20200519 Zoom Session with Nāmahaṭṭa Devotees

The following is a zoom session given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 19th, 2020 in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, India.

Jayapatākā Swami: Now our lockdown is going on, it is 56 days old now. Why is there a lockdown? Because the doctors have not found any correct medication yet. Many people are somehow getting well on their own. But we are trying out some natural ways to cure this. Anyway, the government is asking everyone especially, to wash their hands. This virus can stay alive for three days in any place. That is why they are asking us to wash our hands frequently so that the virus can be destroyed. If we have the virus on our hand and we touch that hand on to our face the virus could enter our body. The symptoms of this disease are not very clear, and many people are asymptomatic but have this disease too. But they could transmit it to others. And that way if we go to the hospital there is more problem. But if someone has very clear symptoms then they have to go to the hospital. Anyway, we are trying to see if we can find any alternative treatment methods.

This lockdown has one advantage. Through the telephone, internet, zoom, etc. we can preach the holy name of the Lord. Facebook and others generally there is gossip but they can be used to preach Harināma as well. We saw that in one place there was a program organized to introduce the Bhagavad-gītā to new people, online. They thought that perhaps 50 or 60 people would join. But then 500 people signed up! Just to hear the Bhagavad-gītā. The doctors, scientists, government all have a limit, what can they do? Now how to chant the name of the Lord and spiritually advance? This disease has come from the animals. We have broken the laws of nature in many ways and this is the consequence of that. Now the bats, snakes are eaten by some people and the disease has spread from them. Because the virus has come from the animals, there are no antibodies in our body to combat them. They are saying that they are trying to make a vaccine, but there is no surety. Anyway, if everyone eats vegetarian food and chant the name of Lord, then whatever laws of nature we have broken, that can be set right. So taking this opportunity, you should preach the names of the Lord. Those who are gṛhasthas can feed two or three people if someone is hungry and cannot get food. So this is a facility for the gṛhasthas. In Māyāpur, ordinarily many devotees come and when they come, they give some donations in the temple, etc. Now no one is coming to the temple. The liquor shops are open, but the temples have been closed! You can buy liquor, but you cannot go and pray to the Lord! Anyway, we are having some economic problems. If any of you want to donate, you could do so. Anyway, this is a very special opportunity to preach the holy names of the Lord.

I was reading that today is Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura’s appearance day. Lord Caitanya said that I have given the mahā-mantra, if you chant this and do kīrtana, everything will be perfect for you. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare, Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare! This is mentioned in the Caitanya-bhāgavata, written by Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura. He said that 5 or 10 people get together, clap your hands and do kīrtana of the holy name. That way Lord Caitanya started the Nāmahaṭṭa. 5 or 10 people would get together in different homes. Anyway, there is no limit to the happiness we get chanting the holy names of the Lord! In the adhivāsa kīrtana we sign a song – ānandera sīmā nāi, ānandera sīmā nāi, nirānanda dūre jāy, nirānanda dūre jāya! The Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra can remove all the defects of Kali-yuga. And through this there is the dawn of kṛṣṇa-prema.

In the Purāṇas it is said that chanting the names of the Lord, many diseases can be eradicated. And chanting the names of Lord Narasiṁhadeva 21 times, we can get out of all the diseases and suffering. “Jaya Narasiṁha Śrī Nrsimha Jaya Jaya Jaya Narasiṁha,” chant this 21 times all the sufferings will be alleviated. But the best is the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra kīrtana. We do kīrtana to please the Lord. But if anyone is a sinner then they can be delivered by chanting the mahā-mantra.

Anyway, you know and are preaching to people.