Sannyasis who gave a discourse: (from left) H.H. Chandramauli Swami, H.H.Romapada Swami, H.H. Amiya Vilasa Swami, and H.H. Bhaktimarga Swami. (Picture courtesy of Anjali Desai)
Ratha Yatra (Photo courtesy of Satyabrata Mahapatra)
By Girish Parikh
The annual Ratha Yatra (Chariot Festival) of ISKCON Chicago Hare Krishna Temple was celebrated on Sunday, June 29, 2008. Ratha Yatra started in the morning from 6600 North Western Avenue amidst loud congregational chanting of Krsna’s holy names (Hari nama, in Sanskrit). The procession headed toward Devon Avenue as the crowd enthusiastically pulled the 40-foot high red-canopied chariot of Their Lordships with ropes. The festival celebrates the highest expression of pure love between God and his pure devotees, the damsels of Vraja (Vrindavana, India). The parade ended at the Croatian Cultural Center for a whole afternoon of cultural programs.
Those who led the chanting of the Mahamantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”, and “Jai Jagannath Jai Jagannath; Jai Baldeva Jai Subhadra” included H.H. Bhaktimarga Swami, H.H. Chandramauli Swami, Achyuta Gopi, Jai Jagannath dasa, and Prananatha dasa. The devotional chanting reverberated on the streets and blissful kirtana enchanted those who were present.
The deities of Lord Jagannath (Krishna), Balarama, and Subhadra devi (sister of Sri Krishna), and Srila Prabhupada were welcomed from the chariot into the Cultural Center with a roaring kirtana and arati worship. H. H. Candramauli Swami personally offered worship to Srila Prabhupada and Their Lordships on behalf of all the participants while H.G. Trnakarta dasa led the kirtana.
At the center, the rest of the festival included bhajans, discourses, play, dances, and free prasadam. The master of the ceremony was H.G. Sri Vallabha dasa.
ISKCON Chicago’s youth group, Soul Connection, performed a musical ensemble with keyboard, violin, viola, mrdanga, hand cymbals, and harmonium accompanying melodious chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. According to the group, the goal of Soul Connection is to “Krishna-tize the mundane activities teenagers partake in. In other words, we try to see what the youth wants and then tie it into Krishna Consciousness. For example, music played for Krishna. Some of our projects in progress include our newsletter (SoulNet), a musical CD (Gurudeva), performances during special occasions, community services (seva), discussion groups, scripture study, and other outreach programs. The main idea behind SoulConnection is to have an organized group of teenagers choosing what they think is fun, making a Krishna Conscious program out of it, and presenting it to the world!”
Satchitananda dasa sang Sri Jagannath Ashtakam which was uttered by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Nirantara dasa sang a bhajan and chanted the maha-mantra.
The discourses about the significance of Ratha Yatra, mercy of Lord Jagannatha, and the importance of chanting the Holy Name in this age were presented by H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami, H.H. Amiya Vilasa Swami, H.H. Romapada Swami, and H.H. Chandramauli Swami. The essence of their messages was that the mercy of God (Jagannath) is available for all, without any restriction or discrimination because all living beings are God’s children and are deserving of His love and affection. These festivals are reminders and great opportunities for facilitating such a reciprocal loving exchange between God and His parts and parcels, the living beings. According to Vedic tradition, knowledge of this relationship is made available through the process of aural reception within authorized tradition that preserves the purity of these timeless messages over the generations. This is called the parampara (or disciplic succession) and ISKCON represents the Brahma parampara (descending from Lord Brahma) till today in an unbroken chain of acharyas (teachers).
H. H. Bhaktimarga Swami directed (and wrote, and set to music) a spell-binding drama, “Kunti & Karna,” and was performed by the Krishna Festival Bus Tour Youth Group.
H.G. Nityananda Prana dasa thanked all on behalf of H.G. Krishna Smarana dasa, the new President of ISKCON Chicago Hare Krsihna Temple. He revealed that the temple was not getting permit for the Ratha Yatra, and it seemed that there may not be the festival this year. About three weeks ago H.G. Krishna Smarana dasa prayed to Sri Sri Kishore Kishori (Sri Krishna and Sri Radha respectively), and after half an hour the letter of permit was received.
“This festival is a great opportunity for developing loving relationships. Where there are loving relationships already, they become deeper. And where there are not, this festival allows for a spiritual platform to build such relationships through a common goal of wanting Lord Jagannath’s pleasure,” H.G. Nityananda Prana dasa shared.
Ms. Vandana Jhigan of TV Asia covered the festival. TV Asia will air the Ratha Yatra story on Friday, July 4, 2008; 9:30 pm (CST); and repeat it on Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 10 am. (CST) in Community Round Up.
Jagannatha means Lord of the Universe. Indeed, Sri Krishna is Jagannath. The deeper meaning of Rathyatra is: Bring Sri Krishna to the Vrindavan of your heart in the chariot of your body.
Many people do not or cannot come to the Temple to have darshan. So Sri Jagannath, out of his compassion comes out in a chariot with His brother Balarama and sister Subhadra to give His darshan and blessings to all.
(In addition to Chicago, Ratha Yatra is being held in many cities in North America, (and in the rest of the world including India), on different dates. Please visit the Web site www.festivalofindia.org or contact ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple near you for info.)
ISKCON Chicago Hare Krishna Temple will celebrate Sri Krishna Janmastami (birthday of Sri Krishna) on Sunday, August 24; and the appearance day (i.e. birthday) of Srila Prabhupada on Monday, August 25, 2008. All are invited.
The ISKCON Chicago Hare Krishna temple is located at 1716 W. Lunt Avenue. Telephone: (773) 973-0900 Fax: (773) 973-0526. The temple is one mile north of Devon Avenue.
If you cannot come to the ISKCON Chicago temple, please check programs at the ISKCON temple near you.
*Girish Parikh is a Chicago-based independent author & reporter.
E-mail: girish116@yahoo.com