English
06 April 2024
Glories of Harinaam Sankirtan
Speaker: HG Anantasesa prabhu
Hare Krsna. Today is Dwadashi and it is the disappearance day of Srila Govinda Ghosh, one of the associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Also, it is the 71st appearance day of HG Aindra prabhu.
Govinda Ghosh and his brothers Vasudeva and Madhava are the eternal associates of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda Prabhu.
kaldvati rasollasa gunatunga vraje sthitah
sri-visakha-krtam gitam gayanti smadya ta matah
govinda-madhavananda-vasudeva yatha-kramam
(Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika 188)
Translation: Govinda, Madhava and Vasudeva were gopis in Vraja, namely Kalavati, Rasollasa and Gunatunga, who used to sing the songs composed by Vishakha.
Kalavati, Rasavati and Gunatunga were three Gopis who used to assist Sri Vishakha Sakhi in Krsna lila. The same three gopis have appeared as these three brothers in Chaitanya lila. They lived in Agradwipa.
Kalavati Gopi - Govind, Rasollasa Gopi - Madhav and Gunatunga Gopi - Vasudeva.
We can read about their Kirtans in Chaitanya Charitamrita. Even Nityananda Prabhu would dance uncontrollably when Govinda Ghosh would lead kirtans. It would give immense pleasure to Sri Nityananda Prabhu. When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was residing in Jagannath Puri after accepting sanyas initiation, they were wonderful singers especially very dear to Swarup Damodar and Nityanand prabhu.
Govinda das who was a personal secretary of Mahaprabhu was different. He used to be the leading Kirtanya in the fourth troop out of seven which Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would organize during the Jagannath Rath Yatra.
Srila Govinda Ghosh Thakura is known for his most sweet kirtans at the annual Ratha-Yatra festival celebrated by Lord Chaitanya at Jagannatha Puri. Govinda Ghosh participated in Mahaprabhu’s lilas in Shrivasa Angan, in the Nagara-Sankirtan to the Kazi’s house, and in the house of Raghava Pandit. During the Ratha yatra festival, he was the lead singer in the fourth kirtan group, accompanied by his two brothers, Junior Hari Das, Vishnu Das and Raghava Pandit. Vakreshvara Pandit joined this group as the principal dancer.
govinda, madhava, vasudeva—tina bhai
yan-sabara kirtane nace caitanya-nitai (CC. 1.10.115)
Translation: The three brothers Govinda, Madhava and Vasudeva were the eighty-second, eighty-third and eighty-fourth branches of the tree. Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda used to dance in their kirtana performances.
prabhura ajñaya nityananda gaude calila
tanra sange tina-jana prabhu-ajñaya aila (CC. 1.10.117)
Translation: By the order of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, three Devotees accompanied Lord Nityananda Prabhu when He returned to Bengal to preach.
ramadasa, madhava, ara vasudeva ghosa
prabhu-sange rahe govinda paiya santosa (CC. 1.10.118)
Translation: These three were Ramadasa, Madhava Ghosha and Vasudeva Ghosha. Govinda Ghosha, however, remained with Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri and thus felt great satisfaction.
His wife and son passed away very early. Now, since he had no children, Govinda worried about who would perform his funeral rites. Then Shri Gopinatha, Govinda Ghosh's Deity, appeared in a dream promising that he himself would do everything.
Still today, the Gopinatha Deity arranges for the Tirobhava Mahotsava (the disappearance day festival) of His pure devotee, Govinda Ghosh.
pranera mukunda he
ki aji shunilu acambite?
kahite parana jaya mukhe nahi bahiraya
shri gauranga chariibe navadvipa
ihato na jani mo rasakale milinun gora
avanata mathe ache basi
nijhare nayana jhare buka bahi dhara parie
malina haiyache mukha shashi (Songs Written by Govinda Ghosh)
Translation: Oh Mukunda! My life! What did I suddenly hear today? If I say it I will die… the words do not want to come out of my mouth. Gauranga is really going to leave Navadwip.We didn’t know this, but we saw Gora this morning; He was sitting with His head bowed in thought. Streams of tears flowed from His eyes and washed over His chest, and His moon-like face had lost its luster.
Even till this day, Sri Sri Gopinath performs his funeral rites (Pinda Dan) every year. In the picture shared on screen we could see this happening.
Also it's the appearance day of Srila Aindra Prabhu. Srila Prabhupada is the empowered Acarya from Goloka and Aindra Prabhu is said to be specially empowered by Srila Prabhupada. Those devotees who are about 20-25 years old in the society now must be knowing Aindra prabhu.
I remember when I went to Vrindavan for the first time in 1999. One of the senior disciples of HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj told me, if you want to advance in Krsna consciousness then you need to practice tranad api sunichena. And if you want to realize this verse and Vrindavan then you should take part in Kirtans lead by HG Aindra Prabhu everyday for at least 3-4 hours.
And It was my realizations that those Kirtans were completely out of this world. HG Aindra prabhu was born in Washington DC. His father was a musician and his mother was an artist. He was an expert musician since childhood and started playing several musical instruments since a very young age.
He came across Srila Prabhupada's book, Beyond birth and death. His marriage life wasn't a very successful one and soon he dedicated his life to Srila Prabhupada’s mission. He would participate in travelling sankirtan parties. He had a flat bed car on which he would perform sankirtan along with his band.
Srila Prabhupada had a desire to set up 24 hour sankirtan party in Vrindavan. He had said, the most important activity of this age, and of ISKCON is, Sankirtan. Building temples, establishing deities and distribution of books is good, that is also a part of Sankirtan, but main is Harinaam Sankirtan.
Srila Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami explains, there would be festivals at Advaita acharya prabhu's house and the schedule for those festivals would be Krsna Katha, feast and kirtans. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also participated happily in Sankirtan.
ānandita haila ācārya, śacī, bhakta, saba
prati-dina kare ācārya mahā-mahotsava (CC Madhya 3.200)
Translation: Lord Caitanya’s decision was received very happily by Advaita Ācārya, mother Śacī and all the devotees. Advaita Ācārya celebrated every day with a great festival.
dine kṛṣṇa-kathā-rasa bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge
rātre mahā-mahotsava saṅkīrtana-raṅge(CC Madhya 3.201)
Translation: During the day the devotees discussed subject matters concerning Kṛṣṇa, and at night there was a great festival of congregational chanting at the house of Advaita Ācārya.
ānandita hañā śacī karena randhana
sukhe bhojana kare prabhu lañā bhakta-gaṇa(CC Madhya 3.202)
Translation: Mother Śacī cooked with great pleasure, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, along with the devotees, accepted the prasādam with great pleasure.
ācāryera śraddhā-bhakti-gṛha-sampada-dhane
sakala saphala haila prabhura ārādhane(CC Madhya 3.203)
Translation: In this way all the opulences of Advaita Ācārya — His faith, devotion, home, riches and everything else — were successfully utilized in the worship of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
āra dina prabhu kahe saba bhakta-gaṇe
nija-nija-gṛhe sabe karaha gamane(CC Madhya 3.206)
Translation: The next day, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested all the devotees to return to their respective homes.
ghare giyā kara sabe kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana
punarapi āmā-saṅge ha-ibe milana(CC Madhya 3.207)
Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu also asked them to execute the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord at their homes, and He assured them that they would be able to meet Him again.
Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu instructed the assembled Grashthas, go home and perform Harinaam Sankirtan, and those who will do so, will get my association. Advaita Acarya established the standards of an ideal Grihastha Vaishnava.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked all the devotees to at least have Sankirtan for 3 hours everyday. Most important is engagement in Harinam Sankirtan. In Initial days, ISKCON became famous as Hare Krsna movement. This is because mostly all the devotees were seen only singing on the streets. Even Aindra Prabhu quoted this verse when I was there listening to him. Almost for 24 years continuously Aindra Prabhu dedicated his life to Harinam Sankirtan.
sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ (BG 18.66)
Translation: Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
His life was an example of dedication to the holy name and the holy abode of Krsna, Sri Vrindavan Dham - Naam Nishitha and Dhaam Nishtha. He established Akhanda Harinaam Sankirtan in 1986 and since then he engaged in that till he breathed his last in 2010. Even today Kirtan is the biggest attraction in ISKCON Vrindavan for all the visitors. There were not many devotees having this dedication towards this service.
Only one devotee used to help him, his name was Sri Nitai Das. Aindra Prabhu used to even chant for 8 hours continuously. He had no Mridanga player or Kartal Players. He would play his harmonium, and wear ankle bells using them as Kartal.
satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ
yatantaś ca dṛḍha-vratāḥ
namasyantaś ca māṁ bhaktyā
nitya-yuktā upāsate (BG 9.14)
Translation: Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.
He would not even like to go to Loi bazar to speak, it was as if going out of Sri Vrindavan Dham. He was very happy when he received his Indian citizenship.
He never got his Visa made. He had 2000 shaligram Shilas which he would serve everyday and chant a minimum of 64 rounds everyday. The devotees would hardly find him sleeping ever. He would read a lot of books by Srila Prabhupada and various other Acaryas. He would deliver a very long Shrimad Bhagavatam class.
Many ISKCON devotees lost their interest in visiting Sri Vrindavan Dham when Sripad Aindra Prabhu left this planet. He was innocent like a child, he would be pleased very quickly. But also, he would get angry whenever there were some small mistakes in kirtans. Aindra Prabhu's kirtans were major attractions in ISKCON Vrindavan.
After he left his body, he empowered his energy to several of his followers to continue these kirtans such as HG Madhav prabhu, HG Akinchan Krsna prabhu, HG Kirtan premi Prabhu and some others. He insisted that every devotee must make Harinam Sankirtan as an important part of his life.
Once HG Akinchana Bhakta Prabhu asked me, that whose disciple are you and in response when I replied, HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj, he said Maharaj is one of the pure devotees still present on this planet. HG Aindra Prabhu would appreciate Guru Maharaj a lot and glorify him.
I remember when HG Aindra prabhu and Guru Maharaj used to perform kirtans together. HG Aindra prabhu is one of the important unsung heroes of our mission.
Hare Krsna.
