By Damodarlila dasa, Maharashtra Padayatra leader
As padayatra was about to leave Pandharpur dhama on July 27 our spiritual master, Lokanath Maharaja, came and blessed us with his nectarine association and showered his blessings and words of wisdom upon us:
Our spiritual centre is Pandharpur. When people will ask the padayatris, “From where this padayatra has come?” what will you tell? Pandharpur dhama, ki jai.
You also spread the glories of Pandharpur wherever you go. You all have to keep chanting the holy name and also introduce Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar to the general public, as people do not know Them. Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar, ki jai.
People will say, “We know the Lord who has His hands on His waist, the one who plays the flute. We know Dhanurdhar Ram.” Arjuna was also Dhanurdhar. But they’ll ask, “Who’s this Lord whose hands are raised? How are They Lord?”
You need to tell them: “They are Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. Sri krishna chaitanya radha krishna naahe anya – Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is none other than the combined form of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. Vrajendra-nandana jei, saci-suta hoilo sei, balarama hoilo nitai – Lord Krishna, who is the son of the King of Vraja, became the son of Saci (Lord Chaitanya) and Balarama became Nitai.”
In simple language, the padayatris have to tell everyone; they have to introduce these Lords. Tell them that the Lord Vitthal has come: “Vitthal Vitthal aala – Lord Vitthal has come to meet you in your village. Jei gour sei krishna sei Jagannath – Vasudeva Ghosha says with folded hands, ‘He who is Goura is He who is Krishna is He who is Jagannath.’ Sei Vitthal – in this form Lord Vitthal himself came to meet you, so meet Them, take Their darshan, especially take Their name. Sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama – in every town and village the chanting of My name will be heard.” (Caitanya-bhagavata Antya 4.126)
“The chanting of My holy name will be heard in every town and village,” says Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. But we are telling “say Hare Krishna Hare Krishna.” This is the name of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
What is Their identity? Sri Krishna Chaitanya Radha Krishna. No. “I am Radha Krishna. Spreading My name means spreading the holy name, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. This is My name only.” It is the same thing. “Cutting the canal,” Prabhupada writes in the meaning. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu states: “golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtan – the only remedy is harinama sankirtan, the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, which is imported from the spiritual world, Goloka Vrindavan.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta)
He took harinama sankirtan to Mayapur and the flood came to “prema.” This flood of harinama was taken there by the members of the Pancatattva and by the followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Haridas Thakur. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ordered them: “Go to every house – prati ghare ghare giya koro ei bhiksa bolo ‘krsna’, bhajo krsna, koro krsna-siksa.” This same order is for these padayatris: “gehe gehe jane jane” – ge means home, gehe gehe means in every house, and jane jane means to people. This harinama should not be preached till village or town only, by which will be heard by roads and walls. What is our goal? “Spreading My name in every town, every village” means what? Every person is a target, the holy name must reach them.
Damodarlila prabhu, ki jai. He is leading this Maharashtra Padayatra. Four months have gone since padayatra was here in Pandharpur. Now they have gained so much spiritual strength and excitement and they are departing. Keep going like this. We are with you. Srila Prabhupada is with you. Nitai-Gaurasundar are also there. It feels like Srila Prabhupada himself is taking Nitai-Gaurasundar to every place. Who introduced Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to this world? Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada, ki jai. We have to continue this work started by him. In 1976, I think the date was September 10, the first bullock cart padayatra was inaugurated at the place where Prabhupada used to live, in his quarters. There coconut was broken and padayatra was inaugurated. Prabhupada guided us for an hour.
Yesterday I met the padayatris and we discussed for thirty to forty-five minutes. I remember Prabhupada ordering me. The Lord’s desire is Prabhupada’s desire. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s prediction: “prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama – in every town and village the chanting of My name will be heard.” (Caitanya-bhagavata Anya 4.126) Srila Prabhupada made this plan to prove Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s prediction right and started a bullock cart sankirtan party. I am following the order of Srila Prabhupada. Slowly you all take the responsibilities and keep doing padayatra. Okay, so you all are ready.
Nitai-Gaura premanande, Hari Hari bol.
The devotees of Pandharpur can join the padayatra till the border of Pandharpur, where we are preaching.
