Ottawa, Ontario
Fast to Feast
Savyasacin had gone to his godfather’s for the evening
while I was accommodated in the apartment right next to our Ottawa ashram
/ restaurant. There was not to be any eating today. Govinda’s
restaurant is closed on Sunday. And besides, we are looking at a fast
today
in honour of Sri Chaitanya’s birthday.
Who is Chaitanya?
As I had outlined to the people in the packed place, he
is the avatar of the current era (yuga) who introduced kirtan to the world in a very extraordinary way. He is credited for bringing the magical
preoccupation of chanting yoga to the modern world. As guest speaker, I expressed to the crowd
the obligation we all have in offering him our gratitude. I also spoke about his encounter with the two
nefarious characters, Jagai and Madhai, notorious outlaws who struck fear in
the hearts of all humble townsfolk in Bengal’s Nadia district in very early 16th
century. There was a serious scuffle
which involved these two characters and his close associate, Nityananda, but
the outcome was a miraculous conversion from heathens to saints for the lives
of these two murders, Jagai and Madhai.
Chaitanya was on regular pilgrimage. His prominent walks were from as far north as
Vrindavan in the Delhi area down to the southernmost section of India. He particularly loved the pilgrimage site on
the eastern shore at a place called Puri and spent much of his last 18 years
there. Walking played a big part in his
life, as a renunciate, it was a veritable practice.
Oh yes, and our fast was also followed by a feast. Scrumptious!
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
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