20201103 Zoom Session with Nāmahaṭṭa Devotees

The following is a zoom Zoom Session with Namahatta Devotees by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on November 3rd, 2020 in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, India.

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: Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, Jharkhand Nāmahaṭṭa. What is the program today?

Today the third day, special program is going on with the Dāmodara month. This month of Dāmodara is also called Ūrja-vrata. Among the 12 months of the years, this year is dearest to Lord Kṛṣṇa.In this month, we offer lamp to Yaśodā Dāmodara. We sing and do kīrtana singing the Dāmodarāṣṭakam. There is also the Bhīṣma Pañcaka which we observe. Also, the disappearance day of Śrīla Prabhupāda also falls in this month. Also, Govardhana pūjā, Gopāṣṭamī and many other special vratas are there this month. This is the last month of the cāturmāsya. It is recommended to do Vṛndāvana parikramā, Purī parikramā and Navadvīpa-maṇḍala-parikramā in this month. Navadvīpa parikramā is done this month as well as before Gaura Pūrṇimā. In the month of Puruṣottama month, we had a virtual parikramā. We are trying to have another virtual parikramā in this month of Dāmodara. And also, a virtual parikramā of Jagannātha Purī. I heard that the temple in Purī is closed. His Holiness Bhakti Puruṣottama Swami is hoping to do the virtual Purī parikramā. Anyway, this month is very purifying. Whatever we do in in the mode of goodness, the result is a thousand times. It is definitely recommended that in this month we eat vegetarian food. And do more japa. Those who are initiated devotees should definitely chant 16 rounds and the uninitiated devotees should chant some rounds at least. But those who are initiated devotees they follow this all year round. But those who have not yet taken initiation, new devotees, for them observing spiritual activities, they get special results. Like we see in the shop there is a sale. That is for attracting new customers. So we have a sale this month. For those who do devotional service twelve months, it is not a difference. But those who have not started devotional service, if they start this month then the results; they obtain in the mode of goodness is increased. That is why there is a special sale. If a car is worth Rs. 10 lakhs, they can get that for the price of Rs. 10 thousand in this sale month. A mobile phone is say Rs. 50,000 price; then they can get it in Rs. 500. If a mobile phone is Rs. 10,000 priced, then they will get it at Rs. 100. So even a little devotional service this month, they will get multiple benefit. The devotees want to do more devotional service. And new devotees should do some devotional service or the other. This month is very conducive for this.

But anyway, we are not this body, we are eternal souls. Our dharma or nature is to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa. Like the nature of sugar is to be sweet. And chili’s nature is to be hot, spicy. If a chili is expected to be sweet, that will not be possible. And similarly, if sugar is spicy, that also is not possible. That is why our nature is to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa. If we serve Lord Kṛṣṇa then our life will be perfected. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam first canto, 15th chapter, Lord Kṛṣṇa left. And Arjuna was thinking that Lord Kṛṣṇa has left, He was so merciful to us. Getting the association of Lord Kṛṣṇa, our life was perfected. He was thinking of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s association and His mercy. And he was crying that now he was devoid of that association of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

When Lord Caitanya was in Navadvīpa, when He went to Kānāi-nāṭaśālā in Malda, He went to Birbhum. In Katwa, He took sannyāsa. He went to Birbhum district, Rāḍhadeśa. Then He went to Śāntipura and Nadia. He went all over Nadia. Ei śikhā diyā, sab nadīyā, phirche nece gaura-nitāi.

About 10-14 days He was in Śāntipur. The people of Navadvīpa went to Śāntipura. It seemed like Navadvīpa had become empty, like a desert. Without the association of Lord Caitanya, it seemed like they had lost their lives. Now when they met with Him in Śāntipura, their lives came back. And He embraced everyone and said that now I will never leave you anymore, you are all very dear to Me. Śacīmātā requested Him to stay in Nīlācala, so that now and then they would get news of Him. And the devotees every year would get His association. Lord Caitanya told everyone, that all of you go home and husband and wife, together chant and do Harināma. Bolo-kṛṣṇa, bhaja-kṛṣṇa, karo-kṛṣṇa-śīkṣā. This is the instruction He gave. By getting the association of Lord Caitanya, the people of Navadvīpa, Nadia, were blessed. He had visited Jhārikaṇḍa in Bihar, He had taken initiation in Gayā. This way, after realizing kṛṣṇa-prema, He came to Kānāi-nāṭaśālā in Jhārikaṇḍa, and had the darśana of Lord Kṛṣṇa. This way, when He returned to Navadvīpa, He was completely transformed. He was the epitome of kṛṣṇa-bhakti. Anyway, I hope that all of you will try to offer lamp to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Eat kṛṣṇa-prasāda, chant the name of Kṛṣṇa.

Hare Kṛṣṇa!