20200913 Addressing to Nāmahaṭṭa-melā

The following is an address given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on September 13th,2020 in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, India. The Address was given at the Nāmahaṭṭa Melā.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Jayapatākā Swami: Today I am very happy to be present at the Nāmahaṭṭa-melā. Now many people are presenting via Zoom, Facebook, YouTube, etc. We heard that even though there are material inconveniences, spiritual progress cannot be stopped. Our idea is to get devotional service to Kṛṣṇa and be satisfied. This is Lord Caitanya’s special instruction that all the people think of Kṛṣṇa, chant His name and sing His glories. Like, think of Kṛṣṇa 24-hours a day! Lord Caitanya said, yāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa )(Cc. Madhya 7.128). People who are busy in this material world and do not think of Kṛṣṇa, those people somehow chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and get Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. This we desire that everyone be fortunate. And that is why if they chant Kṛṣṇa’s name then their life will be successful. I am very grateful that on Bhādra Pūrṇimā day many books were distributed. About 1,000 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam sets. Those sets were all seated on a golden throne. So that those who gave donation may go back to Godhead.

From 18th of the English calendar month coming up will begin the Puruṣottama month. In that month if all offer a ghee lamp to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, this way they can go back to Godhead! Haribol! In the month of Puruṣottama, karma-kāṇḍī ceremonies are not advisable. Just pure devotional service. This Puruṣottama month if observed, they cannot go back to Svargaloka but go straight away to Vaikuṇṭha, Goloka Vṛndāvana! Haribol! Gaurāṅga! Gaurāṅga! Nityānanda! We desire that devotees should not just distribute the books but all of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, like Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, all the devotees must study. That way their life will be perfected. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the grantha or scriptural avatāra of the Lord. In this scripture, every word is about the Lord. That is why by studying this scripture you get the association of the Lord. But Kṛṣṇa is the Absolute Truth. His name is Truth, His form is Truth, all His līlās, etc. are Absolute Truth. That way if we hear the pastimes of the Lord, do kīrtana of the Lord and chant His name, serve Him, then life will be successful. I am very happy that all of you are chanting Kṛṣṇa’s name. Along with observe the regulative principles. Especially in Puruṣottama month observe the rules and regulations. Those who are nonveg, during the Puruṣottama month can try not to eat nonveg. Those who do less japa they can try to increase their rounds. Those who chant 16 rounds, follow the rules and regulations, then there if they get kṛṣṇa-prasāda, that is good. And there, offer ghee lamp to the picture or Deity of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Anyway, all of you should serve the Lord with determination.

There are so many stars in the sky but there is only one moon. We desire that all of you will become like the moon. And you will serve Lord Kṛṣṇa with determination and follow the rules and regulations. Haribol! Gaurāṅga! Nityānanda!

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam says that we should not keep our goal as sense gratification. When we have this material body, sometimes the senses will give happiness and sometimes give us distress. Our goal is to serve the Lord and that way we will get unlimited happiness. This is Premānanda! Paramānanda! Everyone wants this happiness. We search for that in many places. But that can only be got by devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

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

In these names of Kṛṣṇa, how much bliss is there, cannot be calculated. We desire that everyone chants the name of Kṛṣṇa, does devotional service to Kṛṣṇa and get bliss! I hope that you all have mobile phones and take a small video and send it to the fortunate-people.com. You should mention in that video which country, state, town, village you come from, You should chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and say that this is my offering for World Peace and World happiness. Haribol! This Nāmahaṭṭa was established by Lord Nityānanda about 500 years ago. After that about 200 years ago Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura reestablished it. I saw and heard from Śrīla Prabhupāda that people in Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Bangladesh, Bihar, all should chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and do service to Kṛṣṇa, study books of Kṛṣṇa, then the village people can get attracted to the name of Kṛṣṇa. I took the blessings of the guru-paramparā and again established the Nāmahaṭṭa. There are now many, thousands and thousands of Nāmahaṭṭas. I desire everyone should take this opportunity as Lord Caitanya came to distribute love of Kṛṣṇa to all.

Patita-pāvana hetu tava avatāra, mo sama patita prabhu nā paibe āra. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings. Lord Caitanya came to liberate all of us. Some may think, I am so fallen, what can I do? You are fallen, Lord Caitanya is looking for the fallen. If one is fallen, He is Patita-pāvana! Gaurāṅga! Nitayānanda! I am very happy to see so many devotees. I hope that everyone following this path of devotion will reach the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

London, America, they are observing Ekādaśī today. According to our calendar Ekādaśī in India is tomorrow. It is Indira Ekādaśī. It is said that there was a king in the previous yuga. He used to rule and take care of his subjects very nicely. His country was going on very well. One day Nārada Muni came to visit this king, Indrasena. He offered a very nice seat to Nārada Muni to sit and then offered worship to him. The king told Nārada Muni that it was good fortune that he had the association of such a wonderful saint. He said that I went from Satyaloka, to Brahmaloka and to Yamaloka as well. There I saw your father in Yamaloka. Your father told him to tell my son, Indrasena, that I did not follow on Ekādaśī properly that is why I am in hell. If you observe Indirā Ekādaśī then I will be liberated. Nārada Muni said that is why I have come here to tell you this. Then he left. And how to follow this Indirā Ekādaśī, the king heard from Nārada Muni. Then later all night stayed awake chanting the names of Kṛṣṇa. And ate Ekādaśī prasāda. The day after he broke the fast. That way his father went from Yamaloka to Vaikuṇṭha. From the heavenly planets there was the beating of the drums and showering of flowers. This way this Indirā Ekādaśī is very pious. This is a special Ekādaśī to get back to Godhead. Indrasena at the end of his life went to Godhead. Anyway, I hope tomorrow you will all follow the Indirā Ekādaśī, sincerely.

Every day I give a class on Caitanya-caritāmṛta at 7 pm. And at 8.30 pm I go to different yātrās, different devotees’ homes on zoom. Today I have come to this Nāmahaṭṭa-melā. And I am very happy that all of you are contributing to this Nāmahaṭṭa-melā. I am grateful that His Holiness Gaurāṅga Prema Mahārāja and other devotees have given me this opportunity to contribute to this Nāmahaṭṭa-melā. And I hope that everyone in Nāmahaṭṭa will preach and practice devotional service.

This human life is a very rare one. Because only in this human form of life can we get the Lord.

If you have any questions I will answer?

Question: In Puruṣottama month it is recommended devotees have haviṣyanna. But devotees who do not eat grain, they eat roti, what can they do?

Jayapatākā Swami: In this month of Puruṣottama, there are three types of fasting that can be observed – svaniṣṭha, paraniṣṭha and nirapekṣa. Those who follow their own rules are svaniṣṭha. If they do according to the order of the spiritual master that is paraniṣṭha. And those who are nirapekṣa, they do not think either of these, and they eat kṛṣṇa-prasāda and do japa. Those who eat haviṣyanna, there is grain, barley, wheat, and mung dal. No oil is allowed. Can use ghee. But if they eat kṛṣṇa-prasāda all the month, then that is one type of fasting. Kṛṣṇa-prasāda, name of Kṛṣṇa, and offering lamp to Kṛṣṇa. Now the pūjārī can keep the Deities of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa on a kalaśa. They can keep a plate and cover with yellow cloth and offer worship. 16 upacāras they can do worship. Whatever we can do, we should do. If we make a saṅkalpa, promise and do not observe that is wrong. At least offer a dīpa-dāna to Rādhā Kṛṣṇa. If there is any river like Gaṅgā, you can take bath there. If there are is a sea or pond, then also you can take bath there. If none of these are there, at the time of taking bath three times say “Gaṅgā! Gaṅgā! Gaṅgā!” And take bath. That way you can take Gaṅgā-snāna.

Question: You said there are three ways of fasting in Puruṣottama month – how can we follow our vows?

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda said that we should participate in maṅgala-ārati, and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa japa and have kṛṣṇa-prasāda. And also offer a lamp to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa every day. At the end of the month, make 33 mālpuas and put it in a kalaśa and give it to a gṛhastha-brāhmaṇa. There is a mantra also that can be chanted every day which makes Kṛṣṇa very happy: 

govardhana dharam vande, gopālam gopa-rūpinam
gokulotsava īśānam, govindam gopikā-priyam

Question: Some devotees have fever and are weak. I told them to have haviṣyanna and do Harināma and distribute books if possible. What is your advice?

Jayapatākā Swami: Having haviṣyanna is optional. They can do if they wish. There is not much benefit. If someone does not normally chant 16 rounds, does not follow the rules and regulations, for them to be pure in this month, they should chant rounds, offer lamp to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and eat kṛṣṇa-prasāda is sufficient. When the devotees get well, they should preach the names of Kṛṣṇa. If they have fever, then keep social distancing. Now, if they are weak they should not fast. Haribol!

Question: If we go to preach there are some rules of the Nāmahaṭṭa and some rules of ISKCON where there is a bit of a clash. How do we preach?

Jayapatākā Swami: What rules of ISKCON are clashing?

Devotee: There are Cakravartī, Upacakravartī in Māyāpur Nāmahaṭṭa whereas in Bangladesh they have secretary, upa-secretary.

Jayapatākā Swami: If only the names are different – Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura had Cakra-senāpati, Mahā-cakravartī etc. he had given. But if they have Mahāsaciva, etc. I don’t know what is the difference. But if everyone understands like one country says Lieutenant and other country says Corporal. One place has different designations in the party. If you understand the difference between India and Bangladesh is only in the name but the content is the same, what is the problem? But why Bangladesh gives different designations I don’t understand. In English they say mango but in Bengali it is ām, but the item is the same.

Question: What should we do especially in Puruṣottama month?

Jayapatākā Swami: Get as many new people as possible to be part of the month. Devotees are always there all through the month and year. Offer lamp to Rādhā Kṛṣṇa Deities if you have. And chant the mantra I gave you. And that way at the end of the month donate 33 mālpuas to a brāhmaṇa. But new people following this month is more important. If they eat vegetarian food this month is very good, you devotees anyway have vegetarian food. But if this month they sacrifice for a month and have vegetarian, eat kṛṣṇa-prasāda and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and if at least done one mālā of chanting or two or more. So as many people as you can get to observe the new people in this month is more important. You all can observe it anyway.

Question: What service we do will be pleasing to you and how do we know that?

Jayapatākā Swami: If you obey my orders and fulfill them, I will be very happy. If you have a doubt, you can ask the Nāmahaṭṭa leader. If they are not satisfied, then write to me. Haribol!