690110 - Initiation and Wedding - Los Angeles

Lectures by Date, 1969

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Listen to a 'Nectar Drop' created from this lecture

690110IN-LOS ANGELES - January 10, 1969 - 59:45 Minutes

Prabhupāda:

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

So, what is his name?

Devotee: Ṛṣabhadeva.

Prabhupāda: Huh? Ṛṣabhadeva, yes. Ṛṣabhadeva is the . . . was an emperor of the world, and He was incarnation of Kṛṣṇa. So Ṛṣabhadeva Dāsa. You are not Ṛṣabhadeva, but you are servant of Ṛṣabhadeva. Always remember it. When we give some spiritual name, that is Kṛṣṇa's name, and we are servant, Ṛṣabhadeva Dāsa. So your name is Ṛṣabhadeva Dāsa, and you will get all information from Tamāla, the ten kinds of offenses. You know our regulative principles?

Ṛṣabhadeva: No illicit sex.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Ṛṣabhadeva: No meat, fish or eggs, no gambling . . .

Devotee: Intoxication.

Ṛṣabhadeva: No intoxicants.

Prabhupāda: That's all right. So you'll remember it. All right, take it. Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and be happy.

Devotees: Haribol! (break)

Prabhupāda: (japa) (break)

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

Come on. What is?

Devotee: Bhadrasena.

Prabhupāda: Bhadrasena. Your name is Bhadrasena, one of the friends of Kṛṣṇa who was fighting with Kṛṣṇa. Yes. Don't fight with Him. (laughter) You are Bhadrasena Dāsa; you are servant of Bhadrasena. Bhadrasena was always challenging Kṛṣṇa, "Oh, come on." (laughter)

He has chanted the mantra, guru-mantra?

Devotee: Yes, yes.

Prabhupāda: And other direction you take from Tamāla Kṛṣṇa. Come on.

(japa) (aside) What happened?

Finished?

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

Take. You know the regulative principles? What is that?

Girl: No illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxication, no meat, fish or eggs.

Prabhupāda: No LSD. And no LSD also. (laughter) Come on. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Devotee: Kauśalyā.

Prabhupāda: Huh?

Devotee: Kauśalyā. Kauśalyā.

Prabhupāda: Gosalya?

Devotee: Kauśalyā, Lord Rāmacandra's mother, Kauśalyā.

Prabhupāda: Oh, Kauśalyā. Kauśalyā. Your name is Kauśalyā. K-a-u-s-a-l-y-a, Kauśalyā. Kauśalyā was the name of Lord Rāmacandra's mother. So you have to produce one Lord Rāmacandra, Kauśalyā. (laughter) You have done . . . he has done the . . .

Devotee (1): He is initiated.

Prabhupāda: All right. Then you are initiated. Come on.

(japa) (break)

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

Come on. What is his name?

Devotee: Janmañjaya.

Prabhupāda: Your name is Janmañjaya. Janman, j-a-n-m-a-n-j-a-y. Janmañjaya was the son of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, yes, a great Vaiṣṇava king of . . . emperor of the world. So you have to serve him. That's it. Come on.

(break)

oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

What is her name?

Devotee: Tārā Dāsī.

Prabhupāda: Tārā Dāsī. T-a-r-a d-a-s-i, Tārā. Tārā was one of the gopīs.

Devotees: Ah!

Prabhupāda: Yes. (break)

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

Devotee: Sūri Dāsa. Sūri Dāsa.

Prabhupāda: Sūri Dāsa. S-u-r-i d-a-s, Sūri Dāsa. Sūri. Sūri means devotees. Great devotee is called sūri, or demigods, sūri. Sūri Dāsa. Come on. You know the regulative principles? Regulative principles?

Sūri: No speculation . . .

Prabhupāda: No speculation?

Viṣṇujana: Gambling.

Sūri: Gambling. No gambling, no intoxication, no illicit sex and no meat, fish . . .

Prabhupāda: Yes, that's all right. Thank you. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

(japa) (break)

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

Devotee: Joṭilā.

Prabhupāda: Your name is Joṭilā. Yes. Joṭilā and Kutilā. (chuckles) Joṭilā was the mother-in-law of Rādhārāṇī. (chuckles) Yes. Kṛṣṇa was not Rādhārāṇī's husband. Her husband is supposed to be somebody else. Come on. Come on. And you have bowed down? She has done. Come on. That's all right. So ten kinds of offenses, all those who are initiated today, they should avoid ten kinds of offenses. What are those offenses?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "One: Blaspheming the Lord's devotee. Two: Considering the Lord and other demigods on the same level or assuming there are many gods. Three: Neglecting the orders of the spiritual master. Four: Minimizing the authority of the Vedas. Five: Interpreting the holy names of God. Six: Committing sin on the strength of chanting."

Prabhupāda: This is very dangerous thing. By chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra you become released from all sinful reaction. But because Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra nullifies all sinful reaction, that does not mean he shall continue. It is not like that: you go to church and you confess your sins and it is all adjusted, or nullified—again from the next week you begin fresh sinful activities. No. That is not allowed. That is not allowed.

Kṛṣṇa we should not make an agent for nullifying our sinful activities. Then it is not service. Then we make Kṛṣṇa as our servant. We are at liberty to commit all kinds of nonsense, and God becomes an agent to clear it—what is this nonsense? That is not allowed. You may, by mistake or some way or other, you may commit something wrong, but by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, from this day everything is apavitraḥ pavitro vā, everything is finished. But from tomorrow or immediately after this, no more sinful activities.

Therefore this regulative principle, these four regu . . . principles: illicit sex, meat-eating and intoxication and gambling. These four principles are the basic principle of all sinful activities. If you indulge in these four things, then you are prepared to do any nonsense. Therefore these four things should be immediately stopped; then there is no more chance of sinful activities. And chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, you keep yourself always purified. Māyā will not touch you, and you shall be elevated to the eternal, blissful life to enjoy like the gopīs. That's all. (japa)

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Should I read the four others, Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "Seven: Instructing the Lord's name to the unfaithful."

Prabhupāda: Yes, this initiation is not canvassing. We don't canvass that "You become our disciple." Anyone who understands, "Oh, this is very nice," if he comes, "Swāmījī, initiate me," he is welcome. But there is no canvassing or selling the mantra. No. We have no such business. We give everyone freedom to hear this chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra without any charges. We go from door to door, street to street, "Hear and be purified."

And if anyone wants to be intimately associated with us, we welcome. But we don't canvass. That is no use. If I artificially ask somebody that, "You become initiated and . . ." no, that will not stand. One must willingly come. Therefore, as a general principle, we distribute this Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. But if we find somebody reluctant, then we become callous. We don't mind. There are many others.

Then?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "Eight: Comparing the holy name to material piety."

Prabhupāda: Yes. Now this function, this ceremony which is going on, it is not a material ceremony. Material ceremony, of course . . . just like in our country there are so many pūjās, satyanārāyaṇa-kathā, like that. Their aim is to gain some material profit. So that kind of function is not this initiation. Here there is no question of gaining any material profit.

Here the process is to become purified and become eligible to enter into the kingdom of God. That is the aim. Not that, "By initiation, by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, now my income is one hundred dollars—I will get one thousand dollars." No. There is no question of dollar calculation. It is no mammon's philosophy. It is real Kṛṣṇa consciousness philosophy.

So, then next?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: "Nine: Inattentive while chanting the holy name."

Prabhupāda: Yes. When you chant, you must hear also. This is attention. This is yoga. Your mind must be engaged to the vibration, "Hare Kṛṣṇa." You are thinking of something in factory, what is going on, and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. No. Not that. The chanting must be heard by you. That is attention, with attention.

Yes, go on.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Last, "Ten: Attachment to material things while engaged in the practice of chanting."

Prabhupāda: Yes. Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra syāt (SB 11.2.42).

If by chanting you see that your love for Kṛṣṇa is increasing and your love for matter and material enjoyment is decreasing, then you must know that you are progressing. If, by the result of chanting, you are increasing your material hankering, that is not progress. Then that is an offense. One should know that, "Now I am chanting with offense. I have to rectify it." You have to test whether you are increasing your love of God, Kṛṣṇa. Then you should know that you are in progress.

Two things cannot go. Just like hunger and eating cannot go together. If you are actually eating, then hunger must be subsided, if you are actually eating. Similarly, if you are actually making spiritual progress, then the result will be that your material hankering will decrease, not that you are being cured, and the temperature is increasing. No. If you are actually being cured, the temperature must decrease.

If you are in feverish condition, you are taking medicine, then the fever must decrease. This material hankering is a kind of disease. It is never satisfied. But people are hankering more, more, more, more, more . . . that means temperature is increasing. And when the temperature is 107 degree, finish life. That's all.

So this material civilization has come to the degree of atomic heat, you see. Now everyone has got this atomic energy, and it is going to be finished. So that kind of advancement is not needed. Actually bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra syāt (SB 11.2.42). The test . . .

Whether you are making progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness you have to test yourself, whether you are decreasing your material desires. That's all. Because in the perfect stage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness there is no more material desires. Svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varaṁ na yāce (CC Madhya 22.42):

"I have no more any demand. I am fully satisfied." Kṛṣṇa-bhakta niṣkāma ataeva śānta (CC Madhya 19.149).

If you want śānti, peacefulness, then you have to become completely Kṛṣṇa conscious—kṛṣṇa-bhakta niṣkāma—because he has no more demand.

And bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī sakali aśānta. And those who are karmīs, trying to elevate material position, they are all disturbed. And mukti, those who are hankering after liberation, he is also disturbed. And siddhi, those who are yogīs hankering after some material perfection, mystic perfection, he is also disturbed. He is simply thinking, "How I shall be so light that I can fly in the sky." Yes. What you are? There are . . . so many flies are flying in the sky. (laughter) What you gain by that? But the nonsense will see, "Oh, I am now, from the ground I am now three feet high." Three feet high? A small bird is a hundred feet high. What is that?

These are all nonsense. Don't be after all this nonsense. Bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī. Bhukti means these ordinary worker, whole day working like ass, taking a morsel of food or no food even, but working hard. Always motorcar is going this way, that way, that way, that way, and that way, that way . . . they are karmīs. And those who are disgusted with karma—"Now I shall meditate. I shall become God." You see? The same disease, aśānti. And siddhi-kāmī, mystic power: "I shall be light. I shall be great. Whatever I shall want, immediately . . ." The yogīs can do that.

As I told you, one story, it is very, I mean, amusing. One boy, he went out of home and mixed with yogīs for several years. Then, after some time, he came to his village, and all the friends and relatives gathered, "Oh, you have been so many years with yogīs. What you have learned?" Actually, yogīs can do wonderful things. One yogī used to come to our house. He was my father's . . . my father used to respect him. So he told us that within a few minutes they will go several hundreds of miles. Simply he will touch his Guru Mahārāja and sit down, and he will see in another place within few seconds some thousands of miles away. The yogīs can perform this.

So one yogī, he came to his village, and all the people, relatives, surrounded him: "What you have learned, please?" He said that, "I have learned this mystic power—I can walk on the water." This is called laghimā-siddhi, to become so light that one can fly in the air or one can walk on the water. So everyone became inquisitive, "Oh, please show me. Please show us one day." So he agreed, "All right. I shall show on that day."

Then one old man said: "My dear friend, you have been so long with the yogīs but you have learned only two-cent-worth power." "What is that?" "Now you will walk over the water, and I shall pay two cent to the boatman. He will take me to the other side (laughter). So what you have gained? You have so much labored, but you have gained only two-cent-worth thing." You see?

So these yogīs are after two cent, (laughter) even they are perfection. There is no . . . if they are perfect . . . but without being perfect, they are nothing, simply rascals. But even they are perfect, that is two-cent worth. You see? But here is a yoga system—we are going to Kṛṣṇa. Just always remember this.

So what is the last? So we should not be inattentive. This yoga system, this bhakti-yoga system, is the highest yoga system. There is . . . even Brahmā. You'll read all these thing in our book, Kṛṣṇa. Brahmā, he was so powerful. He wanted to play some mystic power. He took away all the cowherds boys and friend, yes, calves and cows from Kṛṣṇa, just to see the fun.

And Kṛṣṇa created many thousand cowherd boys immediately. So this yogic power has nothing to do. If you can get Kṛṣṇa . . . just like Mother Yaśodā and other friends. Just like I told you about Bhadrasena. He was challenging Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa was defeated. And when Kṛṣṇa became defeated, He had to take on His shoulder His friend.

So this is another thing. And to be satisfied with little power and a little influence within this material world, that is nothing. That is worthless. As soon as this body is finished, everything is finished. It has no value. Just . . . Yam labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ. You just try to achieve something will achieving, you will no more want anything.

So all these yogīs, all these karmīs, all these jñānīs, they are not peaceful, because they are wanting something, wanting something. So long you will be wanting something, there cannot be any peace. Mind that. When there will be no more demand, that is peace. And that is only for kṛṣṇa-bhakta, kṛṣṇa-bhakta niṣkāma (CC Madhya 19.149).

Because he has no demand. Ataeva śānta: "Therefore he is peaceful." All others, they have got some demand. So this is the process. By making progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness means your demands will be nil. That's all. When you find in that position that, "I have no more any demand," svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi (CC Madhya 22.42): "I am fully satisfied, Kṛṣṇa," then that is your perfection. So try to achieve that position. Now you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Oh, first of all is marriage. Now you offer this girl. What is name? Where is garland? All these groups, give them garland. Who is in charge? All right. This garland was first touched there in Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa temple?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: First touched to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa?

Prabhupāda: Yes, to the feet. Yes. Huh?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It hasn't been done yet.

Prabhupāda: So do it. Do it immediately.

(break) Now you just give in charity these girls to the boys.

You say . . . first of all name her.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes.

Devotee: Jambavatī

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Jambavatī.

Prabhupāda: Yes, "My Godsister . . ."

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: My Godsister Jambavatī . . .

Prabhupāda: ". . . who was in charge of me . . ."

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: . . . who was in charge of me . . .

Prabhupāda: ". . . now I will give you."

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: . . . I now give you to . . . (indistinct) . . . Dāsa.

Prabhupāda: So you accept him (her) as your wife.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Do you accept him (her) as your wife?

Prabhupāda: You say: "Yes, I accept."

Devotee (2): Yes.

Prabhupāda: "I take charge of her throughout her life." Yes. And you accept, "I accept you as my husband. We shall keep in peace in any circumstances." Tell this. Say this, "We shall keep peace in any circumstances. We shall never be separated, even in distressed condition." You also say. Yes.

Devotee (2): Yes.

Prabhupāda: Now change your garland. (devotees chant japa) That's all. Yes. You come to this side. You come to this side, left side. You go to the right side. Similarly, you give her.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Janmañjaya, this is my Godsister Tārā Dāsī. I wish that you will accept her as your wife, to take charge of her.

Prabhupāda: You say: "Yes, I take charge for Tārā Dāsī throughout her life." Say that.

Janmañjaya: I will take charge of Tārā Dāsī throughout her life.

Prabhupāda: And you say: "I accept you as my husband."

Tārā: I accept you as my husband.

Prabhupāda: "And I wish to serve you throughout my life."

Tārā: And I wish to serve you throughout my life.

Prabhupāda: "There will be no separation in any condition."

Tārā: There will be no separation in any condition.

Prabhupāda: "We shall jointly execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness."

Tārā: We shall jointly execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Prabhupāda: Now change (garland). Change it.

Devotees: Hare Kṛṣṇa. (japa)

Prabhupāda: You come this side. You come this side. Left side you come. You come left side. Now cover. Similarly, do here.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: My dear Godbrother Sūri Dāsa, this is my Godsister Joṭilā Dāsī, and I wish that you will take care of her for your whole life and accept her as your wife and always protect her, that there will be no separation between you, that you will always watch over her carefully. Will you do this?

Sūri: Yes.

Prabhupāda: You say: "Yes, I take charge of Joṭilā Dāsī." You say.

Sūri: Yes, I take charge . . .

Prabhupāda: (Sūri Dāsa repeating) "Throughout her whole life. Throughout her whole life. There will be no separation in any condition. In any condition. And we shall jointly execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness." Jointly. Jointly. Yes. She will help you, and you will help her. That's all. Change. Yes, you accept that, "I will serve you throughout my life."

Joṭilā: Yes, I will serve you throughout my life.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Go on. Now change.

(break)

apavitraḥ pavitro vā

sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā

yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ

sa bahyābhyantaraṁ śuciḥ

vande ahaṁ śrī-guru śrī-yuta-padakamalaṁ śrī-gurūn vaiṣṇavāṁś ca

śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṇa-raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvam

sa advaitaṁ sāvadhūtaṁ parijana-sahitaṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devaṁ

śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādān saha-gaṇa-lalitā-śrī-viśākhānvitāṁś ca

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

nama om viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya

bhūtale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine.

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale

śrīmate bhaktisiddhānta-sarasvatīti nāmine

śrī-vārṣabhānavī-devī-dayitāya kṛpābdhaye

kṛṣṇa-sambandha-vijñāna-dāyine prabhave namaḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

namo gaura-kiśorāya sākṣād-vairāgya-mūrtaye

vipralambha-rasāmbhode pādāmbujāya te namaḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

namo bhaktivinodāya sac-cid-ānanda-nāmine

gaura-śakti-svarūpāya rūpānuga-varāya te

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

gaurāvirbhāva-bhūmes tvaṁ nirdeṣṭā saj-jana-priyaḥ

vaiṣṇava-sārvabhaumaḥ ṣrī-jagannāthāya te namaḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca

patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te

kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam

bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ namāmi bhakta-śaktikam

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

he kṛṣṇa karuṇā-sindho

dīna-bandho jagat-pate

gopeśa gopikā-kānta

rādhā-kānta namo 'stu te

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

jayatāṁ suratau paṅgor mama manda-mater gatī

mat-sarvasva-padāmbhojau rādhā-madana-mohanau

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

dīvyad-vṛndāraṇya-kalpa-drumādhaḥ

śrīmad-ratnāgāra-siṁhāsana-sthau

śrīmad-rādhā-śrīla-govinda-devau

preṣṭhālībhiḥ sevyamānau smarāmi

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

śrīmān rāsa-rasārambhī vaṁśī-vaṭa-taṭa-sthitaḥ

karṣan veṇu-svanair gopīr gopīnāthaḥ śriye 'stu naḥ

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi rādhe vṛndāvaneśvari

vṛṣabhānu-sute devī praṇamāmi hari-priye

Svāhā. Svāhā. Svāhā.

Now stand up. Take one . . . (indistinct) . . . stand up. Stand up.

namo brahmaṇya-devāya

go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca

jagad-dhitāya kṛṣṇāya

govindāya namo namaḥ

(3 times)

Devotees: Hare Kṛṣṇa! Haribol!

nama om viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya

bhūtale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine.

Prabhupāda: Now chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Devotees: Hare Kṛṣṇa! Haribol!

(kīrtana) (devotees offer obeisances) (end)