19990103 Ratha-yātrā Address

19990103 Ratha-yātrā Address in Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe

namo mahā vadānyāya kṛṣṇa prema pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa caitanya nāmne gaura tviṣe namaḥ

he kṛṣṇa karuṇā-sindho dīna-bandho jagat-pate
gopeśa gopikā-kānta rādhā-kānta namo 'stu te

tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi rādhe vṛndāvaneśvari
vṛṣabhānu-sute devi praṇamāmi hari-priye

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-prabhu-nityānanda
 śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare,
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-gurum dīna-tāranam
paramānanda mādhavam śrī Caitanya īśvaram

Their Holiness Śrīla Bhakti Vrajendranandana Mahārāja and Śrīla Bhakti Vighna Vināśana Narsiṁha Mahārāja, Tan Śrī Devakī Kṛṣṇan, Tirupati Lingam, president of Malaysian Hindu sangaṁ, all of the ISKCON life members, dedicated devotees. Very overjoyed on this occasion of ratha-yātrā to be here. I flew up. I went as Tirupati Lingam has mentioned another ratha-yātrās in Kuala Lumpur. Sometimes I had to run off to catch a flight. Rather I went, after the ratha-yātrā, in plane to Melbourne and then to [unclear] Murwillumbah, our farm in Australia. They had ratha-yātrā on the beach on Byron Bay. And the city council invited their devotees, in the past three years, to have… the ratha-yātrā, they have a procession every 31^st December and the devotees are invited to participate with the ratha-yātrā at the end of the procession.

Translator: Vrajendrananda Mahārāja… (trying to translate)

Jayapatākā Swami: Illai sound. (‘no sound’ in Tamil) (laughter)

December 31^st, this resort town, hundreds of thousands of people gathered. But for many years there were riots and many people were killed. So they asked to have the ratha-yātrā, because they saw that wherever ratha-yātrā was, people became peaceful. Since they had ratha-yātrā now, no more riots and no more deaths.

Everybody: Hari bol! (rejoicing)

Today I came from from Perth by Malaysian Airways, reached here in the ratha-yātrā at 07:00 clock.  When I am here in Malaysia, I will say that the mood is different. Anyway, nobody is very peaceful anyway. And here everyone is very happy. So it’s a very pious, sāttvika environment to see everyone singing and dancing Hare Kṛṣṇa here. I am overjoyed to be here also with all of you. We are very honored here that Tan Śrī Devakī Kṛṣṇan has come. She was named woman of the year in America for her great services to humanity. So very honored that she’s come here to be with us for the ratha-yātra finale.And we are very honored by the presence of Tirupati Lingam, president of the Hindu Sangam. For so many years, we’ve been able to work cooperatively with Hindu Sangam for the benefit of all the Hindus here in Malaysia. There needs to be more of a preaching spirit amongst followers of Sanātana-dharma. That this mood of Caitanya Mahāprabhu to give the mercy out and see that everyone become very strong in their spiritual understanding.

There are many histories about the advent of Lord Jagannātha. How the ratha-yātrā is the commemoration of the journey of Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Subhadrā from Dvārakā to Kurukṣetra. But there are many other reasons why this particular form of Kṛṣṇa with the big eyes, the lotus eyes and the smiling face has come down. In the ancient text in Orissa, is recorded a very interesting history about Jagannātha. That Nārada Muni had gone to the Vaikuṇṭha-loka and was serving Lakṣmī Devī as a menial servant for twelve years in order to get an āśīrvāda from her. After twelve years of serving her, then Lakṣmī became very pleased and asked, “Nārada, what is it that you would like? I’ll give you anything you want as a blessing!” He said, “All I’d like Is one handful of the mahā-prasāda from the plate of Lord Nārāyaṇa.” “No no no! That’s the only one thing I can’t give you. Lord Nārāyaṇa told me not to give anyone the food from his plate. Take something else.” “No no. All I want…”, Nārada said, “I just want that prasāda.” So Nārada was in a big perplexity. I mean Lakṣmī.

And Nārāyaṇa said, “Why you’re in anxiety in Vaikuṇṭha? Vaikuṇṭha, no anxiety.” (laughter) So she explained her dilemma. She had given a promise to give Nārada what he wanted. And he wanted that which she couldn’t give. So then Nārāyaṇa, Lord Nārāyaṇa, He said, “Well, just don’t let me see you take it, okay?” So she took a handful of prasāda when He’s not looking. And then she went, Lakṣmī Devī, and gave to Nārada. (Hari bol!) Here is the prasāda from the plate of Lord Nārāyaṇa. The mahā-prasāda, touched by his own lips. So Nārada, he accepted the mercy. Immediately he flew out in the sky. HARIIIIIIII BOOOOL! (everybody responds back) What did he shout loudly? HARIIIII BOOOOOOOL, HARI BOL! HARI BOL! HARI BOL! (everyone responds) And he began flying throughout the universe, everywhere, feeling so much ecstasy. He was glowing more than billion and millions of sun. Loudly chanting the holy names. HARI BOL! 

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare,
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare
(devotees repeat)

Like this, Nārada Muni came by Kailāsa and Lord Śiva saw, “Who is this flying in the sky over Kailāsa?” Then he says, “It’s Nārada! He called, “Nārada! Come here! Nārada Muni, what happened to you? You are so brilliant, you’re so effulgent. What happened? “Dear Śambhu…”, he explained everything, how he got the mahāprasāda from Lord Nārāyaṇa. “By taking that prasādam im feeling so much happiness.” Lord Śiva said, “My dear Nārada, you are my brother. You are my dear friend. Certainly when you got so much mercy to get the mahāprasāda from Lord Nārāyaṇa’s plate, you’ll also save little bit for me. Surely you didn’t forget your friends.” Nārada, when he got the prasāda, he just ate it. He did not think anything. So he is looking down, hanging his head ashamed. “I didn’t think to give others.” “Look! Here! In my fingernail, there’s a little speck still there.” He didn’t wash his hands so it was true. (laughter)

And Lord Śiva said, “kaṇikā-mātram”, even a little bit is enough, something. Then Lord Śiva took it. HARIIII BOOOL! HARI BOL! HARI BOL! (everybody responds) He began to chant and dance in ecstasy. His drums are called dundubhīs? Any other name is there? Dundubhīs. So he is playing on the drum and he is chanting and dancing in ecstasy after getting this mahā-prasāda.

(kīrtana commences)
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare,
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

When Lord Śiva dances, though in ecstasy; because he also does the mahā-pralaya-nṛtya – when he dances and the whole universe starts to shake. And the whole universe was moving. And in Pātāla-loka there was earthquakes and tidal waves. And mother Pārvatī became very concerned as the universal mother, that some great harm is coming to her children. It was not the time for the Mahāpralaya. The universe was starting to disintegrate because of the intense dancing of Lord Śiva. (it’s a very long story, im trying to shorten it a bit) Mother Pārvatī came and stopped Lord Śiva from his dancing. Lord Śiva was first angry but then he became pacified. Then mother Pārvatī asked, “How is it that you are feeling so much ecstasy? What happened to you?” And he explained how he got the kaṇikā-mahāprasāda from Nārada, who got from Lakṣmī, who got from Nārāyaṇa.

Then mother Pārvatī asked Lord Śiva, “my dear pati, I am your ardhāṅgini. I am your life companion. I am living with you under the tree. Everywhere I’m serving you. I’m always with you. I’m half of your body. So surely when you got the mahāprasāda from Lord Nārāyaṇa, you saved for me also, little bit. And Lord Śiva said “No.” “Why didn’t you say for me?” Pārvatī said, “Why?” Every time I’m serving you and you did not remember me when you get so much mercy? Why didn’t you save for me?” “Well, I thought you were not qualified.” “WHAT!? WHAT?? I’m not qualified. I’m Viṣṇu-śakti. I’m described in the Upaniṣads as Vaiṣṇavī, Nārāyaṇī. Why? You can get nice mahāprasāda and I’m deprived? Why? This is horrible! I never felt so unhappy in my whole life! Now Im going to make mahāprasāda available to the cāṇḍālas, to the dogs, to everyone!” Things are very disturbed in Kailāsa. Lord Śiva could not pacify Pārvati Devī. So Lord Nārāyaṇa himself had to come. Pārvatī explained that, “Being deprived of your mahāprasādam, I’m suffering so much. I don’t want anyone to have that suffering of not being able to get your mahāprasādam.” So then Nārāyaṇa called Pārvati aside. “Alright, I will come in the form of Dāru-brahma. Of the Absolute Truth in wood, and all of the prasāda that is offered to me will first go to you. And I’ll also come as my own devotee in golden color. And I will distribute that prasādam to everyone.” So in this way to satisfy Pārvatī also, Jagannātha, Baladeva, Subhadrā have come.

In Jagannātha Puri, there is a temple of Bimalā Devī, one of the forms of Durgā. And all of the mahāprasāda is first offered to Bimalā and then we humble devotees can get her mahāprasāda. I don’t know exactly the reason why, but for some reason that prasāda is not offered to Śiva there. (laughter) So in Bhubaneśvara, there’s an Ananta-Vāsudeva temple which is not different from Jagannātha. And the prasāda of Ananta-Vāsudeva is offered to Liṅgarāja in Bhubaneśvara. 

Now somehow the Orissan culture has got some linkage with Malaysia, Indonesia. Not too long ago, the king of and the governor or the chief minister from Orissa went with Jagannātha deities to Bali. Because ancient times, the kings from there had come by ship and there was some regular communication with the language. The malay language, I think is also many words similar as in Oriya language. I don’t know. Of course. I didn’t compare. But I hear many words like... (malaysian words) Different words, same Sanskrit words. Now here, Malay language, the word for day is hari, right? (Malaysian words) So here, everyone is saying Hari many times. In the Skanda Purāṇa, Lord Murugan, he says that “By saying that two syllables ha ri, that the Lord steals away all the suffering, all the bad qualities from the chanter’s life and he becomes happy.” Hari! Hari! Hari! So in this way, we see the Malaysian people, what are their secrets for their happiness and why they have so many good qualities. Also the same conclusion… I was… everyone should take prasāda before going. It’s one of the debts, we have to take Jagannātha-prasāda before leaving because otherwise Pārvati will not be happy. I think how Jagannātha is moving on the street, He is giving the mercy to everyone, and before… just by pulling the ratha, by seeing the ratha, they are getting so much of their bad karma removed and so much blessing they are getting.

So there’s a story from the Caitanya-maṅgala, the Caitanya-bhāgavata actually. How there were these two dacoits, robbers, Jagāi and Mādhāi. Antisocial, like head of the mafia, in time of Lord Caitanya and both of them were delivered by Lord Caitanya. And when Jagāi-Mādhāi accepted initiation from Lord Nityānanda and Lord Caitanya, all of their sins were forgiven. So at that time, see Yāmarāja, he has got an accounting division. Keeping track of everyone’s karma. Everything you’ve done. Hes got witnesses. The ten directions, air, sunlight, moonlight, where you’ll hide? So everything they have noted down. But all the accounts for Jagāi-Mādhāi, clean! Crossed out! So Citragupta, who is the main accountant, he is shocked you know. And he went to see Lord Yamarāja. He said, “You see, this Jagāi-Mādhāi, they were just given mercy of Lord Gaurāṅga and all their bad karma was wiped out.” So how much bad karma did they have? If we put it in written form, take warehouses and warehouses to keep all the books. In one second Lord Caitanya (vanish effect) forgave for everything. When Yamarāja heard this, he fell unconscious on the ground. So Yamaloka… everyone standing here, trying to revive him. Lord Yamarāja is unconscious.

Then Lord Śiva, he had seen the whole thing happening in Navadvīpa. He came. He said “What is happening here?” They said, “We told this to Yamarāja how Jagāi-Mādhāi… all their sin was forgiven and he was so much shocked, he  is unconscious. We cant bring anyone, nobody can die. If he is unconscious, we cant do the judging.” “Arey, he is not in shock.”, Lord Śiva said. “He’s in ecstasy! He is overwhelmed with love. He’s feeling so much love for Gaurāṇga’s mercy that he is in ecstasy. That’s why you can’t wake him up. If you want wake him up you have to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa in his ear.

So all the staff there in Yamaloka, they all began chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa for Yamarāja.

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare,
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare
(devotees sing along in kīrtana)

Then Yamarāja, he was revived. Then he saw Lord Śiva. Lord Śiva picked him up and they embraced. Everyone was chanting in great joy that the whole universe was being blessed by Lord Gaurāṇga.

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare,
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare
(devotees sing along)

So I was thinking that because of your organizing this ratha-yātrā, that you’re making the Yamaloka accountants, you know, erase many pages of so many people here. (laughter) So in this way, we hope all of you, this is where because sarva-maṅgalam, giving all auspiciousness to everyone. So thank you very much for doing this wonderful service for the society here and keeping alive this wonderful colorful culture, the spiritual heritage and uniting all of the Hindus and all of the communities together. Nandri! Vāṇakkam! (applause)

Just one last thing that… thank you for your patience. I’m also trying to keep in touch with many devotees I am seeing here, that I’ve been seeing many times in this past, during December festival. Some devotees I’m seeing here after a longer period of time. So you can contact Mahā Varāha, those who want to keep in touch with me. We’re having a program to keep a personal contact with all the devotees.

Thank you. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

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