ISKCON WILL NEVER BE THE SAME by HH Bhaktisidhanta Swami

[Guest guest]

Bhaktisiddhanta Swami (Mayapur - IN)

22-Feb-04 15:53 +0530

ISKCON WILL NEVER BE THE SAME

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“ ISKCON WILL NEVER BE THE SAME”

 

 

In the evening of the Sri Sri Panca Tattva Adhivas Installation,

the curtains opened and here the Lords saw for the first time Their fan club

of earthly servitors, and these dependents received the first darshan of

their Sri Sri Panca Tattva. Pandemonium broke out amidst the kirtan led by

HH Niranjana Swami, accompanied by a melodious orchestra of amplified,

flutes, violin, saxophone and a team of mridangas. There They stood with

outstretched golden limbs, beckoning all onlookers, the Supremes have

finally come! Standing at the back of the temple, one could view a packed

kirtan hall of over 4000 devotees, where the sounds of Haribol, Haribol,

Gauranga, Gauranga, shook the atmosphere. Many forgot to pay their

obeisances as they came into the temple due to the captivating surroundings.

 

HH Jayapataka Swami who was on the altar at the time peeked through the

curtains to see the devotees faces before and as he opened them, he saw a

sea of shocked expressions and open mouths, a memory of a lifetime. “When I

opened the curtains, it was almost like an electric wave that swept back and

forth across the audience”. Many had tears in the eyes. A common feeling was

that “Nothing will stop this movement now.” It was almost a like an over

whelming sense of victory, a feeling of pride to be part of a mission which

will change the world despite any shortcomings of the past. HH Bhatki Tirtha

Swami remarked, “ Iskcon will never be the same”. One could only imagine how

pleased Srila Prabhupada is to have his desire of life size deities of the

Lords now available to direct the society. In hindsight, all one can do is

replay that ‘magic appearance moment’ within the mind again and again, They

have come and now things will go forward. It was a darshan of unforgettable

reassurance.

 

As described by HH Jayapataka Swami “The installation is not something

that you could see with your eyes, it is an experience of the heart which is

immediate”. Never has there been such as kirtan and darshan like this,

bringing newcomers in such contact with the descent of the Lord. The Sri Sri

Panca Tattva are giving us access to all other forms of the Krsna. Their

presence creates a most needed “insurance policy of progression”. Looking

around the room we could see such stalwarts as HH Indradumnya Swami standing

on the stage dumb struck will hands folded towards the Lords. Many of the

other senior men were also motionless. I noticed Bhakti Caitanya Swami

leaning heavily on his danda as though intoxicated. Brighupati prabhu, the

commander of book distribution, prabhu remarked “Incredible, just

incredible!”

 

Then the ‘elders’ began to offer different articles of worship to Their

Lordships, some almost standing on their tiptoes to bring a flower to the

nose of each deity. A roar came from the crowd as HH Sridhar Maharaja,

assisted by Jananivasa, struggled with whatever strength he had to bring the

offering plate up to the Lords face and as he was able to complete the final

inches, another cheer came from the multitude below, for here was a

‘general’ returning from the battlefield to make a few final offerings in

this body before he returns to his Lord. He then sat on the outer altar with

head looking down to the ground in sober contemplation.

 

The big wooden deity doors then closed muffling the loud kirtan outside and

then Svavasa, Ambarish, and Bhaktirtha Swami walked on the bamboo platform

to the rear of the deities, placing sacred threads on Their wrists. Svavasa

prabhu went behind each Lord, placing his hands on each of their shoulders

then bringing his hands to his chest. Five tulasi plants were placed in

front of the Lords and after this all of the assembled leaders went to

Advaitacarya’s lotus feet and clockwise touched the lotus limbs of all of

the Panca Tattva before leaving. With ones outstretched hand, one could only

cover three of the toes at a time and then try to work ones way around the

rest of the foot. Everyone would gaze upward into the face of each Lord and

imagine what it was like to be standing before this Personality 500 years

ago during Their manifest pastimes. This type of darshan undoubtedly

transports one to a different dimension. All the individual and collective

tests of the past are surely a small price to pay to behold such a vision.

 

The final evening offering took place as Aindra das began a most

incredible maha mantra safari, supported by horns and large drummer cymbals.

He weaved through a tapestry of melodies, shifting the speeds, beckoning the

main kirtaneers to sing with him “Come on help me!,” providing a more

powerful punch to the lead. One could see how in Lord Caitanya’s time that

without microphones, amplifiers and speakers, the main singer could project

his voice with the aid of others. HH Bhakti Marg Swami led a human train

around the temple, while Aindra intermittently stood up and jumped up and

down on the stage with flower petals cascading down from his garland onto

the harmonium keys. With a raise of the hands, everyone would clap and chant

more loudly. As he left the stage many dove full dandavats touching his

feet, blocking his path, a devotional trademark of West Bengal.

The Adivasa Installation was over, but the experience will remain in the

hearts of the devotees forever.