Ecstatic chanting & dancing of Devotees in the Rathayatra of Agra

By Lakshman (das) Vrindavan (IN)

On 17 Sep. Friday 2010 ISKCON Vrindavan arranged Sri Jagannatha Rathayatra in Agra. it was third time after 20 years.

The Jagannatha Rathayatra held at Puri is famous all over the world ever since Srila Prabhupada first initiated it overseas in San Francisco in 1967. In Puri, huge well decorated wooden rathas (chariots) moved on wheels are constructed and the Deities of the Divine siblings of Jagannatha (Krishna), Balarama and Subhadra are mounted and pulled through roads from Jagannatha Puri main temple to Gundicha temple, where They remain for a minimum of one week and return after nine days. It is an absolute thrill to visit Puri then and massive crowds of over a million may usually throng up to witness this spectacular event. The rathas are shaped like the temples of respective Deities of the Puri main shrine. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s glorious eventful dances at the rathayatra festivities about five hundred years ago add fervour to the piety of this historical event said to have begun millions of years ago, which makes it one of the most ancient festivals annually celebrated world-wide. The rathayatra signifies Lord Krshna’s visit to Vrindavana from Dvaraka and His ecstatic meeting with Radharani and the gopis.

Sri Jagganath Baladev Subdhra came to Agresen Seva Sadan in a procession on 16th Sept. Pandal program was start on Sep 16. H. G. Devaki Nandan Prabhu was speaker in that Program. Bhajan snadhya , Nandotstav and a drama on Rukimini Haran was played be ISKCON Vrindavan Gurukul students on same day.

17th Sep was the day of Rathyatra. Rathayatra was start from Rawat Para to sanajay Place in agra around 6 km. Around fifty thousands people took Jagannath darsan on this Rathayatra day. ISKCON Delhi, ISKCON Panjabibag and ISKCON Vrindavan devotees came to participate in Rathyatra. HH Bhakti Gaurav Naranayan Maharaj, HH Prabodhananda Saraswati maharaj, HG Deena Bandhu prabhu, HG Panca Gauda Prabhu, HG. Devaki Nandan Prabhu, HG Manu Prabhu, HG Samik Rishi Prabhu, HG Vaisnav Prabhu , and other devotees was participated in rathyatra. Bhajan sandhya and dinner prasad was served to all the participants of Rathyatra.

All Agra people were distributing huge prasadam like juice, ice cream, fruits, Milk Shake, sweets etc for pleasure of Sri Jagganath, Baladeh & Subhadra. There were three charriots. In front was Srila Prabhupada Chariot after that a Gaur Nitai chariot and then Jagganth Baldev Subhadra were on
3rd chariot. People ware very enthusiastic about pulling the Chariot. On
18th Sept. devotees offered 56 bhoga preparations and Aratik. Devotees were overwhelmed with ecstasy for the pleasure of Jagganath Baldeva and Subhdra. HG Param prabhu and his teams lead the Bhajan sandhya and HG Devaki Nandan Prabhu gave the lecture. Delhi and Vrindavan devotees presented a Maha Harinam Sankirtan in Agrasan Seva Sadan In Agra.

That was the 3 days program for the rath Yatra. Many people from Agra got inspiration to join ISKCON because of this Rath Yatra. Soon a grad temple will be there for our Jagganath, Baldev Subhdhra and for the pleasure of devotees. So we pray to all of you for your blessings in this regard.

On August 29 The Lord journeyed in Utkal Express from Bhubaneswar to Agra. The Lords were scheduled to travel in AC, but at the last moment decided to move with the public in 3 tier with no reservation, for They had the least thoughts to stake Their sublime state of equanimity right from start. The Divine Triplets were dropped out at Dholpur to alter their attire. The redressed Divinities stood out for darshan to the public for a brief while and then proceeded to Agra seated in an open mini-truck accompanied by a sankirtana party. The Lord gave darshan to several devotees on either side of the pass way. The Trio were greeted by a large crowd of devotes at many places in Agra. A procession of 51 cars accompanied the Lord’s carrier from Agra Stadium and a band too joined soon after. Wherever the Lords gave darshan, palatable prasadams and sweet drinks were offered in plenty to the pious gatherings. The welcome songs to Jagannath and the Hare Krishna mahamntra vibrated the air and thrilled the crowd. The Lord’s journey stretched around 5-6 hours to reach at the New Sri Jagannath Mandir, the new preaching centre for the ISKCON devotees.

The significance of rathayatra reached the far corners of the whole world now and especially where ISKCON temples are located ever since Srila Prabhupada organised the first rathayatra in San Francisco in 1967 as briefed below. The rathayatra was scheduled on a Sunday the 9th July. On Saturday, 8th July, Jagannatha Deities were brought from Stinson Beach and draped in cloth. Although some rathayatra posters were the only official announcements, everyone in the Haight-Ashbury was talking about the festival. A Krishna parade to the beach! A love feast! Bring flowers, wear bells, paint up, chant, and get high! Celebrate Sri Jagannatha, Lord of the universe!

The Narada Purana (uttara kanda 52.12) reveals the conversation between Lord Narayana and Lakshmidevi about Purushottama kshetra (Jagannath Puri),

pratimam tatra tam drstva svayam devena nirmitam

anayasena vai yanti bhavanam me tato narau

“A person who sees the Deities there built by the Lord Himself will easily find the path to reach My abode.” Anyone seeing the Deities of Lord Krsna, Balarama and Subhadra at Jagannath Puri during their leisure outage of rathayatra means buying a ticket to reach the Supreme Abode of Vaikuntha, the eternal world of no worries. The Lord promises that His devotees who take all pains to gather at Puri during the rathayatra will be rid off their miseries and may reach the eternal abode of Goloka Vrindavana and enjoy their life in association with Lord Krsna, Radharani and their close accomplices.

It is said that the participants in the festivities will be blessed immensely by Lord Jagannath (Krsna) such as (1) By the sight of Jagannath’s merciful large two eye globes, the devotee will be blessed with astute purity of mind and spiritual elevation; (2) Observing the rathayatra will dissipate the sins committed by the embodied person in the past births; (3) The accompanying person in the rathayatra will receive opulence at par with Lord Vishnu even if he hails from a poor family; (4) Dancing, singing and chanting in the rathayatra entourage, the participant will be elevated to a level superior to yogis; and (5) Active participation in the rathayatra by any means will receive the utmost blessings of Lord Jagannath.