Cape Town – Part I

by | 26-Dec-2012 | Media news

cpt_snana yatra
Could it be Maharaja’s love for the devotees in Cape Town or perhaps the enthusiasm with which the devotees receive him here that since his arrival, he has temporarily suspended his strict resting schedule and committed to doing programs almost daily.

Maharaja travelled from Durban to Cape Town on Saturday (22 December). He did a program that evening and spoke on Bhagavad-gita 2.52. In a nutshell, the central theme of the class was that loving Krsna is our real interest in life and devotional service is the catalyst to awaken that interest! He also highlighted how we are totally dependent on the Supreme Lord.

 

We can go into endless details of philosophy but it is not essential, not required. Of course, it can be helpful. For example, if we know how the faculties of the senses are emanating from Krsna or how the power of the mind is coming from an expansion of Krsna, Aniruddha. Then we know that the power of the mind is just controlled by Krsna. So we cannot even think on our own, cannot speak on our own, we cannot do anything on our own. If one knows these things philosophically, it may be helpful to remember Krsna because the essence is to remember Krsna!

KKS_ Evening class BG 2.52_22Dec2012

 

Then on Sunday morning, an initiation ceremony was performed and three new disciples joined the family, namely Damodar dasa, Premanjani dd and Jaya Keshavi dd. The class was based on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.21, Prayers by Queen Kunti.

Although, he strongly encouraged submission and commitment to Krsna:

 Kunti devi was submitting herself before Krsna and this spirit of submitting ourselves before Krsna is our life. In this way, Kunti devi is indicating to us how we should dedicate our lives to Krsna…

He still lovingly offered support to the initiates:

The interest of the spiritual master is to bless the disciple… is to arrange for mercy, to make endless arrangements that the disciples remain connected to Krsna’s mercy. That is my meditation today, in this initiation. I wanted us to focus for a moment that in this relationship, we need not be in anxiety; Krsna will make all arrangements.

KKS_SB 1.8.21 and Initiation_23Dec2012

 

On Sunday afternoon, Snana Yatra took place in the build-up to the Ratha Yatra festival which is scheduled for 29 December. But this Snana Yatra was especially significant as new festival deities of Jagannatha Baladev and Subadra were acquired by the Cape Town community, and were inaugurated by a prana pratistha ceremony (invocation of the life force into the deity) followed by a maha-abhishek (bathing). Bhakti Caitanya Swami arrived in Cape Town in time for the occasion and both spiritual masters dived into the glories of Ratha Yatra. While Bhakti Caitanya Swami spoke more on the traditional aspects of the festival (i.e. on pastimes of Lord Krsna and Lord Caitanya), Kadamba Kanana Swami focused on Ratha Yatra in the times of Srila Prabhupada. At the end of the program, Maharaja continued with his book marathon efforts and distributed a box of Bhagavad-gitas.

KKS_Sunday feast talk_23Dec2012

 

On Christmas day, Maharaja gave the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class and in the afternoon, together with Bhakti Caitanya Swami, joined the local devotees in a picnic. This took place down-town, in a park which will also serve as the site where a tent city will be erected during the Ratha Yatra festival. Both sannyasis again elaborated on the glories of Ratha Yatra and Kadamba Kanana Swami led bhajan at the start and end of the program.

KKS_SB 8.6.31_25Dec2012

 

Apart from all of the above, the daily worship of Sri Giriraja continues as well as long walks on the beach or around the neighbourhood.

To download a class, right-click on the title and “save target as”. The photos of the Snana Yatra were taken professionally by Bhakta Amar.

If you cannot view the slide-show below, then click here to visit flick.