10. Seven Kirtana Parties Assault the Universe

10. Seven Kirtana Parties Assault the Universe:

Before the massive chariots started rolling, Gauranga Mahaprabhu gathered all the devotees. Then with His own hand, He decorated them with flower garlands and sandalwood pulp. Altogether, there were 4 parties of kirtana performers, comprising 24 chanters. In each party there were also 2 mrdanga players, making an additional 8 persons. Mahaprabhu divided the chanters and appointed leading dancers for each group, along with 5 assistants to respond to his chanting.

From the villages of Kulina, Santipur, and Khanda, Sri Caitanyadeva made another 3 parties, bringing the total to 7 kirtana parties. The 4 kirtana parties, first arranged by Lord Gauranga, chanted and danced in front of Lord Jagannatha's chariot. The 3 village parties chanted on the sides and rear of Jagannatha's cart. 14 drums beating simultaneously made a tumultuous sound, driving the devotees mad. Indeed, no one heard any mundane sounds or musical instruments other than the congregational chanting. (Cc. 2.13.29-50)

Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami says that Lord Gauranga came to earth to preach the hidden treasure of Gaudiya Vaishnavism which is prema-nama: 

prema-nama pracarite ei avatara (Cc. 1.4.5). 

Prema nama-sankirtana is saturated with Srimati Rādhikā's pure love for Syama. Lord Gauranga came to distribute krsna-prema through the chanting of the holy name in the mood of the damsels of Vrndavana. As Sri Caitanyadeva personally arranged 7 kirtana parties during Ratha-yatra, (in Goloka Vrndavana Srimati/ Rādhikā is arranging and guiding the Vraja-gopis in doing prema nama- sankirtana, especially when they feel acute pangs of separation from Syama).

At that time, all the gopis, their hearts saturated with viraha-bhāva, form a sankirtana party and chant Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

The Gopi-gita in Srimad Bhagavatam also depicts prema nama-sankirtana wherein the gopis, their minds full of longing and eagerness, sang together in separation from Syama. Similarly, at the time of Ratha-yatra, Gauranga Mahaprabhu, identifying with Radha's intense pangs of separation, was chanting, 
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare 
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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