English
08 June 2024
ISKCON Dindi Padayatra
Speaker: HG Keshav prabhu
Hare Krsna. We have been organizing ISKCON Dindi padayatra successfully from the last 27 years by the mercy of Srila Gurudev. It walks through different parts of Maharashtra beginning from Pune. One main aspect of this padayatra is that devotees from all across Maharashtra travel to Sri Pandharpur Dham. Even Chaitanya Mahaprabhu executed padayatra. This padayatra is a wonderful service.
sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-
sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate (CC Madhya 19.170)
Translation: Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one’s senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord.
sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor
vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane
karau harer mandira-mārjanādiṣu
śrutiṁ cakārācyuta-sat-kathodaye
mukunda-liṅgālaya-darśane dṛśau
tad-bhṛtya-gātra-sparśe ’ṅga-saṅgamam
ghrāṇaṁ ca tat-pāda-saroja-saurabhe
śrīmat-tulasyā rasanāṁ tad-arpite
pādau hareḥ kṣetra-padānusarpaṇe
śiro hṛṣīkeśa-padābhivandane
kāmaṁ ca dāsye na tu kāma-kāmyayā
yathottamaśloka-janāśrayā ratiḥ (ŚB 9.4.18-20)
Translation: Mahārāja Ambarīṣa always engaged his mind in meditating upon the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, his words in describing the glories of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the Lord’s temple, and his ears in hearing the words spoken by Kṛṣṇa or about Kṛṣṇa. He engaged his eyes in seeing the Deity of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa’s temples and Kṛṣṇa’s places like Mathurā and Vṛndāvana, he engaged his sense of touch in touching the bodies of the Lord’s devotees, he engaged his sense of smell in smelling the fragrance of tulasī offered to the Lord, and he engaged his tongue in tasting the Lord’s prasāda. He engaged his legs in walking to the holy places and temples of the Lord, his head in bowing down before the Lord, and all his desires in serving the Lord, twenty-four hours a day. Indeed, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa never desired anything for his own sense gratification. He engaged all his senses in devotional service, in various engagements related to the Lord. This is the way to increase attachment for the Lord and be completely free from all material desires.
Our Lord Vitthal is very beautiful. And while walking towards, Lord Vitthal’s devotees meditate on the beautiful form of the Lord, continuously for 18 days.
Tukaram Gatha Abhanga 14 - Sundar te dhyan
Sundar te dhyan ubhe vitewari |
Kar katawari thevuniya ||
Tulasi har gala kanse pitambar |
Aawde nirantar techi roop ||
Makar kundale talapati shrwani |
Kanthi koustubhmani virajit ||
Tuka mhane maze he chi sarva sukha |
Pahin shreemukh aawadine ||
Translation: This abhanga is a beautiful description of the Lord! The beautiful, great pleasure to behold, i.e. the Lord Vithoba, is standing on the brick with his hands resting on the waist. There is a Basil leaves' necklace in His neck and He is wearing a yellow golden silk garment around the waist. I am in perpetual love with this face of the Lord. Fish shaped ear rings are shining in His ears and the well known 'Koustubh' precious stone is glistening in His neck. Tukaram says, I will keep looking ceaselessly at the holy face of the God with love; this is my complete happiness.
This Dindi padayatra is very close to Guru Maharaj's heart. His family members have been executing this service from several generations. They used to come on every Ekadashi. And they would take back Ladoo Mahaprasadam which Guru Maharaj would relish a lot.
Guru Maharaj's Grandfather, Sri Savla Patil used to walk 100 kms to Pandharpur every ekadashi. We have a beautiful cart, carried by Nandi Bull. Srila Gurudev had given him this name.
While walking in padayatra everybody gets an opportunity to lead kirtans. Even our horse used to dance on this kirtan. Devotees also walk carrying Mother Tulsi on their heads.
namo namah tulasi krishna-preyasi namo namah
radha-krishna-seva pabo ei abilashi (Sri Tulsi Aarti 1)
Translation: O Tulasi, beloved of Krishna, I bow before you again and again. My desire is to obtain the service of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.
This scene is very beautiful to see. Also we can't walk like this at our home. We walk through our feet to reach the Lotus feet of Lord Vitthal. Everyday we are walking towards the Lord, with curiosity to meet the Lord like Akrura. This is Padasevanam.
śrī-prahrāda uvāca
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ
smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ
sakhyam ātma-nivedanam (SB 7.5.23)
Translation: Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṇu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one’s best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words).
Archanam, everyday we perform Aarti for the Lord, Mangla Aarti and morning program. We offer bhoga to the Lord. Vandanam, we offer our obeisances to the Lord and thus start our day like this. We develop friendship with the fellow devotees, while walking, dancing and performing kirtan like this.
Mothers do cook for us. This develops close friendship among the devotees. This is Sakhyam. We support the devotees in all the ways possible. Devotees massage the feet of each other. This relieves the fatigue. They make adjustments with personal comforts.
This year we have planned for hearing Shrimad Bhagavatam katha for 3 hours daily. Previously we used to hear from HG Uddhav prabhu and this year HG Parthsarthi prabhu will join him. The devotees do not honour anything without offering it to the Lord. You can chant as many rounds as possible.
There is a devotee who joins us regularly and he chants 64 rounds everyday. Those who want to lead sankirtan, they also get ample opportunity to lead for hours. All the acharyas have performed padayatra.
Shankaracharya, Madhvacharya, Vallabhacharya, Nimbarkacharya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and even Sri Nityananda prabhu had performed this service. Saint Tukaram Maharaj had started this Dindi padayatra 300 years back from Dehu and Guru Maharaj has taken the same padayatra to 800 countries.
Tukaram Maharaj was troubled because of his wife. Guru Maharaj didn't enter into that troublesome situation, instead he chose to remain Sanyasi. Once HH Navayogendra Swami Maharaj, asked Srila Prabhupada, Prabhupada an astrologer said, I don't have the pleasure of having a good wife in my life.
Srila Prabhupada made a correction, said he is wrong, you don't have pains of having a wife.
Tukaram Maharaj used to go to Sri Pandharpur Dham every year. But one year he was very sick. So he wrote a letter to Lord Vitthal. My dear Lord every year I used to come, but this year I can't manage. For me it's a very difficult task but for you it's very easy. You also have your vehicle Garuda. Please come to meet me.
Sri Rukmini Maiya suggested the Lord, sending Garuda to bring Tukaram Maharaj here. But Tukaram Maharaj refused, he mentioned how can I sit on my Lord's vehicle. Later once Warkari's went back, the Lord Himself came to meet Tukaram Maharaj.
sthāvara-jaṅgama dekhe, nā dekhe tāra mūrti
sarvatra haya nija iṣṭa-deva-sphūrti (CC Madhya 8.274)
Translation: The mahā-bhāgavata, the advanced devotee, certainly sees everything mobile and immobile, but he does not exactly see their forms. Rather, everywhere he immediately sees manifest the form of the Supreme Lord.
As Kunti Maharani praises the Lord.
namaḥ paṅkaja-nābhāya
namaḥ paṅkaja-māline
namaḥ paṅkaja-netrāya
namas te paṅkajāṅghraye (SB 1.8.22)
Translation: My respectful obeisances are unto You, O Lord, whose abdomen is marked with a depression like a lotus flower, who are always decorated with garlands of lotus flowers, whose glance is as cool as the lotus and whose feet are engraved with lotuses.
Every part of his transcendental body is compared to the beautiful soft lotus. We have 3 Dindi yatra’s heading towards Pandharpur Dham. Following the different routes and on the way, distributing Harinam, Srila Prabhupada's books and prasadam. The very first yatra was performed by Lord Shiva and since then it's been going on. There are 8 verses composed by Shankaracharya known as Pandurangastakam.
Pandurangastakam
Mahaa-Yoga-Piitthe Tatte Bhiimarathyaam
Varam Punnddariikaaya Daatum Muni-[I]indraih |
Samaagatya Tisstthantam-Aananda-Kandam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||1||
Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) In the Seat of Great Yoga (Maha Yoga Peetha) (i.e. at Pandharpur) by the bank of river Bheemarathi (has come Panduranga), He has come to give Boons to Pundarika; (He has come) along with the great Munis, Having arrived He is standing like a Source of Great Bliss (of Parabrahman), I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.
Taddid-Vaasasam Niila-Meghaava-Bhaasam
Ramaa-Mandiram Sundaram Cit-Prakaasham |
Varam Tv[u]-Issttikaayaam Sama-Nyasta-Paadam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||2||
Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) Whose Garments are shining like lightning streaks against His Blue Cloud-like shining Form, Whose Form is the Temple of Devi Ramaa (Devi Lakshmi), Beautiful, and a visible manifestation of Consciousness, Who is the most Excellent and an embodiment of Boon-giving (for the Devotees), but (is now) standing on a Brick placing both His Feet on it, worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.
Pramaannam Bhava-Abdher-Idam Maamakaanaam
Nitambah Karaabhyaam Dhrto Yena Tasmaat |
Vidhaatur-Vasatyai Dhrto Naabhi-Koshah
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||3||
Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) The measure of the Ocean of Worldly Existence is (up to) this (much only) for My (Devotees), By holding His Waist with His Hands, He seems to say that, Who is holding the (Lotus) Flower Cup for the Vidhata (Brahma) Himself to Dwell, I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.
Sphurat-Kaustubha-Alangkrtam Kannttha-Deshe
Shriyaa Jusstta-Keyuurakam Shrii-Nivaasam |
Shivam Shaantam-Iiddyam Varam Lokapaalam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||4||
Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) Whose Neck is adorned with a Sparkling Kaustubha Gem, (And) Whose Armlets are loved by Sri (i.e. filled with the splendour of Sri); Who Himself is an abode of Sri, Who is praised for His Auspicious Tranquility (on one hand) and as a Great Protector (on the other hand), I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.
Sharac-Candra-Bimba-[A]ananam Caaru-Haasam
Lasat-Kunnddala-[A]akraanta-Ganndda-Sthala-Anggam |
Japaa-Raaga-Bimba-Adharam Kan.ja-Netram
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||5||
Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) Whose Face reflects the Splendour of the Autumn Moon and has a Captivating Smile (playing over it), and whose Cheeks are possessed by the Beauty of the Shining Ear-Rings dancing over it, Whose Lips have the colour of Hibiscus and appearance of Bimba Fruits; (And) Whose Eyes are as Beautiful as the Lotus, I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.
Kiriitto[a-U]jjvalat-Sarva-Dik-Praanta-Bhaagam
Surair-Arcitam Divya-Ratnair-Anarghaih |
Tribhangga-[A]akrtim Barha-Maalya-Avatamsam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||6||
Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) The Radiance of whose Crown illuminates all the Directions, Who is worshipped by the Suras (Devas) with the most precious Divine Gems, Who stands in the Beautiful Tri-bhanga posture (Bent at three places) adorned with Peacock Feathers and Garlands, I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.
Vibhum Vennu-Naadam Carantam Durantam
Svayam Liilayaa Gopa-Vessam Dadhaanam |
Gavaam Vrndaka-[A]anandadam Caaru-Haasam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||7||
Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) Who has manifested (taking a Form by His own Free-Will) but in essence Who Pervades everywhere; Similarly the melodious Sound of Whose Flute (manifests itself and) wanders about Pervading everywhere, Who by His Own Leela (Divine Sport) put on the Dress of a Gopa (Cowherd Boy), and gave great Joy to the Herd of Cows (and Cowherd Boys in Vrindavana with the melodious Sound of His Flute) and His Beautiful Smile, I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.
ajo ’pi sann avyayātmā
bhūtānām īśvaro ’pi san
prakṛtiṁ svām adhiṣṭhāya
sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā (BG 4.6)
Translation: Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all living entities, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.
Ajam Rukminnii-Praanna-San.jiivanam Tam
Param Dhaama Kaivalyam-Ekam Turiiyam |
Prasannam Prapanna-[A]artihan Deva-Devam
Parabrahma-Linggam Bhaje Paanndduranggam ||8||
Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) Who is without Birth and Who enlivens the Life of Devi Rukmini (by His Love), Who is the one Supreme Abode of Kaivalya in the (fourth) state of Turiya, Who is Gracious to His Devotees, and removes the Distress of those who seek His Refuge; Who is the Deva of the Devas [God of the Gods]. I Worship that Panduranga, Who is the veritable Image (Lingam) of Parabrahman.
Stavam Paanndduranggasya Vai Punnya-Dam Ye
Patthanty[i]-Eka-Cittena Bhaktyaa Ca Nityam |
Bhava-Ambhonidhim Te-[A]pi Tiirtva-Anta-Kaale
Harer-Aalayam Shaashvatam Praapnuvanti ||9||
Translation: (Salutations to Sri Panduranga) This Stava (Eulogy) of Sri Panduranga which confers Punya (Auspiciousness, Merit), those who recite with one-pointed Devotion, everyday, will indeed cross the Ocean of Samsara in the end, and attain the Eternal Abode of Hari.
This is the result one gets by reciting this Astaka everyday. Lord Sri Pandhuranga is very dear to Guru Maharaj and Lord Shiva who has appeared as Sri Shankaracharya has composed this Pandurangastakam. They have made it so easy, we just need to read this Astakam everyday.
And we will go back home back to Godhead. Even Srila Prabhupada used to repeat it very often. Go back home, back to Godhead. So we should walk with our feet towards the Lord's Lotus feet. There are people who are so sick that they can't walk.
If you are getting this opportunity then you shouldn't miss it. There are people who got cured of their diabetes just by walking in this Dindi padayatra. Walking, especially walking for the Lord can do miracles. It's our desire to walk with 750 devotees as an offering for our Guru Maharaj on his 75th Vyas puja.
Once there was a Sadhu who wasn't going to honour prasadam at any one's home. Somebody asked why he is not going to honour prasadam? This Sadhu replied, I can only go to a person's house who has performed 100 Asvamedha Yagna. Draupadi herself came to receive him and she asked why he was not coming.
The Sadhu narrated his condition and then Draupadi replied, each step we walk in this dham is equal to 100 Asvamedha Yagna. I have walked towards you, so I have acquired the result of so many Asvamedha Yagnas, do not worry please come and honour prasadam. The Sadhu was pleased, he honoured prasadam and his plate was picked up by none other than the Lord Dwarkadhish himself.
HG Parthsarthi prabhu speaks, there are some technical issues. We are unable to play the video but we can show PPT. Such good fortune is not even available for the residents of Swarga. They can't touch the holy land but we can. HG Keshav prabhu has been struggling to keep it running for so many years and later other devotees joined.
Dindi means an instrument which can stop our cycles of birth and death. This is an engagement activity. We need to be dynamic not stable to execute this service. Dindi is a moving temple. You can share this news with other devotees. And also you can support us with your body, mind and assets. Let's thank all the devotees by chanting Hare Krsna Mahamantra.
