Lecture

Wedding of Śyāma Dāsī and Hayagrīva Dāsa

[fire sacrifice]

Prabhupāda: [devotees chant responsively:]

namaḥ apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā yaḥ smaret puṅḍarīkākṣaṁ sa bahyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ

śrī viṣṅu, śrī viṣṅu, śrī viṣṅu

[Either pure or impure, or having passed through all conditions of material life, if one can remember the lotus-eyed Kṛṣṅa, he becomes externally and internally clean.]

Yes. Chant. [japa]

namaḥ apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā yaḥ smaret puṅḍarīkākṣaṁ sa bahyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ

śrī viṣṅu, śrī viṣṅu, śrī viṣṅu

[japa] Yes get them. Get [indistinct] That is that...

That mantra? Thank you.

Govinda dāsī: There's more, if you want to give more. I didn't know what you had in mind, so I made two, three of each.

Prabhupāda: Three? You have got three?

Govinda dāsī: Yes, I have three.

Prabhupāda: [devotees chant responsively:]

namah apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā yaḥ smaret puṅḍarīkākṣaṁ sa bahyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ

śrī viṣṅu, śrī viṣṅu, śrī viṣṅu

vande 'haṁ śrī-guroḥ śrī-yuta-pada-kamalaṁ śrī-gurūn vaiṣṅavāṁś ca śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṅa-raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvam sādvaitaṁ sāvadhūtaṁ parijana-sahitaṁ kṛṣṅa-caitanya-devaṁ śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṅa-pādān saha-gaṅa-lalitā-śrī-viśākhānvitāṁś ca

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master and of all the other preceptors on the path of devotional service. I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiṣṅavas and unto the Six Gosvāmīs, including Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Jīva Gosvāmī and their associates. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Advaita Ācārya Prabhu, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and all His devotees, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. I then offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṅa, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṅī and all the gopīs, headed by Lalitā and Viśākhā.]

nama om viṣṅu-pādāya kṛṣṅa-preṣṭhāya bhūtale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine.

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṅa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.]

nama oṁ viṣṅu-pādāya kṛṣṅa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktisiddhānta-sarasvatīti nāmine

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṅa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.]

śrī-vārṣabhānavī-devī-dayitāya kṛpābdhaye kṛṣṅa-sambandha-vijñāna-dāyine prabhave namaḥ

I offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Vārṣabhānavī-devī-dayita dāsa [another name of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī], who is favored by Śrīmatī Rādhārāṅī and who is the ocean of transcendental mercy and the deliverer of the science of Kṛṣṅa.

śrī-gaura-karuṅā-śakti-vigrahāya namo 'stu te mādhuryojjvala-premāḍhya-śrī-rūpānuga-varāya te

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, the personified energy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's mercy, who delivers devotional service enriched with conjugal love of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṅa, coming exactly in the line of revelation of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.]

namas te gaura-vāṅī-śrī-mūrtaye dīna-tāriṅe rūpānuga-viruddhāpasiddhānta-dhvānta-hāriṅe

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, who are the personified teachings of Lord Caitanya. You are the deliverer of the fallen souls. You do not tolerate any statement against the teachings of devotional service enunciated by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.]

namo gaura-kiśorāya sākṣād-vairāgya-mūrtaye vipralambha-rasāmbhode pādāmbujāya te namaḥ

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrīla Gaurakiśora dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja [the spiritual master of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī], who is renunciation personified. He is always merged in a feeling of separation and intense love of Kṛṣṅa.]

namo bhaktivinodāya sac-cid-ānanda-nāmine gaura-śakti-svarūpāya rūpānuga-varāya te

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda, who is the transcendental energy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is a strict follower of the Gosvāmīs, headed by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī.]

gaurāvirbhāva-bhūmes tvaṁ nirdeṣṭā saj-jana-priyaḥ vaiṣṅava-sārvabhaumaḥ ṣrī-jagannāthāya te namaḥ

[I offer my respectful obeisances to Śrīla Jagannātha dāsa Bābājī, who is respected by the entire Vaiṣṅava community and who confirmed the discovery of the place where Lord Caitanya appeared.]

vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṅavebhyo namo namaḥ

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiṣṅava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.]

namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṅa-prema-pradāya te kṛṣṅāya kṛṣṅa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

[O most munificent incarnation! You are Kṛṣṅa Himself appearing as Śrī Kṛṣṅa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Śrīmātī Rādhārāṅī, and You are widely distributing pure love of Kṛṣṅa. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.]

pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṅaṁ bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ namāmi bhakta-śaktikam

[I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṅa, who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee, devotional manifestation, devotional incarnation, pure devotee and devotional energy.]

he kṛṣṅa karuṅā-sindho dīna-bandho jagat-pate gopeśa gopikā-kānta rādhā-kānta namo 'stu te

[O my dear Kṛṣṅa, O ocean of mercy, O friend of the distressed and the source of creation, O master of the cowherd men and the lover of the gopīs, especially Rādhārāṅī, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.]

jayatāṁ suratau paṅgor mama manda-mater gate mat-sarvasva-padāmbhojau rādhā-madana-mohanau

[Glory to the all-merciful Rādhā and Madana-mohana! I am lame and ill advised, yet They are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to me.]

dīvyad-vṛndāraṅya-kalpa-drumādhaḥ śrīmad-ratnāgāra-siṁhāsana-sthau śrī-śrī-rādhā-śrīla-govinda-devau preṣṭhālībhiḥ sevyamānau smarāmi

[In a temple of jewels in Vṛndāvana, underneath a desire tree, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my humble obeisances unto Them.]

śrīmān rāsa-rasārambhī vaṁśī-vaṭa-taṭa-sthitaḥ karṣan veṅu-svanair gopīr gopīnāthaḥśriye 'stu naḥ

[Śrī Śrīla Gopīnātha, who originated the transcendental mellow of the rāsa dance, stands on the shore in Vaṁśīvaṭa and attracts the attention of the cowherd damsels with the sound of His celebrated flute. May they all confer upon us their benediction.]

tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi rādhe vṛndāvaneśvari vṛṣabhānu-sute devī praṅamāmi hari-priye

[I offer my respects to Rādhārāṅī, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vṛndāvana. You are the daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, and You are very dear to Lord Kṛṣṅa.]

hare kṛṣṅa hare kṛṣṅa kṛṣṅa kṛṣṅa hare hare hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare

[O Śrīmāti Rādhārāṅī (the divine energy of the Lord Kṛṣṅa), O all-attractive reservoir of pleasure, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa, please engage me in Your loving devotional service.]

So today's wedding ceremony between Śrīman Hayagrīva brahmacārī and Śrīmatī Śyāma dāsī is practically negotiated by me. I am the marriage maker and I am the negotiator also. How? Because I have started this Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement in this country to make people happy: happy in this life, happy in next life. This is not temporary sense happiness. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is stated that,

mām upetya kaunteya duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ [Bg 8.15]

[After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogīs in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.]

"Anyone who comes back to Me," Kṛṣṅa says, "anyone who goes back to Godhead, then he does not require to come back again to this place, which is full of miseries." Duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam. Duḥkhālayam means it is a place of misery, this material world. And aśāśvatam. Aśāśvatam means temporary. Even if I agree, "All right, it is a miserable place.

Let me live here perpetually," no. That also will not be allowed. As soon as there will be order, "Please get out," you have no power to remain. Suppose... We are Indian. We are poverty-stricken, or we are not very happy materially. You American people, you are very happy. But the nature of law is stringent both for the Indians and Americans equally.

So our Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement is particularly to go back to Godhead, giving up this material world, which is full of miserable life. It is actually full of miseries, but those who are thinking that "I am happy," or "We are happy," they are under illusion, māyā. That is called māyā. Actually, there is no happiness, because the Supreme Personality of Godhead says it is a place of misery. How you can make it comfortable place? So this is one side.

Another side, that some way or other, since I have begun this movement in this country, generally, the youngsters, they come to me. Maybe to some other reasons. But my disciples up to date, they're all from twenty to thirty years old. Those who are thirty, thirty-two years, they're old.

They're amongst the elder generation. But I see the boys and girls, they come to me as friends. [sound of something falling] But according to our Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement, we do not allow boys and girls living without any marriage bondage. Illicit sex life we don't allow.

We prohibit four things: illicit sex life, intoxication, and meat-eating and gambling. Those who become our student, we prohibit first of all these four things. And if we find some of the girls and some of the boys, they are strictly following, and if they are agreeable, then we arrange for their marriage.

So there are many instances of marriage like this. They were living very irresponsibly in the former life. Now they are preaching this Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement. Some of my students, they are married couples, young men; six of them have gone to England. They are preaching very nicely. Very nicely. They have attracted the attention of respectable gentlemen like Lord Mountbatten, Lord Sorensen, and the High Commissioner of India, Mr. Dhawan. So they're doing very nicely.

So our principle is to make people God conscious; thereby they will be happy. And the method is very simple. Just like we do not deny anything. We give nice wife, we give nice husband, we give nice foodstuff, we give nice philosophy and, at last, we give the nicest thing: Kṛṣṅa. So our program is very nice. Any gentleman come and discuss with us, we shall prove this is the nicest program at the present moment.

So I am very happy that Professor Howard Wheeler, he is very obedient student. And by God's grace, Kṛṣṅa's grace, we practically met on the street. You see? When I first started my class in New York, 26 Second Avenue, I was just going out after entering the storefront, and this boy met me. He asked me, "Swāmījī, you are coming from India?" And I told him, "Yes, my dear boy." So that was our first acquaintance, and I think that is eternal.

Devotees: Jaya!

Prabhupāda: That is eternal. Similarly, this girl also met me in San Francisco, and she is very faithfully living with this Society. She is very mild. So I have selected, "Śyāma dāsī, you should marry Hayagrīva." So they have agreed. And there is no separation. Our relationship is eternal. There is no separation. And this marriage is primarily for advancing Kṛṣṅa consciousness. Bodily relationship is secondary. That is not a very important thing. Our first engagement is Kṛṣṅa consciousness.

So in this happy ceremony, I have got my heartfelt blessings upon you. You be happy. Your parents are present here. It is very nice arrangement. And forget... In any circumstances... This material world, we have to pass through many circumstances, but sometimes, even it is intolerable, we have to tolerate.

So according to Hindu conception of life, even there is some misunderstanding between husband and wife, it is not taken very seriously. Never taken very seriously. But in your country, in the name of liberty and freedom, there are so many things. I do not wish to discuss all those things. But according to Vedic system, husband and wife, united together, there cannot be any separation.

Perhaps you have heard the name of Mahatma Gandhi. He was married when he was student, sixteen years old, and his wife was also of the same age. Later on Mahatma Gandhi became a very famous man. So one day there was husband and wife quarrel.

So Mahatma Gandhi, he has written in his own biography, he drove away the wife: "You get out from my house." So the wife got out of the house and was crying in the street, "Where shall I go?" And again Mahatma Gandhi went there, "Come on." So even there was quarrel between Mahatma Gandhi and his wife.

So this quarrel of husband and wife is not very serious thing. So I'll request you, even there is some misunderstanding, forget it. Don't take it seriously. Simply you concentrate on Kṛṣṅa consciousness business. You have got nice business now, both of you, conjointly working for editing my Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

You consult in that business and live peacefully. You are educated, she is also educated. If there is any misunderstanding, don't take it seriously. That is my request. Besides that, I am always at your service, I am always [here] to help you. So this marriage ceremony is very happy occasion. I shall request all friends, relatives, parents to give their blessings to this nice couple, and let us perform.

Now I shall request Mr.... What?

Mr. Morris: Morris.

Prabhupāda: Morris. So you say that "Howard, this girl was in my charge so long. Now I give you in your charge." You say and...

Mr. Morris: Howard, this child was mine for so long, and now I give her care to you.

Prabhupāda: You say that "I take charge Śyāma dāsī, of you, throughout your whole life." You say.

Hayagrīva: I take charge of you, Śyāma dāsī, throughout your whole life.

Prabhupāda: And Śyāma dāsī, you say that "I promise I shall serve you to my best capacity throughout my life."

Śyāma dāsī: I promise that I will serve you to my best capacity throughout my life.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Now you change your garland. All right. So somebody go and bind this cloth. Yes. Some girl may do that. Yes. [chuckling] Yes. Now chant Hare Kṛṣṅa. [japa] So it is very nice combination.

Devotee: Kīrtana?

Prabhupāda: Yes. You can take photograph of this nice picture. Come here in the front.

[24:40]

[kīrtana]

[31:12]

namaḥ apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā yaḥ smaret puṅḍarīkākṣaṁ sa bahyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ

śrī viṣṅu, śrī viṣṅu, śrī viṣṅu

You can keep that. You can keep that.

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

nama oṁ viṣṅu-pādāya kṛṣṅa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṅa on this earth, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.]

nama oṁ viṣṅu-pādāya kṛṣṅa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktisiddhānta-sarasvatīti nāmine

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṅa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.]

śrī-vārṣabhānavī-devī-dayitāya kṛpābdhaye kṛṣṅa-sambandha-vijñāna-dāyine prabhave namaḥ

mādhuryojjvala-premāḍhya-śrī-rūpānuga-bhaktida- śrī-gaura-karuṅā-śakti-vigrahāya namo 'stu te

namas te gaura-vāṅī-śrī-mūrtaye dīna-tāriṅe rūpānuga-viruddhāpasiddhānta-dhvānta-hāriṅe

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

namo gaura-kiśorāya sākṣād-vairāgya-mūrtaye vipralambha-rasāmbhodhe pādāmbujāya te namaḥ

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

namo bhaktivinodāya sac-cid-ānanda-nāmine gaura-śakti-svarūpāya rūpānuga-varāya te

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

gaurāvirbhāva-bhūmes tvaṁ nirdeṣṭā saj-jana-priyaḥ vaiṣṅava-sārvabhaumaḥ śrī-jagannāthāya te namaḥ

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

vāñchā-kalpatarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca patitānāṁ pāvenebhyo vaiṣṅavebhyo namo namaḥ

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṅa-prema-pradāya te kṛṣṅāya kṛṣṅa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṅaṁ bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ namāmi bhakta-śaktikam

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

[I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṅa, who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee, devotional manifestation, devotional incarnation, pure devotee and devotional energy.]

he kṛṣṅa karuṅā-sindho dīna-bandho jagat-pate gopeśa gopikā-kānta rādhā-kānta namo 'stu te

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

jayatāṁ, suratau, paṅgor, mama, manda, mater, gate mat, sarvasva, padām, bhojau, rādhā, madana, mohanau [Sambandhādhideva Praṅāma]

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

[Glory to the all-merciful Rādhā and Madana-mohana! I am lame and ill advised, yet They are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to me.]

dīvyad, vṛnda, araṅya, kalpa, drumādhaḥ śrīmad, ratna, agāra, siṁha, asana-sthau śrī śrī, rādhā, śrīla, govinda, devau preṣṭhā, devī, sevya, mānau, smarāmi [Abhidheyādhideva Praṅāma]

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

[In a temple of jewels in Vṛndāvana, underneath a desire tree, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my most humble obeisances unto Them.]

śrīmad, rāsa, rasa, arambhī, vaṁśī, vaṭa, taṭa, sthitaḥ karṣan, veṅu, svanair, gopīr, gopī, nāthaḥ, śriye, astu, naḥ [Prayojanādhideva Praṅāma]

svāhā, svāhā, svāhā

Now stand up with one banana each.

nama oṁ, brahmaṅya, devāya go, brāhmaṅa, hitāya ca jagad, dhitāya, kṛṣṅāya govindāya, namo, namaḥ [Viṣṅu Purāṅa 1.19.65]

[I offer my respectful obeisances to the Supreme Absolute Truth, Krishna, who is the well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas as well as the living entities in general. I offer my repeated obeisances to Govinda [Krishna], who is the pleasure reservoir for all the senses.]

Just put like this, slowly. Yes. Thank you.

hare kṛṣṅa hare kṛṣṅa kṛṣṅa kṛṣṅa hare hare hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare

[My dear Lord, and the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly engage me in Your service. I am now embarrassed with this material service. Please engage me in Your service.]

Bow down. Bow down.

nama oṁ viṣṅu-pādāya kṛṣṅa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktivedānta svāmin iti nāmine

Jaya. Go on. Be happy. Hare Kṛṣṅa.

So? Next. Come on. You have no dress? You have no dress? All right.

Devotee: Kīrtana, Prabhupāda?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Go on, kīrtana.

[Prabhupāda gives first line of Gāyatrī, devotee repeats word for word]

oṁ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tat savitur vareṅyam bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt

[44:20]

Now, your Godbrothers will teach you how to... Who is next? Who is next? Who is next?

[kīrtana] [indistinct conversation with Prabhupāda during kīrtana]

...otherwise they will go away. Little, little. Very little, little. There are so many varieties. [indistinct] [kīrtana] [end]

Wedding of Śyāma Dāsī and Hayagrīva Dāsa

Referenced verses