Bhaktin J. Paola Vargas (aspiring disciple), Bhaktivedanta Centre- Bogotá, Colombia
All Glories to your auspicious appearance day!
My most humble obeisances at your lotus feet, please acept this poem as my offering in this day.
THE VICTORY FLAG
The victory of the movement of lord Caitanya
personification of the Sankirtana Yajña
sweet expansion of Lord Nityananda.
Direct associate of Gourachandra.
Soul itself of the preaching that revives the Namahatta.
manifests the Shradda that awakens the soul captured in Maya
through his gaze Vaikunta itself could be revealed.
for the fallen, an effulgence that invites to inquire
Savor the causeless mercy of your personality.
It is the greatest enjoyment of any entity.
his words are precious gems that adorn the heart.
his answers are nectar that lead us to surrender.
Oh my lord how my heart could dance for Krishna! I asked
without a word, with a hand movement through a window
As if the sun needed a spark to be the source from which everything emanates
He have shake the heart, hitting the walls of a tyrannical cage
So answer, already dance.
It is the guru who invites the heart to dance.
by awakening the devotion of the service in the heart
Like a fire that ignites wood through another fire.
His causeless mercy had cause in my life
Enthusiasm and remembrance of the mercy from a Mahatma.
so that the flag of devotion continues hoisted for the jivatma
Only a great soul can give the right message.
Only you could convert the mind from enemy to the sweetest encourage
My lord life after life. My father birth after birth.
You have descended directly from the breast of Goloka Vrindavana
you have agreed to take such a glorious body.
You have put yourself in this situation to bestow the highest blessing.
The most intimate service to your most sincere disciples
Goura Nitay! Goura Nitay! Sing all!
Even in sickness and danger, you did not fear your condition.
but feared for the spiritual freedom of the entities around
"I want to associate with devotees every half hour!"
"Tell the nurse that I pray for her every day!"
"Tell the guard that I will pray for his family!"
All sing! Hare Krishna! Hare Rama!
The Lord's pastimes, recited by your sweet voice.
They are like exalted honey that cleans the soul.
vivid and clear, they melt the heart.
the rasa of your devotion is exposed by your transcendental smile
Please my lord!
you are the guru that inhabits the heart.
let us recognize you in it and be an instrument of your love
All Glories to GuruMaharaja!
Now I would like to relate how I met Swamiji.
The last December 31, 2019. Maharaja came to Bogotá just for one day. I was really nervous, it was the first time he could have Darshan from him. I was with an old devotee, disciple of Swami Maharaja and previously he told me, "When you know him, you will immediately feel his prescience, you will cry". When he got out of the airport, all devotees offered ghee lamps to his personality, immediately I touched his lotus feet and offer my obeisances, I started to cry with no apparent cause and felt something strong and heavy in my heart, a lot of pressure..
When we arrived with four or five devotees to the Hilton Garden Hotel, I saw something really special in his eyes, I could note that he does not blink just occasionally, he told me were: "Hare Krishna Madre (In Spanish)" All devotees were tensed, while they tried to get Maharaja out of the van, unconsciously a devotee gave me the Pillow of Maharaja he put it on my face like playing, I could feel a slight smell of saffron, the Old Devotee Gouranga Prana was Crying, he was taking the Wheelchair of Maharaja, and as he sat, the devotee put his face in his Shoulder and started to cry and pronouncing his Pranam.
Arriving to the reception of the hotel, he asked for Lord Jagannath's toothbrush, he gave me his blessings and ask for a photo with me, I was really sensitive in that moment was a really emotive meeting with maharaja.
going up in the elevator I thought that I couldn't get in with them, I was the only woman, but Maharaja permitted it, he started to ask me how long I have know devotees and my name. he told me "Chant Hare Krishna" pointing my Japa's bag. He didn't stop to see me any time and I didn't too.
When he was at his room, one of his servants told me "Just until here" pointing the line of the door, Maharaja saw me, and started to ask to a bogota´s devotee who were I. Suddenly he pointed me and made a signal with his hand saying "come here" the devotee got freeze, he looked at Gurudeva, then he looked at me, and said "But Maharaja..." .So Swamiji Looked at me and made that signal again. I got inside the room, and he told me "How can I Serve you?" I was impacted, what such a trascendental personality asking me how can he serve to me?, that humble teaching has no limits. I was really nervous I just could ask "Teach me how to become Krishna Conscious", He moved his head back and laughed very loud. I just smiled, was a really funny moment, so I told him, I am not very intelligent, and I have not any knowledge, suddenly hi interrupt me, he wasn't interested to hear my apparent show of humbleness. And told me, write five questions, I will take prasadam and chant Gayatri Mantra, then you could ask.
During the next time I was helping to serve Prasadam, I Knew Maharaja was really tired he slept just 2 hours that day to give us his mercy. I waited in the next room, and I had the opportunity to hear some of the glorious pastimes of his divine grace, and I didn't know what kind of questión should I ask, but I tried to do the best, I just wanted to please him.
I sat with the old devotee, in front of the door waiting to Maharaja, we could hear when his servants were bathing him and putting his clothes, the door was half-closed and we could see some of that glory. Maharaja saw us and stayed like that, and few minutes later he went out, and told me, "I was looking for you", the devotees told him that I was helping serving the prasadam, so he told me “Do it”, the Questions I did were: "how can I serve you?"
He laugh again, that was not the kind of questions he was waiting, the next question was, what can I do to improve my relationship with Krishna, he was not answering my questión, servants were anxious because Maharaja had to arrive as soon as possible to give the conference. So, without the help of a servant, without any etiquette I told in his ear, "My lord, how my heart could dance for Krishna" He said, "that is the most important"; I gave him a present called "Mochila" that is a kind of artesanal bag that was woven by my mom, he put it in his forehead and thanked; a devotee close the door of the ca and his divine grace put his lotus hand against the window of the car during one or two minutes, he did it before, when he left the airport, and me an other devotees corresponded him, but in that special time, he was giving me that mercy, we were alone, just he and me, he was touching my hart. I couldn't believe what was happening, I felt him like a father meeting his daughter again, he saw me examining my heart, he knew that I would need that enthusiasm in my life. that proof of mercy was inconceivable.There he replied with no words, It is the guru who can make the disciple's heart dance for Krishna.
During the conference, he answered the other questions, including the question about my service. and during his darshan he told me "all questions resolved?". He inverted his word solving my dumb questions. But he read my heart, he new what was my anxiety. the relationship with other devotees out of ISKCON because of the situation that have been presented in recent times in Colombia with other lines, and his answer was: " The relationship with other devotees must be of absolute respect". That showed me, who was my real father, his qualities, how does his mind works, he is able to see Krishna, in every being, including me. that is other level of transcendence.
Guru Maharaja. I have face recently very difficulties in my spiritual road. And only this space in my mind where I keep that pastime with all love, is what make me stronger. I am happy of all this difficulties, because Krishna is showing me his mercy, the only thing I can do is Chant Hare Krishna as your instruction, and think about your sweetness instructios.
Sri Krishna will make justice, and I will glorify him.
¡Ananda Sema nai, Nirananda Dure Jai!
