Lava-Mātra: A Moment with Jayapatākā Swami: HG Suranātha Madana Mohana Dāsa #JayapatakaSwamiArchives

Hare Krishna. My name is Suranath Madan Mohandas. And I took. I mean I was introduced to Ka Consciousness in the year 1996 from Madurai Tyagarajar Engineering College through his grace Shankadari Prabhu was the temple president of is the temple president of Madurai iskcon. So every weekends we used to go to temple. We used to stay with Prabhu and we were cultivated, I mean Srila Prabhupada's books and Guru Maharaj's lectures we used to hear and we used to have the Brahmachari preaching during weekends. So I mean we were doing, we were staying in temple and used to attend Manglarati during weekends. And then we go for book distribution. We come back evening we had very wonderful Kirtan Nagar Sankirtan. Everything were there. And then we used to go back to our college hostels. That was how we were gradually introduced to Krishna Consciousness. And after that I got placed in Tata Consultancy Services as a software professional. And since then I am just practicing Krishna Consciousness as a congregation devotee here in chennai. And during 2017 January Maharaj I took. I mean I decided to be serious disciple of Guru Maharaj. And I took shelter from Guru Maharaj. And in July 2017 Guru Maharaj has kindly accepted me as one of his disciples. I mean always during my career Guru Maharaj has blessed me with wonderful, I mean wonderful association through his lectures and through his personal. I mean personal association in the sense through his lectures. And mainly my family members, all my family members are disciples of Guru Maharaj. My mother, she only brought us in Ka Consciousness. Her name is Jayarada Devidasi. She is second initiated disciple of Guru Maharaj. And. And then my elder sister Hema Gopi Devidasi. Earlier she was serving in Congregational Development Ministry magazine. And now she, I mean after that she was serving in Bhaktivedanta school as a principal and as a teacher. And right now she is also guiding children there in Ka Consciousness. And my younger sister Ashtashaki Gopi, she is also a disciple of Guru Maharaj. This way my entire family, we are disciples of Guru Maharaj. And Maharaj has kindly accepted us as his disciples and he has blessed our family.

Raghu, can you tell us about the initiation? How was the initiation domain, what it means?

Actually there were three options given to me. Whether the name. Whether do you have. Do you want name from Krishna Leela or Gaura Leela or you want to leave the name as Guru Maharaj choice. I left the name to be Guru Maharaj choice. Maharaj has wonderfully given me the name of Suranath Madan Mohan Das. That is how I got the wonderful name. And during my initiation, sorry, I don't remember the name of the devotee that Prabhu was asking me what was the importance of Guru in spiritual life. So if Guru will not be there, if Guru is not there, will there be a person? Can a person go back to Krishna? That was the question asked to me during my interview. So I told that it is not possible without Guru. It is not possible to go back to Krishna. That was my understanding. But Prabhu told no, there is a difference. Even without Guru, you can go to Krishna. But it is very, very difficult. It is like a stray child, an orphan child without any support. It's not possible. It's very difficult, though. It is possible, but it is difficult. Same way, if the child is protected by its own parents, wealthy parents, it's easy for the child. The chances are becoming, I mean, becoming a nice person or becoming a big person in society is. I mean, the chances are more. So that was how he explained me. So without Guru, we can go to Krishna, but it is very difficult. So that was. I mean, I did not have that understanding, but Prabhu has kindly bless me with that understanding. And he was just asking me whether I know Guru Pranam Mantra, whether I know how to put tilak and what are all the services I do to temple and what are all my daily routines at home. So I mean, do you do Guru Puja? He was asking me to sing Guru Puja, Sri Guru Charana Padma song. So and Mangalarati also. I mean, he just asked me to explain the programs and what was the importance of initiation. So all those questions were asked to Venanti Ji.

Can you tell us your memories from the Maharaj?

Yeah, so I personally did not have. I was not very fortunate to have very close association with Guru Maharaj. So when I was a student, I think it was in 1997 or 98, I don't exactly remember the year. But by then Guru Maharaj was there in Madurai. So I had an opportunity to translate one of his lectures. So where he was attending both the congregation, devotees and also the student community, where what could be the possible difficulties that can come up in Krishna Consciousness and how to overcome them and how enthusiastically we should always be Krishna Consciousness, Krishna conscious is what he explained to everyone. And it was very. I mean, he was enthusiastically explained all those things. And main thing, whenever I just close, in case, if I have difficult Time I have to meditate on Guru Maharaj when I close my eyes, I used to get the way he sings Nar Singarati and he plays the big Kartal. So that is how I always remember him. Whenever I get into difficult situations in my personal life or or tensed situation, stressed situation. Even in office times, I used to meditate on Guru Maharaj's lotus feet and think about his face. I used to get his the way he recites Narasimha prayers. So that's what comes to my mind first.

Can you tell us about the lecture?

Yes. So during 2005 Rath Yatra, I happened to attend one lecture, I mean lecture given by Guru Maharaj for Rath Yatra. So till that time, I mean by then I had taken Prabhupada Ashraya. I know that I was not supposed to take onion and garlic. But in my mind I personally did not go and take onion and garlic. I avoided them. But in case if I had to go out with my supervisors, superiors and if they offer me something, they know that I don't eat eggs non vegetarian. But sometimes if they offer me some snacks garnished with onion or something of that sort, I was bit hesitant to say no for them. Because thinking they are my boss, how can I say after all this is vegetarian food. That's what I was thinking. So it's not my personal choice. But it is unavoidable. He is my supervisor. I should not say no. And then I used to take. Then I said, sorry Prabhupada, I know I should not take, but I have taken it. Sorry, it was not my choice then. So I joined my job in 1999. So till 2005 I was following this kind of standard in Krishna consciousness. If unavoidable, I used to take that as an unavoidable circumstance. It's not personal, it's not my wish. It's an unavoidable circumstance. I have to take onion means I will take. That was what I was thinking. But during 2005 Rath Yatra lecture, Guru Maharaj, I don't know how he knew that. He just looked at my eyes. But he told me, many devotees still think that taking onion and garlic is kind of okay. Because after all they are plant foods, vegetarian foods. But spiritually taking onion and garlic is worse than taking meat is what he told me straight on looking at my eyes. And after telling that statement, he was just doing like this. And he did not speak. He just looked at my eyes. I was looking at him. He was looking at my eyes. And he was just. After saying that statement, he was just looking at me and he was doing like this. So I felt how did Maharaj know about that? That was a very personal instruction for me. So till from that time till today, to the best of my remembrance, I have not taken onion and garlic once or twice I thought maybe it is without onion and garlic. But when I put one or two footsteps, I felt the smell of garlic and I just spit that out. So that is how it was. So from that day onwards till today, I am strictly following now. I am initiated by the mercy of Guru Maharaj. So I am able to follow the instructions nicely. Whatever Maharaj has given me, it was his blessing on me.

Can you tell us how you see Guru Maharaj following Prabhupada? Stretching.

Yeah. During. I mean, I had opportunity to hear few of his lectures and for some of his disciples. How Maharaj is enthusiastically. What are all the. Guru Maharaj. How Guru Maharaj has enthusiastically taken up all the instructions of Srila Prabhupada and how he is following all the. How he is putting his life and soul to fulfill all the dreams of Srila Prabhupada in terms of accepting disciples, in terms of completing various projects in Mayapur, especially temple of Vedic Planetarium. So how Maharaj is putting his life and soul for fulfilling all the dreams of Srila Prabhupada. That is very nicely enthusiasing everyone, especially myself.

Any other memories? Maybe Babin Kharan.

As I said, I did not have much of personal association. Once or twice I was fortunate enough to stay, I mean, go close to Maharaj and Guru Maharaj. And during Guru Puja during my. When I had. Whenever I had been to Mayapur, I had opportunity to attend Guru Puja of Guru Maharaj. So that was kind of. I felt myself very fortunate. I mean, I understand Guru Maharaj is more pleased doing more than Vapu Seva. If disciples follow his instructions, he is more pleased is what I understand. Madhu. I request Maharaj. I beg Maharaj, that Guru Maharaj to please help me to follow all his instructions and somehow or other give me. I mean, if he feels that I can be of some use or service to him, I beg Maharaj to kindly offer me the service.

You also mentioned that we like to do service for the lp.

I'm not sure about what are all the services there. I know little bit on audio editing, improving the quality of audio files and improvising the quality of video. I'm just learning it on my own. If I can be of some help. I will be pleased to do that, Mataji. I'll be very happy to do that. Thank you so much, Mataji, for this opportunity. All glories to Guru Maharaj Hare Krishna.