Shri Charan Kamaleshu Guru Maharaj and My Dear Spiritual Father,
Please accept my humble obeisance and respectful pranam at the dust of Your lotus feet.
All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to Your Holiness Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaj
I am fortunate and really privileged for being given the opportunity to write the VyasaPuja offering on this auspicious 72nd appearance day of Yours.
I express gratitude and thankfulness for all the care, mercy, and blessings that You are showering.
Prior writing, I was going through the rules mentioned by VyasaPuja committee to understand the protocol followed by reading the previous years’ homages of my God Brothers and Sisters. It made me understood how devoted, advanced they are and how much behind I am from them.
I continuously pray that I do not commit any offense and must not take things for granted. I sincerely beg Your forgiveness for offenses created out of ignorance. My Dear Spiritual Father, without your shelter, there is practically no place to go.
I don’t dare to speak upon the Spiritual Magnanimity and Preaching field of Yours because that will sound fully out of place. I shall better read and hear from others.
Guru Maharaj, I would like to express my offerings from the viewpoint of a common bhaktin.
Realization:
You work on most difficult, risky things, sail through them with full victory; in parallel You make those staffs look easy.
We feel at ease, comfortable and relish adequate personal space in Your presence. “আনন্দের সীমা নাই, নিরানন্দ দূরে যায়”.
You exhibit “Greater than the Greatest and Smaller than the Smallest” with equal weight at each side.
You are very dear to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, Lord Krishna, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and all the great personalities.
You make us laugh form heart. So many nice humors You make in App messages and as well as in Classes. I often remember them and laugh out merrily. My favorites lines are below.
· “গাছে কাঁঠাল গোঁফে তেল”
· “Rama Rama in high pitch– Rama Rama low pitch”
· “Sorry! I have digested the Ganges (Jahnu Muni to Bhagirath)“
· “See Lord’s Position – everyone is wanting contradictory things from Him – elderly brahmana, younger brahmana, atheist son - Sakshi Gopala”
· “Mahaprasadam Dangerous COVID-19! Apparently, my cook turned positive after taking my remnants!”
· “My therapist spread COVID-19 to me! Now it seems I am spreading it to many others!”
· You were hospitalized post the attack in Madrid Airport in a life-threatening condition. Guards were not allowing the devotees to visit You. Then You tricked the guard by writing that Your visitor is from interpole and shall be needing to do some international investigation! The guard’s behaviour became very obliged.
You have inspired and built an online community for festivals, events for those who have familial – professional – miscellaneous responsibilities. It is so beneficial and effective for us.
Memorable meetings:
First: My friend (Her Grace Bisakha debi dasi) proposed to go to Sri Dham Mayapur during Guar Purnima around 2010. Prior that I have been to Sri Dham Mayapur only once.
My friend and her son sat down at the Lotus Building rooftop and told me to do so. She had deep respect for You and chastised her dear son for not being serious about You. I was merely watching everything without any knowledge. She gave me a good narration about Your Holiness which I couldn’t comprehend.
In the same day, in front of Gada Bhavan entrance, Bisakha advised, “would You like to take initiation from Guru Maharaj.” I said casually, “Will I ever be able to approach or talk to Guru Maharaj? He is situated so high!”.
My friend got concerned and discussed with some senior devotees. She made me wear Tulasi Mala and suggested me to offer Bhoga. I started doing those practices after coming back to Howrah.
However, I was immature to grasp the value of that trip to Your quarter. I did not even thank my lady friend by acknowledging her generosities to make me a devotee. Her assistance made me took a giant leap in spiritual path.
Late 2020 onward, we could approach You over digital media. The casual remarks I made around 2010 in front of Gada Bhavan gate to Bisakha came true after 10-11 years. All glories to Jayapataka Swami App. “Yes, I am able to establish contact with my Guru Maharaj now!”.
Second:
Later in 2013, my mother (Her Grace Chinmoyee Ganga debi dasi) took initiation from Your Holiness. I was assisting my mom and felt great relief that her future will be good now.
Circumstances were challenging and started going roller coaster rapidly. I was on the verge of full collapse – physically, mentally, professionally. Somehow it occurred that if I can take Harinam initiation, we will be able to sail through. 2016 onward, I started desperate prayers and went through ISKCON Disciple Course at Kolkata Minto Park temple. But I was confused.
My mother said that Guru Maharaj wants to take everyone back to Bhagavat Dham. I was gifted a small photo frame of Yours. I felt at ease having adequate personal space in the presence of Your photograph. Your personality appeared to be affectionate.
This is the same at ease experience which I had when my mother took initiation from You and when Bishaka took me to the Lotus Building rooftop. I also felt comfortable amongst other God Brothers, God Sisters, seniors. My confusion was cleared.
Third:
After passing through lot of check points, my Harinama initiation went through on dated 30th Jun 2017 at Kolkata Rathayatra festival. You held the Tulasi Beads looking straight. I took the Beads and felt so happy with Your affectionate glance. I recalled that brief meeting for several days and now also.
Post initiation I started getting back on my own gradually. But I made few mistakes like touching the feet of others etc. instead of offering a panchanga pranam. These impacted the power of initiation.
This is the time, around 2018, I started following You in digital media like websites, YouTube, different literatures, previous VyasaPuja homages. I was trying to find out more of Your work, personality, association etc. Prior that, my knowledge was at superficial level. I came to know about the double transplant in 2018 and grew concerned. It occurred that if You make it through for two consecutive years, then there will be grip on the situation not only in Your life but in our life as well. So I prayed as best as I can.
Gradually things started revealing – that I have taken shelter of a Great, Pure and Rare Personality on this planet for which neither I am qualified nor was I aware. I was speechless after going through your biography, complete spectrum of work, dedication, versatility.
Fourth and Fifth memorable Meeting:
I lost my beloved father in Mar 2019; though he was very affectionate toward me at the core of his heart, but circumstances were very complicated and difficult. I always carry a sharp pain, sadness at my heart that neither I could do enough to my make my beloved Dad a devotee nor I could take proper care of him.
In the middle of 2019, Your Holiness arranged a special program at Kala Mandir, Kolkata. Me and my mother attended. This program seemed to be an Oasis for me.
You made a specific humor saying “Rama Rama” in high and low pitch successively few times. I felt not only happy after a very long time but probably laughed after several months or few years.
In 2019 again, during Kolkata Ratha Yatra festival at park Street, my teenage daughter said “Maa – Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaj is coming”. I turned back quickly and saw Your wheelchair a few feet away. I bowed down and offered pranam.
Apart from the above, I also have the privilege to witness Your brief physical presence in Kolkata Ratha Yatra, Mayapur Chadradayo temple few times.
Sevas:
· Jayapataka Swami App – I downloaded in middle of 2020 soon after it was launched. Thereafter attempted spreading the message through WhatsApp to the leaders of Kolkata Bhakti Vriksha, ISKCON Kolkata Life Member Group, individual devotees, my friends in West Bengal - other cities. I am planning to take it to my colleagues and neighbors also.
· Life member taken from ISKCON Kolkata in 2007
· Kolkata Bengali Bhakti Vriksha Member from 2010
· ISKCON Kolkata Nitya Sevak (small scale)
· Go Mata Seva and Tribal Care Seva at Sridham Mayapur (small scale)
· Book distributor on field (small scale)
· Miscellaneous Seva like festival, emergency etc. (small scale)
Prayer:
I seek Your forgiveness and pray to be remain under the moonshine of Your mercy. May I pray Your blessings for my initiated mother (Her Grace Chinmoyee Ganga debi dasi) and my college going daughter Debakripa Das Ray who is passing through her adolescent stage.
We know that Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada are always with You.
But I feel happiness in praying to Lord Nirsinghadeb and Mahaprabhu for giving You protection, good health and very long life.
Your affectionate spiritual daughter and humble disciple,
Nitya Brajalila debi dasi
(Harinam initiated)
ISKCON Kolkata Life Member
Kolkata Bengali Bhakti Vriksha Member
