Day 10, The Bliss of Sankirtan

 Day 10 - Vrindavan Day 3, Raman Reti, Brahmand Ghat

This morning's Japa circle reminded us that the Maha Mantra not only gives us complete access to the Lord and his avatars but that the mantra itself and service to Sri Krishna is the only true path to happiness and satisfaction. Thus it is through attentive chanting that we make advancement.
 
In the morning class, His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu spoke on the pleasure of the Lord. Everything is achievable by pleasing Krishna who is seated in everyone's heart and sincerity allows the Lord to step in completely.

The Lord's appearance is not just for the human form of life, He appears in every species of life to give living entities an opportunity to get out of the material world. Lord Varahadev appeared twice, in a reddish color and in a whitish color, to deliver us. Likewise forms such as Matsya and Kurma appeared as fish and tortoise to do the same.

Krishna comes in Virya rasa to fight not only for his pleasure but to defend his devotees like Bhumidevi. He appears for his own pleasure and it is his joy to protect us, love us and deliver us.

In the material world, if you look at something with the wrong intention, it sticks with you for a while. Unfortunately for Diti, the wife of Kasyapa, this meant falling prey to the mode of passion and causing the advent of two great demons, Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakashipu. Her only solace was taking shelter in Vishnu, and understanding that the birth of great demons would be followed by the birth of a great devotee. Not every mistake is our foolishness. Some mistakes allow us to come to the perfection of His lotus feet.  

Harinaam sankirtan took us to the soft sands of Raman Reti where devotees passed out stickers and books to tourists feeding the deer. The afternoon was filled with rolling in the dust where Krishna and the cowherd boys would play and learning from local Brahmans of how to make Radha Krishna 's footprints. The joy was palpable and otherworldly.

A quick rush to the bus later saw us at Brahmand Ghat where Vaisesika Prabhu spoke on Gopal's pastime of eating dirt and lying to His mother about it. Here on the bank of the Yamuna, Mother Yasoda peered into Krishna's mouth after his friends ratted him out. Here she saw the universe within her son’s mouth.

In chanting the Mangalacharana prayers from Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, both here and in Jagannath Puri, devotees mixed the mood of the two dhamas to make ambrosia.

There is a mood to the location of each pastime. Be it playing in dirt or eating it, by following in the footsteps of great souls like Lord Chaitanya, we can partake in these pastimes of the Lord.

yatha yatha gaura padaravinde vindeta bhaktim krta-punya-rasih

tatha tathotsarpati hrday akasmad radha-padambhoja-sudhambu-rasih

"As one develops devotion to the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu due to heaps of auspicious activities, then according to the degree of that attachment, his heart becomes suddenly inundated with the nectar emanating from the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani" (Prabodhānanda’s Caitanya-candrāmṛta, 88).

There is an original faith, shraddha. "Srad" meaning heart and "dha" meaning where you place something. When you place your heart with the Lord you will feel the effect of His internal energy. A person is made by his faith. Who better to follow than Lord Chaitanya?

After an ecstatic kirtan by the bank of the Yamuna with locals and visitors dancing together for the glories of the Lord, devotees accepted the gift of Yamuna’s waters atop their heads and rushed back to the buses.

In the evening class, Vaisesika Prabhu spoke on the Lord’s ineffability. Ineffable means too great to be described by words. Such is His greatness and His love for us.

It is our greatest pleasure to serve Him in bhakti. It is His greatest pleasure to experience our love.

Fueled by these blissful realizations, the yatra members joyfully sang the Dasavatara strotra together while Radhika Prema Mataji enhanced the experience through enacting the pastimes of the Lord in graceful Bharatanatyam.

The evening came to a close with a fundraiser to support the large scale book distribution efforts of the yatra where the devotees raised $18,000! The generosity of the devotees embodied a particular lesson delivered by His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu: “Life is meant for going out knocking doors being a kind friend, and having a heart to heart exchange with living entities.”

We celebrated some dear devotees who have birthdays in February. They received a special birthday benediction from Vaisesika Prabhu to always chant Hare Krishna and have a successful life in the sankirtan movement.

Day 9, Leaving the Material World

Day 9 – Vrindavan Day 2, Ter Kadamba, Vrinda Kund, Initiations

Devotees gathered early in the morning for Tulasi Puja and Japa Circle led by His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu.

Chanting Hare Krishna is the simple, sublime and practical activity which is all encompassing and goes to the root of our existence. It is the primary means by which we can overcome the anxieties of life which come with identifying with the body and mind as the self.

Those who chant Hare Krishna and push the Sankirtan movement are always victorious.

Vaisesika Prabhu spoke on Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.35, stating that through intelligence, the Lord guides us, just as a father directs a child. One can perceive their spiritual nature simply by observing one's existence as separate from their material senses, and realizing that the power of the senses are given to us by a higher power.

Our spiritual quality is proven in our dissatisfaction with the limited state of materially conditioned existence.

To close the morning program, His Grace asked the devotees to write a prayer to Srila Rupa Goswami.

Taking a bus ride through the rural farmlands of Vrindavan, the group first stopped at Ter Kadamba. With great joy, a local Baba took the group through the pastimes of this sacred space in a ecstatic mix of English and Hindi, even going so far as to place a pot on his head and play the part of a gopi.

His Grace Madhava Damodara Prabhu further explained that at 7 years old Krishna would climb this tree in the morning and call out to the Gopas, "Hey Sridama! Sudama! Madhumangala! Kinkini!" In the midday He would call to the Gopis, "Please get us something nice to eat!" And in the evenings, He would call out to the cows to return home.

Krishna's love for the Kadamba is such that the pastime of stealing the Gopis' clothes and Kaliya lila includes the Kadamba tree.

Five thousand years later, Srila Rupa Goswami, under whose direction the whole of Krishna conscious society moves, would sit under this tree and do his bhajan. It was under this tree that Sri Upadesamrta was revealed.

Even more intimate and incredible, is that when Srila Rupa Goswami had no means of cooking an offering for his Guru and brother's birthday, Srimati Radharani Herself responded to his tears by coming in the form of a little girl and cooking him sweet rice to offer to Srila Sanatana Goswami.

As soon as Sanatana Goswami tasted the kheer, all Astaka Satvika Bhavas appeared in him. "Who made this kheer?" He asked. "A small laali came from Nandagaon, she made this," Srila Rupa Goswami replied. 

Sanatana Goswami knew all the Vrajavasis. There was no such girl. This kheer was made by Srimati Radharani, who came to Her devotee out of love while he sat, broken-hearted, beneath the Kadamba tree.

Our time at Ter Kadamba came to a climax with the lecture of His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu.

Writing is an abstraction of inner desire. Prithu Maharaj says that when a pure devotee speaks, the sound vibration touches lotus feet of Krishna which have saffron particles. We should avoid listening to the sound vibration that comes from someone who is not a Vaisnava and stay within the line of pure devotees.

avaiṣṇava-mukhodgīrṇaṁ pūtaṁ hari-kathāmṛtam
śravaṇaṁ naiva kartavyaṁ sarpocchiṣṭaṁ yathā payaḥ

"One should not hear anything about Kṛṣṇa from a non-Vaiṣṇava. Milk touched by the lips of a serpent has poisonous effects; similarly, talks about Kṛṣṇa given by a non-Vaiṣṇava are also poisonous." (Padma Purāṇa).

For example, Tapan Mishra read too many books and became confused. Fortunately, his confusion lead him to the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya to whom he asked, "What should I do?"

The Lord replied, "You should chant Hare Krishna!" 

As the tongue is the gateway sense, control of the tongue allows us to control the other senses. If someone's tongue is controlled, you can know all other senses are controlled, and vice versa. The tongue, belly, and genitals – if you control them you can become a spiritual master of the whole world.

Swayam Bhagavan Keshav Swami tells the story of two men planting trees. One dug the whole, the other filled it back up. In this way they continued for hours. Finally someone asked them, "why are you working in such a way?" The men replied, "usually there are three of us, but the man who plants the seed didn't show up today." We mustn't miss the point and labor unnecessarily.

To catch the real essence we need Lila. This is why Prabhupada wrote the Krishna book. Unless we can hear about the internal feature of the Lord and know that he is a loving person, we won't be captured.

Once, 20,000 kings were captured by Jarasandha. Bhima and Arjuna, pretending to be brahmanas, went with Krishna to liberate them. Krishna freed them, cleaned them and gave them royal dress. The kings admitted their arrogance, having believed themselves to be untouchable by their position, but by Krishna's mercy their hearts were changed. In this way, Krishna captured their hearts.

There is a price to pay. If someone is willing to pay this price they must to do the impossible – control the senses. When the heart has changed, one no longer has the tendency to use the tongue to drag other people down. Whatever they speak is meant to help others.

tapyante loka-tāpena sādhavaḥ prāyaśo janāḥ
paramārādhanaṁ tad dhi puruṣasyākhilātmanaḥ

"It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone's heart." (SB 8.7.44)

In the Churning of the Milk Ocean, when the Halāhala poison came out, the Devas took shelter of Lord Shiva. With permission from his wife, he drank it and the line along his throat from the poison became his ornament.

Srila Rupa Goswami and his Godbrothers took the time to hear from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and write it down. And Srila Prabhupada bought it all together. He simply asked, "Kindly help me."

What would Rupa Goswami think of the young Taiwanese man at the airport buying a copy of the Upadesamrta? His book written in the umbrage of Ter Kadamba, coming from the heart of a pure devotee, in the bag of a man from Taiwan?

On the way out, devotees stopped and read their prayers to Srila Rupa Goswami, before exiting the shade of Ter Kadamba for the next destination.

 

Stepping into view of Vrinda Kunda, devotees poured into the small but strikingly intricate and ornate temple of Vrindadevi, desperate to take darshan before the curtains pulled shut. Her features, so stunning and delicate, seemed to sing in the quiet of the kund.

Here, Radha and Krishna meet. Vrindadevi, through a system of parrots, communicates throughout Vraja to assure everyone is in their proper service. We worship Vrindadevi in the form of Tulsi, and many devotees sat before the closed curtains to experience the magic of chanting before her, praying "please include us in the mood of Vrindavan."

Across the way, many devotees began setting up for invitations. On this auspicious appearance day of Lord Varaha, together with the locals who have been caring for this sacred site for countless generations, we welcomed new initiates into the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya.

Initiation is a process not an event. When one becomes initiated, they are giving up the material world through the understanding that the material world is not their home. It is a pledge to control your senses to move toward Krsna.

At this time, one begins identifying as a Vasinava. Internally you've accepted and externally you show this is my role in this lifetime to be a servant of Krishna. Thus you accept a new name, Dasa or Dasi.

We go here, there, and everywhere and claim souls for Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to join the Sankirtan movement. We step out of our old role. "Maya can't find me, now I'm with Krishna."

Srila Prabhupada is looking over us and has given us a path to follow. We can cross the ocean of the material world by following the orders of the great souls. Through this process the ocean becomes so small it resembles the water contained in the hoof-print of a calf. 

The modes of material nature may have beaten the pulp out of you, but Krishna is in charge now. Yogis are careful not to get entangled in the material world, they are as sensitive as an eyeball which can feel in excruciating detail a single particle of dust.

One can become a great soul by staying alive someway or another – mentally, physically, spiritually – and not criticizing Vaisnavas. Especially not on the internet.

And do not feel entitled because you are chanting Hare Krishna. When Sacimata criticized Advaita Acarya in her mind, Mahaprabhu said "I cannot give her love of God." So keep yourself in a humble position. Become competent in your service to the highest level, but stay humble.

With the blessings of His Grace Vishnu Gada Prabhu, 6 initiates from around the world gathered before the sacrificial fire. With great joy, in the presence of Vrndadevi and her exalted servants, we watched the initiations of Surabi Kund Dasi, Vijaya Govinda Dasa, Akshobia Tirtha Dasa, Prema Mayi Radha Devi Dasi, Radha Nayaka Dasa, and Bhagavat Prana Dasa.

Congratulations dear Godsiblings!

Day 8, Just Can't Get No Bhava

February 18th – Vrindavan Day 1, Dabara, Sri Tungavidya Sakhi


The only duty of the pilgrim is to please the Supreme Lord Hari. There is no need to worry about pleasing society, depend on social formality, or occupation or dress. Whatever encumbers you in this world, the gunas or your 52 cousins, just surrender to Krishna.

Lord Hari is especially pleased when we develop faith in Him. Faith is trust by experience, and experience requires time.

With these lessons from the morning class fresh in our minds, a hundred and fifty plus devotees boarded 3 buses in the crowded streets of Vrindavan. Over an hour of unpaved roads, gorgeous rice fields, and beautiful ancestral villages brought us to Barsana, the transcendental hometown of Krsna's internal potency, Srimati Radharani. In Dabhala, the village of Sri Tungavidya Sakhi, we sat on the second floor of the town’s largest structure, the local temple and home to the dollhouse the Gopis eternally play in. With the backdrop of a stunning mural depicting Krishna and His beloved Gopis, His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu introduced His Grace Madhava Damodara Prabhu, historian of the Saktis and Their Earthly pastimes.

The dollhouse, built by the father of Sri Tungavidya Sakhi, would see visitors like Srimati Radharani Herself. As the pastimes are eternal, those with sharp spiritual sense can still perceive the young Gopis playing together in that very room.

His Grace Madhava Damodara Prabhu gave us a window into the life and character of Sri Tungavidya Sakhi, one of the closest friends of Srimati Radharani who often facilitated Her meetings with Krishna, even when Krishna would come disguised as Yogini. Damodara Prabhu shared special insight on the attitudes of the Gopis, enlightening us to Their shared hot-tempered attitude, especially in handling Krishna’s playful mischievousness.

Following these enlivening pastimes, His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu set the mood for the week. We are in the eternal-present of Krishna lila while we are here in Vrindavan. All energies – be they spiritual, marginal, or illusory – are meant for the pleasure of the Lord, and it is our purpose as living entities to use everything in service of Krishna. Bhaktivinode Thakur said, “The spiritual realm of Sri Vrindavan Dhama brilliant and pure has been manifested by the Sundini Shakti as the arena for the eternal loving pastimes of Krishna.” This is our arena for the next week, here we will turn to face Krishna with one pointed attention and deepen our individual-reciprocal relationship with Him – whatever that may be. Lord Caitanya came here, in Kali-yuga, to teach us unceremonious, spontaneous love in the mood of the residents of Vraja. Jiva Goswami in his Bhakti-sandarbha tells us we can get there simply by holding special regard for the associates of Lord Krishna.

But if you still can’t develop a taste? That’s alright. Sometimes we just can’t get no bhava.

Taking a final darshan after prasadam, we said our goodbyes to the locals. Many a young boy had found his way to the roof of the temple to observe the devotees taking in the mustard plants and roaming cows that could be seen for miles from this central structure. Back in the buses, we could see the castle of Srimati Radharani on the crest of the hills, watching over our departure.

Day 7 - Travel to Sri Vrindavana Dhama

Devotees spent the day traveling from Puri to Bhubaneswar, taking a flight from Bhubaneswar to Delhi, and blissfully arriving into Sri Vrindavan dham after dusk.

Some took the opportunity to continue the ISKCON tradition of distributing books to airport staff and travelers.

We spent the 4 hour ride to Vrindavan singing bhajans and meditating on Akrura's prayers before entering the dhama.

At Sri Vrindavan dhama, we were greeted by close to 50 devotees who will join us for the Vrindavan phase. Together, we honoured sumptuous prasadam at our hotel, Anand Krishna Van.

Day 6 - Saying Goodbye to the Dhama of Separation

The final day of the Puri yatra started with an intimate Tulasi Puja followed by a fortifying Japa circle led by HG Vaisesika Prabhu.  

The main points from the Japa circle were:

1. Determination in chanting means to finish what you started; namely, completing your daily chanting.
2. For the Hare Krishna mantra to have its complete effect on the devotee, it's essential to stay away from criticism of devotees, and not take undue advantage of the merciful nature of the holy name.
3. Paying attention to the sound vibration of the mantra is the key to all spiritual realization.
4. The best remedy for material consciousness is to sit down tightly, chant loudly for a long time until one is fascinated by the holy name and doesn't want to stop.
5. A practitioner is better off aiming to chant steadily over many decades, than waiting to get a taste for the holy name.

In the Srimad Bhagavatam class, we heard the personal account of Narada, who heard from and served pure sages at a young age, who in turn blessed and inspired him to take up devotional service. 

In the purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.27, Srila Prabhupada highlights the importance of hearing for a long time under the apprenticeship of an experienced devotee.

After a wholesome breakfast, the harinaam sankirtan party took over the beach, distributing spiritual goodies to tourists, shop owners, hawkers, rickshaw drivers, and even went inside obscure barber shacks! Many approached hoping for material profit and left with spiritual wealth. Everyone got to hear the holy names and receive Jagannath stickers, prasadam lollies and Srila Prabhupada's books.

We then went to Srila Haridas Thakur's Samadhi Mandir, where His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu led us in singing bhajare amara, remembering the previous acaryas, followed by a talk about Srila Haridasa Thakura.

Haridasa Thakura was born in a Muslim family, which in those times, was considered untouchable. Because of his steadiness and determination in chanting his daily quota of 300,000 names, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu awarded him the title of Namacarya. He did this to show that anyone, regardless of their birth, can rise to the level of a pure Vaisnava.

By the strength of the holy name Haridasa Thakura was able to resist temptations from the personal manifestation of Maya-devi herself. 

Having thoroughly used his human birth in the service of the holy name, Haridasa Thakura's body had become completely transcendental.  Caitanya Mahaprabhu proved this when he held Haridasa Thakura's body in his arms and danced after the Namacarya had passed away.

At the lotus feet of Haridasa Thakura, we offered our lives to the sankirtan movement. Led by Vishnu Gada Prabhu and Vaisesika Prabhu, we made our way to ISKCON Puri, entering with beautiful bhajans and kirtans echoing off the temple's marble walls.

With hearts full of joy, the devotees burst into a spontaneous "suitcase sankirtan" outside the ISKCON Puri temple on the way out.

The final day in Puri closed with Vaisesika Prabhu's encouragement to share personal reflections from the Puri yatra. Many devotees poured out offerings of gratitude to Vaisesika Prabhu, Nirakula Mataji, Shraddha Mataji, and all the devotees who made the yatra happen. 

Even with the consolation of tomorrow's journey to the holy dhama of Vrindavan, feelings of separation from Puri dhama set in. Gratitude turned bittersweet as our wisely used time only made the pain of leaving burn all the more. 

Day 5 - Drink Deep and Pray Hard

An ecstatic harinaam party and close to a hundred book distributors inundated the "dirtiest place on earth", a bus depot with buses arriving from various parts of India with pilgrims to Puri. 

Leaving everyone with a Jagannath sticker, a lollipop and sets of Hindi and Bangla books, the sankirtan party cut through the filth of the material world, by following His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu's infallible four step method of book distribution. 

Vaisesika Prabhu compared the material world to a filthy bus station. If it wasn't for Lord Chaitanya's sankirtan party, the conditioned souls would be stuck there forever. 

The party proceeded to Danda bhanga, the spot of the enigmatic pastimes of the breaking of Lord Chaitanya's sanyasa danda. This place represents the dichotomy of Mahaprabhu taking sanyasa, and his devotees wanting to offer him loving service. 

On the serene banks of the Danda-banga river, Vaisesika Prabhu spoke on the truth and significance of Advaita Acarya on His divine appearance day. 

In the Mangalacarana to Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami explains that Advaita Acarya is the incarnation of Maha-vishnu and is non-different from Him. He is also called Acarya because he teaches Krishna consciousness by holding open classes on Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. Being an expansion of the Supreme Lord, Advaita Acarya is in the mood of the servitor. The only expansions of the Lord who are not in the mood of a servant are the conditioned souls!

With deep compassion for the suffering conditioned souls of Kali-yuga, Advaita Acarya prayed hard for their deliverance. Hearing His loud cries, Lord Chaitanya appeared on earth for their deliverance. He was also instrumental in confidentially triggering the Antya-lila pastimes of Mahaprabhu. 

Vaisesika Prabhu urged the devotees to take to heart the mood and practice of Advaita Acarya: 

1. Hold classes on Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam at home
2. Distribute prasadam
3. Chant the holy names in kirtan
4. Pray hard
5. Be in the mood of the servant of Krishna. 

In the evening, Vaisesika Prabhu gave a masterclass on theology and philosophy and expertly tied in the truth of Advaita Acarya and the practice of sankirtan with it. 

He presented four assumptions that anyone, even atheists, can accept:

• There is reason
• The world is real
• There are regularities in nature
• There is proportionate causality

Starting with the basic concept of causality, one can cultivate gratitude for our divine source, leading one to the concept of personhood, and ultimately to loving devotion to that person. 

The Panca tattva represent the Supreme Personhood of God, and offer a tradition and the simple practice of devotional service that every conditioned soul deserves to have access to. 

Our work as sankirtan devotees is now to drink deep the nectar of devotional service, and systematically inundate every town and village with it, making this our life's mission.

Day 4, Everyone Deserves Mercy

February 15th — Harinama in front of Lord Jagannath’s Temple, Siddha Bakul

In the care of Her Grace Nirakula Mataji, the ISV Yatra began the day discussing chanting as a means of melting the heart. Chanting is the process of pulling ourselves back to Godhead one bead at a time. In the embrace of Sanga our chanting can be further empowered – clear and steady chanting and the attentive posture of those around us improves our practice and improves the experience.

Led by His Grace Visnu Gada Dasa, the morning class delved into the blissful pastimes of Sri Advaita Acarya in preparation for His appearance day tomorrow. Sri Advaita, the incarnation of Maha Visnu, came to offer the path of Bhakti and teach servitude despite His transcendental position. He embodies the special function of a teacher, to bring people to Krsna consciousness, and their real qualification of presenting themselves as a servant of God.

In the heat of Puri, the sankirtan party circumambulated Lord Jagannatha’s temple, carried by the rhythm of the Holy Name. Ecstatic kirtans led by Hadai Prana Prabhu, Vishnu Gada Prabhu, and Prema Rupa Prabhu invigorating the book distributors, sweeping temple-goers into the mood of devotion. Eager and receptive, locals often approached of their own accord, asking for books. Cries of “Oriya? Oriya?” flew between devotees searching for any remaining copies for Orissa residents, with Rati Manjari Mataji’s Kirtan bringing us home.

Her Grace Nirkula Mataji led katha in the vibrant halls of Haridasa Thankur’s Samadhi. In the shadow of the Siddha Bakul, the only living associate of Lord Caitanya, we discussed the pastimes of the Nama-acarya. The sweet kirtan of Atulya Bhakti Mataji was enjoyed by all, including the young cow singing along in the courtyard. 

Akrura’s prayers brought the night to a close, reminding us to meditate on and engage the mind fully in remembering Krsna. Putting aside all fear and lamentation, we should allow ourselves to be swept up in Krsna consciousness. The mind may try to interfere with our service, but, like Akrura, we can focus on the positive aspects of our circumstances and let such meditations take us all the way to Vrndavan.

We are born in a time where everyone deserves mercy on the qualification that no one does. Regardless of circumstance, the great souls deny their senses the opportunity to derail their service. Whether they are sent to deliver their beloved to Kamsa's jealous intentions or are facing the temptations of Māyādevi herself, these exceptional personalities follow the two cardinal rules: never forget Krsna, always remember Krsna. 

Day 3, Determination for Krsna Consciousness

February 14th — Gambira, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya’s house

By special arrangement of Lord Jagannath, the morning Japa began under the guidance of Her Grace Nirakula Mataji. The morning began with a rare form of sweetness as she led us through the topics His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu had desired to share: our individual responsibility for advancing in spiritual life and how our enthusiasm and determination influence this endeavor. 

Today, the ISV Yatra personally experienced Lord Caitanya’s līlas. Parikrama began at Gambira, the colorful home of Kashi Mishra where Mahaprabhu spent the final years of His earthly pastimes. Gravity of physical evidence of the Lord’s presence in His water pot and wooden shoes pulled the devotees further into the pastimes of His relishing the mood of Srimati Radharani. The nectarean verses of Siksastakam echoed through the temple halls in a lecture by His Grace Visnu Gada Prabhu, reminding us of the path to such spiritual ecstasy. 

The Sankirtan party then set off for Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya’s house, cutting through the yajnas performed at Swetaganga Tirtha.

At Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya’s home, the Yatra group gathered around the day’s esteemed lecturer, His Grace Vishnu Gada Prabhu, and heard the pastime of Bhattacarya’s imparting the Vedanta Sutra to his young Sanyasi pupil, Lord Caitanya. Where Bhattacarya’s commentary covered the true meaning of the Vedanta Sutra as the sun is covered by clouds, Lord Caitanya’s 64 individual commentaries illuminated the true purports of the Vedas with such clarity as to reveal His true identity as the Supreme Personality of Godhead to His siksa-guru. In the very room we sang our Kirtan, Lord Caitanya exhibited His six-armed Sad-bhuja form to a most fortunate Bhattacarya. 

The purpose of this Yatra is to give a boost to our Krsna consciousness. Her Grace Nirakula Mataji reminded us, that we have all made a great endeavor to be here. We can fully take advantage of the Dhama by the grace of Krsna who is pleased with our enthusiasm. 

Also pleased by our enthusiasm are the residents of Jagannath Puri. Dancing through temple halls and distributing books down the narrow streets, countless jivas were happy to receive the mercy of Srila Prabhupada’s movement. 

The effects of Krsna consciousness take time but are always worth it. This is an extraordinary opportunity to have an idea of where we are going in life and by following the footsteps of previous Acaryas we can be assured of our destination – going home, back to Godhead. In rooms lovingly preserved for over 500 years, Krsna has given us the perfect opportunity to connect to Him, let it be our determination to accept this empowered mercy of the Parampara.

Day 2, The Qualities of a Pure Devotee

February 13th — Tota Gopinath, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarawati Thakura’s Bhajan Kutir

The ISV Yatra entered the Tota Gopinath temple from the Puri streets as a roaring Sankirtan party.

This temple was home to Gadadhara Pundita’s eternal pastimes with Lord Caitanya. Mahaprabhu discovered the principal Deity of this temple and eventually asked His dear associate to take Ksetra Sanyasa to stay and care for Them. While Gadadhara was initially displeased with the order that would separate Him from His beloved Lord Caitanya, He inevitably took up these orders until the day His earthly pastimes would end and Gadadhara Pundita would enter the Deity without leaving a trace.

The Gaudiya Matha temple just down the street became the lecture hall. The walls rang with the glories of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura and his father, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and his disciple, our esteemed Founder Acarya Srila Prabhupada. The main message: to use everything in the service of the Lord. There is nothing too small in the service of Srila Prabhupada, any action on this path puts one in the same line as Sri Caitanya.

Lesson after lesson, the topics of the day crescendoed into understanding the qualities of the pure devotee.

It is said a single pur devotee can deliver the whole world on the strength of their devotional service. Utter humility, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura says, is a foundational principle to devotional service. This can be developed by “regularly and always” hearing Bhagavatam.

We seek connection like a phone seeks a signal. Thus the jiva attaches himself either to material or transcendental sense objects, falling either under material control or into the shade of Krsna’s lotus feet. Good Japa is akin to going into the phone’s settings and choosing to forget harmful networks and connecting our focus only to Krsna.

This is, however, Kali Yuga, and we will all come into circumstances of being offended or being the offender.

Great devotees like Kings Citraketu and Pariksit accepted the results of their offenses, using them to the benefit of their spiritual growth. This humility leads to their inevitable purification and eventual return back home, back to Godhead.

Despite their blunders leading them to face their respective curses, they relied on Krsna always. They chose to process their emotions in relation to the Lord. Emotions are inversely proportional to reason, yet, in the transcendental position, these devotees were able to recognize Krsna’s hand and chose to accept their circumstances.

Even Srila Prabhupada’s material life was dismantled by Krsna. How Srila Prabhupada chose to move forward was guided by the power of Krsna’s voice through the shastras. All three of these devotees were on a path back to Godhead.

This beautiful Dhama connects us to the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu whose guiding hand can give us the strength to accept our circumstances for our betterment. When we surrender to Krsna, we become able to see everything is His doing and that there is only benefit to accepting even the curses of life as a Divine gift.

Day 1, Welcome and Introduction

Day 1, Yoga of the Heart

February 12th — arrival at Jagannātha Puri

Devotees from across the globe came together today to inaugurate the 2024 ISV Yatra. The evening began with Kirtan in a beautifully decorated hall followed by a lecture on the purpose of this Yatra: molding the heart to the spiritual world.

We cannot take entering the Dhama lightly, it must be done with the right attitude. The art of entering the Dhama is such that when we take Darshan, keep in mind it is not us coming to see Krsna. Actually, it is an opportunity for the Lord to see us. 

For example, in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Mahaprabhu would stand at the Garuda Stambha and say, “Krishna will look out and recognize his devotee Garuda and the Lord will see me when he sees His servant Garuda.”

This type of thinking, constant mediation on how the Lord might see us, is a wonderful example of the service of looking for ways to improve service. In Srila Bhakti Siddanhanta Saraswati Thakura’s commentary on the cleansing of the Gundica Temple, it is said that hearing, chanting and devotee association allows Krsna from within the heart to remove anarthas.

We may not know what is in our hearts – it must be shown to us.

In chapter 8 of the Gītā, Krsna says it is the quality of our hearts that leads us through this world. There is no need to be guarded here, Dhama. Lord Caitanya can open our hearts and bring true happiness. Puri is the place where we can witness every day devotees participating in the 6 loving exchanges, constantly engaged in hearing and chanting. Lord Caitanya’s associates would wait 3 months to come here to associate with Him.

More than temple-hopping, the holy places are for hearing from the Mahatmas. The material world has nothing to do with us, we are simply here. So, what then is the purpose of coming to a holy place, if not to associate with great souls?

Yudisthira says in Srimad-Bhagavatam, "Those who carry Krsna in their hearts are as good as a holy place.” But what to say of a Vaishnava who, by definition, carries love for Krsna in their hearts. By making ourselves available, open-hearted, to the Dhama, we enter with anticipation of seeing Krsna and receiving Him – like Akrura. And when we invest our hearts fully in this experience, we are able to attract others to the Holy Dhama as well.

By remembering Mahaprabhu, that which is difficult becomes easy. By forgetting Him, that which is easy becomes difficult. We are here to meditate on Lord Caitanya and through His mercy all obstacles are removed and all desires fulfilled.

This is a service yatra - not a room service yatra. Tomorrow we will visit Tota Gopinatha, the Bhajan Kutir of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and go out on Sankirtan. The Bhajan Kutir of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta is atop a sand dune Caitanya thought of as Govardhana and ran toward full of love.

On Sankirtan in Puri, everyone is very spiritual already. When you meet someone, try this:

1. Kick off your shoes. This means something spiritual is about to happen, they know this and they’ll kick their shoes off too.

2. Approach and hand them a Jagannatha sticker.

3. Then hand them a prasadam lollipop - everyone loves candy on a stick!

4. Now give them a book.

5. Finally, show them the language card, stand in mountain pose, and don’t say anything. They know that you know that they know.

The evening concluded with Jagannatha Mahaprasadam, carried to us in clay pots and sweetened to perfection.

Video links

• Weclome and Orientation