Published on July 23rd, 2023 | by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
0Prabhupada Performing Initiations and Weddings — Los Angeles 1969
Initiations & Weddings — January 10, 1969, Los Angeles — 690110IN.LA — [60:01 Minutes]
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
Prabhupada: So, what is his name?
Devotee: Rsabhadeva.
Prabhupada: Huh? Rsabhadeva, yes. Rsabhadeva is the…, was a emperor of the world, and He was incarnation of Krsna. So Rsabhadeva dasa. You are not Rsabhadeva, but you are servant of Rsabhadeva. Always remember it. When we give some spiritual name, that is Krsna’s name, and we are servant, Rsabhadeva dasa. So your name is Rsabhadeva dasa, and you will get all information from Tamala, the ten kinds of offenses. You know our regulative principles?
Rsabhadeva: No illicit sex.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Rsabhadeva: No meat, fish or eggs, no gambling…
Devotee: Intoxication.
Rsabhadeva: No intoxicants.
Prabhupada: That’s all right. So you’ll remember it. All right, take it. Chant Hare Krsna and be happy.
Devotees: Haribol! [break]
Prabhupada: [japa] [break]
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
Come on. What is?
Devotee: Bhadrasena.
Prabhupada: Bhadrasena. Your name is Bhadrasena, one of the friends of Krsna who was fighting with Krsna. Yes. Don’t fight with Him. [laughter] You are Bhadrasena dasa; you are servant of Bhadrasena. Bhadrasena was always challenging Krsna, “Oh, come on.” [laughter] He has chanted the mantra, guru-mantra?
Devotee: Yes, yes.
Prabhupada: And other direction you take from Tamala Krsna. Come on.
[japa] [aside: what happened?]
Finished?
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhutale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
Take. You know the regulative principles? What is that?
Girl: No illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxication, no meat, fish or eggs.
Prabhupada: No LSD. And no LSD also. [laughter] Come on. Hare Krsna.
Devotee: Kausalya.
Prabhupada: Huh?
Devotee: Kausalya. Kausalya.
Prabhupada: Gosalya?
Devotee: Kausalya, Lord Ramacandra’s mother, Kausalya.
Prabhupada: Oh, Kausalya. Kausalya. Your name is Kausalya. K-a-u-s-a-l-y-a, Kausalya. Kausalya was the name of Lord Ramacandra’s mother. So you have to produce one Lord Ramacandra, Kausalya. [laughter] You have done… He has done the…
Devotee (1): He is initiated.
Prabhupada: All right. Then you are initiated. Come on.
[japa] [break]
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
Come on. What is his name?
Devotee: Janmanjaya.
Prabhupada: Your name is Janmanjaya. Janman, j-a-n-m-a-n, j-a-y. Janmanjaya was the son of Maharaja Pariksit, yes, a great Vaisnava king of…, emperor of the world. So you have to serve him. That’s it. Come on.
[break]
…om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
What is her name?
Devotee: Tara dasi.
Prabhupada: Tara dasi. T-a-r-a d-a-s-i, Tara. Tara was one of the gopis.
Devotees: Ah!
Prabhupada: Yes. [break]
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
Devotee: Suri dasa. Suri dasa.
Prabhupada: Suri dasa. S-u-r-i d-a-s, Suri dasa. Suri. Suri means devotees. Great devotee is called suri, or demigods, suri. Suri dasa. Come on. You know the regulative principles? Regulative principles?
Suri: No speculation…
Prabhupada: No speculation?
Visnujana: Gambling.
Suri: Gambling. No gambling, no intoxication, no illicit sex and no meat, fish…
Prabhupada: Yes, that’s all right. Thank you. Hare Krsna.
[japa] [break]
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
Devotee: Jotila.
Prabhupada: Your name is Jotila. Yes. Jotila and Kutila. [chuckles] Jotila was the mother-in-law of Radharani. [chuckles] Yes. Krsna was not Radharani’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?
Tamala Krsna: “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.”
Prabhupada: This is very dangerous thing. By chanting Hare Krsna mantra you become released from all sinful reaction. But because Hare Krsna 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. Krsna we should not make an agent for nullifying our sinful activities. Then it is not service. Then we make Krsna 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 Krsna, from this day everything is apavitrah pavitro va, 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 principle 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 Krsna, you keep yourself always purified. Maya will not touch you, and you shall be elevated to the eternal, blissful life to enjoy like the gopis. That’s all. [japa]
Tamala Krsna: Should I read the four others, Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Tamala Krsna: “Seven: Instructing the Lord’s name to the unfaithful.”
Prabhupada: 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, “Swamiji, 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 Krsna 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 Krsna mantra. But if we find somebody reluctant, then we become callous. We don’t mind. There are many others.
Then?
Tamala Krsna: “Eight: Comparing the holy name to material piety.”
Prabhupada: 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 pujas, satyanarayana-katha, 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 Krsna, 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 Krsna consciousness philosophy.
So, then next?
Tamala Krsna: “Nine: Inattentive while chanting the holy name.”
Prabhupada: Yes. When you chant, you must hear also. This is attention. This is yoga. Your mind must be engaged to the vibration, “Hare Krsna.” You are thinking of something in factory, what is going on, and chanting Hare Krsna. No. Not that. The chanting must be heard by you. That is attention, with attention.
Yes, go on.
Tamala Krsna: Last, “Ten: Attachment to material things while engaged in the practice of chanting.”
Prabhupada: Yes.
bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir
anyatra syat ..
[Bhag. 11.2.42]
If by chanting you see that your love for Krsna 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, Krsna. 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 bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [Bhag. 11.2.42]. The test… Whether you are making progress in Krsna consciousness you have to test yourself, whether you are decreasing your material desires. That’s all. Because in the perfect stage of Krsna consciousness there is no more material desires. Svamin krtartho ‘smi varam na yace [Hbs. 7.28]: “I have no more any demand. I am fully satisfied.” Krsna-bhakta niskama ataeva santa [Madhya 19.149]. If you want santi, peacefulness, then you have to become completely Krsna conscious — krsna-bhakta niskama — because he has no more demand. And bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kami sakali asanta. And those who are karmis, 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 yogis 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-kami. 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 karmis. And those who are disgusted with karma — “Now I shall meditate. I shall become God.” You see? The same disease, asanti. And siddhi-kami, mystic power: “I shall be light. I shall be great. Whatever I shall want, immediately…” The yogis 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 yogis 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 yogis. What you have learned?” Actually, yogis can do wonderful things. One yogi 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 Maharaja and sit down, and he will see in another place within few seconds some thousands of miles away. The yogis can perform this. So one yogi, 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 laghima-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 yogis 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] [laughs] So what you have gained? You have so much labored, but you have gained only two-cent-worth thing.” You see? So these yogis are after two cent, [laughter] even they are perfection. There is no… If they are perfect… 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 Krsna. 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 Brahma. You’ll read all these thing in our book, Krsna. Brahma, 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 Krsna, just to see the fun. And Krsna created many thousand cowherd boys immediately. So this yogic power has nothing to do. If you can get Krsna… Just like Mother Yasoda and other friends. Just like I told you about Bhadrasena. He was challenging Krsna. Krsna was defeated. And when Krsna 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 labdhva caparam labham
manyate nadhikam tatah
[Bg. 6.20-23]
You just try to achieve something will achieving, you will no more want anything. So all these yogis, all these karmis, all these jnanis, 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 krsna-bhakta, krsna-bhakta niskama [Madhya 19.149]. Because he has no demand. Ataeva santa: “Therefore he is peaceful.” All others, they have got some demand. So this is the process. By making progress in Krsna consciousness means your demands will be nil. That’s all. When you find in that position, that “I have no more any demand,” svamin krtartho ‘smi [Hbs. 7.28], “I am fully satisfied, Krsna,” then that is your perfection. So try to achieve that position. Now you chant Hare Krsna. 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 Radha-Krsna temple?
Tamala Krsna: First touched to Radha and Krsna?
Prabhupada: Yes, to the feet. Yes. Huh?
Tamala Krsna: It hasn’t been done yet.
Prabhupada: 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.
Tamala Krsna: Yes.
Devotee: Jambavati
Tamala Krsna: Jambavati.
Prabhupada: Yes, “My Godsister…”
Tamala Krsna: My Godsister Jambavati…
Prabhupada: “…who was in charge of me…”
Tamala Krsna: …who was in charge of me…
Prabhupada: “…now I will give you.”
Tamala Krsna: …I now give you to [indistinct] dasa.
Prabhupada: So you accept him [her] as your wife.
Tamala Krsna: Do you accept him [her] as your wife?
Prabhupada: You say, “Yes, I accept.”
Devotee (2): Yes.
Prabhupada: “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.
Prabhupada: 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.
Tamala Krsna: Janmanjaya, this is my Godsister Tara dasi. I wish that you will accept her as your wife, to take charge of her.
Prabhupada: You say, “Yes, I take charge for Tara dasi throughout her life.” Say that.
Janmanjaya: I will take charge of Tara dasi throughout her life.
Prabhupada: And you say, “I accept you as my husband.”
Tara: I accept you as my husband.
Prabhupada: “And I wish to serve you throughout my life.”
Tara: And I wish to serve you throughout my life.
Prabhupada: “There will be no separation in any condition.”
Tara: There will be no separation in any condition.
Prabhupada: “We shall jointly execute Krsna consciousness.”
Tara: We shall jointly execute Krsna consciousness.
Prabhupada: Now change [garland]. Change it.
Devotees: Hare Krsna. [japa]
Prabhupada: You come this side. You come this side. Left side you come. You come left side. Now cover. Similarly, do here.
Tamala Krsna: My dear Godbrother Suri dasa, this is my Godsister Jotila dasi, 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?
Suri: Yes.
Prabhupada: You say, “Yes, I take charge of Jotila dasi.” You say.
Suri: Yes, I take charge…
Prabhupada: [Suri dasa 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 Krsna 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.”
Jotila: Yes, I will serve you throughout my life.
Prabhupada: Yes. Go on. Now change.
[break]
apavitrah pavitro va
sarvavastham gato ‘pi va
yah smaret pundarikaksam
sa bahyabhyantaram sucih
[Garuda Purana]
[Either pure or impure, or having passed through all conditions of material life, if one can remember the lotus-eyed Krsna, he becomes externally and internally clean.]
vande ‘ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalam sri-gurun vaisnavams ca
sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam tam sa-jivam
sadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitam krsna-caitanya-devam
sri-radha-krsna-padan saha-gana-lalita-sri-visakhanvitams ca
[Mangalacarana]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya
bhutale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine.
[S. P. Pranati]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktisiddhanta-sarasvatiti namine
sri-varsabhanavi-devi-dayitaya krpabdhaye
krsna-sambandha-vijnana-dayine prabhave namah
[S. B. S. Pranati]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
namo gaura-kisoraya saksad-vairagya-murtaye
vipralambha-rasambhode padambujaya te namah
[S. G. Pranati]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
namo bhaktivinodaya sac-cid-ananda-namine
gaura-sakti-svarupaya rupanuga-varaya te
[S. B. Pranati]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
gauravirbhava-bhumes tvam nirdesta saj-jana-priyah
vaisnava-sarvabhaumah sri-jagannathaya te namah
[S. J. D. B. Pranati]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
vancha-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah
[Vaisnava Pranama]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te
krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne gaura-tvise namah
[S. Gauranga-Pranama]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
panca-tattvatmakam krsnam bhakta-rupa-svarupakam
bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam namami bhakta-saktikam
[S. Panca-tattva Pranama]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
he krsna karuna-sindho
dina-bandho jagat-pate
gopesa gopika-kanta
radha-kanta namo ‘stu te
[S. Krsna Pranama]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
jayatam suratau pangor mama manda-mater gati
mat-sarvasva-padambhojau radha-madana-mohanau
[Sambandhadhideva Pranama]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
divyad-vrndaranya-kalpa-drumadhah
srimad-ratnagara-simhasana-sthau
srimad-radha-srila-govinda-devau
presthalibhih sevyamanau smarami
[Abhidheyadhideva Pranama]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
sriman rasa-rasarambhi vamsi-vata-tata-sthitah
karsan venu-svanair gopir gopinathah sriye ‘stu nah
[Prayojanadhideva Pranama]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari
vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye
[S. Radha Pranama]
Svaha. Svaha. Svaha.
Now stand up. Take one [indistinct]. Stand up. Stand up.
namo brahmanya-devaya
go-brahmana-hitaya ca
jagad-dhitaya krsnaya
govindaya namo namah
[3 times]
Devotees: Hare Krsna! Haribol!
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya
bhutale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine.
[Srila Prabhupada Pranati]
Prabhupada: Now chant Hare Krsna.
Devotees: Hare Krsna! Haribol!
[44:02]
[kirtana] [devotees offer obeisances] [end]
About the Author
HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founded the Hare Krishna Movement in 1966 in New York. In only 11 years he spread the movement all over the world. He wrote more than 80 books including Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Sri Isopanisad. Prabhupada's books constitute a complete library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
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