Lava-Mātra: A Moment with Jayapatākā Swami: HG Sumitra Kṛṣṇa Dāsa #JayapatakaSwamiArchives

Hare Krishna. This is in my remembrance of my dear Guru Maharaj. How I met him and how I taken him as my spiritual master. And what are the services that he has given to me. In the year 1985, in the month of March, one evening I just went to the temple during the Sandhyarti, attended the Sandhyarthi and the evening Bhagavad Gita class. And somehow I took permission from the local temple devotees, stayed overnight. Next morning I was so much convinced I just went to the nearby barber shop, shaved my head and became a devotee. Then those days we used to have two Guru Puja. One for Prabhupada, one for Guru Maharaj. And when I used to attend Guru Maharaj Guru Puja I used to see him sitting very big bodied and smiling face, round eyes very sharp and brownish. So I used to ask other devotees who is this personality? Then some of his senior devotees like Ganga Prabhu. So they used to tell me that he is a GBC and he is also the Guru here. So I didn't know that much because he was a new boy, new Bhakta. I didn't know much about Guru and Diksha and all. Then after one month of my seva, my temple president Ganga Prabhu he said we are all going for a Mayapur trip. I didn't know what is Mayapur. They said it is near Calcutta. So we all went in the train. A lot of devotees doing Kirtan Bhajans. Then we went to Calcutta. Got down at Calcutta Howra station. Then we went by bus to Mayapur. First time that was my first visit to Mayapur. The bus was going on and going on and going on. Rice feast and paddy feed. I was asking devotees where are we going now we are going to the headquarters of Viskon. And then the bus came near the Mayapuchendradaya main gate. That time it was full of decoration. Lot of lights were down. The many photographs and flags of Jayputa Kam Maharaj which same picture I saw in Chennai. Then they told they are going to celebrate his birthday. This is called Vyasapuja. So you're very fortunate that you have come to Mayapur to celebrate his Vyasapuja. And that time during Vyas Puja was one week program. There will be daily programs, dramas and Kirtan. And the present top temple where it is present that is a park where we had lotus fountain. And this corner they had the Homa Kundala stage where Gurukul Bos every morning six o' Clock they used to do the Vedic Homa. So that stage was temporarily made for the different festivals. Drama for Guru Maharaj Puja. So evening there was a nice program. One by one devotees were keeping on speaking and speaking and speaking. Some spoke in Bengali, some spoke in English. And lot of Mringam was moved. I was listening to each and every devotee how they were glorifying Guru Maharaj. That made my enthusiasm to see. I want to see that personality directly. So after all the glorification over, they announced that Guru Maharaj is coming. So he came, huge body. Then I was just stumbled. I was in the corner. Then he had a kirtan. He had a big wampa. Hare Krishna Jaya Radha Mahadava. Then he gave wonderful lecture and he spoke in Bengali also. I was wondering how can a foreigner speak such beautiful Bengali. I don't understand Bengali, but that Bengali was very sweet. And after the lecture, different temple presidents were announcing gifts for different devotees. Guru Mah was very particular that in his zones best new bhakta, best book distributor or given some Mahaprashad. So morning they had a big cake ceremony. Evening they were distributing the Maha Prasad. Suddenly my name was called Bhakta Suresh. My name was Suresh. When I johan best new bhakta. I was wondering when my temple president said I put your name there because you joined the temple and you are doing very nice services. I recommended your name. So I went near Guru Maharaj fell at his feet and he saw my face. I was just seeing his face like this. He handed me a big laddu. So big laddu. I said Hare Krishna, thank you. And I went back to my place. On the way, devotees were pouncing on the laddu. By the time I went to my place, I had a small, small piece so much they had Maha. So that was my first time where I met Guru Madh face to face. Then I spoke to different devotees and they said he has done a lot of services in Mayapur. Prabhupada brought him to Mayapur from 1971 to develop the Mayapur community. Then after that I went back to Chennai. Then some more Krishna engaged me in the padiyatra services as the first time Padiyatra started with Loknath Maharaj and Jaydvik Maharaj. And when the padiyatra finished almost in the month of October, November. Then there's another devotee called Arjunand Das. He was in Italian and he was very much Guru Maharaj's secretary. Very strong devotee and he was preaching in South India. He found out that I am in Uphakta speaking Tamil. He said, you plus come to the Sankirtan party distributing books. So we had a small van. We used to go to different villages and towns around Tamil Nadu, South India. In the month of November 28 in Bangalore there was a. My president told there is an initiation ceremony going on. Are you ready for initiation? I said. I said, okay, write an examination. So I just wrote Bhagavad Gita questions and all I got about 68%. The next day was initiation. Then they were calling names one by one. They said there will be two questions asked. So that before night I was thinking my Guru will ask me questions from Bhagavatam. Bhagavad Gita if you Yusuf Nishit. I was reading all those books. Maybe he's going to ask these questions. Then my heart was pumping when he went there. How many rounds you're chanting? It was 16 malas. Then what are the four regulatory principles? I told then I thought he was going to ask me questions from Bhagavatam Gita. That's it. Then he took the bead and said, your name is Sumitra Krishnadas. I was so happy that time because I got the name Mitra. Then the secretaries told me that Sumitra means auspicious friend. Krishna doesn't have any enemy. He is a friend of everyone. So I am the servant of that Krishna who is friend of everyone. So miss Auspicious. Right from my college days and school days, I always had friendship. I used to be friends of both demoniac people and good friends. So that name and a God was so happy. Mitra was there. That was my first incident which gave a big impact of Guru Maharaj. And by Guru Maharaj, mercy. In Mayapur I had got a patriarchal service. After that I got Sankat in book distribution and they told me in iskcon, book distribution is the topmost service. Prabhupada liked the service very much. So if you want to please Guru Maharaj, you have to distribute books. So from that year onwards, 1985 to 1992, I was continuously traveling in South India. In the van we used to have Gaurav Nithya deities. In the back we have brahmacharis. 4, 5 brahmacharis. Cooking in the van, sleeping in the temples, going to the people's house. Doing Guru Puja on the road. Doing Tulsi Puja on the road. Kirtan beautifully distributed. So many books. We met so many nice devotees. There are many devotees in Mayapur also which we made now those days and in 1992, Guru Maharaj had come to Chennai. That time Chennai was called Madras. So that was the British colony those days. So Guru Maharaj told, if you keep traveling, who will take care of Chennai? We need local devotees. I love traveling as Brahmachari staying in temple. We used to stay only two days in temple. Remaining days we will go for distributing books only. Rathayatra 2 days Janmashmi 2 days. We used to come. Then he said, you must stay in Chennai. Then my great heart. Because Guru's instructions are very important. So I stayed in Chennai. I was made the general manager before I was Sankitan leader. Guru Maharaj said, you should develop the Chennai activities. And I had with me wonderful personality. Banuswami Maharaj was the regional secretary under his guidance. Because he is very very dear to Guru Maharaj. He took Sannyasi from Guru Maharaj. So I was under the training of Banu Maharaj. So that was in between 85 and 92 to 92. When I came back, I became general manager. That was the time I took up grass ashram. I was 30 years. So I still remember when I wrote a letter to Guru Maharaj because they told me you should take permission from Guru Maharaj when you change ashram. So I wrote a beautiful letter. Guru Maharaj, I want to change my Ashram. Then Guru Maharaj wrote a beautiful two page letter. I am very happy that you want to take. But he said, when I was in America, Prabhupada brought me to India and I was wearing saffron. And he told me develop the activities. If I was in America, I would have become grasp. Guru Maharaj is writing because in India it is very easy to be Brahmachari. So indirectly he is telling me, don't become Grastha. Because India is such a cultural place. Very easy to follow austerities and penance. Then he wrote in next paragraph, anyhow, you have decided to become Grailastha. I am blessing you. I want you to become an exemplary Grasthra. Set a good example. So that everybody will be happy that I took it very seriously. Then I was very fortunate and married Tarini Radha Devi. She is also a Guru Maharaj disciple. And I continued then after my marriage, within one or two months Guru Maharaj was supposed to go to Sri Lanka. At that time Guru Maharaj didn't have any secretary who can speak Tamil. I am a Tamil devotee. Though I am a Tamil devotee. I was brought up in Bangalore. I can only speak. Then I told Guru Maharaj I can't speak much. No problem. You come with me. That was the first time I am going to go out of country. I have never been in aeroplane. I don't know what to take visa, how to take the immigration point. Everything was new. Guru Maharaj said, do you just follow me? I am a guru. I'll teach you everything. So he went there, put in a check in baggage, go there, take the ticket, go to the counter. Everything was instructing me very nicely. I was just following exactly. And we went to Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka. It was a beautiful place, very nice place. Guru Maharaj explaining about Sri Lanka. Do you know Sri Lanka? It's a place where Hanuman went and found out. Sita very auspicious is a dham. That was a very important place. Then every morning Guru Maharaj likes to go to one morning walk. He likes to walk. He said, sumitra Babu, come, let us go for walking. Then he likes to take walking in the beach. The beach was about 4,5 kilometers. So we went by car. So when we were going in the car, Guru Maharaj was telling me, this building is this building. That building is government office. He was explaining me because he has been there. He knows I was just some big, big buildings. Huge. Then he went to the beach. We were chanting some few rounds. Then he said, no, seventh it is Aarti. Let us go back. Now I am going to take in a different route. Before he went by this road, I want to take another route so that I can show you more space. So another road he went. He showed me different park, buildings, everything. We went to the temple, attended the Aarti. He was sitting in the chair. There was a small television there. In the temple was divided into two. There was news that there was a bomb blast at seven o'clock the same time. Guru Maharaj and myself were chanting in the beach, in the same road. And just because Guru Maharaj bought me from the other road. If he had come in this road, we don't know what would have happened. Guru Maharaj said, see, Krishna saved us. Then I told Guru Maharaj, you saved me by taking a different route. You are. You are mine. Then Guru was smiling. Then in the evening, Guru Mahara was sitting in the hall. He said, go and bring my medicine. Because Guru Maharaj has different. His secretaries pack his bag. Kamcha. They put a night Kamcha. Morning Kamcha. Morning. Dress everything systematically. Morning tablets, dosage. He said, I kept a tablet in a blue bag. You bring it. I was so much enthusiastic, I ran to do the service. Then I Thought which bag? So many blue bags are there. I started opening the zip. I put my hand. I didn't get. I opened another bag, another bag, another bag. I couldn't get at least 15 minutes up. I was searching then Guru Maharaj is coming. What are you doing? Did you find the medicine? No. Guru Maharaj. Don't speculate. If you don't know, ask me. That is very important. Why yourself trying to engage? You tell me now I will tell you. Go to that blue bag. Open the first zip. Put your hand inside. I went to the blue bag. Put my hand. Bam. See when Guru tells he will hold. Then I realized whatever I should do. We should take permission. That Guru Maharaj even in a small service to secretaries or devotees, he gives philosophy behind it. That's beautiful thing. I realized in life. Then later after few years, Marichi had called me that we are going to south India safari. I always said safari will remove suffering. So because we used to go to Sanket and Madurai. Madurai is very important place. I know a lot of people there. So Marichi said, why don't you talk to some business people in Madurai and find some accommodation. And Guru Maharaj place of stay. So we arranged wonderful accommodation facilities and wonderful program. And Guru Maharaj just morning he saw me come here. Do you know Madurai? I said yes, I know. Tell me about Madurai. I said Madurai is a very ancient city. Guru Maharaj asked me how many years it is old. I said 2,000 years. Immediately he got angry. What nonsense. Do you think Madurai is 2000 years? Yes, Guru Maharaj. I studied in school history. No, they taught you wrong. Madurai is not 2000. It's eternal city. You can't put Madurai age no time. It belongs to the Devatas. Lord Vishnu himself came. Shiva himself came through. Durga themselves came. This is not 2000 years. It is eternal city. So then I learned one more lesson. Guru Maharaj knows more about all the holy places by his transcendental vision. That was the one lesson I got. Then when the safari was going, a lot of South American devotees. Because too hot Madurai. Everyone used to have Texas cap, big cooling glass. All the villagers used to see all this. I was sitting in one van, Guru Maharaj in other van. As soon as Guru Maharaj's van stopped, devotees were very thirsty. There was a juice shop and coconut narial. There used to be lemon juice and all. Immediately Guru Maharaj said, I want to take a daab. So immediately our devotees went. Immediately in few minutes the dhab. Everything was Sold out. That man was very happy. And in the shop entire juice bottles were sold out completely. Then Guru Maharaj telling that man, I gave you business jokingly, Guru Maharaj is so jovial. He is not like very strict. He is strict also. But with his devotees he is acting in such a way. It feels like we are in family. It doesn't feel like fear personified. That I have seen personally. So when in the airport, I have seen many times. Guru Maharaj very particularly sees that all the pilot, all the air hostesses and air watchmen are given securities are given Mahaprashadam. He tells where is the Mahaprashadam? Then he will go to them, view them one by one. At one time many devotees were standing. He told me, did you give to the devotees? I said no, give to the devotees also. And Guru Maharaj is very tech, savvy, technological. He likes to keep everything in fingers. Those days laptop, he used to use IBM laptop. So in airport he used to say any shop he will go inside, he'll ask about the specs, how many gb, what is the Ram? What is this facility it has? He is very. He wants to upgrade. Because he won't use everything in Krishna's service. That one beautiful thing. I found Guru Maharaj. Then whenever I come to Mayapur during Vyasa Puja, Guru Maharaj will serve prasadam to disciples. Before he sits, he serves himself. That made me feel very so nice. He'll tell, serve here, serve here. Serve him nicely. Take more. That shows the intimacy what Guru Maharaj had. Then many, many years later, when Guru Maharaj had this health problem, then he found out in Chennai there are good doctors and good hospitals. And before I remember, whenever he comes for Rathayatra, I asked Guru Maharaj, please stay for a few more days. There's a nice beach here, farmhouse. You can relax. You want to kill me. You want to stop me preaching? No, he will tell. I have timetable for all ISKCON centres. South India. Two days for Chennai, two days for Madurai. Two days for Bangalore, two days for Hyderabad. Your two days quota is over. If you want, I will come another time. I will not come for no Guru Maraj, please come for Rathi Yatra. So what happened? When he came to Chennai for a health problem, he is telling me, Sumitra Prabhu, you asked for extra days. Now I'm come here for staying more months. Four months, five months, one year I'm staying in Chennai. So Chennai devotees got lot of mercy of Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj spent about one or Two years in Chennai we had the first Guru Vyasa Puja outside Mayapur in Chennai. Very grand. So I couldn't imagine how that would happen. Guru Maharaj came there. A lot of devotees from all over the world. Many were saying that this is as good as Mayapur Chennai has performed Then it's all by Guru. Because Guru Mahara personally gave instruction what to do, what not to do. That's another thing. We had a big mercy then. When Guru Maharaj used to be in hospital, I used to go and meet him sometime. First time he comes from the airport to the house. There was a nice devotee in Chennai, Ajita Gopinath Das Prabhu. He converted his house into hospital and his house is in the 19th floor. Because in the temple we didn't want to disturb Guru Maharaj. All devotees will come and disturb. We put him in that place. So he had to come to the hospital for a checkup. He was in the hospital bed that time. Bhakti Vinod Maharaj who is the temple president of Coimbatore. He was Sarveshwar Yadas before. So he came to meet. We both went there. Guru Maharaj said, take me a pen and paper. Then we took. I have to do so many activities in life. Prabhupada wanted all this hospital in Mayapur devotee care exhibition in top. He kept on giving 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. This is all we should do. Don't give up. This is my plan. We have to fulfill Srila Prabhupada's plan. So at that time I was thinking how Guru Maharaj is so much dedicated to Prabhupada. He wants to fulfill the desires of Prabhupada. And one of the most desires of Guru Maharaj is to see that top temple is finished. One time he was praying. I want to be alive till I see the top temple is open. So we used to have daily Narasimha Puja Homa Because Guru Maharaj medical. So praise Krishna. We want Guru Maharaj to see. By Krishna's mercy. Guru Maharaj had this wonderful transplantation. Became very well. Now he's travelling again. He's as good as before. Maybe externally he looks like little different. But in his mind, in his willpower, he is the same Guru Mahar what I met him in in 95. The same jovial, same joke. Then he told me, Sumitar Babu, these Matajis are giving me only oats. Do you know what I like to eat? I eat to eat pizzas, macaroni, IDLI dosa, sambar. Maharaj, you are not well? No. Do I look bad? Say I am in good strength. In the hospital he was joking with me. So this is a wonderful thing Guru Maharaj had. And still Guru Maharaj is guiding me and he's inspiring me very much so. I'm very fortunate that I have been in the shelter of Guru Maharaj for so many years. Past 35 years. And I hope Guru Mahara leave for many more years. See the temple of Vedic planetary opening. And he is in charge of the exhibition center. He will open the exhibition and he wants to see many more new temples coming up. Recently and six months back, we opened a new temple in Hosur. He was particularly present there. And he said, I want more temples to be opened. I am very sure, Guru Maharaj, by your mercy, more temples will be coming up. And Guru Maharaj is very particular. He told me, I am very old now. I am sick. I finished Bhakti Kshatri. I am studying Bhakti Bhai Bhava. What about you, Kurmar? I have not done. No, you should do. He told in a meeting, in a South India meeting, all of my leaders, my disciples should become Bhakti Kshatri. Prabhupada want to lead Bhakti Kshatri. So he set example at the age of 70, he's passing. You are only 35 years, 50 years. Why you can't memorize Kloka? So this made so many leaders are now taking Bhakti Kshatri. So he was very particular that devotees should read Prabhupada books very nicely, scrutinizingly, understand properly and try to preach. And he very, very giving importance to the Bhakti Vrishya. In fact, Bhakti Vrishya took birth in Chennai. When Guru Mah was in airport, he saw some bookshop, he saw some Christian books, self preaching. He told Mahabhara to buy it. He said, self preaching means multiplying, multiplying. Then overnight he sat with Bhanu Maharaj. He said, let us start group group discussion. So he started, started, started. Now Bhakti Vishwa has become very big all over the world. Guru Maharaj used to tell in Moscow, every subway we have Bhakti Vishwa. Every state we have Bhakti Vishwa. In Chennai, I started Bhakti Vishwa. You only have 100, they have 2000. In Muscat, Dubai they have more. So that he used to always tell, do more, do more, do more. And he is very, very particular on festivals. He any festival comes, He Take advantage Like Bhishma Panchaka Damodar program. He gives some incentives, some new ideas where we can preach more. He said Dubai can distribute so many lamps of Damodar in Malaysia. Why can't in Chennai? When Guru Mahara was In Chennai in 2019 we distributed 1 lakh 19 thousand Deepa. That was a big record Because Guru Maharaj particular. So this time also we have started doing this Damodarati house tours. That is all by inspiration of Guru Maharaj and Guru Maharaj during Purushotta Madhikmas he tells more stories and sense personal. He keeps personal attention with devotees through email. He started a new app. Now every time in app he will tell Today I saw Mangalarti of Chennai. I saw Bonumara singing All other temples please fix camera. Show the camera. We want to see the and he is very innovative. During pandemic he had e Rathayatra online. Rathayatra online offering everything. He never has any lacuna that I will take rest. He want to take opportunity to the best. So that's a wonderful thing. What we had Gurmara I again thank Guru Maharaj and his wonderful senior disciples who have given me an opportunity to serve him. And I pray to Guru Maharaj I will be his servant and continue the services what he has given me for many more years to go. Hare Krishna. Thank you very much. How do you see Guru Maharaj relating with his Godbrothers? Yeah, Guru Maharaj I have seen particularly in Mayapur whenever festival. During Mayapur festival his God brothers who are not involved passed away. He used to take care of their disciples first he used to see their accommodation is good. And during GBC meeting he will see that all his God brothers are getting good accommodation, good facilities, good prasadam. He goes over during Vyas Puja also he will call all his Godbrothers. He'll make them sit and give Prashad. Then he will go and give Siksha relationship to his God brother's disciples. Also many of Guru Maharaj God brothers who are Guru they have our Guru Maharaj as Siksha Guru so that he feels like a family. That's main thing. And how you see Guru Maharaj following Srila Prabhupada's instructions that we have seen practically how Prabhupada the was there in the West. Guru Maharaj was very very sincere. He will tell Prabhupada told like this. Prabhupada told like this don't travel on Thursday. Prabhupada said always listen to Kirtan of Prabhupada. So he was a Prabhupada man. Prabhupada had many, many qualities. He had a fiery quality, angry quality, compassionate quality and merciful quality. And Guru Maharaj has the merciful and compassionate quality of Prabhupada. He is so merciful. He doesn't punish devotees. He gives chance for their rectification. He gives them chance so that they can change and they can come up in devotional service. And that Prabhupada had in that. So Guru Maharaj had the same quality in him.