Initiation of Rukmiṇī Dāsī – August 15, 1968, Montreal

If somebody worships a devotee, that worshipment is more valuable than worshiping Krsna

[Yamuna starts kirtana with "Hare Krsna."

Prabhupada: Vandanam. Vandanam. Vandanam.

Yamuna: What?

Prabhupada: Vandanam Prayer?

Yamuna: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Yes.

Yamuna: [indistinct]

[Prabhupada leads devotees in Vande 'ham].

Chant.

[Yamuna starts leading Hare Krsna kirtana. Prabhupada chants prayers to the six Gosvamis by himself]

[13:37]

Prabhupada:

You can get up. Can anyone follow on the harmonium, this? Mukunda, you can follow. [sings]

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Six Gosvamis, namely Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Jiva[repeats song] [Prabhupada continues playing karatalas while speaking]

This, today, a devotee is being initiated, so we are praying to the lotus feet of the six Gosvamis, who inaugurated this movement under the instruction of Lord Sri Caitanya. Who are they? Sri rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. Just try to chant these six names.

[sings] Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau.

Repeat. [devotees chant]

Again. [devotees chant twice more]

Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau.

Rupa, sanatana, two, vande rupa-sanatanau; raghu-yugau. There were two Raghunathas. One Raghunatha Bhattacarya and one Raghunatha dasa. Two Raghunathas, and Rupa, Sanatana.

Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. [repeats with devotees]

Repeat. [devotees chant twice more]

So what was their business? Krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana-parau: always engaged in chanting Hare Krsna. Krsnotkirtana. Hare Krsna means krsna-kirtana. Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau. Nartana means dancing. So chanting and dancing. That was their business.

[sings]

Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi. And krsna-kirtana, whenever one is merged in krsna-kirtana, that means he is merged into the ocean of love of Krsna. That should be the test. As soon as "Krsna," this sound is vibrated, one immediately becomes merged into the ocean of love. That is the sign of pure devotion. Immediately. So these Gosvamis, they... Premamrtambho-nidhi. They merged immediately into the ocean of love of God.

[sings]

And these Gosvamis were dear both to the devotees and nondevotees. Not that they were simply liked by the devotees, but nondevotees also liked them. That was their position. A devotee's position is ajata-satru: he has no enemy. He has no enemy. Ajata-satru. Nirmatsara. Nirmatsara means because they are not envious. A devotee is always open to everyone.

There is no question of discrimination, that "This person should be allowed to chant Hare Krsna and this person should not be allowed." No. In the material platform there is difference: high, low, man, woman, this or that. But in the spiritual platform there is no such difference. Therefore they were nonenvious, nirmatsara, and because they were nonenvious, pujitau. Pujitau means they are worshipable.

A person should be worshipable because he's nonenvious. Sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau: such kind of position can be attained by one who has acquired the mercy of Lord Caitanya. Sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bharavahantara. And such person can deliver the suffering humanity from this material contamination. Therefore we offer our respectful obeisances unto the six Gosvamis, Rupa, Sanatana, two Raghunatha, Gopala Bhatta and Sri Jiva Gosvami.

[sings, with devotees singing]

Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau.

Repeat.

Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau.

[Prabhupada continues playing karatalas while speaking]

Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau: they were expert in scrutinizingly studying all the scriptures. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau. Nipunau means expert. Why? Sad-dharma-samsthapakau: to establish real religion in the world. Real religion. Just yesterday we have received one letter from Mr. Renovich, Vancouver. He says that the Canadians, they want real religion. That's very good, encouraging. Anyone, if he is anxious to have real religion, for him this is the best thing, this krsna-kirtana-gana-nartana. So without religion, human society is nothing but animal society. It is simply polished animalism.

So these Gosvamis, they made so many books to guide us. You have read Rupa Gosvami's Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu That is the first direction in the line. So they always worked very hard, day and night. Their business was writing books or chanting and dancing. And other necessities-eating, sleeping, mating and fearing-they practically abolished. There was no question of mating; there was no question of fearing. And sleeping, they used to sleep utmost one and a half hour daily in twenty-four hours. And eating, that is also practically nil. When they felt hungry they would go to some householder's home and beg one chapati or two capatis. That's all. Finished.

So nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. Why? Lokanam hita-karinau. The mission of saintly person is simply to think how this suffering humanity will become happy by spiritual consciousness. That is their business. They are not for exploiting. The whole material world is trying... One man is trying to exploit another; one nation is trying to exploit another nation; one society is trying to... This is struggle for existence. They have invented this law that "Might is right." You struggle, and if you are powerful... Just like there is now a struggle between Russia and America, or China and America. This is going on.

So everyone is suffering. The struggle for existence means a condition of suffering. And these saintly persons, devotees of Krsna-not only devotees of Krsna, any devotee of God-they are..., their business is to see how people become happy. Lokanam hita-karinau. Therefore, tribhuvane manyau: the devotees are worshiped not only in this planet but in other planets also-wherever they will go.

There is a nice verse in Canakya Pandita: vidvatvam ca nrpatyam ca naiva tulyam kadacana. He says that a rich man and a learned man cannot be compared. There is no comparison. Why? Because sva-dese pujyate rajan vidvan sarvatra pujyate: a rich man may be honored in his own country, but a learned man, a devotee of God, he will be honored wherever he goes.

Sva-dese pujyate rajan vidvan sarvatra pujyate. So this is the position of devotee. Therefore a devotee, wherever he goes he'll be honored. Therefore a devotee has no distinction whether it is heaven or hell, because Krsna is with him either in heaven or hell. So where there is Krsna, there is no question of hell; it is Vaikuntha.

Just like Haridasa Thakura, he did not enter Jagannatha temple at Puri. He thought himself that "I am born in Muhammadan family. These Hindus, they're against any Muhammadans entering the temple. Why shall I go and disturb them? I shall chant here." So Jagannatha Himself was coming daily to him.

This is the power of devotee. He hasn't got to go to Jagannatha, but Jagannatha comes to see Him. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to come daily to Haridasa Thakura. When He was going to take bath in the sea, so He would first of all enter Haridasa's cottage: "Haridasa, what you are doing?" "Yes, my Lord. Please come." So this is the position of devotee. Therefore Krsna says, mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika [SB 11.19.21]. If somebody worships a devotee, that worshipment is more valuable than worshiping Krsna. Krsna says like that.

So this is a process... Vaisnava process is parampara process. So today this nice girl is going to be initiated. She must learn this science, this very nice science, and you all Godbrothers and sisters will help her. Anyone who is trying to be Krsna conscious, he should be given or she should be given all kinds of facilities. You'll be glad to learn that our Hayagriva Brahmacari, he is taking one land in New [sic] Virginia, 136 acres of land. So I've advised him to develop it into New Vrindavan.

So I have got today his letter, the document he is preparing through the lawyer. So it is also a nice project. If by Krsna's desire we can develop a center just exactly prototype of Vrndavana, it will be very nice. Those American boys and girls who cannot go so long distance, 14,000 miles, they will have facility. So Krsna is giving us all facilities. Simply we have to be very sincere, and everything will be done nicely.

So let us begin our today's business. So you come forward. Yes. Take little water, one glass and spoon. This is too big. All right, take it. You know how to do it? Take little water-one, two, three, then four. Do it like that.

[to other devotees:] You chant Hare Krsna. Hare Krsna.

[devotees chant japa]

[Prabhupada leads devotees in chanting om apavitrah prayer three times]

Now again do that. That door is closed? Three times. Again chant.

[leads devotees in chanting om apavitrah]

Do it again: one, two, three.

The purport of this mantra is that if anyone is impure, apavitrah... Pavitrah means pure. Anyone, either he is pure or impure, it doesn't matter. Apavitrah pavitrah va sarvavastham. In any condition of life, it doesn't matter. Pure or impure; there are two conditions. Someone is impure, someone is pure. So either way, namo apavitrah pavitro, sarvavastham, in any condition, yah smaret pundarikaksam: anyone who remembers pundarikaksam, means Visnu or Krsna...

Yah smaret pundarikaksam sa, that person, bahyabhyantaram sucih, he immediately becomes cleansed inside and outside. Sucih, sucih means clean or sucih means brahmana. Brahmana means clean. You have got all threads, so you should always prove that you are always clean. Bahyabhyantaram sucih. Sri visnu sri visnu sri visnu. So this is remembering Visnu.

So simply by remembering Visnu, if one becomes clean inside and outside, so by chanting Hare Krsna, how much purified he is becoming in every moment or every second. It is so nice. There is no question if we always keep ourselves chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, so there is no chance of being contaminated by the influence of maya. It is so nice.

Now you chant, I'll say, you repeat.

[chants prayers for fire sacrifice, devotees respond]

Thank you. Chant Hare Krsna. Right hand, not left hand. Keep forward your right hand. Yes.

[Prabhupada and devotees chant japa]

So you have seen how I'm chanting? You'll begin from this bigger one-Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-then take another; in this way, come to this end, again begin from here, come to this end. In this way, chant sixteen rounds at least. At least. So...

[break] ...principles of restriction. The more you follow the restriction, the more you become advanced. These things are required. And you try to avoid ten kinds of offenses.

[aside:] That offenses? The paper is not there? The ten kinds of offenses.

Guest: Easy Journey to Other Planets. Shall I get that?

Prabhupada: Other planets? Offenses. Ten kinds of offenses to be avoided. You have got that?

Hamsaduta: We will give her a list.

Prabhupada: All right. So the first offense is satam-ninda: no devotee shall be blasphemed. Satam-nindam sruti-sastra-nindanam: no scriptures should be defiled. Satam-nindam sruti-sastra-nindanam tathartha-vado hari-namni kalpanam: and never make any interpretation. Just like we are chanting Hare Krsna, somebody may make interpretation. There is no interpretation. The direct meaning is that we are praying Krsna and His energy to accept me in the society of His service. This is the simple... There is no other interpretation. Or artha-vadah.

And samya-subha-kriya-pramadah: one should not accept chanting Hare Krsna with some..., something subha-kriya. Just like generally the materialist persons, they go to churches or temple just to become purified of their sinful activities. Just like in Christian religion it is the custom... What is called?

Devotee: Confession.

Prabhupada: Ah. Confession. So we should not [be] like that. It is not confession. Confession means I confess that I have done this sinful act, and as soon as I come out from the church I do it again. No. We should know that all sinful activities are washed off by chanting, but that does not mean we shall commit it again. Whatever we have done, that is washed off. Now we should be careful.

And that four principles-no illicit sex life, no, I mean to say, meat-eating, and no gambling, no intoxication-you try and follow. You must follow. As you are taking this mantra, you must now follow. Whatever is done is done, finished. And we, we allow marriage. So there is no restriction. One can marry. But no illicit sex. So these four principles should be followed, and chant Hare Krsna and be pleased. Be more beautiful within and without. You are beautiful girl, so... You are all beautiful. So become beautiful within also. Krsna will accept.

Krsna can accept any number of beautiful girls. [laughs] Unlimitedly. Just see. Laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam [Bs 5.29]. Laksmi. The beautiful girls are called that goddess of fortune. Actually, woman is considered as goddess of fortune, representative of goddess of fortune. We are misusing for sense gratification. No. They should be respected as goddess of fortune. If one man has got nice wife, actually he has got goddess of fortune. That is astrological calculation. A man is considered to be fortunate in three ways. If he has got good wife, then he is fortunate. If he has got good son, then he is fortunate. And if he has got plenty money, he is fortunate. So these three standards of fortune, out of which, one who has got good wife, he is the most fortunate.

So our Society will try to make good wives so that the boys, all boys, should..., can think himself always fortunate. If one has got good wife, any place, doesn't matter. Either under... Just like Lord Siva, he was living underneath the tree. There is no shelter, but he had the good wife, Parvati, so he was happy. So whenever you like, we shall select any brahmacari. But don't have illicit sex. Marriage is allowed. I take personally care of marriage. I want this society must be cleansed. Without being cleansed, nobody can advance in spiritual consciousness. So what is your name?

Devotee: Wendy.

Prabhupada: Your present name? What is that?

Devotees: Wendy. Wendy.

Prabhupada: Wendy. So is there any name Rukmini in our list?

Devotees: Oh! [laughs]

Prabhupada: So you may be called Rukmini devi. And some day you may be kidnapped by Krsna. Krsna kidnapped Rukmini. Rukmini was very beautiful, qualified, Laksmi. So his [her] father liked that Rukmini should be given to Krsna. And his [her] brother liked that she should be handed over to another boy. So Rukmini sent one letter to Krsna, that "Although I've not seen You, but I've heard of Your activities. So I am attached to You. Now some nonsense is coming to marry me."

[break] Just see how nice it is. [laughs]

And we eat krsna-prasada, we enjoy the Krsna. What is this nonsense, aham brahman, Brahman? "I am stone." What is the difference? If somebody thinks, "I am stone," and if somebody says, "I am Brahman. I am void," so what is the difference between stone and void? The same thing. Why should we become stone and wood? We should..., we shall reciprocate loving affairs with Krsna.

Madhavi-lata? How many pictures you have done? You have seen Madhavi-lata's picture? That picture is painted by Madhavi-lata.

Lady devotee: Radha and Krsna?

Prabhupada: Yes, she is good painter. You chant Hare Krsna. We have stopped. Yes, always chant. Chant loudly.

[break] fire sacrifice continues]

Now, you take this. Stand up.

[fire sacrifice continues]

[break] All bow down. [devotees offer obeisances]

Now chant. "Govinda Jaya Jaya." Chant.

Chant and dance.

[77:07]

[Prabhupada leads kirtana] [prema-dhvani] [break]

Lady devotee: Will you always be our spiritual master?

Prabhupada: I don't follow. What do you say?

Lady devotee: Will you be our spiritual master for eternity?

Prabhupada: I think so. [laughs] Whatever we do here, it is for eternity, because it is not on the material stages. It is all on the spiritual platform. There is a song by Narottama dasa Thakura, cakhu-dan dilo yei janme janme pita sei [Sri Guru-vandana]:

"One who has opened the eyes, he is, birth after birth, he is my father."

Lady devotee: Oh, that is... Hare Krsna.

Prabhupada: Cakhu-dan dilo yei. Cakhu-dan means one who has opened the eyes, that is spiritual master. Janme janme pita sei. Janme janme means birth after birth, he is my father. All right, distribute prasadam. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Oh, the whole thing? [laughs] All right. Give it.

[devotees chanting japa]

[break] You are not taking?

Devotee: I have.

Prabhupada: Take more. Oh, where is Madhavi-lata? Why you are in the back side? Come on, take more. Come here. You are not taking more?

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare / Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna.

Yes.

Yamuna: Rukmini devi gave that to you.

Prabhupada: Oh. Very good. What is this?

Yamuna: It's a shawl for around your neck in the cold weather.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Yamuna: She made it.

Prabhupada: Very good. Very nice. Thank you.

Yamuna: I'll give it to Govinda dasi.

Prabhupada: Yes. Govinda now... [break] [end]