By Deena Bandhu dasa
Every year for Janmastami we have a big program in Agra Central Jail with very enthusiastic participation from the prisoners who make Krishna Lila dioramas. Unfortunately this year there was civil unrest in Agra do to rioting by a certain community and there was curfew. But several days later after things were peaceful, the superintendent of the Jail invited us for doing a wonderful program.
So on 12th September, the devotees headed by Jankinatha Prabhu, our Prison Preaching in charge, went to Agra Central Jail. His Holiness Radha Govinda Maharaja was the guest of honor accompanied by His Holiness Radharaman Maharaja and our Vrindavan co-President, Srestha Prabhu. Somehow Jankinatha also convinced Aindra Prabhu and his kirtan party to come, although he hardly goes anywhere outside of Braja.
When the devotees arrived, the Chief Jailer and five Deputy Jailers were standing outside the gates with garlands to greet the devotees. From behind the gates, we could hear an enthusiastic kirtan being performed by the prisoners themselves. After opening the gates, they were greeted by about 20 prisoners doing kirtan with one playing dholak and another with harmonium strung over his shoulders. Aindra Prabhu was very impressed with the unique village melody they were chanting. All the prisoners were standing with garlands in their hands, anxious to honor the devotees. The kirtan at the gate was so ecstatic, that the jailers, prisoners, maharajas, and devotees all began to all dance together.
They accompanied the devotees up to the small Sita Ram Mandir run by the prisoners on the prison campus. They also have pictures of Radha Shyamsundar, Krishna Balaram, Gaura Nitai, and Srila Prabhupada on their altar. They even do Guru Puja, kirtan, and Bhagavatam class every day at this temple. Today they requested His Holiness Radha Govinda Maharaja to offer aratika.
After aratika, they accompanied the devotees to the stage where Maharaja offered a garland to the picture of Srila Prabhupada. Then the two maharajas and Srestha Prabhu took their seats on the asana. Janakinatha Prabhu lead the prisoners in Mangalacaran prayers and meditations as you can see in the photos. His Holiness Radha Govinda Maharaja addressed the prisoners and told them that Vasudeva carried Krishna from the jail and all the doors automatically opened up. In the same way if you will carry Krishna in your heart by chanting His Holy Name, then what to speak of the bondage of prison life, the bondage of this entire blazing samsara will be opened for you! He told them how they were very fortunate that the ISKCON devotees are coming here to the jail and giving you the message of Caitanya Mahaprabhu as imparted by Srila Prabhupada. Then Radharaman Maharaja spoke and Aindra also briefly addressed the prisoners with translation to Hindi by Srestha Prabhu.
Aindra Prabhu then lead a tremendous kirtan for forty minutes. Finally the Chief Jailer and five deputy jailers were dancing together with two thousand prisoners. The chanting was so ecstatic, that both the Maharajas, Aindra Prabhu, and Srestha Prabhu left the stage and also began to dance along with the prisoners. Everyone was dancing and chanting in ecstasy. Too bad our photographer went somewhere and we don’t have the pictures, only you can see the prison ground as they were only half assembled.
After the kirtan ended, the Chief Jailer Sri S.K. Saxena took the microphone and exclaimed, “Today I have experienced beyond ananda, nay, beyond parmananda, nay, even beyond that! I have never in my whole life had such a wonderful program.
The devotees then distributed burn-your-finger hot halevah to the two thousand prisoners who were very eagerly taking the prasada that was sponsored by Srestha Prabhu. No one could believe that this was all happening in jail.
Even five local TV reporters came to cover the program along with all the other media. So it got quite a bit of coverage and people were able to see Srila Prabhupada’s preaching going on in the jail.
Prison Preaching Ki Jaya! Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!
In service of Srimati Vrinda Devi, Deena Bandhu dasa
Glories to Radha Govinda Swami Maharajah, to Jankinataha Prabhu, and to all the sincere followers of Srila Prabhupada! I almost can’t beleive the incredible preaching being done nowadays!
This entire description sounds like a scene from Mahaprabhu’s lila! What a
wonderful program! And what more fertile a place to preach, than a jail in
India? With such a wonderful program it is better to be a lowly Agra-jail
prisoner than a so-called free citizen of this world!
ys
ganesa dasa
wow, great preaching!
SrI SrI Guru Gaurangau Jayatah
Camp: Iskcon Bhakti Sanga festival, Krinitsa South Russia Dear Dinabandhu & srestha Dasa. Jaya Krishna BalarAma! DaNDavat PranAmas-_ _ _ ò_! Please accept my respectful obeisances. All Glories to Sreela PrabhupAda.
I really loved to read this report of agra jail preaching.
really really ecstatic preaching programme! my dandavats to all sannyasis, aindra, janakinath etc who were there! I hope that more jail birds become devotees, who will leave the jail of this material world.
it was interesting that you were not allowed to come on janmastami due to rioting, maybe Krsna planned it that way to increase the hankering of the prisoners for more and larger kirtan!
yours in the service of Krsna BalarAma,
TridaNDi BhikSu, Bhakti Visrambha MAdhava
” Words of wisdom from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
1. We are put to test and trial in this world. Only those who attend the kirtana of the devotees can succeed.
2. Every spot on earth where discourses on God are held is a place of pilgrimage.
3. Possession of objects not related to Krsna is our main malady.
4. Let me not desire anything but the highest good for my worst enemies.
5. As dalliance with the body in luxury increases, so wanes the spirit of service of the Lord.
6. Those favored by God find their paths set by thorns.
7. There is no peace or happiness in our worldly life. Circumstances create turmoil and annoyance.
8. Chant the maha mantra loudly and with attachment. This will drive away inertia, worldly evils and pests.
9. Be indifferent to bazaar gossips, stick firmly to your cherished goals, no lack or impediments of the world will ever stand in your way.
10. Pay due respects to the extroverts of the world, but do not be appreciative of their manner”They are to be shaken off from your mind.
11. A devotee feels the presence of God everywhere, but one averse to the Lord denies His existence anywhere.
12. You cannot appreciate transcendental matters with the reasoning of the world. It is sheer nonsense to decry them with the measuring stick of your intellect.
13. To recite the name of Sri Krsna is bhakti.
14. Life is for the glorification of topics on Hari. If that is stopped, then what need is there to carry on life.
15. Physical illness with Hari-bhajana is preferred to physical fitness without Hari-bhajana.
16. Our span of life on earth is short. Our life will be crowned with success if the body wears out with constant discourses on Hari.
17. We are here on earth not to work as artisans for making big buildings with wood and stone but to work only as messengers for the teachings of Sri Caitanya Deva.
18. A sycophant is neither a guru or a preacher.
19. To transform the adverse desires of the jivas is the supreme duty ofTo rescue one person from the stronghold of Mahamaya is an act of superb-benevolence, far superior to opening innumerable hospitals.
20. Unless we are devoted to God,secularism shall not leave us.
21. Look within.Amend yourself, rather than pry into the frailties of others.
22. In this world of Maya, averse to the Lord, full of trials and tribulations, only patience, humility and respect for others are our friends for Hari-bhajana.
23. The Lord, Gaurasundara, puts His devotees in various difficulties and associations to test their patience and strength of mind. Success depends on their goodÊfortune.
24. When faults in others misguide and delude you – have patience, introspect, find faults in yourself. Know that others cannot harm you unless you harm yourself.
25. I wish that every selfless, tender-hearted person of Gaudiya Math will be prepared to shed two hundred gallons of blood for the nourishment of the spiritual corpus of every individual of this world.