20260607 Addressing 50th Annual Ratha-yātrā Festival

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-gurun dina tāriṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

HH Jayapatākā Swami:  (Very poor audio and video) Susvāgatam, welcome to all the devotees in New Pānihāṭi dhāma! The Pānihāṭi festival! It is the 50^th year anniversary of Śrīla Prabhupāda coming to New Pānihāṭi Dhāma. [audio break] So this is a special festival. I was thinking about the many things that Śrīla Prabhupāda [audio break]. Śrīla Prabhupāda would come to Māyāpur twice a year, and I had his association there. I heard from Gaurasundara Prabhu, he sold his property and joined ISKCON. When Śrīla Prabhupāda went to Hawaii he looked for him and he could not find him. And  Śrīla Prabhupāda humbled himself before him and asked him, [audio break] but Gaurasundara Prabhu did not say anything, and then he left. Śrīla Prabhupāda said that “He is a rascal, but I love him anyway!”

I was thinking, to make a video presentation – “Our Loving Founder-Ācārya”. Śrīla Prabhupāda brought to America this message and I read his diary he wrote on the Jaladūta. On board he had a stroke and heart attack, and he was writing in his diary. But there was no entry in his diary at that time. But we know what happened. Śrīla Prabhupāda did not stay in his comfort zone, but always worried about our comfort zone! But Śrīla Prabhupāda, he took such austerity to come to the West. And he prayed to Kṛṣṇa, I have no devotion, I have no qualification, I have no so many things. But he prayed to Kṛṣṇa to bless him. How can I make these people who are full in the mode of ignorance and passion, rajas, to accept Kṛṣṇa consciousness? So we installed these Deities Rādhā Madanamohana. Śrīla Prabhupāda, he cried before the Deities of Gaura-Nitāi. I have heard from different devotees speak about the time when Śrīla Prabhupāda was here. They were saying how they would jump us so high, it was unfathomable! And everyone was feeling so much ecstasy! Śrīla Prabhupāda sang a song personally. So we are very fortunate to be here before Gaura Nitāi! We don’t know how great Kṛṣṇa is, how His expansion of His expansion as Mahā-Viṣṇu, how in one breath He produces ananta-koṭi brahmāṇḍa, koṭi is ten million. You cannot even count how many ten millions. Ananta-koṭi universes! And we are in the smallest universe! How many planets, how many stars there are! Every planet has living entities and Kṛṣṇa is present in every living entity’s heart as the Supersoul. Talk about multi-tasking! Kṛṣṇa’s ability is inconceivable. And He has a personal relationship with each one of you! He is in your heart as Supersoul. Kṛṣṇa is unlimited. And Rādhārāṇī, we have Śrī Rādhā Madanamohana. One of Her names is Madanamohana Mohinī. She is so powerful, She can attract even the mind of Kṛṣṇa, so She is unlimited. And Kṛṣṇa is unlimited. And combined together, They came as Lord Kṛṣṇa Caitanya! Śrī kṛṣṇa caitanya rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahi anya. And balarāma hailo nitāi. Nitāi Gaura, Gaura Nitāi, They danced all over Navadvīpa, all over India. So They come here to [audio break]. It is a great blessing. A great blessing! Haribol!

I was only supposed to speak for ten minutes. I am very glad that my disciples and my aspiring disciples have come here. I hope whether I am here or not, you would come here and help this festival be a success! We want devotees to come, whether I am here or not. I am here in spirit!

I somehow got the mercy of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. I got Lord Nityānanda’s lotus footprints. I hope everyone supports that. This is the 50^th year of Śrīla Prabhupāda coming to New Pānihāṭi. So it is also something we can rejoice in! I am honored to be here. My health has not been great, but I am trying to participate as much as possible.