Vasudeva Suta das, Gaura-arati and Kirtan, 2023, March 30, Rama Navami, Izhevsk
Channel: ISKCON Izhevsk
Date: 03/04/2023

GAURA-ĀRATI
by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura

(kiba) jaya jaya gorācānder ārotik śobhā
jāhnavī-taṭa-vane jaga-mana-lobhā

dakhiṇe nitāicānd, bāme gadādhara
nikaṭe adwaita, śrīnivāsa chatra-dhara

bosiyāche gorācānd ratna-siṁhāsane
ārati koren brahmā-ādi deva-gaṇe

narahari-ādi kori’ cāmara ḍhulāya
sañjaya-mukunda-bāsu-ghoṣ-ādi gāya

śaṅkha bāje ghaṇṭā bāje bāje karatāla
madhura mṛdaṅga bāje parama rasāla

bahu-koti candra jini’ vadana ujjvala
gala-deśe bana-mālā kore jhalamala

śiva-śuka-nārada preme gada-gada
bhakativinoda dekhe gorāra sampada

All glories, all glories to the beautiful ārati ceremony of Lord Caitanya! This Gaura-ārati is taking place in a grove on the banks of the Jāhnavī [Ganges] and is attracting the minds of all living entities in the universe.
On Lord Caitanya’s right side is Lord Nityānanda, and on His left is Śrī Gadādhara. Nearby stands Śrī Advaita, and Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura is holding an umbrella over Lord Caitanya’s head.
Lord Caitanya has sat down on a jeweled throne, and the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, perform the ārati ceremony.
Narahari Sarakāra and other associates of Lord Caitanya fan Him with cāmaras, and devotees headed by Sañjaya Paṇḍita, Mukunda Datta, and Vāsu Ghoṣa sing sweet kīrtana.
Conchshells, bells, and karatālas resound, and the mṛdaṅgas play very sweetly. This kīrtana music is supremely sweet and relishable to hear.
The brilliance of Lord Caitanya’s face conquers millions upon millions of moons, and the garland of forest flowers around His neck shines.
Lord Śiva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and Nārada Muni are all there, and their voices are choked with the ecstasy of transcendental love. Thus Ṭhakura Bhaktivinoda envisions the glory of Lord Śrī Caitanya.

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Rama Navami is the day on which Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, incarnated in human form in the land of Ayodhya. He is the ardha ansh of Vishnu or has half the divinitive qualities of Lord Vishnu. The word “Rama” literally means one who is divinely blissful and who gives joy to others, and one in whom the sages rejoice.

Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Chaitra (April/May) (8 days after Yugādi) and coincides with Vasant Navratri or Chait Durga Puja. Therefore in some regions, the festival is spread over nine days. This day, marking the birthday of Lord Rama, is also observed as the marriage day of Rama and Sita and thus also referred to as Kalyanotsavam.