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WORLD  Puri Inundated BY GOKUL PURI, INDIA, Jun 27 (VNN) — The rains like this came after 12 years. But this was 9 days ago. Now with Rath Yatra approaching, its an inundation of another kind - Divine Transcendental Name of Jai Baladev! Jai Subhadra! Jai Jagannath!!! Nitai-Gauranga! Hari Bol! In the run-up to the Rath-Yatra, a Harinam procession (Nagar-Sankirtan) was taken out by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, from Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math (Regd.), Grand Road, Puri, the Holy Birth-Place of Jagadguru Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Srila Saraswati Thakur is the original founder of all Gaudiya Maths and Gaudiya missions. His birth place is Puri, presently the principal branch math of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math. Devotees from different Gaudiya Missions from different parts of India and abroad followed the procession dancing to the tunes of Mridanga, Kartals, Kansa and chanting Jai Baldev! Jai Subhadra! Jai Jagannath!!! Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare! The Global Saraswat Gaudiya Family! The ecstatic Kirtan and dancing by Srila B. B. Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, 78, who is also the Vice-president of the WVA (World Vaishnava Association), reminded the times of Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who inundated Puri with His Divine Love, 500 years ago. The preceptorial-channel has kept the spirit of Divine Love alive! By Krishna's arrangement, during the time of Maharaj's stay in New York, Lord Jagannath decided to go on His annual sojourn through the streets of downtown Manhattan. Maharaj's party accompanied the procession in a limousine driven by a very nice gentleman named Ramesh Patel (who just happened to be a limo driver). At one point, Maharaj asked from the back seat, "Where is Rashbihari?" I replied to this, "He is up ahead, pulling Lord Jagannath's cart." Maharaj then asked, "Is it correct to say 'pulling' or 'drawing' in the English language?" I replied, "Probably 'pulling' is more appropriate."Maharaj chuckled and said, "How can we either pull or draw Lord Jagannath? Lord Jagannath acts only according to His own initiative. We have no potency in and of ourselves to do anything, what to speak of compelling God to move. The cart moves by His inconceivable potency, when Lord Jagannath decides, not when we decide." The Harinam procession was taken to Sri Jagannath Mandir, Sri Ganga-Mata Goswamini Math, the place of Sarwabhoum Bhatacharya, Radhakant Math (Gambhira), Siddha-Bakul, Narendra Sarovar, Attharnalla, Gundicha, Nrisingha Mandir and Indradyumna sarovar. Gajapati Maharaj Sri Divyasingha Dev, the descendent of Sri Pratap Rudra Maharaj, visited Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, and inaugurated the Annual Rath Yatra Function of the Math by lighting-up the ceremonial lamps. The Rath-yatra theme was elaborated in the discourses of Srila B. B. Tirtha Goswami Maharaj. The excitement of the Car-Festival is overpowering all! Its the ride by the Global Lord of the Lords Jagannath Swami Nayan Pathgami It is cloudy today, it rained heavily yesterday night. Quite pleasant this year. All Mercy of the Prem Murti of Lord Krishna Jagannath Dev! Devotees all over! So Many colours, ecstatic faces, different melodies of Kirtan, cries, bells, sirens, all sound like an orchestra! Hey Gopinath! Hey Gopinath! Vrindavane Chalo Hey Gopinath!! In the hearts of devotees here, the bliss of Rath-Yatra is just inexplicable. The spiritual mission of Lord Sree Chaitanya Deva was amply demonstrated when He inundated old Bengal, Orissa, Southern India and North India with Krishna Prema (Transcendental Divine Love) distributed to all human beings irrespective of caste-creed. As well as to all other species of animated beings ( He even made beasts and birds chant the Holy Name of Sri Krishna). At 12 noon today, all the three deities Sri Balbhadra, Subhadra and Lord Jagannath Dev have boarded the respective Raths Taaladhwaja, Padmadhwaja and Nandi Ghosh! At 2P.M., the Raths were approaching the Birth-Place of Srila Saraswati Thakur. The devotees started vigorous Sankirtan on the Grand Road, outside Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math. Led by Srila B.B. Tirtha Goswami Mj, with chants of Jai Baldev! Jai Subhadra! Jai Jagannath! First came Baldev withPandas drumming vigorously! The Sankirtan came to the highest pitch! Then beautifully decorated Chariot of Devi Subhadra passed by the Math, the cries of Subhadra Devi Jaida Jaida! rattled the skies of Puri. After a long Sankirtan and continuous Nritya (Ecstatic Dancing) by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, who used to lead Harinam Sankirtan right from Sri Jagannath Temple to the GUNDICHA MANDIR, during the time of the struggle for getting the site of the holy Birth-place of Jagad Guru Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta, in the 70s. The bright colours of the Raths are just dazzling! About 500,000 persons are here in this Car festival to feel the mercy of the Lord of the Universe! Just at 4.35 P.M., the Nandi-Ghosh Rath of Jagannath Dev passed by the Math. The climax of the Kirtan came with Hari Bol chants! Srila B. B. Tirtha Goswami Maharaj offered obeisances and stepped inside the Math and it started drizzling! We rushed for an umbrela. It was cloudy since morning but only after all the chariots crossed the Birthplace of Srila Saraswati Thakur, it started pouring down. He takes care! Yours in the service of the Supreme Lord, GOKUL, INDIA. Rashbeharidas@hotmail.com (Reporting from the Birth-place of Srila Saraswati Thakur, Puri)  Comment on this storyContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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