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Gauranga Mahaprabhu, the most munificent incarnation of the Supreme Lord Krishna, distributed the Holy Name to the world. On the fun-filled festival of chida-dahi (chipped rice) Gauranga Mahaprabhu performed a wonderful pastime with His associates on the bank of Ganga river. Raghunath Das offered a wide feast of chida-dahi to everyone present. There were multitudes of people. They filled not just the platform where Mahaprabhu, Nityananda prabhu sat with Their associates, but even below it. Those who could not fit there, sat beside the Ganga river, and yet again who could not fit there, stood inside the sacred water of Ganga! The atmosphere was filled with merrymaking and reverence, both together in the same breath.

The devotees across the ISKCON world celebrate the festival by enjoying the prasadam feast together by the side of a river or water body. However, the devotees connected to the IDVM (ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry-India) decided to celebrate chida-dahi in a differently– not by replicating the pastime, but by following the instructions of Gauranga Mahaprabhu. They decided to distribute Harinam freely like Raghunath Das Goswami’s wide spread feast to the Lord and to all and sundry who were present on the occasion. The Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra team had travelled to almost 70 villages and had taken a break during the blistering Indian summer and monsoon. Gour Gopal prabhu and Jananivas prabhu who were one of the leading members of the Yatrateam and also the follow-up program in Janagaon area, decided to take the Yatra to one nondescript village named Yaddugudem, not very far off from their preaching area. The village was suggested by one of their congregation members, Bhakta Paramadhama. He served as a Headmaster in the village school. The day decided for it was chida-dahi festival.

The two-member team realized that the Yatra bus and their other paraphernalia which they had kept dedicatedly for the purpose, was no longer there with them in the city as they had anticipated. Since a new Yatra bus was yet to be arranged, other associated objects were kept at the last spot of Yatra (hundreds of miles away from them). However, their spirit was unbeatable. Having full faith in the blessings of their Guru and Mahaprabhu, they decided to go for it despite it.

Telangana region poses unique challenge, especially because of its discredit of topping liquor consumption in the whole India (according to a recent survey). In the evenings, all the people (including women) are addicted to wine and cannot be without meat on a regular basis. The souls which appear as human beings during day time, take a very different form as the sun sets. Addressing them to take up the highest dharma was a challenge bigger than any other.

On Saturday, June 18, 2016 New Govardhan (Secunderabad), was a happening place. Gour Gopal prabhu rendered special prayer and puja to the presiding Lordships of Sri Sri Radha-Kunjabihari after abhishek. By 3:30 pm Sripati prabhu, the senapati of the Yatra reached to pick up Gour Gopal prabhu, Haridas prabhu (who had come from very far off despite high fever) and Bhakta Kaushik. Loading the necessary paraphernalia the big car set off to take other participating devotees along. A small group of seven devotees including Jananivas prabhu, Rasamandal prabhu, Satyamadhava prabhu, and Bhakta Babu (Sripati prabhu’s car driver) besides the afore mentioned devotees set off towards the village.

Yaddugudem in Telugu has an interesting meaning. Yaddu implies bull and gudem is village, therefore the village of bull. Within two hours the devotees entered the village. One 61-years old Sri Ram temple appeared right at the entrance of the village. It also marked the center of all village activities! It was interesting to know that the villagers still followed the practice of assembling in the temple to sing the glories of Sri Ram in padyams every Ekadasi. The village could be considered as one of the cleanest that they had ever visited during their Yatra. It was also the greenest village. Their spiritual inclination was showing in everything – in their daily activities. Later the devotees also realized that the village was completely vegetarian, with a few stray cases of meat eating appearing in the newer generation. This was a pleasant surprise for the devotees, especially in the Telangana region. Jananivas prabhu compared it to Prahlad maharaj’s appearance in the clan of demons.

As the villagers realized the arrival of Yatra devotees, they gave a hearty welcome to all of them right at the entrance of their village, Sri Ram temple! They personally washed every devotee’s feet with water and welcomed them. After sweet exchanges, the program moved forward. Bhakta Paramdham had well coordinated every activity with necessary ground work. Haridas prabhu offered the bhoga to the deities of Sri Ram for distribution. Thereafter the Yatra team walked to a community hall, which was slated to be the venue of the program. As the devotees reached there, they could see eager faces of children, women and other villagers. One beautiful gomata was also there, waiting for the performance of her ceremonious worship.

The day’s program opened with the announcement of program schedule to the villagers. Haridas prabhu performed the Gau puja while Gour Gopal prabhu sang the arati. Gomata was nicely worshipped with kumkum and haldi besides other items like incense stick, lamp and flowers. The beautiful cow basked in the moments of glory, enjoying the deserved attention and reverence. Invoking auspiciousness and seeking blessings from gomata, the devotees came out on the winding village lanes, performing grama sankirtana. Before that Gour Gopal prabhu sought the blessings of Gauranga Mahaprabhu on the special day of Chida-dahi festival by soulfully singing Shikshastakam.

The group moved on melodiously chanting – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishnan Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Gour Gopal prabhu was like the Pied Piper of Hamelin (nay Yaddugudem). Everybody moved mesmerized by the melody and sweetness (Madhurashtakam) of Holy Name. Having innate inclination for spirituality, kirtan and music, the villagers could easily chant the mahamantra without difficulty. Singing and dancing with devotees, the villagers followed the Yatra team devotees enthusiastically. Regardless of age, gender, race, caste etc. they joined in seamlessly to chant and dance, and dance and chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Finally, the Yatra devotees returned to the Community Hall to take their program to the next step. It was encouraging to see that the whole village was participating in full attendance. There was a turnout of about 200-250 villagers from that small village of mere 70 families! This was more than what the devotees had expected from this pocket of Telangana.

Speaking in the local dialect, Jananivas prabhu introduced them to the identity and contribution of ISKCON. Sripati prabhu took over the mike to elaborate about the Founding Acarya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, about 50 years of ISKCON, about His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami’s special interest in villages, and IDVM’s initiative (under His Holiness’ blessing) of conducting Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra, the goals and objectives of the Yatra. He gave an open invitation to everybody to participate in that Yatra. Sripati prabhu had very interestingly based his lecture on Parikshit maharaj’s encounter with kali as he attacked the bull. In a very lucid way he also detailed the four legs of dharma and their importance in spiritual progress, the relationship between Mother Cow and dharma; and finally how the act of killing cow/ bull is killing dharma.

Thereafter, Jananivas prabhu again took over to introduce the spiritually hungry villagers to the dharmas of the four yugas and Harinam being the yuga-dharma for Kaliyuga. He elaborated how Harinam is the only great attribute of the age of Kali which can be compared to ocean of faults:

kaler doña-nidhe räjann
asti hy eko mahän guëaù 
kértanäd eva kåñëasya
mukta-saìgaù paraà vrajet [SB 12.3.51]

All the villagers listened very carefully as Jananivas prabhu connected the age of degeneration to the old rich culture of Indian villages and their cow-centric life. He juxtaposed the present scene of rising cow slaughter, economy based on cow slaughter and worse still the government encouraging such a set up. Building on different interesting stories, Jananivas prabhu gave an oral glimpse of scene inside a slaughter house. Everybody present there was aghast to hear the account. All the 250 hands were lifted to take the vow to protect Mother Cow. They pledged not to send a single cow to slaughter from their village. As the lecture wound up, Haridas prabhu rendered ecstatic kirtan despite high fever and bad health. Last but not the least, the most sumptuous phase of program –prasadam – it was lavishly distributed to everybody till their full satisfaction. Mahaprabhu’s mercy was flowing.

The verse from Padma Purana proved itself true:

nama cintamanih krsnas, caitanya-rasa-vigrahah

purna suddho nitya mukto, ‘bhinnatvan nama naminoh

Despite challenges of weather, situation and absence of requisite paraphernalia, the devotees could successfully conduct the Yatra in Yaddugudem. Seeing the mercy of Gauranga Mahaprabhu, the devotees’ spirits were elated. Night had already set in. Appointing Bhakta Paramadham as the future point of connect, the devotees left to move on to the new day. The next day being Sunday, Gour Gopal prabhu and Jananivas prabhu had to travel once again (about 170 kms) for their regular follow up program in the area. Anyone could see, each one of them was totally drenched in the heavily showering mercy of Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Completely inundated, they jubilantly packed up for the day. What a day! What a fulfilling way of celebrating Chida-dahi festival in the Yatra style!!

Whenever there is congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, Gaura Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Lord Gauranga, immediately appears and is worshiped by sankirtana-yajna. [Srila Prabhupada, Srimad Bhagavatam 4.30.36]

Gauranga Mahaprabhu ki Jai!

Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra ki Jai! 

Source:http://www.iskconvarnasrama.com/home/lord-gaurangas-mercy-flows-in-yaddugudem-village/