karo krsna siksa.

Bolo krsna ask them to chant Hare Krishna. bhajo krsna – worship Krsna. karo krsna siksa. – learn the teachings of Krsna. Study Gita and Bhagavatam. These were instructions of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Nityanand prabhu and Haridas Thakur. Go everywhere and ask them to chant Hare Krishna, worship Krsna and recite Bhagavad-Gita , Bhagavatam and also Caitanya Caritamrita. So like that it is happening in a big way, especially in India and Delhi which includes Noida, Gaziabad, Faridabad , Gurugram, Bahadurgarh, Rohini and like that. Delhi has or we can say the world has a bright future, as centers and temples of Krishna consciousness are opening all over the world and as soon as we open the temples they are getting filled up. In fact even before opening they are getting full. We have Bhakti-vriksha and Namahatta programs in Delhi, and all over India and Russia and all over the world. They are huge groups and we have Prahlad Schools. Through all these different projects, the Krishna consciousness movement is spreading.

Hare Krishna mahamantra is reaching them. Krishna and Radha are catching up with them. All this happening and it is very encouraging to see. Youths are also taking up Krishna consciousness all over the world, not only in India. So keep Chanting. Share chanting. Share the holy name. That is sharing of Krsna. This is instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to all of us. Not that he instructed only to Haridas Thakur and Nityanand to propagate Krishna consciousness. This instruction is to all of us.

yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadea
amara ajnanaya guru hana tara’ ei desa
( CC Madhya 7.128)

This is instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to all of us . To propagate , share Hare Krishna movement. Meaning ultimately – sarva dharma sar. (Ref. ??) which means that is the essence of Dharma and as we preach and propagate, we give Harinama to others. As we do that act of sharing Krsna in the form of a Holy name , we understand the holy name is the only way. Hare nama eva kevalam. ( CC Adi 7.76) Today also I have a temple program to attend. But before closing I will like to remind you , today is the appearance day of one of our very exalted Àcaryas. Srila Narottam Das Thakur! We are very fortunate . This way we have festivities and reason to have celebrations practically every other day. We had Varaha Mahadvadasi, Nityananda Trayodasi, Madhvacharya Appearance day a few days ago. And today is Srila Narottam Das Thakur’s Appearance Day. He was a great and only disciple of Lokanath Goswami. His songs we sing throughout ISKCON. We sing so many songs of Bhakti Vinod Thakur and of Narottam Das Thakur. Sri Narottam das Thakur has compiled – Sri Guru Charan Padma kevala bhakti sadma. He compiled that song as an offering to the lotus feet of his spiritual master. Glories of Narottam das Thakur are unlimited. Before Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s departure he was gazing in one direction and he started shouting , Narottam! Narottam! No one had any clue, who this Narottam is. Later on Gaudiya Vaisnava understood, Caitanya Mahaprabhu was predicting the appearance of Narottam in Kheturi gram on the banks of Padmavati River. I had the good fortune of visiting the birth place of Narottam das Thakur a few years ago. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu placed large quantities of prem in the Padmavati River. He handed Krsrna prema to Padmavati and instructed her to hand it over to Narottam Das Thakur. She inquired, ‘How would I know who is Narottam? ‘ Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, when Narottam das Thakur enters your waters, you will be flooded and then you will understand that person is Narottam. That is what happened. Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered lot of Krsna prema to Narottam das Thakur and then he in turn he shared that all over the world.

It was first over Gaura-Purnima festival which was held in Kheturi gram. Narottam das Thakur was singing. As he sang with all his heart and all his strength, he was calling out to the Lord. Then the Lord and not just the Lord, but the Lords responded. All five members of the Pancatattva made Their Appearance in the midst of thousands of devotees, who had assembled to celebrate the Gaura-Purnima festival.This was the power, quality of singing and chanting of Narottam Das Thakur. He kind of dragged the Lord from Goloka to Kheturi gram. Today is his appearance day keep chanting and let’s dedicate our chanting for the pleasure of Narottam Das Thakur. Let’s chant and sing for his pleasure. He is not going to be pleased with offensive chanting. He could only be pleased with offenseless chanting.

aparadh sunya haiya laho krsna nama. So let’s endeavor to chant offenselessly. As we chant that way, we could please, Srila Narottam das Thakur. We could please Prabhupada. And ultimately please members of Panctattva and specially Gauranga.
Hare Krishna! Have a good day.
——————————————————————————————

( Song Name: Nadiya Godrume Nityananda Mahajana. Official Name Nagara Kirtana Song 1; Ajna Tahal by Bhaktivinoda Thakura in the book Gitavali)

LYRICS:

(1) nadīyā-godrume nityānanda mahājana
patiyāche nām-haṭṭa jīvera kāraṇa

(2) (śraddhāvān jan he, śraddhāvān jan he)
prabhura ājñāy, bhāi, māgi ei bhikṣā

bolo `kṛṣṇa,’ bhajo kṛṣṇa, koro kṛṣṇa-śikṣā
(3) aparādha-śūnya ho’ye loho kṛṣṇa-nām
kṛṣṇa mātā, kṛṣṇa pitā, kṛṣṇa dhana-prān

(4) kṛṣṇaera saḿsāra koro chāḍi’ anācār
jīve doyā, kṛṣṇa-nām—sarva-dharma-sār

TRANSLATION

1) In the land of Nadiya, on the island of Godruma, the magnanimous Lord Nityananda has opened up the Marketplace of the Holy Name, meant for the deliverance of all fallen souls.

2) O people of faith! O people of faith! By the order of Lord Gauranga, O brothers, I beg these three requests of you: Chant “Krsna!”, worship Krsna, and teach others about Krsna.

3) Being careful to remain free of offenses; just take the holy name of Lord Krsna. Krsna is your mother, Krsna is your father, and Krsna is the treasure of your life.

4) Giving up all sinful activities, carry on your worldly duties only in relation to Lord Krsna. The showing of compassion to other souls by loudly chanting the holy name of Krsna is the essence of all forms of religion.

Today also we have crossed the mark of 300 participants. Today youths from Daman have also joined.
We had been saying that for today’s chanting you have to prepare form the day before. So what we did yesterday was also a kind of preparation. In the morning there was maha-Abhishek of Radha-Govind Dev then pushpa abhishek and then in the afternoon we a had wonderful Ratha-yatra. A special feature was that we distributed tons of prasada. Normally we say tons, but we don’t actually do it. But yesterday we distributed 2 tons of fruit prasada. All different kinds of fruits. I have never distributed so much prasada on Ratha-yatra the way I did yesterday for hours from cart. People were really fighting, grappling and battling to get the mercy of the Jagannath. I was very happy to give Jagannatha to others in form of prasada. They say ‘anna parabramha’ ( Prasna Upanishad) – Anna i.e. food that is offered to Jagannatha, Krishna becomes ‘parabramha’ i.e. develops the qualities of parabrahma. So we attempted those activities. We tried to spread Krishna consciousness. Also 600 books were distributed. Youths were also very enthusiastic in their kirtanas and dancing. Some devotees were dressed like Krishna-Balaram and also Gaur-Nitai. One well built prabhu was also dressed like Hanuman with club and tail at the back. It was a wonderful experience.

We have to take part in festivals, this is recommendation of Rupa Goswami. In Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu this is one of the points which is stressed. This inspires us. Today as we sit down and chant , those thoughts come to mind. It is favourable in chanting . This conference is a Japa conference. For us today is Nityananda Trayodasi , yet another festival. ISKCON is full of festivals. Goloka is also full of festivals. Everywhere and every step there is a festival. Every word is a song. As you chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare – isn’t it a festival? As you chant Hare Krishna , do japa that is also a festival. When we say festival, we are reminded of a feast. What is a festival, if there is no feast, isn’t it? No festival is without feast. So chanting is also a festival, so there must be the feast. There is feast for our tongue, feast for our fingers, as we touch Tulasi beads,Tulasi’s lotus feet. Feast for our eyes because meditatively we want to visualize , see the form of the Lord. That kind of feast requires a lot of endeavor. The chanter has to go through lots of austerities, so eventually there is a state of mind, and then there could be tears, “ Oh! When will that day come?” Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says in Siksastakam
premanjanchhurita bhakti vilochanen santaha sadiva hrudayeshu vilokyanti. (Brahma Samhita Verse 10)

Then that saintly person sees the Lord, when his eyes are decorated with tears of love. And that is our goal. But to do so we have to practice with chanting – chanting with enthusiasm and determination.

Today being Nityanand Appearance Day over here, I was, thinking, I am dedicating this chanting unto Nityananda Prabhu today. It’s time to remember His Lotus Feet, some of his pastimes and some of his activities and chant. That’s why I was attempting to dedicate my chanting to Nityanand Prabhu. Nityanand Prabhu is adi-guru. Krishna vande jagatgurum. ( Srimad Bhagavad Gita – dhyanam verse 5) Nityanand vande jagatguru. Nityanand Prabhu is original spiritual master. If he is pleased then yasya prasadaat bhagvata prasadao (Gurvastakam) Chanting is a prayer. I was praying to continue to pray unto Lord Nityanand today. Gaur-Nityanand they are together, founder of this Hare Krishna movement.

ajanu-lambita-bhujau kanakavadhatau
sankirtanaika-pitarau kamalayataksau
visvambharau dvija-varau yuga-dharma palau
vande jagat-priyakaro karunavatarau

I offer my respects unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu, whose arms extend down to Their knees, who have golden yellow complexions, and who inaugurated the congregational chanting of the Holy Names. Their eyes resemble the petals of a lotus; They are the maintainers of all living entities; They are the best of brahmanas, the protectors of religious principles for this age, the benefactors of the universe, and the most merciful of all incarnations. (Caitanya-bhagavata 1.1.1)

Specially Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu when he was absorbed in his antim (final) Lilas in Jagannatha Puri, he was absorbed in Radha Bhava. radha bhav duti sure valitam. (CC adi 1.5) He did not want Nityanand Prabhu around while Caitanya Mahaprabhu is around Radharani. When Radha and Krishna are together Balaram stays away. This is also the same with Nityanand Prabhu. This is still deeper understanding. Caitanya Mahaprabhu told Nityanand Prabhu to go and preach in Bengal and to take some of his associates with Him. So Nityanand Prabhu had taken his dwadas (12) Gopalas – cowherd boys from Balaram’s pastimes. They had also appeared in Nityanand’s pastimes. Nityanand Prabhu was ordered, “Go! Don’t be here. I am going to be with Radharani.” Nityanand Prabhu had gone to Panihati and performed pastimes there and then all over Bengal propagating the holy name.

Bhakti Vinod Thakur writes – nadiya godrume nityanand mahajan , patiyache nama-hata jivera karan. Nadiya is a district and Nityanand Prabhu has started Namahatta there. Bhakti Vinod Thakur is inviting everyone. Bhagyavan (Lucky), Sraddhavan (faithful) people come, come! Nityanand Prabhu is distributing the holy name of the Lord. He functioned as Guru handing out the holy name. Some others also joined and they were preaching partners. Balaram is Nitai and Brahma had become Brahma Haridas. So they were propagators of the holy name. One day they encountered Jagai and Madhai. They were preaching yavanas , mlechhas and sudras. The low class Kali-yuga folks were being preached to by Nityanand Prabhu.

There were lots of inconveniences. Somehow He was trying to push the holy name down the throats of Jagaii and Madhai. They were protesting, not willing and throwing rocks, wine bottles and clay pots. Then Gauranga has to come when His devotees are offended. Gauranga – Sri Krishna does not tolerate. Nityanand was playing a role of a devotee, preacher. He was offended. Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu had come on the scene calling Sudarsan! He was ready to cut the throats of Jagai and Madhai into pieces. He was merciful to Jagai and Madhai in a different way. Not that Gauranga Mahaprabhu wasn’t merciful, but he was showing the mercy in a different way. Lord is going to come in the age of Kali with a sword. So that way He also expresses His Mercy. When the Lord kills somebody, that is also the mercy of the Lord. But in the age of Kali, that is not the way to show the mercy.

Now Nityanand Prabhu was more merciful. No No!! Not this weapon, another weapon. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare . His mercy was so profound . Jagai and Madhai’s hearts melted. His kindness was special. Nityanand Prabhu came in the middle of Jagai – Madhai and Mahaprabhu and saved them. Not this way! Hare namaiva kevalam. ( SB. 11.2.38) Only Harinama is the way. He was reminding Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In the age of Kali we save the fallen souls by chanting the holy names. Jagai and Madhai’s names were Jagadanand and Madhavanand. They were brahmins.

So Nityanand Prabhu – nitai vine hai Radha Krishna paite nai. (Song Name: Nitai Pada Kamala
Official Name: Nityananda Nistha Song 1; Mana Siksa, by Narottama Dasa Thakura)

Without the mercy of the Nityanand Prabhu, you can’t get the mercy of the Radha and Krishna. You cannot get Hare Krishna Hare Krishna which is Radha Krsna. This mantra explains we will not be able to chant without the mercy of Nityanand Prabhu. Nityanand Prabhu and spiritual Masters in parampara of Gaur-Nityanand give mahamantra. On behalf of Nityanand Prabhu they give Radha Krsna. Hare Krishna mahamantra.

So we need to chant and pray or make chanting a prayer. Keep chanting and praying and offering our prayers to the Divine Lotus Feet of Nityanand Prabhu. Get His Mercy to get Radha and Krsna. It is only possible by the mercy of Nityanand Prabhu. Nitai pada kamala koti Candra susitala – Nityanand Prabhu exists eternally. It is not fictitious. He was there and He became air or vapour. He continues to exist and those who are fortunate get to see.

adyapiha lila kare gaura rai ,kon kon bhagyavan dekhe vari pai. Even today the pastimes of Gaur- Nityanand are taking place in Navadwip – Mayapur. Those who are fortunate, intelligent , for them They become visible. Even today they can see. Gauranga!! Nityanand!! Nityanand is a Guru. He took Jiva Goswami on a tour to Navadwip. Gurus ,Spiritual Masters, or dham gurus or pandas learned do this. So he was revealing Navadwip dham unto Jiva Goswami. Offending Him is offending dham. It is one of the dham aparadhs. Offending the personality who reveals the dham. Nityanand Prabhu reveals the dham unto us.
So like this I wanted to say somethings to devotees assembled here. Radha Govinda mandir will explain few more things for your kind consideration, contemplation. So that you take inspiration. Continue to chant.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE.
Chant with attention and devotion. Avoid all the offenses against the merciful holy name.
Hare Krishna!