On March 1st 2009, HH Jayapataka Swami left Sri Mayapur Dham to go Mumbai (Mumbai) to continue with his treatment for a month. On his way to Kolkata airport, Gurumaharaja who is known to be addicted to preach, went to Suvarna Vihar the holy place where all the devotees of the international parikram were assembled to hear lectures from the senior devotees about the pastimes of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and his associates.

We left at 7:30am from Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir in 2 vehicles. When we reached, Lokanatha Swami was delivering his speech, Jayapataka Maharaja arrived amidst chantings of haribol from devotees after Maharaja announced the arrival of our beloved Gurudeva.

Amazing to see when Maharaja arrives, the mood changes completely and becomes like a festival by itself or a big party for devotees. If half of the devotees are hearing the lectures and other half is moving around, then all come together to hear what this servant of Srila Prabhupada will speak. The atmosphere changes and gets recharged with special energy, the attraction goes towards the place where he is, then we see the big crowd all together with high attention to the words and narrations emanating from the mouth of one of the greatest devotees and experts in Caitanya Lila. All wait to hear the mantra Gauranga as it is known from Jayapataka Maharaja.

While Jayapataka Maharaja was coming down from the car he sent with me a special garland to Lokanatha Swami and when I gave it he was impressed with his love and affection.

Jayapataka Maharaja was situated in the middle of the stage and was introduced by Lokanatha Swami while all the other great senior vaishnavas were present like Gopal-Krsna Goswami started thanking all devotees.

The parikrama today went to Bhaktivinode Thakura’s house, Suvarna Vihar, Surabhi Kunj then back to Arogya Asram in Swarup Ganj, which is a small hospital and a place for the elders, maintained and attended by HG Sankarshan Prabhu who is Srila Prabhupada disciple and relative.

Jayapataka Swami left to Habibpur, on his way took breakfast. At Habibpur temple, He had darsan of the Deities then left Kolkatta airport. On his way they stopped at a Petrol station in the parking area and Jayapataka Maharaja took lunch in his tempo van, then they headed to Airport,

Jayapataka Maharaja catched the Jet Airways flight at 6:30pm back to Mumbai, while the other devotees went by another flight an hour later by Jet Indigo. All they reached safe by the mercy of Krsna and now Jayapataka Maharaja is undergoing treatment in the Bhaktivedanta Hospital. Soon he will be joined by many devotees for a short safari tour in Mumbai and then in Tirupati then back to Mayapur.

I didn’t go with them this time as I need to go to Tirupati first then will meet them in Mumbai, but will always try to get information from devotees via phone call and update all of you.