680905IN.NY
Initiation of Hrsikesa Dasa
and Marriage of Satsvarupa and Jadurani

New York, September 5, 1968
Prabhupada: And where is that boy, Hrsikesa?
Devotee: Hrsikesa.
Prabhupada: Come on. Oh, he has shaved his face. Very nice. Sit down. [break] Today we have got two functions. One function is initiation of a brahmacari, and another function is marriage ceremony of our one disciple Satsvarupa brahmacari and Jadurani brahmacarini. [break] ...Caitanya-bhagavata there is a verse which says, grhe va vanete thake, ha gauranga bole dake. The purport is that either if you remain in household life or you remain as mendicant in the forest, in either case, you just become a devotee of Lord Caitanya. So although we have four divisions of the social orders, namely the brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, and sannyasa... Brahmacari means student, strictly observing life of celibacy, following the rules and regulations enunciated by the spiritual master under strict discipline. That is called brahmacari. And next is that if a brahmacari wants to get himself married, that is allowed. So when a brahmacari is married, he is called grhastha, or householder. But because a brahmacari is trained from the very beginning of his life renunciation of material enjoyment, he cannot be absorbed like ordinary man in family life. Ordinary man, they cannot give up the family life or association of woman even up to the end of life. But according to Vedic system, association of woman is allowed only for a certain period, during the youthful days only, just to beget nice children. Because from the age of twenty-five years old up to fifty years, one can beget nice children. Grhastha life, householder life, is meant for begetting nice children. If there are Krsna conscious children in the society, there will be no disturbance. According to Vedic system, the population is divided into two divisions. Illegitimate sons are called varna-sankara. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that when the population becomes varna-sankara, the whole social situation becomes hellish. Actually that is the fact. So one should be very careful to beget nice children so that society, social order, political order will be calm, quiet, peaceful. That is the idea of grhastha life. And many devotees... There are twelve selected personalities who are considered to be the authority of this Krsna consciousness movement. Out of twelve authorities, seven authorities were all grhasthas, householders. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's associates, Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Gadadhara, and Srivasa, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself, they were all householders. So it is not that simply sannyasi or brahmacari can realize Krsna consciousness and not the householders. No.
So in our association we welcome this sort of marriage between trained brahmacari and brahmacarini so that we can welcome nice children for future Krsna conscious generation. That is our viewpoint. So... And initiation... Initiation means to begin spiritual life. According to Vedic culture, there are two births. One birth is from the grhastha parents, father and mother, and the other birth is between the spiritual master and Vedas. The Vedic knowledge is considered mother, and the spiritual master is considered the father. And by the help of the spiritual master, when one gets into transcendental knowledge, that is called second birth. So janmana jayate sudrah: "Everyone is born sudra." Sudra means without any culture. They are called sudras. According to Vedic scriptures, there are four classes of men: brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras. Out of these four classes of social order, the brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas are considered higher caste. Brahmanas means the most intelligent class of men in the society, and ksatriya means the administrative class of men, and vaisyas means the mercantile class of men, and sudras means the laborer class of men. That division is everywhere, not only in India. These four classes of men are present in every country, every society. It may be in different names only, but the four divisions are already there everywhere. It cannot be without it. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, catur-varnyam maya srstam [Bg. 4.13]. These four classes of divisions are there according to different qualities, and Krsna says, or God says, "That is My creation." So there cannot be any exception of His creation. Just like God's creation is sun. In every country there is sun, not that the sun can be seen in India. In every country there is moon. Similarly, this caste system is present in every country, in every society, but it may be called in different names. So the sudras means the lowest class of men, who have no culture, but the higher classes, the brahmanas, the ksatriyas, they are considered highly cultured. And how they are called highly cultured? Because they are twice-born. First birth, janmana jayate sudrah samskarad bhaved dvijah. Samskarat, by following this ritualistic ceremony of initiation or marriage, they are called dvija, twice-born. Samskarad bhaved dvijo veda-pathad bhaved viprah. This initiation means this boy is being accepted as initiated in order to give him Vedic instruction so that he may live as a student, as a brahmacari, within the society and get complete instruction of Vedic knowledge. And when he is competent, he is called vipra. Veda-pathad bhaved vipro brahma janatiti brahmanah. And when he realizes the Supreme Self, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he will be called brahmana. At that time we offer thread ceremony.
So this process are there, we are observing, and our Krsna consciousness movement is gradually making progress with these principles. We have got already eleven branches, and one of our principal students, Sriman Hayagriva Brahmacari and Kirtanananda Swami, they are attempting to open a new social community project in West Virginia, New Vrindaban. So this Krsna conscious movement is taking ground gradually, and we hope in future these grhasthas, these householders, vanaprasthas, sannyasis, they will implement this Vedic culture gradually, and people will be more and more happy. Thank you very much.
So one thing I forgot is the sacred thread ceremony for Hayagriva. He is present. Is there any? I think in my bag there is a thread, so Hayagriva can also. Oh, here. You have that mantra?
Prabhupada: Bhur bhuvah svah? And one thread? Bring. Hayagriva?
Devotees: Hayagriva? Hayagriva.
Prabhupada: Now, where is water? These garlands may be first of all put here, then one to the bridegroom and to the... [break] (om apavitrah recitation) Again do that. Yes, chant. Those who are initiated, chant, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama... I forgot to say you about the thread ceremony. Those who have passed one year's chanting, they can be offered this sacred thread. [break] ...first of all. Everyone has done? (acamana) You have done second time. You have done second time? Then you do second time, you. Hrsikesa.
Kirtanananda: They have done it twice, all of them.
Prabhupada: They have done now? Oh. (om apavitrah recitation) Yes. Do it for the third time, circle. (om apavitrah recitation, followed by mangalacarana and other prayers) Now... Yes. You chant Hare Krsna. (all chanting japa) You have... You can sit down. You are going? She is going? Your mother is going? Call her. Now we shall, function. Please sit down. [break] Come to this end, 108, then begin from here, again come to this side. In this way at least sixteen rounds you chant. And your spiritual name is already Hrsikesa. That's all right. And further instruction you'll have from Kirtanananda Swami and your Godbrother. So chant Hare Krsna. Oh, is that, that...?
Devotee: (indistinct) neck beads.
Prabhupada: Now Judy's mother, you can come here, Judy's mother.
Jadurani: She can sit on the chair.
Prabhupada: Oh. That's all right. Give her chair here.
Jadurani: Oh, all right.
Prabhupada: Sit down there. You sit down. Satsvarupa, you sit down, this...
Satsvarupa: Sit down here.
Prabhupada: No. Yes. Sit down. Sit down there. Now your daughter is being married with this brahmacari. Now you can offer this brahmacarihis name is Satsvarupathat "This girl was in my charge so long. I give this daughter to you in charity to take charge." You tell like that.
Jadurani's mother: I've had this daughter with me for so long. I now give her in your charge.
Prabhupada: Yes. And you say, "Yes, I take charge."
Satsvarupa: Yes. I take charge.
Jadurani's mother: Then take here.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Devotees: Hare Krsna.
Prabhupada: Then you say that "Jadurani, I take charge of your life so long I shall live," in this way.
Satsvarupa: Jadurani, I take charge of your life so long I shall live.
Prabhupada: And you say that "I shall render my services unto you throughout my life. Throughout my life." Yes.
Jadurani: I shall render my service to you throughout my life.
Prabhupada: And there is no separation. It is... There is no question of divorce or separation. In any condition of life, happiness or distress, you shall continue as husband and wife, because our main business is Krsna consciousness. This marriage is not material marriage for sense gratification. But because there are girls and boys and we require also Krsna conscious population, therefore we encourage this marriage. It is not for sense gratification. So in this way there is no question of separation or divorce. You admit this? Yes. You also admit this? Then you change your garland.
Devotees: Haribol. Hare Krsna.
Prabhupada: Now you come this side; you come this side. Yes. And there is red, red sindhu? No? Red sindhu? No?
Brahmananda: There is a ring.
Prabhupada: There is a ring? All right. Give her this ring and now just cover the head. You cover. You cover the head. And somebody stuck up this, his cloth and his (her) cloth. Knot. Make a knot. You make. Yes. Chant Hare Krsna. That's all. Now chant Hare Krsna. [break] Godbrothers and sister, give them good wishes.
Devotees: Haribol! Haribol! All glories to Satsvarupa and Jadurani! Hare Krsna!
Prabhupada: Now chant Hare Krsna. (chants) Chant Hare Krsna. Boston center is in your charge, husband and wife. So you have to develop. You do it, and your children will do it. In this way just engage fully, heart and soul, in Krsna's service. Oh, this is mixed?
Brahmananda: No, it's not.
Prabhupada: Bring that. Mix it. Mix it. Yes, mix it. (om apavitrah recitation-fire sacrifice) Offer. Svaha. Take. Everyone, you also take, little, little, some. Vande aham... (recites mangalacarana and prayers again, with devotees repeating) Now take one banana. Give him one. Yes, you take one. He'll give. Hayagriva. Give Hayagriva one. Give me one. Yes. Now turn(?) down. Yes. (chants namo brahmanya-devaya prayer three times) Just put slowly. (chants Hare Krsna mantra responsively with devotees two times) Now bow down.
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
(devotees offer obeisances) Chant govinda jaya jaya, gopala jaya jaya. (kirtana-Prabhupada recites Gayatri to Hayagriva during kirtana) (prema-dhvani by Srila Prabhupada) All glories to the married couples. Now distribute prasada. [break] ...in our Krsna consciousness every function is happy?
Devotees: Haribol!
Prabhupada: Krsna is there, reservoir of all pleasure. Why it should not be happy? Everything should be happy. Where is your spot, black?
Hrsikesa: Oh, he didn't give it to me yet.
Prabhupada: Somebody may take these bananas, cut into pieces and distribute. (end)

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