February 26, 2009

The compassion of Jayapataka Maharaja and the way he extends himself to devotees is amazing. You can call it a marathon day for Maharaja on 26th Feb. Right from the morning, he was busy giving out mercy to the devotees. After the morning darshan and guru puja, he gave a class to Russian devotees. Shortly after the breakfast, Maharaja went to the community hall to offer glorification and flowers to Tamal Krsna Maharaja. He was back in the Conch Building, waiting to be received by the initiation candidates.

Maharaja gave harinam initiation to 27 devotees, brahmana initiation to 3 devotees and awarded sanyasa order to Vasudeva Swami, disciple of HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami. His schedule doesn’t finish here.

More pictures…

Mayapur academy

More pictures of Mayapur Academy…

He gave out graduation awards and speech to the students of Mayapur Academy. It was already 5 p.m. and returned to his quarter to have some rest and exercises to be seen up again at the main stage pandal at 8 p.m. in the congregational preaching awards night. Maharaja is the minister of congregational preaching and was happy to see the positive reports of congregations growing worldwide and the devotees working tirelessly to distribute the mercy of Sri Caitanya to everyone they encounter.

Though the schedule was hectic, but for Jayapataka Maharaja this would be quite healing as he is always happy when he is back in preaching field.

26-02-09 HH Jayapataka Swami gives Sanyassa & diksha initiations

by Tusti Mohan Krsna Das

I would like to update you about the main activities of HH Jayapataka swami on the 26th of February 2009.

HH JPS gave Bhagavatam lecture for the Russian devotees in the morning. After breakfast He went to participate in the disappearance day celebration of HH Tamal Krsna Goswami at the newly built community hall.( former cyber mansion building or varnashram bldg). Their Holinesses Umapati Swami, Radhanath Swami, Vedavyasapriya Swami, Prahladananda Swami, Kavicandra Swami, Candramauli Swami and many others were present at this important event dedicated to one of the most dedicated and sincere disciples of Srila Prabhupada. At noon all they went to the Samadhi of HH TKG to offer their respects. Devotees were all invited to honor prasad at Srila Prabhupada´s pushpa Samadhi.

HH Sivaram swami came today to farewell gm.

Later our Gurumaharaja came to his room to find the spiritual names for the new initiations. Today 28 devotees took 1st initiation, 7 took second initiation and 1 took sannyas order. He is Vasudeva Das a disciple of HH Bhakti Tirtha swami’s his name was Vasudeva das and HH JPS gave him the name of Bhakti Vasudeva Swami Maharaja. He is the second sannyas disciple of our Gurumaharaja who are disciples of Bhakti Tirtha swami. HH JPS gave sannyas order few years back on behalf of HH Bhakti Tirtha swami to Bhakti Dhira Damodar Swami. But this time as HH BTS has left the planet, it was the personal initiative of Vasudeva das prabhu to take sannyas order from our beloved GM after the approval of the GBC sannyas committee. The new sannyas is a very educated devotee, as per His Guru´s instruction he has to finish his PHD soon that will help him in his preaching, as his guru wanted him to be amongst scholars and pundits, preaching in the best way and presenting the Krsna consciousness in the highest level possible to convince academics and scholars of the greatness of our philosophy.

HH Bhakti Vasudeva Swami has a master degree in philosophy and education with measure in critical and creative thinking and caring community of enquiry. In an African institute affiliated to Montclair State University in New Jersey - USA.

He is presenting his credentials to do his PHD in Argosy University in USA. He has 40 publications in academic journals. His Gurudeva asked him to do the PHD due to his intense achievements in preaching to professors and scholars. He has been active in India as he has been invited to the most important congresses on consciousness and spiritualism and other related to his studies.

I interviewed the new sannyasis devotee about the reasons why he decided to take sannyas from HH JOS and his reply was.¨ for two reasons: 1st was due to the genuine love and affection that HH JPS has or HH BTS. The 2nd reason was, because HH BTS requested our Gurumaharaja to take care of his disciples in West Africa.

During his lecture during initiation GM mentioned that he had a dream of having visited West Africa as he supposed to have gone there in case his health collapse wouldn’t have happened. He has a ticket already as he mentioned.

After the initiations ceremony, Guru Maharaja again came out to his room without resting after lunch to deliver a speech and give the awards to the best student in Deity Worship courses of the Mayapur Academy organized by Narashimha Kavaca Prabhu, Their Graces Jananivas and Pankajanghri prabhus were present. This occasion was great as HH JPS mentioned, I feel honored to be amongst the best pujaris in the world, he was referring to Jananivas and Pankajanghri prabhus, the very famous and respected twin brothers who are the head pujaris of our Mayapur temple since the beginning. Please see attached pictures. GM spoke how important to be a pujari and that Srila Prabhupada personally used to teach the devotees to become pujaris.

After this activity GM went late to take rest and therefore there was no Caitanya Lila class this time, so at almost 8 pm HH JPS went to the main stage program to participate in the event of the Congregational Preaching award ceremony and give the awards to the most successful devotees in this area. Gurumaharaja is the minister of teh congregational preaching in ISKCON.

This time the temple winner was Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, the award was received by HG Padmanetra Prabhu. Amongst the 3 best was also Mathuradesh Yatra and the award was received by HG Vijaya Venugopal prabhu. (The full report on this event will be submitted soon) In the program a part from Gurumaharaja, there were Their Holinesses, Gopal Krsna Maharaja, Candramali Maharaja, Bhakti Caitanya Swami and Praghosa prabhu. There were also a Power point presentation with the names and pictures of all the winners. There were also many drama presentations during this program.

After his participation and speech GM left to his room to take dinner and rest.

For more information please visit, www.jpsoffice.com and www.mayapur.com

Ys

Tustimohan Krsna das

February 23, 2009

by Tusti Mohan Krsna Das

I am submitting a short report on the activities of HH Jayapataka Swami on 23-02-09 while he is attending the festival in Sri Mayapur Dham. As many say it is a miracle that our beloved gurudeva is here been the chief host of all these activities to welcome and associate with thousands of devotees from the world over.

Gurumaharaja as usual all days has the same routine as a patient where he has to undergo some therapies and treatments, but al are amazed to see him participating in most of the main activities held here during festival time.

So today GM woke up early and went to the temple. For the first time there was a short Gurupuja in the big kitchen, after that His holiness gave Bhagavatam lecture in the main temple of Sri Sri Radha Madhava that many commented it was great. I have sent the transcription in a separate email with attached pics on this lecture.

GM then went back to his room for breakfast and treatments. HH Guru Prasada Swami along with HH Devamrita Swami visited him.

Today was a special day also as a very special Brahmin from Tirumala Balaji temple in Tirupati came to see GM as per Revathi Raman pr´s request and offer some special treatments as he uses a very special system for diagnosis and treatment called Nari Drushyam. He is knows as Balaji Swami. He did special yajnas for GM as well gave special therapies and showed a lot of affection and respects for our beloved GM. Even manifested his will to take Harinam Diksha from our GM.

Today also there was a session of questions and answers during the Caitanya Lila night class. GM spoke about the story of is sannyas order and about avoiding offences. After the lectures I told the assembled devotees about GM been the senior most sannyas in ISKCON and that had given sannyas order in total to 17 devotees so far, out of which 3 are his direct disciples and others are Srila Prabhupada disciples and 2 are Bhakti Tirtha Swami´s disciples. HH JPS took sannyas during Radhastami in 1970 in Calcutta when he was 21 years old.

During this time i saw HH BB Govinda Swami taking few pictures with his new camera as he has this new hobby as he told me recently, so i invited him to the stage and after taking few photos, Maharaj spoke few words about the preaching activities of HH JPS and said how Srila Prabhupada wanted him to stay with us more time preacing.

During the night class on Caitanya Lila I had the service to announce the releasing of a new book authored by HG Vijaya Venugopal Prabhu and Her Grace Prema Padmini dd who are the leaders of Bhakti vrksha in Mathuradesh, they were present and invited to offer this book to our beloved GM authored ¨ A Vaishnava in every neighborhood¨. Then we read the dedication written in the book to GM.

Our GM while he was praising the work of these exemplary devotees, mentioned that we don’t need to become sannyas to preach and make many thousands devotees, but form our position as householders we can preach in the same way with success.

A part from that we announced a special seminar for families or grhastas who want to have happy life based on their previous book entitled ¨ The 3rd partner¨. The third partner in fact is Krsna as it is elaborated in this book.

GM today walked 71 steps with the help of the walker.

After the night class, Gm went to his room to give darsan and then Balaji Swami offered special therapy then GM had dinner and rest as the day after is scheduled to give Bhagavatam class in Bengali.