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Thank you HH sridhara swamy for your very wonderful narration.

Today in Bombay Srila Prabhupada personal office we will be celebrating Sri Jagannath Ratha Yathra

HH sridhara swamy maharaj as described in such great spiritual depth Srila Prabhupada mercy and various ways it extended into life’s of millions and millions of people throughout world. One of the prime means by which Srlia prabhupada delivered love of god is through performance of ratha yatra.

Prema purana mahan the only true goal of life is the awakening of unmotivated and unconditional love for supreme personality of godhead within the heart.
The Bagavatham declares whatever activities in diverse we perform in life, if they do not fructify in awakening of love in taste to hear and glorify Krishna .shrama eva hi kevalam it is all simply a waste of time

nasshato vithe bhaham na bhavam vithete shitha

Materialist are sleeping to what is truth, what is truth is eternal and what is temporary is ultimately vidhusari or unreal. The whole world is plunged in this vast ocean of illusion. People are dedicating their entire life’s moment-by-moment trying to find pleasure through material means. To a great soul who is self realized this is the most lamentable sorrowful stage.

Vasudev Datta he wept and cried begging lord Chaitanya for one benediction let me take sins of all living entities in universe on my head and suffer perpetually give them grace and he speaking also about people who are under the illusion that they are happy . In Navadeep before the advent of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu it was a town of offloads there was much wealth, there was incredible sense gratification, people where very learned and they were under the illusion that they were happy it wasn’t a place of poverty or decease. Navadeep was a place of great offloads how ever the devotees they were wiping performing austerities praying that Krishna please come to deliver these people they been cheated of only true joy of love of god for temporary sources miseries of these world.

Yehe sam joga dukka nahe yevathe advanth
e ya naya kuthenya the thura mathe suna

Krishna who was creator of this world knows how it works he is revealing the truth in Bagavath Gita that the pleasure of this world are the sources of misery. The satisfaction we gain by the sense coming out and contacting objects of senses is root cause of all suffering ,because they create attachment dukalayam na shasvitam when we are attached to some thing temporary and the degree we are attached and to same degree we must suffer inevitably in due course of time. so the great souls out of compassion they want to give real wealth ,the real treasure of love ,the love between the soul and Krishna that is true relation.

Salai punkasham karo dharamo yathe bakthi
aho hi apratha hi hata yeha suprasidathi

The supreme occupation of all humanity ,this is inclusive of all nations, all religions, all castes, all races, all humanity the only true occupation is that which awakens loving service to supreme lord, such service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self. Everyone is looking for satisfaction Srila Prabhupada understood, what is real satisfaction everyone is longing for in this misdirected civilization.

How Srila Prabhupada risks his life and tolerated such incredible inconvenience just to give Krishna’s love to us. Krishna’s love so perfectly flowed through Srila Prabhupada heart and manifested through his words, his actions and Jaladutha , Prabhupada was in very helpless stage materially 70 years old he suffered 2 heart attacks dizziness seasickness, he had 40 rupees no money had nothing he had no real contacts who is willing to able to help him in mission, Just one person whom he never met before he is going to let him stay at his house that was the extent. He only had a one month visa. How are you going to establish world wide mission in that circumstance, but Srila Prabhupada prayed in his beautiful prayers to lord Krishna. He first revealed his humble heart that i have no qualification to perform this impossible fleet that no Acharya in history of world had never ever accomplished in his circumstances after heart attacks, his age no help or support even in east or west, he prayed how will they understand my language, how will I convince them, Krishna make me your puppet I will dance as you make me dance only you can save now. So that was his pure compassion.

jevodoya Krishna nama savarasa sara

Bakti Vinoda Thakur explains in essence of all religion is compassion to all living entities to the broadcasting of holy name of Krishna. Prabhupada had that faith he had that conviction and we had heard wonderful details from HH Sridhar Swami Maharaja, how Prabhupada established the mission of lord Chaitanya pure unmotivated love all over the world. Yes it was lord Chaitanya and lord Nityananda another was Sri Sri Radha in Krishna who were manifesting there love through the pure heart of Srila Prabhupada ,manifesting there mercy and compassion through the perfect instrument of Srila Prabhupada love to this world, and to connect with Prabhupada flow of mercy is to be directly connected through Parampara to eternal bode of Golaka Vrindaban.

So Srila Prabhupada established Ratha Yathra all over the world how it was done Sridhar maharaj explained such a inconvincible and simple way Krishna was just arcastating automating making everything so that Prabhupadas dream would fulfilled. He came to New York he was leaving in gado of bavary unknown by material standard insignificant. this leaving in tiny room of flat that was been ,it was been lended to him his possessions were stolen, other time he was leaving with other people.one time he was leaving a couple and husband was very favorable and wife was very un favorable because of this regulative principles of no illicit sex with other is not agreeable to her so she treated Prabhupada very rudely and very bad ,and he leaved in same room with them with partition. And other time he leaved with other boy mania on drugs and tryed to kill Srila Prabhupada. He was practically on the street some how Krishna saved him and offered him some little facilities.

That is how he came to New York city in 1965 and in 1976 the 5th avenue the most important street in most important city of the world was closed by with police the New York police department was serving Jagannath personal servants clearing roads for him stopping traffic for him, as the three beautiful chariots built by Jayananda Prabhu road down the center of the heart of Maya support and Srila Prabhupada sitting on Subadra mai chariot was looking down on people of New York casting his mercy for glance ,what a tremendous victory it was.

So the purpose of Ratha Yathra is purpose of life ,Krishna is all attractive to awaken our natural attraction for Krishna. What ever is favorable to become attractive to Krishna should be accepted and what ever is unfavorable must be rejected, this is the basic principle of Sri RupaGoswamy teachings.

Ratha Yathra is festival of love and its origin is steep in highest love in spiritual world. How ever Srila Prabhupada made itself simple, so practical, so accessible he was actually giving people entrance to participate with of one the deepest most ecstatic transcendental pastimes of spiritual love ,that is Prabhupada mercy.When Prabhupada give lectures on Ratha Yatra he often briefly explain what is the historical principles of Ratha Yatra,but he would also explain in very simple terms that it is a festival of bringing Krishna back into our hearts .

So we like to describe very briefly some of history of Jagannath Puri and Ratha Yatra for pleasure of Vaisnavas. It is described how king Indradumana, he was a very great devotee, he lived long ago in previous age although he was a king of world he had tremendous wealth, tremendous power, he was young, he was handsome he had a beautiful wife kundicha devi and he had a kingdom and participated and they liked him, this is very rare today a leader that’s everyone likes he really had everything a man could possibly want in life he had power ,he had fame, he had youth, he had wealth ,he had love, but because he was not full,because he understood without god, without Krishna consciousness everything is shallow its hollow its empty it is without substance so he wanted to understand where is Krishna unless, I know Krishna, unless I see Krishna life is a waste .So one saintly person came to his kingdom and was speaking how lord has appeared in this world in the form of LeelaMadhava so it was his golden life to find that Leela Madhava ,for what purpose, to surrender to him, to serve him, to give his life to him, he didn’t just want to see him.This is how we actually come before the deity Bakthi Sidantha Saraswathi Thakur thought us do not try to see Krishna ,but serve Krishna in such a way that he is pleased to see you, because we cannot see Krishna with eyes made out of flesh, why because Krishna is not had out of material flesh Krishna is transcendental he may assume a form that is made of material elements but he reveals himself in that form according to our love ,according to our love,according to our faith and devotion .

bakthi tena ye aham eva vidhuracham gyatham
justracha thatvam pravestam paramthapa

Krishna tells through Bagavath Gita only by undivided devotion can I be understood has I am standing before you Arjuna ,actually Duryodana saw the universal form of Krishna but he was not happy he was so miserable because he had no devotion. Hiranyaksha saw incredible beautiful form of Varaha dev. Hiranyakashapu saw the form of Narasingha dev ,Sridhar swami maharaja what does he sees when he sees Narasingha dev there is some thing we cannot understand ,it may take us many life times even begin to comprehend somebody had seen Narasinga-Sheela NarasinghaStone and he is worshiping performing puja with materials of his heart and love because Krishna reveals himself according to how we approach him Hiranyakashapu and Hiranyaksha saw Varaha dev and Narasinga dev and they felt no love and they felt no happiness, they felt disturbed ,they felt inconvenience by the darshan of the lord . So unless a heart has awakened spiritual affection Krishna does not reveal himself as he is.

So yes Indraduman maharaja he wanted to surrender his life to supreme personality godhead give his, his body, his family, his world ,his life, his kingdom ,his everything nothing has any meaning unless it is offered to the lord .

yathkaro srircahna yath karoshi yatha
pathashi kuntheya thath kuru arphanam

what ever we eat what ever we offer and give away what ever activities we perform ,what ever words we speak everything should be done as an offering to the lord. Anything we have that’s not been utilized in god service is source of bondage it will be the cause of birth and death and repeatedly ,therefore a devotee wants everything used for service of lord. so here is the king he has so much in one sense he is the proprietor of world ,but he cannot use it in service of lord its meaning less its bondage.So for this reason Indradumana maharaj soled intensely wanted to find this Leela Madhava and told his most trusted minister prajapathi he went searching throughout the world and in Ananthades there he found Leela Madhava, he was being worshiped by shabara ,shabara is pig farmers very simple cast of people and Viswavasu was the leader he was rendering such loving devotional service to Leela Madhava in fact the Devaths would come down daily to worship this beautiful form of lord. So hindi Kund Rohini Kund which was just close to temple where Leela Madhava was leaving deep in seclusion of forest. prajapathi saw a simple bird touch the water and assume four hand form and sent to Viakunta,that is the power of a lords abode. So he had returned to told Indradumana maharaj what he had seen immediately he came with entire raj when he had arrived there already been a great storm that had divested whole area and Leela Madhava disappeared this is described in the Scanda purana. So I was under verge of death I came so close then I missed the lord then he heard a voice of lord that I would appear in log of transcendental wood in sea and marking of lord Vishnu would be present on arms. So ocean of loving separation lord Jagannath Baladev and Subadra floating like logs in the sea in the area of Leela Chalam Madhava so he was having them carved as the deities had been carved the craftsmen’s told Indradumana maharaj that I want complete seclusion you do not enter unless I open doors my self so he was working and Indradumana maharaj he was so eager lobha he had such transcendental greed to see the lord to worship the lord to serve the lord. every moment seems like ages of waiting as he was hearing carving for some days there was no carving there was no sound there was nothing he become very much disturbed and told to open the doors and there he saw deities that appeared to be unfinished ha.! his heart was broken what I have done the craftsmen had gone.He was actually on verge of ending his life fasting till death the offence he had committed .then the lord spoke to him then Narada muni appeared and explained everything to him very nicely. In Upanishads it is described that the supreme lord although he had no hands he can accept everyone offering every where. Although he have no legs he can go any where and every where. What this means is god does not have material hands or material legs or material senses.

eshvara parama Krishna satchitanada vigraha

The lord’s body is eternal full of knowledge and full of bliss it is pure spiritual. Therefore yes God has no eyes like our eyes his eyes can see every thing at all times and everywhere. so thus Nirguna describes how lord his senses his body his personality is not under the free fold qualities of material existence it is completely spiritual.Narada muni also reveled inner secret that at the time of Krishna previous yuga cycle in dwapara yuga Krishna was living in dwaraka at that time queens of lord Sri Krishna they were very very eager to hear Krishna virndhavan Leela why because Krishna was always thinking about virndabhan leela, at night he used to cry out names of Radharani of the Gopis and Gopas .He would cry for Nanda and Yashoda and queens were he does ever call our names. Satyabama was saying like this when he is sleeping he is crying crying all for is Vraja Vasies.Rukmini says why only in night even in day he says like that it seems he does caring us he is always think of virndabhan.it seems that he only loves us because we remind him residents of virndhaban we want to hear about the pass times of virndhaban. there was one lady in Dwaraka who witness transcendental Leelas of Vraj was Rohini Devi , Rohini Devi was one of the wives of Vasudev who was sent to virndhaban Gokul by Vasudev to be under the care of Nanda maharaja while he was in prison of Kamsa in Mathura with Devaki. so please tell us we went to hear Vraj Leela, if I tell you then immediately Krishna and Balaram would come and they will become so ecstatic and they will not be able to control their emotions so better I do not tell.No we want to hear we want to hear, so some should guard the door. So Subadra mia said I am the sister I will guard the door when they come I will warn you and you will stop speaking. So Rohini Devi began to speak about the beautiful pastimes of virndhaban. When she was speaking immediately Krishna and Balaram could understand Rohini is describing Vraj Leela let us go to hear, and they came running to hear to that place. The problem is Subadra standing in the door way to guard she was in some much of ecstasy she became stun unable to move or speak she could not warn them.Balaram stood on one side and Jagannath stood on other side they both became stun hearing virndhaban leela in separation in ecstasy of separation from virndhaban.

When she began to describe the love of Sri Radharani they orderly entered a stage of ecstasy where Balaram Subadra and Jagannath eyes had became very much big their legs and arms entered into their bodies, big beautiful smile upon their face Standing motion less as if they were pieces of wood. That time Narada muni saw this Darshan and he was very happy I have seen I have seen I have seen incredible darshan of Balaram Subadra and Jagannath in ecstasy and separation from virndhaban .Jagannath Baladev and subadra then came to normal form and Narada muni beg for benediction let these forms I have seen of the three of you in ecstasy and separation from virndhaban let them be worshiped at some place in this world and grant me benediction any one who sees these forms will in due course of will be free from all material miseries and attain loving service onto you. Lord Jagannath said so be it in lachala whether its bluish mountain near the sea I will appear in these form it will be Jagannath puri.

So when Indradumana maharaja heard the transcendental history why the lord appeared in this very very extraordinary form of Balaram Subadra and Krishna he became over joyed. There was a glorious abhishekam in the heart of what is today puri then he created beautiful chariots on the inspiration of lord, a chariot for Balaram, a chariot for subadra and a chariot for Jagannath to bring them to the temple. And that was one of the first Ratha Yatra within this world the lord was installed it’s a long story.

But in essence Jagannath Balaram Subadra made there home in puri.In years everyone worship Jagannath because he appeared in such a wonderful form Buddhist thought he is Buddha ,devotees of Ganesh thought he is Ganesh and devotesof shiva thought he is Shiva. Vaisnavas thinking he is Vishnu or Krishna HariBol.

He is very Jagannath he is lord of universe, universally accepted by so many faithful persons. And this Ratha Yathra bringing Jagannath from main temple in puri to Gandicha temple in puri has been taking place from thousands and thousands of years.

But it was Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who revealed so perfectly to entire world, what is internal significance of Ratha Yatra .lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in Navadeep for 24 years he resided and he established Hari NamaSankirtan the Yuga Darma for age of Kali. But please understand Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is not just Yuga Avatar according to Chaitanya Charitha Aamrutha the role of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is incidental. The actual reason coming to the world was Krishna wanted to understand the nature of Sri Radharani love .taste the sweetness and happiness of love she feels when she serves him. And understand what is about her that makes her tens and millions of times blissful then he is Hare Krishna

So Krishna appeared with the bav ,maha bav of Radharani love and to taste the sweetness of love and distribute to the world Sri Krishna Chaitanya Radha Krishna nahi anya Radha Krishna are two eternally one absolute truth has taken two forms for sake of pastimes of love the Shakthi and Sshakthimann Radha and Krishna. But those two personalities have been became one in form of lord Gauranga Prabhu to taste the sweetness of love and to distribute the sweetness of that love through the Yuga Darma the cognitional chanting of holy name. Chaitanya explained in Waranasi through Prakash Nanda Saraswathi his gurus instruction to him.

hari nama hari nama hari nam eva kevalam
kalav nasthva nastheva nasthava gathir anyada

In the age of Kali there is no other way no other way no other way expect chanting of the names of Hari for the ultimate perfection of life.

Kaleraduran rajan asthene mahan guna
putana deva krishnas ya muktha dasyam.

In this age of Kali it is an ocean of flaws but there is one benediction. so much quarrel so much hypocrisy so much irreligion. Previous times most of the population, of world understood that happiness comes through piety, through goodness, through charity, through sharing, through morality that’s happiness. What we see world around was today and its just the beginning of kali Yuga.How people would consider happiness to be sinful activity, intoxication, illicit sex, gambling, meat eating and so many other egotistic waste of time .But there is one benediction simply by chanting Krishna names one can attain ultimate perfection of liberation. But lord Chaitanya didn’t come just to give perfection of liberation he came to give some thing even beyond the perfection of liberation.
Hare Krishna.

He came to give entrance into transcendental Leela of Radha and Krishna in virndhaban golakena prema dara hari nama sankirtan
Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu even gave association of other avatars entrance into vraj Leela the highest round of the sweetest exchanges of spiritual love .therefore he is most magnificent and most manganese most merciful of all incarnations. Because he is giving no other avatar has ever given to such a simple means.

So,yes in Navadeep lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu established Hari Nama Sankirtana and that very historical night , when he was told that Chand Kazi both mrudangas were persecuting the devotees he declared I will tonight dance and chant in the streets of Navadeep, let us see what Kazi will do to me. Today death personified will stand before plastemers. The word spread previous to the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu only performed Sankirtan in secluded houses of SrivasThakur.The doors and windows were locked so that no person who has slightest ting of material ego was in heart allowed in. but know he was going to out into the public and personally dance Hari Bol.

Even the demigods decides themselves has human beings just to see the beautiful dance of the lord in his ecstasy of crying out the holy names of Krishna. yes the lord inundated Navadeep Damm with Hari Namm and Krishna prema, but for sake of those persons who escaped the net of his mercy egotistic scholars, smarted Brahmins and very fallen sinful persons he decided to take Sanyas because of the supreme personality of godhead any one who bowed down to him would attain perfection of life. And those days everyone bow down to Sanyasies.So he renounced his loving wife, his caring mother, his home ,his friends in Navadeep and accepted Sanyas .Sachidevi his mother requested him please make your base in puri ,because it is not different then virndhaban the same Krishna of virndhaban lives in Jagannath puri as Jagannath.There are always hear the news of your beautiful pastimes, So Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu made his base in puri.

After his south Indian tour he called for his devotees from Bengal Navadeep,Shanthipur Srikanda,Kuvina gram all of those areas invited them come every year during the chathra masya and together we will celebrate Ratha Yatra ,and how the lord celebrated Ratha Yatra ,its such a wonderful story.According to Krishna Raj Kavi Raj Goswami any one who hears this story with faithful attain the essence of mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu pure love of Krishna so we must hear with faith.

On the full moon night the month of Jesta is the appearance day of Jagannath so they perform abhisekham it is called sanna Yatra it’s a beautiful ceremony they bring Baladev Subadra and Jagannath outside of the temple room make a beautiful platform for him and they bathe him through out the day with various transcendental substances.The person who take charge at this time are not the pandas or regular priest but the Diathas and Diayathapathies who are actual descendents of Viswavasu the original pujari of Leela Madhava of shabara class. Yes this Ddiayathapathies they bathe the lord and according to Sri Chaitanya Charitha Amrutha Srila Prabhupada explains at that time lord performs the Leela of getting the fever he becomes sick, so therefore for 15 days he goes to a secluded state and that is called Navayavanam during that time they offer various services to lord including painting his body and so many other wonderful services. And during that time no one except selected Diayathapathies are allowed to see lord Jagannath. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to be in puri and not see the supreme lord of his life, lord Chaitanya he was in mood of Sri Radharani. Every morning before dawn he would be in temple of Jagannath worshiping him behind the Garuda Stamba with his heart, his soul, his life so it was very difficult. So he went to allannanath a very very scared and ancient temple not far from puri and there you will see, if you go .a big stone where lord Chaitanya lay down in his separation from lord Jagannath the stone melted just by been touched by his body and even today the imprints of his limbs are upon that stone.

Then the devotees from puri, I mean the devotees from Bengal they were approaching puri. When lord Chaitanya received this news they were about to enter into puri all the Vaisnavas from Navadeep headed by Advithya Acharya. He became so enlightened the ecstasy the lamentation and separation have became transcendentally relieved with the hope of associating with devotees. he became blissful he hurried back to puri to greet them at the Ataranala the bridge which is like a border of actual pricing to puri town. Lord Chaitanya was waiting there with garlands with sandal wood, he was blessing all the devotees. Mean while there was a king Pratapa Rudra he although he was so successful in every way .Like Indradumana maharaj he was king ,he had wealth , he had power , he had youth ,he had beautiful family .what he learned from Sarvaboma Battacharya, Lord Chaitanya was supreme lord himself incarnated in the world. he longed to have the darshan of the lord when the petition was bought before lord Chaitanya he said no the king is jalsa ya jana nas he said the person in a renounced order of life to meet with materialistic person in grouts in sense gratification the worldly opulence its worst them drinking poison when they live. So he refused to see king simply because of his position. The devotees said but he is great vaisnavas he has given his life and soul to Krishna he loves you. What ever he is the fact is the name king is attached to his name means he is abominable I can’t see him Hare Krishna.

The lord was testing Pratapa Rudra and also establishing the principle of renunciation and its purest state. So King Pratapa Rudra actually decided that he would give up his kingdom and become a beggar if that’s what it took to see the lord that is devotion. That is the quality that every single one of us must have if we want Krishna conciseness in its pure form. We must be willing to give up everything and anything for it. Its not we necessarily have to give up everything we must have that willingness, that there is nothing so precious, there is nothing so valuable as Bakthi. Yes king Pratapa Rudra actually decided I will give up my thrown, my wealth I will give up everything and I will be a beggar and loitering on the street for rest of my life .if that is what is required to get the mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. he is Pathitha Pavana he is descended to this world to give mercy to most fallen .he is giving mercy to all the most fallen persons save an expect one most unfortunate king named Pratapa Rudra.

Narovuthama das Thakur prayed like this pathitha pavana ye thu sad avatara mosamo pathitha prabhu napaye bihara that lord your had descended to deliver most fallen but you can see and consider all of creation and you will come to a conclusion there is no one more fallen than me so my claim is first. This was the mood of maharaj Pratapa Rudra I would give up everything if I can have a moment darshan of lord Chaitanya. And he wasn’t just saying he was feeling because lord doesn’t hear what you say, the lord hears the intension of your heart and he reciprocates with that. Prabhupada describes it this way that the lord accepts the purpose in which the everything is offered, the lord is within our heart and he is seeing what is state of our heart in what ever we do, in what ever speak Krishna is witnessing the intension, the sprit in which we are speaking and acting and he reciprocates with that intension .Pratapa Rudra maharaj was not just talking he meant it he was ready to become a beggar and still he didn’t get the darshan of lord. There is no purpose to live he was going to give up his life. So the devotees some how are the other they tried to pacify him through various ways just to keep him alive in his post .they brought the son to see the king and lord Chaitanya embraced the son, and king embraced his son after being embraced by lord. he felt the same ecstasy has he embraced the lord. And other time to pacify king they gave him a little piece of lord Chaitanya outer cloths that he had wore and he considered that has worship able that it. He worshiped that object of lord clothes as deity of Lord .Hari Bol.

But ultimately because the king way out of his way to extent himself to serve Ramananda Roy lord Chaitanya in his heart declared that Krishna will restore complete mercy upon king why madbaktha pooja madika because Krishna loves those who loves his devotees because he served such a devotee as Ramanand Roy and pleased him therefore Krishna will show mercy upon him this is very important king Pratapa Rudra will not achieve mercy because of donations ,because of power ,because of prestige it was only because of his humility and eagerness to serve vaisnavas that was his qualifications. in fact that is the only qualification for any one for all time without pleasing the vaisnavas no one can attain the pleasure of lord .

So lord Chaitanya was been witness by King Pratapa Rudra from the roof all the devotees are coming in. He was amazed who is that Gopinath Acharya ,Sarvaboma Battacharya this is Advithya Acharya the leader of vaisnavas ,that is Srivas Thakur , who is that Pundarin Nidhi ,who is that that is Srila HariDdas Thakur the Nama Acharya .I have never seen such affleceve persons and I have seen so many kirtan groups coming into this land of puri. But I have never heard kirtan such as this they are affulated and they are spreading whole atmosphere with such a spiritual energy. What type of kirtan is this Sarvaboma Battacharya and Gopinath Acharya explains this is Prem Sankirtan, this is Sankirtan of pure love this is not just ritualistic chanting of mantras. This is love of heart of pure associates of lord Chaitanya purifying the universe by chanting the holy names

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE .

The lord greeted them first he sends Govinda and them he send Swaroop Damodar to greet them and offering them gifts and then the lord personally appeared with garlands and decorated all of the bodies with chandan personally puts garlands , personally embraces everyone is offering obsennesies to each other such a wonderful welcome .then lord arranged accommodations for every devotee according to our great biography the greatest pleasure of lord is to serve his own devotees.

A very special event was approaching Netra Vutsava , Netra Vutsava means the feast for eyes that is the first darshan lord Jagannath gives after a fortnight of being unmanifested to all of the devotees. Lord Chaitanya generally stand behind Garuda Stambha Sarvabhoma Battacharya advised him if you come close to direct deity you will become to much ecstatic better you stay some distance. Garuda stambha is at some distance from alter between this Jagan Mohan there is Kirtan hall,darshan hall thousands of people come .but on this day he came right onto the alter and whole day without blinking his eyes he was glazed upon the lotus eyes on Jagannath the only moment for pup use in streams rivers of tears pouring from his eyes has he simply glazed upon the beautiful form of Jagannath. When ever there is viphalamba or separations we feel intensify the experience of sombhoga or meeting with the lord for whole day. lord Chaitanya stood with his devotees fixed glazing at beauty of the lord of Jagannath, such eagerness and he is also teaching us this is how we should see the deities eagerness is so important, if we have eagerness to hear then our heart is receptive to receive the message of Harikata.

If we have eagerness to chant the holy name then the holy name will reciprocates and reveal the sweet taste of spiritual presence of the lord. if we have the eagerness to see the deities then Krishna will reciprocates with that eagerness and reveals his transcendental mercy to his presence .so Srila Prabhupada very much stressed that the devotees must be eager they must be enthusiastic about what ever they do in Krishna conciseness whether we are speaking ,whether we are listening , whether we are doing some cleaning work, whether worshiping the deities, book distribution, life membership making, garlands for anything even offering some contribution what ever be done should be done in that eagerness that enthusiasm is an indication to our desire to love .

Devotee asked Srila Prabhupada to tell us what Krishna would love, what if we have no love. We can express our intension to love by our enthusiasm by our eagerness and Krishna reciprocates with our intension and gradually gives us the real experience of spiritual love. So yes lord Chaitanya and his devotees during this Netra Vuthsava they showed such incredible eagerness to have the darshan of the lord. They were giving their hearts, they were giving their lives, they were giving their body, mind and words everything to lord through the glances they were surrendering to Krishna. This what actually a darshan should be when we are seeing deities through our eyes we should actually be seeing through our hearts eyes we should offering our lives to the lotus feet of the lord ,that is actual darshan.

When the Bogha offering came in lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his devotees went into the kirtan hall and they chanted and danced for rest of the day. One point they circumnutated the temple of Jagannath and towards backside of the temple there are four gates lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stopped the kirtan and performed a great miracle, all the devotees were dancing and chanting and every devotees is thinking lord Chaitanya is only looking at me Hare Krishna .

He is so merciful, he is so kind some many great souls there thinking he is looking at me in this way he replayed the Leela of Krishna on bank of Yamuna. When there were thousands of thousands of Gopas cowherd boys taking Prasad every cowherd boy thinking that Krishna is looking only at me. This is the power of lord love although there are innumerable entities living entities, how many living entities are on this planet? Can any one count even our great scientific researcher can they even begin to calculate the number .how many micros and how many insects and how many birds and how many reptiles and how many plants and trees how many animals and humans very difficult its count less. And this just one splick of planet in whole universe and there are so many planets in this universe much bigger and more populated than earth. And this whole universe is like a tiny little mustard seed on gigantic barrel of universes Hare Krishna floating in Casual Ocean and all the living entities in entire cosmic manifestation is only a small fraction of living entities living in the spiritual world .because this material existence is a prison house. Durga Devi is the leader of prison even in Kaliyuga still there is minority of people outside .Yes what to speak of Stayayuga .so how many living entities are in Viakunta planets how many living entities are in Krishna loka countless unlimited.

So the impersonalist their idea since there is countless living entities how could everyone will have relationship with god, therefore ultimately god must be impersonal we must be impersonal we all should merge into oneness. And then there is RamaAnanda had be ecstasy of being Brahmin but they cannot understand Achinta Shakthi inconceivable transcendental powers of lords love. the lords love is such a profound nature that although Krishna is one still all the countless unlimited living entities in entire spiritual world everyone feels a very deep intimate personal relationship with Krishna in sprit of servant of the servant of the servant of his servants. Radharani is ultimate servant of Krishna she is Adiguru she is original servant of Krishna along with Balaram ji according to different Leela and every living entity in spiritual world is serving Sri Radharani her service to Krishna through serving of serving of serving of her servants that is Goloka ,but through that service every living entity is feeling so intimate and perfectly satisfied by their relationship with Krishna. How wonderful we all are Jeeva Atmas he we pay attention to one person somebody else then others think why he or she is ignoring me yes its is very difficult to be impartial in this world because everyone has so many expectations. Do any of you ever have this experience? People have expectation upon you and they want your attention, then we tries, but what can we do if we spend too much time here why are u not here HARI BOL.

Krishna does have that problem because Krishna is the Parama Atma in this material world and his love is all providing. The impersonal declares the god is all providing, therefore he is impersonal he is formless but the devotees understand Krishna’s love is all providing Krishna’s personal care and affection for every living entity is all providing that is why he is Eshwara he is god. So lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu demonstrated that wonderful miracle in Jagannath puri the next morning was to be Ratha Yatra .So now I hope begin introduction, introduction is complete.

That morning lord Chaitanya and his devotees were very very excitedly took there bags and they came to Singha Dwaram the Lion Gate and there was ceremony where Jagannath Baladev and Subadra carried out of the temple to put on the chariots. so wonderful festival in those days they had pillows called Tullis because the Murthis are very very big size and all the Diayathapathis are gathered around ,had any one had been to Jagannath puri for Ratha Yatra ? the Murthi of Jagannath Baladev and Subadra ,Subadra is just they carry very quickly but Jagannath and Baladev very very difficult they are surrounded with very very big size Diayathas Daaiyathapathies lifting they have ropes to help and lord is moving around like a totally intoxicated person staggering from side to side and back and forth you have seen unbelievable. I am from west I have seen many drunken people and I see how they stager and they fall and they bump into people ha.haha. .

So when lord wants to be intoxicated he is supreme I have never seen such an intoxicated scene in my life. Jagannath came out of the temple and the Daiyathapathis carrying with arms some with ropes and some or other trying to. One of the leading Diayathapathis he is very dear friend of our temples ,we asked him how do you work coordinate to make Jagannath move around like that back and fourth in such a state no no, we are not arcustrating anything we are just trying to hold him still as hard as we can its Jagannath moving like that, and he was serious we are just trying to control and hold him still but he, why because it is Ratha Yatra ,what is Ratha Yatra lord Jagannath Baladev and Subadra returning to virndhaban .

Srila Prabhupada explains that when Krishna went to Kurushetra for Solar eclipse he invited Vraj vasies Nanda Yashoda and Gopas and Gopis they have loaded their oxcarts and made a pilgrimage to Kurushetra . When they saw Krishna in that state he was king this is all they prayed that you are the same Krishna I am the same Radharani and these are the same moonlights of month of Chaitra, but I want to be back to the bank of Jamuna under Kadamba tree, here you are wearing big royal crown but in Vrindaban, you only wear peacock feather in your hair. Here you are wearing royal Armour of prince but in Vrindabanyou only have Gunja mala and Vaijayanthi mala of wild forest flowers. here you are accompanied by great soldiers armies and queens ,there you are accompanied by your flute .here there is the noise of rattling of wild elephants but there in virndhaban there is the sound of laughing of Gopas and chapping of sweet birds in kadamba and Plam trees. We are not finding even one particle of trace of happiness of seeing you here as we do in virdhaban please return to virdhaban with us. Nanda and Yashoda they are crying in sassed in love do you want to kill them you are our life and soul our heart is virndhaban there is no difference between virndhban and our heart so please once again place your lotus feet in virndhaban of our hearts otherwise how are we staying our lives. it was in this mood the residents of Vrindabanmelted Krishna’s heart and wept and cried to hear their words of separation and thus Prabhupad explains the Ratha Yatra is emotional act of devotional service where Gopis within the heart they are bringing Krishna Balaram and Subadra back to virndhaban and that is the journey of lord.
Jagannath form puri temple to Gandicha ,Gandicha is non different then virndhaban and this was the emotional state of how lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu celebrated Ratha Yatra.

So Jagannath is so intoxicated with Balaram because they are about to return to virndhaban they are put on their chariots. Meanwhile the king of Orrissa Pratapa Rudra he accepted the simple role of a street sweeper and with a broom that had a golden handle he performed this menial humble service of sweeping the streets. Now we have explained lord Chaitanya understands the purpose the intension that everything that has offered to him.

Sometimes people inaugurate Ratha Yatra by sweeping the street but their mentality is distinguish hat what a VIP I am ,I am V.I.P I am given the honor of sweeping the streets Hare Krishna. The cameras focus very nicely upon me and let the televisions reveal it to the world that I am inaugurating Ratha Yatra for iskcon Hare Krishna.

That’s your mentality you will get little mercy and you will get lot of publicity, but king Pratapa Rudra lord is seeing his heart he didn’t want any recognition he didn’t want popularity he wasn’t doing because he will get votes during the election he was doing it because he honestly and hervesly from core of his heart. Want to accept the role of most menial street sweeper Bangi for lord Jagannath. I may be the king in my service but before the supreme personality of godhead I am the most menial insignificant servant of the servant of the servant he swept the street with such humility with such a state of menial ness and lord Chaitanya understood his heart and at that moment seeing the king sweeping the street for lord . The devotees and lord decided I will fulfill all these great souls desires Hare Krishna. Because he is taking such an honest hardest humble position to serve I will fulfill all his desires that is where the lord made up his mind. the Ratha Yathra began how wonderful lord Chaitanya was calling out mahima mahima mahima addressing a great personality welcoming an honored person.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then divided his devotes into seven kirtan groups very nice how he divided each kirtan group has several Mrudangas Kartals and a lead singer and a lead dancer. one group he had Swaroop Damoder Goswami as lead singer Swaroop Damoder Goswami when he would sing so much ecstatic love awaken in peoples heart there is a description in Chaitanya Bhagavatam when lord Chaitanya heard Swaroop Damoder Goswami sing he would completely loose conciseness of entire world he would just go to transcendental ecstatic trances. one time Swaroop Damoder Goswami singing and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu fell right into a deep well the devotees were horrified hai hai hai this time what happened to lord he fell into the deep well they looked down by the arrangement of yogamaya ,would you like to know what happened ? so soon as lord fell into the well the well filled almost to the top with fresh creamy butter so the lord was lying in the butter and took a nap this was the power of Swaroop Damoder Goswami singing .The lead dancer of that kirtan party was Sri Advithya Acharya he who loves devotional ecstatic cry’s called Chaitanya to descendent to this world.

The second group Srivas Thakur was the lead singer and his very dear friend Nityananda Prabhu was the lead dancer. In the next group Mukunda data was lead singer and there are very wonderful descriptions of Mukunda data singing the entire assembly of vaisnavas would melt in ecstatic love every time he sing loving prayers of sri Krishna and virndhaban . And the lead dancer in Mukunda data group was Nama Acharya Srila Haridas Thakur. The fourth Kirtan party the lead singer are three brothers Vasudev Madhava and Govinda Gosh when they would sing, actually in the spiritual world they were singers for Radha and Krishna who descendent to sing Chaitanya Sankirtan party. the lead dancer Bakshwar Pandit how he would dance sometimes lord Chaitanya personally sing and he would dance and the reciprocation of lord Chaitanya singing and Bakeshwar dancing they would go on for 72 continuous hours HariBol .lord Chaitanya would sing has if he had many many mouths and Bakshwar Pandit said I will dance for ever you go on singing. And he formed three groups from various villages they came one group was devotees of Shanthi pur Achutaananda the elder son of Adyatha Acharya was the lead dancer ,in other group the residents of Srikanda Narahari sarkar and Raghunandan prabhu was lead dancer than there were devotees from Kuvuna gram were Ramaanand Vasu and Sathya Raj were lead dancer.

So Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu inspired them all to begin kirtan and with folded hands he begin to pray

namo brhamanya devaya gobhraman hi thaya
cha jagathi taya Krishnaya govindaya namo namah

Then he offered beautiful verse this is very important before the kirtan before the Ratha Yatra lord Chaitanya he offered this verse I am not a bhramin vysha a kshythriya or a shudra I am not a bramha charya gruhastha vanaprastha or sanyasi what is my identity gopibar pathakamala yur das das das allu das. I am the in significant atomic particle of servant of the servant of the servant of your servant. This was the mood lord Chaitanya established before Ratha Yathra begins and then the kirtan started he organized four of kirtan groups dancing in front of Jagannath cart one on each side and one in the rear of the chariot as they were chanting and dancing together the sound of Mrudangas and kartals and loud loud chanting of mahamantra filled all directions.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE .

To fulfill everyone desires Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would be seen in every seven-sankirtan party simultaneously Hari Bol he expanded him in such a way that each
sankirtan party would thinking that the lord is only with me Hari Bol .In this way he reenacted the Rasa Leela of virndhaban very every Gopi was thinking Krishna is only dancing with me he reenacted the Leela of Dwarka for every one of 16108 wives of Krishna is thinking Krishna is only with me such a speciall intimacy of love the lord shares with his devotees and no body would under stand that the lord is with every one except few unfortunate people you know who are they king Pratapa Rudra. He would see how lord had expanded into all of the kirtan parties thus Sarvaboma Bbattacharya praised his good fortune this is only by mercy of the lord. The lord reveals his opulence’s lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu began to dance in such way sometimes he was in all seven kirtan parties simultaneously and one time he took one form and all the seven kirtan parties merged into one party just to see the lord dance and the ecstatic transcendental symptoms of love as he danced are described by detail by Sri Krishna Das Kavi Raj Goswami tears were pouring from his heart and his eyes like syringes like rivers his hair was standing on stand like the flower of Kadamba tree. His complication was changing various colors his teeth was shattering like a little boy in a freezing cold in the winter.some time he would appeared very heavy and sometimes very thin and sometimes very light as feather other times he would be heavy as universe sometimes he would turn around so fast look like a fire brand has the lord was dancing the chandan he decorate sometimes he would become so hot it would dry up so fast.

He was manifesting symptoms of love that had never been seen in this world as he was bringing Krishna back to virndhaban that was his divine emotion bringing Krishna to virndhaban and lord Jagannath was simply watching him. one time lord Chaitanya wanted to make sure Jagannath is taking note of him so he danced to rear of the chariot, and the chariot would not move Hari Bol would not move every one was pulling pulling pulling and you been to puri there will be ten ropes on each side on each chariot and they are thousands of people on each rope pulling pulling pulling …and it wouldn’t move because Jagannath wanted to prove Chaitanya that he is only thinking of him and when lord Chaitanya came to front again he moved and lord was very happy it is explained everyone who saw lord Chaitanya dance during procession the pilgrims, the residents of puri ,the shop keepers ,the devotes ,the tourist ,the servants of Jagannath every single person had eyes simply gazing lord Chaitanya dancing form everyone attained the perfection of pure love of good just by seeing ecstatic dance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu during the kirtan of holy names such professed mercy he was distributing indiscriminately to every one.

To end of the parade the chariots stops in a particular place where all different Brahmins and other can come and offer Bogha offering to the lord at that time lord Chaitanya went into a garden to rest and devotees instructed Pratapa Rudra maharaj RamaAnandaRoy , Sarvaboma Bhattacharya they explained put on the ropes of common mendicant and massage lord Chaitanya feet and recite Gopi Geeta of tenth canto of Srimad Bagavatham. this is the very very great activetly by the king because lord rejected anything infact one time during Ratha Yathra lord Chaitanya fell down in kings arms and king happens to be there and caught him and the lord jumped out of his arms how abounemable I have been contaminated by the touch of a materialistic person the was mortified Sarvaboma Bhattacharya actually he is very happy just for strictness he is saying these things.

So on this occasion the king very humbly entered into the garden in the rope of simple vaisnavas mendicant and began to message lotus feet of lord Chaitanya how laid down on platform , in seclusion all the other devotees who dancing all day were resting under various trees he began to speak the gopi geeta jaya…janmana vraja the lord was so happy go on reciting go on reciting when he came to that verse thavakatham amrthitam thaptha jivanam where Gopis are describing how the lord glories are so purifying that they can deliver the whole world and those person who broadcast those glories within this world are so intimately dear to you Sri Jagannath Baladev Subadra mai ki jai they are the most munificent welfare servants of all our societies so lord Chaitanya heard this he cried out you are most munificent of munificent and lord at once got up and embraced king Pratapa Rudra he embraced embraced and embraced him embracement bathing the king in tears of ecstasy of his love all the king desires are fulfilled .The lord asked Pratapa Rudra you have come to give me such nectar who are you Harekrishna. Now he can not lie before the lord the king gave the most perfect honest answer to that question he said I am simply the insignificant menial servant of your servant of your servant and my only aspiration of life is to be the servant of the servant of your servant. now herein Srila Prabhupada explains this is actually the ultimate aspiration any one could long for his life to be the servant of the servant of the servant that was the benediction called by the Sridhara das asked for that was the benediction Druva maharaj asked for .

Although we offer anything material spiritual worlds because of the servant of the servant of the servant conciseness and it is the only conciseness that will please Krishna, Krishna does care anything what’s your position he is concerned about content of your heart and in what ever position weather its big big position being a leader weather being a simple helper our consciousness always be menial insignificant servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant he actually had that bava that he will see such mercy the lord revealed his opulence’s to king Pratapa Rudra and disclosed to king he should not speak to anyone what he had said and all devotees were rejoicing in ecstasy that the king recites such good fortune.

Prabhupad explains this what Vaisnavas means when you rejoiced to see some one else getting mercy of lord that is Vaisnavas quality when your envious of such person and thinking why not me that is materialistic consciousness the more we are happy for other people good fortune the more we are happy other people making spiritual progress the more we see other people recognized by lord and world for their devotion the more we please Krishna within our hearts that is spiritual success Krishna is pleased when we see when he see we take pleasure in seeing other getting recognition getting mercy and making great success in their spiritual life the devotees celebrated maharaj Pratapa Rudra had received such mercy hari bol .

It was time to begin Ratha Yatra once again all the thousand and thousand of people were pulling those many ropes but Jagannath would not move this was problem so the king bought wrestlers big strong people they all pulled wouldn’t move then king bought all royal elephant and harness and many elephant many many elephant near Jagannath and elephant trainers sticking elephants pulling and struggling chariots wouldn’t move this was really a concern what to do lord Chaitanya smiled he released all elephants sent all wrestlers away and put the ropes in hands of his devotees and he went to rear of the chariot and with his head pushed and the chariot began to move forward and the devotees they were even pulling the ropes were simply resting in their hands simply by the lords head he was pushing and Jagannath was smiling as they entered into virndhban gardens of Gandicha and there from many days lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu experience ecstatic joy of being reunited with Krishna in Vrindabandam.

So that is the significance of Ratha Yathra as demonstrated by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and how Srila Prabhupada bought such a spiritually deep and wonderful pastime to whole world and invited everyone to participate that is his great mercy and this very holy day of Sri Radha RasBhihari Ratha Yathra for Jagannath Baladev and subadra we should bow our head in gratitude to Sri A.C.Bakthi vedantha Prabhupad and feel the great commitment to assist him in his wonderful mission by making this Ratha Yatra such a wonderful attractive beautiful ceremony people from all directions should naturally become attractive by Krishna.

Yes today hundreds and thousands of people are here to hear the holy names sang by devotees who had dedicating their lives in serving the lord hundreds and thousands of people will see beautiful forms of Balaram subadra and Jagannath performing their Leela of Ratha Yatra tens and thousands of people will receive the MahaPrasad of lord hundreds and thousands of will associates with devotees of lord it is the festival of mercy festival of causeless mercy it is a festival which is expression of Prabhupad love for all living entities that is being enacted today and we all are so fortune that we can place some part and participating and assisting Srila Prabhupada and spreading his compassion and love for Sri Radha RasBhihari it is now 11 o clock we dead line here I will end here I thank you very much for tolerating me and for patiently hearing me now let us honor the lords Prasad go to the site right on time and dance and chant and distribute Krishna Prema .and Krishna nam to all the world

Srila Prabhupad ki jai
Sri Jagannath Baladev subsdramai ki jai
Sri ratha Yatra ki jai
Sri Radha RasBhihari ki jai
Anathakoti vaisnavas brunda ki jai
Sri hari nam sankirtan ki jai
Guara prema hari bol….