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Melbourne's third annual Ratha-yatra parade was the grandest yet; and since Lord Jagannatha's intimate and confidential servant, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was to be personally present, it was also the most auspicious.

After an offering of delicious vegetarian food and an arati ceremony to the Deities on Their chariots held at Carlton Gardens, the three massive chariots rolled down Collins Street. Srila Prabhupada's car pulled up near the City Square. The kirtana party could be distinctly heard in the distance. As Prabhupada sat in the car with Vaikunthanatha and Satsvarupa, a band of fanatical, fundamental Christians waving banners approached. One of them, recognising Prabhupada, began a tirade of blasphemy. Srila Prabhupada appeared completely unaffected, exhibiting a deep gravity that amazed his two disciples who sat helpless beside him in the car. After a few minutes, the verbal assault ceased, and the parade approached City Square. Prabhupada stepped out of the car and waited.

Heading the parade was the beautiful four-metre tall golden-coloured murti of Lord Caitanya that Dhaumya had painstakingly carved for the parade. The Lord's long arms were upraised in ecstasy. His face was adorned with tilaka and circled by long, flowing dark hair. He wore a yellow silk dhoti; a long, knee-length marigold garland embraced his powerful chest. Prabhupada looked up with great reverence, pressing his palms together in respectful obeisance. "Ah," he said. "This is arca vigraha."

As the parade drew closer and the devotees saw Srila Prabhupada, the kirtana became tumultuous. Devotees played intricate rhythms on new clay mrdangas; large bass drums rumbled like thunder.

Prabhupada surveyed the scene like a general overlooking his troops. Behind Lord Caitanya was Lord Balarama's gorgeous crimson and aquamarine chariot, topped with a palm tree motif. Lord Jagannatha's crimson and bright orange chariot, decorated with conch and lotus, followed close behind. Lady Subhadra's cart, a little smaller than the others and decked with a deep sea green and crimson canopy, proceeded at the rear of the parade. On top of each chariot Prabhupada saw a series of beautiful golden kalasas, topped with a spire and flag and flanked with decorative green parrots. The chariots were hung with long garlands of carnations, colourful festoons and multi-coloured decorative flags. Each cart had a marshall equipped with a megaphone, four wheel guards, and a man to guide the steering. A separate group of devotees chanted before each cart, and two pujaris tended to the needs of each Deity. All three chariots were equipped with buckets of burning frankincense. Devotees stood on the surrounding decking armed with various auspicious substances -- rose-water, coloured dyes and prasadam -- ready to be launched into the crowds.

Prabhupada also noticed the colourfully decorated, life-sized fibreglass horses, suspended in pairs before each chariot, that appeared to gallop in mid-air. Devotees danced, holding coloured banners embroidered with sacred symbols and silhouettes of Vaisnava Deities.

Madhudvisa had presumed that Srila Prabhupada would, as he had done on many similar Ratha-yatra parades, sit on a specially prepared seat on one of the carts for the duration of the parade. Concerned with Prabhupada's health, Madhudvisa had not considered the possibility that Prabhupada might want to negotiate the 4km parade route by foot. Madhudvisa indicated a red and yellow cushioned vyasasana on the front of Lord Balarama's chariot. Would Srila Prabhupada kindly take his seat? But Prabhupada expressed a different desire. He had decided to walk the whole parade.

Suddenly the stirring sounds of bagpipes filled the air. On Prabhupada's advice, Madhudvisa had hired a Scottish marching band to lead the parade. The Mitcham Bagpipe Band, fully bedecked with their pipes, tartan forage caps, full kilts, sporrans, and long socks set off along the road, playing a popular Hare Krsna tune from sheet music.

"Scottish band, Prabhupada," Madhudvisa announced. Srila Prabhupada nodded, showing his approval with a broad smile.

When the band was 100m ahead, Srila Prabhupada, on the indication of Madhudvisa, stepped off the curb and proceeded to slowly walk leading the parade down the street towards the corner of Collins and Swanston Streets. A tumultuous kirtana party surrounded Prabhupada. The murti of Lord Caitanya on its special wheeled platform rolled behind. The thick ropes that drew the chariots stretched tight. As the crowds shouted in joy, grabbing the ropes, each of the chariots' ponderous wheels again began to turn.

Amogha: We had about 11 new mrdangas and the drum players formed a circle around Srila Prabhupada. I was playing one drum and there were also three devotees playing big bass drums. Prabhupada commented that they sounded like herds of elephants. The bass drum players were forming a protective shield in front of Srila Prabhupada. It was very ecstatic, everyone playing drums, chanting Hare Krsna. Srila Prabhupada marched with great power like a conquering, transcendental general. It appeared that we were taking over the whole of Melbourne.

Madhudvisa led the chanting and simultaneously directed the parade and looked to Prabhupada's safety.

Madhudvisa: I had anticipated problems, so I had arranged some security. Recently we had got to know famous martial arts teacher Bob Jones. Bob and the boys respected us very much. They considered themselves ksatriyas and us brahmanas, and I used to preach to them that the ksatriyas should always protect the devotees.

So, today, Bob had arranged three of his heaviest body guards to come and volunteer their services for the parade. Muscular Bob and his highly skilled, blonde-haired assistant, Richard Norton, wearing gloves and sporting a black eye, stood respectfully and attentively on either side of Srila Prabhupada. They wore plain clothes and dark glasses, with their arms folded in front of them. They appeared only slightly interested in the parade but more intent on looking around at roof tops, in the way that you would expect them to do, looking for possible assailants.

Madhudvisa's fears were not unfounded. Almost at the very outset of the parade, an incensed Christian had tried to push over the murti of Lord Caitanya, and a TV cameraman, with full heavy equipment walking rapidly towards Prabhupada had got dangerously close and had ended up in the gutter.

The parade proceeded down Swanston Street and turned into Lonsdale Street. Free of the tram lines that spanned some parts of the route, the silken towers suddenly rose magnificently on each chariot to their full 14m height. The breath-taking canopies, billowing yellow, green, red and blue gave the splendid chariots the appearance of grand sailing ships.

The gorgeous parade was enhanced by Prabhupada's personal beauty. He walked gracefully, absorbed in the kirtana.

cont'd


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu