Kartik Diary 19

Kartik Purnima

Oh Vaishnava Thakura
Jay Kanhaya Lala Ki

Dear Devotees
Jay Jagannatha!

Today is Purnima and therefore the last day of Kartik. We went early in the morning to the sea where thousands of people had made little boats from banana trunks or out of paper, equipped them with camphor, ghee lamps and flowers and sent them into the sea along with their prayers. It was a beautiful sight to see all these beautiful ships and rafts along with their lights, flowers and other offerings sailing into the ocean to be swallowed up by the gigantic waves. The dim light of the rising sun emerging right over the sea gave the entire scene a mystical impression as young and old put their ships into the waters and then entered the waters themselves in a joyous festival of bathing and splashing. Others wrote Sanskrit verses into the soft sand only to be erased shortly afterwards by the mighty waves of the powerful sea.

As usual whenever numbers of people gather little stalls or sellers displaying their goods on the ground appeared from nowhere. Others, skilled in the art of persuation, carried their goods on their shoulders and approached receptive individuals. All in all it was a huge open air festival with joyous faces, bright smiles and laughter accompanied by the shrill sound of fire crackers.

Later in the morning, after having taken our bath in the sea, we visited the temple of Tota Gopinatua. One can take there darshan of Sri Gadhadhara Pandit's beautiful deity of Tota Gopinatha in which Lord Caitanya merged when He wound up His pastimes. The deity is the only deity in sitting posture. The Lord took this position because Gadhadhara Pandit could not serve His Lord properly due to old age. So great is the Lord's love for His devotee.

Thereafter we visited Siddha Bakula, the place where Haridas Thakur stayed and chanted his daily laks of Hare Krishna mantras. The original tree under which Haridas sat to chant his rounds can still be seen.

We also visited the samadhi of Haridas Thakur. There are many wonderful paintings all around the temple depicting various pastimes with Haridas and Lord Caitanya. We were fortunately able to take photos of most of them so we can share the nectar with all of you. Therefore please come to our program on Saturday 11 Nov. at 7 pm where we will share the first portion of this nectar with you.

Next we visited the Gambhira, the place where Lord Caitanya stayed in the mood of deep separation from His beloved Lord. The original quarters can still be seen along with the Lord's slippers. It is very wonderful to visit these sacred sites as it brings the Caitanya Caritamrita and Caitanya Bhagavad really to live. We not only hear or read about these pastime places of the Lord but we can actually see and touch them and offer our prostrated obeisances.

In the evening we went to the many stalls on the sea front where we were able to purchase some nice coral and conch necklaces for our beloved Lords Sri Sri Nitai Saci-Sundar.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Ki Jaya! Jagannatha Swami Ki Jaya!

With love and affection,

Your servant in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

Gauranga Sundara Das