Page 17 - OPIHI (English)

nAthdwArA 3

those who sell prasädam and pictures The Rajasthani villagers in
of the Deity, others who sell tape Nathdwara stand out brightly.
cassettes with devotional songs, They’re a lively, robust people, with
and others who cater to the needs their own language, their own food,
of pilgrims by providing hostels and and their own traditional dress.
hotels, buses, auto-rikshas, and so And they’re deeply devoted to Lord
on. Nathdwara has everything a Çrénäthajé.
good-sized town should have, but
somehow or other nearly everything Early in the morning, we hear a
is connected with the Deity. Rajasthani milk seller calling in a
deep, gutsy voice, “Jaya Çré Kåñëa.
The standard greeting here is Jaya Vaàçédhäré.” The high-powered
“Jaya Çré Kåñëa!” (“All glories to devotion of the Rajasthanis and the
Lord Kåñëa!”) All about, you’ll see gentle devotion of the Gujaratis
written the words “Jaya Çré Kåñëa!” makes an interesting contrast.
Sometimes you’ll also see the
mantra of the Vallabha sampradäya, At quarter after five in the
çré kåñëa çaraëaà mama (“Lord Çré morning, a shenai band playing over
Kåñëa is my shelter”). In Nathdwara loudspeakers calls everyone to the
the Hare Kåñëa movement is well temple for maìgala-ärati, the early-
known, so often people greet us by morning greeting of the Lord. The
saying “Hare Kåñëa!” band itself sits on the arch above
the main entrance to
the temple, playing
musical instruments
and chanting. The
sound creates a spiritual
atmosphere as you walk
in.

Until some years ago,
foreigners were not
allowed into the temple,
but now they are. In any
case, members of the
Hare Kåñëa movement
Pilgrims and locals shop for fresh produce in the have always been
busy market. welcome.