By Hari Narayana das
In the 11th century AD, emperor Majapahit, ruling from Java, spread his kingdom upto Madagascar Island. During his rule, Kediri, in East Java, was famed as the centre of vedic culture, from where all the great sages appeared who are revered till the present day all over Indonesia. Archaeological findings in 2007 revealed a rich vedic cultural heritage of the region. Detailed stone images of Lord Narasimha deva, the half-man, half-lion incarnation of Vishnu; Lord Visnu Himself seated on His bird-carrier Garuda; Ganesha, Harihara and many other similar specimens takes one on a time travel into the past….giving a vivid picture of what Indonesia was like back then. All these images and statues are now kept in the local Majapahit Museum.
After a span of roughly 10 centuries or one thousand years, in early 2016, devotees visited Kediri with an intention to meet the local Hindus and try to distribute Srila Prabhupada books. What they found in Kediri left them overwhelmed. Inspired by the encouragement of His Holiness Subhag Swami- a team of enthusiastic devotees: Srigarbha das, Saciputra das and Gadadhar das,-went to Kediri for the first time in their lives. The local people including members of the Hindu parishad were so happy to see them. For the first time they heard the purports to the verses of Bhagavad-gita by Srila Prabhupada and all of them expressed that never before had they heard such clear explanation of the Gita. And when they saw the books everyone just practically ran to grab the books.
Kediri is a city in East Java province, Indonesia, located 130 km southwest of Surabaya and the third largest city in East Java after Surabaya and Malang by population. Its location in the slope of Merapi and Wilis mountains make the city very fertile.
The carnival of Kediri celebrated as ‘Week of Culture and Tourism- Kediri Year 2016’, on the theme, “Panji Going Home “. In the Cultural Week this time the theme was “Panji to return home”, because the Panji itself is a form of honor noble culture in the archipelago. It was a sign of reestablishment of vedic culture as it used to be in the age of Kediri Kingdom in the 11th century. Lord Jagannath personally brought back the vaisnava culture back to Kediri with the Ratha Yatra festival.
“These public festivals have proven very effective in spreading knowledge about Krsna consciousness to all the citizens”. SPL to Galim dasa, November 20th, 1971
No devotees live in Kediri. Only devotees from Kediri were Bhakta I Gusti Nyoman Ambara and his wife Bhaktin Isti, who live in Surabaya, about three hours from Kediri. They requested the devotees to use their house in Kediri as preaching centre. Prabhu Gusti and his wife frequently participated in Rathayatra in other parts of Indonesia and were requested by devotees to have rathayatra in Kediri. Then they went to Kediri and met the head of tourism department, Mr. Yuli Marwantoko. They also brought pictures of the rathayatra in other parts of Indonesia. They inquired about the event and festivals that have already been done in Kediri. By the Lord’s mercy Mr. Yuli observed the pictures and surprisingly he felt really happy and he said that “ this festival should be done in Kediri first, not other places because Kediri was the center of Hindu civilization in Indonesia!” Then he entered the office and brought some VCD and gave it to prabhu Gusti and his wife. He added “this is the festival that has already been done in Kediri, please do rathayatra in Kediri. We will facilitate what you need for the festival.” Prabhu Gusti and his wife were shocked and still didn’t believe that Lord Jagannath gave the baton in their hands. Srila Prabhupa mention in his letter that “To implement this transcendental bliss to the people of your country there is immense work to be done ahead and this Ratha-yatra festival is only a bit of sample. If we get opportunity we shall be able to overflood your country with the waves of transcendental bliss, by the grace of Krsna (SPL to Aniruddha, 7th July, 1968).
Announcements were made about Rathayatra in Kediri. Invitations were sent out to the devotees all over Indonesia, collecting donation and preparing for the chariot. The devotees from Jember brought the chariot and Lord Jaganath, Balarama, and Subadradevi deities to Kediri and the Chariot team from Banyuwangi and Jember came to Kediri for preparing the Chariot. Adi prana prabhu organized the bus for the devotees from Bali. He prepared one bus, then by the time the enthusiasm of the devotees increased and he ordered another bus, but still not enough then he called for the third bus. Three buses full of devotees drove to Kediri.
“….but if we try to satisfy Him in so many ways as directed by acaryas and scriptures, indirectly we become benefitted by such activities. So try to nicely observe this Ratha-yatra festival…”(SPL to Yamuna, 27th May, 1969).They came just to satisfy the Lord. They helped the committee in all ways that they could. It was as if Lord Jagannath prepared everything. The government prepared SMKN 1 Ngasem- a vocational school as the base camp of the devotees to stay and prepare the chariot. Prabhu Gusti used his house as the cooking center. Other devotees prepared flowers Garlands, decorating the chariot and car that was used to carry one ton of oranges that donated by Dina Dharini mataji. In the evening after Gaura arati, a class was given by his grace Ramanuja das brahmacari. Ramanuja prabhu said that we were making history. He also emphasized that the devotees who participated rathayatra should remember that whatever they do should be to satisfy Lord Jagannath.
“This purification can be done only by engaging the senses for Krsna. Krsna is called Hrsikesa, or the master of the senses. His senses are omnipotent; therefore, when our senses will be engaged to satisfy the senses of Krsna, at that time we will have perfect sense gratification, and be free of all distressed condition”.(SPL to Mr. Taber, 9th June, 1967)
On the day of festival, the devotees woke up early in the morning, finished their rounds and followed by mangal arati. A recorded class from His Holiness Subhag Swami Maharaj was played and translated by Gadhadar prabhu. Maharaj said that Lord Jagannath was so merciful that He personally came to give blessing to the people of kali yuga. Maharaj also said that simply by serving Him, pulling the rope of the chariot, glorifying Him and chanting his name, it will qualify us to become free from tension and make us blissful and happy. Maharaj further explained that by the mercy of the Lord and His pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada the rathayatra festivals in Indonesia increased in number every year. Everyone who participated in the rathayatra rendering whatever service he can do for the Lord would get the Lord’s blessing.
“For serving the Lord we require to sacrifice our life, our wealth, our intelligence and our words. One can serve the Lord with these four possessions. If not, with three, if not then with two or even one, and that is sufficient to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead…..One has to make the best use of his talent for the service of Krsna. That is wanted. Best example is Arjuna, that he utilized his talents, military science, in the service of Krsna.” (SPL to Gargamuni, 7th June, 1968)
At 09.00 am a phone called came from the tourism department saying that the devotees should be ready on the spot at 10.00 pm because the Lord chariot would be the first group to lead the carnival. The devotees then prepared and the Lordships were brought to the chariot, after the Lord sat on the chariot, the pujari offered bhoga and arati was performed. After arati coconuts were offered to the Lord and broken to invoke auspiciousness. Then the devotees pulled the lord to the starting point. The devotees did kirtan while waiting for the parade. As SrilaPrabhupada wrote in his letter that “if there is chanting of Hare Krsna, even the soul is there for a short time, Oh!he will hear and become advanced. This sound vibration is not material, it is spiritual and powerful beyond our conception. So it cannot be hindered in any way by something material; it surpasses all these material barriers”. SPL to Mukunda and Janaki, 28th February, 1968
The sankirtan team distributed SrilaPrabhupada books to the people around the area. They distributed about 162 books. After opening ceremony by the committee the Lord’s chariot was pulled up to the main stage where all the dignitaries were present. The street was crowded by visitors on both sides. The first line was car decorated with a big Jagannath mask and carrying sound system to support the Kirtan. The fired up Kirtan led by Sridar das prabu made all the devotees and the visitors dance in ecstasy from start point until finish. A ton of oranges were distributed to the visitor. A flower garland that was already offered to the Lord and a copy of Bhagavad Gita were presented to the mayor of Kediri. The parade finished at the mayor office. Then the devotees took rest before returning to the base camp. Arriving in the base came, the devotees honored the prasadam. Blissful as after all ratha yatra festivals, carrying fond memories, the devotees returned to their respective homes.
We would like thank each and every one who helped to make this ratha yatra manifest within such a short period of time. Prabhu Raghava, Bhakta Edy and team who took care to prepare the chariot, the team of cooks, Kirtan party, Sankirtan team, the organizers and all well-wishers…we extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all the wonderful devotees. As always…we remain ever indebted to His Holiness Kavichandra Swami, His Holiness Ramai Swami- the GBC’s of Indonesia; His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami, His Holiness Subhag Swami for their ever encouraging support to continue these festivals. And all senior vaisnavas who have always been inspirational…a warm thank you. We pray that Srila Prabhupada is pleased with our small efforts and ask for blessings we be able to continue in this service to his lotus feet.
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