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!

Stop chanting now and listen. Sorry to interrupt your meditation but I have to leave for Delhi very soon. Because of this we started earlier and ended earlier. My observation is some of you are joining late. I have taken note of the fact that our japa session is by and large from about 6.00 am to 7.00 am. IST. So try to be on time to get full benefit. We first chant together, and then we talk about Japa for few minutes.

IYF Nagpur and Gopalpur BACE have also joined today. They are welcomed. We want bigger participation. If we chant congregationally , then it becomes sankirtana.

In Satya-yuga, there was one meditator in one cave. If there were two yogis in one cave, it would be considered too many. Those were the conditions for dhyana or meditation. But in age of Kali, the bigger the number the better. If you are alone, you may fall asleep. As soon as you are by yourself , you will get distracted doing this and that. Chanting in association of devotees is favourable and beneficial for chanting. You get benefit of association. You remain away from the association of non-devotees, ie. the influence of Maya is cut off as soon as you are chanting and chanting specially in the association of devotees. You could also chant with your family members. On this conference you should realize, even if there are no devotees next to you, still there are three to four hundred devotees chanting with you on this conference. You may be just watching us on the mobile screen, and may not be able to see so many of them. But on the laptop screen I am able to see hundreds of you surrounding me and I feel protected as devotees are surrounding me. It is a kind of fencing. I don’t feel alone. You also should feel that way. You should understand and realize, this is powerful association of devotees on this conference. Sange saktihi kaliyuge (an old Sanskrit proverb) says that in Kaliyuga there is strength in sanga or big numbers. They congregate and exhibit their power or ‘Shakti’. We get that experience on this conference. So take advantage of these chanting sessions.

I see little Gauranga with his younger brother chanting together from Florida. Two little boys. They are two Kumaras not four Kumaras. It’s very pleasing to see them chanting together. As I said yesterday, we have Kumaras , Yuva and older people – all generations. Children are chanting, youths are chanting and old folks are chanting. I see everybody chanting and I feel happy. I feel protected. I feel enthusiastic also. So this must be the right thing to do. When we see so many are doing it then it stresses on the mind that this must be the right thing to do. That’s a kind of psychology. You are not the only one. That is the experience. It’s not that only Indians who are chanting. Even Americans are chanting. Devotees from Toronto are chanting. Devotees from Mauritius are chanting. So this must be the right thing to do. People from all over the world are chanting. I am not the only fool here chanting. Is there something wrong with me? No you are not a fool. You are wise because you are chanting.

as follows, with special reference to the saṅkīrtana-yajña:

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ
sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair
yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ (Bhāgavatam 11.5.32)

In the declaration of Bhagavatam it is stated, intelligent people will take to the chanting. They will take to yajna, which yajna? Sankirtana yajna. Performing sankirtana yajna is a job of intelligent, or smart people.

Krsna yei bhaje sei bada catura:( Krsnadas Kaviraj in CC Anya Lila 4.67) if you want to prove you are wise, chant Hare Krishna. If you do not you are a fool. So you are chanting and you are wise and we get further convinced when we see others are also chanting. This was the prediction and expectation of Supreme personality of Godhead – Caitanya Mahaprabhu. All glories to Him. People in every town and village will take up to this chanting. Srila Prabhupada kindly began this revolution in consciousness. He made this holy name available everywhere. We are seeing devotees chanting everywhere. We get the reports from Russia that , “ ‘Hare Krishna’ is a fastest growing religion and is spreading all over Russia like wildfire.” Something that was banned in Russia some time back and there are reports that there are 700000 followers of Hare Krishna in Russia. So this must be the right thing to do. So many people globally are accepting Hare Krishna. They are accepting Bhagavad-Gita and following it.

It is getting late and I better leave you with your chanting and proceed to the airport. Keep chanting. Srila Prabhupada propagated the holy name and made the holy name available to all you chanters. Now it is our duty and obligation to propagate and spread this holy name. Make this available to others. Give this gift of the holy name to your near and dear ones – your friends and relatives and neighbours. In the words of Caitanya Mahaprabhu

jare dakho tare Kaho Krishna upadesh. (CC Madhya 7.128)

Do this. Don’t just be content. O! I am Chanting, I am happy. You are also expected to – name ruchi jive daya vaishnav seva(Caitanya Bhagavata – Madhya khanda 28.28) You will develop more ruci if you do two things as explained in the song of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. name ruci in order to develop ruci in nama you should do Vaisnava seva and jive daya. You have to serve Vaisnavas. Stop offending Vaisnavas. Best thing is to serve Vaisnavas. Sadvidhim preeti laxanam. ( Nectar of Instruction, Verse 4) The loving dealings Rupa Goswami has talked about , see how you can do all that in a loving manner and service attitude. That’s one thing. Also there should be jive daya – compassion. Those who are little faithful, give them an opportunity to come to Krsna. Chant Hare Krishna. ‘ Jive daya’ – be kind to them. Hand over the holy name to them. So jive daya – vaisnava seva.

May your Ruci , your liking , your attraction for the holy name increase day by day. That is our mission. We will stop here. See you another day.
Hare Krishna!

I am happy to see so many Nagpur devotees actually as I am in Nagpur. Today I am seeing them personally instead of on the screen. I am happy to see so many children chanting. Any one can take part in chanting. Prabhupad would say that even a dog can take part in it. It is better to chant with family and friends. It gives nice samskaras for children. They could imbibe the spirit and take up chanting from a young age.

All age groups are chanting on this conference. Chanting is ultimately not for the body, but for the soul. Maybe there is some benefit for the body also. I will not highlight that now because main benefit is of soul. We want the soul to chant and hear, and our soul to become nourished and healthy. The ‘atma’ will become ‘Mahatma’ by sincere chanting. Ultimately the soul is chanting, as we have been talking. The tongue can’t chant, or the ears can’t hear if there is no soul in the body. There is one real incidence in this regard, I heard this from a reliable source. One elderly Gaudiya Vaisnava was unwell. The doctor arrived and started checking his chest and heart with the stethoscope. He was surprised. He looked at the mouth of the devotee. It was closed, but doctor was hearing “ Hare Krsna Hare Krsna”. The seat of the soul is in heart and the doctor was hearing the chanting of the soul. The soul was praying and chanting.

When you chant on this conference, I am seeing you and you are seeing me. If you are seeing me then you also should understand that I am seeing you. It’s good. By seeing each other we can drive some inspiration. When you see me , you may be feeling inspired. I also feel happy and enthusiastic , seeing you all. But our goal on the conference is not to see each other. It is to see beyond this. See Krsna in each other’s presence. Our goal is mantra- meditation. “ Nama-smaran”. We want to meditate on the name, form, qualities and pastimes of the Lord. We want to remember and remind each other of Krsna. Krsna is the topic of our meditation, our japa, our discussion.

You should also be aware that Krsna is seeing you if you are trying to see Krsna. In the beginning you may see something which is not very clear. But that much is enough to understand, that Krsna is seeing you. You are struggling to see Krsna, hear Krsna, remember Krsna. To the degree we succeed in seeing or hearing or remembering to that degree Krsna reciprocates with you.
ye yath mam prapadyante tas tatheva bhajamyamaham. (B.G. 4.11)

Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur was giving a class and in the middle of the class one disciple went to take darsana of the Deities in the altar and came back. He asked the disciple ,” Where did you go? “ He replied “ For darsana”. Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur asked him, “How was your eye exercise?” ( He opened the eyes and closed them while taking darsana which was just like an exercise of eyes) He then chastised him by saying that he was trying to explain in the class how he could take darsana, but that disciple went on his own to take darsana which was not required. You will not be able to take darsana that way.
caksur unmilitam yen tasmay sri gurave namah

The point I am trying to make is that as we are trying to see Krsna, Krsna is also seeing us. For Him it’s easy as he is anumanta, saksi (witness). He is seeing us all the time, but He gets pleased and showers his merciful glance on us specially when we are chanting his names, remembering him, calling out to him. Krsna can see, do you agree?

hrshiken hriushikesh sevanam bhaktir uchhyate ( C.C. Madhya 19.170 ) when we engage our senses in the service of master of the senses, that is ‘Bhakti-yoga’. Japa-yoga is Bhakti-yoga. We are trying to please Krsna’s senses. We are trying to serve Krsna’s senses with our senses.

This is atmendriya priti vanca tar bale kam, krsnendriya priri vancha dhare prema nama ( C.C. Adi Lila 4.165) Engaging our senses in the service of the master of senses. That is Bhakti and the Lord is pleased with us. That is Prema. Krsna sees us. Krsna hears us . When we are chanting, we are hearing and Krsna is also hearing. Krsna’s ears are not just decoration. Those are functional. They are hearing. Krsna’s eyes are seeing. Krsna can smell. When pujari offers incense Krsna smells punyo gandha pruthiyam ca ( I am the fragrance of the earth)) so Krsna sees, hears, smells becomes happy when we touch His lotus feet. The fragrance of the earth reaches the flowers , and when you smell , that fragrance is Krsna. When we are little down or depressed what we should do? Offer a fragrant flower to the Lord and then smell it. Then there will be an experience of enthusiasm and bliss. The Lord only increases our enthusiasm.

HH Sachinandan Maharaja told a story. There was a devotee of goddess Durga who started offering incense. There was also a Krsna Deity. What we understand is that Durga must have realized – bhoktaram yajna tapasa ( B.G. 5.29) So the dhoop being offered by this devotee all started going in the direction of Krsna and It was ending up entering Krsna’s nostrils. This pujari was not happy. What he was offering for the pleasure of Durga was ending up entering the nostrils of Krsna. But the Lord was happy, because the pujari had the realization that Deity of Krsna is real. It was not just a statue. He believed that the Deity could smell, enjoying the fragrance he was offering. Krsna was very happy with such a realization. This was just illustration that Krsna including his Deity can see, hear, eat and smell. He also becomes happy when we serve Him nicely. So while chanting, understand for sure that the Lord is seeing me, hearing me. While chanting when we are saying – Hare….. Krsna , these are all addresses. Samodhan . We are trying to get Krsna’s and Radharani’s attention. We speak our heart to the Lord through the medium of the Hare Krsna mahamantra while chanting. We are communicating with the Lord so he hears. Like that there is a reciprocation between the devotee and the Lord through Bhakti.( Devotion).

We pray to the Lord , I am so fallen, please uplift me. ayi nandtanuj kinkaram patitam ma bhavambudho . (Ref ??) This is the mood, the contemplation, the mission of Chanting.

(Gurudev sees someone sleeping) Oh! If you are sleeping where is the meditation. It’s zero. Sleep is the enemy. It’s the end of the meditation and end of our session also . I will take darsana of Radha-Gopinath now .

Hare Krsna!

Today many of the participants were chanting together. As they are from temples or BACE. Even kids are chanting. Lila Madhuri Mataji is chanting with her grand son and her daughter, Radhika. I am surprised to see my disciple and my blood brother Sri Ram from my village on the conference chanting. We welcome all the new devotees. As this will increase our numbers and increase our association. To make it little interactive , we will take up some questions.

Ojasvini Mataji: A few days ago I discussed about preparation for chanting. Before chanting attend mangal-aarti, Tulsi Pooja, recite Siksastakam and ten offenses, pray to Haridas Thakur and then take a seat and chant. So question is we have to get up at 2.30am , which is 6.00am here in India. So it’s big struggle to get up and chant on conference. Then what to speak of all the preparatory part.So how it should be managed?

Guru Maharaja : Whatever I mentioned should be done in normal circumstances. May be devotees in India can do it. But for devotees from overseas, you don’t have to follow all that. You can do mangal-aarti after chanting. Or take some rest in between. Because I also mentioned on one of the days that you cannot be Yogi or Bhakti Yogi if you don’t sleep enough. Krsna says too much or too little cannot be Yogi. One who eats too much or too little can’t be Yogi. So make sure you have well rested. Devotees from Ukraine and Russia have to go to bed early. ‘Early to bed, early to rise makes man healthy wealthy and wise.’ So you should also be wise. Sleep at 9.00pm, so that you can get up early. Don’t just be a fanatic follower, or follow things blindly. Each person, each body has its own needs, interests and concerns. I know one of the sannyasi’s HH Bhakti-Vaibhav swami Maharaja sleeps for 3 – 4 hours and he is done with his rest. I know I can’t manage with that less sleep. So this applies to you also.

I keep saying this things from time to time that if you take some trouble, undertake some inconveniences , go out of your way to chant, then that increases your credit. You get more benefit. Lord is more pleased with you , more than with devotees from India. When we undergo some inconveniences, then it’s a ‘ tapasya’ in spiritual language. Any tapasya is purifying -yasmat suddhe brahma saukyam tu anantam one willingly undergoes some inconveniences, which results in happiness. You derive pleasure. You walk on your feet, you get distressed physically, so that is a Parikrama tapasya. Then we say “ From blisters to Bliss”. You tolerate those blisters, and still continue walking which ultimately brings bliss, or Madhavnandini Mataji can further advise on how to organize your schedule for devotees from Russia and Ukraine. Body, mind and soul – which constitutes ourselves, has to have some well being.

Ganesh: Please enlighten us on the verse of Siksastakam.

Guru Maharaja: I have been saying, there is some study materials, scriptures, reference material which will help and inspire you to chant. Help you to concentrate while chanting. Make your chanting meditative. I have been talking of literatures and instructions. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu himself said to study Siksastakam. You will find a chapter entitled Siksastakam in Caitanya Caritamrita, Antya Lila, Chapter 20 which are the 8 instructions of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If you read and study that chapter it will give you detailed understanding. Because he gives those 8 verses and then gives his own commentary. As Srila Vyasdev wrote Vedant- sutra and then gave commentary on it, which is Srimad Bhagavatam. That is why Prabhupada also writes, Srimad Bhagavatam is a natural commentary on Vedanta-sutra, by the same author. So likewise he gave 8 instructions on Siksastakam and then he gives his commentary on each of those. Not very long or elaborate, but a short commentary.

You should read or study that and then Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur as well as Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur have written a commentary of Siksastakam named “ Sammohini Bhasya”. Study that. Because having a session on it will become too long and our temple devotees have to get ready for greeting the Deities. I will make some comments on Siksastakam , sometime in future.
Murali Mohan Prabhu from Ahamdabad is seeking blessings for conducting Padayatra in Ahmedabad on 17th.

He joins our session every single day with his family. I extend my blessings for same. Others also could take this up and I am very ready, eager to bless them also. That is a public chanting, chanting congregationally on Nagar-sankirtana on a one day Padayatra. According to Haridas Thakur, one gets hundred times more benefit, by chanting out loud compare to Japa. That is – param vijayate sri krshna sankirtanam (Siksastakam verse 1) So he is promoting that we should do congregational chanting.
Hari! Hari! Gaur Premanande Hari Hari bol !

Our number of attendees keeps varying as some are steady , some are not. So be steady, be fixed up. It is good to chant every day at the same place and the same time preferably. That helps to concentrate, to meditate if the surrounding doesn’t change every day. I can’t manage that, because I keep traveling. But most of you have your residence or temple. So be there for the chanting session. Same time , same place, preferably with the same chanters around you.

This is a part of the asana. Asana, Pranayam , Pratyahaar, Dhyana, Dharana. Asana is the circumstances and surrounding – Who else is there with you? In which place are you? Location? Time? Seat? Asana is an important factor. We have talked about this long time back.

Do not forget , what we say from time to time. We may not repeat. Whatever we have said applies. You remember and follow those guidelines. They are supposed to be favourable for attentive chanting.

Time, place , circumstances are part of asana. Time factor wise today is very, very auspicious day. Today is Appearance day of Advaita Acarya. Advaita Acarya ki Jai! He is the member of Pancatattva. At the beginning of each round we offer prayers to Pancatattva members.

Sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda sri advaita srivasadi gaur bhakta vrinda. Sri Advaitacarya is a principal member. So today we offer our prayers unto him on His Appearance day. Advaitacarya appeared some 50 years, prior to appearance of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It was kind of an advanced party study or he appears first and does a feasibility study in India,Bengal Orissa etc. His observation was – dharmasya glanir (BG.4.7) There was a decline in religious principals or practises and there was a domination of irreligion. He felt that this is the time that the Lord should make his appearance. “I cannot handle it alone. We need Mahaprabhu. I am just Prabhu. We need Mahavishnu.” We need a krsna stu bhagwan swayam (S.B.1.3.28) He had begged, offered prayers, Ganga jal and Tulasi to his Saligram Sila on the banks of Ganga in Santipur. His prayers were heart felt. He was praying, “Oh Lord, You will have to appear for this fallen souls.” And then Lord responded. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu responded.

golokam ca parityajya lokanam trana-karanat kalau gauranga-rupena lila-lavanya-vigrahah (Markandeya-Purana)
the Supreme of Godhead declares: In the Kali-Yuga, I will leave Goloka and, to save the people of the world. I will become the handsome and playful Lord Gauranga.

So svayam Bhagawan – Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya abandoned Goloka and He appeared in this world in order to give relief to people who are his part and parcel, His children, His devotees. He loves them so much. So Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance was caused by Advaitacarya. He is non-different from the Lord, so is called ”A-dvaita”. As acarya he was propagating Krsna consciousness ,as a teacher, instructor, propagator of the holy name. He is also called as Acarya, so the name Advaita Acarya. He was in the core team of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Pancatattva. In it each one is a Tattva. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a tattva himself. Nityanand is another tattva, Advaitacarya is a tattva, Srivas Pandit is a tattva, Gadadhar Pandit is a tattva. Gaur bhakta Vrinda is also tattva. Gaur bhaktas – so many other associates of Mahaprabhu- sango pangastra parsadam (SB 11.5.32) So parsadam are anga and upanga. They are also a part of Pancatattva. So we say ‘ Gaur Bhakta vrinda. Advaiitacarya is also leading member of Pancatattva.

Responding to the call of Advaiitacarya, Mahaprabhu appeared with the holy name. Golokera prema dhan harinama sankirtana. ( CC. Adi Lila) Mahaprabhu didn’t appear empty handed. It was Mahaprabhu’s birthday. Devotees went to bless little Nimai with gifts. Specially Sita Thakurani, wife of Advaiitacarya had gone with lots of gifts. We should take note of this. When Mahaprabhu appeared in Mayapur , Srila Haridas Thakur & Advaiitacarya were in Santipur. They both were of similar age. They both became jubilant and started dancing. Haridas Thakur is also sarvajna . They understood that Nimai has appeared and became ecstatic. Both of them were dancing in ecstasy. Everyone was wondering about the reason behind their dancing. So those who were arriving in Mayapur on that day, were bringing gifts. But Mahaprabhu himself had a gift for whole world. That gift is the holy name.

Golokera prema dhan harinama sankirtana.

That is what he did throughout his life. For years he was giving the gift of harinama. He did so himself. For 6 years He was propagating the holy name prior to his departure returning to his own abode. He made a prediction that in every town, every village of the world the holy name will be chanted. He wanted to ensure that the gift is not only available in India. Mahaprabhu is not only Indians’ God. He is a God of the whole existence. Jai Jagannatha! He is Lord of Russians, Ukrainians and of people from Mauritius and Indians. That most merciful Lord – mahavadanyaya wanted to make sure this gift reaches far and wide.

Then commander in chief of the sankirtana army Srila Prabhupada made sure that Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s will is executed. He founded this International Society for Krishna Consciousness which is spreading the holy name. See disciples, devotees are chanting everywhere. We are one family with one father – Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Advaiitacarya. They are our Supreme father. Today is Advaiitacarya’s Appearance day. We have to remember Him and pray to Him and express our deep gratitude for bringing Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this world to give the gift of holy name to the world. Sri “Advaiitacarya avirbhava tithi mahotsav” ki Jayi! Nitai Gaur Premande Hari Hari bol!

Today afternoon I will go to Kaudinyapur, birthplace of Rukmini. We have ISKCON over there. Thank you all for joining, thank you for your association.
Hare Krishna!