{"id":1772,"date":"2020-03-14T10:46:38","date_gmt":"2020-03-14T05:16:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discoverursupersoul.com\/?p=1772"},"modified":"2020-03-14T10:46:38","modified_gmt":"2020-03-14T05:16:38","slug":"a-memorable-gaur-purnima-celebration-at-iskcon-new-town-kolkata","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/a-memorable-gaur-purnima-celebration-at-iskcon-new-town-kolkata\/","title":{"rendered":"A Memorable Gaur Purnima Celebration at Iskcon New Town Kolkata"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Devotees of Lord Krishna are always joyful.\nThey always have reasons to celebrate. There are so many festivals and so many\nevents.  Amongst all the festivals, Gaur\nPurnima i.e. the appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is one of the most\nimportant festivals for the followers of Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya.<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On this auspicious day, we had an opportunity to do a drama<\/strong> on one of the most important pastimes of Lord Chaitanya.\u00a0 Active involvement in the services of the Lord helps a lot in becoming serious in devotional life. So, with a group of few devotees, we thought of presenting the drama. Many had no previous experience in participating in any drama. But still, we thought, \u2018Let us give it a try. Krishna will surely help us.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We choose to do drama on the pastime of\nChaitanya Mahaprabhu with Chand Kazi.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kazi had banned sankirtana in <\/strong>Navadwip (Navadvipa)<\/strong><\/em> and\nMahaprabhu had organized a massive protest against this decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is said that around 1 lakh people\nparticipated<\/strong> in that protest.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, it is said to be the first Civil Disobedience movement of India or maybe of the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We prepared the script and devotees got their respective roles and dialogues.\u00a0 We decided on the character of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, devotees of Navadwip (Navadvipa)<\/em>, Chand Kazi and Kazi\u2019s soldiers. We practiced many times a day before the festival. The next day i.e. on the Gaur Purnima day we decided to come early to practice a few more times before the final performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We arranged for background music and songs. By the mercy of Krishna, we got costumes too.\u00a0 The costumes were perfect. Torches were also prepared. Initially, we thought that we will light the torches but since the program was within the temple hall so lighting the torch would have been dangerous<\/strong>, so we gave up the idea. \u00a0We even practiced with costumes and music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Small children were also performing drama\non childhood pastimes of Mahaprabhu.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gaur Purnima program began with the abhishek of beautiful deities of Gaur Nitai<\/strong>.\u00a0 Amidst the melodious chant of Hare Krishna Mahamantra, the deities were bathed with Ganges water, fruit juices, flowers, and other sanctified items. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immediately after the abhishek was the\ndrama of the kids.  Children performed\nwonderfully.  Wearing colorful\ncostumes, they delivered dialogues in broken languages which touched the hearts\nof all.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Now it was our turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We said our prayers and sought the\nblessings of the lord so that we do not disappoint the assembled devotees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our drama started with the scene where\nwe showed how the devotees were happily engaged<\/strong> in practicing devotion to\nLord Krishna in Navadvipa. One family was chanting the holy names. One group of\nladies were preparing garland for the Lord. Few devotees were discussing Krishna\nConscious philosophy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One devotee then comes to invite all for\narati.  While the devotees were\nperforming arati, two soldiers of Chand Kazi enter. They enter from behind the\naudience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a loud voice, the soldiers come threatening all not to engage in chanting the names of Krishna. They come near the devotees who were doing arati and asked them to stop immediately. They even warned them that if they defy the order they will be put behind bars and will be severely punished.  Before leaving they even broke a mridanga. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We did not use mridanga but a clay pot. Mridanga is sacred paraphernalia and in no circumstances should be disrespected.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The devotees were in utter shock. In the background played sad music. The devotees discussed amongst themselves and concluded, \u201cThe life\u2019s purpose is to chant the holy names of Krishna. If we are not doing so then what is the use of our living and maintaining this body. Let this body rot and die.<\/strong>\u201d All were sad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then enters Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Seeing the devotees sad he is surprised. He asks them, \u201cWhat happened? Why you all are so sad?\u201d Devotees narrate their ordeal.  With tears in their eyes, they say, \u201cSince we are now not free to practice devotion to Krishna so give us permission so that we can end our lives by drowning ourselves in the Ganges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mahaprabhu is moved to hear the pleas of the devotees. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an authoritative tone, he says, \u201cThere is no one in the entire universe who has the power to stop the sankirtana.  Sankirtana will continue. We will defy the order.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devotees become joyful but some are doubtful. So some ask, \u201cCan this be possible?\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mahaprabhu says, \u201cDon\u2019t you have faith in my words. Don\u2019t you trust me.\u201d Devotees unanimously say, \u201cMahaprabhu you are our savior. You are our life. We believe in you. We trust in you.\u201d\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mahaprabhu asks them to prepare torches,\narrange for mridangas and kartals and inform all the devotees of Navadvipa to\ncome for the protest march.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After this Mahaprabhu leaves.  Devotees begin the preparation. And in the\nbackground plays the beautiful song <\/p>\n\n\n\n

bhaja gauranga kaha gauranga laha gaurangera nama re\nje jan gauranga bhaje, sei (hoy) amara pra\u1e47a re<\/strong> <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Devotees then take out the protest march. Carrying\ntorchlights and mrindangas and kartals under the leadership of Mahaprabhu they loudly\nchant and dance on the streets of Navadvipa. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scene now moves to the house of Chand\nKazi.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is not aware that tens of thousands of\npeople, some of them extremely angry, are marching towards his house.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A soldier comes running to give him the news. Initially, the Kazi did not believe him. But then he sees the huge crowd doing sankirtana. He runs and hides inside his house. <\/strong>Thousands of devotees now are at his doorstep. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Mahaprabhu asks one devotee to go inside\nand inform Kazi about his arrival. A devotee enters the house and compels him\nto come out.  Kazi is extremely fearful.\nSome devotees shout, \u201cPunish him. \nPunish him.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahaprabhu pacifies them. And asks the\nKazi, \u201cSeems you are not happy seeing me. You did not welcome me. You hid\ninside your house.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kazi in a faltering voice says<\/strong>, \u201cNo. No. It is not true. I saw you are angry. All the people coming with you are angry. So I thought let me be inside till your anger subsides.\u00a0 As soon as I saw you are in a good mood. I came out immediately to welcome you.<\/strong>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He then says, \u201cNilambar Chakravarti, your maternal grandfather, loved me a lot. I called him uncle and he treated me like his son. With that relationship, you are my nephew.<\/strong> And maternal uncle and nephew do not quarrel with each other. Sometime when the uncle is angry, nephew calms him down. And when nephew is upset then uncle do not mind and pacifies him.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahaprabhu then asks, \u201cAs a Muslim ruler, you tried to stop sankirtana yesterday. But today when thousands were chanting and dancing on the streets then you did nothing?\u201d <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kazi wants to say something. He asks Mahaprabhu\nthat can we go inside and speak. Immediately one of the devotees in angry tone\nsays, \u201cNo. All discussion will happen here only.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahaprabhu says, \u201cThese devotees are his\nown. He can say everything in front of them.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kazi then says, \u201cYesterday, something unbelievable happened in my life<\/strong>. In the dream came a being. I could not understand who he was. He was massive in size. Half his body was of a lion and the other half was of a man. He was sitting on top of my body and with his big and sharp nails was trying to tear apart my chest. He had sharp-pointed big teeth. Fire was emanating from his mouth.<\/strong>  He was roaring and was shouting, \u2018How dare you tried to stop sankirtana <\/strong>in Navadvipa. How dare you broke a mridanga. If you do it again, I will tear you apart. I will not just kill you but all your family members. Never try to do it again.\u2019 See the marks of his fingernails<\/strong> are still on my chest.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Mahaprabhu then asks, \u201cAnything else\nhappened?\u201d  Kazi says, \u201cYes. Yesterday\nwhen one of my soldiers went to a house to stop sankirtana then from nowhere\nflames appeared which burned his beard <\/strong>and half face.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kazi seeks forgiveness from Mahaprabhu for\ndisturbing the devotees.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With tears in his eyes, he says, \u201cThe Vedas talk about the Supreme God, Narayana. Hindus worship that Narayana and also call him Hari. Now I have understood that you are the same, Hari. You are the Supreme Lord. You are Gaurhari<\/strong>.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kazi falls at the feet of Gaurhari. Gaurhari lovingly picks him up and says, \u201cYou are so fortunate. You chanted the names of Hari, Krishna, and Narayana. Your all sins are nullified.<\/strong> You are supremely pure now.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahaprabhu tells Kazi, \u201cI have come to make\none request. You must promise that you will never ever stop this sankirtana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kazi seeking forgiveness for his deeds declares that \u201cFrom now onwards no one will ever stop sankirtana in this holy Dham of Navadvipa. Not even my descendants in the future.\u00a0 We all will together participate in sankirtana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Devotees joyfully chant, \u201cHaribol!\nHaribol! Jai Gauranga!.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end, everyone sings and dances on the song Hari Haraye Namah Krishna Yadavaya Namah\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
After the drama was a special class on the\npastimes and teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu which was followed by arati\nand delicious prasadam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a wonderful way to celebrate the\nGaur Purnima festival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Devotees of Lord Krishna are always joyful. They always have reasons to celebrate. There are so many festivals and so many events.  Amongst all the festivals, Gaur Purnima i.e. the appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is one of the most important festivals for the followers of Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya. On this auspicious day, we had… <\/p>\n
Read More<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1784,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,345],"tags":[224,403,404,405],"class_list":["post-1772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-festival","category-personalities","tag-chaitanya-mahaprabhu","tag-chand-kazi","tag-gaur-purnima","tag-gaurhari"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1772\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}