FW: Ratha Yatra Festival held at Audarya

08-15-2002, 02:09 AM

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S a n g a Thursday, August 15, 2002

Ratha Yatra Festival at Audarya
by Vrindaranya dasi

"On this day the Lord of the Universe is dragged down from his throne by
the force of his raga, or attachment. Just as we are degraded by our
material attachments and weakened by them, so too on the day of Ratha
Yatra, Jagannatha, weakened by his raga for the gopis of Vrindavana, is
made human-like, moving among the common people, accessible to all.
Contemplating this will help in no small measure to loosen the bonds of our
material raga and open the door to the highest spiritual prospect."
- Swami B.V. Tripurari

Inspired by the spirit of Ratha Yatra both in terms of its inner
significance and its outreach to all souls, Swami B.V. Tripurari hosted a
three-day festival at Audarya, his beautiful monastery in the California
redwoods. Invitees included members of several Gaudiya sects, including Sri
Caitanya Gaudiya Math's acarya B.V. Tirtha Maharaja and his sannyasa
disciple B.V. Visnu Maharaja, Iskcon's Radhanatha Swami, Jayadwaita Swami,
and Malatidevi, and Narasingha Caitanya Math's B.B. Visnu Maharaja. Eighty
devotees attended the festival, which culminated in Iskcon's San Francisco
(New Jagannatha Puri) Ratha Yatra.

The limited physical facilities at the monastery, which has yet to complete
its second and third phases of construction, were more than made up for by
the big hearts of the visitors and the deep insights of the speakers. The
panoramic vistas of Audarya underscored the nature of true sadhu sanga: the
association of real devotees breaks down the walls of unhealthy
sectarianism allowing one to glimpse the all-accommodating nature of Krsna
Consciousness, and it serves as a simple yet profound solution to the
perceived problems in our devotional lives.

The morning programs began at 5:00 AM with mangala arati, tulasi kirtan,
and the singing of Sri Visvantha Cakravarti's Guruvastakam in a small
temple room suited for no more than fifteen devotees. Somehow everyone
squeezed in, as Swami Tripurari sang Sri Gaura Mangala Mahima and the
devotees celebrated the spirit of Mahaprabhu's nisanta-lila in Navadwipa
dhama.

Throughout the festival Swami Tripurari sought to conceptually orient the
devotees in terms of Sri Gauracandra's lilas in Navadwipa and Puri. He
instructed us that we should think of ourselves as being in Navadwipa-dhama
and going not to San Francisco but Jagannatha Puri itself for the Ratha
Yatra festival. In his vision the peaks of the hills surrounding Audarya
represent the islands of Navadwipa, and the coastal fog the Ganges.
Gaura-Nityananda are here presiding over the dhama and devotees. But he
instructed us that although we were in Navadwipa, we were like the pious
souls who although desiring to enter Mahaprabhu's kirtan at Srivasa-angan,
were not qualified to do so. We had to go to Puri and follow the example
that Mahaprabhu set in terms of Harinama-sankirtana and his internal bhajan
in separation to gain entrance into his lila-kirtana at the house of
Srivasa Thakura that is synonymous with Vrindavana. There is much to be
learned in this regard from contemplating the Ratha Yatra that Mahaprabhu
took part in for twenty consecutive years in Puri.

Jayadwaita Swami spoke of humility and Raja Prataparudra's sweeping the
street for Sri Jagannatha. This humility is the doorway to bhakti proper.
Radhanatha Swami narrated the entire Ratha Yatra lila of Mahaprabhu in
mellifluous detail, and B.V. Tirtha Maharaja explained how the Brajavasis
entered the yajna (sacrifice) at Kuruksetra during the solar eclipse on the
occasion of the original Ratha Yatra in Krsna lila, recounting the sweet
explanation found in Orissan texts.

Srila Prabhupada's senior disciples, Agnideva and Uttamasloka were among
the prominent kirtaneers, and B.V. Tirtha Maharaja's disciples Ananta dasa
brahmacari and Bhuta-bhavana Prabhu engaged the devotees in hours of
bhajana. Tirtha Maharaja himself also led kirtana as did Swami Tripurari.

Early Sunday morning, after arotika and more nectarian talks, everyone
proceeded to New Jagannatha Puri. Swami Tripurari and B.V. Tirtha Maharaja
were asked to sweep the street for Jagannatha and the procession began with
Agnideva leading the kirtana for Jagannatha Swami, who eagerly rushed to
meet the devotees of Vraja-dhama who had been intensely suffering the pangs
of love in separation for many years.

The Ratha Yatra was well organized, and the devotees involved in management
seva were very concerned to see that the sannyasis were satisfied with all
of the arrangements, exhibiting a perfect example of service to the
Vaisnavas. As the Deities reached Vrindavana at the festival sight with
Radhanatha Maharaja leading kirtana, Maharaja asked Swami Tripurari to lead
the kirtana for Sri Jagannatha. Along with Srila Prabhupada's Bharadaraja
dasa, Swami sang Jaya Radha Madhava with a cracked voice and heart of
devotion. The kirtana of the holy name then took to the main stage,
following which Swami Tripurari was asked to perform the arati while
Trivikrama Maharaja led the devotees in the final kirtana.

After the festival, Malatidevi took many devotees to nearby "Hippie Hill"
and gave a charming account of Srila Prabhupada's early lilas with his
youthful devotees and their new-found Lord Jagannatha.

The devotees were enthused by the nonsectarian spirit which reigned
throughout the festival, showing that it is indeed possible for members of
many missions to joyously worship their common Deity: the Jagannatha, the
Lord of all.

Audio CDs of the talks are available. Please contact orders@....
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