Padayatra manual

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOREWORD by Lokanath Swami, leader of ISKCON Padayatra Worldwide

INTRODUCTION by Gaurangi dasi, compiler of the manual

INSPIRATION

1) THE  TRADITION OF PILGRIMAGES AND PADAYATRAS

• The primary duty of devotees is
  to travel and preach
• Famous devotees of the Lord went
  on walking tours
• All great acaryas of the past went on Padayatra

Padayatras still taking place in India

• The Dindi yatra in Maharasthra
• The Vraja Mandala Parikrama 
• The Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama
• The annual pilgrimage from Ayodhya to Citrakut

Pilgrimages from other religious traditions still alive

• The pilgrimage to St Jacques de Compostelle (France and Spain)
• The pilgrimage to Assisi (Italy)
• Pilgrimages from other religious traditions
• Walks with a spiritual purpose
• Walks with other purposes

2) THE DESIRE OF  LORD CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU, THE FATHER OF THE SANKIRTANA MOVEMENT

Lord Caitanya also went on Padayatra

• The inaugurator of the Vrindavan parikrama
• “I am the only gardener”
• Padayatra is the continuing lila of the Lord
• Param vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirtanam
• Just like five hundred years ago

3) SRILA PRABHUPADA, THE INSPIRATION BEHIND PADAYATRA

Abhay’s  first Padayatra near Jhansi

Introducing the idea of Padayatra through various instructions and letters

• I can immediately take up this program
• The first walk from Hyderabad to Mayapur
• Instructions to Lokanath Swami

Srila Prabhupada’s further instructions on Padayatra

• Vedic bulls instead of modern machines
• Instructions on how to preach in the villages
• “I like your program very much“
• Anxious to hear about the bullock cart sankirtana party
• Killing the padayatris with love in Mayapur
• We can introduce millions of such carts all over the world

Srila Prabhupada’s last desire: to go on bullock cart parikrama

4) HOW PADAYATRA SPREAD ALL OVER THE WORLD

Triumphant beginnings in India: the walk from Dvaraka to Mayapur

• Celebrating the 500th anniversary of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
• A phenomenal success

Srila Prabhupada Centennial Padayatras

• Padayatra America and the creation of the Padayatra
• Worldwide Office in Delhi
• The first Padayatras in  Western countries
• ISKCON leaders express their appreciation for Padayatra
• Centennial Offering: Padayatra in more than 100 countries
• A new style of Padayatra with H.H.Bhaktimarga Swami
• Walks after 1996

5) A PREACHERS’ PARADISE

• Every movement and every moment is preaching 
• A most effective preaching tool
• A vision from  the spiritual world
• Touching people’s heart
• Clearing up misconceptions about ISKCON
• Welcomed by mayors and VIPs
• Reviving India’ spiritual culture
• Making long time friends
• Bhakta recruiting and training program

6) FEELING THE PRESENCE OF SRILA PRABHUPADA

• Even mafiosos feel his presence in his murti form
• The value of catching a glimpse of a pure devotee
• Prabhupada is enjoying himself on the road
• When Prabhupada is pleased, everybody is happy
• Padayatris united around Srila Prabhupada

7) VARIOUS REALIZATIONS

• The simple gesture of pilgrimage needs rekindling  (H.H.Bhaktimarga Swami)
• Padayatra is the right therapy for all the devotees who need a break  (H.H.Jayadvaita Swami)
• People’s consciousness become affected (H.H.Sivaram Swami)
• Padayatra was like a positive spiritual infection (Krishna Caitanya das)
• Seeing the Lord’s prophecy fulfilled (Kalasamvara das)
• The  holy name has more potency that I could ever imagine (Radhakunda das)
• Nitai Gaurasundara are in control, not the Padayatra managers (Ekanath das)
• When the Lord wants something…. (Ekadasi das)
• People are influenced by this powerful message (Parasuram das)
• My worse day on Padayatra (Saunaka das)
• I have seen  miracles on Padayatra (Ekanath das)
• Padayatra has some avadhuta quality (Yasodulal das)
• Gaur Nitai entering people’s hearts (Indulekha dasi)
• Being in two worlds at once (Shyam Priya dasi)

8) POEMS AND SONGS

• The beginning is yet to come (Jaya Vijaya das)
• Food for Life (Jaya Vijaya das)
• Sweet Burfiji (Jaya Vijaya das)
• The Padayatra song (Lilavati  dasi)
• Vraja Mandala Parikrama (Hanumat Presaka Swami)
• Mayapur Parikrama (Laxmimoni dasi)
• The treasure of Vraja (Ambika Dasi)
• Words written while walking (Ekalavya das)
• Padayatra the hundred country vrata (Gaurangi dasi)
• No Belfast Blues (anonymous)

HOW TO ORGANIZE AND MANAGE PADAYATRA

• 1- SETTING UP AN OFFICE
• 2- ORGANIZE  AND MANAGE YOUR PADAYATRA
• 3- DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY
• 4- RAISE FUNDS AND MANAGE YOUR BUDGET
• 5- DEAL WITH LEGALITIES
• 6-  SELECT THE ROUTE
• 7- DESIGN AND BUILD CARTS AND PALANQUINS
• 8- INVITE THE DEITIES AND CARE FOR THEM
• 9- GET OXEN AND OTHER ANIMALS
• 10- USING MOTOR VEHICLES
• 11- DO ADVANCE PARTY WORK
• 12- ACCOMMODATIONS
• 13- MANAGE THE KITCHEN AND DISTRIBUTE  PRASADAM
• 14- ORGANIZE FESTIVALS
• 15- DISTRIBUTE BOOKS
• 16- STAGE AN ATTRACTIVE  HARINAM AND PROCESSION
• 17- COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE
• 18- PREACH, MAKE FRIENDS,  AND BUILD A CONGREGATION
• 19- INCREASE SRILA PRABHUPADA CONSCIOUSNESS
• 20- MEET PEOPLE FROM OTHER FAITHS
• 21- GO TO PLACES OF PILGRIMAGE
• 22- ESTABLISH  MEMORIALS
• 23- PROMOTE PADAYATRA
• 24- TAKE CARE OF YOUR  ARCHIVES