20220904 52nd Sannyāsa Anniversary Celebration Address

The following is a 52nd Sannyasa Anniversary address by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Maharaja on September 4th, 2022 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: This cake is very big! It has eight petals and the center – so it is like Navadvīpa-dhāma! It has some outlying things like Gaura-maṇḍala-bhūmi. Yesterday we had the sannyāsa ceremony of His Holiness Bhakti Pracāra Parivrājaka Swami. I heard that he collected guru-dakṣiṇā of Rs. 43,000. I thought he would collect more! Anyway, this amount will be donated to the TOVP! Is his Grace Vraja Vilāsa Prabhu here? Are you willing to accept money on behalf of TOVP? Where is it? In Bangladesh we collected for the TOVP, 25 lakhs Bangladeshi takas. All glories to Bangladesh! In 1970, we were staying at that time in South Calcutta in a clinic. The doctor had not moved there yet, it was just a place, it would become a clinic. And there on Rādhāṣṭamī day Acyutānanda and myself were given sannyāsa. Śrīla Prabhupāda had given 9 sannyāsīs initiation in Los Angeles. And he was very specific to say Acyutānanda is no. 10. And you are no. 11! Then Śrīla Prabhupāda gave me the sannyāsa-daṇḍa and the same name as Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja. Of course, I was very young then and it did not seem a very glorious thing, but I had to take a vow to take the sannyāsa-āśrama. In devotees we take a vow when we take initiation. No meat eating, no gambling, no intoxication, and no illicit sex. So we were allowed at that time to get married. But when you take sannyāsa marriage is also to be avoided. So somehow by Rādhārāṇī’s mercy, by Lord Caitanya’s mercy I was able to maintain my vows. And also, definitely by Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mercy. But actually, we want the devotees who take vows of initiation and vows of marriage to maintain their vows. And that should be a pledge, a commitment that we make. That whatever we do, we have to do it to please Kṛṣṇa. And it is very important that we – there is a song by Locana dāsa Ṭhākura – viṣaya chāḍiyā, se rase majiyā – giving up material attachment and becoming inundated in that mellow. Mukhe bolo hari hari – and chant the names of Lord Hari with your mouth. So actually, this is the ecstasy of bhakti-yoga. That we are doing everything to please Kṛṣṇa. If you are a sannyāsa, gṛhastha or brahmacārī, wherever you are, you do that in such a way that guru and Kṛṣṇa are pleased. In the sixth canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam I was reading how gṛhastha men they have to also speak to their wives pleasantly and take care of their children. So few of us here have taken sannyāsa vows. And if we make a slight mistake, it would be a serious mistake. The example is that on a white dhoti a black spot shows up. But gṛhasthas, all our devotees, they should also keep their vows. Māyā is very strong. And we know from the Bhagavad-gītā our tendency is to enjoy our senses unlimitedly. Therefore, in the Bhagavad-gītā (2.41) it says ekeha kuru-nandana – focus yourself on satisfying Kṛṣṇa. But the tendency is bahu-śākhā – we want to enjoy in many different ways. But the process of sannyāsa means that our thoughts, words and activities should be offered to guru and Kṛṣṇa. Actually, every gṛhastha, brahmacārī, they have the same process within their limits. So, we would like all the devotees to be very serious with their Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

And we are very glad that so many people have come for Rādhāṣṭamī! Rādhārāṇī always thinks She could do more for Kṛṣṇa! She doesn’t think, oh, I have done enough! Always thinking how She can do more! And for that reasons, She made this Navadvīpa-dhāma! Haribol! So, on this sacred day, I offer my obeisances to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. I hope that with your blessings, Śrīla Prabhupāda, I will be able to continue and in this way have the taste of Kṛṣṇa consciousness constantly. It is so nice to see the devotees chanting and dancing in the temple! Beautiful abhiṣeka was offered to Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava. Actually, when I watch from the Tv I can see the Deities better. Also, I visited many temples around India, Malaysia, Australia and Bangladesh, in Sylhet and also Chittagong. Everybody is observing Rādhāṣṭamī! We can get the blessing of Rādhārāṇī and do our devotional service nicely to please guru and Kṛṣṇa. We hope that we can prepare and finish the TOVP, and the Deities moved there. Hare Kṛṣṇa!