Hare Krishna, everyone :)
Once again, I had the chance to see Ekalavya Dasa Prabhu. Today at Bhakti Vriksh, we were having Govardhan celebrations. We had kirtans for around 2 hours! It was crazy! So much energy, so much fun. Everyone was just absorbed in the kirtans. Something very unusual happened during one of the songs.
Towards the end of the song, Ekalavya Prabhu began to sing, "Jaya Prabhupada" in normal fashion. Suddenly, I could envision Prabhupada. It was like there was a film being played. I could envision Prabhupada and Krishna together, and Prabhupada telling Krishna, "See this? This is all for You! Just for You!" As in, Prabhupada was referring to our kirtans. It felt like I was literally seeing it happen in front of me and I was just filled with certainty that this is what was going on right then in Krishna-dhama. Then it occurred to me that we were praising Prabhupada at that instant. In my mind, I could see Krishna grateful to Prabhupada for all that he has done to preach Krishna Consciousness. It felt so certain and so real. Real in the sense that I knew it was an image in my mind, but I was convinced that this is what was going on with Krishna and Prabhupada right then. There were tears in my eyes. I didn't know what was happening. I was feeling so strange and unusual, so different. I couldn't understand what was going on, but I was in a receiving spirit. I realized that our gurus have sacrificed so much to spread Krishna Consciousness.
Ekalavya Prabhu so sweetly mentioned that he feels so sad when Kartik month ends. He said we were going to have a Damodar Aarti.
"Those of you who thought that Kartik month is over, I'm sorry. It's extended now!" he said.
He mentioned that the first time he heard that Kartik month was over, he cried because he was so sad. Such purity! During the aarti, while offering the diyas, he was just smiling and gazing at Krishna with so much love. No one who would see Ekalavya Prabhu smiling the way he was during the aarti would ever doubt and question his love. It was just so pure and it shone right through. At one point, Ekalavya Prabhu was blowing his trumpet during the kirtan, and his eyes were fixed on the alter of Krishna in front of him. At that second, I swear, I realized his focus. We always hear that we should do everything for Krishna, we should always act for Krishna, engage our senses in the service of Krishna... and the likes. But when I saw Ekalavya Prabhu holding his trumpet, his gaze fixed on Krishna, I felt in my heart and realized so completely with all that I am made of, that he was blowing his trumpet for Krishna. He was doing this JUST for Krishna. It felt amazing to realize that and to see it. Ekalavya Prabhu is so evidently in love with Krishna. And he definitely loves the devotees. I kind of understand now why they call gurus 'spiritual fathers'. He kept looking at the mridanga player, encouraging him to play, with this look of love in his eyes. He looked at all of us, making eye contact with each one, encouraging us to sing and dance. The way he was encouraging us was in typical fatherly fashion. He was just overflowing with Krishna's love, distributing it as freely as the Lord does.
Everyone was raising their hands at some point in the kirtan, but I wasn't. I feel kind of shy, plus I was filming Ekalavya Prabhu so I didn't raise my hands.
"Raise my arms, Krishna," I said. I shouldn't have challenged Krishna like that, really. Several minutes later, Ekalavya Prabhu stood up and everyone followed suit. An ecstatic dance followed, with everyone jumping and screaming out the Holy Names, enjoying to the fullest. I had to raise my arms to film properly. I shouldn't have challenged Krishna. At the end of the kirtan, while we were all still standing, the time came for everyone to raise their arms. And I didn't hold back this time. I owed that much at least.
I just love it when devotees raise their arms in praise! The kirtans were amazing. Ekalavya Prabhu is just SO good with music! I was wishing and wishing that he would record and release his songs. To my surprise, they were selling some of his audio CDs at the end of the program. I'm listening to it right now and it's just FANTASTIC! Great great songs and Ekalavya Prabhu's voice is just mesmerizing! He has such a unique style, especially with his trumpet! Just lovely :) I felt like I was being annoying because I had to ask 2 times for an autograph. Embarrassing, lol. But when he handed it over to me, I said thanks to him, and he looked at me and joined his hands and smiled.
In one of the pictures framed on the wall, Krishna was gazing at Radha. While looking at it, I found myself begging Krishna to gaze upon me lovingly. Oh Krishna, call us back Home! When I saw Ekalavya Prabhu singing 'Jaya Radhe Jaya Krishna', he looked like he was in Vaikuntha. I kid you not, I think that's where he really is! He just looked so happy and peaceful all the while. How can anyone be this happy? He had taken us there too. It really felt like Vrindavan. Krishna is where the devotees are. And wherever there is Krishna and His devotees, that place turns into Vrindavan. At that moment, in the presence of all the devotees, Krishna really was there. I know because I saw the happiness on everyone's face. Just plain happiness. The kind that everyone's looking for. The kind that those who have renewed their eternal relationship with God have found.
Haribol
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