20220707 Initiation Address

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
hariḥ oṁ tat sat

Jayapatākā Swami: Many devotees have congregated for the initiation ceremony. For the first initiation, neck beads, new japa beads, wearing tilaka, fire sacrifice and other rules. All the initiates have taken their vows? There are four regulative principles which are to be avoided. 16 rounds chanting. Ladies who are expecting a child, they get 15 days’ off! That means every day instead of 16 rounds if they do 8 rounds a day for a month, that will be okay, but after that again 16 rounds a day chanting.

Now husbands and wives in the family, they should assist one another so that they always remember Kṛṣṇa and do devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes the spouse, husband or wife, may not be so enthusiastic in the path of devotion. They will try to make them enthusiastic. And they themselves will try to think and remember Kṛṣṇa all the time. There are nine practices of bhakti – with this, with devotion you should serve the Lord. Śravaṇam, kīrtanam – hear the Lord’s name and do kīrtana. Those in the brahmacārī āśrama will serve, and those who are gṛhasthas they will keep Kṛṣṇa in the center and serve.

There are two types of gṛhasthas – gṛhamedhī and gṛhastha. Gṛhamedhī are those who are only worried about sense gratification. And gṛhastha are those who keep Kṛṣṇa in the center and serve. The gṛhastha āśrama, there the worship of the Lord and bhakti-yoga are talked about and practiced. Smaraṇam, is the third bhakti practice. All the time, think of the Lord and remember the Lord and never forget the Lord. Do service of the Lord in the temple, and this pandal is very beautiful. This is pāda-sevanam in the bhakti practice. Offering obeisances and prayer to the Lord is vandanam. Offering worship to the Deity of the Lord is arcanam. Considering oneself as the Lord’s servant, is called dāsyam. Sakhyam – the Lord is your well-wisher, the Lord is your friend, to think this way is sakhyam. Doing all the nine bhakti practices is ātmā-nivedanam. Those who are here and taking initiation, it can be said that they are doing ātmā-nivedanam.

Those who are aspiring they have to practice so that in the future then can take initiation. And for that they are practicing. Aspiring have to do a lot and some are doing it. The sheltered disciples should see the devotees who are getting initiated and should see whether they would also be able to get initiated or not. Those who are now taking initiation here, I believe they were sheltered earlier. That way, they can understand that they can take initiation. If someone thinks that they will not be able to take initiation, they have the opportunity to now leave. No one is forced to take initiation, because you wanted, I am giving initiation. And here when initiation is given, I will give the beads and the devotee will say, “Please give me initiation”. Here who all want initiation? This is a proof that all want initiation, what can I do! Those who are taking initiation, they would be my spiritual children. I am their father! Śrīla Prabhupāda is your grandfather. And you are now in the guru-paramparā. Have you all said the ten offences to the holy name? Please try to see that you do not commit any offences. In this life with devotional service to the Lord, you can go back to Godhead. Haribol! Lord Caitanya said, gṛhe thāko vane thāko sadā hari bole ḍāko.

Today after taking darśana of Lord Jagannātha, this way, in Kali-yuga the people are in anxiety, you should try to perfect your lives and help others in spiritual advancement so that they understand the purpose of their human life.

I saw a video today of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia temple last month there was the ciḍā-dadhi festival. There they were all remembering Raghunātha Gosvāmī, Nityānanda Prabhu and did a beautiful ceremony. There were 20 different types of preparations. The pots were beautifully painted. This way doing service to Kṛṣṇa gives bliss. I hope that all of you will feel the bliss! Haribol! I am sorry that because of many reasons I was late.

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