Observance Of Kartik Vrata In Chandigarh Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math

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Observance of Kartik Vrata in Chandigarh Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math

 

For the pleasure of the assembled Vaisnavas:

 

Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my fallen obeisances.

 

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, the President-Acarya of the Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math has chosen to observe this year's Kartik vrata in Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math in Chandigarh, Punjab State.

 

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj is inviting any devotee who is interested in increasing their hearing of Hari Katha for Kartik, to come to Chandigarh Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math for this month's observance of the Kartik vrata.

 

Generally most people choose to go to Vrndavan to observe Kartik, where it is described that the service rendered during this month gives so many more times the spiritual benefit as that service rendered in other months of the year. Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj has chosen Chandigarh as the place of observance of Kartik this year since the Math is so is large enough to accommodate the many people, including Western devotees, who are coming to increase their hearing of Hari Katha this month. Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj in his kindness has taken into consideration the needs of Westerners so that the austerities can be somewhat minimized and the Hari Katha can be maximized. It is also interesting to note that Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaj, (the spiritual master of Srila Tirtha Maharaj), was the person to bring Gaudiya Vaisnavism to this area, Punjab State, which was one of the foremost sites of Mayavadi influence. Srila Madhava Maharaj blasted the Mayavadi doctrine in this area with his strong preaching and 'gigantic spiritual' personality - 'gigantic spiritual personality" are the words given by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj - and thus built different temples in Punjab state, including a most beautiful temple in Chandigarh where so many hundreds of people come every day to take darshan, hear Hari Katha and honor prasadam. Srila Madhava Maharaj's puspa samadhi and bhajan kutir are here at the Chandigarh temple.

 

By Srila Madhava Maharaj's strong preaching, he defeated the Mayavadi philosophy and brought so many Sikh and other 'Hindu' followers to Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Srila Tirtha Maharaj is also doing as such, following in his Guru Maharaja's footsteps in his ardent endeavors in preaching Krsna consciousness.

 

Although the personification of utmost humility, Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj turns into a lion when preaching against the Mayavadi philosophy. In this way, I am so much reminded of my Guru Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada's, mood in preaching, his becoming like a lion when preaching against and tearing apart the Mayavadi philosophy.

 

Often enough neophyte devotees go to Vrndavan for the month of Kartika to go to see the many places where Krsna enacted His different pastimes, not realizing the importance of associating with bonafide sadhus, hearing from them, and rendering service to them.

 

Although seeing these holy places also enables one to make progress in Krsna consciousness, ultimately Krsna is revealed through the mercy of His pure devotee; sometimes we forget this fact. Thus, one may travel to Vrndavan for Kartik, yet not reap the ultimate benefit of one's journey.

 

SB 10.84.13

Yasyatma buddhi kunape tri dhatuke

Sva dhi kala tradisu bhauma ijya dhih

Yat tirtha buddhi salile na karhicit

Janesu abhijesu sa eva go kharah

 

'One who accepts this body made of three elements to be himself, who considers the by-products of this body to be his kinsmen, who goes to a place of pilgrimage to take bath rather than meeting men of transcendental knowledge there, is no better than the cow or the ass.'

 

CC Madhya 22.54 Sadhu sanga sadhu sanga sarva sastra kaya

Lava matra sadhu sanga sarva siddhi haya

 

Even one moment's association with Krsna's pure devotee can give one all success. This association is obtained through proper hearing and the submissive rendering of service to such sadhus.

 

This year (by Srimati Radharani's mercy), I have come to Chandigarh for Kartik, where Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj, (whose preaching is just like Srila Prabhupada's), is filling the day and night with Hari Katha. Often enough ISKCON's leaders make various criticisms of different Gaudiya Vaisnavas outside of ISKCON although they are also bonafide branches of the Caitanya tree, so many of them following so much more strictly the tenets of Gaudiya Vaisnavism, and for so many more years, than so many ISKCON devotees, including the ISKCON leaders. Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj is a person whose Krsna consciousness, sadhana practice and personage can NOT be called into any question, in any way, shape or form. He is a most inpeccable Vaisnava.

 

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj is the personification of humility. I personally can not glorify Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj enough in this light. He is like a child in his humble manner when dealing with everyone, sees according to the vision given in Bhagavad Gita (5.18; vidya vinaya sampane') but in his preaching, he will boldly blast away all conceptions infused with Maya's influence. He himself practices exactly what he preaches. He preaches straight Krsna consciousness, always stressing Lord Caitanya's third verse of the Siksastaka: trinad api sunicena'and explains that example is better than precept. Needless to say, Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj lives his life according to these statements. He is glorified by so many senior Vaisnavas: Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Kumud Santa Maharaj, and others. Srila Prabhupada asked Srila Tirtha Maharaj to come to the West with him for preaching, but due to Srila Tirtha Maharaja's having such heavy responsibility for his Guru Maharaj, was not able to come. Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj (in his humility) says that he feels he commited an offense by not adhering to Srila Prabhupada's request at that time of the request. In Srila Tirtha Maharaj's own words: 'I remember his affection for me when I met him at Sri Sri Radha-Damodar Mandir in Vrndavan, U.P., (India), after his sannyas. He told me about his desire to publish an English journal, 'Back to Godhead' and showed me the contents of his writings, and told his desire to go to foreign countries for propagation of the pure bhakti cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He even asked me to go with him for foreign tour. I committed an offense at his lotus feet by not fulfilling his desire due to obligations to work for our institution.' Thus, he is now coming to preach outside of India with the blessings of his seniors (Goduncles) and peer (Godbrother) Vaisnavas.

 

The acarya is one who teaches by his example, and such is Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj. Coming to Srila Gurudev's Math, I have found VERY SWEET devotees who have taken on the mood of their Guru Maharaj when it comes to serving the visitors who come to their Maths. These devotees go out of their way to make sure that everyone who has come to the Math is satisfied, even going to the extent of going up to the various visitors and asking if there is anything that they need, including special prasadam and even a doctor.

 

(Genuine Vaisnava mentality.)

 

Coming from a background in ISKCON after 30+ years of experience, having at least some understanding of what it is that Srila Prabhupada was trying to teach us, I can honestly say that I have found these teachings put to practical application right here in Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj's Maths. (I would highly suggest every devotee, young and old in years of practice of Krsna consciousness, should come here to see such an example, (and to hopefully take it back to their respective temple), as this is how Srila Prabhupada was trying to teach us to be.) Indeed anyone who comes here will become MOST inspired to meet Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj and his disciples. Anyone who is coming to India for this Kartik Vrata, I urge you to consider making the journey to Chandigarh to meet Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj, see the wonderful example of such an exalted Vaisnava in his practice, and to hear from him. The perfection of life is to take the association of such pure Vaisnavas by hearing, rendering service, and trying to implement into our lives the examples set by such transcendental personalities.

 

Following is the Kartik schedule which is being observed in Chandigarh

 

4:45 am Guru Vandana and Hari Katha

 

5:30 am Mangal Arotike (due to the Hari Katha, Mangal Arotike, which is normally 5:00am is now starting later).

 

6:00 am Mandir Parikram (with exhilarating kirtan)

 

6:15 am Bhajans and Hari Katha

 

7:30 am Nagar Sankirtan

 

9:00 am Hari Katha on Bhajan Rahasya

 

10:00 am Prasadam

 

12:30 pm Bhoga Arotike

 

1:00 pm Prasadam

 

4:00 pm Bhajans

 

4:30 pm Hari Katha (Sikshastaka prayers by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu)

 

7:00 pm Sandhya Arotik, Mandir Parikram

 

8:00 pm Srimad Bhagavatam (Gajendra Moksana)

 

10:00 pm Prasadam

 

I will also add that the kirtans here are ecstatic, both in the temple and outside. (The ecstatic kirtans even have me going in a one-two step.) Daily there is Nagar Sankirtan to different areas, where we can see the Vedic teaching still in place as so many people come out from their houses to greet the devotees with pranams, to offer arotike, garlands and prasadam to Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj and the sannyasis who come on Hari Nam, and prasadam is then given to the devotees.

 

Of the experience so far, I can say it is truly wonderful, one of the best, if not the best that I have ever experienced as a devotee for over 30 years.

 

I remain your servant,

 

Mahavegavati Dasi Hare Krsna ..

 

 

 

Observance of Kartik Vrata in Chandigarh Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math

 

For the pleasure of the assembled Vaisnavas:

 

Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my fallen obeisances.

 

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, the President-Acarya of the Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math has chosen to observe this year's Kartik vrata in Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math in Chandigarh, Punjab State.

 

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj is inviting any devotee who is interested in increasing their hearing of Hari Katha for Kartik, to come to Chandigarh Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math for this month's observance of the Kartik vrata.

 

Generally most people choose to go to Vrndavan to observe Kartik, where it is described that the service rendered during this month gives so many more times the spiritual benefit as that service rendered in other months of the year. Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj has chosen Chandigarh as the place of observance of Kartik this year since the Math is so is large enough to accommodate the many people, including Western devotees, who are coming to increase their hearing of Hari Katha this month. Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj in his kindness has taken into consideration the needs of Westerners so that the austerities can be somewhat minimized and the Hari Katha can be maximized.

 

It is also interesting to note that Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaj, (the spiritual master of Srila Tirtha Maharaj), was the person to bring Gaudiya Vaisnavism to this area, Punjab State, which was one of the foremost sites of Mayavadi influence. Srila Madhava Maharaj blasted the Mayavadi doctrine in this area with his strong preaching and 'gigantic' personality - 'gigantic personality are the words given by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj - and thus built different temples in Punjab state, including a most beautiful temple in Chandigarh where so many hundreds of people come every day to take darshan, hear Hari Katha and honor prasadam. Srila Madhava Maharaj's puspa samadhi and bhajan kutir are here at the Chandigarh temple.

 

By Srila Madhava Maharaj's strong preaching, he defeated the Mayavadi philosophy and brought so many Sikh and other 'Hindu' followers to Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Srila Tirtha Maharaj is also doing as such, following in his Guru Maharaja's footsteps in his ardent endeavors in preaching Krsna consciousness.

 

Although the personification of utmost humility, Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj turns into a lion when preaching against the Mayavadi philosophy. In this way, I am so much reminded of my Guru Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada's, mood in preaching, his becoming like a lion when preaching against and tearing apart the Mayavadi philosophy.

 

Often enough neophyte devotees go to Vrndavan for the month of Kartika to go to see the many places where Krsna enacted His different pastimes, not realizing the importance of associating with bonafide sadhus, hearing from them, and rendering service to them.

 

Although seeing these holy places also enables one to make progress in Krsna consciousness, ultimately Krsna is revealed through the mercy of His pure devotee; sometimes we forget this fact. Thus, one may travel to Vrndavan for Kartik, yet not reap the ultimate benefit of one's journey.

 

SB 10.84.13

Yasyatma buddhi kunape tri dhatuke

Sva dhi kala tradisu bhauma ijya dhih

Yat tirtha buddhi salile na karhicit

Janesu abhijesu sa eva go kharah

 

'One who accepts this body made of three elements to be himself, who considers the by-products of this body to be his kinsmen, who goes to a place of pilgrimage to take bath rather than meeting men of transcendental knowledge there, is no better than the cow or the ass.'

 

CC Madhya 22.54

Sadhu sanga sadhu sanga sarva sastra kaya

Lava matra sadhu sanga sarva siddhi haya

 

Even one moment's association with Krsna's pure devotee can give one all success. This association is obtained through proper hearing and the submissive rendering of service to such sadhus.

 

This year (by Srimati Radharani's mercy), I have come to Chandigarh for Kartik, where Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj, (whose preaching is just like Srila Prabhupada's), is filling the day and night with Hari Katha. Often enough ISKCON's leaders make various criticisms of different Gaudiya Vaisnavas outside of ISKCON although they are also bonafide branches of the Caitanya tree, so many of them following so much more strictly the tenets of Gaudiya Vaisnavism, and for so many more years, than so many ISKCON devotees, including the ISKCON leaders. Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj is a person whose Krsna consciousness, sadhana practice and personage can NOT be called into any question, in any way, shape or form. He is a most inpeccable Vaisnava.

 

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj is the personification of humility. I personally can not glorify Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj enough in this light. He is like a child in his humble manner when dealing with everyone, sees according to the vision given in Bhagavad Gita (5.18; vidya vinaya sampane') but in his preaching, he will boldly blast away all conceptions infused with Maya's influence. He himself practices exactly what he preaches. He preaches straight Krsna consciousness, always stressing Lord Caitanya's third verse of the Siksastaka: trinad api sunicena'and explains that example is better than precept.

 

Needless to say, Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj lives his life according to these statements. He is glorified by so many senior Vaisnavas: Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Kumud Santa Maharaj, and others. Srila Prabhupada asked Srila Tirtha Maharaj to come to the West with him for preaching, but due to Srila Tirtha Maharaja's having such heavy responsibility for his Guru Maharaj, was not able to come. Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj (in his humility) says that he feels he commited an offense by not adhering to Srila Prabhupada's request at that time of the request. In Srila Tirtha Maharaj's own words: 'I remember his affection for me when I met him at Sri Sri Radha-Damodar Mandir in Vrndavan, U.P., (India), after his sannyas. He told me about his desire to publish an English journal, 'Back to Godhead' and showed me the contents of his writings, and told his desire to go to foreign countries for propagation of the pure bhakti cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He even asked me to go with him for foreign tour. I committed an offense at his lotus feet by not fulfilling his desire due to obligations to work for our institution.' Thus, he is now coming to preach outside of India with the blessings of his seniors (Goduncles) and peer (Godbrother) Vaisnavas.

 

The acarya is one who teaches by his example, and such is Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj. Coming to Srila Gurudev's Math, I have found VERY SWEET devotees who have taken on the mood of their Guru Maharaj when it comes to serving the visitors who come to their Maths. These devotees go out of their way to make sure that everyone who has come to the Math is satisfied, even going to the extent of going up to the various visitors and asking if there is anything that they need, including special prasadam and even a doctor.

 

(Genuine Vaisnava mentality.)

 

Coming from a background in ISKCON after 30+ years of experience, having at least some understanding of what it is that Srila Prabhupada was trying to teach us, I can honestly say that I have found these teachings put to practical application right here in Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj's Maths. (I would highly suggest every devotee, young and old in years of practice of Krsna consciousness, should come here to see such an example, (and to hopefully take it back to their respective temple), as this is how Srila Prabhupada was trying to teach us to be.) Indeed anyone who comes here will become MOST inspired to meet Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj and his disciples. Anyone who is coming to India for this Kartik Vrata, I urge you to consider making the journey to Chandigarh to meet Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj, see the wonderful example of such an exalted Vaisnava in his practice, and to hear from him. The perfection of life is to take the association of such pure Vaisnavas by hearing, rendering service, and trying to implement into our lives the examples set by such transcendental personalities.

 

Following is the Kartik schedule which is being observed in Chandigarh

 

4:45 am Guru Vandana and Hari Katha

 

5:30 am Mangal Arotike (due to the Hari Katha, Mangal Arotike, which is normally 5:00am is now starting later).

 

6:00 am Mandir Parikram (with exhilarating kirtan)

 

6:15 am Bhajans and Hari Katha

 

7:30 am Nagar Sankirtan

 

9:00 am Hari Katha on Bhajan Rahasya

 

10:00 am Prasadam

 

12:30 pm Bhoga Arotike

 

1:00 pm Prasadam

 

4:00 pm Bhajans

 

4:30 pm Hari Katha (Sikshastaka prayers by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu)

 

7:00 pm Sandhya Arotik, Mandir Parikram

 

8:00 pm Srimad Bhagavatam (Gajendra Moksana)

 

10:00 pm Prasadam

 

I will also add that the kirtans here are ecstatic, both in the temple and outside. (The ecstatic kirtans even have me going in a one-two step.) Daily there is Nagar Sankirtan to different areas, where we can see the Vedic teaching still in place as so many people come out from their houses to greet the devotees with pranams, to offer arotike, garlands and prasadam to Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj and the sannyasis who come on Hari Nam, and prasadam is then given to the devotees.

 

Of the experience so far, I can say it is truly wonderful, one of the best, if not the best that I have ever experienced as a devotee for over 30 years.

 

I remain your servant,

 

Mahavegavati Dasi

Hare Krsna