Ratha-yātrā Address – July 16, 1972, London

720716AD-LONDON [05:08 Minutes]

So this Ratha-yatra festival is a feeling festival for the Vaisnava

Revatinandana: The spiritual master who founded this Hare Krsna movement will address in just a few words. Then we'll begin the procession to Trafalgar Square. Hare Krsna.

Devotees: Haribol!

Prabhupada: Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you very much for your kindly participating in this festival, Ratha-yatra festival. This festival is coming down since five thousand years, when Lord Krsna, along with His elder brother Balarama and His younger sister Subhadra, all together in a chariot came from Dvaraka to Kuruksetra. Kuruksetra is still existing, and the Dvaraka, the city, is also still existing.

So according to Vedic culture, when there is eclipse, lunar eclipse, people take bath in sacred rivers. So especially they go to Kuruksetra, a pilgrimage. So Krsna along with His family members, brother and sister, came to Kuruksetra, and receiving this news, the gopis and inhabitants of Vrndavana, where Lord Krsna lived in His childhood, they came to see Him.

So amongst the gopis, Srimati Radharani was the chief. And when She saw Krsna in Kuruksetra in all opulence, She said, "My dear Krsna, You are also here; I am also here. But We are missing Vrndavana. So I wish that You come along with Me again in Vrndavana and We enjoy in the forest of Vrndavana."

These feelings of separation was preached by Lord Caitanya. So this Ratha-yatra festival is still observed in Jagannath Puri in India. And five hundred years ago Lord Caitanya participated in this festival, and He was in the mode of separation as if Radharani was taking back Krsna to Vrndavana.

So this Ratha-yatra festival is a feeling festival for the Vaisnava. Lord Caitanya taught us how to feel separation of God. Lord Caitanya never taught us that He had seen God, but He felt the separation of God very severely. Similarly, His next disciples, the sad-gosvamis, they also prosecuted their devotional service by separational feelings.

So this Ratha-yatra festival is very nice, feeling festival for the Vaisnava. And anyone who is participating in this festival, he'll gradually develop his dormant love for Krsna.

Thank you very much for your kindness.

Devotees: All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Jaya! [end]