The Interview

An interview according to the Webster's,  is a formal consultation usually to evaluate qualifications (as of a prospective student or employee).

Srila Prabhupada writes in the translation of Text 43 of the Antya Lila -Caitanya Caritamrita, Chapter 6: The Meeting of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Raghunath Dasa Goswami as follows, "In the village of Panihati, Raghunatha dasa obtained an interview with Nityananda Prabhu who was accompanied by many kirtana performers, servants and others."

This is the prelude to the celebrated Chida Dahi Festival that took place 500 years ago on the bank of the Ganges at the place named as Panihati. Also referred to as Danda Utsav, this festival celebrates the unique punishment received by Raghunath Das Goswami. Our teachers say that the best way to approach Krishna is through Sri Guru. SriGuru interviews the candidate scans the qualifications of the person and if he is not qualified, makes them qualified, polishing them like a jeweler would a precious stone and then finally present the jewel to a higher authority. In this chapter one can read about Raghunath Das Goswami's escapade from home and his meeting with Caitanya Mahaprabhu, only to be returned back home for another year. The Danda Mahotsava is held to teach the aspiring sadhakas, with the example of Raghunath Das Goswami; that one has to approach the adi Guru Sri Nityananda Rama first before attempting to reach the Lord directly. The Guru engages the aspiring disciple in seva to the the Lord and Vaisnavas. In this case the seva that the Prayojana Acarya received was so sweet that he was asked to distribute chida-chipped rice in yogurt and condensed milk to all the devotees assembled there. We tried to recreate the same mood in an attempt to please Sri Nityananda Rama in order to try and obtain an interview with him. 6 sets of Gaura Nitai deities gathered under a Tulasi plant trying to simulate the effect of being under a banyan tree, a few matajis gathered to glorify Lord Nityananda through bhajans by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakura and others..As harinam resounded, They were offered a very simple bhoga of chida with dahi and chida with condensed milk..The devotees relished the prasadam and offered heartfelt prayers to Lord Nityananda to recruit us some day in the service of Sri Radha Krishna.  Here are some pictures from the festival.