English
Today I am leaving Kumbha-mela. I am going to Pune for Bureau meetings. In transit I will be in Bangalore for some time.
There is so much to say to inspire you to keep chanting. We had Utsava in Pandharpur and then here in Kumbha-mela. Utsav increases our 'Utsaha’ (enthusiasm). We become more enthusiastic and inspired. That is the very reason why Prabhupada arranged, Mayapur-Vrndavana festivals. The devotees come and get their battery charged. He would say like that. Used to invite us to get inspired. That also happened here with us in these few days in Kumbha-mela. Specially yesterday's highlight was that we distributed lots of books. You will be pleased to hear that yesterday 22000 Bhagavad-Gitas were distributed here. By this you will also feel inspired to read Srila Prabhupad's books. Those who really understand Prabhupada's books take up the chanting. The essence of the teachings of the scriptures and Srila Prabhupada's books purports are meant to inspire the whole world to take up chanting. That is the essence of all instructions.
We had nice holy dip yesterday. It took lot of time to get there. So many parties were there. You will be amazed to know that three crore pilgrims took bath yesterday at Triveni Sangam. Everyone was fighting to get there. aham purvam aham purvam Whenever Lord Dhanvantari emerged with the Kumbh - the pot filled with nectar, then demigods and demons , suras and asuras started fighting to get that nectar. Bhagavatam describes - aham purvam aham purvam. Yesterday all the parties were fighting to get their first. Aham purvam I will go first. On our way to take bath there we were chanting continuously,
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Bathing in the nectar of Hare Krishna mahamantra! Those who were hearing that were already bathing in that nectar. Chanting and hearing. Hearing is important. Only chanting is not enough. If hearing doesn't happen then it is incomplete. You are chanting and others are hearing, but what about you, the chanter? They say ‘ Charity begins at home.’ So it is giving charity to yourself. Feed the holy name to yourself. Drink! Let the soul drink the holy name.
We had a lot of association here. Sadhu-sang. We were remembering and reminding ourselves, when we were taking the holy dip at the confluence that the River Saraswati is not visible here. Out of Ganga,Jamuna and Saraswati. We were able see the waters of the Ganga coming from one direction, and of Jamuna coming from Vrndavan side and they were merging. But where was Saraswati? She is quite mysterious and invisible to our eyes. Here at Kumbha-mela understanding is - Saraswati appears from the mouth of the Sadhus. When Sadhus speak Hari-katha , Upadeshamrit- srunvanti gayanti grunanti sadhavaha as said in Bhagavatam. Sadhus are always busy hearing and talking about the Lord. When the Name of the Lord , Katha of the Lord emanates from their lotus mouth, Sarswati makes her appearance here at Triveni Sangam. So sadhusanga is most essential. If you take a bath and did not listen and associate with Sadhus who are learned and devoted then that kind of bathing is described by the Lord himself in Bhagavatam as gokhara - no better than the ass of the cow. We had a lot of association here. Giving association , taking association. We had lots of ISKCON devotees from all over the planet.
Here is the devotee who has set up all the arrangements over here. He missed you. I missed you all here. So next time , Haridwar Kumbha-mela in 2022, after 3 years in February-March around Gaur-purnima time, you can come to Haridwar Kumbha-mela. You will find Sanak-Sanatan Prabhuji again organising the Mela arrangements. We had a good time here and feel enthused and inspired to carry on our devotional services. This year's target for distributing books in Kumbha-mela is 400 thousand books. Devotees mostly from Delhi , NCR and some other places are distributing books. Tons of books are being distributed and lots of Harinama. In that way, we were making nectar available on all days, and not only on Shahi-snan day. Yesterday, 10 February this nectar will appear at Triveni Sangam and Shahi-snan will be conducted. But in between also everyday the nectar of Harinama was made available by chanting party all over Kumbha-mela. There was Harinamamrit, and Kathamrit, prasadamrit was made available. Full prasada was made available. Yesterday I spent one hour distributing prasada. Very well organized kitchen here by Chowpatty devotees. Gauranga Prabhuji had come. They have designed ‘chapati’ making machine. It's amazing. They cook 1000 chapatis/ hour. You should be inspired by the devotees preaching endeavour. Srila Prabhupada had said in 1977 Kumbha-mela, we don't come to Kumbha-mela to attain liberation, we are already liberated. We are engaged in devotional service of the Lord, So we are already liberated. We come here to propagate devotional service of the Lord. We give Krishna. ‘Take Krishna’ in form of the holy name, in form of prasada. We all are trying to execute Srila Prabhupada's instructions about Kumbha-mela.
My time is running out. I have to reach the airport . Thank you once again. We had 290 participants today. See you all again another day.
Hare Krishna!
