The one-week hari-katha festival with Srila Narayana Maharaja began on January 13, 2007. The festival is being held in a pavilion near the ocean. About 400 devotees from all over the world are in attendance, and each day more and more devotees are arriving – in culmination of the celebration of Srila Narayana Maharaja’s Appearance Day on January 18th.
In the first evening class, Srila Narayana Maharaja said, “I am very happy that so many devotees have come from various places, such as mainland America, Australia, India and other countries. He spoke on the glories of Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja – how he preached everywhere in the world and translated so many books. Srila Narayana Maharaja told his audience, “By his order, I have come to give the same message – the message of Srila Rupa Gosvami.
He then explained the essence of the Catuh-sloki, the four nutshell verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which were spoken by Sri Krsna as Garbhodakasayi Visnu to Lord Brahma at the beginning of creation.
He told his audience, “Now, you should hear very attentively. I am going to tell you some deep knowledge. At the end of the universal destruction (maha-pralaya), there was water everywhere. From the navel of Garbhodakasayi Visnu, a lotus came out. The lotus flower was on top of the water, and from that lotus stem Brahma was created. Then, Brahma wanted to see the source of this lotus. He looked up and down, but he could not discover the source. He sat on the lotus and began to think, ‘What should I do? I don’t know what to do?’
“At once, a sound came from the water: ‘Tapa tapa.’ Tapa means austerities. Brahma then began to perform austerities. After about one thousand celestial years, Lord Narayana appeared in his trance and told him, ‘I am very happy. Now, you may take a boon.’ Brahma replied, ‘I know your wish is that I create this world. I fear that when I will do so, I will have a false ego and think, ‘I am the independent creator of this world. I beg that this misconception does not come in my heart.’”
Srila Narayana Maharaja gives darsana daily in the house he is staying in. At these darsan’s he answers the devotees many questions. During the darsana of January 15th, devotee asked what to do when she goes back to her “normal life” after this festival. She asked how she can serve him at that time.
Srila Narayana Maharaja replied, “You should remember the hari-katha you are hearing this week, try to understand it and incorporate it into your life. Always think about, and do, what I am telling.
A young lady meeting Srila Narayana Maharaja for the first time, asked, “How do I sever worldly ties, and become free to come to the spiritual realm?” He answered, “The holy name is even more powerful then the Supreme Lord Himself. If you will chant the holy name, He will mercifully arrange everything. Then you will have time to engage more fully in Krsna consciousness. You should chant the very powerful holy name.
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