Report Sydney, Australia, 2018
It was an evening filled with elation and transcendental vigour for the devotees in Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha North Sydney temple, as we celebrated 69th Sri Vyasa Puja of our beloved Spiritual Master- His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja.
Srivasa Nitai Gaura Dasa and his good wife Vrndavana Palini Devi Dasi took charge for the overall co-ordination of the celebrations this year under the guidance of Junta members. They had dedicated teams looking after key areas like Flyers, Decoration, Cooking, Kirtan, Bhoga procurement, Prasadam, Volunteer Coordination, Prasadam Distribution and Cleaning. Preparations for the big day commenced weeks prior to the event with the flyer design by Harinama Kalpa-vrksa Dasa.
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On 28th March, everything reached its summit. Their Lordship's temple room was beautifully decorated in their Ekadasi outfit. Srila Prabhupada’s and Srila Gurudeva’s Vyasa-asana was majestically decorated by Karunamayi Nitai Dasa, Sucaru Gaura Prabhu and their team being: Harihara Caitanya Dasa, Bhaktin Kinjal and Bhakta Nayan. A beautiful picture of Srila Gurudev was gracefully placed amidst a skilfully crafted arch of beautiful flowers and greens comprising of Chrysanthemums, Roses and Gerbera flowers to name a few. It was magnificently decorated with garlands made of Rose petals, Frangipani flowers and other greens prepared with utmost devotion by Vraja Vinoda Devi Dasi, Cintamani Radha Devi Dasi, Vrndavana Palini Devi Dasi, Anarpita Radha Devi Dasi and Mathura Gokula Dasi (disciple of His Holiness Devamrta Swami). Srila Prabhupada’s and Guru Maharaj's Altar decorations were very elegant and the spot lighting inculcated the festive ambience adding to the zest of a majestic birthday party. It was unanimously discussed that this was perhaps one of the best decorations in the recent years.
The ceremony started with synchronized chanting of the holy name by the devotees led by Bhakta Harsh, Mayadisa Caitanya Dasa playing Mrdangam and Kartika Dasa on Kartals. There wasn’t a more auspicious way to kick start the festivities other than performing the Sankirtana-yajna- the Yuga dharma. Yuthesvari Radha Devi Dasi was MC for the evening who invited all the eminent guests, devotees and well-wishers to the ceremony on behalf of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Srila Gurudeva. Srila Gurudeva’s disciples read their heartfelt offerings – including Srivasa Nitai Gaura Dasa, Sankirtana Narottama Dasa, Abhinandini Malini Devi Dasi, Vrndavana Palini Devi Dasi, Anandmaya Gopinatha Dasa, Vraja Vinoda Devi Dasi, Divya Lila Devi Dasi, Sucaru Gaura Dasa, Cintamani Madhavi Devi Dasi, Harinama Kalpa-vriksa Dasa, Venkat Madhava Dasa, Param Priya Gopinatha Dasa, Manamohini Radha Devi Dasi, Manibhusita Radha Devi Dasi, Tanusri Yasoda Devi Dasi, Subhagya Nandaraja Dasa, Bhakta Yamesh, Vrajanatha Krsna Dasa. We had the fortune to listen to Srila Gurudev’s senior disciples like- His Grace Kanu Pandita Dasa, His Grace Vijaya Madhava Dasa, his good wife His Grace Sarva Vandhya Devi Dasi and their daughter His Grace Kirtida Vallabhi Devi Dasi visiting us all the way from Balaramadesh glorified Srila Gurudeva by sharing their wonderful pastimes and divine instructions given to them by Srila Gurudev.
Celebrations progressed with melodious Guru Puja, sung by Sucaru Gaura Dasa resonating in the temple room. Devotees immersed themselves in the chanting of the Holy name offering their hearts at the lotus feet of Srila Gurudev. Puspanjali was led by His Grace Ghanasyama Govinda Dasa. Everyone present was completely besotted by picturesque visuals of the temple room which was overflowing with devotees 133 in total.
Last phase of the celebration was the highlight- Ekadasi Feast, diligently prepared by His Grace Jitendriya Gaura Dasa along with his good wife Adiadri Devi Dasi, Cintamani Madhavi Devi Dasi, Bhakta Harsh, Gauranga Dasa, Doyamaya Dasa, Subhagya Nandaraja Dasa, Srivasa Nitai Gaura Dasa and Yuthesvari Radha Devi Dasi. They prepared 8 items, including Courgette Rosti with yogurt dip, Rainbow Quinoa Salad, Roast potato, Cauliflower & Paneer in Red Curry, Cheese Roasted sweet potato, Trifle with salty caramel cake with cream and berries, Watermelon lemonade drink and a Giant cake for Srila Gurudev’s pleasure. In addition, there were an astounding 300 small offerings (plus the Feast making it 308 items) meticulously prepared not only by His Holiness's Jayapataka Swami Srila Gurudeva’s disciples but other devotees across Sydney yatra which included- Manibhusita DD, Vrndavana Palini Devi Dasi, Sri Guru Bhakti Devi Dasi, Abhinandini Malini Devi Dasi, Sankirtana Narottama Dasa, Vraja Vinoda Devi Dasi, Bhaktin Bhuvana, Kavita Krsna Priya Devi Dasi, Bhaktin Jyoti, Bhaktin Rashmi, Bhaktin Manasi, Bhakta Ankur, Bhaktin Sunita, Bhakta Mohan, Bhaktin Kavita, Bhakta Kishore, Manmohini Radha Devi Dasi, Tanusri Yasoda Devi Dasi, Caruhasini Radhika Devi Dasi, Vidyasvarupini Devi Dasi, Bhaktin Darsana, Sumati Damayanti Devi Dasi, Sukamala Priya Sakhi Devi Dasi, Bhaktin Divya, Bhaktin Rashmi, Bhatin Rathena, Supremi Radha Devi Dasi, Harinama Kalpa-vrksa Dasa, Radharani Cintamani Devi Dasi, Bhaktin Nidhi, Bhakta Yamesh and Venkata Madhava Dasa . Finally, as an icing on the event Sri Guru Bhakti Devi Dasi singlehandedly prepared (60 items) and Her Grace Manjari Devi Dasi besides being gravely sick, most lovingly prepared Bengali offerings for the pleasure of Srila Gurudeva. Her Grace Manjari mataji’s commitment is a true reflection of Srila Gurudeva’s mood of being beyond the bodily conception of life. All the devotees in the yatra came forward to make this day a splendid success. A total of 133 Vaisnavas honoured the feast served by Srila Gurudeva’s disciples.
To commemorate this majestic birthday party a small token of gift – wonderfully wrapped copy of Vaisanava Ke and Vrndavane Bhajans along with most precious gift a piece of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s turban from Mayapur was given to all the devotees in attendance on behalf of Srila Gurudeva. The personal message was designed by Bhaktin Damini and worded by Yuthesvari Radha Devi Dasi.
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By 9.30pm, most of the devotees left the temple and the onus was on to the cleaning team to bring the temple back to its original form. A lot of devotees headed by Harinama Kalpa-vrksa Dasa and Manibhusita Radha Devi Dasi assisted in cleaning being Bhakta Rajan (who solitarily cleaned majority of the big pots and pans accumulating eternal wealth in his transcendental bank account) and others like Bhakti Vrksa members of Anandmaya Gopinatha Dasa, Bhakta Aravind Ganesh, Bhakta Senthil, Vrajnatha Krishna Dasa, Mayadhisa Caitanya Dasa, Vraja Vinoda Devi Dasi, Supremi Radha Devi Dasi, Srivasa Nitai Gaura Dasa and Venkata Madhava Dasa rolled their sleeves up to leave the temple premises in a speck clean state. Overall, it was quiet a humbling experience to see all the devotees in the congregation joining hands to make Srila Gurudeva's Vyasa Puja a memorable event for all.
In light of Srila Gurudeva’s fragile health, Bhakta Harsh has arranged for a 12 hour kirtan on Sunday 8 April begging Harinama Prabhu to bestow good health upon our most beloved Srila Gurudeva. This will also be the day when disciples of Srila Gurudeva will be sponsoring a Grand Grain Feast for the pleasure of Srila Gurudeva. In addition to the 12 hour kirtan, devotees in Sydney yatra will also be performing Harinama Sankirtana in the City on Friday 27 April pleading the supremely merciful Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to bestow good health upon one of his most sincere devotee- His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Srila Gurudeva. The flyer for these events has been designed by Bhaktin Damini.
Vyasa puja pics uploaded in the link below by Anandmaya Gopinatha Dasa and Adi Adri Devi Dasi for the pleasure of Srila Gurudeva:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7z3GIxZYtnLQOGwo1
https://www.facebook.com/adi.a.dasi/posts/10157765486274815
On behalf of ISKCON Sydney JPSSS reported by Yuthesvari Radha Devi Dasi
