Srila Gurudeva in Los Angeles – 17 June 1996
[Hari-katha of Nitya Lila Pravista Om Visnupada Astottara Sata Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja Srila Gurudeva]
Why do they chant, “Om santi, Om santi?” Om has some form, some qualification. He’s merciful. Om means A U M, three things. Then why do they just say, “Om?” A U M makes OM. And here, A denotes Krsna as told in the Upanisads. They go together, but they don’t want to use this. They are satisfied because Kali has done something. In Kali Yuga, even if a person is qualified or not; but yet, if he chants the name of Krsna, he will be benefited. But in Satya Yuga, anyone cannot chant the holy name. To chant the holy name, they will have to perform austerities for lakhs and lakhs of years. But in Kali Yuga, anyone can say Krsna’s name and Rama’s name.
When a person chants, “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare,” he chants the holy names sixteen times.
Devotee: Do you reside in Mathura Maharaja?
Srila Gurudeva: No, no. I live in Vrndavana.
Devotee: I’m coming to India, hopefully next year. So, I’ll have to come and visit.
[Audio break]
Srila Gurudeva: But at that time I was foolish, I could not do anything. But now, he said, “Yes. You have come anyhow.” He is so pleased. What is the history of this temple?
[Srila Gurudeva goes on to speak some instructions that Srila Prabhupada gave before he left his body]
He used to go there and Caitanya Mahaprabhu would also come with all His parikars, associates. Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, and others would also come. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu or His parikars used to come there, He used to make an excuse that the Mohammedans are coming and they will take [unclear]. So, he would take it to that village.
[Audio break]
So, Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to take darsana there. Mahaprabhu also said, “I will not go on top of Govardhana, and no one should go, because Govardhana is Krsna Himself. So, we should not climb on Govardhana hill and we will not see Gopalji.” Therefore, Gopalji Himself, used to come down in that village and everyone would take His darsana. There is a village named ‘Parso’ meaning, day after tomorrow.
The village is named as such because Krsna made a promise to the gopis and said, “I will surely come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.” Every village in Vraja is named after a specific pastime of Krsna.
[Audio break]
Oh you have come now. Even if these ISKCON leaders are not coming, I will always welcome them. I’m also happy to be here.
Devotee: We have been dreaming for a long time. . .
Srila Gurudeva: Svamiji and all of you have brought me here. Otherwise, I didn’t even dream that I would come to the western countries, and meet so many devotees.
Devotee: Seeing how sweet you are and so beautiful, how can they talk like this about such a great personality, what can we do?
Srila Gurudeva: You should not be angry.
Devotee: They have no eyes to see.
Srila Gurudeva: They are helping me. I could not have so much propaganda as they are doing. I have no money to do all these things. Actually, they are doing everything. They are doing everything for free. I’m indebted to them, so much indebted to them.
You know Kamsa was so kind to Krsna and to us all, because he brought Krsna from Goloka Vrndavana to this world. If there was no Kamsa, then no pastimes of Krsna would have manifested. So, Narada said, “I am indebted to Kamsa.”
Svamiji told me, “You should go and give some water, as the plants (the devotees) are drying. So you should go and give water to the plants.”
By bona fide Srimad Bhagavat kirtana, Krsna, Srimati Radhika, Uddhava, Sukadeva Gosvami, Narada Gosvami, and all will come; whether we can see them or not. When Narottama Thakur used to sing and dance with so many bhaktas, Caitanya Mahaprabhu would come with all His parikars, and they would ecstatically dance. And when the kirtana ended, Mahaprabhu and His associates would disappear. When Narottama Thakur would sing, “Gauranga bolite habe, pulaka sarira,” then Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu would descend and do kirtana. Everyone present would see and realize the presence of Mahaprabhu and His associates among them. But, when the kirtana ended, Mahaprabhu and His associates could not be seen, as I mentioned before.
Devotee: They would manifest to the general devotees or just those devotees with ….
Srila Gurudeva: Everyone could see, including the general public, because Yogamaya used to come and connect them. Where there is no Yogamaya, there is no connection with the eternal world. Now we will go to Mayapur or Vrndavana.
[Audio break]
They have no connection with Yogamaya. There is not such a powerful person who can attract Yogamaya to come here, so we are not seeing. But Krsna and Mahaprabhu are there; They are always there. But if personalities like Narottama Thakur, and Nityananda prabhu come, then Yogamaya will come and connect us. They will sprinkle some of their mercy.
Gaura Premanande! Hari Haribol!