Rashmi Rekha Das, OP
Sebastián Kauak’s single-minded mission to spread the divine word of the Gita as well as the essence of Jagannath culture is not just laudable but also enlightening
The cult of Lord Jagannath is a combination of worldly and cosmic realities. The cult is unique insofar as all the religions of the world merge into it to make it flexible, open and generous. It is based upon the belief of human welfare. God saves his devotees whenever society is divided into the narrow domestic walls of dogmatism, casteism and obscurantism. The Lord of the Universe does not understand caste, colour, creed and mantra. He binds all by the power of His love. In the past, many devotees stood out like Dasia Bauri, Bhakata Sal Bega, and Sriya Chandaluni by their unflinching faith and deep devotion. The saying that ‘God dwells in the heart of the devotees’ aptly suits Chile-based Sebastián Kauak, an ardent devotee of the Lord, who is on a mission to spread Jagannath culture around the globe.
Sebastián makes it a point to distribute Bhagavad Gita to as many people as possible to make them realise the truth of life that He is the only universal truth and everything else is illusion. Be it Hollywood star Danny Glover or former president of Chile Sebastián Piñera, he gave the Holy book to all with loads of love. Apart from holding Rath Yatra in his country, Sebastian organises various cultural activities to spread the message of Indian culture and philosophy.
Asked how he came all the way from Chili to Jagannath dham, Sebastián said: “Chile maybe far from India but we got to know about Lord Jagannath through ISKCON’s founder Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. He came to America in 1965. He taught us the philosophy of Krishna consciousness and narrated interesting tales related to Lord Jagannath and the history of Ratha Yatra. He taught us that Kali Yuga means the Dark Age or the sinful age, or the age for argument, unnecessary talks, and fight. But everyone can be free from all the anxieties if they chant the holy name of God. The Vedas declare certain mantras to be the most sublime and effective for spiritual enlightenment. Since each one of us is constitutionally a part and parcel of God, the chanting of His holy names brings one innate satisfaction and the highest pleasure. My guru’s teachings and mantras made a lasting impact on my life.”
“Srila Prabhupada, who departed for his heavenly abode in 1977, has written approximately 100 books on spiritual knowledge. He wrote a treatise on the Bhagavad Gita and that was how I came to know about Lord Krishna. That was how I established a connection with Srila Prabhupada. Afterwards I knew my spiritual master Dhanvantari Swami who is Prabhupada’s disciple and a dentist by profession. He is from Brasil. I went to study under his guidance the most important books of Indian philosophy – Bhagavata Purana, Bhagavad Gita, Sri Isopanisad. With each passing day, my interest to learn more about Lord Jagannath, the incarnation of Lord Krishna, grew and I decided to spread the cult among western people,” he said.
Asked about his passion for the Lord, Sebastián replied: “I love Lord Jagannath. He is everything for me. The mission of my life is to spread His glories. Last year we organised Ratha Yatra in Chile with much fanfare in front of the Government Palace. It was so beautiful to see the faces of many people watching the Lord of the Universe for the first time in their lives.”
Sebastian is a lawyer and has been studying Indian classical music (sitar and surbahar) for the last 12 years. Together with his wife Indira Jahnava and his musical group Krishna Sambandha, he organises concerts and cultural meetings to share the philosophy, literature, music and food of millennial India. Known for hosting many cultural programmes including in the honour of Supreme Court of Justice in Santiago, Sebastian said: “The Bhagavad Gita has brought many changes in my life. I became pure vegetarian and started to see God’s presence in all living entities. I could understand the importance of a divine life. Slaughterhouses are very common in our countries. Unfortunately the slaughter of cows is indiscriminate. From the day I joined ISKCON I changed my diet, discarded my bad habits, got to taste the best food and listen to the best music. I met holy persons and focused on self-realisation and service. I understood many things about life and death. The focus of my life changed. Today I feel happy.”
“The Gita’s precepts are universal. It is a treatise that teaches you to overcome the most difficult tests of life such as illness, death of loved ones and death itself, old age, failures, sadness and depression. I think all of us have to face similar tests. This is part of the human experience. The Holy Book presents coherent answers to all these tests and questions of human life.”
Sebastian won a scholarship through the Indian embassy in Chile in 2012 and came to study sitar under the guidance of Pandit Yograj Naik.
What makes Lord Jagannath or Sri Krishna different from other gods? If God exists everywhere, why did Sebastián come to India? He replied: “Lord Krishna is the cause of all causes. He is the source of all manifestations. God is one. He is Krishna, Allah and Jehova. They are different names for the same Supreme Being. We don’t have to get confused about this. There are different philosophies for different eras and different peoples. I live in South America. When the Spanish conquered this continent they brought Christianity. This was a religion introduced and not native to the area. While the Bible presents many answers to life’s existential problems, the Vedas also have much to say. We have much to learn from the East. I do not reject the message of Jesus who preached love of God. But we direct our lives according to the Bhagavad Gita, which gives a similar message. To love God is the supreme and uncorrupted form of love and devotion. Bhagavad Gita means the song of God. If God sings this song for the benefit of mankind, why reject it?”