19860704 Initiation Ceremony

The following is a class given by H.H.Jayapatākā Swāmī Mahārāja on 4th July 1985 during inititatioin ceremony.

[19860704 INITIATION CEREMONY IN (BAHRAIN): ]

We cross over this material ocean of nescience even if there are a few tests. Kṛṣṇa helps those who are helping, trying to help themselves or trying to advance in this service. So I don’t take any more time. We are very endeared to see that people by chanting, those who have taken Sevak before they got, most of them received such inspiration that they are now coming up to take Sādhak or even in some cases Harinām which shows that they are steadily advancing. Spiritual life is not theoretical. Real spiritual life means that you get a real taste for it, you get a real reciprocation from Kṛṣṇa. So no one can get that taste unless they initially begin to chant. Unless they take this step and follow the instructions of guru. So those who are starting of as Sevaks, taking this beginning step or even those who are previous to Sevak who are starting to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa on a regular basis as a trial we extend our hand to them that they can advance very quickly and develop their taste for Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Our only objective is to see that people get back to home, back to Godhead. As many as we can save in the short time of our life span, that is our objective because once you go there  “nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gataḥ”– you don’t have to come back again down into this material suffering again. So that end of suffering we like to do for as many people as possible. And what can be easier if one doesn’t have to go through extreme suffering to do it. One doesn’t have to go through extreme austerity to do it. One can simply lead a regulated life, chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, dance in ecstasy, feast on Kṛṣṇa prasāda, go back home back to Godhead. It is not very difficult because naturally our attraction and love for Kṛṣṇa will draw us back to that spiritual world. So thank you very much for waiting.

Are there any questions? Last chance! Anyone has any question?

So we have these  the Sevaks are the first, then Sādhaks, then Harinām. So the principles of the Sevaks are accepted by the others. The principles of Sādhaks are accepted by Harinām. Also the principles of Harinām of course, they are even more advanced. So when I asked the question, who are the Sevak and sevikā candidates, raise your hands. Nice, so I am going to ask the four basic principles and the other, when I ask the principle, if you agree then you will be saying Hare Kṛṣṇa. The other Sādhak candidates can also confirm by saying Hare Kṛṣṇa. Then I will call up for getting the blessing, then we will go to the next, Sādhak. We can have a cameraman take pictures when they come up, each one individually, they may want to keep it.

So those who believe that the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Absolute Truth is Lord śrī Kṛṣṇa and who believe that Kṛṣṇa has appeared in the age of kali as śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the most merciful avatār, say Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Devotees:Hare Kṛṣṇa!

If you believe that pure devotional service unto the lotus feet of Lord śrī Kṛṣṇa is the perfection of life and your goal in life is to ultimately achieve pure devotional service unto Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, then say Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Devotees:Hare Kṛṣṇa!

In order to quickly achieve this pure devotional service unto Lord śrī Kṛṣṇa, if you want spiritual guidance from me and accept me as your instructing spiritual master, śīkṣā guru, then say Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Devotees:Hare Kṛṣṇa!

If as a Kṛṣṇa Sevak you intend to gradually increase your devotional service with practice to eventually become pure in your personal habits so that you can achieve eternal shelter of Kṛṣṇa in this lifetime. For the Kṛṣṇa Sevak candidates if in the future you want to receive Harinām initiation from me, for that you want my blessings to advance quickly in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then say Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Devotees:Hare Kṛṣṇa!

 

Alright, if I call a husband, it does not mark here who the husband is so, the wife should also come at the same time. Is Jaya Gopāl his wife is Sangeeta? Kṛṣṇa Sevak, Jaya Gopāl.

There are four other principles for Sādhaks which we will read out quickly. If you agree with these principles, then you fold your hands and say Hare Kṛṣṇa!

If you follow the principle of regularly chanting a daily minimum of rounds, that should be minimum 18 up to 16 depending upon each individual, what they have mentioned here to me and to regularly chant Hare Kṛṣṇa saṅkīrtana, congregational chanting as taught by śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, then say Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Devotees:Hare Kṛṣṇa!

The principle of studying Lord Kṛṣṇa’s teachings – if you intend to regularly study and attend classes on śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, śrīmad Bhāgavatam and other books by śrīla Bhaktivedanta Swāmī Prabhupāda under the guidance of myself and my representatives, then say Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Devotees:Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Then there is the principle of worshipping Lord śrī Kṛṣṇa. If you are dedicated to practice worshipping Lord śrī  Kṛṣṇa in the Kṛṣṇa conscious temples and in your home if you are living outside the āśram, as far as practical including offering foodstuff and artik to Lord Kṛṣṇa, worshipping the sacred tulasī plant, worshipping the spiritual master as non-different representative of Lord Kṛṣṇa, as well as following basic devotional practices or sādhanas, whether living in the temple or at home, then say Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Devotees:Hare Kṛṣṇa!                                                                                                                  

And if you are determined to – this is the principle of determination and desire for advancement. Actually this is very important because if we simply desire to advance and we are determined to step by step try for it, Kṛṣṇa, He always helps His devotees. He takes one step, rather, He takes ten steps towards you for every one step you take towards Him. This is the principle if you are determined to attempt controlling your mind and senses by engaging them productively in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service under my guidance through the regulative practice of bhakti yoga and if you want to quickly become qualified to accept the eternal shelter of Harinām and become fixed in pure joy of spiritual practices, for this purpose if you want spiritual blessings from me then say Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Devotees:Hare Kṛṣṇa

OK, so here we have Mr. and Mrs. Sivaneshan, Kṛṣṇa Sādhak Sivaneshan, Hari bol!

Now Harinām initiations. The process is that they come up one by one, both husband and wife, and then they offer their obeisances here. Then when I ask them they state the four principles and chanting. Then I give them their spiritual name and their beads. So we have here Dr. Sitārām and Sheela. One problem is that these beads are to have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, after the eighth bead, they are to have a string attached like this, but this is not attached, so this can be added later. But kindly don’t forget to add.

What are the four regulative principles? (devotees answer)

How many times Hare Kṛṣṇa per day? (devotees answer) Minimum sixteen.

And dedicated to following the disciplic succession coming down through Caitanya Mahāprabhu and śrīla Prabhupāda in his teachings. So your name already had Sitārāman. I didn’t want to change it too much because it was already a holy name. So slight change is there. Now instead of the servant of Sitā and Rāma you are the servant of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, your name is śrī Rādhā Rāman.

Devotees:Hari bol!

Sitārāman to Rādhārāman! Śrī Rādhārāman.

The servant of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī who possesses all perfections, your name is Sīteswari devī dāsī.

Devotees: Hari bol!

Mrs and Mr Venkatarāman. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

The four principles? (devotees answer)

How many times, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa every day? (devotees answer)

And dedicated to following the disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahāprabhu and śrīla Prabhupāda? (Devotees answer)

So your name means that you are the servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa who is knower of the Vedās. By Kṛṣṇa’s mercy one can know all the Vedās because He is the knower of the Vedās. Your name is Vedavit dās Adhikary.

Devotees:Hari bol!

Your name means you are the servant of the Supreme form of pure love for Kṛṣṇa, which is only manifested by śrīmati Rādhārāṇī and Lord Caitanya, your name is Mahābhāva  devī dāsī.

Devotees:Hari bol!

 

We have Mahendra. What are the four principles? (Devotee answers)

How many times chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa every day?

And dedicated to following the  principles disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahāprabhu and śrīla Prabhupāda? (Devotee answers)

So your name means you are the servant of – it is self-explanatory, everyone knows what it means. Your name is, right now you are unmarried so that means you are still a brahmacārī. Your name is Mahāviṣṇu dās brahmacārī.

Devotees:Hari bol!

 

Next we have Vinod. Four principles? (Devotee answers)

And how many times Hare Kṛṣṇa chanting every day?

And dedicated to following the disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahāprabhu and śrīla Prabhupāda? (Devotee answers)

Your name is Vijay Mädhav  dās Adhikary. Mädhav is a form of Kṛṣṇa that takes away impediments from the heart of the devotees.

Devotees:Hari bol!

 

Also, we have here Govindan. How many times chanting every day?

You are dedicated to the disciplic succession from Prabhupāda and Lord Caitanya? Your name is Gour Govinda dās brahmacārī.

Devotees:Hari bol!

Four principles? How many times chanting every day? And dedicated to following the disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Prabhupāda? So name is already there Gopi, just a slight change, Gopināth dās Adhikary. Gopi to Gopināth.

Devotees:Hari bol!

Rāmanujan. What are the four principles? (devotee answers)

How many times Hare Kṛṣṇa chanting every day? (devotee answers)

Are you dedicated to following the guru paramparā śrīla Prabhupāda?

Your name is, you are a servant of Lord Nityānanda, who is an incarnation of Balarāma. Your name is RamNitāi dās Adhikary.

Devotees:Hari bol!

Sudhakaran – what are the four principles? (Devotee answers)

How many times Hare Kṛṣṇa per day? (Devotee answers)

Committed to following the guru paramparā, Prabhupāda? (Devotee answers)

Your name is – you are the servant of the spiritual master who is a devotee of Kṛṣṇa – your name is Sadguru dās Adhikary.

Devotees:Hari bol!

 

BālaKṛṣṇan – what are the four principles? (Devotee answers)

How many times Hare Kṛṣṇa every day? (Devotee answers)

Minimum every day. And are you committed to following śrīla Prabhupāda’s disciplic succession from Caitanya Mahāprabhu? (Devotee answers)

So your name – you are the servant of Lord Caitanya as a boy – your name is BālaGaurāṅga dās Adhikary.

Devotees:Hari bol!

BālaGaurāṅgan

 

Now we need is some initiated devotees or Sādhaks to take position in the four corners of the fire. One here, one here, one there, one there and to be reading from  some scripture, gītā or Bhāgavatam during the ceremony.someone who is not….

 

om ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave-namaḥ

Svāhā! Svāhā! Svāhā!

 Vande 'haṁ śrī-guroḥ śrī-yuta-pada-kamalam

 śrī-gurūn śrī-vaiṣṇavāṁś ca.

śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṇa -raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvam

sādvaitaṁ sāvadhūtaṁ parijana-sahitaṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devaṁ

śrī śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādān saha-gaṇa-lalitā-śrī-viśākhānvitāṁś ca

Svāhā! Svāhā! Svāhā!

nama om viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāyabhūtale śrīmate bhakti Jayapatākā -svāmin iti nāmine.

Svāhā! Svāhā! Svāhā!

nama om viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāyabhūtale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine.

namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇenirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe

Svāhā! Svāhā! Svāhā!

nama om viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāyabhūtale

Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī svāmin iti nāmine.

 

Svāhā! Svāhā! Svāhā!

śrī-vārṣabhānavī-devī-dayitāya kṛpābdhayekṛṣṇa-sambandha-vijñāna-dāyine prabhave namaḥ

Svāhā! Svāhā! Svāhā!

nama oṁ  gaura-kiśorāya sākṣād-vairāgya-mūrtayevipralambha-rasāmbhodhe pādāmbujāya te namaḥ

Svāhā! Svāhā! Svāhā!

namo bhaktivinodāya sac-cid-ānanda-nāminegaura-śakti-svarūpāya rūpānuga-varāya te

Svāhā! Svāhā! Svāhā!

(Audience repeat all the prayers after Guru Mahārāja)

Transcribed by: Jayaraseshwari devi dāsi 27 June 2016

Proofread by:Srivani Mtji

16/Oct/2020