Narrator:
(Sound of ceremonial conch shells and horns blowing)
Chanting:
"Om... Krishna... Om Namo Bhagawate Vasudevaya... Maha Varaha... Om Asura, Daitya, Danava, Naga, Gandharva... Om Maheshwara... Janardana... Om Gayatri, Saraswati... Gauri, Gandhari... Indrani, Brahmani, Varahi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Chamunda, Namostute..." (The group also recites sections from the Bhagavad Gita and hymns dedicated to the Goddess Aparajita)
Interviewer:
Greetings, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Greetings, my son. Speak.
Interviewer:
Today is Dol Purnima. Could you tell us about the significance of Dol Purnima and the spiritual practices occurring here at Shantikunja? We see the Homa (fire ritual) on one side and the reading of the Gita on the other. Worship of the Mother [Goddess] has also been arranged. Could you tell us more?
Gurudev:
Yes, we do this every year for Dol. Tonight, there will be music and Harinam Sankirtan (devotional chanting of God's names). On this day, we bring Lord Narayan [in the form of the Shaligram Shila] outside.
Gurudev:
Many people ask me, "Why is the Lord Narayan kept in a crematorium setting?" I tell them, look, Harinam Sankirtan is happening right here. Those who come here do so while chanting "Hari Bol." The Lord is already with them. If I keep Narayan here, what is the problem? This place is equivalent to Vrindavan.
Gurudev:
So, Narayan is present here. Today there will be food offerings (Bhag) for the Father and the Mother. As you saw, the Homa is burning brightly, the Gita was recited, and the verses were explained. We do this every year during Dol; we never miss it.
Gurudev:
After this, there will be more music and Harinam Sankirtan. In this Kali Yuga (the current age), there is no other way except for Harinam Sankirtan.
Gurudev:
(Starts chanting) "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare."
Gurudev:
This is the true worship of this age. In this Kali Yuga, God does not want complex rituals; He wants the loud chanting of His name. You must chant so loudly that the people nearby can hear it. Just hearing the name of the Lord has a great effect on people.
Gurudev:
For those who are far away and cannot be here, when we chant into the microphone, the sound travels far. Hearing it cleanses many sins. This is stated in the Gita, not just by me. If you chant the name of the Lord loudly, the influence of Kali (evil or ignorance) cannot enter wherever that sound reaches.
Gurudev:
This was the "curse"—or rather, the rule—given by Krishna Himself: wherever the name of Hari is chanted, the influence of Kali is prohibited from entering. This is why we perform these rituals within this compound to keep that influence away. We perform the Homa, we offer Tulsi leaves to Narayan, and we celebrate with colors.
Gurudev:
We have also arranged for food. There will be Bhoga Prasad for the Father and Mother, and after that, we will conclude the night with more Sankirtan before going home. This is how we celebrate Dol every year.
Interviewer:
Greetings, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Greetings.
Spiritual Insight
The celebration of Dol Purnima at Shantikunj demonstrates that spiritual practice transcends physical location. Even within a crematorium setting, the presence of Lord Narayan and the continuous Harinam Sankirtan transform the space into something equivalent to Vrindavan itself. Gurudev's powerful message about the Maha-mantra—"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare"—reminds us that in Kali Yuga, the simple yet profound practice of chanting God's names is the most effective path to spiritual purification and protection from the negative influences of the age.