By Lokanath Maharaja and Padayatris
Lokanath Swami (Minister of padayatra) speaks: Srila Prabhupada of course he was thinking of spreading Krishna Consciousness, spreading the holy name specially far and wide to make predictions of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu come true.
“sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma”
Translation: My name will name will be chanted at every town and every village .
Srila Prabhupada was thinking,’thinking’ how to accomplish this, and one of the strategy that he came up with was the padayatra program.
All India Padayatra at Rameshwar Dhama
Acharya Dasaa (manager of padayatra):- Hare Krishna this is Padayatra of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). It was Srila Prabhupada’s desire that this padayatra should go in every village. It was the order of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that His name should be preached in nagar adi gram. So this order was given to Lokanath Swami Maharaja ji by Srila Prabhupada and Maharaja is doing that service since 32 year to continue his order and now also it is going on . (Mangal arati in voice of Srila Prabhpada, kirtan, Prem dhawani)
servicenanda Dasaa (Padayatri):- Many people come in Mangala arti, take Lord’s darshan’s, chant the names of the Lord 108 time’s, take scriptures like Bhagvatam and Bhagvat Gita and write the name of Lord 108 times, Hare Krishna Mahamantra. (Chanting session)
Lokanath Swami Maharaja :- Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu he had performed similar padayatra walking festival spreading the holy name and we come in that Parampara of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, so following his footsteps we walk. (Shringar arati)
Madangopal Hari Dasaa (assistant pojari and book distributor): Hare Krishna my name is Madangopal Hari Dasaa, I am assistant pojari, I clean Lord’s utensils, i perform shayan aarti of theLord in the afternoon, after that I go for book distribution, because Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said,
“jāre dekha, tāre kaha ‘kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa
āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra’ ei deśa”
So I am serving in this preaching mission of Srila Guru Maharaja and Srila Prabhupad.a Hare Krishna
Lokanath Swami : I was thinking how to glorify Srila Prabhupada, what offering could I make on the 100th birth Anniversary. So we took a pledge of organizing the padayatra in hundred country’s and by understanding, co-operation and participation of devotees around the world we organized padayatra in more than hundred country’s. ( kirtan)
In 1976 I was traveling in the German buses but then buses were sent back to Germany, we were left with no mode of transportation. So Prabhupada said “bullock cart” go travel with the bullock cart and we were asked to travel from Vrindavan to Mayapur and we covered that journey in five months.
Iin between we met Srila Prabhupada also in 1977 Jan in Kumbha mela and Prabhupada wanted to know how everything went with of Bullock cart sankirtan party or padayatra party and I gave the whole detail narration the experience I shared and Prabhupada was very happy. He was hearing with full attention and wanted to know more and more. I remember that happy face of Srila Prabhupada even this day and that is what keeps me going on, that is source of my inspiration to go on and on with this bullock cart sankirtan or padayatra.(Kirtan in continuation)
Sooraj Kishan: Hare Krishna, I am serving in padayatra, I am not good at Hindi but I am trying, this padyatra is very nice opportunity to serve, this is Prabhupada’s mission, it is Prabhupada’s desire that in India, in whole world we should preach about Lord. So this padayatra is very nice mission to preach about Lord. So I pray at your feet, kindly bless me so that I may serve Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet and Krishna’s lotus feet. Hare Krishna.
servicenanda Dasaa: Padayatra is also an important part of preaching. There and many devotees serving in this padayatra, some devotees are serving from 12 years , 10 years , some new devotees are also there from 2 months, 3 months and congregation also helps us a lot, our accomodation, serving the oxen, feeding the oxen and our vegetables, rice, medical help, clothes, they help us in various ways .(Achyutam Keshavam, Krishna Damodaram Ram Narayanm Janaki vallhbham Vaishnav song in back ground)
Siva (a chariot driver): Hare Krishna, my name is Siva and I am in padayatra from 2 years, this is our Nitai Gaursundar, our oxen, they walk 10-15 kilometers everyday, these oxen are very special, I am serving them, I am very fortunate, these bulls have walked Char Dham ( holy places). Srila Prabhupada said “These bulls will never have to take birth again, this is very important. In the morning I feed them and at 9 or 10 o’clock I give them water and feed them grass, then when we reach our destination, I give them jaggery water, then at 3 o’clock grains and fodder and in evening I feed them with grass and water and let them rest in a nice place. Hare Krishna.
Sarooj Kishan Dasaa (Helper for oxen service): Now a days my service is oxen service. Its important as in scripture. I got inspiration when I serve them. Because when oxen lift the bullock cart without command and serve Lord daily without any condition. It like they are born to serve, they automatically go and stand near the chariot and get them yoked easily.
Partha Sakha Dasaa (advance party team member): From last eight years I am in padayatra . My service is of advance party. We stay anywhere sometimes we get place like kalyan mandap, temple wherever Krishna has planned for us. We walked daily 10 to 12 km. Morning at 7.30 we start walking with our chariot then after that tractor comes after making prasadam. Then at particular place where water or other facilities available we stay there, we clean the area and take permission of villagers. Then we do all the arrangements for all the devotees, fill water for the padayatris and the oxen.
Acharya Dasaa (Manager of padayatra):- This yatra has stared in 1984 from Dwarka and till now it has covered more than 1 lakh 50 thousand kilometers. We have visited many holy pilgrimage places in this padayatra like Dwarka, Badrinath, Jagannath Puri, Rameswaram and many in holy places in south India, and in north India, Gaya , Ayodhya, Chitrakoot and this yatra continuing from 32 years and in future also will go on. So the main goal of this padayatra is to go to every village and do sankirtan of Lord’s name and 30 to 32 devotees stay in this padayatra and daily they do sankirtan, distribute Prabhupada books and Prasadam distribution in lakhs of villages and cities. And many people taken the Bhagvad Gita and make their life Krishna conscious. (Kirtan in background)
Sevananda Dasaa (padayatra):- There are many programs in this padayatra and the prominent one is distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books. Prabhupada books can deliver these fallen souls, who are like animals, they can also be made devotees and sent back to home, Bhagvad gita, Bhagavatam, small books, big books, many books are distributed in police station, railway station, office, school, college and in every street preaching is going on and we feel every happy distributing these books.
Rasa Raj Gour Dasa (Charanamrit and book distributor):- This charanamrita is the holy water of abhshek of the Lord which is distributed all over India or world through padayatra. All Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists all are benefitted if they take it. This holy water of 7 rivers Ganga, Jamuna, Godavari, Kaveri, Saraswati, Krishna, etc. Is in this charnamarita.
Uttamnarahari Dasa (Book distributor):- I always liked All India padayatra because when I was in temple I felt boring so I wished to go to padayatra like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited all over India. My desire was also to go to places where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went that’s why I joined this padayatra. And daily there are new experinces for me, I preached so many people and done book distribution. Sometimes quarrels happen, sometimes misunderstanding happens, sometimes we force a little to take books and many kind of experience we get, so we like it and we visit all holy places, daily nagar sankirtan, prasad distribution, so it feels very nice. Many people travel alone but that is of no use, we have association of the devotees, Hari katha, prasad and everything we do together so its great.
Akhila Dhara Dasa (USA): My name is Akhila Dhara Dasa and I have been member of padayatra America and also since 11 years with padayatra India and, here we are in this village Kamadi, and this is a school which is our daily activity to stay in school’s with children’s. They are very enthusiastic about Krishna consciousness, even in speaking English so I can interact very nicely together, they are very open for Krishna consciousness especially in the villages. So this is a very wonderful service all over India and all the temples, holy places, I really get to learn the culture and realize what real Krishna consciousness means specially with these kids. So it is been great happiness to share this message, Prabhpada has given me, Mahaprabhu Sankirtan Yajna, so thank you. Hare Krishna.
(Other devotee): I am preparing this cloth as a cover for the plate of the Lord. I’ve noticed that the threads at the edge of the soft cloth keep’s becoming loose, so I’m gathering them together by rolling them up. Hare Krishna!
Dhiranayak Dasa (Head pujari): My name is Dhiranayak Dasa. I am in the Padayatra since last 5 years. My noteworthy experience is, previously I tried to join our temple full time, twice but due to some reasons had to return back home. But the third time when I joined the Padayatra from Vrindavan, till now in this padayatra by the mercy of Sri Sri Nitai Gaur-Sundar and Srila Prabhupada. The joy of prasadam and the soul-stirring Kirtan during this Padayatra gives me immense pleasure. And specially the blessings of Sri Nitai Gaur-Sundar and Srila Prabhupada graces everyone who participates in this Padayatra, which spans across the entire India. Hare Krishna!
Acharya Dasa (manager of Padayatra): Currently the Padayatra is in Rameshwaram where we worshipped and received blessings in Dhanushyakoti Ramanathji’s temple, and a renowned Shiv Linga. We also visited numerous spiritual places nearby to receive the blessings of Shivling and Ramachandra. You also can join us in the Padayatra, chant Hari’s name and through these blessings you can spread the holy name, Hari katha and Hari prasad amongst others.
Bhakta Daniel (from USA): So, this Padayatra is very nice and we are in different village every night. It really helps one to become unattached to so many material dualities and because everything is different, you really have to surrender to Krishna, this is why I wanted to do this. It’s also very adventurous and Krishna is adventurous. Krishna is actually unlimited, so we are out here experiencing some of his varied greatness. Even though this is a material world, we are chanting, dancing, distributing books, so everything is becoming spiritualized. This is very good for any devotee who wants to make advancements in Krishna consciousness, it can really help unentangle you from a lot of material entrapment and really force you to surrender to Krishna.
Pralhad Vatsal Dasa: (Head cook) considering the devotees’ health, I cook prasadam with utmost love. Most of the devotees are from Bengal, so I make different rice dishes to bring them joy. Devotees after having the rice look happy, that fills my heart with happiness as well.
Acharya Dasa: (manager of padayatra); So the main goal of this padayatra is distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books, distributing the holy name ofLord Hari, distributing prasad. So many ISKCON devotees distribute books but it’s very difficult, but by the help of this padayatra, seeing Gaur Nitai, seeing the bulls, lakhs of people come and purchase books, and by this padayatra thousands and crores of books are distributed and daily this padayatra walks 10 to 15 kilometres, and many people come and take books, prasad, charanamrita, holy name, and different programs are conducted from mangala arti till evening Gaur arti, people visit and in Gaur arti also very much harinaam sankirtan is done prasad is given, this divine program is happening by padayatra from 32 years.
Pralhad Vatsal Dasa:(Head cook): It is said ” The way to heart is via stomach” so therefore we try to distribute prasad, I like cooking and I always try to cook tasty prasad and give them, they don’t take interest in philosophy but after eating prasad they join our temples.
Dayapara Dasa (Europe): Dear devotees, if you want to be stronger in your devotional service and spread Krishna consciousness to so many people in different places in India, then you must go to padayatra because here is the higher taste, please come and you will see.
Lokanath Swami (minister of padayatra): We had organized padayatra to celebrate Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s 500th anniversary and we had walked starting from Dwarka all the way to Kanyakumari, down south, and then up the east coast of India all the way to Mayapur, and original idea was to stop there but we couldn’t just stop, we were unstable by seeing the potential and grand success of padayatra festival we decided to go on and on and the India padayatra has gone on since then, not stopped, did the ‘parikrama’ circumambulation of India, Char Dham yatra, four times gone around the Indian continent. Even during Prabhupada’s time when there was just one bullock cart Sankirtan that was going on wonderfully, Prabhupada was so pleased, he wrote to Nityananda Prabhu in America it was part of one farm there and Prabhupada said referring to our bullock cart sankirtan party in India and how successfully it is going on, Prabhupada said, “We could have millions of such carts all over the world.” So Prabhupada gave a kind of vision or set a target that we should have millions of cart’s all over the world.
Srila Prabhupada ki jai
Chant and be happy
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
