20030115 Special Ratha-yātrā Lecture

(Disclaimer: The following is a machine-generated transcript and may contain errors or inaccuracies. It will be reviewed and verified against the original audio soon.)

The following is a special Ratha-yātrā lecture given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on January 15, 2002 – in Chennai, India.

Thank you for coming today. For Rājendra. Love is shining. O our children. As the supreme personality of God, I know everything that has happened in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that are yet to come. I also know all the different entities. But me no one knows. Paragraph by paragraph. Here the question of personality and impersonality is clearly stated. The Fisha, the form of the supreme personality of God in Vermaya, or material as the universalists consider him to be. Then, like the living entities, he  will change his body and forget everything about his past life. Anyone with a material body cannot remember his past life. Nor can he foretell his future life, nor can he predict the outcome of his present life. Therefore, he cannot know what is happening and past, present and future.

Unless one is liberated from material contamination, he cannot go past, present and future. The Kṛṣṇa explains he’s not like the ordinary human being because he knows God’s presentation by what he does to this one, the Sun God in the beginning of the universe. And he remembered that. Kṛṣṇa is present in everyone’s heart. As the Paramatama. Everyone put your hand over the paramount. There he is there. We don’t know it. We’re not able to see him, but he’s there. Sometimes people realize, but even such yogis are not always able to realize the supreme Person. Kṛṣṇa says that you can only realize him by the process of devotional service. Except for my devotees, Kṛṣṇa said, no one else can know me. Who here is the devotee of Kṛṣṇa? Who is the Lord of Kṛṣṇa, y’? All, Those are the bodies and fish that say how you.

So though you devotees, you are the only ones who can know Kṛṣṇa, they can never fully know Kṛṣṇa. Greater than. Clouds cover us. We cannot see the sun, but they don’t cover the sun or the moon. Like that. Māyā can cover us, but Māyā does not cover Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa explains in the third chapter Bhagavad Gītā, Out of millions of people, one tries to understand what is. And out of thousands of those, one actually understands the truth. There are thousands of men in liberated schools together. Kṛṣṇa Bhakta is very rare. So you are already very dear to the Lord. In 12th chapter Bhagavad Gītā, Kṛṣṇa said, those who are connecting him as supreme goal in their life, they are very dear to Him. How many of you have been Kṛṣṇa. Ra? So.

All you have to do is somehow practice devotion of service and stay on the path of Bhakti and Kṛṣṇa  will reveal himself to you. More and more. Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa every day. How many of you channel? If you don’t chant every day, then please start. Outside. There are some tables for you to get Japan. How many have japavara? How many kong have japavalas? Okay, One round of 108 weeks takes about seven and a half minutes. 1 Hour 8 malas. And if you can, if you like, you try to get devotees to chant up to 16 padas which takes one and a half to two hours. You don’t have to do it all at one time. You can do something in the morning, something at night. You can break it up. You do all the work time. It’s nice. You don’t have to.

There’s no harder fast rule. Sometimes you’re chanting under Jabba Mālā and sometimes you come together and have a big kid tongue with many devotees. And you sing and dance. Hari kṛṣṇa. Hari kisha, kṛṣṇa kishan. Yes, hunter. You are all natural devolving Hare Kṛṣṇa. How do you like to dance? Very nice. And so this singing and dancing that we can come to our temple or go to your Namaha Bhakti with Shagh and the singing dance with other devolis. Jagannath is Kṛṣṇa. Balarāma is the source of Orion must be upon this. Of course, some people say there are only 10 avatars. But the Śrīmad Bhāgavata explains 26 avatars. The thousands and thousands of other times. How many waves hit the Chennai beach. In one year? How many veins are you needing? So many cannot count.

Maybe some scientists can make a project to count how many waves are coming. Like that Our tasks are coming Sambalami today every Yuga. Give us guidance to deliver us. Whenever all the time loves his mansion. And Ch. Avatar is not an ordinary person. Avatar is the Lord himself or someone empowered by the Lord. Get fooled because someone may claim to be an avatar. He didn’t say I come in every century. He didn’t say he comes every 10 years. He didn’t say he turns every year. Sometimes it seems that people are continuing to be avatars today. Almost every minute. So there are thousands of avatars. Brother Yuga. Who is the Yuga avatar for this age? The Śrīmad Bhāgavata predicted the coming of Buddha. He came to establish a more satudic. Because people were using living sacrifices. They were having animal sacrifices simply to eat animals.

Among the. Rules. As a prana and preach Mayala preach and colored Buddhism while using the Vedas to bring people back india to the Vedas. So that was the lord shiva came ashakar acharya. To bring the people back to the Vedas. Have been bringing people back from Hague to the Vaishyama. Especially it’s mentioned that the Yuga of the time  will be Christian himself. But he won’t be blackish color. He  will chair Kṛṣṇa’s holy names. Kṛṣṇa  will come as his own devotee and he  will chant Kṛṣṇa. You be accompanied by his associates, his lorries, his weapons, his. Expansion. And he  will establish the chanting of the Harina San as the Yoga Gandhi. Those who are encouraged him  will follow him. The verse in Sanskrit is as follows. So who here is very intelligent? I  will tell it by whoever is a follower.

Whoever follows Shikha because he’s the one who fulfills this prediction  will know that you are very intelligent. To worship Kṛṣṇa. He didn’t claim to be Kṛṣṇa, but we can understand he was Kṛṣṇa telling us how to worship Kṛṣṇa. So. So worshiping Kṛṣṇa. That’s one Sa. How many of you have a Kṛṣṇa in your house? And you can also breathe. For those who. Live. Who has. Are available here from the Chennai Hare Kṛṣṇa temple and also available from our other. Today we read from the seventh chapter Bhagavad Gītā. In the Padma Purāṇa Pārvatī. As Shiva, what is special? One of the glories of seventh chapter Bhagavad Gītā. How many want to hear the history? This chapter frees us from sins. It can deliver us back to mission. Once there was a vicious man. Lord Shiva explained he was very rich.

He was so rich, politicians were coming to see him. Kings were coming to see him. Many rich people, many powerful people. They would see him because he was very rich. But he was not spiritual. He was simply attached to his money. He did not do. He did not build any religious activities. He only did something if it was good for him. Making more money. Give charity to someone to get a good name. So he had four sons. But he was not trusting. So he buried his money in a hole. One day he was traveling with his son and some accident happened. He couldn’t tell anyone where the money was. Was his mama. The children didn’t know where the money. When he died, he went to the Avaloka and Yamaraj said, you’re so attached to your money, you can guard it as a saint.

So he lived in a hole next to the money. He would jump up and scare them away. So he was living like this with his money for many years. But then he realized this is a hellish existence. Because of my previous life, I was cynical, I was materialistic. I didn’t do anything for Kṛṣṇa I didn’t do anything for others. I was very self centered. Therefore I wasted my life. Now I am living like a snake. As a snake in this hole in the ground. How many of you want to become saints? He also realized after some time that being too attached to money is very dangerous. And he often had used his money, even a little bit of it, proficient, for some spiritual purpose, he would have been saved. Even a small practice of Kṛṣṇa consciousness can save you from the greatest danger.

So then he came in a dream of his four children, four sons and told him, I am here as a snake because of my materialistic activities and my bad karma. And if you want to help me, I will be very grateful and I  will give you all of the money. One of us, an older son, he told the other, you know, I had amazing dream last night that our father is asleep. From one of the richest men of the world was snake. I have the same dream. The other brother said, I have the same dream, the other brother said, the same dream. They asked the other two brothers, all have the same dream. Then the oldest brother, he became very emotional. The second brother, he was filthy. I want the money, I want the money. How to get the money?

The third brother, he thought, our father, we must help him. We must save him from the snake bird. He was a good son. The fourth brother, he was very sneaky, very clever. But you know, like in a bad way. He wanted, he thought, I think I know where my father buried the money. I want to steal it all and I will take it for myself. And I won’t give any to my brothers. So he said, all right, good idea. Third brother, we must help our father. Let us think about this tonight, what to do to help him. And then tomorrow let’s meet again. Meanwhile. So he told his wife, let’s go. I think I know her very. We went with the shovels and hoes to think about treasure. Like a tomb raider, like a treasure hunter.

How he started to think for he thought his father may have buried the money. You know what happened? You know what happened? The safety out. What are you doing? You are trying to take your money? I  will kill you. I just came to save you. I want it for you. No, no, I didn’t know maybe you were deep underground. I was just trying to call you my Diggy. Please don’t bite me. Tell me, how can we help? All right, I am telling you. You have to perform a special shroud ceremony. What we have done now we have done shroud you can ordinary way. I am too sick for that. I need something special. You have to.

Within the ashant ceremony of my death anniversary, you have to be the devotee who chants 7th chapter Bhagavad Gītā and have him chant the 7th chapter Bhagavad gītā and dedicate it to me. Then I will be free. 7. So they organized the sun ceremony. All the brothers. They had a devotee, Hare Kṛṣṇa devotee for chanting seven chapter Bhagavad. Like today’s verse. Sam. Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life and whose sinful actions are completely eradicated are free self delusion. And they engage themselves in thy service with determination. So at the end of the chanting of seventh chapter they offered all the results to their father. He was liberated from his sinbirth.

He came and gave all the wealth to his four brothers equally and told them to use it wisely, use it in the service of Kṛṣṇa so that they won’t talk through the faith that he did. Then the shuttas came from the soul of the father back to Vaikunta. To the four brothers. This was a very strong impression, deep impression of their life. So they use their money very wisely. They disseminated Kṛṣṇa prasadam, they had festivals, they built Kṛṣṇa temples. And they read seventh chapter end of their lives. They also went back to Ghana. So like this, every chapter of Bhagavad Gītā has got wonderful powers, great glories. In our life. We may not even have money. We have our time. We should also use our time wisely and spend some time every day serving Kṛṣṇa and channel.

When we do have money, then we should also use a significant portion for serving Kṛṣṇa. Just to help devotees to do that, to facilitate many people to be able to chant together. His home is Banu Maharaj has started a temple project in. The government has declared that area should be simply for having fun. So we may have to sign a petition to tell the government that we have fun serving Kṛṣṇa. We are practicing and dancing Hare Kṛṣṇa. And we did so many exhibitions about Kṛṣṇa consciousness which  will be lots of practice. This is our sports, this is our recreation. Today everyone must have good exercise pulling 20 tons around. Tonight. I say he was a minister, he was only bullying. Ra was a bully. So we have our own kind of recreation for the devotees. Their Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the source of their happiness.

Also their recreation. Project. I am sure you can see the Devonians in the back. I want to make announcement. We want to thank all the devotees for their services, The Pujaris for their pūjā, Those who decorate, Those who cook mashada. Before you leave, you have to eat some pasada. This is one service you have to do. How many of you like eating prasad? There’s also one other servant which is very important. That’s transcendental book distribution. This year the father right, they were distributing books. Distributed. 83 Of the 120. Small books were distributed. 100. Of course that’s up to now. There may be still outside. You don’t know those words. Please everyone. You can also be a book distributor. Get a book, distribute it to your friends or distribute it to others. And this way you also get a share of the person.

There’s a Hubba Mandapa outside where the devotees chant japa. If you want to learn how to chant Japa or just if you want to go there to also continue your japab. And you can also go to the Habina and check Jaba apparent. We also have many Rahul practicing black tea program here in Chennai area. How many of you are members? You see, many people didn’t raise their hands. Many people didn’t raise their hands. That means that there’s many accessories. That means there’s a chance. You can also participate and join these groups. Or make a group of your own. Invite some guests over. We have some discussion on Bhagavad Gītā. This is a nonla to host program. Every house. When that’s done organized way where there’s a discussion at the shastra and the group works as a team, then that system.

We call it as the recreation group. There’s a stall back there where Śrīnivasakai is. You can contact him to find out more information. Where the Lakhi Misha groups. Where the non Latri groups are. If you’d like to have a house program. How we like to have a program in your house sometime. Channing Hare Kṛṣṇa. Everybody should be running a program in your house. Why are you doing a program in your house? You have ch in your house. Your house becomes like a holy place. There was rough family. They were having marital problems. They were having health problems. They were always fighting. And then they came to me and asked what to do. I said have a program in your house regularly. They started to have program in their house and everything became very peaceful.

They said now the whole vibration of the house is better. If you want to have problems in your life, you want to have problem. If you want problem. If you want to help Ashanti. If you want to have disease. If you want problems, disease troubles. They don’t have programs in your house. Because if you have programs in your house, you may have peace, you may have prosperity, you may have all kinds of good things happening. So if you want the bad things, don’t have programs in your house. How many? How many want chanting in the house? House. How many? One har. Which. At the book comes. Otherwise the temple can come and regularly come to the temple also as much as you can. At least for the Sunday program make your lights of light.

It seems we in here in Chennai we need a number of temples around the city. So that it’s easily available for people to come and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. I want to thank all of you again for your participation, for your attention and your devotion. Number. Anybody has a question. Can be read without purport. That means adequately. I am reading about that particularly ne continuously to read. He’s asking whether we can meet the Bhagavad Gītā verses and translation alone it takes seven hours. Whether it’s going to do that sometimes. Otherwise many devotees are chanting one of the chapters in a day. So I am such a patient told me to do this service. You know, I do it also with turns of people. For the temple installation and silicon they did a Bhagwat. Any other question? Someone was born as a dog.

What he did in his previous life? Well, maybe he was a cat. And at time of death he was running from the God. So next night he came to God. Generally animals are moving up. But for a human being to become a God, that person had to have a very animalistic consciousness, very materialistic consciousness. If one is very attached to their pet God and at the time of death they’re kissing their dog or thinking about their dog then maybe they can become born as a dog. There was one lady in Atlanta, Georgia, USA and she gained inheritance $144 million. About 800 crores of rupees. No more than that. 800 Crores of rupees. Dog go to her cat. Maybe her next life. She took birth as a cat. She was so much thinking about her cat, she left all their money to. Last question.

How can one become serious in following Bhagavad Gītā? As it is generally easy to read but difficult to put it in practice. So what should one do that? So we supposed to practice. We come to the checkbook classes and we hear the classes on how to practice Bhagavad Gītā. We have Bhagaviksha meanings. We discuss how to practice the Bhagavad Gītā Practically how to apply it in our life. By chanting Gradually I am trying to apply Bhagavad Gītā. Then it becomes. It’s a gradual process. Gradually applying more and more. La. Tomorrow we’re having initiation ceremony. And then also participate in the initiation. Wash the ceremony if you like. You’re invited. So now I have interview a few candidates. So I can Only consider to 9^th 30. And then figure our bases. Now don’t.

I offer my obeisances to His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. I offer my obeisances and praṇāmas to Jagannātha Subhadrā Caitanya Mahāprabhu. With respect to His Holiness Bhānu Swami Mahārāja also the honorable seed Tiru Nabu Kara Rasaru Nabukarasar. I hope I got it right. To Dr. Viji Sentosa to CKR Surbla to the other life members, supporters, devotees and people of Ananagar. Thank you very much for being here. I offer you all my respect for. We gather together to go on a journey. Together. Is a journey. Lord of the Universe Shrikish the Juggernaut and his brother Balinese and his sister Subhadrā. They’re going on a journey and we’re going to accompany them. And anyone who accompanies Lord on his journey they get blessed. Have you pulled the rope?

If you sweep the road in front of the Lord. If you do a pūjā to the Lord if you walk with the Lord, if you dance and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa in front of the Lord. If you simply admire the beautiful Ratam and the beautiful festival. Any of these things or anything else connected with the Rath Yātrā like the devotees have decorated the Rath with beautiful flowers and sugar cane. All are getting very big blessings. They say anyone who touches the rope they may never have to take birth again. It’s a very rare opportunity to do a personal service for the Lord of the Universe. Normally we want God to serve us. We pray that he give us so many blessings, so many material blessings. Which we may or may not be qualified for. Today in the world we need peace.

The world is very disturbed. With wars and conflicts still going on. Terrorism is frightening people. In this ambient Jagannath is coming to give his message of love. There is one supreme Lord over everyone. We may worship him in different ways but Lord is same. He is a well wisher for the universe. He is Jagatpati. He is protector of the universe. So he comes down on this earth in order to give us guidance how we can lead a peaceful and happy life. So Kṛṣṇa was here 5,000 years ago and he made this journey from Dwarka to Kurukshetra. So we are he was going and then Kurukshetra. He met the Rajavasis. He met his loved ones. So this journey of Jagannath is Also to reunite everyone with the Lord and to bring together the Lord and his devotees. All the loved ones of the Lord.

If we serve the Lord, that is the secret to get actually the Lord’s mercy. Normally we are asking the Lord for so many things. But just like a small child doesn’t have to ask the mother or father, feed me, I am hungry. The parents want to feed the child. Lord knows better than we do what we need. If we serve the Lord then he  will reciprocate with us and he  will also give us what we need. Pray to the Lord that simply give me your Bhakti. Let me do your devotional service. I am not going to ask you for anything. You simply give me what I need to serve you. What I need in order to be your good devotees. What I need, I  will depend on you. You know better than I need what I need.

We may think that we need one lakh of rupees. But Lord, he may see no, you actually need 1 crore. Let me give you a crore. But he only give us when we are able to use properly what he gives us. So some training period is there. So we hope all of you  will take up this process of Bhakti Yoga and get the full mercy of Jagannath and make this world a better place. That there is the Lord and one universal family. Everyone under the shelter of the Lord Vasudeva. So today Vasudeva is on the Ratam, Jagannath is on the Ratam. And we get this opportunity to do our personal service. I mean we’re so happy if we can give a service even to our honorable minister, to any great person, to any historical person, movie stars.

But what does anyone compare with the Lord of the universe to be able to serve him? There’s nothing you can compare to that. We are starting from Anna Nagar. We know that in Sanskrit Anna means food, rice, opulence, plenty. Just like one of Rana’s name. One of Durga’s name also is called Annapurna. And today is also Pongal where we take various rice preparation. Like Sakar Pongal. So today is very auspicious day in Annanagar and Pongal we’re taking Lord Jagannath and we hope that you come to the end and we like also to give you Prasadam. So we are beginning with Annanagar and at the end you will also get. So again, I want to thank all of you for being present today. This is the 101st anniversary of our founders Ratha-yātrā.

He was born in 1896 and when he was six years old he had a Ratha. Aja is on childhood rat. So that was 100 years ago last year. This is the 101^st anniversary of Prabhupāda Ratha-yātrā. I think also that in the year 2003 this may be the first Ratha-yātrā of the year. In ISKCON. We have maybe something like 100 rath yatras. All over the world. Many more I don’t have the minimum 100 for sure. In Australia, Byron Bay they have Ratha-yātrā 31^st of December, the last Ratha-yātrā of the year. But here you’re having first also. This is the first Rath Yātrā. So this is international Ratha-yātrā. We have people here from all over the world, from Canada, from Japan, from Italy, from Argentina, Italy, Japan, From various countries. And I am speaking to you as an Indian.

As the Minister has revealed. I have taken Indian citizenship, and I am an Indian citizen speaking to you as Indian.