20200428 Zoom Session with Vijayawada and Guntur Devotees

The following is an address given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on April 28th,2020 in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, India. The address was given to the Vijayawada and Guntur Devotees via zoom.

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: I am very happy to be present with the devotees from part of Andhra Pradesh – Vijayawada and Guntur. Now in India we are under the lockdown. Here you may be wondering why the government has been enforcing the lockdown. Because they have no authorized treatment and no vaccine as yet. Although only about less than 4% die, but the government doesn’t want many people to get at the same time. Therefore, they request that you observe social distancing, wear a mask, because the virus gets easily transmitted from one person to another. And stays alive on the hard surface for about three days. That is why they are saying frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. So if it gets on your hand, by washing your hand, the virus will be killed. So, we want to be safe.

At the same time, this is a good opportunity to practice your Kṛṣṇa consciousness. To chant your rounds, to read Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books. By observing these during lockdown you can also preach using the internet. You can preach to people you know, you can outreach regular classes, Bhakti-vṛkṣa groups on internet. I have a paid Zoom but you can also get free Zoom for 40 minutes. So, I am very concerned about all the devotees in my zone, not only my disciples but disciples of HH Svarūpa Dāmodara Mahārāja and HH Rādhānātha Swami and anyone else. And use this as an opportunity to read Śrīla Prabhupāda books and to preach. I am very glad that I am able to talk to you tonight.

Every night at 6 pm I have a Telugu Facebook page, English Facebook page. We are trying to combine all the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Recently we were reading how Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he was praying to the Lord that he is very sinful, he wants one boon. You may be thinking what boon would he ask for? The Lord said, you can get anything you want. If the Lord told you, you can have anything, ANYTHING YOU WANT! What would you ask for? What did Haridāsa Ṭhākura ask for? He asked for, Lord, I know it is very hard to achieve this. I am very proud but I want this thing from You. What did he ask for? He asked for the remnants from Vaiṣṇava prasāda plate. Śrīla Prabhupāda said, from the Caitanya-caritāmṛta that there are three things which are very, very, very powerful. Dust of a devotee’s lotus feet, water from a devotee’s foot wash and the remnants of devotee’s prasāda. Even Lord Brahma wants such a prasāda! So he was asking for that benediction. Lord Caitanya, this ācārya is saying that whether one is a gṛhastha or a vairāgī, if they say ha Gaurāṇga! Ha Gaurāṇga! He is my life and soul! Gṛhe vā vane te thāke, jei ha Gaurāṇga ḍāke! Sei amāra prāṇa re. Whether one is a gṛhastha or as a vairāgī if he chants ha Gaurāṇga with feeling, he or she is my life and soul! I am very happy to see different devotees, some are vairāgīs, some are gṛhasthas. They chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, they chant ha Gaurāṇga! Gauuuuuranga! I am very happy to see all the devotees. If you have any questions, please ask me. I would like to visit some of the devotees in their homes. Of course, if you have your video on, I can enter your house. If your door is shut, your video is off, I cannot get into your house. Who of you chants ha Gaurāṇga? I will go to your house first! Hare Kṛṣṇa! Ha Gaurāṇga! Haribol!