KIRTAN MELA LIVES ON IN OUR HEARTS

... Therefore this is the best among all the places in the universe.
The Krishna consciousness movement has established its center in Māyāpur,
the birthsite of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, to give men the great opportunity
to go there and perform a constant festival of sańkīrtana-yajña,
as recommended herein (yajñeśa-makhāmahotsavāḥ) and to distribute prasāda to millions of hungry people hankering for spiritual emancipation.
This is the mission of the Krishnaconsciousness movement... (SB 6-19-24)

This year, Gaur Purnima 2012 started differently.

The festival started with a kirtan mela. What does that mean? a gathering of kirtans lovers? Extended kirtans? Isn’t it always there? What is the difference? Of course there are going to be kirtans, at Gaur Purnima time specially. What is the difference?

It was special.

The samkalpa, intention, the purpose, the consciousness of the kirtans was different.It was truly a sankirtana-yajna, blessed by our sampradaya. It effects were felt throughout, at least, this planet

CONSCIOUSNESS

Have you ever chanted your rounds more or less mindlessly? I am embarrassed to say I have. It can be drudgery, a painstaking mumbling that never seems to end, a litany of offenses, no taste, only a weak sense of duty dragging the chanter along. Kirtan can be also be like that. It can feel empty, just a nice performance or it can....

Paradoxically, what happens if you chant rounds with the intention of making a connection with Krishna asking Him to hear you, begging for forgiveness or service, or just truly calling out for Him? Is there a difference? This is the difference that was felt during the kirtans mela. Singing for timeless, eternal moments from heart to Consciousness, from soul to Krishna, calling out in unison, thousands together with complete disregard for aching knees, tired bodies, social decorum, good voice, bad voice… total abandon.


The leading kirtaniyas, assuming their roles to not only lead a melody but to bring about a mood, shared their intention to connect, to offer the chanting to Krishna. From time to time, some would remind us, “chant from your heart… Louder, everybody…from the heart, more heart….” We appreciated the guidance and reciprocated with our full presence. Full presence.

A hall full of devotees, no prajalpa, no blah blah blah, just chanting, clapping, dancing welcoming Krishna to touch our consciousness.

KIRTAN RELATIONSHIP

In relationships there are two. In kirtans, there are many twos: me with Krishna, you with Krishna, he with Krishna, she with Krishna etc…. Sort of like in the rasa dance, everyone being alone with Krishna, in a unique and exclusive relationship, while all being together. Krishna is there, present in His Name, He is His Name looking for an excuse to re-unite with us. Jiva Goswami describes Krishna as thinking in the following way when he hears the devotee chant: “He called My Name, he is mine, let me take care…” This is exemplified in the story of Ajamila. Ajamila did not even call out to Krishna, he simply caled out "Narayana" his son's name, without thinking and also without offense, yet He choose to hear it as a plea for His mercy and attention. Krishna is ready to take over our lives, all we have to do is to abandon our will to His, not only during the kirtans but for the rest of our existence.

“0 Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, 0 Lord, make me dance as You like. I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krishna.”
(Srila Prabhupada upon his arrival to the US in 1965)

Oh Krishna, do make me dance. I also want to be your puppet. Please disregard my flaws and fan my desire to return to your service. Not even a blade of grass moves without your will, please take this lowly, lower than a piece of grass soul and engage her in the service of your Name eternally. 

Friends had asked me, “if you are working on organizing the event you will not be able to attend all the time, I couldn’t do that. You will miss out on the kirtans.” Somewhow it was not my concern and now I can firmly say that serving the Kirtan Mela IS being in the Kirtans Mela. Whenever I would enter the kirtan hall, it was as though I had been there for hours non-stop. Even if I had to reply or send a text regarding mela administration on my cell phone in between mantras, it felt like chanting. It was the best service opportunity, Krishna ever gave me. Thank you Krishna. When I left midday for refreshments, I would curse the moments it took me to return, wishing I could fly from one location to the other.

What others are saying lately:

Antardwip das prabhu

 “Kirtan Mela changed my whole experience of Mayapur festival. Whenever I would go into the Kirtan Hall, I would come out completely refreshed and relaxed no matter what sort of admin challenges I had to deal with. It was like a non-stop cleansing parlor on the Mayapur campus.” – (Antardwip prabhu, Mayapur TV project manager)

Mahamaya devi dasi

“It was so nice for local devotees to be able to be part of such an event.” – (humble prabhu from the treasury office)

“…Kirtan Mela is what Mayapur Festival should always be. Now I have a problem, I have the recordings of Kirtan Mela, and sing along, both with the leaders and chorus, can’t stop. I find it hard to stop a kirtan even to go to bed… it is the way the kirtans leaders really try to include everyone, it is not between the singer and Krishna it is between everyone and Krishna, not a performance.” – (Mahamaya dd, senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada)

(see KirtanMela.org for more feed-backs or to order audio files of the event)

POST MELA

Last Sunday, more than 3 weeks after the Mela ended, I participated in a kirtan in a private home. It was ecstatic, we kept chanting till 10:30 pm, even the allurement of the prasadam waiting, variety of ripe fresh seasonal fruits, nuts and other ekadasi specials, could not interfere with our enthusiasm. One kirtan leader after the other, chanting with all their attention focused on the Lord, and the chorus following both the mood and the melodies. As I entered the prasadam room, one god-brother said to me: "Tonight you have brought back the mela." I was dumb struck and overwhelmed with the responsibility. "I brought back the mela!" It made me think. "Is the mela back or is it that it has not and will not leave us. How can anyone think that I can bring the mela back?

... there is no love without free will...

The mela mood, feeling is for each one of us to keep alive in our heart, no one can do it for us anymore than anyone can chant our rounds for us. No one can impose on another a consciousness, love is a matter of choice, there is no love without free will...

Whenever we chant with our heart, that same feeling we were guided to discover, to ignite, to call upon during the mela will return burning our anarthas and fostering our attachment to Krishna and His Name. It is Krishna’s will. It is the power of His Names. All we need is little faith that this sankirtan movement will indeed be glorious,

Param vijayate Sri Krishna sankirtanam!

“I do not know how much nectar the two syllables Krs-na have produced. When the holy name of Krishna is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert. “ – Vidaghda-madhava 1.15 by Rupa Goswami cited in CC Antyalila 1.99

Slowly walking towards unending service and love for Krishna, this servant of a servant prays to one day serve the lotus feet of the servants of Krishna's Vrndavan maid servants.
gopi bhartur padakamalayor dasa dasanudasa

BIRTHDAY - DEATHDAY

A birthday is like a remembrance ceremony, but it repeats every year bringing you closer to the eventual thirobhav.

Every one gathers thinking of you that one day, one moment and wishes you well. Some may send you blessings. Even those who don't quite know you send you greetings just like they will likely attend your smriti smaranam, if they are available... wanting to hear more about you to get to know you.

Recently I have attended remembrance ceremonies for the departed vaisnavas, I always wonder "where was I? why didn't I get to know this wonderful person while he/she was alive? and I lament at my misfortune, my loss of opportunity for association.

Praying to recognize the greatness of others while they live side by side with this insignificant soul.

One step at a time, walking towards Radha Krishna's service and love,

your servant, gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanu-dasah

REFLECTIONS

The following quotes from Srila Prabhupada and HDG Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur represent for me the essence or complete surrender leading to the development of love of GOD. Unalloyed devotion. Please read them slowly, taking in all the words.

"When a person becomes attracted by Krsna and is in full Krsna consciousness, he does not care for any worldly duties, even though very urgent. Krsna consciousness is so powerful that it gives everyone relief from all material activities. Srila Rupa Gosvami has written a very nice verse wherein one gopi advises another, 

"My dear friend, if you desire to enjoy the company of material society, friendship and love, then please do not go to see this smiling boy Govinda, who is standing on the bank of the Yamuna and playing His flute, His lips brightened by the beams of the full moonlight." 

Srila Rupa Gosvami indirectly instructs that one who has been captivated by the beautiful smiling face of Krsna has lost all attraction for material enjoyments. This is the test of advancement in Krsna consciousness: a person advancing in Krsna consciousness must lose interest in material activities and personal sense gratification." (Krishna Book Chap.29)

________________________________________________

This is why I say – you should leave aside all other conceptions that may exist in this world and devote some of your time to listening to the words of Śrī Caitanyadeva. If you spend time listening to His extraordinary philosophical conceptions, which make all other philosophies seem insignificant, then that form of adoration of God (bhagavad-upāsana), which is the path of real peace, will surely appear, and it will lead us to a state in which we are inclined, for example, to nurture the Supreme Lord as our own son. Our moods only become meaningful when we are able to completely dedicate them unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. 


The five transcendental relationships – namely śānta (dispassionate love of God), dāsya (love of God in the mood of a servant), sakhya (love of God in the mood of a friend), vātsalya (love of God in the mood of a parent) and mādhurya (transcendental amour) – exist in all completeness within the Supreme Lord, but we will be unable to gain transcendental knowledge of the Lord if we engage our moods in the worldly counterparts of these five instead of dedicating them to the Supreme Lord Himself.  (HDG Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati thakur, from Śrīla Prabhupādera Upadeśāmṛta)

One step at a time, walking towards Radha Krishna's service and love,

your servant, gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanu-dasah

ATTACHMENT TO MILK... OR KRISHNA?

Recently, I have been reflecting on this question, why do I chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare?

Let me share with you the beginning of my journey with Sri Nama, from arrogance and defiance to duty, attachment and the rest…

I was going to school, catholic high school, and had been assigned to study different religious groups including the Hare Krishna’s. It was a group project and my very studious girl friends had gone to the Montreal Radha Krishna Temple set up in an old bowling alley on Park avenue. They wanted my opinion on this temple, I was trying to do as little work as possible on the project being very aloof and disinterested in life in general what to speak of a school assignment. Next to Mount Royal, a bit of nature in the center of the city, was the home of Jagannath Subhadra and Balaram and may be as many as a dozen devotees. It was very close to McGill University and walking distance to the main downtown shopping area.

Armed with the pride, arrogance and defiance of a sixteen year old ready to confront the world without fear, I visited the temple. One devotee was assigned to answer our questions (challenges). He had been living in the temple for at least 2 weeks so he was considered knowledgeable enough to tackle our questions and I must say he was just perfect, just what I/we needed. Unable to provide responses to all my demanding queries, he simply said: “why don’t you try chanting Hare Krishna? All your answers will be revealed, you see, the proof of the pudding is really in the tasting.” I started chanting, convinced that I could prove him wrong. I started chanting out of challenging arrogance, far from pure chanting yet this name is very powerful.

At one point it became duty. I am not sure when, I remember in early days enjoying my chanting and never wanting to stop, receiving glimpse of taste for the holy name. It may have been when I was raising my family, when four children and the maintenance of household affairs took their toll on my priorities, rendering my chanting to a mere status of duty, habit.

By the performance of sadhana bhakti (dutiful regulated devotional service) sometimes, out of Krishna’s causeless mercy, one will be touched by sprinkles of saffron dust from His lotus feet. As a result somehow, one cannot stop doing his/her seva although not yet immersed in pure loving feelings.

This dust creates the kind of attachment to service that is pregnant with love for Krishna, Krishna prema. Sri Caitanya mahaprabhu, embodiment of both pure love and the beloved prays:

namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-shaktis 

tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah 

etadrishi tava kripa bhagavan mamapi 

durdaivam idrisham ihajani nanuragaha 

O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krsna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them. 

When will I be attracted to the Name, from my heart, spontaneously?

The other day while observing the caturmasya vrata, milk fast, I saw the milk man carrying a full bucket of milk. The sight of that milk, a rich creamy white colour, full of natural sweetness, drew me like iron fillings to a magnet. I could have put both cupped hands in the bucket retrieving ambrosia, I wanted to not only drink it but also feel it. Missing drinking milk, I was feeling an impulsive pull towards the object of my senses. There was no reasoning, just an automatic attraction. It seems so mundane and laughable in retrospect.

This sentiment was a gift, a way for me to begin to understand what it is like to have spontaneous attraction for Krishna whose company I rejected, long ago.

When will my attraction for the holy Name also come from my heart, unannounced, untamed, drawing me to Him the way I felt drawn towards that milk?

When will my hankering for association with the holy name come from within?

When will I feel hunger for the Name, hunger for Krishna in his yuga avatar?

There are 4 different reasons why someone usually chants as described by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur.

1. Fear: what will happen if I don’t chant?
This type of mentality is very obvious for those who see the Supreme person as a punishing God, not a loving God. It is predominant amongst Christians.

2. Hope: will I become free from material suffering? Will I enjoy the pleasures of heaven?
This feeling may also belong to those seeking liberation. What is the use of liberation? At this point it appears boring to me.

3. Duty: I have to, I said I would.
This reason is inherent to the path of sadhana bhakti, both vaidhi sadhana bhakti and raganuga sadhana bhakti. At the vaidhi stage of devotional service, there is no spontaneity whereas at the raganuga stage although externally the practices may appear the same, they are not forced; they are naturally arising from spiritual attachment.  (based on Srila Prabhupada’s Nectar of Devotion - Rupa Goswami’s Bhakti Rasamrta sindhu).

4. Love: Unconditional this reason stands alone and requires no explanation. It is the highest, it is our aim.

There is one additional category, chanting to seek forgiveness from offending the Holy Name. When one offends a vaisnava, the atonement prescribed is to serve that devotee. Similarly when one offends the holy name, it is recommended that one serves the Holy Name to make amends. Of course, there can also be mixed reasons for chanting.


WHAT IS AN OFFENSE TO THE HOLY NAME?

The Ten Offenses in Chanting the Holy Names 
(as described in Srila Prabhupada's Nectar of Devotion)

1. To blaspheme the devotees who have dedicated their lives to the propagation of the holy names of the Lord.

This offense is probably the most dangerous as it comes in a disguise. We may think we are engaging in “constructive criticism” meanwhile we are carelessly judging others. The allurement of this offense is that it provides us with a temporary feeling of superiority, righteousness. It has devastating effects that can be felt immediately, by the introspective devotee. We have no idea who we are dealing with, who is this person next to us that we choose to criticize, or how dear he/she is to Krishna. Therefore it is a safe path to focus on the qualities of others and our own faults.

2. To consider the names of the demigods like lord Shiva or lord Brahma to be equal to, or independent of, the name of Lord Vishnu.

I feel very fortunate that not having heard anything about Brahma or Siva prior to meeting Srila Prabhupada, I do not have any tendency to compare Krishna’s beautiful names, qualities and pastimes to demigods. It is none the less something to watch for.

3. To disobey the orders of the spiritual master.

4. To blaspheme the Vedic literature or literature in pursuance of the Vedic version.

5. To consider the glories of chanting Hare Krishna as imagination.

6. To give mundane interpretation of the holy name of the Lord.

Ajamila escaped the Yamadutas

There are several translations provided for the maha mantra. The one Srila Prabhupada most often quoted is “My dear Lord Krishna, dear Radha, please engage me in your service.” Hare, Krishna and Rama are all in vocative form meaning calling out to Radha, Krishna. One can call out in surrender, in love, in separation, in desperation … but calling must be there. If one is only chanting unconsciously, he/she may reach liberation, he may be able to ward off the Yamadutas as did Ajamila, but he will not be able to reach a loving relationship with Krishna in one of the five primary rasas, the ultimate goal of my life.

Whenever we call a friend by his/her name, immediately in our minds we see them. The way they act, talk, move, dress… what is stopping us from making this connection between Krishna and His names? Do we know Him as well as our friend? What does He do? How does He act, talk, move, dress? We can increase our connection to Krishna by hearing the descriptions of his qualities and activities and remembering it. By getting to know Him once again. Once that bond is firmly established we will certainly feel Krishna’s presence and be able to remember our eternal position in His lila.

7. To commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the holy names of the Lord.

8. To consider the chanting of Hare Krishna as one of the auspicious, ritualistic activities which are offered in the Vedas as fruitive activities (karma-kanda).

9. To instruct a faithless person about the glories of the holy name.

10. To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy names and to maintain material attachments even after understanding so many instructions on this matter. It is also offensive to be inattentive while chanting.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakur

To not have complete faith includes faith that Krishna and his name can completely take care of you, in every aspect. There is no need for separate endeavors. Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Thakur who is known for his strong speeches and uncompromising determination says:

“Those who think that all wants cannot be fulfilled by the performance of Harinam samkirtan, to that extent,
such people are atheists.” 

100% faith,100% surrender, 100% theism. Maintaining material attachments? How many of us still have material attachments? Or rather who does not have material attachments? We are not speaking only about wanting that red sports car or the big house in the country, but also being desire to be recognized, loved, having a certain standard of living, wanting our children to succeed materially... These are also material attachments. The attachments of the intelligence, mind and false ego are also in the material realm.

Inattentive while chanting?

It is not possible to control the mind by one’s own endeavor. Only with Krishna’s helps and the help of others on the path,  can it be achieved. The mind and the mantra are of two different realms, material and spiritual. In order for the mind to be in the mantra and the mantra to be in the mind, constant prayer and dependence in the Lord and his pure devotees’ mercy is the only option.

We can take comfort in the understanding that a constant effort to avoid these offenses will bring one to the clearing stage (namabhasa), gradually moving towards pure chanting (sudha nama). By carefully guarding against these ten offenses one can quickly achieve the desired success, Krishna Prema.

Having taken birth in this material world, we are plagued by a sick ego. The ego is ill and needs help; there is no better medicine in this age than the chanting of the Holy Name, it is a perfect medicine for everyone in this age.

kali-kale nāma-rupe krsna-avatara

nāma haite haya sarva-jagat-nistāra

"In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. Anyone who does this is certainly delivered. (Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Ādi 17.22)

kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuḿ tretāyāḿ yajato makhaiḥ
dvāpare paricaryāyāḿ kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt.

"Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viṣṇu, in Tretā-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvāpara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can also be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.'(Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 20.345) 

DOES LOVE REPLACE ATTACHMENT AND DUTY? 

When a mother is serving a growing baby in her womb, serving by accepting the discomforts that come with pregnancy, her service gradually turns to love. Daily eating the right things sleeping the right amount, thinking about the baby how he must feel, want, look, move. Her love for the baby grows as does the baby, through service and remembrance, absorption in thought related to the baby.

When the baby is born, regardless of his appearance, gender, health etc… the love she feels is the most humanly ecstatic emotion, yet they are meeting for the first time. She has no hesitation spending sleepless nights caring for the baby, nor does she take offense if the baby urinates on her, her love is selfless, she cannot be separated from the baby yet it is not addiction, it is selfless love. The love of the mother for her baby is the closest to love of God because there is no expectation in return. That love is born from service and constant remembering, 9 months of constant service.

Srila Prabhupada chanting
Hare Krishna japa.

Similarly by serving the holy name, chanting regularly if not constantly, as prescribed by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, gradually the heart becomes cleanse, creating a fertile environment for love for Krishna to mature. This is why I chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam 

shreyah-kairava-chandrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam 

anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamritaswadanam 

sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krishna-sankirtanam 

Glory to the Sri-Krsna-Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious. (Siksastakam-1) 

It is best to chant out of pure love. Vaidhi bhakti leads to Raganuga bhakti, spontaneous service which is on the path to pure love, prema. Regulated service leads to attachment and love. So first one takes the medicine, regularly and sincerely practicing, praying for that spontaneous feeling to arise; then it is replaced by spontaneous chanting and glorification of Krishna, it is replaced by love. From regulation, to attachment, to pure love.

"If we simply place ourselves at the lotus feet of Krishna by taking to Krishna consciousness and keeping always in touch with Him by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, we need not take much trouble in arranging to return to the spiritual world. By the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this is very easy." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.15.53 Purport) 

One step at a time, walking towards Radha Krishna's service and love,

your servant, gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanu-dasah

The Holy Name is Everything

Every week many of the Mayapur devotees meet twice or more in the evening.
The youth is the most steady at attending these kirtans.
We mostly chant Hare Krishna together for as much as 4 hours. Some devotees come and go, others stay for the whole thing.
On one such evening we sang this bhajan, I am only giving you the translation here, it is very precious. I can post the Sanskrit upon request.

Madhuram Madhurebhyo (translation to an anonymous Sanskrit poem)

(1) More sweet than all other sweet things;
       more auspicious than all other auspicious things;
       the greatest purifier of all purifying things -

The Holy Name of Sri Hari alone is everything
harer namaiva kevalam

(2) The entire iniverse, from exalted Brahma down to the lowly clump of grass,
       is a product of the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord.
       The only thing that is reality, reality, again I say reality -

The Holy Name of Sri Hari alone is everything
harer namaiva kevalam

(3) That person is a true preceptor, or a true father,
       a true mother, and a true friend also
       only if they teach one to always remember -

The Holy Name of Sri Hari alone is everything
harer namaiva kevalam

(4) There is no certainty when the last breath will come
       and put an abrupt halt to all one's material plans;
       therefore it is wise to always practice chanting from very childhood -

The Holy Name of Sri Hari alone is everything
harer namaiva kevalam

(5) Lord Hari eternally dwells in that place
       where truly exalted, spiritually advanced souls
       sing in the mood of pure devotion -


The Holy Name of Sri Hari alone is everything
harer namaiva kevalam

(6) Aho! what a sorrow, what a sorrow!
       More painful tahn any other misery in the world!
       Mistaking it as mere piece of glass, the people have forgotten this jewel -

The Holy Name of Sri Hari alone is everything
harer namaiva kevalam

(7) It should be heard again and again with one's ears.
       It should be uttered over and over with one's voice.
       It should be perpetually sung and sung anew -

The Holy Name of Sri Hari alone is everything
harer namaiva kevalam

(8) It makes the entire universe seem insignificant as a blade of grass.
       It splendrously reigns supreme over all.
       It is full of eternally conscious divine ecstacy; it is supremely pure -

The Holy Name of Sri Hari alone is everything
harer namaiva kevalam