# Sannyāsa Initiation — July 20, 1970, Los Angeles <audio controls preload="metadata" src="https://media.prabhupada.io/audio/1970/700720IN-LOS ANGELES.mp3"></audio> [Prabhupāda sings along with *Govindam* recording at greeting of the deities] **Prabhupāda:*Govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi* [*Brahma-saṁhitā *5.29*]*. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Everything all right? **Devotees:** *Jaya.* **Prabhupāda:** Hare Kṛṣṇa. **So? Chant** *Īśopaniṣad** mantra.*Devotees: > oṁ pūrṇam adaḥ pūrṇam idaṁ > pūrṇāt pūrṇam udacyate > pūrṇasya pūrṇam ādāya > pūrṇam evāvaśiṣyate > [Īśo Invocation] > īśāvāsyam idam sarvaṁ > yat kiñca jagatyāṁ jagat > tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā > mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam > [Īśomantra 1] > kurvann eveha karmāṇi > jijīviṣec chataṁ samāḥ > evaṁ tvayi nānyatheto 'sti > na karma lipyate nare > [Īśo mantra 2] > asuryā nāma te lokā > andhena tamasāvṛtāḥ > tāṁs te pretyābhigacchanti > ye ke cātma-hano janāḥ > [Īśo mantra 3] > anejad ekaṁ manaso javīyo > nainad devā āpnuvan pūrvam arṣat > tad dhāvato 'nyān atyeti tiṣṭhat > tasminn apo mātariśvā dadhāti > [Īśomantra 4] > tad ejati tan naijati > tad dūre tad v antike > tad antar asya sarvasya > tad u sarvasyāsya bāhyataḥ > [Īśo mantra 5] > yas tu sarvāṇi bhūtāny > ātmany evānupaśyati > sarva-bhūteṣu cātmānaṁ > tato na vijugupsate > [Īśo mantra 6] > yasmin sarvāṇi bhūtāny > ātmaivābhūd vijānataḥ > tatra ko mohaḥ kaḥ śoka > ekatvam anupaśyataḥ > [Īśo mantra 7] > sa paryagāc chukram akāyam avraṇam > asnāviram śuddham apāpa-viddham > kavir manīṣī paribhūḥ svayambhūr > yāthātathyato 'rthān vyadadhāc chāśvatībhyaḥ samābhyaḥ > [Īśo mantra 8] > andhaṁ tamaḥ praviśanti > ye 'vidyām upāsate > tato bhūya iva te tamo > ya u vidyāyām ratāḥ > [Īśo mantra 9] > anyad evāhur vidyayā- > nyad āhur avidyayā > iti śuśruma dhīrāṇāṁ > ye nas tad vicacakṣire > [Īśo mantra 10] **Prabhupāda:** *Anyad* *āhur**... The next one?** > vidyāṁ cāvidyāṁ ca yas > tad vedobhayaṁ saha > avidyayā mṛtyuṁ tīrtvā > vidyayāmṛtam aśnute > [Īśomantra 11] > andhaṁ tamaḥ praviśanti > ye 'sambhūtim upāsate > tato bhūya iva te tamo > ya u sambhūtyāṁ ratāḥ > [Īśomantra 12] > anyad evāhuḥ sambhavād > anyad āhur asambhavāt > iti śuśruma dhīrāṇāṁ > ye nas tad vicacakṣire > [Īśomantra 10] **Prabhupāda:** So, today is a special function day. Some of our advanced students, they're accepting the renounced order of life. First of all, one of our students, Kīrtanānanda Brahmacārī, he was offered when I was in India, Vṛṇdāvana, in Janmāṣṭamī day he was offered this *sannyāsa* order in the Rādhā-Dāmodara temple. Similarly, here we have got also Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa temple. There is no difference between Rādhā-Dāmodara temple and Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa temple. So we postponed this to be held on the Janmāṣṭamī day at New Vrindavan, but by some reason we are now postponing to go there, and we have decided to perform this function here. And I am very glad that you are all present. Now, this *sannyāsa mantra* should be studied very seriously, and we shall chant this *mantra* after the regular function. Especially those who are accepting the *sannyāsa* order, they should try to understand the import of this important *mantra*. The import of this important *mantra* especially is that, as we prohibit several things during ordinary initiation, just like no illicit sex, no meat-eating, no intoxication, no gambling. Similarly there are many no's in accepting the *sannyāsa* order. Especially meat..., not meat-eating; mating. And politics. If we remain in the materialistic order of life, then this *sannyāsa* order will be a facility for cheating. That responsibility you must have. That is the meaning of the *sannyāsa* order. *San, sat-nyās.* Renounced order means one has to renounce everything for Kṛṣṇa's sake. So this *mantra* will be chanted after these formal *mantras, apavitraḥ pavitro vā,* and then you'll change your dress, and then *yajña* will take place, then *saṅkirtana* movement, your business. So you have got all these? Now chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. You all chant. [devotees chant *japa*] [10:34] *Namo apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā.* You know all this, or I shall have to repeat? Or you say. > namo apavitraḥ pavitro vā > sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā > yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ > sa bahyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ > śrī viṣṇu śrī viṣṇu śrī viṣṇu > [Garuḍa Purāṇa] Again take. > namo apavitraḥ pavitro vā > sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā > yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ > sa bahyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ > śrī viṣṇu śrī viṣṇu śrī viṣṇu > [Garuḍa Purāṇa] Again. Hare Kṛṣṇa. > namo apavitraḥ pavitro vā > sarvāvasthāṁ gato 'pi vā > yaḥ smaret puṇḍarīkākṣaṁ > sa bahyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ > śrī viṣṇu śrī viṣṇu śrī viṣṇu > [Garuḍa Purāṇa] [recites *maṅgalācarana* prayers one word at a time, devotees repeating] > vande 'haṁ śrī-guroḥ śrī-yuta-pada-kamalaṁ śrī-gurūn vaiṣṇavāṁś ca > śrī-rūpaṁ sāgrajātaṁ saha-gaṇa-raghunāthānvitaṁ taṁ sa-jīvam > sādvaitaṁ sāvadhūtaṁ parijana-sahitaṁ kṛṣṇa-caitanya-devaṁ > śrī-rādhā-kṛṣṇa-pādān saha-gaṇa-lalitā-śrī-viśākhānvitāṁś ca > nama om viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya > bhūtale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine. > nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale > śrīmate bhaktisiddhānta-sarasvatīti nāmine > śrī-vārṣabhānavī-devī-dayitāya kṛpābdhaye > kṛṣṇa-sambandha-vijñāna-dāyine prabhave namaḥ > mādhuryojjvala-premāḍhya-śrī-rūpānuga-bhaktida > śrī-gaura-karuṇā-śakti-vigrahāya namo 'stu te > namas te gaura-vāṇī-śrī-mūrtaye dīna-tāriṇe > rūpānuga-viruddhāpasiddhānta-dhvānta-hāriṇe > namo gaura-kiśorāya sākṣād-vairāgya-mūrtaye > vipralambha-rasāmbhode pādāmbujāya te namaḥ > namo bhaktivinodāya sac-cid-ānanda-nāmine > gaura-śakti-svarūpāya rūpānuga-varāya te > gaurāvirbhāva-bhūmes tvaṁ nirdeṣṭā saj-jana-priyaḥ > vaiṣṇava-sārvabhaumaḥ ṣrī-jagannāthāya te namaḥ > vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca > patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ > namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te > kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ > pañca-tattvātmakaṁ kṛṣṇaṁ bhakta-rūpa-svarūpakam > bhaktāvatāraṁ bhaktākhyaṁ namāmi bhakta-śaktikam > he kṛṣṇa karuṇā-sindho > dīna-bandho jagat-pate > gopeśa gopikā-kānta > rādhā-kānta namo 'stu te > jayatāṁ suratau paṅgor mama manda-mater gatī > mat-sarvasva-padāmbhojau rādhā-madana-mohanau > dīvyad-vṛndāraṇya-kalpa-drumādhaḥ > śrīmad-ratnāgāra-siṁhāsana-sthau > śrīmad-rādhā-śrīla-govinda-devau > preṣṭhālībhiḥ sevyamānau smarāmi > śrīmān rāsa-rasārambhī vaṁśī-vaṭa-taṭa-sthitaḥ > karṣan veṇu-svanair gopīr gopīnāthaḥ śriye 'stu naḥ > tapta-kāñcana-gaurāṅgi rādhe vṛndāvaneśvari > vṛṣabhānu-sute devī praṇamāmi hari-priye > hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare > hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare [20:22] Now take your... Yes. Hare Kṛṣṇa. You chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Open your dress. Later on when you come. **Viṣṇujana:** The *mantra's* here on this sheet? **Prabhupāda:** No. That's all right. You first of all dress. Why...? For others there is no garland? **Karandhara:** Yes. *Ārati*. Should we have *ārati*? **Prabhupāda:** Oh, all right. Finish *ārati*. In the meantime, you dress. Take that garland. So I shall give you. Give me that cloth. **Viṣṇujana:** Cloth, Prabhupāda? **Prabhupāda:**No, no. That... First of all cloth give me. This cloth I'll deliver you. **Viṣṇujana:** Yes.Prabhupāda:**No, no. This cloth. Yes. This is your cloth? **Viṣṇujana:** Shall we put the garlands on now, Prabhupāda? **Prabhupāda:** Yes. Bring it and... No. Garland I shall give later on when you will dress, come out. And I will give you. Take this. Yes. Dress yourself and come. Vivānanda[?] You come. There shall be no shirt. Open. [indistinct] Come on, come on, come on. Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. Now you can perform your daily program. Yes. [break] **Dayānanda:**Prabhupada, should we offer the garlands? The garlands... [Karandhara leading *maṅgalācarana* prayers and doing fire sacrifice] *Upāsitām.* [25:40] **Prabhupāda:** You can read the translation. **Dayānanda:Translation:** "I shall cross over the insurmountable ocean of darkness of ignorance simply by taking shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Mukunda, who gives all kinds of liberations and who is worshiped by many great previous *ācāryas*." **Purport:** "There are sixty-four kinds of rendering service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, out of which to accept the uniform dress of a *tridaṇḍi sannyāsī* is also an important item. One who accepts this order of life, surely by rendering service unto the Supreme Lord becomes eligible to cross over the insurmountable ocean of ignorance. All previous sages used to accept such order of life, and later *ācārya*, Viṣṇu Svāmī, adopted this order of life and specifically stressed on this procedure in order to achieve firm conviction in the matter of devotional service. "Those who are unalloyed devotees, they add one more staff along with the original three. This extra one is representation of the living entity. There is another sect, who are known as *ekaṇḍa* sect. They misunderstand the purpose of *tridaṇḍa* and, by such deviation, Śiva Svāmī*sannyāsīs,* who claim to belong to the Viṣṇu Svāmī sect, turn to be impersonalists and follow the footsteps of Śaṅkarācārya, accepting only the *ekaṇḍa*. "Instead of naming themselves out of the 108 names of Vaiṣṇava *sannyāsīs,* this Śiva Svāmī sect accepts ten names of the *sannyāsī,* following Śaṅkarācārya. Lord Caitanya, [audio dropout] although in terms of the then practice accepted *ekaṇḍi* [sic] *sannyāsa* order, but His acceptance of *tridaṇḍi sannyāsa* is understood. "This *mantra* was first chanted by a learned *brāhmaṇa* of Avantīpura, after being very much disgusted in this materialistic way of life. This happened long, long years ago, because it is mentioned in the *Bhāgavatam,* which was composed by Vyāsadeva at least five thousand years ago. So it is to be concluded therefore that this *tridaṇḍi sannyāsī* order is coming down since a long time..., since a time long, long years ago, and within five hundred years of time, Lord Caitanya adopted this order of life. In the latest years, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda adopted it personally and made many of his disciples *tridaṇḍi sannyāsīs.* We are also following his footsteps. "In the purport of this *mantra* is that the *ekaṇḍisannyāsī* is devoid of *parātma niṣṭha,* which is explained above. In other words, impersonalists..." On the first page it says an explanation of *parātma* is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is given in the English synonyms. So it says, "We are also following his footsteps. And the purport of this *mantra* is that the *ekaṇḍisannyāsī* is devoid of *parātma niṣṭha*, which is explained above." So that is right, Prabhupāda, that the impersonalist is devoid of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? **Prabhupāda:** They have no idea. They say that we can imagine an idea. According to impersonalist, they say *sādhakānām hitārthaya brahmaṇo rūpa kalpanaḥ.* Because we cannot concentrate our mind in impersonal, therefore they say, "Imagine some form." They think that Kṛṣṇa is imagination. Yes. [chuckles] [laughter] That is their Māyāvāda. Kṛṣṇa was personally present, and He killed all the demons. Still, these demons says "Imagination." You see that is demonic. Therefore we do not agree with them. **Dayānanda:** "In other words, impersonalists cannot have any faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and they prefer to merge into the impersonal Brahman effulgence. In the *Śrīmad-Bhagavatam* we do not find any mention of *ekaṇḍasannyāsa*. This *tridaṇḍa sannyāsa* is accepted therefore as standard. Lord Caitanya accepts *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* as the supreme authority. Under these circumstances, persons who accept Lord Caitanya as *ekaṇḍisannyāsī* are mistaken. "So following the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, still the *tridaṇḍi sannyāsīs* are in existence, keeping the sacred thread and *śikhā* intact, distinct from the Māyāvādī *sannyāsīs...,* Māyāvādī *ekaṇḍi sannyāsīs,* who give up the sacred thread and *śikhā*. They have no inclination to render service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Being very much disgusted by the materialistic way of life, they do not understand the purpose of the *sannyāsa* order. But those who are strictly followers of the Vaiṣṇava principles, they do not accept the Māyāvādī way of *sannyāsa*. "In the sect of Lord Caitanya, the most venerable learned scholar, known as Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosvāmī, accepted this *tridaṇḍi sannyāsa* order, and he offered this facility to his disciple known as Śrī Madhva-upādhyāya. This Madhvācārya is the origin of the Vallabhācārya sect. One of the six Gosvāmīs, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, who is the authority of Vaiṣṇava regulations, was initiated by another *tridaṇḍi sannyāsī,* known as Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī. Therefore this *sannyāsī* order is completely in pursuance of Vaiṣṇava authority." **Prabhupāda:** So that *daṇḍa* you can take. Your *daṇḍa* take. You can take. Come on. His name is there? No. **Devotee:** No. **Viṣṇujana:** You know which one is which? **Prabhupāda:** No. According to the size we have made. So which size he is I do not know. I... That's your? **Viṣṇujana:** Yes. **Prabhupāda:**That's your. Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa... Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa. Now chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and dance. Hey? *kīrtana.* [break] [35:14] [*kīrtana]* [*prema-dhvani*] [39:43] **Prabhupāda:**So, this is now formal accepting of *sannyāsa*, but real *sannyāsa* purpose will be fulfilled when you'll be able to induce the people of the world dancing like... That is real *sannyāsa*. This formal dress is not *sannyāsa*. Real *sannyāsa* is when you can induce other people to become Kṛṣṇa conscious and they dance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. **Devotees:*Jaya!* **Prabhupāda:** If you can turn one man to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, then your going back to Godhead, back to home, guaranteed. That is real purpose of *sannyāsa*. Thank you very much. [devotees offer obeisances] [end]