Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to ŚrīlaPrabhupāda.
Śrīla Prabhupāda stepped into Kolkata in September 1970. He was accompanied by six Western devotees. Śrīmad Jayapatākā Mahārāja was one of them. In Kolkata, Śrīla Prabhupāda initially resided in Mr. Dasgupta’s residence at Hindusthan Road for quire a few months. The first preaching of ISKCON started from the first floor of Hindusthan Road. In that house I was first introduced to Śrīmad Jayapatākā Mahārāja. Je was an intimate servant of Śrīla Prabhupāda. Apart from Jayapatākā Mahārāja I was also introduced there to Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja, Kirtanānanda Swami and Acyutānanda Swami. Śrīla Prabhupāda used to daily send these devotees to different places of Kolkata for Harināma saṅkīrtana and book distribution. I too used to participate in nagar saṅkīrtana and book distribution with them.
Following Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions, I used to daily accompany Śrīmad Jayapatākā Mahārāja and Acyutānanda to Dalhousie and Esplanade at midday for Nagar Saṅkīrtana. Everyone used to be attracted by the melodious kirtana of Acyutānanda and Jayapatākā Mahārāja. The office goes of that locality used to be overwhelmed upon hearing this kīrtana and preaching in Bengali by Western devotees.
The temple at 3C Albert road was started in 1971. Following Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions, Śrīmad Jayapatākā Mahārāja became the president of this temple. For the maintenance of this temple, he started the Life Membership programme, house programmes and book distribution. He was expert organiser and beautifully ran the temple management with everybody’s help.
Following ŚrīlaPrabhupāda’s instructions, Śrīmad Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Mahārāja and Bali Mardana Prabhu purchased land in Māyāpur for ISKCON. The Śrīdhāma Navadvīpa parikramā started in the same year. In 1972 Śrīla Prabhupāda sent Jayapatākā Mahārāja to Māyāpur to develop the project. He told Jayapatākā Mahārāja.
‘I give you the spiritual world and you develop it!’
The manner in which he developed the Māyāpur Project is truly incredible. Devotees all over the world have started Nāmahaṭṭa preaching on Jayapatākā Mahārāja’s initiative. It is by his efforts that the Bhaktivedanta National School, International School, Māyāpur Institute and a Vedic city have come up here.
In 1993 he sent me and my wife Śacīmātā to Swarupganj to develop a project. When we came here, this ruined building was unfit for living. Our journey started from this devasted house. Adjoining the house was a playgroud.
Today, by the mercy of Jayapatākā Mahārāja, we have established a Jagannātha Temple there where we are annually celebrating the Snāna-yātrā and Ratha-yātrā festivals for twenty-five years now. Moreover, in the charitable dispensary located here, seven doctors are regularly treating patients.
Thousands of villagers, residents of the Holy dhāma are being benefited for 25 years by means of this charitable dispensary.
We beg that you accept our prayers unto your lotus feet on this most auspicious occasion and humbly request you to continue to give us service unto your lotus feet.
Thank you very much for allowing us to remain in the service of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Your Servant,
Saṅkarṣaṇa dāsa
(Disciple and descendant of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda)