English
Speaker: H.H. Loknath Swami Maharaj
Theme: Importance of celebrating festivals
Sub-Theme: Appearance of Lord Balaram
"All people love festivals, and why wouldn’t they? We come from a divine world and once resided in Goloka Dham. In the past, while we were in Goloka Dham, we participated in its festivals.
A festival is celebrated every day there. When God walks, it seems as if He is dancing. When He speaks, it seems as if He is singing. We made a significant mistake; we were looking towards the material world and ended up coming here.
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
Translation:
“According to their karma, all living entities wander throughout the entire universe. Some are elevated to the higher planetary systems, and some descend to the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets the opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.” [CC Madhya 19.151]
Krishna makes some living beings fortunate. All of you are counted among those divine beings. When Krishna makes us fortunate, we get the company of saints, and our faith is awakened.
sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ — sarva-śāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya
Translation:
“The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.” [CC Madhya 22.54]
In the company of saints, we are engaged in worship, which increases our fortune. We also celebrate many festivals. When we were with God, the same God appears in this world and gives us His company through festivals. God is at the center of all festivals. Even today, there is a festival, Ekadashi Mahotsav.
mādhava-tithi, bhakti-jananī,
jetane pālana kori
kṛṣṇa-basati, basati boli',
parama ādare bori
Translation:
“The holy days like Ekadashi and Janmastami are the mother of devotion for those devotees who respect them. Let the holy places of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes be my places of worship, and bless me.” [Verse 2 from ‘Suddha Bhakata Carana Renu’ by Bhaktivinoda Thakura]
Jhulaan Yatra is organized at Radha Kund. Zulaan Yatra is a spiritual play of God. During Madhurya Leela, God swings continuously. As you can see behind me, boys and girls are swinging. God keeps playing like this; He has no other job.
There was a spiritual exhibition where a foreign lady observed different deities. Some gods were seen performing their duties—Brahma was creating, Shiva was destroying, and the rain gods were fulfilling their roles. Then she saw an exhibition where Krishna was playing and stealing butter. She commented that this must be the Supreme God who plays voluntarily, while the others are just performing their duties.
When God brings us into contact with devotees, making us fortunate, we get the opportunity to participate in His Leela. This is the grace of God. Participate in such Leela. During Chaturmas, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would call devotees from Navadwip, Mayapur, Shantipur, Pulin Gram, Ambika Kalana, and other places to come to Jagannath Puri and join in the Ratha Yatra.
nīlācalanivāsāya nityāya paramātmane
balabhadrasubhadrābhyāṃ jagannāthāya te namaḥ
Translation:
“I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Jagannath, along with Lord Baladev and Srimati Subhadra. The eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Jagannath, resides in Nilachal, Purushottam Kshetra, and is the paramatma, the Supersoul of all living entities.” [śrījagannāthastotra]
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu inspired the devotees to reside in the same Dham where Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra reside. You should also reside there, with great comfort. During those days, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu celebrated various festivals and organized cultural events for the devotees. Many dramas took place. In Madhya Lila, there is a short but sweet pastime.
dadhi-dugdha-bhāra sabe nija-skandhe kari’
mahotsava-sthāne āilā bali ‘hari’ ‘hari’
Translation:
“Having dressed up like cowherd boys, all the devotees carried pots of milk and yogurt balanced on rods over their shoulders. Thus they all arrived at the festival grounds chanting the holy name of Hari.” [CC Madhya 15.18]
Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Nityananda, and their associates, dressed in Gop attire, brought curd and milk to the place where the demonstration was taking place, chanting “Hari Hari” all the way. Chaitanya carried a ceremonial rod and kept chanting “Hari Hari.”
iṅhā-sabā lañā prabhu kare nṛtya-raṅga
dadhi-dugdha haridrā-jale bhare sabāra aṅga
Translation:
“As usual, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced jubilantly. Everyone was covered with milk, yogurt, and yellow turmeric water.” [CC Madhya 15.21]
Just as Nand Baba celebrated his first Janmashtami on the day of Navami, Mahaprabhu also celebrated a similar festival and demonstrated it. Nand Baba threw all the milk, curd, and turmeric over each other. Rivers of milk and curd flowed there. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu repeated this demonstration.
advaita kahe, — satya kahi, nā kariha kopa
laguḍa phirāite pāra, tabe jāni gopa
Translation:
“At this time Śrīla Advaita Ācārya said, ‘Please do not be angry. I speak the truth. I shall know that You are a cowherd boy only if You can wheel this rod about.’” [CC Madhya 15.22]
All the VIPs were present, including Raja Pratap Rudra, Sarvabhaum Bhattacharya, the priest of Jagannath Puri, and the temple president. Advaita Acharya was also present. Advaita Acharya instructed Nimai to show wooden rod whirling as they used to do during Go Charan Leela.
tabe laguḍa lañā prabhu phirāite lāgilā
bāra bāra ākāśe pheli’ luphiyā dharilā
Translation:
“Accepting Advaita Ācārya’s challenge, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took a big rod and began to wheel it around and around. Again and again He threw the rod into the sky and caught it when it fell.” [CC Madhya 15.23]
Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took the rod and demonstrated a play with it. Sometimes He threw it into the sky and caught it, sometimes He tossed it between His hands. Everyone was amazed and praised Nimai, affirming His divinity.
pratāparudrera ājñāya paḍichā-tulasī
jagannāthera prasāda-vastra eka lañā āsi
Translation:
“Following the orders of Mahārāja Pratāparudra, the temple superintendent named Tulasī, brought one of Lord Jagannātha’s used cloths.” [CC Madhya 15.27]
Padicha Tulsi, the president of Jagannath temple, brought used clothes of the Lord to Nimai.
bahu-mūlya vastra prabhu-mastake bāndhila
ācāryādi prabhura gaṇere parāila
Translation:
“This valuable cloth was wrapped around the head of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The other devotees, headed by Advaita Ācārya, also had cloths wrapped about their heads.” [CC Madhya 15.28]
Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wore those clothes on His head like a turban.
parama-āveśe prabhu āilā nija-ghara
ei-mata līlā kare gaurāṅga-sundara
Translation:
“In great ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence. In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Gaurāṅga-sundara, performed various pastimes.” [CC Madhya 15.31]
kānāñi-khuṭiyā, jagannātha, — dui-jana
āveśe vilāila ghare chila yata dhana
Translation:
“In ecstasy, Kānāñi Khuṭiyā, who was dressed as Nanda Mahārāja, and Jagannātha Māhiti, who was dressed as mother Yaśodā, distributed all the riches they had stocked at home.” [CC Madhya 15.29]
Kanani Khutiya and Jagannath Mahiti, who were present, played the roles of Nand Maharaj. During the Janmashtami festival in Gokul, all the cows and many gifts were donated. Similarly, Kanani Khutiya and Jagannath Mahiti donated various gifts to Brahmanas.
dekhi’ mahāprabhu baḍa santoṣa pāilā
mātā-pitā-jñāne duṅhe namaskāra kailā
Translation:
“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was greatly satisfied to see this. Accepting them as His father and mother, He offered them obeisances.” [CC Madhya 15.30]
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sought blessings from those playing the roles of Nand Baba and Yashoda.
Mahaprabhu celebrated another festival during Diwali. Many festivals were celebrated in Chaturmas, and Mahaprabhu participated in all with devotion. Mahaprabhu has set a standard for us. From today, the Jhulaan Yatra begins, and you should join until Purnima. Baladevji will appear in Purnima. Prepare for these festivals as well.
Sub-Theme: Appearance of Balarama
It is beneficial to participate with your body, mind, and resources, not merely as a spectator.
ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ
kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam
indrāri-vyākulaṁ lokaṁ
mṛḍayanti yuge yuge
Translation:
“All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists.” [SB 1.3.28]
mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat
kiñcid asti dhanañ-jaya
mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ
sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva
Translation:
“O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.” [BG 7.7]
There is no one higher than Me, except for Balaram. Balaram is like Krishna; He is Krishna. He is Krishna’s light and is considered Krishna’s elder brother.
Kamsa tormented everyone—Vrindavan residents and Mathura residents alike.
Krishna instructed Yogamaya to go to Vrindavan as one of Devaki’s children was in her womb as the seventh son. To avoid danger, the seventh child should be transferred to Rohini’s womb.
Everyone wondered how a child was born in seven days and how Rohini became pregnant if Vasudev was in jail. To resolve these questions, Narada, Vashisht, Vyas Dev, and Brihaspati came.
Balaram was born in Gokul. There were showers of flowers, drums were played, Apsaras danced, and Gandharvas sang. Just as we narrate Janmashtami stories, similar events took place during Balaram's birth. Vyas Dev came to have darshan, bowed to Him, sang His praises, and revealed all answers about the child.
This is the 5251st birthday of Krishna. Krishna played His Leela for 125 years and then returned to His Dham in 3102 BCE. Today, adding 2024 + 3102 + 125 gives 5251 years.
This is not mythology but history and fact. We know where and when God was born, whether day or night, as proven in the scriptures.
janma karma ca me divyam
evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti so ’rjuna
Translation:
“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take birth again in this material world but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.” [BG 4.9]
Krishna says those who understand His birth and death through the scriptures will never return to this world.
etāvān sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ
sva-dharma-pariniṣṭhayā
janma-lābhaḥ paraḥ puṁsām
ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ
Translation:
“The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.” [ŚB 2.1.6]
They will remember God at the end of their lives and will not have to be born again.
God appears in different forms with the mission to take us back to our true home.
