''JA JA NAM DIGEY JA" Mahotsav '2015

[arka]

The 78thCelebration of Thakur's vision of Lord Jagannath ['JAGANNATH DARSAN UTSAV'/ 'JA JA NAM DIGE JA UTSAV'] was accomplished at Nilachal [Puri Dham] with grace and grandeur... Numerous devotees had come from different corners of the country to attend this blissful event. Celebrations had started from 9th Baisakh, and musical renditions by Sri Prasanta Pari [Head of the Music dept of Bhuvaneswar univ], Pandit Buddhadev Chattopadhyay and other eminent devotees filled the atmosphere with inexplicable joy. A large procession of Nam Sankirtan flooded the streets of Puri on the morning of 10TH Baisakh, and elated devotees were dancing, singing, shedding tears of bliss. The procession was led by Kinkar Vitthal Ramanuj, the President of Akhil Bharat Jaiguru Sampraday. After returning to Nilachal Asram, devotees took morning Prasadam and gathered for Guruvandana and Nam Sankirtan. At about 11am, HH Shankaracharya Sw Nischalananda Sarawati [Peethadhish, Govardhan Math], came to grace the podium. Other significabt persons of the stage were Kinkar Vitthal Ramanuj, Kinkar Samananda [Dr Loknath Chakraborty], Kinkar Namananada, kinkar Sharanananda, Kinkar Sahajananda [Sri Gopal Mitra], and members of ABJS Trustee. Kinkar Samananda [Dr Loknath Chakraborty, Vice President of ABJS], addressed Shankaracharyaji with a welcome speech in Sanskrit language. Shankaracharya Ji sang kirtan for some time, and the assembled audience repeated after his chantings. Then , he said that the celebrationof this Utsav is a great spiritual endeavour, and all those who participate in it directly or indirectly will be benefitted. He quoted the scriptures to express the glory of Lord’s Name, and said that as mentioned in Bhagavatam, Lord’s Nam will surely act upon the devotee, just as Fire imparts burn or Amrita confers immortality, without waiting for respect or disrespect of the subject concerned. Shankaracharya ji also emphasised that chanting Kirtan is not a licence for flouting Varnashrama Dharma. The injunctions of the scriptures must be followed, along with chanting Lord’s Name. After Shankaracharya departed, Kinkar Vithhal Ramanuja gave his speech, and honoured some members who have significantly contributed to the cause of Thakur’s works at national level. Thereafter, numerous devotees got Prasadam. Simultaneously, Naam continued in full vigour at the Akhanda Nam Mandap of Nilachal Asram, as well as at Sarojini Math [asram for Brahmacharinis] and at LILA KUNJA [the site of Thakur’s Jagannath darsan]. In the evening, there was a wonderful drama based on the Life sketch of Thakur, performed by a group led by Sri Narayan Mukhopadhayay of Srirampur. Then, devotees lined up for Mahaprasad, which was brought from Jagannathdev Temple, for all the devotees who had come. Then, few of us went to LILA KUNJA, for whole night Kirtan, and the joy seemed to overflow in the premisces of Thakur’s Lila Kshetra.
The Utsav of ‘JA JA NAM DIGE JA’ has a special significance, as analysed by Sri Madhav Swamiji—
''This Utsav had been started with inspiration from Thakur Himself.... It had been mentioned in Thakur’s diary—‘on this day, I visualised Lord. You all will celebrate this day!’ Now, we need to understand, why should we celebrate this Day? Thakur had already completed all His spiritual attainments before this incident of Jagannath Darshan! When Baba was residing in Nilachal, all His Mantras had already blended in Omkar! All possible endeavours of spiritual life was completed, and He was in constant state of Samadhi! Then Lord Jagannath appeared and said—‘Ja Ja Nam digey Ja’ [‘go go, go and give the Holy Name’]. Lord disappeared after this divine instruction. This Utsav [celebration] is meant to contemplate this auspicious day. 
Lord had given the Adesha [instruction] for giving NAAM... why?? Lord could have advised Thakur to give yogic kriyas, to give wisdom etc etc ... but why Naam? ... Because—this NAAM is the essence of all yogas, all wisdom, all meditation, Bhakti, Karmayoga, and all other paths! ... Naam is not just a word, it is your Praana [Life force]... When the speech [Vak] and soul [Praana] is unified with the mind, then the spiritual bliss [bhava] is expressed. The place for Bhava is the Madhyama [heart], when the heart is filled with divine Bhavas, then only the thirst for seeking Lord is significantly aroused...’'
JAI GURU JAI NAM JAI BHAGAVAN