20211016 Bāla-Bhāgavatam Inaugural Speech

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
 hariḥ oṁ tat sat

Jayapatākā Swami: So, I am very happy that the Māyāpur Institute is organizing this program of “Bāla-Bhāgavatam”. Śrīla Prabhupāda stressed that we should educate the children in the Bhāgavatam. And he said that education is meant to teach we are not the body, to understand the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa. And if we don’t learn to serve Kṛṣṇa, our educational experience is spoilt. Śrīla Prabhupāda also said that the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So, science means something one has to learn. How to apply it. The “Bāla-Bhāgavatam” will teach the youth, the glories of Kṛṣṇa and the pure devotees, and many stories which, generally I think, children like stories! And these stories actually teach what the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is. Just like in the fourth canto, is the history of Dhruva Mahārāja, how he achieved God realization at the age of five. And he later became greater situation than his great grandfather Brahmā or his grandfather Manu, because he achieved the abode of Lord Viṣṇu. So we hope that all the children, all the bālas will achieve God realization. Actually, Śrīla Prabhupāda said that if the children are taught devotional service, then the whole world would be changed, in the Bhāgavatam. He also said that education is meant to teach them about Kṛṣṇa. Otherwise, it is false. So this is in the Caitanya-līlā:

paḍe kene loka — kṛṣṇa-bhakti jānibāre
se yadi nahila, tabe vidyāya ki kare
[Caitanya-Bhāgavata Ādi 12.49]

If we don’t have education about Kṛṣṇa and kṛṣṇa-bhakti, if we don’t do that, then what is the use of their education? It is just false. So, I am very happy that the children are enthusiastic to participate, that the Māyāpur Institute is enthusiastic to do this program. So, it is an ideal situation. Actually, Śrīla Prabhupāda was worried that the modern education just teaches one that they are the body. And if they only think that they are the body, then they are like animals. So the idea that they are teaching bhakti-yoga to the children is very revolutionary. Because modern education we do not give any spiritual education, as far as I know. Of course, in our Māyāpur schools it may be different. But generally, what is taught outside is not spiritual. But then even having a systematic study of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is very auspicious. Actually, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is described as Kṛṣṇa’s literary incarnation. Like in the temple we have Deities, the arcā-vigraha, the arcā-avatāra, the incarnation of the Lord as a worshipable Deity. So the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is grantha-avatāra, is the Lord coming in the form of a transcendental book. Understanding these histories of Lord Kṛṣṇa and His pure devotees is very auspicious. I also thank you teachers, the educators, the children. Hare Kṛṣṇa!