"The sankirtana pastimes of the Lord are unique, never before, in any other
incarnation, were such pastimes ever revealed. As the kirtana picked up
gusto, the Lord's joy also increased. The devotees were carried in waves of
sublime joy.
The Lord and husband of the Goddess of Fortune was dancing on the streets
of Navadvipa and anyone who saw Him became free from all sorrows. Soon it
was dusk, but the devotees were perfectly engrossed in the kirtana,
oblivious of the material realm.
Standing in doorways, millions of men, women and children lined the streets
seeing the moving mass of men whose tumultuous singing of the Holy Name of
the Lord echoed and filled the cosmos. Above this tumult rang loud and
clear the Lord's own thunderous voice. The devotees replied with equal
gusto, chanting the name of Lord Hari. Then magically, as if by previous
arrangement, all the torches were lit at the same time?
The Lord repeatedly called out the name of Sri Hari and the devotees became
attentive. They surrounded the Lord with the kirtana party. All the
devotees were decorated with flower garlands around their neck and their
bodies were smeared with sandalwood paste and scented vermilion powder.
They all had various musical instruments in their hands and looked more
powerful than thousands of lions?
Chanting the name of Hari, He raised His arms up in the sky and danced. The
knee-length flower garland around His neck swayed with each movement. His
upraised arms glistened like fine tapering pillars of gold and His body
became drenched with the incessant flow of ecstatic tears from His lotus
petal eyes. As the ecstatic feelings increased, the hairs of His body stood
on end like the ever-fresh kadamba flower.
The Supreme Lord wears His fine and clean clothes very artistically. The
high nose is aristocratic and the sinewy tendons of His neck give the
impression of being the neck of the king of the forest, strong and
powerful. He towers over others, His long body well formed and beautifully
proportionate shining like a mountain of gold. Everyone looking at Him
commented on His divine and beautiful presence.
The millions who milled around for this momentous occasion were very
fortunate and in spite of their large numbers, they all received the Lord's
benediction by being able to see the Lord's exquisite transcendental face.
They simply stared at Him, irresistibly drawn to His beauty and
spontaneously exclaimed aloud the Lord's name as uncontrollable emotions
welled up within their hearts."
-Sri Caitanya Bhagavat, Madhya-kanda
This beautiful description almost exactly resembles the Harinam Sankitana
Party as they carried the new Deities, Sri Sri Nitai-Mayapur-Chandra, all
around Mayapur after Their Installation ceremony on Tuesday, 23 January
2007.
The Nagar Sankirtana Department was inaugurated officially in Mayapur in
May 2007, after existing unofficially for one year, and now, finally, the
most gorgeous, smiling Deities have been installed to accompany the Harinam
teams all over the nine islands of Navadvipa. These Deities were carved at
Ekachakra Dhama, the place of Lord Nityananda's Appearance.
HG Pankajanghri Prabhu and HG Jananivas Prabhu kindly performed the Arati
and Puspanjali Ceremonies on the Pancha-Tattva altar in the main temple.
They chose this day to be most auspicious, since it was also Purnima and
Pushya Abhiseka, a day on which the Deities are dressed in flower-outfits.
After circumambulating the Deities in the temple, the procession went
outside and everyone took part in the wonderful Harinama procession that
followed. Coloured flags waving, feet jumping and onlookers paying
obeisances, smiling faces looking on, with the smile of Their Lordships
being the broadest of all!
The Harinam Party also carried brass "Chand Kazi" signs. This emblem was
given to Lord Caitanya Himself by the Chand Kazi, with the assurance that
wherever the sign was carried, none of the Muslim followers of the Kazi
would disturb the Harinama Party. Lord Caitanya added the tilaka sign to
the centre of the emblem. The same sign was carried by many devotees
during kirtana, such as Narottama dasa Thakur. Brass Chakra signs were
also carried by the party.
Everyone agreed that the kirtana was magical, more ecstatic than ever
before, and knew it was due to the presence of the Lord Himself in His
Deity form. The Nagar Sankirtan Department aims at eng engaging each and
everyone in the 9 islands of Navadvipa in hearing and chanting the Holy
Names, to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya who inaugurated this activity
Himself in Navadvipa 500 years ago. Now Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda
are visibly present in Their Deity form once again to lead the Harinama and
purify all with the sound of the Holy Name and sight of Their attractive
forms.
The children were also engaged by handing out dry packet
Prasadam to onlookers.
The day's activities ended with a Prasadam Feast at Srila Prabhupada's
Samadhi.
The Nagar Sankirtan department wishes to thank HG Ivesvara Prabhu
and HG Teja Gaurangi Prabhu who sponsored the Deities as well as
Their lovely blue outfits and the Feast. A great thank you to HG Adisvara
Prabhu and HG Lila Vridavana Prabhu for the
repainting of the Deities and the making of Their jewellery. Thank you to
HG Pankajanghri Prabhu and HG Jananivas Prabhu who performed the ceremony
and offered valuable advice. And thank you to HH Bhakti Purusottama
Maharaja and all the devotees who blessed us with His presence.
| 