Pandava Vijaya dasa

I was temple president and Jayapataka Maharaja at the Mayapura meetings told the presidents at our meeting about this great preaching program. It was the nama Hatta program- This was 1981 or so. It was a simple way of engaging the members to preach and get their friends to come. What maharaja told us to do was, the member has a program at his house. He invites his friends and acquaintances. The program involves chanting/bhajans a short class-but only things from Prabhupada’a books nothing that grandma might have told you. Prasadam and then more bhajan. The whole program takes 2 hours. I thought it was a great idea and started the nama hatta program in Houston. Well it really took off and more than anyone could imagine and to this day is still going strong. I cannot estimate how many people were introduced to Krishna consciousness by Mahahraj’s mercy but I estimate over 2000.

Prema Padmini devi dasi

1) A year ago, we were just leaving to the airport in a car from a farm program in the interior with Guru Maharaja. Madana Mohan Chaitanya das(MMCD) was just standing outside and saying his farewell to Guru Maharaja. Guru Maharaja asked him, "Why are you not coming to the airport?" He normally was always present to receive or send off Guru Maharaja.

 "Iam wearing my dhoti, Guru Maharaja and have not brought my pants along." Being a muslim country, we had to be in secular dress outside.

 Guru Maharaja said, "Then get yourself a pair of pants from the shop on the way and come to the airport!"

 We started to drive and somehow Guru Maharaja still wanted to give his mercy to MMCD.

He asked Vijaya Venugopala prabhu, "Why are we not going in MMCD's car?"

"Guru Maharaja, everyone's services have been allotted and it is now the turn of Mantresha Gauranga das to drive you in this car."

 Guru Maharaja was not satisfied.

 Suddenly, the hazaed lights of the car acme on and would not go off at all even after the driver tried his best to do so. All of us checked if our doors were shut properly, but no matter what, the lights would not go off.

We could not continue driving witht he hazard lights on without a policeman driving up to us shortly.

 Suddenly, MMCD's car was following ours! Vijaya Venugopala prabhu suggested that we could shift to his car. Guru Maharaja was game. So as we got into the car and started moving, the hazard lights on Mantresha Gauranga das' car went off!

 We realized how Guru Maharaja's every desire fulfilled amazingly!

  2) This happened around 16 years ago. Guru Maharaja had just come to Mathuradesh from the South African Ratha Yatra. Soon after his arrival during the morning walk, he handed his camera to us to take photographs.

 Devotees developed the film quickly and we were amazed to see the photos! There was light coming out of Guru Maharaja's heart and spreading like a flower all around. In another shot, Guru Maharaja is standing by the corniche wall and looking at the fishes in the sea, and the word "HARE KRISHNA" is seen on the waters!

 We were excited and showed the photos to Guru Maharaja. He laughed and joked that this must be something mystic! 

 Then he saw all the photos and saw some South African Ratha yatra photos of fire works. He laughed and remarked that you have taken shots from the same film of the South African Ratha yatra and that explains for all the mystical lights!

 Neverthless, the perfect way in which the lights had appeared on the new photos still seemed mystical conveying to us the spiritual energy and love emanating from Guru Maharaja's heart!

 3) During the same visit at the corniche during the morning walk, Guru Maharaja went close to the wall of the corniche to look at the sea. Suddenly a flight of gulls made a huge racket, turned course and came towards Guru Maharaja! After coming a little closer, they flew away.

 "Guru Maharaja, were they paying obeisances to you?" I asked.

"Not exactly", Guru Maharaja replied!

 4)Guru Maharaja used to wear a magnetic band around his wrist a few years ago for health reasons and on the other hand, he had his watch on. I asked him what the purpose of the band was. He said very nonchalantly, "Oh it keeps spiritual time."

 I asked him if he was both in the material and spiritual world at the same time.  He looked up very seriously and replied, "Yes."

  5) Guru Maharaja was sitting on his chair after a late night program in Mathuradesh and chanting his Gayathri mantra. After around five minutes, his head began to droop and we took it that he was very tired and sleepy.

 I requested a prabhu to gently wake up Guru Maharaja by pressing his lotus feet.

Guru Maharaja did not wake up and so we waited for a few more minutes. His head was looking too uncomfortable and not able to bear the thought of Guru Maharaja getting a neck pain, I requested the prabhu to try waking him up again.

 Guru Maharaja opened his eyes and said, "I was in samadhi".

Oh I wished then that the ground would open up and swallow me for having disturbed Guru Maharaja's samadhi.

 6) One mataji, (for confidential reasons, I am not revealing her name), was very eager to take initiation from Guru Maharaja. She had waited a long time for her husband also to join her, but he was slow in his advancement. So she decided to go ahead. But there was no way in which her husband would agree to it.

 Guru Maharaja mercifully agreed to initiate her within closed doors, as she was a very sincere devotee and was determined to be initiated.

After the initiation, Guru Maharaja spoke to her and gave her some mahaprasadam from his plate as a benediction.

 As the mataji reached home, she was in great fear and apprehension over her husband's reaction to her found missing at home. She had gone to visit Guru Maharaja without his permission and she felt he might have guessed where she had gone!

 To her surprise, he was very calm and also accepted the remnants of Guru Maharaja that she offered him, without of course revealing that it was so.

 The next morning, her husband told her, "I think you should go ahead and take initiation from your Guru!"

She came excitedly to reveal this miracle which had happened and later when we mentioned this to Guru Maharaja, he suggested that she should not take an open initiation and invite her husband also to sit along with her at the yagna!

 7) We were driving to a shopping complex with Guru Maharaja. In the Gulf, the sun is quite severe in the day time and so we normally take him to the airconditioned shopping malls, where there is ample walking space for Guru Maharaja.

As we approached the City Center, the parking lot on the ground floor was full, and different devotees were advising the driver devotee about which floor he could try parking the car. Guru Maharaja wanted no time wasted. He grew impatient, and told the driver Vraja Prana das, "I empower you to find a parking space yourself right over here!"

 As soon as he said that after just a few metres away, just close to the entrance, we found a vacant space for the car! Jai srila Gurudeva!

 8) One mataji was expecting a child and she came to take her blessings from Guru Mahraja.

Guru maharaja instructed her to do the "Sosayanti "samskara before the delivery.

This was the first time we heard him instructing someone to do this specifically.

 As she got her labor pains shortly, she was rushed to the hospital and some how the ceremony of soshayanti was missed. But the brahmana devotee Mukunda Murari dasa was rushed to the hospital and just before the delivery he managed to perform it right at the hospital.

 After the child birth, we came to know that the baby was born with the cord around its neck and it was a highly dangerous situation. It came out safe and alive due to the timely performance of the samskara!

 All the devotees, and especially the mother felt great ecstacy to see the miraculous birth of the baby by Guru Maharaja's mercy.

 9) Kamala Gopi dd was in the early stages of pregnancy and the doctor had advised her complete bed rest and no bending at all as she had clusters of fibroids in her uterus. When Guru Maharaja visited Mathuradesh, she could not resist visiting him, and postponing the appointment she had with her gynaecologist, she came to have Darshan of Guru Maharaja.

 She forgot all of her Doctor's instructions and paid obeisances to Guru Maharaja who blessed her with his Danda. On enquiry of her health, she revealed to Guru Maharaja about her precarious health situation.

 The next day, during her doctor's visit, the X- Ray revealed that all of the fibroids were gone and she was perfectly okay! This was indeed a great miracle and the Doctor was also very surprised to see the report!

 Again during her next pregnancy, her foetus was not growing properly and the doctor advised her complete rest and no movement at all- not even turning on her side! But being a school teacher, she had some commitments and was not able to get any rest at all. The Doctors were worried and told her that it is very unlikely that her child will grow and be alive for the full term.

 Again during Guru Maharaja's visit, she came, rendered services for him by cutting vegetables and so on, and also paid her obeisances to him. Again he blessed her with his danda.

After his visit, as she went to the doctor for a check up and the doctor exclaimed after seeing her scan report, "Your baby has over grown and is perfectly normal!"

Somehow Guru Maharaja was there to bless the first child after ten days of her birth and the second one to give her first anna or food grains!

 10) Kamal Gopi has now relocated to Toronto, Canada and is a very active and dynamic preacher there. One of her Bhakti Vriksha members, Amita, was having a problem to chant. She had been a devotee for 6 years and rendered nice services to the devotees and for the Temple, but somehow found it difficult to chant her 16 rounds.

 Kamala gopi had asked her to take care of her Bhakti Vriksha group in her absence during her visit to India to be with Guru Maharaja during his stroke in Mumbai.

 As she had done a good job, Kamala gopi advised her to start a Bhakti Vriksha group of her own as well. But Amita was reluctant as her chanting was still so bad. Kamala advised her to write to Guru Maharaja for his blessings, even if it was unlikely to get a reply from him as he was undergoing treatment in the hospital.

 Likewise Amita wrote to Guru Maharaja explaining her predicament of having to start a Bhakti Vriksha group, but not being able to chant.

 That same night, Guru Maharaja appeared in her dream, blessed her forehead with his danda, and from the next day onwards, she started chanting sixteen rounds without fail for the last 3 weeks!

Acyuta Rupa Das.

 I have had 3 encounters with GM.

 

1. Aug 2005 Birmingham Rata yatra. Initiation ceremony of my brother- Aravinda Krishna Das. I went to the cermony as brother with little knowledge about Iskcon. There we met GM for the first time.  humble, simple, sitting in the tent, chatting, laughing and very down to earth. I was amazzed by his lack of pirvacy and not showing of as many so called gurus do. He called me into the tent with my brother. He asked my name. I told him Aravinda. He then asked my relationship- I told him I am his brother. then he looked at my brother and asked him from which LILA did he want his name. He said Krishna Lila. He then thought for while and said his name will be Aravinda Krishna Das. I was shocked. then he replied- A devotee even initiated should never forget his family members. He inspired me and my wife- Iskcon is about familly, you can still be Grshastha and do seva in isckon. He was our building block in Iskcon. He then spent time with us before we left.

 

 Chatted,asked about my proffesion, my chanting, greeted us in tamil, impressed my inlaws. So it was amazing to see such a great character- spend time with us. I realised later- it is not easy to even go near him in India. How much wanted and important he is. He did not make us feel that he was big personality. He appeared simple/giving/caring/enthusiastic/open minded. Such a great quality-

an inspiration.

 

2.Then I met him at BHM ratha yatra  again in 2007. This time we were trying take shelter at his Lotus feet before getting initiated. I was worried he might say no. So I approached him with awe and reverance along wiht Nitai Charan prabhu. He stood up and came marching to wards me and then gave me big hug and lifted me up from the floor. I was breathless by his affectionat hug. He then placed my hand on my wifes head and blessed her too. GOD- I was inspired by his Mercy for the fallen souls like us. then he went on and gently ordered us to fall on his feet. He gave us the pranam mantra and adv to chant them daily. It was only 5 mins. But felt nice, warm, and loving. He is ever caring,loving,merciful,presnt for all,humble and warm. Totally nice to be near him. we both felt he has touched our lives with how simple you can live and be happy always just by offering care.

 

3.My 3rd enounter was Birmihgam Ratha yatra again in Uk. This time it was Aug 2008. The 10/08/08.Day of my initiation .A day most devotees remember. A special one as GM was yet remarkable and engraved his name on many devotee hearts- as it was going to be the last one of a kind for Birmingham and us.

 

Everyone is ready to serve him and have his mercy. So much love from the heart. He has touched many people’s lives. I could witness that. So real and deeply felt for Gurumaharaj.

 

Then it was our initiation time. But Lord Indra- made it all wet. For a moment I was thinking it was going to be cancelled. But it went on- by Krishnas Mercy. We were seated at the fire ceremony and having our initiation. So I knew GuruMaharaj will put in a request for name selection. So Nitaicharan Prabhu came and asked me which lila I wanted the name, I replied "Whatever GM desires". But deep inside I wanted Lord Nrsimhadevs name. So the time came and he gave me Acyuta Rupa Das. I was thrilled by the name- because it meant infallible or one who never lets his devotees down. Such a beautiful quality of Lord Krishna.

But I still felt Oh,I did not get Lord Nrsimhadevs name. I realised later- Acyuta is Lord Nrsimhadevs name.Vow!! Amazing!!I have heard Gurumaharajs pastimes and ability to sense others and their innerfeelings,in a way like Srila Prabhupada did. It happened to me Haribol. That is his quality- he is so

pure, he can sense others desires and  feelings and even thoughts. So much Empowered and yet very humble. Haribol.

 

Then it was getting late- it was 10pm. The whole place was filled with only few people. My son Haresh 3 yr old was playing with a devotee. GuruMaharaj came and was enquiring and speaking to him. My wife requested Gurumaharaj - a name for Haresh. Haresh replied to a devotee near by he likes Balaram. Gurumaharaj heard this but did not say anything. Then later on that night my wife insisted further and he said ok-he shall be called Haribaladev. Till date my son prefers to be called Haribaladev and he even proudly tells it is his Gurudeva who has given this name. Again it shows GMs memory/his attraction to children and kids love him as well. It is touching and nice to witness such great soul speaking and playing like a child himself..

 

We then went Nitai Charan Prabhus home- 1130pm. Still Bright,smiling, cheerful,now his mood was totally a relaxed person- more personal, you could see all the devotees were siting near him, talking to him like Vrajbasis- informal, casual still giving the due respect. Very different to what I had imagined GM to be. I was in the mood of Awe and reverence. But it was totally transformed- we were talking about the olympics/gold medal/news reporter/past Olympic winners and so on. Then GM put me in the spot light. HE asked me so you are Doctor. He started telling his symptoms in confidence and wanted to know if anything needs to be done. Ironic he mentioned one thing that still sits in my heart."Ihave a bitter sensation in my tongue"- Have I got Jaundice or Liver problems. Now looking back- he probably did know that something was not right in his body. He was able sense danger to a degree, but unfortunately I was not helpful and able to pick up the subtlness of his illness. I pray to Gurumaharaj- that one day he forgives me and certainly serve him better. Haribol. 

 

In summary that night- one could see his relaxed posture, Majestic look, childish face, ever smiling, glancing, giving Maha prasadh , casually chatting, yet questioning, Sharing, Laughing, peaceful, enthusiastic all through the night. Such amazing Personality-subtle and Lively. A Victory flag in our Iskcon Samraj.

 

These were his last sweet words before we left that night for a long journey back home-scotland. "Always remember of Krishna And Never forget him". Take care and Drive safely. "

 

Of all the Characters GM possess its his Loving fatherly nature that makes him

a wonderful person.He is big father bear who can  be hugged and cuddled.Thats

how I see him.  "He takes that extra time and effort to care and love everyone

around him -the secret of his beauty" Jay Gurumaharaj. Jay Prabhupada.

 

He leads by his example!! Hare Krishna!

Tarini Radha Devi Dasi

“How are you?”

This simple question has been the cause of a great deal of embarrassment for me. Every time GM asked this, I did not know how to answer because it just didn’t seem appropriate to say, “Fine, thank you”. GM began to notice that I was not giving a reply and made it a point to ask me the question every time we met. To my horror, it was no more a casual question but a question that really required an answer.

Once he asked “How are you” as he was passing by. And as I struggled to mumble something, he walked on, and I was happy that he had gone past. But! Since a proper reply had not come, Guru Maharaj, who had crossed the threshold stepped back, and asked again, “how are you?” I mumbled something and he went on. My confusion remained.

A senior mataji said that she responded with “Your mercy” meaning that whether she was well or not, it was his mercy. But I was faar away from such an elevated stance and so did not want to imitate by saying that. Later another devotee related how he had met GM in the railway station. He told us how GM had asked him, “How are you” and he had replied, “Fine by your mercy Guru Maharaj”. I was delighted to hear this. This seemed the right thing to say! I was very happy and now I awaited the chance to hear Guru Maharaja’s question.

So, it was a beautiful day with simple services for GM. And then, it was time for GM to leave. I stood in the temple office room, where I was serving, to hand over the airport sweets to the devotees. GM came into the room, and as if he had all the time in the world, holding his hands on his walking stick and tilting his head lightly, he asked, “How are you?” Brimming with the happiness of being in his presence and with full confidence, I said clearly, “Fine by your mercy Guru Maharaj”. GM burst out laughing! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! The whole temple resounded! The room seemed to be flying in the skies. My smile covered my entire face in the delight of seeing his happiness. As the sound of that laughter rings in my ears, that beautiful spring scene always stands before my eyes. GM was so satisfied that at last this girl has learnt the right thing to say!

GM completed this education at our next meeting in Mayapur the next year. After the evening Vyasa Puja glorifications, as several of us followed him up the first flight of stairs to the lotus building, GM turned back to wish us Hari Bol. His eyes noticed me. He suddenly called out to one mataji, (I forget the name) and asked, “How are you?” The mataji called out loudly from somewhere among the crowd, “Fine by your mercy Guru Maharaj”. GM looked back at me and nodded his head to confirm that that was the right answer. What an education! Filled with humour, love and personal care! The best of my memories.

 “Where is your son?”

Once during the one-day parikrama after Vyasa Puja, one prabhu helped carry Gauranga, my one year old son. He got to the boat ghat ahead of me and got into Guru Maharaja’s boat. A six feet long plank of wood connected the boat to the land. I stood on the land and called out to the devotee guarding the boat to allow me to come in and collect my son. He refused. I tried to make him understand that all I wanted was to collect my son, I didn’t want to get into the boat. The devotee said so many things without making any attempt to help me. Suddenly he became quiet. I looked behind and there was Guru Maharaj. “Where is your son”, he asked me. “Inside, Guru Maharaj”, I said. “O.k. Go in”, he said. I was very happy but I wanted to follow the dictum of following the Guru, not going ahead. So I said, “After you, Guru Maharaja”. Then he said, “After me? I don’t know if they will let you in”. I said I would get in and stepped into the plank of wood right after Guru Maharaja. At a later time when Gauranga was five years we again missed each other in Mayapur, and Guru Maharaj said that we should have a walkie-talkie to keep track of each other!

Got My Answer

On March 6, 1992, ISKCON Chennai arranged a pandal program. Guru Maharaj was to deliver the evening class. At the temple, after finishing one set of services I approached Guru Maharaj with two questions in his room. One was related to the choice of service – which service to choose out of three options that were given to me. Guru Maharaj did not give any definite answer. Then I asked a philosophical question from the Bhagavad-gita. Guru Maharaja said “You can ask this in class”. Though I said I could not attend any class, he did not answer my question. I left the room and got back to my services wondering that I would have to make my own decision regarding the service.

After getting together Guru Maharaja’s dinner, I filled up his milk in a flask and got to the pandal program. Guru Maharaj wound up the class and asked for questions. I sat in the fourth row. The hall was quite full. Whatever the question was, Guru Maharaj narrated the incident about Lord Chaitanya meeting Kurma dasa. Very emphatically, Guru Maharaj, in the mood of Lord Chaitanya, put out his hand, with his pointing finger extended and shouted, “You stay at home and do bhakti!”  Hari bol! That was THE answer to my service related question. The extended hand seemed to drive the point straight to my head.

After answering the first question, Guru Maharaj said, “One person asked me a question. That….” Guru Maharaj repeated my question and gave the answer! I felt so honored and acknowledged.

Bhaktin Sunitha

   I had a problem in my fallopian tube and Dr advised me to remove .  Hence I removed one fallopian tube and another completely infected. Dr confirmed that no chance for pregnancy. I approached another Dr she removed the infections so that no problem in the future. She also said there is no chance of pregnancy. But I use to go for regular checkup. One day she suggested for test tube baby. But I told, Krsna  says in Bhagavad-gita, I am seed giving father-aham bija prata pita- if krsna wants let him give. I do not want to go for ugra karma. I also had a problem in cyst, that also got infected. I got operated  again on my left side. I used to go for regular checkup.

   I got a dream, at the time of rathyatra, procession was going on. Gurumaharaj came directly to me and told, “Do not worry before this year you will get a child” and went. Because of abnormal symptoms I had a doubt  that I was pregnant, I went to doctor. The doctor denied and said that probably it was an ovarian cyst and not pregnancy. But I insisted that the doctor for a proper checkup. It was only 32 days. Normally only after 40 days strong pregnancy will be confirmed but the doctor confirmed in 32 days itself that was pregnant in spite of all complications.

   The doctor herself was confused how was that possible. She arranged for scanning. Medical doctors were amazed but the mercy of my spiritual father made me a mother.

 

Radha Priya devi dasi

   Chennai ISKCON conducts wonderful ratha yatra every year. One such rathyatra I was praying to Jagannath , please guide me to find a guru. As I was from a typical brahmin family, I was a little confused by seeing western saints. I was holding rath rope and pulling and praying to Krsna, Jagannath that “O,Krsna,Lord of universe, please show me my spiritual master by some symptoms. Then only I will agree”. On the rath HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj was sitting and distributing prasadam. HH Jayapataka Maharaj was performing kirtan in the rath procession. He was surrounded by many devotees in a circular manner like cakra vyuh, Inner circle his servants,2^nd circle kirtan party ,3rd circle devotees. HH JPs maharaj broke the circle came out right directly to me [as I was pulling rath] and looked at me for more than 20secs. He caught the rath rope right next to me and pulled for another 10 secs. Immediately I felt that He is guiding me to approach the Lord. Then Gurumaharaj went back and joined the kirtan party. I thanked Krsna who answered my prayers immediately, and accepted Him as my spiritual master. Whenever I spiritually progress I thank my gurumaharaj deep from my heart.

Madhurya Gopi devi dasi

I had a deep desire to participate in Navadveep mandal parikrama. So I wrote a letter to gurumaharaj asking for his mercy. The following year I got an opportunity to go for a parikrama as my mother agreed to take care of my children. After completing Navadveep mandal parikrama I wanted to participate in vraja mandal also. I started praying to gurumaharaj. When gurumahraj came to south india yatra-srirangam my husband also went to srirangam but I could not. My husband did not speak anything with gurumaharaj. Guru maharaj gave a garland to my husband and told “give this to your wife”. That same year I participated and completed Vraja mandala parikrama by the mercy of gurudev.

 

Vijaya Kamala Devi dasi

   I like to bring an event happened during safari conducted by our gurumaharaj in Madurai. As I am a native of Madurai , I happened to participate with the safari devotees.  I was very happy to see them and their devotional services because they come from various parts of the world. They were moving very close to gurumaharaj and were very eager to hear gurumaharaj lectures.

   One day gurumahraj described about jack fruit. He described the shape of the fruit- how the skin covered the individual fruits inside and how we have to take out with the bear hands like this. The climax was the sweetness of the fruit.  Since devotees were foreigners they couldn’t realize his description as they never saw the fruit.

   As I was sitting and hearing his lectures I realized very much that gurumaharaj taking much pain without showing the fruit to the devotees. After the class was over they were ready to honor prasadam. That time one mataji came and inquired me where could we get such fruit. Really I felt happy and I said that I didn’t have money in my purse for that. In reply mataji said that she could offer money to purchase the fruit.  I ran to market immediately bought one big jackfruit and it was given to gurumahraj. Gurumahraj felt very happy and there was no limit to his pleasure. While other devotees were honoring prasadam, gurumahraj took jack fruit on his shoulder and showed to devotees and told this was jackfruit. He walked through every row of prasadam hall. Finally he cut the fruit and distributed the fruits to all the devotees. Devotees enjoyed the fruit and as well as his affection. When I recollect gurumaharaja’s action by bearing jack fruit in his shoulders I can’t stop my laughing.

Taraka Radha Devi dasi

   An amazing incident happened to me. I was having about 10 cassettes of gurumaharaja’s lectures in English. I was keeping idly since my family is not familiar to hear it in English. One day we were given by our family friend 10 cassettes in Tamil language about krsna’s pastime lectures delivered by a devotee.

   I requested my husband to record this, in new cassettes. My husband suggested that it is not necessary to buy new ones and it is better to record them in the old cassettes already recorded lectures of gurumahraj as the cassettes are reusable ones. Since this suggestion was given by my husband I did not argue and agreed.  But my mind was irritating me that I do offense but I consoled myself mentally expecting guru’s excuses.

My husband took both sets of cassette for recording tamil into English. When he brought recorded copies [that is gurumahraj’s old English one’s] to hear tamil lecture. It was our stonishment that all the tamil lectures were completely erased and English lectures were intact in spite of no technical errors. I myself was very happy, my husband realized this incident and kept silence for a longtime.

Bhakti Shakti Devi Dasi

   I like to express an incident happened in my life. My sister, her son and I went to Pandarpur. As my sister had lost her husband she arranged this pilgrim program. When we were returning from Pandarpur, about three or four stations before Renikunta, my sister became unconscious and motionless. Passengers in my compartment found a doctor to give treatment to my sister. A doctor attended and advised that it was brain haemorrhage, hence that she should be taken to hospital. When the train arrived at Renikunta we got down with the help of other passengers. From there, we went to the nearest hospital where they advised to take my sister to Tirupati hospital immediately. Meanwhile I was greatly confused and frustrated having seen these happenings around us. But I never stopped praying and chanting constantly the mahamantra. Although I was constantly praying and chanting a thought suddenly dawned upon my mind that we should ask Krishna through guru maharaj . I pronounced guru pranam mantra once. Immediately to my wonder and surprise my sister slightly opened her eyes and looked at us. Again she became unconscious. Having seen all these incidents my sister’s son became nervous. I felt very much that after his father’s death he felt deeply about his mother’s condition. I must say here that I was constantly praying lord krsna through guru to give me strength to beat all these. Often I was consoling him.

In Tirupathi hospital they attended immediately and advised that we could travel to Chennai. In Chennai she underwent an operation. This incident increased my faith on gurudev by His mercy she is fine now and initiated by Guru Maharaj.

Shyama Kamini Devi Dasi

This happened to me when I was in mayapur. I was there for the guru puja. My turn came and I offered flowers to gurumaharaj. Maharaj kindly gave me prasadam and I went to the side and finished prasadam. Suddenly I realised that the queue for matajis was very small. My greedy propensities surfaced up and I thought of having some more prasadam for my family members. I went in the queue for the second time. But this time I had no flowers to offer. I just motioned my hands in a way as if offering flowers and spread my palms in front of gurumaharaj for Prasad. He didn’t look at me while I was pretending to offer flowers. But when I asked for Prasad he also responded by just a motion as if he is giving me Prasad. His hands were empty! I was so shocked and ashamed as I realised I was trying to cheat my own spiritual master. I sat there and started crying. I explained everything to him and begged forgiveness. He mercifully glanced at me and gave handful of prasadam.

 

Bhaktimayi Vasanthi Devi Dasi

Whenever Gurumaharaj visits Chennai I take him to the prison where I regularly preach. Once he met an inmate and preached him personally about the ill effects of leading sinful life. Gurumaharaj asked him why he does all these things and he explained that he has some financial problems. Somehow he was convinced with gurumaharaj and decided to change his lifestyle. When he was relieved from the prison he started real estate work. At all the occasions like new year etc he calls to wish me and everytime he will say that because of your guru maharaj my life is changed.

Shanta Sundari Devi Dasi

Once I was on parikrama and gurumaharaj was distributing some maha water. He announced that those who want Krishna prem should come forward and accept the water. I was waiting for my turn and when my turn came gurumaharaj asked me if I want guru bhakti or Krishna prem? I answered guru bhakti and maharaj poured some water on my palm. Later on when I came to Chennai I got the service to cook for HH Bhanu Swami and all visiting sanyasis. I take it as a symbol of the guru bhakti which has come to me only because of the mercy of Srila Gurudev.

   I was undergoing through some tough time in my life when I wanted to get initiated. Both my family and temple management were not ready for it. I was very depressed. Once gurumaharaj came in my dreams. He came to my house and I saw that I fed him nice prasadam. After honouring prasadam he went in the backside courtyard of my house to wash hands. When he didn’t returned for sometime I went behind to check and found him emptying a barrel filled with dirty water. I was very shocked and requested him not to do so. I gave him some water and dettol to clean his hands. This dream stayed in my mind even after I woke up. Later on after few days I got initiated. One devotee explained me that gurumaharaj was not cleaning the barrel of dirty water but he was cleaning my heart! 

Shri Radhika Devi dasi

   I was having a severe asthama attack. This was during rainy season and there was no autos available. With great difficulty we found an auto and my husband took me to the hospital. On the way the auto driver was smoking, which enhanced the problem.I was admitted in Vijaya hospital and doctor did the necessary investigations. They put me on some medication but actually it was not very effective. It was announced that the situation is very bad and doctors had no hopes. They actually gave up and I went unconscious. After sometime when I regained my senses doctors asked me who is Acaryapada? They said it is he who has saved you. I was surprised when they said that I was holding my japa bag with a picture of gurumaharaj and chanting his holy names.

Prema Bhakti Lata Devi Dasi

  My parents had given me the name ‘Premalata’ but I never liked it. I would introduce myself only as Lata. One time, the next day after Ratha-yatra, my mother introduced me to Guru Maharaj as ‘Premalata’. Guru Maharaj said, “You already have a spiritual name”. Only then I began to appreciate my full name and felt proud to use it thereafter.

    During the big pancha-tattva casting, there was a lot of official and financial pressure on me and thus I was sure I would not be able to make it for the installation of panchatattva. Hence I decided to go to Kumbakonam and have darshan at the time of casting. I went for the carving of Nityananda Prabhu and fortunately that time guru maharaj was also present. Later on after few months guru maharaj came for Chennai rathyatra. On noticing me, guru maharaj asked, “When did we meet last?” I replied during Nityananda casting. Guru maharaj said that the sthapati told him that Nityananda casting was 100% accurate and he added that it was because of my(!) presence that it happened 100%. I was very much touched by the humility of gurumaharaj and said that it was because of his divine presence that the casting was 100%. Such are the loving reciprocations of gurumaharaj with his insignificant disciples! 

Yasoda Kumar Das

When I was a new bhakta, started coming to temple , one day I saw gurumahraj in the temple hall delivering lecture. I was attracted to his personality very much. Two or three days after this I had a dream guru maharaj came in the dream. He said, “With in a year I will initiate you”. Actually at that time I don’t even know what is initiation. Then I joined in ISKCON Chennai  as a full time devotee. I realized just by his darshan he had purified me.  It is not possible for everyone to just leave house, join and become full time all of a sudden when the family situation is also favourable. After joining  ISKCON I learnt many things. When Gurumaharaj came next time I got initiation. By his mercy I am able to continue my spiritual life even today eventhough now I staying with my parents.

Leela Padma Devi dasi

   In 1985 ISKCON Bangalore acquired a beautiful bungalow on Bellary Road for rent. Gurumaharaj had come to inaugurate, as well as Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj and Bhanu Maharaj. My best friends Radha Prema devi dasi, Raseshwari devi dasi, Shyamavallabha devi dasi, their mother Tejarupa devi dasi and I were immersed in plenty of service. We were happy, excited, and busy the whole day. After Sandhya Arati Gurumaharaj was giving special darshan in his room upstairs and preaching to many first time visitors. We were anxious to get inside and listen. However, the temple president had given very strict instruction for all devotees to be preaching to the thousands of guests on the campus.  Radhaprema and I managed to sneak into the darshan room and settled down to listen. Without even turning to glance at us, Gurumaharaj said "Go out and preach; I want you to go out and preach." Reluctantly we left the room.

   Gurumaharaj continued to preach to several batches of guests and donors. By 9.30pm most visitors were leaving. So once again the four of us slipped away upstairs, managed to find a spot just outside Gurumaharaj's rooms so we could see a little and hear a little. As his preaching became more and more tasteful, we started to lean heavier on the door, one head above the other. After ten minutes, the pillar of four heads crashed open the door and four sheepish brahmacarinis tumbled into the midst of a hundred guests. Gurumaharaj did not even turn to look at our unceremonious entry, but simply said, "Go out and preach", and without batting an eyelid, continued his address. The lesson was well learned and I believe each of us try to 'go out and preach' even though we are all in different places. Gurumaharaj's instructions are timeless and unite all devotees around the world in service to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to his tireless preaching.

Lalithangi, Chennai, India

All Glories to Srila Gurumaharaj!
I happened to be in Chile, South America for two and a half years. It was then I realized the greatness of devotees born in western countries. Also, I felt fortunate for having born in South India. I have grown up visiting the beautiful, traditional temples here. I fall short of words to describe the soul-satisfying experience one is bestowed when having darshan of the Lord in these temple.
With such an orthodox background, one can imagine the heart breaks I felt when exposed to the culture in the western countries. My first reaction was instant disgust. Later on, I felt sorry for those born there. They from the early age, taught how to drink but not get drunk, they are given minced meat as their first food after mother’s milk. Illicit sex is a well accepted, thriving custom.
In such a scenario, there exists temple of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, served by sincere souls from the same society who avoid intoxication, meat, illicit sex and gambling. This is not a fairy tale. It is a reality. A million thanks to Srila Prabhupada! People like iron are turned into gold by the magical touch of touchstone called ISKCON.
Every Friday, on my way to the temple, I cross atleast a dozen pubs, where school kids, in pairs enter for the Friday hang-out. Passing through the glaring undecipherable rock-bang, I enter the temple. There I see the devotees, dressed in sarees & dhotis, swaying to Gaura Arati. What a sharp contrast to the outside world! All Glories to Srila Pabhupada!
It is now 32 years since Srila Prabhupada left this planet, but the legacy is carried on by his disciples and is being passed to the next generation. Here comes the herculear effort by our Guru Maharaj HH Jayapataka Swami.Maharaj. He is one of those disciples of Srila Prabhupada, who non-chalantly traveled to all the corners of the globe, preaching the massage of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. What made him undertake such rigorous schedule of preaching, neglecting his own health? It cannot be anything other than his overwhelming compassion for the fallen souls, far away from Bharata Varsha. Every time he visits, he gives all his time to help devotees. He gives all his maximum possible time like Thakura Haridas he barely kept any time for his personal care!
I saw how his visit would lift the devotees from doldrums, made warring factions come together in the service of Lord Chaitanya. With first two minutes of his time and unlimited care, he is saving many devotees from falling back to Maya!
When he chants Jaya Radha Madhava with a large cymbals Sridham Mayapur descends right there and the devotees are instantly jumping and dancing. After the class a big list of devotees waits for his darshan. No matter, if he had traveled 20hrs non-stop in the flight and is in a severe jet-log, he has time for everyone waiting. Every devotee in the temple gets to have a word or two with him. He leaves in one or two days, leaving behind a lifetime of memories. 

Mahi-bharta das, Ljubljana, Slovenia

My name is Mahi-bharta das (KKD), and I am siksa disciple of HH Jayapataka Swami. I am coming from Slovenia (EU). My story which I would like to share with you is as follows:

I was initiated disciple of Harikesh since 1995. This story happened immediately after Harikesha left his position as guru in ISKCON.

At that time HH Jayapataka Maharaja very intensely started to visit different countries where there were many Harikesha's disciples. Maharaja made gatherings of Harikesh disciples at that time and offered himself completely to us. He was available for us at any time for talk, support, discussion. It is very difficult to describe how much he surrendered at that time to help the Harikesha's disciples all around the world. This is the practical prove of how powerful and elevated Uttama Vaishnava is Maharaja.
With thousands of his disciples he also took the burden to save as many Harikesha disciples as possible. What an unselfish person is Maharaja. He sacrificed his own life just to save others. Who could describe his glory and how dear he is to Srila Prabhupada.

Maharaja also came to Ljubljana (Slovenia) few times to help us out of crisis due to the loss of our spiritual master. After a long meeting he came out of the temple, and I tried to express my gratitude to him for coming to help us in this difficult times. At this moment he held my hands together and told me: "Please, just chant the holy name."

I still had some rounds to finish that day, and I went to sit down and chant in Tulasi room of our temple. At this moment I felt some special bhava coming from the words of HH Jayapataka Maharaja when he told me: "Just chant the holy name." I started to chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Never before I chanted so deeply. I had an experience of flying in the sound of the holy name towards the holy Tulasi plants. And in my mind came a story of Haridasa Thakura who chanted in such an affectionate mood of devotion that he could not stop to chant anymore. Then I started to think: "O, Krishna, now I can understand, why Haridas Thakura was able to chant all the time." My chanting became a song, and I just could not stop and control myself anymore. I became a little afraid because I never before experienced such deep feelings by chanting Hare Krishna. Tears came down my face and I simply got lost in the deep feelings of Krishna's holy name.

After that time I never had such a deep experience of chanting anymore. This was out of body experience. I only remember one thing, that the cause of all this wonderful experience in my spiritual life came from the strong bhava of HH Jayapataka Maharaja who overwhelmed me with his mercy and compassion. His is a completely empowered Uttama Vaishnava who came to save so many conditioned souls in this world. He is a person who took such a big burden of this planet earth on his shoulders by spreading the teachings of Lord Caitanya. I believe I will never be able to really understand who he really is. His spiritual power and compassion to the conditioned souls can save anyone who is at least a little bit meek and humble, no matter how much fallen someone might be. Praying for his mercy I am falling down at the dust of his lotus feet.

Janananda dasa and Atapatrini devi dasi, New Radhakunda, Sweden

A short time after Janananda and I, Atapatrini, had become aspiring disciples, Jayapataka Maharaja showed up in Korsnäs to visit us for 5 days. But we were in our native country, Denmark, those days. When our guru heard that, He just said:" Then I will go and meet them there". We became almost shocked by His willingness to assist us in our spiritual progress. And His Holiness has continued to positively surprise us in so many ways since then.