by Rasavihari das
By Krishna’s arrangement, during the time of Maharaj’s stay in New York, 1997, Lord Jagannath decided to go on His annual sojourn through the streets of downtown Manhattan. Maharaj’s party accompanied the procession in a limousine driven by a very nice gentleman named Ramesh Patel (who just happened to be a limo driver.)
At one point, Maharaj asked from the back seat, “Where is Rashbihari?” “He is up ahead, pulling Lord Jagannath’s cart,” Akincana prabhu said. Maharaj then asked, “Is it correct to say “pulling” or “drawing” in the English language?” “Probably ‘pulling’ is more appropriate,” he replied.
Maharaj chuckled and said, “How can we either pull or draw Lord Jagannath? Lord Jagannath acts only according to His own initiative. We have no potency in and of ourselves to do anything, what to speak of compelling God to move. The cart moves by His inconceivable potency, when Lord Jagannath decides, not when we decide.”
