Harer namaiva kevalam- Harinam forever

– HG Vrndavanlila devi dasi (Dr. Vrinda Baxi)

harer nämaiva kevalam. The holyname of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna is the only shelter in this age of kali, which is an ocean of all irreligion, miseries and anxieties.

When the world was under lockdown because of covid pandemic and everybody was feeling like a rat in flooded water, Sriman Vardan prabhu suggested that Sriman Gour Gopal prabhu (a very active preacher, kirtaniya, counsellor and music composer) begin his kirtan services online. It was meant to be for a short time just for the lockdown that was declared for a fortnight.

Sriman Gour Gopal prabhu accepted the proposal. Online was the only way out of physical lockdown in India. With simple Mrdanga support from his young daughter Radhika, kartal support from neighbor Lata aunty and chorus support from Radhika and wife Vrndavanlila dd, he started giving live kirtan for one hour from his Facebook page while himself playing on the Harmonium.

sa guruḥ sa pitā cāpi
sā mātā bandhavo ‘pi saḥ
śikṣayec cet sadā smartuḿ
harer nāmaiva kevalam

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.

niḥśvāse nāhi viśvāsaḥ
kadā ruddho bhaviṣyati
kīrtanīya mato bālyād
harer nāmaiva kevalam

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.

The pandemic had made everybody realize the transience of life, uncertainty of breath and reality of relationships. One could feel the warmth and security of the Holy Name. As Sriman Gour Gopal prabhu sang the Holy Name and other vaishnava bhajans, many souls got attracted to the security of His lotus feet. Many, in hundreds and thousands began participating in his online kirtan sessions. The lockdown date kept extending, and so did the Harinam online.

Nothing goes smooth in the material world. There were days when Radhika’s fingers bled, when she injured her hand, when Gour Gopal prabhu’s voice turned hoarse under continuous strain, power cuts, sizzling summer, signal problems… However, despite several challenges, he continued with determination and humility the service of giving the bliss of Harinam to suffering souls. This service has now completed one year. From lockdown Harinam it has become Harinam forever.

We have come a long way from where we had started. The one way communication has now become two-way, just like Facebook. The online participants gave so much of encouragement and inspiration that now it looks so spontaneous. We feel personally connected to each and every online participant of this Harinam mahayagna. There are many with whom we have not met personally, yet we are as deeply connected to them as with our own self. This is the strong bond of Harinam connect. On the completion of one year of this Harinam Forever mahayagna, one of the regular participants right from its inception, Sriman Keshav Krsna prabhu organized a grand program at his place, Chinmaya Nivas.

Many devotees like Srimati Bhakti lata mataji were busy making flower garlands for Sri Sri Radha Madhav and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and other devotees, Srimati Nirupama Radhika mataji along with her daughter in law Madhu and neighboring devotees were busy arranging for chappan bhoga for the lordships from days before the actual celebration, Srimati Nityatripta had started working on collecting the video clips of participants sharing their realizations and coordinating the surprise video release with the cooperation of Sriman Jananivas prabhu and Sriman Ramu Raghupati prabhu. The host Keshav Krsna prabhu made all the necessary arrangements for the grand celebration.

Finally, Harinam Forever for the day started at Chinmay Nivas at 7:30 pm on March 21, 2021. Unlike other days, Sriman Gour Gopal prabhu did not begin his live with Mahamantra immediately after mangalacharan, but with a prayer to his guru- Guru charana kamal bhaja man…
There were more than hundred offline participants. They all relished as they expressed their gratitude to the guru for the day. This was followed by a soul stirring mahamantra tune. No soul could stay quiet hearing it. They all danced as the pleasant wind blew. Both offline and online, everybody was in bliss.

Once the Harinam was over, followed series of surprise shows. First was screening of a short video compiling online participants sharing their feelings, realizations and insights to their participation in HARINAM FOREVER on Facebook by Sriman Gour Gopal prabhu. It was so beautiful to hear their feelings and outpourings. It was a humbling experience. The participants seemlessly shared their thoughts. Outpourings of different devotees were interspersed with kirtan clippings from different live sessions. The crowd cheered as they heard. They would give jayakara of the name of the speaker participant (as their names flashed on the screen) and begin dancing as the kirtan began. The atmosphere was totally surcharged with energy and love.

This was followed by wonderful arati, offering of chhappan bhoga to Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Sri Sri Goura Nitai. The celebration culminated with grand pushpa abhisekam of the Lord with heaps and heaps of fragrant flowers, cake cutting and widespread prasadam. Pushpa abhisekam transported one to Vrindavan reminding one of phoolon ki holi (flower holi). As the lordships regaled, everyone else also began flinging the offered flowers on each other, rejoicing the festive mood.

Soon after that cakes were brought for cutting. There were three cakes – carob dry fruit cake made by Swapna mataji, dates jaggery cake made by Manimanjari mataji and orange cake made by Vrndavanlila mataji. The devotees cheered as Gour Gopal prabhu and later Keshav Krsna prabhu cut the cakes. Keshav Krsna prabhu had deferred his birthday celebration to conjunct with this celebration. It was pretty late by then and then slowly despite the desire to continue the association further, everybody was forced to move towards the prasadam area. Everybody had nourished their soul all this while, now it was the turn of their body to be taken care.

There are many more such celebrations ahead as this is HARINAM FOREVER as long as we are breathing. Keep praying till then and participating in the glorification of the Holy Name of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna and His devotees everyday on Facebook.

Krsna is non-different from His Holy Name and He loves to be where He is being glorified or chanted. So, let us participate in this chanting of Holyname.
hariḥ sadā vaset tatra
yatra bhāgavatā janāḥ
gāyanti bhakti-bhāvena
harer nāmaiva kevalam

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.

You may subscribe to Sriman Gour Gopal prabhu’s page: https://www.facebook.com/ggpa108

To know more about all the preaching activities visit the website :

https://gourgopaldasadhikari.weebly.com/

You may watch the festivities: https://www.facebook.com/ggpa108/videos/2831880353693813

Kirtan a day keeps the miseries away. You may join the whatsapp group of kirtans by Sriman Gour Gopal prabhu where a kirtan is shared every day:

You may find more pictures and videos at:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1yy21wEzTku5oLcz7

You may also contact Sriman Gour Gopal prabhu personally if you need any spiritual counseling at 9949698296.