Navadvipa-mandala Parikrama—Godrumdvipa with Various Speakers

Giriraj Swami:

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur-unmīlitaṁ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

śrī-caitanya-mano-‘bhīṣṭaṁ
sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale
svayaṁ rūpaḥ kadā mahyaṁ
dadāti sva-padāntikam

nama oḿ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe

vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca
kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo
vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

The two processes of hearing and chanting are very closely related, just as the two islands of Simantadvipa and Godrumadvipa follow one after the other. Srila Prabhupada himself said that one who hears nicely can preach nicely. And Srila Prabhupada himself set the example of how to hear. In fact, Srila Prabhupada’s Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, marked Srila Prabhupada that he hears nicely, he does not go away.

Sometimes, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to speak on such a high level, not only in English but even in Bengali, that his own disciples could not understand him. And Srila Prabhupada admitted that sometimes he also couldn’t understand his Guru Maharaja when he spoke. But still, he did not go away. [Unintelligible 01:14:25] first hear.

Once, when Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was doing Vraja mandala parikramā, he was speaking to some disciple. Then, the announcement came that the devotees could go and have darshan of one of the Deities in one of the temples, and many of the disciples left, but Srila Prabhupada didn’t leave. He remained to hear his Guru Maharaja speak. And afterwards, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura somewhat chastised the disciples who had left, “Did you enjoy your eye exercise? Exercising your eyes, seeing the Deities, but not hearing, which is more important.”

So, one who hears nicely will speak nicely, and glorification of Krishna is called kirtan. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared specifically to introduce the saṅkīrtana-yajña. Kirtan means glorification, and san means complete. So, the authorities have given different meanings of the word saṅkīrtana, complete glorification. Saṅkīrtana means congregational glorification because if many devotees come together to glorify the Lord, such glorification is complete. Saṅkīrtana also means complete glorification of the Lord’s name, form, qualities, and pastimes.

In fact, in the sixty-four items of devotional service, nāma-kīrtana is one, guna-kīrtana is another, līlā-kīrtana is another. They are all glorifications of Krishna. And saṅkīrtana also means using everything to glorify the Lord. Just like what Srila Prabhupada said, that the keys, the sound of the keys, typing his books was also kirtan. Although he was encouraging the devotees by saying so, he was also expressing a very deep philosophical truth, that saṅkīrtana means to use anything and everything; microphones, typewriters, dictaphone, computer; for the glorification of the Lord.

So, of all the processes of the devotional services, śravaṇam and kīrtanam, are the most important. And if we hear and chant nicely, then automatically, we will remember also, śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ. We will remember the Lord’s name, His form, His qualities, and His pastimes. And when we become perfect in chanting, just by uttering the name, we will automatically remember the form, the qualities, and the pastimes of Krishna, or Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

So, the association of devotees is especially meant for the purpose of saṅkīrtana, complete glorification of the Lord. And now that we have come here to Godrumadvipa, we should beg for the mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu so that we can be fully absorbed in kirtan rasa. Srila Prabhupada said that kirtan rasa is the safest place in the whole universe, because glorification of Krishna is not different from Krishna. So, when we become absorbed in glorification of Krishna, we actually enter the association of Krishna, and no material dangers can touch us.

Hare Krishna.