20231007 Initiation Address

The following is an initiation address given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on October 7th, 2023 at ISKCON Sri Radha Govinda Temple, Kulai, Mangalore, 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: So, we understand that those who are coming forward to take initiation, they are all teachers. So, bhakti-yoga is such a process that we like to practice it. And that everyone can have bhakti-yoga as a daily practice. In this way, they can always stay transcendental. So, here we all practice what we preach. And this is a sacred place. Lord Caitanya came here. The Deities of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are here.

So, Kṛṣṇa, He was tested by Rukmiṇī Devī. Rukmiṇī said, “Kṛṣṇa, You know everything. You know what Brahmā is doing in Satyaloka. You know what Lord Śiva is doing in Kailāsa. You know what is going on in the ananta-koṭi-brahmāṇḍas. But there is one thing You don’t know! Rādhārāṇī, She knows. I know. But You don’t know.” So, Kṛṣṇa was amazed because no one had ever told Him before that there was something He did not know. So, He tried to find out. Finally, Rukmiṇī agreed. She said, “You see the thing You don’t know is, You don’t know how much Your devotees love You! In what way they love You. Rādhārāṇī knows, I know but You don’t know.” So then, Lord Kṛṣṇa, He said three times, “I will come in Kali-yuga as My devotee!” Haribol!

So, that is Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. So, He is Kṛṣṇa who came as His devotee. So, here in the temple, I heard they want to have Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya. Today, you are all taking initiation and will worship Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa as Lord Caitanya has described. So this is very important. Normally one is not blessed to worship Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. But by Lord Caitanya’s mercy, you are getting the chance. So you have to take advantage to worship Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and to be able to maintain proper attitude. You see normally, it is very hard to get bhakti for Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. But by Lord Caitanya’s mercy you can get it. And then, by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, you can get love of Kṛṣṇa. This love of Kṛṣṇa is given as a special mercy!

nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya
śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya
(Cc. Madhya 22.107)

By chanting the holy names of Hare Kṛṣṇa, your pure love for Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa is awakened. So, we recommend that everyone chants japa of 16 rounds of 108 times each. So, Lord Caitanya, He came to this place to spread this chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa to all the people.

So, we are doing the abhiṣeka of Lord Caitanya’s footprints so that everyone can get the mercy. And there is no difference between Kṛṣṇa and His holy name, because Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Absolute Truth. Therefore, His holy name is non-different. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

So, after this initiation you will be connected with me, and you will be connected with the holy name.