It is only because of the mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that I got an opportunity to spend another memorable day in Mayapur. One of the most attractive features of the stay in Mayapur is the morning Mangala arati. If you ever get an opportunity, then do attend the arati at 4:30 am in Mayapur Iskcon temple.
I got up at around 3:30 am, took bath, wore dhoti, kurta, tilak and rushed to the Mayapur Iskcon temple.
Sri Sri Radha Madhav gives his divine darshan
At sharp 4:30 a.m. the conch shell blew first at the panca tattva hall and then at Sri Sri Radha Madhava hall. The gigantic curtains were slid and Srimati Radharani in her whitish complexion and Sri Madhav in his blackish complexion surrounded by asta sakhis – 8 principal gopis – appeared in front of us. They were colourfully dressed and decorated with flowers and ornaments.
Sri Sri Radha Madhav with their big eyes were looking at us and seeing the temple hall which was filled with thousands of devotees. The Supreme Lord had a broad smile on his lips. Devotees were happy to see the Lord. Everyone paid obeisances to Sri Sri Radha Madhav. The pujari began the arati and one devotee started singing Sri Sri Gurvastakam prayer and other devotees repeated after him in rhythm.
Arati Begins
Pujari was very carefully worshipping the Lord. He first offered incense and then ghee lamp to the deities. After that the deities were bathed with scented water and then dried using a cloth. After this fresh colourful flowers were offered and at the last using a chamar the Lord was fanned. Peacock fan was not used because it was winter time.
Men and women, rich and poor, young and old, Indians and non Indians, so called upper caste and lower caste, Hindus and non Hindus all had congregated. They had forgotten their material designations and were together singing happily and loudly the prayers and the Hare Krishna Mahamantra from the core of their heart. Singing was to glorify the Lord and please the Lord. And since the Lord was happy to see all chanting, singing and dancing so the devotees were also experiencing happiness.
Narasimha Arati, Tulasi Arati, Siksastakam Prayers
Once the arati was completed the curtains of the altar of Sri Sri Radha Madhava were closed and simultaneously the curtain of the altar of Lord Narasimhadeva opened. The pujari worshipped Lord Narasimhadeva and devotees sang Narsimha arati.
After Narsimha arati there was tulasi arati followed by Sistastakam prayers which was followed by few announcements from the temple management.
Experience the spiritual ecstasy
Although I have tried to share my experience of attending Mangala Arati in Mayapur but unless you personally experience it, you won’t be able to appreciate much what I am saying.
It is said that the taste of the pudding lies in tasting it, so come to Mayapur, spend a day in Mayapur and bathe in the divine ecstasy early in the morning during Mangala Arati. You will never forget that divine experience in Mayapur, it will be memorable day.
Chanting with the devotees
After the announcement, mats were quickly spread in the temple hall and devotees sat together to chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Srila Prabhupada always advised to practice devotion in association. While chanting I observed that just by seeing the seriousness and enthusiasm of fellow devotees we too try to chant sincerely.
Srila Prabhupada has many times highlighted the importance of devotee association.
“By association with devotees, dirty things within the heart of a materialistic man are gradually washed away by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As silver becomes shiny by being polished, the heart of a materialistic person is cleansed of lusty desires by the good association of devotees. Actually the living being has no connection with this material enjoyment nor with lusty desires. He is simply imagining or dreaming while asleep. But by the association of pure devotees, he is awakened, and immediately the spirit soul is situated in his own glory by understanding his constitutional position as the eternal servant of the Lord.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.22.20)
Rajapur Jagannath temple and drama
We also had a plan to visit the famous Lord Jagannath temple in Rajapur. This temple is very dear to me as I got married there. It is always a great privilege to take darshan of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi here because in front of them me and my wife took our marriage vows and it is because of their blessings are our marriage is successfully continuing.
This temple is also associated with many pastimes. Devotees performed 3 dramas here. I too participated, I was given the role of Lord Jagannath. It was a spontaneous drama, we prepared just 10 minutes before performing.
One drama was about Lord Jagannath coming out of the altar, climbing the tree to eat jackfruit. Another was when Lord Baladeva slaps a person who was trying to steal ornaments of Lord Jagannath.
A true story of a girl
The third drama was about a non-Hindu girl who disrespectfully throws away Jagannath’s prasad. Later in the night she is punished by Baladeva and Subhadra. The girl is paralysed. The father of the girl comes in the morning carrying a basket of fruits to offer to Jagannath and wanted to take the prasad to give to her daughter.
Devotees say that still the girl comes with her family members to take darshan of the Lord and she now respectfully takes prasad.
Drama was the best way to explain the pastime to the new devotees.
Visiting Yogapitha and Gurukul
We then left for Yogapitha, the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya. There we took darshan of Lord Chaitanya along with his consorts. After taking darshan we returned to Mayapur temple for breakfast prasadam. We then went to Gurukul to see how young children from different parts of the world stay together in a traditional environment to learn Vedic scriptures.
We saw how kids spend each day in a Krishna conscious way in Mayapur gurukul, it was a memorable experience for all of us. In fact, a separate article could be written on the Gurukul experience, I will try to write something about that experience.
In the evening in the temple there was Krishna Conscious party on the eve of New Year which went upto 12. I too participated but not till midnight because I did not want to miss the morning Mangala Arati at 4:30 a.m. next day.
An unforgettable & memorable day in Mayapur
How grateful we should be to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who performed so many wonderful pastimes in Mayapur. And how much indebted we should be to Srila Prabhupada, a great devotee of Lord Chaitanya, who built such a wonderful temple in Mayapur for conditioned souls like you and me.
I can say for sure that if one stays in Mayapur even for a day then he will spontaneously develop love for Krishna and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This is the reason that if once you go to Mayapur you will like to go there again and again – the beautiful deities, heart touching kirtan and delicious prasadam will keep on calling you.
For all of us, it was a memorable day in Mayapur. Do visit Mayapur at least for a day and you will cherish that experience throughout your life!
Also read:
Memorable stay in Mayapur, the birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – Part 1
