Day 1 – Pilgrimage of the Heart – Tota Gopinath & Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura’s Bhajan Kutir
While spiritualists from around the world gather in India for the auspicious occasion of Kumbh Mela, an especially fortunate group of transcendentalists have made their way to the Holy Dhama of Jagannath Puri. The ISV Yatra, lead by His Grace Vaisesika Dasa, once again brings together Bhakti Yogas for a pilgrimage of the highest perfection.
These two weeks of transcendental exploration begin on the auspicious occasion of Sri Advaita Acarya’s appearance day. Welcoming the esteemed disciples of Srila Prabhupada, Vishnu Gada Dasa, Jagarini Devi Dasai and Akuranath Dasa.
Beginning the morning japa circle, His Grace Vaisesika Dasa states: “During this time we have the opportunity to leave aside all other considerations and give our full attention to the chanting of japa.” Urging the devotees practice well while we can, he gave an analogy learned from Srila Prabhupada of learning to fly an airplane. If you practice japa well, you will be able to take responsibility for your japa and readily have the shelter of Krishna.
Bhaktivinode Thakura advised, the importance of knowing how to beg for mercy. As Queen Kunti says, if you think you already have something, you are not a very good beggar nor will you be in a good position to beg. HG Vaisesika Dasa advised to think of a time when someone begged from you and you gave. One such time, on Kartik Yatra, Chakadola Prabhu, while on parikrama was followed by a little boy all the way from Udhava Kunda to Radha Kunda. And despite Chakadola Prabhu’s certainty that he was not going to give the boy anything, upon arriving at Radha Kunda, which was miles walking, because the boy never stopped asking, Chakadola Prabhu gave him a donation. “It is indicative of our chanting japa,” explains His Grace Vaisesika Dasa, “that if we go on begging and don't give up at the first mile the second mile.”
By praying to use our independence properly and taking good instruction without neglecting it, we gain the great boon of simply being able to say, “Krishna, whatever you say, I will follow.” Srila Prabhupada once said that there is a stick and a stick holder, become the stick and let Krishna be the holder. Chanting in this mood, remembering Gita verse 18.66, can be very nectarian. Japa itself is a kind of self-examination where we have the opportunity to examine our mind and heart.
Reconvening for morning class, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.11 lead us into a deeper understanding of Sri Advaita Acarya. His Grace Vaisesika Dasa explains, “I chose this verse because there is a way in which Avaita Acharya has this name ‘Advaita,’ which means non-different. And in today's verse, we get an idea that, yes, advaya jnan tattva, the Supreme Absolute, is one thing, but there are varieties within the one, and those are Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan.” He is Advaita because He is non-different than Krishna and it is explained in Kaviraja Goswami’s mangalacharana that He expands Himself into multiple forms.
Advaita Archarya is connected to the material nature because He is involved in the creation-lila. However, His nature is to compassionately plea on our behalf to the Supreme Lord to give the souls of the world the opportunity to take to Bhakti. His nature is also to be a great servitor of the Lord. Despite being 52 years older than Sri Mahaprabhu, Advaita Acharya preached mayavadi philosophy for the soul purpose of establishing Himself to be inferior to Lord Caitanya – invoking the Golden Avatar’s chastisement so He, Advaita, could be thrashed by the Lord.
Advaita Acarya is Himself an avatar of the Lord as a devotee. According to Srila Prabhupada, we can take most advantage of this particular form because, as others deride Him, when He comes as His own devotee, we can follow in His footsteps. God comes to set the example of how to properly worship Him. Although the Lord is one and non-different, there are varieties which lead to relationships that unveil the ultimate purpose of everything.
In preparation for the next step of the journey, His Grace Vaisesika Dasa instructed the etiquette of Sankirtan in the Dhama as follows: go with the flow, keep the transcendental vibration going, stay absorbed and distribute books. By staying engaged, we can get the most out of this experience!
In demonstrating the Guaranteed Process™ for distributing books in Orissa:
Step 1: Approach humble and respectfully
Step 2: In a mood of service, kick off your shoes – it is the custom is Orissa to worship God barefoot
Step 3: Don’t say anything
Step 4: Ceremonially hand over a lollypop, then a sticker – touch them first to your head and heart
Step 5: Hand them the translation card to ask for donation
Step 6: Mountain pose!
Step 7: Invite them to chant the Maha Mantra
In regards to donations, everyone carries money here. On the off chance they don’t, the translation cards include a QR code payment option.
Well instructed and equipped with book bags weighted with Srila Prabhupada’s translated works, devotees set out on Sankirtan through the ancient and hallowed streets of Jagannath Puri, shucking shoes to humbly beg to offer some service. Passing under the painted arch leading to Tota Gopinath Temple, pilgrims entered the temple of Gadadhara Pandit’s pastimes with Lord Caitanya.
550 years ago, these temple walls reverberated with the pastimes of Srila Gadadhara Pandit reading Srimad Bhagavatam to Lord Caitanya. Mahaprabhu would shed an incessant flood of tears, making it nearly impossible to do much of anything (including puja) and putting their copy of Bhagavatam in a precarious state. A particularly well appreciated section is that of Prahlad’s prayers.
His Grace Vaisesika Dasa further touches on the affection surrounding these prayers, saying: “Just a brief comment on these prayers and why they were beloved of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Gadādhara Paṇḍita. What to speak of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, who recommended that his disciples read the section of Prahlāda Mahārāja 108 times and Dhruva Mahārāja 108 times. In Prahlāda's prayers, there's the quality of utter dependence on the Lord's representative, as Prahlāda Mahārāja tells Lord Narasiṁhadeva that although you're here before me, my first duty is to serve my spiritual master.”
Prahlada Maharaja, upon being offered a benediction from the Lord, asked for nothing. After some back and forth, bartering with God, Prahlada said, if you give me any benediction at all, I want that there'd be no material desires within the core of my heart.” Such a simple but foundational prayer that if one has that request to the Lord, if one can even utter that request, one is on a foundational level of devotional service.
Another beloved section of Bhagavatam is the story of Druhva Maharaja, who began with ulterior motives, still went on to be determined in his Bhakti despite being tested by his spiritual master, Narada Muni.
The foundational quality of determination exemplified by these two iconic figures in Bhakti shows that there’s a way in which we always win with the basics.
Another tale, an elaborately detailed telling of Krishna’s meeting the Gopis of Vraja and the mood of Ratha Yatra, speaks to the rescue of God from the mechanical organized religion and bringing Him to the village of our hearts. In this telling of Krishna-lila, Krishna sat with the Gopis, and taught by example how to handle hurt people. He had promised to return and did not, therefore He told them, “I'm always in debt to you, he said, but you had it easy. I had it very difficult. You had each other to cry and speak about things. No one was there. I could try to speak to Balarama, but I can't talk to Balarama about you, and I can't speak to the Queens about you. No one was there for me. I was by myself. I was suffering so much. And just as you were suffering and separation from Me, I was suffering from you. I was very eager to return to Braj, but I couldn't do that.”
Jiva Goswami says one of the purposes of suffering is that you can understand the pain in someone else's heart because, unless you suffer yourself, you can’t understand their feelings. For that reason, Krishna has no mercy. Mercy comes from empathy, but Krishna is sat-cit-ananda-vigraha, He doesn’t know what it means to suffer. Therefore that mercy is given through His devotees. The devotees suffer, they can understand the pain of others. Therefore, Krishna acknowledges the Gopis and said, “If you don’t want to be with me, I understand.”
His Grace Madhavananda Dasa said, “Sometimes people don’t need philosophy, but they need some feeling in the heart along with philosophy.” This is the mercy of the devotees.
The yatra party then returned to the hotel for an evening class and long awaited Jagannath Prasadam.
