Lava-Mātra: A Moment with Jayapatākā Swami by HG Gaurāṅga Prasāda Dāsa #JayapatakaSwamiArchives

Hare Krishna.

Hare Krishna.

So my name is Gauranda Prasadas.

I am Shriguru Sevanandi Devidasi.

So we are actually in Chennai and we came to Krishna consciousness somewhere around 2005 maybe.

Yes.

So do you want to start?

Yeah.

I lost my father when I was young, when I was in my school days. So those were the times where we were running behind so many Babajis and sadhus. We were praying that. No. So that my father, he was suffering from cancer. We were praying that he recovers from that. But unfortunately we lost him. And that was when I was thinking like, what's happening? And I wanted to know more. But over a period of time I forgot. And by Krishna's mercy, I came across some devotees from my own family. So my cousin, who's currently in Australia was the one who introduced us initially to Ka consciousness. So through him then we got in touch with many, many devotees and that's how our journey started.

So for me personally. So we got married in the year 2005. So she was the first person who gave us or gave me Krishna consciousness. Because by that time, I think it was in 2004, when your mother had the story, she had brain stroke, pretty similar to how Guru Maharaj had in 2008. So that was the time when her relatives gave the correct dosage of Ka consciousness to her. And miraculously her mom survived from the brain hemorrhage. And when she narrated the whole incident to me, that gave me more hope and more conviction in the process.

And when my mother had stroke in 2004, my cousin and my aunt, so they taught us Guru Maharaj Pranam. So till then there was not much improvement in her health and she was in coma stage. And the moment we all started Guru Maharaj Pranam, that's when she revived. And as far as the medical history also, it was miraculous because she didn't have any side effect. So they initially said that she'll be paralyzed or she may be in coma continuously, something like that. But after we started chanting Guru Maharaj Prana, we understood that not just that she came alive, she came out without any Sega fix. That was very, very miraculous.

And then we got married and like any other newlywed couple, so we used to roam around on weekends. So just on the east coast road, that's where ISKCON is actually located. We never been to iskcon, so we used to go on that road to many places for movies. You just go to beach, eat out things like this. So that's how we started our Journey after marriage. But then soon we realized that things started getting bored. We are not getting that, just happiness. So then we started analyzing. Probably we may try out going to iskcon. Maybe we can go for a movie. And then instead of eating it in a restaurant, we will probably go to iskcon. So then we started going to ISKCON Chennai. We used to go around noon time. So that's when the Sunday feast happens. So we never attended any classes nor the Aarti. But we just go for Prasadam because it comes for free. Who wants to miss it?

And for sure Iskan Chennai's Sambhashtadam was favorite and will be there for Prashad. And then we got in touch with Chaitanya Thal Prabhu and Rasna Mataji who are our mentors. So they were guiding us. And it was them who connected us officially with the Gur Maharaj through initiation. So we started slowly improving our Sadhana. And when the right time came, it was them who connected us with Guru Maharaj.

So it was in the year 2009 when we got initiated. Took us around four years to be ready for be ready for initiation.

And we completed reading all the books.

You have. Remember the interview before initiation we had.

Interview from the local devotees, not directly from Gur Maharaj because he was not well by then, he had a stroke. And the time when we got in a session, even the previous day, he was in Ayurvedic treatment. We can have personal interview with Guru Maharaj.

There is a story attached to your name.

So when Prabhu and Mataji said that we have to come to Bangalore for initiation, I was very scared and I was very anxious as well to take the shot that everything should go smooth and I should be there to get. And that night I had a dream where Guru Maharaj was telling my name and I was telling Guru Maharaj like, no, I don't understand your pronunciation. So probably you write me in a paper, write it personally and give me. And he wrote something in the paper and he gave me, but I didn't remember what it was. And the next day during our initiation or a week later during our initiation, usually we write what Leela we need. So I just said that something that will remind me that I have to serve you. So that was the request I have given. And usually the servants used to give 4, 5 options so that Guru Maharaj can choose or customize it further. But in my case the servant said that we couldn't think of anything. So we left it to Gur Maharaj on the day when I took initiation, we were just few candidates there. Guru Maharaj, when he gave my name, then he also stopped and he said that this Mataji wanted some name like this. And none of my servants suggested anything. So I have to think for her. And I personally wrote your name. So exactly what he told me in the dream. So it was the same thing. Then later, after six months or something, when I went along with my Mataji, she told Gurmaraj that you already gave her the name in dream. And Gurmaraj asked me, what name did I give you? And I said I didn't remember even then. He said, maybe same.

So yeah, in my case I had written down that I would probably need a name remembering Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So Guru Maharaj mercifully gave me the name Gauravar Sandhas. So I was quite happy. So my mentor also mentioned that, you know, your name is quite unique. So you can remember.

You went to Mayapur.

Yes. Any.

Memories from Mayapur with Guru Maharaj?

So one thing which we uniquely remember was in 2012 when we had come there for Bhishma Panchak. So we were there on all five days. And Guru Maharaj at that time, we vividly remember he. He used to come every day to the prasadam hall. He used to sit along with the devotees, have prasadam with his Chanath Chik. He used to bless all of us. So that was probably the second time that we fasted.

Before that we had here. I mean, we fasted in Chennai, but we had to make our own prasad and it was quite difficult. Then we thought, okay, let us do it with the Gurmaras. Maybe it will be more easy. And it used to be so nice that every afternoon we used to go along with him for Ganga bath also. It was a very nice time.

I mean, Guru Maharaj personally took care of all the devotees who came to Mayapur. So that was quite evident. So whenever we went there to Mayapur, he always used to enquire if things are okay, if we had proper accommodation and are we getting prasadam. That personal care was always there and.

Not just Gurmaharaj, but something which we observe in all the Mayapur Dhambasis as well. So they also ensure that we are taken care properly.

Any personal stretcher extraction from Guru Maharaj dreams. You have one dream, maybe more dreams.

So one thing he has been telling us with Kishori ever since she was born is to take care of her nicely and bring her up in Krishna consciousness. Because he also mentioned to her that it is as if we are taking care of a deity. In that move, we should take care of her as well. So it was one specific instruction.

Because when she was just born, I was worried like I may miss Guru Maharaj's service. So I told Guru Maharaj, please ensure, please bless me that I don't miss my service because of this child. Then he looked at me and said, serving her is also a personal service that you are doing to me. So then I said okay.

Couple of instructions that he gave me. Once when we had a zoom call, Guru Maharaj, Zoom call. So I asked a question. During the COVID time it was very difficult to preach. And those whom we preached, they were not able to come to the temples. So how can we engage them? So then Guru Maharaj said, probably you can do a group chanting in the morning. So since that time we started and with Gurmar Rajmarsi we are still continuing. So around 15 to 20 devotees join every day in the morning and we.

Do Japan, we chant along with Gurmara chanting for on speech and to gather with him.

Also he is very interested in us preaching. So he also gave an instruction that we should preach nicely if possible develop the congregation more in Chennai, preach, preach a lot more in Chennai. So he gave us those instructions also we are trying our bit.

Teaching or KA consciousness. Everything becomes more interesting when everything is around Guru Maharaj, such a wonderful experience. We are not worth his disciples. But we are very proud that we are his disciples.

And we don't feel like we are disconnected with Guru Maharaj. Even though he may be right now he is in us. Sometimes he will be in Mayapur. Very rarely he comes to Chennai. But still we don't feel disconnected.

The classes he gives and the JPS app that keeps us really, really connected with the Guru Maharaj every single day.

So we look forward to his classes and more so to his personal darshans. Because he visits each one of us in the zoom call. So we really used to enjoy. Initially we used to prepare some bodha. But these days that's not happening.

But group darshan. But still the classes, it's amazing. And we always look forward for the Chaitanya Leela class. Very nice.

But one thing we learnt over the years, Mataji. Initially whenever we used to meet Guru Maharaj, we always used to hanker for his blessings. If he touches us and if he tells us Krishna Ermadirastu, then we are happy. But then over a pilgrim stand, associating with senior devotees, senior Vaishnavas, we understood that the blessing automatically comes when we start following his instructions. When we act in such a way that it is pleasing to him then automatically the blessings would come over our lives. These days we are very particular. Whenever we go in front of him, we don't show our head. Rather we try to bring new devotees to him. So that he will also be pleased.

Yes, very good. Kishwari will show the gifts who give their name.

So it was our mentor. So this is our daughter Fishori.

Say hi.

You want to share your email first time with Natalji?

Yes.

You tell me first.

I having so many problems. Some infection I have. That time I asked my mother, please put a mail for Guru Maharaj. Then my mother told okay. But she did not put why we have to disturb Guru Maharaj. Then I get up at 12 o clock and asking my mother, you put it or not? Then my mother tell okay, okay, I will put. Then she put. Next day 7 o' clock Guru Maharaj put my mail that I am very sorry to see that she swam well. I am praying to Nasimdev. He told like that the next day I have to go to Drips Duntender hospital. Then next day full is all right.

Wow.

Wonderful.

She had a dehydration. So the doctor said let's wait for one more day. If not let us put her under saline. That's when she started crying. You write to Guru Maharaj now he will pray. If he prays then I'll become alright. And by the time she was just three, three and a half years old. So she started crying so badly. And I thought okay, I'll drop one single line saying that she's angry. But immediately Guru maharaj did die. 7, 7, 30. There was an email in my inbox.

Wow. He cares so much for their children. Now you can show what grammar I gave you.

And this Guru Maharaj gifted Kishori.

This is very much love and affection.

Yes. She though she sees many sanyasis. She always tells me that no Guru Maharaj is very approachable. I can meet him anytime. I can speak to him.

So whenever Guru Maharaj comes to Chennai, he used to stay in a place which is not so near. It's quite far away. But we make it a point that we go there. And evening classes that Guru Maharaj gives. So that time he'll also take her. After that schools. So then we take her. And Gur Maharaj also interacts. He understands that she needs attention. So gives proper attention to her.

He used to give a lot of time to Kishoree. In spite of his such a such busy schedule and his health in spite of that, if he sees her, he ensures that bare minimum he will call her Kishari. How are you?

But one thing I should say. Mataji is like. I mean we understand reading Prabhupada books that Krishna is a person. But then since we are all so impersonal from the beginning, it is very hard to connect to Krishna as a person. But Guru Maharaj is one personality who is actually giving us both the knowledge as well as the realization that through his spiritual master we are able to realize the personality feature of Lord. Guru Maharaj is very approachable and he reciprocates. So through that we can understand that Lord will also reciprocate.

Very good realization. Any other memories? Khichori.

So what was this?

You can tell teacher, where did he get you?

So that's a sports shop. And Guru Maharaj wanted to visit that shop. When he came over to Chennai.

She also accompanied him while he went for shopping. I was there assisting in cooking service. Guru Maharaj. So she went alone. The Guru Maharaj and his servants Gur Maharaj called and he said like buy something for her also.

So you choose.

No, you choose. You chose for Guru Maharaj.

She chose for Guru Maharaj.

Guru Maharaj asked me, shall I bear this one? Shall I wait that one?

He asked her, which one should I buy? And she chose for Gurmaraj.

Good Selvi.

Personally for us, Madhav Ji, one thing that I should say is whenever we had material tribulations, when even practicing day to day Ka consciousness became tough because I at some point of time we had a lot of health issues and also certain issues after our marriage as well. So during those times Gul Maharaj helped us really nicely. One time in 2011 when she got conceived. But then she had to abort the fetus. So that was very challenging for us. And then we were really down. And that was the time when Guru Maharaj came to Chennai and we went and took his darshan. In fact, the next day when the procedure was done to remove the fetus, the next day Guru Maharaj came and we went and saw him in Chennai. And soon he went to Tirupati. We followed him because we wanted to be with him. The mood was quite disturbing. So we went there. And in Tirupati he was in farmhouse. So. So we spent a couple of days there, got some service and took his darshan. So he was always there. Even recently during COVID as well.

During the first wave of COVID I was also infected Then and I had to be hospitalized. And Guru Maharaj called me asking how I am doing. I heard that you are unwell. I wanted to hear your voice. Is it okay? Do you need some help? And I was so moved. Like I said Guru Maharaj, this is so. Sir, I am very excited to become infected by Covid. Then I was updating because I used that opportunity to preach in the hospital also. So I was preaching to the doctors, nurse, all the patients because all of us were infected by Covid. So there is nothing new to come inside. So we gathered, we had a gathering and Karma Raj was happy. And he said, oh, you preached in the hospital. Nice. Thank you. So he personally cares very much. It's not that he has so many disciples. So will I get attention? Nothing like that. Guru Maharaj has personal rapport with every single devotee. They may be aspiring shelter Diksha. So that's something which he observed.

Nader remember.

I can say how merciful he is. One time when Gur Maharaj was leaving to the hospital or temple, I don't remember. Prabhu got a chance to put his shoes. Then Gurmaraj told me, touch him. I was like, what should I touch him? He said, you touch him. Then I touched immediately I touched him. Then he said, you can't do the service. But by touching him you get the same benefit. So I was like, oh wow. Something which he can't do, he enters it. I get Thakmasi as well.

One time actually Gurumuraj was unwell. He was in Chennai, very close to our place. So in the evening after our office hours, we just went. We thought if we could get a chance, we can probably take his darshan. So myself and Sevanandi, we went there to that place. And the servants said, no. Gul Maharaj is really angel. He's having his running fever so he would like to take rest. No darshan today. But if possible can you get the ice pack for him because he is having a problem. So that was around 10:30 at night. So we were so happy that we could serve Guru Maharaj by some means. So then I was just running here and there. Finally we found one shop after probably half an hour of search, got a pack of ice and we just came and gave it to the servant and we left the place. Next day we again went to the place. And then the servant was sharing that. By the time we had given the ice pack, Dur Maharaj's temperature was okay. He did not require the ice pack. But then he remembered. Guru Maharaj remembered that somebody has brought ice packs for him. So he asked the servant to bring that. I want to keep it on me because he has gone and fetched it for me. Oh, that was so sweet. So he's accepting service whether he requires or not. It was really touching for me.

Khichori has another event to tell something. Yes.

One time when Gunvaras had come from Mumma the airport, the servants, he came late night. And the last minute we came to know that Guru Maharaj takes tender coconut first thing in the morning. And we were asked to buy tender coconut. And we were searching around because most of the shops were closed by then. Somehow we managed to.

It was around 11 o' clock at.

Night, 11 in the night. And then we managed to buy a couple of tender coconut and we took a to the place where Guru Maharaj was staying. And we thought, okay, we are done. We gave the tentacle coconut. We were about to leave and then the servants came out announcing that Gur Maharaj wanted to give blessings to all those devotees who are here. And we were just few because it was 11 in the night, nobody was there. And we thought, oh, okay. Because when he came to the airport, we were busy searching the tender coconut. We didn't have darshan in the airport.

We were a little bit disappointed that we couldn't see him. And he was staying there only overnight. So next day he would leave.

He was in a transit.

So we were a little bit down. But then we thought, okay, service is more important. So we just ran around and brought the tender government.

And hardly like we were about to leave. And yeah, we were about to leave and everybody came out announcing that he wanted to see all the devotees here and give listen. And it was 11, 11:30 in the night.

So that was in the hotel as well.

Yes.

Many sleep memories, especially in Chennai.

Can you tell us how Guru Maharaj, how you see Guru Maharaj following Prabhupada instructions.

His personification of following Prabhupada's instruction? Very recently we were talking also. Now Guru Maharaj is not talking about making disciples, he is talking about making Acharyas. Especially in today's class, Guru Maharaj was saying that there should be millions of Acharyas. I was like.

Because that was Prabhupada's instructions.

Prabhupada's instructions to him. Acharya's instructions?

Yeah. Prabhupada told him that all the Rasta disciples should be Paramahamsas. So he often repeats that. And also, I mean we were involved in one publication of magazines. So in that we had actually published that Gur maharaj received around 50 instructions from Srila Prabhupada. So all those 50 instructions, we had printed it at the back of the magazine. It was amazing. Actually when we came to know about that, he remembered all the instructions that he received from srila prabhupada. Remembering 50 instructions is not an easy thing.

Well, if you have anything to say, you can tell now or you can say anything to Guru Maharaj.

Gurma Maharaj, thank you so much. You're not very good disciples, but still, thank you so much for being a Guru. I'm sure like one day or other we will ensure that we follow all your instruction and be a good disciple of yours. You are our hope, you are our motivation that we are continuing our Ka Consciousness process. You make it very, very interesting. You give us lot of options to make our Ka Consciousness journey very sweet and enjoyable.

From my side. Guru Maharaj, thank you so much for having come to our life. Because without your presence, I think our life would have become void. And as I was mentioning in our realization as well, many a times when we had challenge, you were always there trying to motivate us and you also blessed us. So through those blessings and prayers we are able to say through so far and we are hoping that as Sevanandi also mentioned that we can be of some use to you in your preaching mission. We are trying to preach, but there are challenges as well because especially after Covid, it has been becoming challenging. But please bless us that we are able to reach out to more souls and connect them all to you. Thank you. And we also seek the blessings of all the Vaishnavas, senior devotees of Sh. Br. Maharaj so that we follow your path.

Indian serving Guruji, please come to very fast. Chennai Hare Krishna Gurumani.