Sankirtan Begins After He Drives Away The Rainclouds

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In 1993, we gathered in a religious assembly that included a program of early morning Nagar Sankirtan.  The time was fixed at 5:30 am.  Slowly devotees started gathering.  It was around 6:30 am and Srila Guru Maharaj had not come out of his room yet.  Madanlal, the chief of Sri Sanatan Dharma Mandir, (New Model House, Ludhiana) told me, “Kochar Sir, you go and inform Maharaj that it is already late.  If it gets delayed further, walking in the Sun will be difficult.”  I told him that I cannot give instructions to Guruji, He is all knowing.  Whatever happens by His will will be all-good.

Around 6.45 am, Guruji came out of his room and came to the assembly hall of the temple. Jai-dwani and Vandana began.  The sun was shining then. After that, Srila Guru Maharaj started sankirtan in an intense mood.  When we all came out from the hall, we found that there had been a slight drizzle and the road became wet. But Suryadev (Sun god) was peeping through the clouds and witnessing early morning Nagar Sankirtan.  Since the Sun was happy to witness Sankirtan and he was not hot, the participating devotees in the morning sankirtan were also happy.  Witnessing this sudden change of weather everyone started saying it is Guru Maharaj’s miracle.

A parallel pastime occurred in Dehradhun that year. When Nagar Sankirtan was about to begin, it started raining heavily.  At the appointed time Guruji came to the Sankirtan Hall accompanied by a sevak who was holding an umbrella for him.

Guruji called Sripad Chidhananada Prabhu and slowly told him, “Please call Srikant Prabhu and Amarendra, ‘Kripa karo ham par shyama sundar’ kirtan has to be sung.”  Like always, Jai Dwani was given and Vandana was chanted.  Sankirtan began with the Mahajan Sankirtan "Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu daya kara more….."

Sri Guru Maharaj chanted "Jai dau, Jai dau" and it echoed.  Then Nitai Gauranga's Names were chanted.  Later, Hare Krishna mahamantra was sung along with with chantings of "Haribol, Haribol!" and then suddenly that powerful kirtan suddenly stopped.

Guru Maharaj said, "Outside there is heavy rain, you all please sit down here.  For ten minutes, we will pray for the mercy of devotees and the Supreme Lord.  After that, we will perform Sankirtan as we go out."

Guru Maharaj then asked Srikant Prabhu to sing the kirtan "Kripa karo ham par Shyamasundar, hey bhakta-vatsala kahane vale…." Sri Guru Maharaj, Pujyapad Nishkinchan Maharaj, and Pujyapad Acharya Maharaj along with other vaishnavas sat on the stage and all others sat on the mats spread on the ground.

Following the instructions of Srila Guru Maharaj, Sankirtan began.  Just when the kirtan was over, Guru Maharaj got up and walked out of the hall.  When we came out we saw the rain had almost stopped. Then a few drops that had been falling also stopped as we were descending the stairs of the temple.  Nagar Sankirtan took place in a very pleasant weather.

–Sri Jagannath Dasadhikari (Jagiri Das Kochar), Ludhiana

Translated from Sri Krishna Chaitanya Sandesh July-Oct, 1997 (Year 17, Issue No.4, Page 66-67)


Please read our other blog posts highlighting similar divine instances relating to rain:

The Rain Stops for Him

Impure Elements Are Removed When the Holy Name Emanates From Him



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