Lava-Mātra: A Moment with Jayapatākā Swami: HG Rādhikā Haripradā Devī dāsī #JayapatakaSwamiArchives

My name is Radhika. This is my karmic name actually. And I was, I was initiated just two months ago on March 25, 2023. And my initiated name turned out to be Radhika Hari Prada Devidasi. Okay? So my journey with ISKCON starts from when I was in my eighth grade. And I was basically born and brought up in Bangalore. So there, the first time, you know, we got introduced to a very big temple. You know, people started coming and telling us, you know, we were in Mahalakshmi layout. So there were people telling, you know, that there's a big temple, come, come up, you know, so why don't you just go and have a look at the temple? So this was I think somewhere in 96, 95, 96. Okay. So then we thought, okay, my brother and me and parents, we thought, okay, why not just visit the temple? So we went to Hare Krishna hill, Rajaji Nagar, which we never knew at that time that it was a Ritvik based temple. So we went there. We liked the atmosphere. The temple was, you know, magnanimous, very huge and very bright. And we got wonderful prasadam. So I thought, okay, I have to come back to this temple just to have the prasadam alone. Okay? So that was the way we started. Then they gave us this. Initially they gave us this beads, you know, they said, why don't you chant Hare Krishna? So I saw everybody chanting there, which brother also was fascinated by it. We too, you know, my brother is younger to me. So we too, you know, we got fascinated by the idea. We thought, what is this chanting all about? So we just sat there. We heard the sare Krishna Mahamandra. They said, if you chant this, it's very good. We thought, okay, something is good. And they said, you will be happy. So we thought, okay, we'll be happy. So we were school students. So we thought, you know, we'll become happy. Why not, you know, try this. So after coming back home, we started this on a regular basis, you know. So there was a competition between my brother and me. How many rounds? We used to chant four rounds, two rounds. So if he's doing two rounds, I want to do one more round extra. So it was not just of any devotion or nothing. It was just a competition based. So that from there it started fast forward, you know, got married and until then, you know, we just used to go to the temple. We didn't know much about the temple. We didn't know much about the authorities. My brother used to attend occasionally because at that time, you know, to send the girls outside for a very long hours. Parents never used to agree, so they used to send me. But they used to ensure that my brother was there. If my brother is not there, they don't send me. And if it is early morning, they don't send me. So there are so many restrictions. So. And my dad was very protective of his daughter. So it's only when my parents visit the temple, they'll take me to the temple. That was the way. So the chanting used to just go on. Sometimes I used to just sleep and chant, walk and chant, have food and chant. So it just used to, it was a normal process but we didn't know anything. Okay. But my brother started attending some classes there. Folk, it was friends of Lord Krishna, some classes there. And he started telling, do you know that, you know, ISKCON has this kind of, this thing. We, there is someone called Prabhupada, he is the founder. He started coming and you know, telling small, small things. I was then, you know, I really got the hold of it. I thought okay, what is this all about? You know, I have to find out. So next time I went, I brought some books so that I will know what exactly it is. Because my brother hardly used to spend some time and after that he used to go to play. And my brother was a non veg eater. And I was, I think from my seven years though we are into a Nair community in Malayalu. Malayalu is Nayar community from Kerala. Okay. So we are, we are so called as you know, hardcore non veg eaters. So I don't know from beginning of my life, you know, from a very young age itself I used to hate this non veg concept. Killing something, eating it. And so I was, by the time of five years my parents started feeding non veg. And by the time 7, I was 7. You know, I revolted against it. I revolted against it and I said I'm not going to eat. I don't know why, I don't know why. I, I don't feel like eating. So let me just stop it. So initially I had lot of hassles from the parents. They said no, you're a girl, you should have bone density. That somehow, you know, they were forcing me to have non veg. I said no, I don't like this, I don't like this concept of a non veg. Let me just stop it, okay? I was the first one to stop in the family. I said I'm not going to have. So whenever we used to go to our relatives Place they used to say, oh, she is too much of attitude. She's not having. So this is for a purpose. You people are spoiling her. You should force her. She. She. She is. You should force her to have. You know, she's just showing off, you know that. But from the heart of arts I had stopped. So I never liked it from the beginning. Then later slowly my father saw me and he thought see my little daughter, she is not having. Then why should I have? So my father stopped. Okay then. My brother was attending these classes every Sunday with two of his other friends. So when he started attending the classes, he understood, you know, slowly, slowly that non veg is not good and all that. They were feeding so much of information there. So slowly he stopped. Then after that fast forward. You know, about 10 years before only my mom stopped because she was born up, brought up in Kela that was a coastal area where they get lot of fish and all this stuff. So she was, you know, hell bent on eating. She said, you people leave, I will not leave. She used to go to my uncle's home and. And my husband also, you know, he was also a non vegetarian. So they used to cook. And then later slowly, you know that awaited. So my mom also she understood the values, you know, she liked some guru sir that was from another community. So I got her introduced to that guru. And you know, I asked that guru to speak to her, you know, related to non veg. So when she spoke, I mean when that person spoke, she felt, you know, somewhat guilty. She thought, okay, my children are not having, my husband is not having. I'm the only one, you know, hell bent on having this. So finally she also stopped. So our home became a vegetarian home completely. I was. I had only one this thing. While I got married. I had only one condition for my husband. In case you. You can welcome vegetarianism. And if even if further we have kids, you know, they will be vegetarian. That's the only time, you know I will agree for this proposal. Otherwise I'm not good. So he said that's fine. So my children also, thank goodness they are also into this vegetarian singing. So my husband very occasionally only have zong because he has no other go. Okay, so this is one, one part of it. And about Jayapatika Maharaj. Guru Maharaj, the singer I have after coming to know, you know this that you know Hiscon Hare Krishna hill, that is which is in Rajayanagar is a Rudvik. We were not knowing what is this Rudvik all about. So we had so much of Discussions. My brother came to know that it is not, you know, they are not following Srila Prabhupada's instructions exactly, okay? Although they are praying to Srila Prabhupada, but they are not ready to take up Prabhupada's list of followers or whomever Prabhupada initiated. They are not ready to take the other people coming in the lineage. Although we are coming from a lineage, okay? So then my brother, my brother, he started revolting against it. He faced lot of issues with the temple, you know, in the sense later what happened was. Later what happened was, you know, he, he went and said some people there and the, the thing, you know, the temple, whoever were his seniors, you know, he said, see, you people are running like this. How is it possible? It's not good, you know, you should, you should, you know, say you mean you should give due respect to other guru souls, other whoever are coming from Srila Prabhupada, you know, you should give due respect to them also. Then they, we didn't know, okay? That would become such a big issue. Then slowly the ones who were seniors to my brother, they were kind of so called spies, okay? So they went and told the seniors and their seniors went and told the seniors about them like that. It went and reached the top, topmost lineage. And one day my brother was called up from the temple. They said, you have to come and meet the temple president right away. And my brother didn't tell us any of these things, okay? And he said he went there. I asked him why you were so tense. He didn't say anything. No, no, nothing, nothing. It's okay. Everything is fine. And he went there. That was on a Sunday, I remember very well. And we didn't even know. Around 200 people have surrounded my brother and he's only one made to stand in the center. And they're questioning, who asked you to tell all this? Why you telling all the others? You know, you have told this person, you have told that person. Who. How dare you tell all this? How do you spread all these things? Unnecessary things. Then my brother said, no, I got the information. That is why, you know, I said, it's not good. So then you know, my brother was telling, it was in such a way that they will one before they finish the question, the other one will raise another question. Then the other one will raise like that. 200 people had surrounded him and they made a YouTube video also of that, okay? So then finally they said, from now on you cannot enter this temple, okay? And they said your photo will be put there. The other thing, entry log, you know, wherever you're getting in. So there your photo will be put in. They would have said you will be banned from entering here. Okay, so then there was so much of discussions and they said they'll put a case. And then you know, from Sheshadipuram and many other branches of ISKCON many people came forward for my brother's help. That is you know, the temple presidents. And then, you know that got sorted out eventually. But my brother had to stop going to the temple. Then finally he understood that these were the right people. Then slowly, slowly we started going to other temples associated with ISKCON, I.e. sheshadripuram and all the other. So whenever my brother used to go there, I mean I didn't see the magnanimous temple which was there before. But although I saw the small temples, I thought okay, might be something is there like that. You know, we used to visit the temple but we didn't know much of the things. We only knew that you know, they are conducted by ISKCON and it is under gbc. We understood GBC only then. Okay, so for my mom, my mom also took an oath. She said my brother, my son is not allowed to enter into a certain temple. So I will also not enter. Okay. So she also stopped it. So that way your entire family stopped from Hare Krishna hill. Okay, then we started going. We started going to other centers. Okay, we started going to other centers and we, we were, you know, just normal chanting and reading books, books and all that. Not much of classes. We didn't know many things. Then. Then I got married. From that time till 2014 or 2015, I was in isolation because I had kids and I was busy with them. And you know, I just deep desire, you know, this something is something, you know, this was running around and the chanting and you know something, I, I brought this Krishna book and Bhagavad Gita book. And I used to think something, let me read, you know, for my unborn children, you know, let me read. So whenever I was, I had conceived also I used to read this Krishna book and Bhagavad Gita, these two only. Okay, so I remember I was fascinated by the name, word Aniruddha and Arjun. And I have named them the same way only. Okay, so and slowly, slowly, slowly. 2015, I got introduced to her grace Utsamai Mataji. She was my father, first Chiksha guru, you can say she was in Anna Nagari itself here. And she had, you know, a Huge number of people gathering at her home. And Mataji guided me to Sridashyam Prabhu whom she addressed as her Shikya guru. Okay, so that is the way I got into the association of two wonderful Shiksha gurus. That is her grace Utsame Mataji and his grace Sridhar Shamprabhu. And I understood that these people, you know, single handedly they used to go on a moped, you know, travel to each one of the place. Might be some place, places are 10 kilometers, 15 kilometers away. They travel there, you know, even in spite of, you know, so many problems from within the families for the Mataji I'm talking, yet she used to go travel there personally, meet all the devotees, take classes. She used to encourage so many people. And her sweet response, her sweet way of, you know, approach her sweet way of approaching the newcomers and you know, the vibe she created among them. Although I used, I never used to attend, I mean, understand much for me, you know, they should be be a kick or some enjoyment in whatever classes I'm attending. So if I don't get that click kick, you know, I don't. But if there is some cause, then I just jump in for, you know, I, in fact I had so much of doubt, you know, because it's very difficult, you know, that you maintain a smile throughout your face throughout the day. You, because you keep getting somewhere around 50, 60 calls a day. You know, people are asking, should I do this, should I do that, should I come there? Is there class tomorrow? You know, I had this problem here, I have this problem here. Mataji is continuously answering all the calls. She's taking the class, she's traveling, she's doing everything. She's maintaining children, her husband is dead against, but still she's doing everything for him. Everything is happening in the family. And still, you know, she's maintaining a smile on her face. And I, I had so much of doubt, you know, might be there's a duplicity to this. I used to go and question the kids. Is your mother mom? You know, seriously very happy even she same way she stays humble itself. She said, yeah, that's amazing quality. I have never got all these years because morning I'll be very sweet mom, by the end of the day I become a dinosaur. So I was thinking, how is this possible? You know. Then I understood their dedication to the to, you know, as an offering to Guru Maharaj. You know, they both of them have dedicated Sri the Shamprabhu is almost like, you know, single noun, okay? He doesn't have Anyone And Mataji, we being within the family, she is, you know, got. She's, you know, had so much of people as a community. Okay. So she has so many people together. She has forms, so many. I think if, if I count, I think approximately she would have brought somewhere around 400 to 500 people. Okay. Under Sridhar, Shyam, Prabhu and Mataji's guidance. So you know, I was thinking, you know, this is not easy at all. Even to this date. Mataji has shifted to Bangalore now. But still even to this date I have seen, you know, how many people call Mataji, even me. Even to this date also I call Mataji and I talk to her. I told her, you know, if I have some doubts in the Shastras or something and such a well read thing. So my experience goes there. And then I found out that, you know, okay, these people have something called as Guru and they are following some guru and Mataji during every this thing, you know, they used to say Guru Maharaj. I used to think who is this Guru Maharaj? Guru Maharaj. They are saying, you know, so many times. So and my brother, you know, my friends, few. I mean by then, you know, I had created a whole community kind online wherein, you know, I used to take because I wanted to read the Shlokas well, okay. So I created one Bhagavad Gita platform and some Sindhi community people were there. So I asked them to send the link to whomever they know. They sent it. So it reached, it went everywhere. So people from Delhi, there abroad and everywhere they joined in the group. So when they joined the group, you know, they were reciting. I understood that, you know, some, some of the so called friends of mine from Delhi and all they have taken initiation, so called initiation from one particular guru. Okay. Then I asked, they said Guru Maharaj name. Okay. Then I said, okay. So how is he? Is it there anything in Google about him? Okay. At that time they said no, it wasn't there. Okay. Then I said my brother, you know, he said I'm going to take from Guru Maharaj. So my brother said he, he is, he would like to get initiated from Guru Maharaj. I, I heard you know, this name is same. I asked what did you say? Whose name did you say? So you said Guru Maharaj name. I was instructed by my Shiksha guru not to address as the Guru's name. Once you, you know, you become the disciple, you know, you just say Guru Maharaj, Guru Maharaj. So that's why I'm saying that's why I'm doing Guru Maharaj. So the name sounded similar. Okay. Then I asked who is he? You know, I want to know who he is. Please show me. You also telling the same name. And that girl is also telling the same name. Her friend is also telling the same name. My brother's friend is also telling the same name. And his wife is also telling the same name. I said, so many people are telling the same name. Yeah. I want to see who the person is, you know, you just show me. Then finally they showed one photo. He looked very handsome. I said, wow, he is a guru. I never knew. I never knew. I was so enthused, you know, seeing that huge frame. Then I said, wow, this is the guru. Fine, okay. Even you people tell me what all this initiation is about. After that, you know, even I'll try coming in. Ok. Then slowly each one started sending their names to me saying, you know, this is my name. Initiated name. This is my initiated name. I thought, wow, these people are getting initiated. I don't know what that process is, but it's good to hear. Okay. Then during some. Some get together like this, you know, at a Mataji's at my Shiksha Guru's place that time she gave me a photo of Guru Maharaj along with some books as some complimentary for some service or something. Whatever I did. Okay, let me not go into detail about. So when I got that photo, I had heard from one Vizag devotee family who had come to my home saying that, you know, whomever you would like to worship as your Guru Maharaj. I mean, you know, in future, you. You like you are aspiring from that particular person. If you have a photo of this and you keep praying every day, you know, please accept me as your disciple. Please accept. One day, you know, it might materialize. So I was thinking by then, you know, I had heard so many audios and videos of His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj. I had the photo, I had kept it there. And I was, you know, always thinking of Radhanath Maharaj. So that's actually a very. It becomes too big. Is it? Okay? Okay. So what happened was I got the opportunity of meeting Guru Maharaj during Janmashtami. I think somewhere in 2015, Janmashtami celebrations for that Guru Maharaj had come sitting there. I think because he was on some treatment, he had come there. But eventually he was there during Janmashtami. So Mataji had encouraged us so much that we all, you know, Mai Shiksha Guru, we were ready for all kinds of service. You know, we were Ready to lay down there and do all kinds of services. Service. So I went. I was allotted the book distribution service on that day. So I was standing in the book distribution counter. And from morning, I think from morning, 7:30 or something, we are standing there around 8:30 night, Guru Maharaj is coming there. Okay? So everybody telling Guru Maharaj, I'm saying, who's that? Who's that? Who's that? I was saying he was coming from the top floor. So I saw somebody in the beach. I said, wheelchair. He's coming in a wheelchair. He's Guru Maharaj. But that was not photo. Okay? So, okay. Then I saw. Seriously, he is Guru Maharaj. I can't even believe, you know, what the concept I had was. If you're praying to God, if you're an exalted soul, you know, the God should, you know, relieve you of everything and you should be strong, healthy, wealthy, everything, you know, you should have everything. So this was my concept. So immediately I'm seeing a person in a wheelchair. Seriously, this is the person whom I saw in the photo, okay? So when I didn't even, even before I realized I'm seeing Guru Maharaj has come close to me and he's standing there. I saw his face and he saw me. And somebody, I don't remember who now, they were telling Maharaj, she's doing good service. She's just now joined here. And I think my Shisha Guru only was telling, okay, so she's doing good. No, no, not my Shushya Guru. She has asked someone to say, I think so. She's doing good service. Her two sons are also there. They are also distributing books worth 3,000, something my children had already distributed for the day. 3,000 each, okay? Bhagavad Gita books. So they said, you know, the wonderful family there. So Guru Maharaj immediately stopped there, okay, with the servants, you know, he stopped there, the vehicle, and he asked how much of this he took. 1 Bhagavad GI. I don't remember the exact quote. I think I said 200 because that was being sold for 200. Then Guru Maharaj, I want it for 50. So sorry, Gumaj, not possible. Not possible. Then everybody is saying this, Guru Maharaj, you have to give. I said, how is it possible? You know, this is kind of scandal. You know, they're asking me to give. I said, sorry, it is 200. This went on. Then my Shiksha Guru, she helped me. Please. That is Guru Maharaj. Meanwhile, I'm thinking, if he is so very exalted, why is he In a wheelchair, okay? Look at my offense, okay? Total ignorance and offense, okay? I'm thinking, why is he in a wheelchair? You should be healthy and not at all proper. You know, something is going on. Then I thought, okay, whatever they are telling, you know, let me give for the Ram Guruma, et cetera, okay? I gave the book. Gurma said, good, thank you. And then he asked the servant to pay them money. I took the money. I thought, whatever it is, you know, it's not good that, you know, we don't give 200. So I'll put another 150 from my pocket and I'll write that. I wrote and I put another one that was over for that day. So this was the initial, this thing, you know, interaction. Although, you know, I saw the person and I thought, this is not the same person, you know, whom I wanted to see. Okay? Then after that, my second meeting with him was everybody said, you know, there was an announcement made that Guru Maharaj is coming to the temple. He is going to take a class and something, you know, he wants to meet. I think that was some initiation ceremony, something like that. So Guru Maharaj is coming. And as usual, you know, Mataji had inspired us so much. Again, we were into service. So we had come there for some service. And that time, you know, we sat for the class. So Guru Maharaj is taking class. Normally, I am not very much interested in philosophical classes. So I just hear, okay, here and there, here and there. Something, something they say which is very captivating or interesting. Something, you know, immediately my ear stand up and I concentrate over. After that, again, you know, my attention span is gone. So I was sitting like this. And in between the class, you know, I'm thinking, okay, very boring. Too much of translation and everything is going on, you know, how long will this take? You know, I'm sitting like this. Suddenly there was some. Some particular topic wherein, you know, Guru Maharaj is. The translator is sitting. Guru Maharaj is sitting and the translator has to translate in Tamil. No. So he said something, you know, Then that person, he started laughing. Ha, ha, ha, ha ha. So the translator, then the person started laughing. Guru said, no, you have to that, you know, immediately I. Wow, Sadhgla. I immediately said. And I started laughing. You know, I was roaring out laughing. I thought, wow, he is really cool. Okay. Then I thought, okay, now I understand why, you know, then immediately I went home and I took and kept his photo on the altar. I thought, okay, now, you know, let us see what magic works out. Because the Vizag devotee family, whoever had come and stayed in my house. They had said, any good Guru you want to you're aspiring from, keep their photo and start worshipping them. I said, I think you're yo, yo, Guru, let me pray to you. Okay, Any day. But let it be a quick initiation. I don't want elaborate process. Okay? So this is what I used to pray. And slowly, slowly the days went away. Then immediately I was approached by one Mataji. Some days she had to go to a certain place. Let me not name the place and all that. There some GBC heads, all the GBC heads were supposed to assemble. And this particular Mataji wanted to meet some other person, okay, Whom she is aspiring from. So she asked, are you willing to go? And I thought, okay, why not? It will be a help for her because she's single. So I thought okay. And I heard many instances of her, you know, she. She was. She has driven Guru Maharaj personally to many places and all that. So I thought, okay, let me, you know, just accompany her. It would be good. I can also meet that person. Because my mother, initially she was aspiring from the same person, same person. So then I went there, I saw to my. And I taken my 7 year old child also there. Younger child. I went there and I was so stunned, you know, because this was an ECR singer and Adani apartments. Okay? So I'm seeing all the heads of GBC have come there. I never even knew, you know. And the particular this thing person whom this Mataji was supposed to meet also he reprimanded her, you know, he said, how can you come like this? You should have taken permission from me. I heard that. I never taken aback because I seriously didn't know, okay, that when all the Brahmachari sanyasis, when all the sanyasis are there, I mean, you know, you ladies should not go like that. I never knew. I mean, not knew in the sense. I didn't know that that was the event. I thought she's only going to meet this person. But so many. I saw most of the Maharajs there that day. And I'm seeing everybody. But I don't know their names, I don't know their faces. But I know so many people. I'm, you know, just from here only, you know, all Ashurbat is being taken. Then suddenly my third interaction with Gurmaraj. I'm thinking the one whom I wanted to take in is okay. I told you I had this early desire of taking from Radhanath Maharaj. I had expressed this desire to this particular Mataji long Back. Okay. So the one whom she wanted to meet also was a disciple of that particular Maharaj only. So she went and she. She was there. And suddenly, you know, Gurmaraj is coming out from the. The thing, the meeting room. He. I think he wanted to go to the restroom. I mean seriously, I never even thought, you know, the meeting will be at that place or whatever it is, you know, I brought my son also, no. So I wanted to see wherever he is going. You know, I used to only just accompany him there. And I was standing far away because already I heard the reprimanding the same. So I thought, let me not disturb anyone. So I was going far away. Then I saw Guru Maharaj being taken by the servants in a wheelchair to the restroom. I didn't know that was the restroom also, you know, I just saw he's being taken somewhere. Then immediately I saw from far I saw. I was so enthused because I only remember the previous lecture, okay? And I immediately, you know, fell down, paid my obeisances. He saw that from far I am paying obeisances. He asked his servants to stop, stop the vehicle. And so sweet of him, you know, he had to go to the rest stop for me. Then I thought he stopped. So shall I move further and then, you know, proceed to him or should I stop here? Then I thought, okay, let me just take courage and just move. And I went there. Hare Krishna Guru from far only paid obesity. Then this girl, she. She came with me, the Smata ji. So. So Maharaj knows her from before only because she's single. And you know, she. She was the one who used to drive Maharaj to some locations and all. So. Hi, how are you? I've never seen you. I was not well. You didn't send me any message and all that, you know. You talking to her. How lucky she is. He's talking to her. He's not even bothered about me. Anyways, it's okay. I've just taken Obesan sister. Okay. Then suddenly she said, for what have you both come here? So she said, I want to meet this person. And she also wants to get initiated from Radhanath Maharaj. I. From the heart of Aajuna. I'm thinking, why the hell did you say this? Anybody is. All are in the same way. All are in the same league, you know, I didn't. But it's only in the mind, you know. I'm not telling in words. I'm just standing close to her and thinking, why did you break the spot? Now anybody would have been fine for me. You know, I would be very happy, you know, to get from this Maharaj also. Immediately Guru Maharaj, you know, he looked at both of us good. That particular Maharaj is very taking very good care of my disciples. My disciples. Is that me? My me also. Okay. I thought, okay, let me lock it. You know, I think this is an initiation. Only informal initiation. Let me keep it that way and let me preserve it for a lifetime. In case I'm not getting initiative. I think this is initiation and I'll. Then he asked, what are you people doing? And then I had some bananas I brought for that person. I gave, you know, he wants something else. Okay? He wants to say something else. So I understood. But I didn't know, you know, I'm naive. I didn't know what to say. Then again, paid obeisances. And after that, you know, my only thought was. Now three times I have interacted with Maharaj closely. But all the three times I have missed my children. Okay? But on Janmashtami, my elder child, you know, he was called by Guru Maharaj because they were doing good service. He asked him to sleep on his lap, okay? And he was patted on his lap for some time. Then immediately, my Shiksha Guru, take photo. Take photo. Where to take photo. No phone, nothing. We are sitting in the distribution. Unfortunately we lost the opportunity. But I understood that he's got the blessing. So my heart used to regret that my younger one hasn't got the blessings. So he should also some way or the other get blessings of Gurmaraj. Mercy of the meeting Guru Maharaj. Then the same day, okay, One Prabhu, he immediately came and he said, Hare Krishna, he said, yes, Prabhu. So we are just going for a short sing here tour here. So we would like your younger son to accompany us. Prabhu, your phone number or something. Because in case he's not coming back early, I have to track him. It's okay. He's safe with us. You just leave. Prabhu, where are you people going? No, Motherji, don't. Don't worry. We are just going and coming back. Okay? Then this particular Motherji was standing. She said, send. No. Yeah, seriously, send. Okay, send. Then when he came back, he gave me. He narrated one incident. He said in the vehicle which he was being taken with this particular servant, you know, in that vehicle, Guru Maharaj is there, okay? And Guru Maharaj is sitting there. And he is. The servants have cut the apples for him. And Guru Maharaj has given one apple to my younger son. And he asked him to eat. So he is telling I had and I was just looking at him, Mummy. Okay, so all the three wishes fulfilled. Okay. Then the fourth wish is informal way of, you know, getting initiation. Okay, so everything is done. I thought my life is successful enough from now on. No need to think of anything. After that. There were many instances, you know, I'm only hearing glories of Guru Maharaj. When I started seeing his videos more, I wanted to know how he is, what. So I used to ask my Shisha Guru many times after that. Somewhere in 2020, 2021, I met her grace Sarla Vrindavaneshwari Mata Ji. She became my next Shiksha guru. Okay, so it's been, you know, you can understand my. My thing journey with ISKCON starts from the Rithwick center in 8th standard, 8th grade up to now, you know, so I was telling her all these things, you know, so she, you know, recommended. She said, you know, you, you passed all the stages one by one. So why don't you now, you know, just go for initiation. Fine. Because then I had, by then I had completed the IDC course and all that stuff. And I had fixed in my mind that it should be Guru Maharaj only. And then shelter, I think in 2021 then now, you know, through her grace that is finally fulfilled there also in the initiation ceremony again, you know, I was thinking everybody, you know, they go there, they kneel down, they, you know, take blessings. Then Guru Maharaj gives a bead. They pull the bead. That's all. There's no kick there. No, there also I wanted a kick. I am a such thinking, some twist in my initiation, you know, it would be so good. It would be so good. Okay, then everybody are getting initiated one by1 on March 25th this year. Okay. So I'm sitting there and then suddenly they called on me. So, okay, I went there, I went there and I stood there and I was very happy, you know, till then we were like, you know, dry. What is that? The laundry which is taken out of the washing machine. We were squeezed from, you know, afternoon. We are sitting there in the hot sun and we were tired, you know, literally it's almost 8:30 or something. And Guru Maharaj, he has come from a hospital. I never knew that Guru Maharaj has come from the hospital. But you know, he's come just for, you know, initiate initiation purposes. So then I thought, I mean, can't I do this for Guru Maharaj? Just for, you know, he is suffered so much and he's coming. Then I waited and when my name Was called. I went there and they read out the name. They said Mataji's initiated name is Radha Sunaina Devi Dasi. Then again my thoughts started, you know, before when I was going on the stage, you know, I had a script in my. I had prepared mentally. Because I have seen whenever I speak mentally Maharaj is listening to everything. So I thought I have to, you know my humble obeisances to all my Shiksha gurus. Thanks to them, you know that they brought me to this platform of initiation. All this, you know, scripted in my mind. You know, I thought I have to remind voice this to Maharaj. Okay. I went there immediately. Everything I forgot. Okay. When they read the name I see I started thinking our temple president, her grace Tarni Mataji. She in one lecture she has said any exalted soul you meet anytime. Your first question to be should to them should be. You know, what kind of service can I offer to you. So now when I'm. When they read out my name, it is Radha Sunaina Devidasi. Radha means Radhika. Same thing only. Okay. Krishna's beloved. Then Sunaina means good eyes. Okay. Devi Dasi, servant of Radharani who has good eyes. That's all. That's all. There's no kikuli, no service. What does the service? Okay. Anyways I can't ask Guru Maharaj. It is his mercy. Whatever he is giving, I have to accept. I am holding. Guru Maharaj just held my beads. Normally he just pulls the beads and he just plays no with the Devon. He didn't do that. He just left the beads. Guru Maharaj hates me. He just left the beads as it is. He asked yes, what is your name? No, he said change your name. Said change your name. Okay, change my name. I was thinking why he just left the beads and he said change your name. Then he asked me, what is your name? I said Maharaj. My karmic name is Radhika. And what is the name they gave you now? I said Maharaj. My initiated. Now whatever they called out is Prada Sunayana Devi Dasi. So Maharajek. No, change your name. Change your name. Who's the authorities in charge? You know, you have to come so immediately. You know, I was sent back and this was my one more desire. You know, if at all I have just two minutes extra for with Gurmaraj, you know, how would it be? So I was made to stand right behind Gur Maharaj. I didn't leave any opportunity there. I was touching Guru Maharaj sandals, whatever I could do, you know, all I just literally freaked out on that place. You know, maximum opportunity of the minimum time. Then immediately some people were called and Guru Maharaj is giving some name to those people. And then finally they called out my name. Okay. Then it became as Radhika Hari Prada Devidasi. After that I understood there is some meaning for this, but I didn't know Hari Priya I know will be loved of Hari. Okay, but what is Hari Prada? I didn't know Prada. What is the meaning of that? Then I one particular Madhaji, she said someone who spreads the name of Ari to one and all, distributes the name of array to one and all. So I understood now what is my service. So whatever I had a deep desire in my heart and mind collided there and the name also changed. And according to me, according to the listing particular incident, the name was given. So then I understood from now on, you know, whatever way I can just, you know, dedicate this particular the Singh for Hari Nam Prachar. So this is about Guru Maharaj and my instances with Guru Maharaj. Okay, that also will go for another Habana, is it? Okay, see, I. I don't know how much, how much of. How much in a position I am to speak about Guru Maharaj and his achievements and all that. Seriously, I do not know. But all I can say is, you know, whatever I have seen of Guru Maharaj, I have heard the glories of Guru Maharaj, I can say all this that you know personally, whenever I have seen Guru Maharaj, the moment, although I am not in a position to speak about, I mean, how can I say we should only, you know, try to. We are only insignificant souls. Okay? We can't talk about Guru Maharaj achievements or whatever. But all I would say is, you know, Guru Maharaj, whenever I have seen Guru Maharaj, even if we are in the most depressed state of mind or we are the. We are left with least energy, the moment we reach Guru Maharaj, we are near Guru Maharaj. There is so much of abundance of energy and positivity around him that the moment we are somewhere, you know, 200 meters away from him also, you know, we instantly feel that grace transferred onto us. So we also become double more energetic during that time. So that is one thing which I have always felt with Guru Maharaj. And there is never the so called sanyasi tag or you know, the serious sanyasi tag attached to Guru Maharaj. As far as I have seen Maharaj is always, you know, very welcoming. And whenever I've seen Guru Maharaj he is always, you know, he is always approaching each and every soul. How much ever he can, you know, within his capacity or beyond his capacity, I can say even though he is very sick. Even I said I was initiated on March 25. So even on that day, Maharaj, I came to know later that Gurmaraj had an eye surgery. Okay? So. And after that, he has come down at night to just to give this initiation. So if you ask me about how Guru Maharaj is, you know, positioned in Srila Prabhupada's mission, okay, following Prabhupada's instructions, you know, how Guru Maharaj is following instructions, we can see very clearly Guru Maharaj had received the instruction of, you know, having 50,000 disciples. So we can see long before only Guru Maharaj has already accomplished that. I think now, I think it's almost 60,000 plus initiated devotees. Many more are aspiring from him. They are still waiting and all that, you know. So this is not a small achievement then having the Mayapur temple built. We can see personally how much Guru Maharaj is taking this thing, you know, what is that and how much of enthusiasm Guru Maharaj as towards the project. Even now when, even though he's sick and he had to go to us for a treatment and all that before he landed in Mayapur, he first completed the initiation process here, went to Mayapur, stayed there for a couple of days, did whatever is needed, and then again flew to us. So Guru Maharaj is, you know, not an ordinary person that we can speak casually about. But so speaking about the temples, you know, how many temples are under the guidance and instruction jurisdiction of Guru Maharaj, okay? So everything he's handling, even he's looking after Chennai temple, he's looking after tovp, he's looking after the gbc, this thing, whatever. And as far as I have seen, doing all these also and also following the instructions, whatever were given by Prabhupada, you know, that Guru, not just to Guru Maharaj, to anybody, whatever Srila Prabhupada's instructions was, you know, that you have to remain very humble. That we can see through Guru Maharaj. There are so many instances where when I've heard of glorifications of Guru Maharaj, I've heard that there were some tough people to handle with. Normally the devotee circle will move away from those kind of tough people. Either they are the most angriest people or they are the most unwelcoming people. But Guru Maharaj has broken all those taboos and he is gone personally and he is associated with them and he's brought them into the movement and he's so welcoming. Then the next time. We have heard instances that the same person, whomever everyone used to disown from the so called devotee community, after Guru Maharaj's approach towards a person, their behavior has changed. And after that, the same person will remain eternally humble to Guru Maharaj. Okay, so all these instructions, and moreover, you know, it is said that sanyasi should remain, I think, three days or five days in a place. That's all. They have to constantly keep traveling. This is the instruction given to Sanya. So we are seeing that with Guru Maharaj, you know, where, where is he sitting in one place. If he's doing initiation here now, then he went to Mayapur, then he went to us. All those treatments are going on and he was given instruction of spreading Harinam everywhere. I heard a certain incident forwarded to me through WhatsApp wherein, you know, Guru Maharaj was in the hospital. He had his kidney and liver transplant together. We can understand a normal person under those circumstances, how they behave, how emancipated they would be. They would be too very sick to even look after themselves or even think about anything. But Guru Maharaj. I heard even during that time post the transplant, there was a nurse who was attending to Guru Maharaj. And that particular nurse saw that Guru Maharaj was chanting on a clicker. So she asked, what is that that you are doing? So Guru Maharaj says, this is a clicker. So she asked, what does that mean? Okay, so he said, you have to chant on this Hare Krishna. So he said the full mantra. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama. One time you have to press, this is the clicker. And then it is said that after that the nurse started chanting and she became a disciple of Guru Maharaj. So that is the enthusiasm which Guru Maharaj shares, you know. And moreover, there are so many instances where other senior Vaishnavas, you know, when they are there, you know, they forbade from speaking to certain people or they move away or, you know, they have certain restrictions laid around them, you know. But Guru Maharaj is so welcoming even then, you know, he. He is the one. I think he has given more freedom to the women's preachers, you know, the women preaching community. So under Guru Maharaj, so I've seen so many women, you know, being very happy and, you know, just getting that grace or, you know, being around Guru Maharaj itself is, you know, immense encouragement for them. So that is something, you know, which I have seen from Guru Ma. If you ask about Prabhupada's mission and I mean what was Prabhupada's instructions to Guru Maharaj? We can see that one is devotees, okay? Continuously I think throughout, from during, after Srila Prabhupada Singh, from here and until now, Guru Maharaj is just moving on, continuing. He's still continuing, although with his weak ill health and his constant travel, whatever it is, his mission still remains the same. He's deep rooted in his mission towards, you know, fulfilling Prabhupada's instructions, okay? Be it opening of temples or devotee care or you know, looking after the devotee welfare or you know, even initiate initiating disciple and bringing new people into the movement. Everything Guru Maharaj has been doing in and out, that is all. This is my offering to Guru Maharaj. Thank you so much. Hare Krishna Jai Sila Prabhupada J. Gurudeva.