20230930 Zoom Online Initiation Address to Russian Devotees

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

Jayapatākā Swami:  Who is giving me the garland? Thank you.

I am happy to welcome all the devotees on this very special occasion. I understand that representatives from all the Bhakti-vṛkṣa groups are present. So, this Bhakti-vṛkṣa system is following Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. It was his appearance day two days ago. It is especially designed for the city Nāmahaṭṭas. So that people can hold the meetings in their flats. The idea is that we should be associating and sharing our realizations. And to awaken our understanding of Lord Kṛṣṇa and His associates, to get the understanding of Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityānanda and Their associates. Actually, Lord Caitanya has given us the special mercy of chanting the holy names. And by chanting His holy names we can awaken our dormant love for Kṛṣṇa. So this secret is very nicely being spread through the Bhakti-vṛkṣa groups. And by doing different services of the group, that in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it says how Kṛṣṇa appreciates it very much.

So I am very happy that many Bhakti-vṛkṣa groups are present. This Bhakti-vṛkṣa system has spread all over the world. But the Russian speaking devotees seem very expert at the Bhakti-vṛkṣa system. Wherever the Russian speakers are, the Bhakti-vṛkṣa groups seem to flourish. This is a lot due I think to the expert preaching of His Grace Aṅgīra Gaurāṅga dāsa. And I am very grateful for his help in spreading the system of Bhakti-vṛkṣa and the congregational development. Actually, Lord Caitanya, He wanted to see the people in every town and village of the world delivered. I want to thank all the devotees who are helping this to become true. It is a very special mercy to develop your love for Lord Caitanya. And that happens through practicing this congregational chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa! Through reading the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam together, through sharing your realizations, through taking Hare Kṛṣṇa prasāda. Do you like prasāda? Spacebo! (Thank you in Russian).

So then we are here in Karnataka, India. We have just opened the temple, ISKCON Cultural Center. It is a state in India. And in the city of Bengaluru. And here the Deities are Gaurasundara and Nitāi Naṭavara and Rādhā Vinoda and Lord Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā and Sudarśana cakra and of course, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Tomorrow the Governor of the state will be coming. Yesterday we had completed all the Deity installation ceremonies. So, today I heard is the appearance day of Aṅgīra Gaurāṅga dāsa. So I would like to wish him a happy appearance day! And I am sending him a special gift in the mail. So, he has, as I mentioned, been helping me in the congregational development for these Russian speaking areas. And I hope and pray for his well-being and progress in spiritual life. I heard on this special occasion there are some people who are taking initiation. Since I cannot travel so much anymore, I hope that Aṅgīra Gaurāṅga dāsa would give the guidance, whatever possible. Hare Kṛṣṇa!