Sri Kalaprapurna Marupuru Kodandarami Reddy, a local poet and author, sitting respectfully at Srila Prabhupada's feet, translated his English speech into Telegu.
For the next few evenings Srila Prabhupada is to lecture at a pandala held on the grounds of the Sri Rebala Lakshminarasa Reddy Public Hall, on Nellore's main street. The hall was a gift to the town by the same family that we are staying with.
At the rear the hall has an open area of about an acre, with a large, brick, stage like platform built onto a back wall. It is over this that the colorful pandala has been erected.
The devotees have made adequate preparations with fresh flower garlands, an effective sound system, and a giant painting hanging above the back of the vyasasana depicting Lord Caitanya dancing and chanting with the animals in the forest of Jharikhanda.
A large asvattha (ragi) tree overshadows the whole setup with its auspicious presence.
This evening a large crowd of about 6,000 people were gathered, eager to see and hear the sadhu who has been converting Westerners into followers of Vedic culture. Over the past few weeks they have seen the devotees perform kirtana on the main streets of their town. Tonight they listened quietly and with full attention as Srila Prabhupada lectured from the newly received Sixth Canto, Volume One, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Sri Kalaprapurna Marupuru Kodandarami Reddy, a local poet and author, sitting respectfully at Srila Prabhupada's feet, translated his English speech into Telegu.
The topic of the lecture was prayascitta, or atonement for sinful acts. Srila Prabhupada prescribed the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra as the best means to counteract and remove sinful desires.
He related the story of a devotee of Lord Caitanya who after being sprinkled with water by the Nawab Hussein Shah was considered to have been converted into a Muslim. When the devotee asked a local brahmana what atonement he should perform, he was told to drink a kilogram of molten lead, while another brahmana recommended the same amount of hot ghee. Finally the devotee went to Lord Caitanya, who advised him to retire from family life, go to Vrindavana and chant Hare Krishna.
In his summary Prabhupada once again indicated his Western disciples as practical evidence of the holy name's efficacy. "So this Krishna consciousness movement is the thoroughly wholesale process of cleansing the mind. If we perform this Krishna sankirtana then immediately the core of the heart, which is filled up with all dirty things, will be cleansed.
"For example, you can see practically all my disciples present here. They are coming from Western countries: Europe, America, or even in India-Parsis and other, Mohammedans, they are coming. But they are now pure, cleansed of the dirty things.
In this Movement throughout the whole world there are at least ten to twelve thousand devotees like that, and before this life they were all addicted to all kinds of sinful life. Now they are not committing the four pillars of sinful life. Therefore our request is that you take up this chanting method. It is very easy: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare."
He also added a caution. "But one thing we must be very careful of, that we should not commit again sinful life. If you chant Hare Krishna mantra you become free immediately from all sinful reaction, but if you commit again sinful life, that is your responsibility. Among the ten kinds of offenses one is very grievous. Namnad balad yasya hi papa-buddhih if one thinks that 'I am chanting Hare Krishna, therefore whatever sinful acts I am doing, it is becoming counteracted.' Don't commit the mistake of the elephant that takes bath thoroughly and again throw dust on your body."
The audience appeared greatly satisfied with the lecture.
Afterward the devotees requested Srila Prabhupada to remain on stage to make a presentation of gifts to various gentlemen who had become Life Members during the day's preaching. As they came forward one-by-one, Acyutananda Swami announced their names to the crowd, and everyone clapped as each man received a set of books from Srila Prabhupada's own hand.
On the way back to the house Srila Prabhupada told us that it is very good to tell a story in the middle of a talk. He explained that in Kali-yuga people are less intelligent, so the Bhagavatam is ideal for this age because it gives instruction by way of stories.
Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 1 by Hari Sauri Dasa
Recently Added
Trending Today