{"id":2741,"date":"2016-09-01T09:14:40","date_gmt":"2016-09-01T03:44:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.padayatra.com\/?p=2741"},"modified":"2016-09-01T09:14:40","modified_gmt":"2016-09-01T03:44:40","slug":"all-india-padayatra-celebrates-world-holy-name-week-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.padayatra.com\/padayatra-new\/all-india-padayatra-celebrates-world-holy-name-week-2\/","title":{"rendered":"ALL INDIA PADAYATRA CELEBRATES WORLD HOLY NAME WEEK"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Acarya Dasa<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018World Holy Name Week\u2019 is a festival held by devotees worldwide to commemorate Srila Prabhupada\u2019s arrival in the West.\u00a0 Devotees celebrate it by chanting and distributing the holy names to everyone. It helps us remember that it is by the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada that we have received the holy names and what was once a one day celebration, became a weeklong celebration, then a 10 day celebration and this year a two week celebration starting on July 28th<\/sup> and ending on August 14th<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Sankirtana <\/em>is the heart of padayatra. <\/em>Wherever we walk, whenever we enter a village or conduct house programs we chant the holy names with every soul in attendance dancing along with us. It\u2019s not a surprise to us since we are traveling with sankirtana eka pitaro, <\/em>the father of sankirtana <\/em>Himself, Lord Caitanya. Lokanath Swami said, \u201cCelebrating the \u2018World Holy Name\u2019 festival is like celebrating the victory of the holy names all over the world param vijayate sri- krishna sankirtanam [1]<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em> The world is on fire, let us chant more and extinguish the fire of this material existence. So, propagate the holy names.\u201d We took these words to heart and held different programs during these two weeks \u00a0of \u2018World Holy Name\u2019 celebrations.<\/p>\n

We were in Kurur on July 28th<\/sup> the first day of this celebration, which also coincided with the day of the incorporation of ISKCON in New York. During the<\/p>\n

three days we stayed there we distributed about 250 maha<\/em> big books. We held kirtan<\/em>a<\/em> in the streets and had many house programs all over the city. Thereafter we travelled to the village of Manlamedu where we experienced the miracle of a cowslaughterer becoming a cow worshipper. \u00a0(This amazing story has already been posted on the padayatra website)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Risking our lives to give the holy names in a riotous city<\/strong><\/p>\n

On August 6th<\/sup> we travelled to the city of Dindugal. We noticed that there were many churches and masjids <\/em>(mosques)[2]<\/a> and very few hindu temples<\/em>. Our party forged ahead but before we could enter the city we were stopped by some policemen. We tried to explain to them our purpose \u2013to spread the holy names- but they wouldn\u2019t listen and refused us entry. \u00a0At this point we were at a loss as to where we were going to spend the night, so the police told us to camp at the outskirts of the city 2 kilometers away. The police officials were kind enough to send two police constables to remain with us while we were there, They were concerned for our safety, since there had been some conflicts in the community.<\/p>\n

The next day we continued with our regular morning program of mangala arati<\/em>, chanting, Bhagavatam<\/em> class on the theme of the glories of the holy names and prasadam. <\/em>We were happy to see that the police constables also got up and attended the morning program. They even asked us, \u201cCan we also chant ?\u201d, and requested \u00a0japa <\/em>beads. We told them, \u201cYes of course harinama <\/em>is for everyone\u201d and gave them beads to chant on. While getting ready to go on sankirtana <\/em>we noticed a few Muslims gathering nearby checking out our padayatra <\/em>cart. It appeared to us that they thought we were some \u2018anti-social\u2019 group, so we went up to them and spoke to them about our aim- to propagate the holy names. After explaining and assuring them that we had no other objectives they realized we were harmless; \u00a0yet still we were not allowed to enter the city.<\/p>\n

Sometime later a police official in charge of the city approached us. We pleaded with him to allow us into the city but he explained that the rules here are different and therefore, he could not do so. He may not have been able to let us into the city at this point but he was certainly interested in padayatra<\/em> \u2013he stayed with us for two hours, first taking darsana<\/em> of the Lord and then having prasadam <\/em>with us. The whole time we were still trying to convince him to let us into the city, even saying that we would enter at our own risk. We explained our mission again, \u2018We want to spread the holy names wherever we go. The holy names are not just for Hindus whoever hears the holy names gets spiritual benefit. We are chanting for love and peace dina hina yata chilo hariname udharilo[3]<\/strong><\/a><\/em> (the holy names delivers all those souls who are lowly and wretched).\u2019 Finally after all this persuasion he agreed on the condition that while in the city we would be under constant police protection. He told us that there were riots in the city between Muslims and Hindus during ganpati utsava[4]<\/strong><\/a><\/em>. The people celebrating were drinking alcohol and playing loud music and because of the disturbance there were some conflicts in the city. We said to him, \u201cDon\u2019t worry, ours is spiritual kirtana<\/em> which the Lord Himself has sent to Earth and which is soothing for every soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

As we entered the city 4 police vans travelled in front of our party and 4 more travelled behind us. We held a grand kirtana <\/em>with some of the people joining us and many more coming to honor carnamrta<\/em> which we had begun distributing. We were very surprised indeed. Our party moved through the city without hindrance despite there being traffic \u2013the police officials co-operated with us and we moved ahead. \u2018Who could stop the Lord if He wants to go to His children and give them darsana?<\/em>,\u2019 I thought. This was how all the Hindus, Muslims and Christians were blessed by seeing the Lord and hearing the holy names.<\/p>\n

The police officials were astounded; they couldn\u2019t believe that there were no divergences or violence while we were in the city. In fact they told us \u201cSri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar are very merciful, but you, Their followers, are even more merciful. You risked your lives to give the holy names to each and every person in this city. All glories to you!\u201d I replied, \u201cThe Lord is the doer and protector and we are just instruments in His hands.\u201d The police constables who were accompanying us were so inspired that they asked the official in charge whether they could continue staying on duty with us, \u2018sadhus<\/em>\u2019, explaining that they wanted to be with us. They enjoyed being in the association of devotees – such is the power of the holy names -and as a result the police officials protected us right up until we left the Dindugal district.<\/p>\n

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Param vijayatre sri krishna sankirtanam<\/strong><\/p>\n

On August 12th<\/sup> we travelled to the village of Vaiyampatti which has a namahatta <\/em>centre. The devotees there, hearing of our arrival, happily welcomed us and organized a pandal <\/em>program and nice prasadam<\/em>.\u00a0 We were pleased to see many local residents attending the program. I took the opportunity to speak to the crowd about the vital importance of chanting the holy names in kaliyuga, <\/em>and quoted Srila Prabhupada, \u201cSankirtan <\/em>is the only cure.\u201d We stayed here for two days doing sankirtana<\/em> with the namahatta <\/em>devotees in the main squares of the village.<\/p>\n

Our next stop was on August 14th<\/sup> in the village of Malayandipatti. We held sankirtana <\/em>with many of the locals joining us while relishing the holy names. That day marked the 50th<\/sup> anniversary of the first public harinam sankirtan <\/em>in the western world and also the last day of \u2018World Holy Name Week\u2019, but for us it seemed like just the beginning since whatever we did these days inspired us more and more.<\/p>\n

It was thus, by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and our beloved Padayatra Ministry leader, Lokanath Swami, that we were able to celebrate \u2018World Holy Name Week\u2019.<\/p>\n

ISKCON Golden jubilee ki! Jai!<\/p>\n

World Holy Name Festival ki! Jai!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Quotes about the holy names to inspire you too: <\/strong><\/p>\n

The holy name is the most precious jewel in the Lord\u2019s treasure house<\/em><\/p>\n

(Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura \u2013Sri Hrinam Cintamani)<\/p>\n

\n

The Lord\u2019s holy name is compared to medicine it\u2019s the only cure for the material disease<\/em><\/p>\n

(A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, ISKON\u2019s founder acarya)<\/p>\n

\n

Golokera prema-dhana<\/em><\/p>\n

Harinam sankirtan<\/em><\/p>\n

Translation : The Hare Krishna mahamantra has descended from Goloka Vrindavan<\/em><\/p>\n

(Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura \u2013Hari Hari Biphale)<\/p>\n

\n

[1]<\/a> Sri Siksastakam \u2013 Eight Instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> A center in every Muslim community where members of the Islamic faith gather to pray.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Hari Hari Biphale (Prayer to One’s Beloved Lord) by Narottama Dasa Thakur<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> A festival held in honor of Lord Ganesh<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n