Kanu Pandit Das Vyasa Puja offering 2019 to HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj.
To our most beloved Guru Maharaj, His Holiness Srila Jayapataka Swami, Acaryapada; a rare example of pure determination.
Today we want to try to express our gratitude to you, Guru Maharaj, for showing us, again and again, your determination, to continue to bestow your divine mercy upon us, your disciples as well as to everybody, to spread the Sankirtan movement more and more.
Recently you, Guru Maharaj, told us, that when you were going through this double big surgery for liver and kidney transplants, going through so much suffering, trying to fix your body, only to continue to serve your dear spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. You told us that ‘in this moment I have the temptation to go back to Krishna' but immediately you react, saying ‘no, I cannot, I have to finish my service. Srila Prabhupada has given me so many instructions, I have to continue to push on this movement. I have to continue to help my disciples'. And by this determination it all has been a success.
In the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.25, the passing away of Bhismadeva, Srila Prabhupada says in his purport “Lord Sri Krishna wanted to prove that His pure devotees are always sound in body and mind by dint of spiritual enlightenment, and thus in any circumstances a devotee of the Lord is in perfect order to speak of the right way of life". Guru Maharaj, you have become like Bhismadeva, who could choose himself the moment he would leave his body. As Bhismadeva, -laying on a bed of arrows- was giving such important instruction to Maharaj Yudhisthira for the welfare and future of the whole world. As Bhismadeva, you, Guru Maharaj -in your painful body- you continue to push us more and more, your disciples and all of this great Sankirtan movement, ISKCON, for the welfare and future of the whole world, just to please your beloved Guru Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada. What a great example of determination!!
And this is not the first time! Already in October 2008 when you, Guru Maharaj, went through the double stroke, you surprised everybody, even the doctors, with your determination to still continue. In your first travel to Pune, preaching to thousands of devotees who were totally amazed. And also in 1989, in Barcelona, Spain, when a crazy guy cut your throat, after you heard that the news was giving false information to the public, you, Guru Maharaj, in your hospital room, gave two press conferences to establish the truth about what happened.
Guru Maharaj, you are truly an amazing example of determination. And when somebody asked you, why are still doing so much, you answered ‘but Srila Prabhupada did so much to give us Bhakti'.
Guru Maharaj, you are really Acaryapada: our Acarya, following our founder Acarya Srila Prabhupada.
On the 13th of April 1980 Krishna saved me and shaved me, by the grace of Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON, which is part of the great Sankirtan movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Actually in September 1980 you, Guru Maharaj, accepted me as your disciple. In all these 39 years we would like to express our gratitude, helping you, Guru Maharaj, as much as we can, according to our nature and ability. Thank you so much, Guru Maharaj, for all your life of amazing determination.
Thank you so much, Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you to all the devotees who have prayed and are praying for your health and wellbeing and
Thank you to Lord Krishna to allow you to stay longer with us.
Yours in your service,
Kanu Pandit Das
Isarani Devi Dasi
Syamasundar Das and his family and also our really dear daughter
Devaki Mayi Devi Dasi.
Sydney, 16th April 2019