I am here at ISKCON Amaravati for Jagannath Ratha-yatra. These are the first two Deities of Rukmini – Dwarkadhish in ISKCON. Amaravati is not far from Kaudinyapur , which is the birth place of Rukmini Maharani. As far as we the chanters of holy names are concerned, we have to learn from the life of Rukmini Maharani. When Rukmini was a baby girl in Kaudinyapur , she would hear the glories of Dwarkadhish. Raja Bhismak , father of Rukmini was a ‘Rajarshi’ ( saintly king) and had close relations with different sages. Many of them would visit his palace, and he use to honor them. Those sages, would talk about Dwarkadhish. Little Rukmini would hear that with full attention along with the King. She never fell asleep while listening to nama, rupa, guna,and lila of Dwarkadhish. She would forget everything, and would listen with full attention, full concentration and full devotion. What was the outcome of this? –

She became attached to Dwarkadhish. As we know – sadhusanga, bhajana-kriya, … Anarth-Nivritti, Nistha, Ruchi and then Asakti and then Bhava and Prema. Like that it goes higher and higher. By hearing and hearing daily, regularly, with attention and devotion, she developed sambandha – a relationship with Dwarkadhish and got attached to Him. When she was grown up and it was time for her marriage, she wanted to marry Dwarkadhish. Her elder brother Rukmi was not in favor of this. But Rukmini was determined that if she will marry it will be only with Dwarkadhish and no one else. This kind of determination was the outcome of hearing about Dwarkadhish. So we pray and take inspiration from Rukmini Maharani to chant and hear, that we also may get attracted to and attached to Dwarkadhish. The way she had the enthusiasm to hear – utsahat, nishayat dhairyat( Nectar of Instruction, Verse 3) may we also experience similar enthusiasm to hear. Rukmini was hearing the pastimes of Dwarkadhish. This is a pastime of Rukmini. So while chanting we could remember and meditate on Rukmini hearing, the pastimes of Dwarkadhish. Chanting is the time to remember Krsna’s pastimes, Krsna’s form, His abode, His paraphernalia. As I am here in Rukmini-Dwarkadhish temple, I am reminded of her pastimes. So while chanting we should remember this. There are so many other pastimes also. This place is not far from Kaudinyapur, so these pastimes are naturally remembered.

We need some topics or object of meditation. So the Lord’s form, pastimes is the topic or object of meditation. I have been watching and seeing the Amaravati devotees on the screen, but today I am seeing face to face. So keep chanting. On Monday HH Hanumat Preksh Swami Maharaja advised us with an eight word mantra – Get up early morning and Chant your rounds. This is our culture to get up early.

I was in Kumbha-mela last week and from one of the pandal very loudly they would play this record not at 4.00am but later, “ Bhor bhayo sab Jago”. ( It’s Dawn now , get up every one) That was their morning program. It was musical. You should attend mangal-arati by getting up in morning. That’s a preparation also for chanting. Get up early, come to the temple, attend mangala aarti , pray to Rukmini-Dwarkadhish, sing and dance in front of them , and then chant. Worship Tulsi Maharani in morning. You may not be realizing, but tulasi aarti is very deep prayer.

mora ei abhilasha, vilasa kunje dio vasa
nayana heribo sada yugala-rupa-rasi (3)

If you have attended mangala aarti, those prayers are not only sweet but deep, meaningful.

Oh! Tulsi maharani give me residence. Where? – in Vilas-kunj, and I would like to witness the pastimes of Radha and Krsna. Let my eyes, my mind, my heart be filled with those pastimes. I have stayed long in this material world. Now enough is enough. Make me a resident of Vrindavan. Let me experience the pastimes of Lord to my heart’s content. We should contemplate while singing, the meaning of what we are singing.

Even Gurvastaka prayers
vande guro sri caranaravindam.

We remember Guru and acaryas. While singing Gurvastaka we should try to understand what we are singing. Then it is some preparation of chanting. And then also happens –

ceto darpana marjanam bhava mahadavagni nirvapanam . (Siksastakam verse 2)

We sing Gurvastaka during mangala aarti and Siksastakam after that. But who knows when we are going to understand , what we are singing. Siksastakam prayers are the condensed essence of all the instructions. Caitanya Mahaprabhu would spend whole night, reciting and remembering with emotions and bhava and feelings of the one verse of Siksastakam. It is so deep and vast.

We should be thinking of the prayers we chant. Then take up to the chanting. We also recite the ten offences against the holy name. aparadh sunya haiya laho krsna nama. If we remind ourselves of the offences against holy name then we should carefully avoid it, not only at the time of Japa but also for the whole day. If we do such preparations we will be able to chant with attention.

Hare Krsna!

We have 246 participants today. Numbers keep changing, as some of you are not regular. They are in and out or on and off. Yesterday we had Jagannath Ratha-yatra festival here. You also should join festivals wherever you are. Festivals bring Utsaha – we have been saying this repeatedly. We get devotees’ association – Sadhu sanga. Our temple programs are also festivals. Grhastha devotees attend temple festivals. Today is Sunday festival. Prabhupada gave us so many festivals – Sunday festival, Ratha-yatra festival, Janmastami festival, Mayapur-Vrindavan festival and like that. Morning programs in Temples are also festivals. There is a feast. A feast for our eyes, a feast for our ears, a feast for our tongue and ultimately a feast for the soul.

Today is also Vasant-Panchami. Yet another big bathing day at Kumbha-mela. I am not there, but Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj is there at Kumbha-mela today leading our devotees to Triveni Sangam and they are chanting on their way to Triveni Sangam.

The Temples in our IMPM zone ar suggesting that we can conduct Bhagvatam class for all the temples conjointly. That’s an idea, as many temples are joining us for Japa sessions like, Solapur, Nagpur , Sangali, Beed, Pandharpur. Devotees from there are joining with us for Japa sessions. So we can conduct a Bhagvatam class for all the temples, with one speaker.

Everyday you are taking extra special effort, not just to chant, but to attend the session. You have to drag yourself out of the bed, or stop all other business and chant with us, that’s an endeavor. Certainly you should do such efforts to chant everyday at the same time with attention, chant with devotion, Chant while remembering Krishna. Effort is needed to be attentive, offenseless.

I came across one conversation of Srila Prabhupad, which is entitled, ‘This is tug of war’ referring to chanting Hare Krishna properly. There is a book about chanting consisting of Srila Prabhupada’s comments and thoughts, talks,conversations and instructions. It has the glories of the holy name. One such thing I want to share with you. Visnujana asked Srila Prabhupada which is a common question,’How would it be possible for a man whose mind is crowded to constantly chant Hare Krishna?’ Man who is always thinking about family, friends, country and nation. So the mind remains clouded. Then how can it be possible for such a person?

Prabhupada replied, ‘Yes you may be thinking of family, relatives but at the same time chant. Two things will go on and this will conquer. Means chanting and remembering of Krsna will conquer. As Maya is forcing you to drag you from this Krishna consciousness, you also force Maya by chanting Hare Krishna. Maya is forcing you to think about her, but Prabhupada said you keep chanting and you force Maya to think of Krsna , remember Krsna. We know Srila Haridas Thakur had succeeded doing that.

Maya was there and Krsna was there. Maya – in the form of a prostitute had her proposal and Srila Haridas Thakur had his proposal. Maya wanted him to think about her and Srila Haridas Thakur wanted Maya – that prostitute to think about Krsna, and you know who was victorious. That’s what Srila Prabhupada is saying. You also force Maya by chanting Hare Krishna. There is a fight then Maya will go away. This is the ‘tug of war’ he is talking about. Both are fighting, but ultimately if we keep chanting with determination and patience and enthusiasm then Maya will go away.

Here Srila Prabhupad is quoting that verse, daivi hyesham gunamayi mam maya duratyaya (B.G. 7.14) which is Krsna’s statement in Bhagavat-Gita . This Maya is very strong. She will force you, entice you to the other path, but if you don’t stop, and chant loudly, your voice or Krsna’s voice should be louder then Maya’s voice. So you chant louder then Maya’s voice, the way Haridas Thakur was chanting and Maya could not victimize him. You know what was his stand , simply chanting

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare

Maya could not be enticed, she failed. Maya became his disciple. He did not become Maya’s disciple. Srila Prabhupada explained further, this is ‘tug of war’. Don’t be afraid of Maya. Simply enhance chanting. Simply improve your chanting. Simply chant attentively. Make extra efforts while you are chanting. Hear what you are chanting, and You will be able to conquer. That’s all. narayan para sarve na kutasya na bibhyati ( S.B.6.17.28)

We are not afraid of Maya because Krsna is there. While we are chanting we are with Krsna. Maya will be afraid when you are next to Krsna. We are not afraid of Maya because Krsna is there. Krsna said, ‘kauntaya pratijanihi na me buaktaha pranashyati. ( B.G. 9.31) Krsna has declared, ‘My devotee will never be vanquished by Maya. Maya cannot do anything. Simply you have to become strong”… and what is that strength? Chant Hare Krishna loudly. So this was from Prabhupad’s lecture on 23 rd December 1968.

That’s the food for thought for the day. See you Chanting another day. I am going to Amaravati, for again Ratha-yatra there. Not far from there is the holy land where Rukmini was born and brought up and also eventually kidnapped in Kaudinyapur. So we will end here.
Hare Krishna!

We have 250 participants today. We welcome you. This chanting is bringing us together. Syamsundar Prabhu is here in Nagpur and his son is chanting from Australia, but I am seeing them next to each other.

Holy name is Krsna. This is Krsna in the center and we are all around, that is a kind of experience for me here. The other day it was an experience of kind of Viratrupa. Devotees from all over the planet , I can see them at one glance. At some places, climate is warm, and other places it’s cold and I can see devotees bundled in a warm clothes with heaters on. Devotees are chanting regardless of the heat or cold. All the devotees – boys and girls, young and old , ladies and gentlemen are chanting. Small children from Vishrambaug Sangli Gurukul are chanting. Everybody can take part. Srila Prabhupada would say that even a dog can take part in it. Indians and so called foreigners are chanting together. But we have to remember that everyone is a foreigner here. We have to always think that the holy name is Krsna. It is not something vague or some concept, some light or some all pervading aspect. The holy name is Krsna. So Krsna is bringing us together, binding us together. Vairagya Rupini Mataji is chanting from Vrindavan and I see her mother chanting from Pune. Family that prays together, stays together.

There is a cyclone in Mauritius and still the devotees are chanting. We pray for Mauritius iIsland that everything settles fast. Devotees are transcendental to the cyclone. I see around 15 to 20 devotees chanting from there, happily chanting. Usual climate or cyclone, doesn’t make a difference for them. You are transcendental to all mundane considerations and trials and tribulations of dual nature. As I was pointing out – heat or cold, young or old, boy or girl doesn’t matter as chanting ultimately is done by the soul. Soul is the chanter. It has nothing to do with the body we are in. Right now we are all spirit souls. We also have to realise that by chanting and chanting. We are not these bodies, but we are spirit souls, devotees of Krsna. As we Chant Hare Krsna we are with Krsna , around Krsna. That is what we have forgotten.

As per Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s words, this holy name is spreading, to every town, every village, every home, every soul. It is the Lord’s instruction that we have to reach out to many more souls. yare dakho tare kaho krsna upadesa (C.C. madhya 7.128) – if you do that, then the Lord is pleased.

So many things come to my mind. Not only that we have a relationship with Krsna, but we also have a relationship with each other, interpersonal relationship. Krsna in the center and then we have a relationship with each other. Soul has a relationship with another soul and ultimately we have a relationship with all the souls beginning with Krsna. By the chanting of Hare Krsna our forgotten relationship with Krsna as well as other souls gets revived. So the present relationship with others such as wife and husband or father and son or daughter are not for long or not for ever. They come and go. This has happened many times. With the chanting of Hare Krsna our eternal relationship with the Lord as well as devotees is revived. We are looking forward to that relationship. This changing relationship is heartbreaking. We are united and then disunited for various reasons. But when we leave our bodies it’s finished. We are no more husband and wife, or sons and daughters or whatever. Temporarily we come and go. We last here for a few days , a few months, a few years or for one lifetime and then it is finished. But with chanting of Hare Krsna we transcend these dual natures or temporary nature, temporary relationships. Then finally become firmly fixed in the eternal relationships.

Everything begins with Sambandh. Then there is Abhidhyeya i.e. settling into that relationship, working or practical relationship and then ultimate is Prayojan – attaining love of Godhead. We should not forget, when we have attained Krsna-prema, we have also achieved Bhakta-prema. So let’s begin developing friendly, loving relationships with other devotees, other souls and simultaneously also with Krsna. Don’t just focus on developing loving relationship with Krsna only, and don’t care for relationships with other devotees. Otherwise we remain Kanistha adhikari -Third class devotees. Kanisthas try to love and serve only God. Which is not a great thing to do. Just by doing that one becomes third class or lower class. But by loving and serving Lord and his devotees one is upgraded to madhyàm adhikari and eventually raises to level of Uttam adhikari which is the goal,
You Know the three modes of material nature.. passion divides , goodness unites, and transcendental goodness Shuddha Sattva, unites us permanently. Contemplate on what I just said.
Hare Krsna!

Today HH Hanumatpreksha Swami Maharaja was a guest speaker for the Japa session.
Maharaja had the following to say:

The first time I met Lokanath Swami was when he started United States Padayatra, and he came to San Francisco. Before that also we took Nitai Gaursundar out around San Francisco and we inaugurated them. Later I went to Vraja-mandala Parikrama many times and it is one of the valuable experiences in my life because you go out in Vraja and don’t want to come back. You want to merge into the Vrindavan atmosphere, go into Brajavasi’s farm house and – chant, chant, chant. I had some handsome experiences of spiritual reality.

Around seven years back someone asked me what is the essence of Krishna consciousness. Thinking about it, I came to eight words, ‘ Get Up Early, And Get Your Rounds Done’. In the beginning our tongue and jaw should move, but we should also fix our mind on the mantra, not thinking about something else, something pleasurable. We should actually chant with meaning. Two dacoits are actually sitting by the road, sharing a bottle of wine and the Harinama party passes by there, chanting ‘Radhe Radhe’. Prabhupada explained that one of the dacoit said to other, ‘I like it when the Harinama party passes saying, ‘Radhe Radhe. So other dacoit inquired, “Why do you like it even though we are not religious men? The first dacoit said, “The barber’s wife is named Radhe and I am always thinking but can’t spend time with her. So not like this, our attention should be on real meaning. We chant with attention and meaning. The basic meaning is Oh! Krishna , Oh! Radha , Oh! Rama please engage me in your service.

HH Lokanath Swami –
So you already have heard the japa instructions from HH Hanuman Preksha Swami Maharaja. I am trying to get some visiting speakers to give some jape-talks and now there was an opportunity . What you hear, the guidelines, instructions is chant with attention. Chant with a prayerful mood. Those guidelines or tips are not just for that day, but should be followed every single day and every time you chant. Like what Maharaja said, eight words, ‘Get Up Early And Get Your Rounds Done’. These words of wisdom which Maharaja has shared to inspire you should be followed every single day, and likewise. Take note, remember what we have been saying. It is also transcribed in English, in Hindi , in Russian. Devotees always go back and revise or refresh the memories and apply that whenever you chant your Japa.

Today we had 272 participants. We also had special chanter today. Sakshi-Gopal Prabhu’s little son who is only 11-.12 years old. He chants 16 rounds. He was chanting with us today. We are pleased to see him on this conference. He did the disciple course and he is an aspiring disciple. Let’s welcome him. His name is Gauranga and he goes to our Gurukul school in America. Like that many of you are making efforts, to get your family and friends to chant on the conference. I am seeing some newer and newer faces with your efforts and inspirations. You could have your own conference like this, you could be the host and If you are a Bhakti-vriksha leader, or youth preacher or Temple president, besides this conference, you could have your own conference. Get devotees of your own congregation , devotees of BACE who are not based at the base, but elsewhere, Bhakti-vriksha members, who are at their homes, you can connect with them, chant with them. You could also do Japa instructions the way we are doing, or you can repeat some of the points from here.

We will have to conclude , as I am leaving Pune today, going to Nagpur for Ratha-yatra. You can write your comments, realizations, notes on this conference or on Lok-sanga also.
Hare Krishna!

I am in Sri Sri Radha-Vrndavancandra Temple which is full of devotees chanting. Today we will conclude early, as I have to give Bhagavatam class.

What can I say? Keep chanting. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, ‘kirtaniya sada hari’. But before saying this he also said that which is explained in one of the purports of Siksastakam – in such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly. Before we started Japa this morning there was a recitation of Siksastakam which is done in many other temples also.

I am recommending that you also to do so. By reciting it try to imbibe the spirit of Siksastakam, study purports of Siksastakam. It is Siksa – astaka. means eight instructions. They are instructions given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu about chanting. param vijayate sri krsna sankirtanam) (Siksastakam – verse 1) While chanting also you can take one of the stakes and meditate and contemplate on what Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is saying in that. Meditate on the purport of the Siksastakam commentaries of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur as well as Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur. They both have written commentaries on Siksastakam. So while chanting humility is required – trinadapi sunicena (Siksastakam – verse 3) and tolerance is required – tarorapi sahishnuna…. (Siksastakam – verse 3) so that you could chant. You can do kirtaniya sada hari. Or amanina manden kirtaniya sada hari.

(Siksastakam – verse 3) You have to honor the devotees. That’s a positive thing. Normally we care or respect ourselves, but who cares or respects other devotees. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that if you wish to chant all the time kirtaniya sada hari, then you have to respect devotees, honor them , serve them. By doing this you will not be offending them and be free from Vaisnava aparadh, which is a big stumbling block on the path of chanting. So amanina manden kirtaniya sada hari.

Take one verse and meditate while you are chanting Hare Krishna. In the last chapter of Caitanya Caritamrita, you will find the Siksastakam. There it is mentioned that Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to have sleepless nights. It was difficult for him to sleep. How could you sleep when you are remembering the Lord. So much Krishna conscious that there was no question of sleeping.

So he would stay awake all night long and each night, he would take one verse from the Siksastakam and dive deeper into the meaning of that verse. The whole night he would contemplate and immerse himself in one verse of Siksastakam. He would chant – ‘Krishna Krishna , where are you Krishna?’ Hare Krishna Hare Krishna is also reciting, remembering and contemplating on the Siksastakam. There are no hard and fast rules , but that’s the practice. Abhyasen you kauntay vairagyen ch gruhyate. ( B.G. 6.35) So do the ‘ abhyasa’ over again and again and again. That’s the practice. Also ‘ vairagyen’ , Krsna said in Bhagavad-Gita that by chanting over again and again there has to be spirit of detachment. When there is attachment to Krsna then only you could detach. Try to attach yourself to the Holy name. You have to attach to Krsna, Krsna’s name , form , qualities and pastimes. You relish this attachment then instantly or simultaneously detachment takes place. We are practicing to get attached to Krishna, so keep chanting.

This morning before chanting Rasaraj Prabhuji who is also bureau member was discussing that the soul chants and not the tongue. The tongue is flesh. What makes the tongue chant is the soul. The soul is a chanter. The ears can’t hear if the soul’s participation is not there. The tongue is not the chanter and ear is not the listener, but it is the soul who chants and hears. Remember the soul’s full participation is there in chanting and hearing also. Do the attentive chanting, remembering that the soul is chanting and the super soul is the witness and listener. He listens to your chanting.

Attention is very important while chanting. Chanters are atmas, the souls. Chant with devotion and then meditate on it. That is Devotion. Bhakti unites Bhakta and Bhagwan. Bhakta is connected with Bhagwan through the process of attentive chanting

Hare Krishna

Hare Krishna to you all chanters. You will be pleased to know that, ISKCON Pune distributed 200000 Bhagavad-Gitas this marathon.

For our chanting session we had 307 participants today, which is the maximum till now. You are seeing me most of the time, but I get to see all of you, on a bigger screen. Seeing you all chanting from all over the world is a kind of ‘Vishwarup-darsans’. This kind of chanting is becoming more and more popular. I am seeing devotees from New Jersey and Burma today. I met devotees from Bangalore at the airport while coming to Pune. They were discussing among them that they saw each other in the chanting session. They told me that they are becoming my fans. I have some fans. Kirtana Mela fan, this kind of fan or that kind of fan and now Japa session fans. So keep chanting.

I saw some of you are chanting together and talking with each other in between. Don’t talk in-between unless it is an emergency that you must talk to devotee sitting next to you. Don’t do that. You are already busy. Chanting means you are busy. You are occupied. You are with Krsna. Just focus, concentrate on the business of chanting. CHANT WHILE CHANTING. Don’t mix it with anything else. Let it be the exclusive business of chanting only. Be with Krsna. I know it’s not easy, but at least we should try to hear the complete mantra. We are saying, but not listening. Then the circuit is not complete and there will be a short circuit when we say but do not hear the complete mantra. Hear with concentration. Do not waste even a drop of the nectar.

It has 16 names. ‘ iti sodashaka namnam kali klalmash nashanam.’ (Kali Santaran Upanishad- text 6).Hear all the names. And remember while hearing those names. Srvanam kirtanam has to result in remembrance. Meditative chanting is remembering. You are meditating on Krsna. Krsna’s form. You have to do mananam of this. You are meditating on the qualities of Krsna, pastimes of Krsna. Devotees , associates of Krsna. I am meditating upon you- the devotees, the chanters. Meditating on the ‘Virat-rupa’. Souls are chanting. I have to make you all pure devotees of Sri Krsna. That is remembrance of the devotees. That is the part of my meditation.

Japa as we understand from the scriptures that you have to do ‘mananam’. You repeat over again and again the names of the Lord – utter and recite , hear and contemplate, reflect i.e. mananam. Try to digest, assimilate Krsna. Make Krsna part of your consciousness. Part of you. They say animals eat two times. First they gobble up, and then they sit down and chew the food. When animals eat the second time, that is assimilated. That enters their system or blood and that gives them energy , life. They thrive on that. So while chanting, that kind of reflection, contemplation, assimilation is ‘mananam’. That is what he did. In Bhagavat- Mahatmya it is mentioned, Gokarna was doing Katha. At the end of it the celestial plane from Vaikuntha landed and Dhundakari was told to take a seat by air-hosts – Visnudutas. Gokarna asked why they were taking only one person back home. Visnudutas explained that every one listened but this person did ‘mananam’. Only one person assimilated the Katha, digested the Katha. Made the Katha and Lila as part of his life. Katha consists of all the aspects of Krsna i.e. Nama-Kirtana, roop- Kirtan, Leela-kirtan of Krsna. So only one person, digested and assimilated the Katha. They also mentioned other aspects like ‘Faith’. They said that only this person had genuine faith in what he was hearing. He also had faith in reciter. But they mainly stressed on the ‘Manan’ part. Even when the Katha ended , he kept thinking and remembering the Katha which he heard. He was trying to make that as part of him, make that as his consciousness.

So with the chanting also we have to do this ‘mananam’ part, remembrance part, ‘smaranam’ part. That is why it is called as ‘Naam-smaran’. You have to remember the name. How do you remember the name? Name is Krsna. abhinnatvat ma’am namino. (C.C. madhya Leela. ? text.)So remember to “Remember” , by chanting of ‘Hare Krishna’. So keep practicing this chanting day in and day out, every day. You have to make endeavor to hear, and Chant and remember.
Hare Krishna! Gaur premande Hari Haribol !!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Every day Chant ‘Hare Krishna’ and be happy.