Why do you, devotees of Krishna, dance while you chant?
Sundar Nitai Dasa: Day 11 Surfers paradise, Gold coast, Queensland, Australia.
Every evening the devotees have been going for Harinama on the main street here in surfers paradise.
So many people tell me how they love the chanting and dancing when I meet them.
Today, two young men from a local convenience store were watching me as I was reading while sitting on the bench.
When they got a lunch break they approached me and asked “what is the reason behind the chanting and the dancing, why do your group do that? ”.
I explained “We are signing the names of God, Hare Krsna, this is the way we connect with God and show the world how to connect with God.
This is the universal religion accepted by most major faiths and thought by all prominent prophets.
That is, to chant the names of god and you will be saved.
Some examples I gave were;
Muslims; recite 99 names of Allah five times a day in the direction of mecca.
Christians; Pray our father who art in heaven ‘Haloed by thy name ’, meaning the name of god is sacred or 'Haloed’.
And the Buddhists also so have their chant for connecting with the supreme.
Most faiths accept this principle of calling upon the name of God to be connected.
So we are doing the same thing”, I explained simply.
“Ok, that makes sense, but why signing and dancing, the prophets don’t recommend singing and dancing ”.
“Have you ever been in love ?”'I asked.
“Yes”, one of them replied.
“So when the girl calls you back or acknowledges you, don’t you feel very happy almost like singing and dancing without even thinking about it.
Maybe you even skip down the street singing her name in joy and anticipation of your next meeting.
No one told you to do it, it just happened naturally, right?”.
“Oh yeah, that is true, i know that feeling ”, he said, as if he was in love with a girl at present.
“So these people are connecting with god/ Krsna and they are feeling His reciprocation and are very happy and excited.
So naturally they sing and skip down the street in happiness, sharing their excitement with others. It is a natural thing !.No one has to tell them to do it, it is a natural progression of their relationship with God /Krsna.
Does it make sense ?’'I asked.
’'yes ! that makes sense, thank you for your explanation”, he said appreciatively.
They had more very interesting questions too.
But that is all for now!
Sankirtan Yajna ki! JJJJJAAAAIIII
HARE KRSNA!
All glories to Sri Guru! and Sri Gauranga!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!