Audarya Hosts Ratha Yatra Festival

July 10, 2003

"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 humanlike, 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 Kirtana 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 reined 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@swami.org.