20231026 Addressing ISKCON Seshadripuram Congregation

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: I am very happy to see Nitāi Gaura, Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā, Śrī Rādhā Kṛṣṇa and Laksmi Narasiṁhadeva here. Mahā Varāha dāsa was asking whether I want to stay at this place or that. In consultation with my doctors and my physiotherapist we decided on one place. But I wanted to see these very beautiful Deities. Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā, Rādhā Kṛṣṇa, Lakṣmī Narasiṁha and other Deities, Nitāi Gaura. Gaurāṅgī Bengaluru-īśvara! It was already decided at 5.30 pm. But I did not expect to see so many devotees!

Kṛṣṇa, He goes from Vṛndāvana to Nīlācala during Ratha-yātrā and returns once to Vṛndāvana. But He gives His smile, and He gives His ecstasy to all the devotees. Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityānanda, They advented to spread the Harināma. So this is a special chance for us to chant: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare!

Everyday, I take a snāna at 5.30 pm. Today before coming here, I took bath. Took my special medicines. And then came to take darśana here. And then I will prasāda. I start my Dāmodara month from Ekādaśī. So, you can start this from Pūrṇimā as well. I start from Ekādaśī because it is simple and easy to remember. Actually, the Deities are very beautiful! I am very fortunate to be able to come and have darśana of Them. I have seen one picture where Kṛṣṇa was embracing all His cowherd friends. Kṛṣṇa is also known as Rasa-śekhara. He has all the rasas in Him and He is hearing His childhood pastimes as Jagannātha, Baladeva, Subhadrā, He is smiling, He is in ecstasy. Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying how the gṛhastha’s responsibility was very great – a gṛhastha is praying in his house, please help me that no one steals from me. Outside in the garden, there is a robber who is praying, “Please help me steal.” Very tough job! That is why we hear that the lion wants to eat the deer. The deer is praying hard to be saved from the lion. Of course, a pure devotee only asks Kṛṣṇa for devotional service. Here, the deer hears the rabbit makes some sound like shhhhhhh and warns him that the lion is coming and he runs away. Of course, we only chant one thing – Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare!

Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna that you please announce that My devotee will never perish. Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare! It is so nice to see so many devotees chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. The more sevā you do for Lord Jagannātha, the Deities, the more it is transcendental.

Now I think I should have my dinner prasāda. Haribol!