Rati Gopika dd:
nama om visnupadaya krsna prestaya bhutale
srimati bhaktivedanta swamin iti namine
namaste sarsawate deve gaura vani paracrine
nirvisesa sunyavadi pascatya desa tarine
nama om visnupadaya krsna prestaya bhutale
srimate Jayapataka swamin iti namine
nama acaryapadaya nitai krpa pradayine
gaura katha dhama daya nagara grama tarine
REPORT OF JAYAPATAKA SWAMI SISYA SAMUHA KUALA LUMPUR (JSSS KL) -SEPTEMBER 2011
JSSS KL organized a Harinama instead of its usual monthly gathering at Sri Jagannatha Mandir Kuala Lumpur. This was done in conjunction with the World Holy Name’s Week. On the most auspicious day of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s Appearance day and in conjunction with the first day of the World Holy Name’s Week, more than 70 devotees including children, youths and elders gathered at Lot 10, one of Kuala Lumpur’s well-known shopping mall for the Harinama.
History was made as the transcendental chanting of the Holy Names resounded at the heart of Bukit Bintang, the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 10 September 2011. Thousands throng this area daily and on 10 September 2011, thousands were fortunate to have heard the Holy Names. In Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, the Kazi promised Lord Caitanya that not only he but his descendants will also never oppose the sankirtana-yajna and they would never be against Lord Krsna. Devotees felt that this promise was kept as the Sankirtan party weaved and danced through the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
Prior to the start of the Harinama, devotees gathered at Sri Jaganath Mandir, Kuala Lumpur. Srila Prabhupada Gurupuja was performed by HG Rasa Parayana prabhu before heading to the destination for the Harinama. Some devotees proceeded straight to Lot 10 and were waiting for the arrival of other devotees. This year also marks the 40th year of Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Malaysia. Srila Prabhupada visited Malaysia only once in 1971 and had great hopes for the people of this nation to accept and practice Krishna Consciousness.
HG Sumohan Krishna prabhu and HG Sasi Mukhi Radha devi dasi mataji toiled in the kitchen to prepare sumptuous prasadam for all the devotees present from as early as 11am. A special appreciation also goes to HG Tritha Gauranga das and HG Eka Deva Das for helping Sumohan prabhu in the kitchen. Their service is highly appreciated by the JSSS KL Committee and the rest of the devotees. 100 packets of prasadam were then packed and loaded into devotees’ vehicles. The day before, a team of devotees also gathered to pack 1000 packets of dry ground-nuts prasadam for distribution during the Harinama.
With a strong burning desire to give the Holy Names to one and all, the devotees then departed from SJMKL at about 5.30pm. The enthusiastic media representatives were already present at Lot 10 when the first group of devotees arrived. They were eager to cover the news. Four media titles, namely Bernama TV, The Sun, New Straits Times and RTM was invited by JSSS KL to cover this event. The Holy Names were not only spread in Bukit Bintang but also reached the masses via media coverage.
What at first seemed to be a small gathering of 20 -30 devotees’ swelled to more than 70 devotees as the clock showed 7.30pm. Devotees were all clad in Saris, Gopi dresses for the matajis and Dhotis and Kurtas for the prabhus. They were all shining like bright suns with their foreheads marked with tilak while waiting eagerly to sing and dance to the transcendental tunes of the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra. Those walking pass soon noticed the devotees and some tourists asked to be photographed with the devotees even before the Harinama started.
As soon as HG Simheswara Das prabhu and HG Kripa Sindhu Krishna das prabhus arrived, the media interviewed them. They spoke in brief about the objectives of the Harinama. The presence of the media grabbed more attention and everyone stopped to look and read our banners. To also heed to the Government’s call to curb social ills such as misuse of drugs, the organizing committee in collaboration with a government agency known as PEMADAM (The National Anti-Drug Abuse Association of Malaysia) handed out some brochures to the public to inform and raise the awareness level of the masses on misuse of drugs which is also in line with our philosophy of no-intoxication.
Within an hour, about 1000 packets of prasadam were distributed. Many SJMKL contact cards were also given out to the thrilled crowd in Bukit Bintang.
It was then time to begin. Srila Prabhupada’s Murti lead the Harinama team, followed by the prabhu’s kirtan party, the mataji’s dancing team and the rest of the devotees. The devotees carried colourful flags and banners. The banners were printed with the Maha-Mantra in three different languages, English, Tamil and Chinese. Devotees also carried banners that propagated against drug abuse. The melodious chanting of the Holy Names and the unstoppable drumbeats from the main Kirtan team lead by HG Kripa Sindhu Krishna dasa attracted many Malaysians and tourists alike to join in the dance. The Harinama party danced across one of the nation’s busiest and highly populated area chanting the Holy Names loud and clear. Malaysians and tourists were busy taking photographs and recording videos using their iPads and smartphones and whatever other gadgets that allowed them to do so.
Many of these videos and photos would have been uploaded into various social media channels to be shared with a larger group of people. The endless clicking and shooting from their cameras only ceased when the Harinama team ended the program three hours later. In short, the devotees were swamped! The Harinama party consisted of some children who also became the center of attention. Many were captured by their beautiful, angelic looks and their talent in dance and music instruments. We noted that no one from the crowd were averse to the devotees or the chanting. Everyone regardless of their race, religion was so mesmerized with the devotees chanting and dancing to the Holy Names. It was truly a miracle and one can only assume that Lord Caitanya’s and Srila Prabhupada’s mercy and blessings were flowing unlimitedly at that time.
The Harinama brought a sense of spiritual elevation and happiness into the hearts of the people who were hearing the chanting of the Holy Names. Bukit Bintang, usually a place that never sleeps and is always lively, however the Harinama made the place even livelier. Everyone managed a smile and were even encouraging as the devotees sang and danced pass them. It was an amazing experience! It was an experience most of us never had before. The devotees in the Harinama realized the potency of the Holy Names and were able to experience first-hand the practical aspects of our Krishna Conscious philosophy namely Sravanam and Kirtanam. It was indeed philosophy put into practice!
At about 10.00pm the Harinama party entered Jalan Alor, the final stretch for the day. Many were tired but blissful and did not want the Harinama to end so soon. At Jalan Alor, the party passed a long stretch of roadside hawkers. There were thousands of people there enjoying their dinner and drinks but stopped to appreciate the Harinama party. A street guitarist joined in with the kirtan party and offered to play his guitar to the tunes of the Maha-Mantra. The Harinama ended with Prema-Dhwani prayers chanted by HG Kripa Sindhu prabhu.
Devotees then walked back to their respective vehicles. Prasadam was distributed to devotees at the car park. Just as we placed Srila Prabhupada murti in the car of a devotee, the rain came pouring down. It was as though Lord Indra was waiting for a pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada to be safely seated in a shelter before he sent rain to shower the streets of Kuala Lumpur, indicating that He was indeed pleased with the Harinama Sankirtan Yagya. There was no doubt at all that this was something magical, something spiritual. The clouds stirred in a beautiful way as though indicating that they were holding up until the Harinama was over. It was astounding.
Devotees left home that night feeling truly blissful than ever and in a thankful mood for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful spiritual ecstasy. As per the revelations in the scriptures, it can be safely concluded that whoever watched and heard the Holy Names that night would have definitely begun their journey home, back home to Godhead.
JSSS KL prays that this humble endeavour to spread the Holy Names would have pleased Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada and the previous Acharyas. JSSS KL dedicates the results of this Harinama to our beloved spiritual master, Srila Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaj.
A big thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all the devotees who were present for the Harinama and all those who helped in any way possible to make the Harinama a success.
Thank you and Hare Krishna
Harinama Sankirtan ki Jai! Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!
JSSS KL Committee
P/s- For Video and Photos, please go these links to view:
http://www. iskconmalaysia. com/video/harinam-bukit-bintang
http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=Nopsvd09UiM
http://www. iskconmalaysia. com/photo