20200125 Initiation Address

Mukham karoti vacalam pangum langayate girim

Yat kripa tam aham vande sri gurum dina tarinam

Paramananda Madhavam Sri Caitanya Isvaram

Along with all the congregated sannyasis, brahmacaris, devotees we have got together here for a special event. If you don’t understand my speech, please raise your hands. I will get someone to repeat. I will speak, if you at some time you cannot understand me, raise your hand and someone else will repeat it. We are part of the Brahma, Madhva, Gaudiya sampradaya. This is in line with our Founder Acarya Abhaycaran Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s instructions. He had instructed that we should preach in Bangladesh. This meaning of this program that whoever takes initiation, they would have taken the vows – following the four regulative principles of chanting 16 rounds a day, who have taken the vows? Raise your hands! This promise is extremely important and Caitanyadev will give His special mercy, if you follow the regulative principles properly. Taking initiation and not following the principles makes no sense. But I will be the sufferer and have to take responsibility for their offences and sins. If you follow the principles properly, then that means you will be able to go back to Godhead. After six months of chanting 16 rounds, and following the regulative principles, one gets guru asraya. And after that in the next six months, there is a checklist which is there to be followed. Then one takes initiation. Here there are some people, who chant for a week, a month, six months. Six months and six months makes one year. But this is not one year, much less. Those who are present here, I hope that all of you are chanting for one year. Our aim is to see that you are all following the principles and chanting properly, and then give initiation. Our gurudev, Bhaktivedanta Swami, gave us many instructions and many services, preached, to follow to do devotional service to the Lord. For doing this service, all of you have taken vows, and that you will assist me, in fulfilling these services, right? We want that after initiation, those who are educated, read more of Srila Prabhupada’s writings –  Gita, Bhagavat – and spread the message of Caitanyadev all over, to your children and family, friends, your coworkers, students, to all, preach the teachings of Lord Krsna, Lord Gaura. To preach and spread the teachings of the Lord, is the very best service one can do. In the Gita, in the 18th chapter says that no one in this world is more dear to Him than one who preaches the glories of the Gita. The Bhagavad-gita is there to help everyone go back to the spiritual world. Haribol! Gauuuuranga! 

One day Caitanyadev suddenly He started calling out again and again, Pundarik! Pundarik! The devotees thought that the name of the Lord is Pundarikaksha and that is what He was chanting. But Caitanyadev is Krsna. And before Caitanya lila was Krsna lila. In Krsna lila, the Dearmost was Radha. And Radha’s father was Vrsabhanu. Vrsabhanu appeared in Caitanya lila as Pundarik Vidyanidhi. And to call Pundarik Vidyanidhi to join in Navadvip dham, Caitanyadev called out, father, father, Pundarik! Pundarik! That way he was His father-in-law. Gadadhara Prabhu took Mukunda Dutta to meet Pundarik Vidyanidhi, Premanidhi. But Pundarik Premanidhi, was a very wealthy zamindar. He lively in a beautiful place and dressed in very nice clothes. His attendants were applying oil on his head. Some were fanning him. Gadadhara Prabhu saw this and wondered, is this a vaisnava? He is in so much opulence! Is he a vaisnava? This way he was doubting him. This, Mukunda Dutta understood that Gadadhara Prabhu could not recognize Pundarik Vidyanidhi. That is why he started singing kirtan, lila kirtan, how Krsna liberated so many people. When the kirtan was going on, Pundarik was ecstatic and tore his clothes and his hair became disheveled. This way Pundarik became ecstatic in love for Godhead. Gadadhara then understood that He had not seen a wonderful devotee as this except for Caitanyadev. He then said, that I have committed an offence, by doubting him. But Pundarik Premanidhi is surely the Lord’s greatest devotee. So for absolving Myself of the offence I have committed, I will accept Pundarik Vidyanidhi as My guru! Then He went to Caitanyadev and told Him, I want to take Pundarik Premanidhi as My guru, can I do that? Caitanyadev said, yes, that is very good! Pundarik Vidyanidhi appeared in Chittagong, in Chakrasala, and he was Vrsabhanu in Krsna lila. This way, there are so many devotees of Caitanyadev who appeared! Saci mata, Jagannath Misra, and many devotees! That is why you all who have taken birth in Bangladesh, you are all so fortunate. This Bangladesh is Caitanyadev’s lila bhumi, pastimes place. So many devotees of Caitanyadev have come to East Bengal, Bangladesh! Haribol! Narottamadas came to North Bengal. He came from across the north, from the Padma river, near Rajshahi, North Bengal. This way, I will not speak much but I wish that you after taking initiation, you will read, and you will preach, and try to make your home, your village, sacred and filled with devotion. Please try to do this! Hare Krsna! So for that sake you can do Bhagavat sangha, associating with devotees, because you need to study the teachings of the Bhagavat.