HH JAYAPATKA SWAMI GURUMAHARAJ 75th VYASAPUJA REPORT - ISKCON Perth
Hare Krishna Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept our respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet
All glories to Guru Parampara! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
We would like to share with you Guru Maharaj, about your 75th Vyasapuja celebration in Perth
on the 19TH April 2024, Friday held in our ISKCON Perth Temple, Kalamunda.
By Guru Maharaj’s mercy and devotees’ support and blessings, Vyasapuja function went smoothly and
ecstatically and will be a cherished memory for all until next year.
The first planning phase began in March, when we had JSSS meetings with our god family,
where we were guided by your senior disciples in Perth. The co-ordinators Karunabdhi Nitai Prabhu
and Surarcita Vasudha Mataji organised a chart of different services which were to be assigned for
taking up roles and responsibilities and the devotees were given advices on many aspects on how to
hold the function. The seva leaders collated the pointers given by our seniors, and began drafting the
program schedule and Vyasapuja poster, to be sent out to all devotees at the earliest so that everyone
would be aware of the date and timings. Like last year this time also we conducted the Vyasapuja
festival on Kamada Ekadashi tithi as guided by Kesavagopal Prabhu
During the discussions we gladly noticed that all your dear disciples enthusiastically came
forward and expressed their interest for different areas of services. After discussions of the venue,
time and date for the function, we notified all the devotees about bringing bhoga. Hearing that they can
bring not just Ekadashi but also grain items they were thrilled as they were eager to demonstrate
their cooking skills in all type of cuisines to offer their affection for you.
On Thursday, the 18TH April 2024, the day before the Vyasapuja, we had your disciples come
together to help with the decorations, garlands and bhoga preparation for the next day celebrations.
It was so sweet to see that despite the previous day being Ram Navami, and the festival finished quite
late, devotees showed their love for Guru Maharaj. It was a learning curve for us to see dedication and
respect each one of the disciples held for you, our dear Guru Maharaj.
On the Vyasapuja day, after entering the temple, everyone was in awe and appreciation for the
beautiful work done by the decoration team, who with their creative ideas and fragrant flowers
attracted everyone’s heart and eyes. Without doubt all the hard work taken by the devotees the
previous night had paid off.
Program started with Bhajans which was co-ordinated by Nitai Prem Prabhu, and all devotees
present took part in the melodious Bhajans and sang from their heart. Everybody felt how extremely
blessed and sheltered they are to receive your unlimited mercy, and to be part of this wonderful
disciplic succession. We then saw presentation prepared by Punya Sloka Prabhu, where we witnessed
your association with your god brothers and your affection for your disciples, and in some footages
we saw Dear GuruMaharaj freely distribute Krishna’s mercy to every town and villages. One such
pastime that struck a chord so strong with us was when we saw Guru Maharaj during one of the
lecture mentioning when Srila Prabhupada had stroke and paralysed neck down, and still not giving
up to distribute Krishna conscious to the world, GuruMaharaj , you were choked up and expressed
your strong desire to fulfil Srila Prabhupad’s mission .This fervent dedication of yours to serve despite
great difficulty living in this material body is not just inspirational but a true testament of great
exemplary leader . After this, many devotees prayed for Guru Maharaj’s good health and meditated
on Guru Maharaj’s many amazing qualities like compassion, love, care to all living entities
After this we had the homages offered by all your Perth disciples and other devotees and
well-wishers. We invited devotees who had prepared a homage to speak first. Each homage depicted
how deeply you had inspired them and taught them through your infinite grace and mercy to be always
engaged in services of vaishnavas and Lordships. Listening to every devotee’s sweet and heart
touching homages, we remembered how Guru Maharaj’s mercy is flowing abundantly in everyone’s
life, and we could see how you touch the hearts of many, and make them closer to Krsna. Guru
Maharaj, through your exemplary self, shows us no impediments can stop one from serving the Lord
and following Guru’s instructions. The most sweetest were the ones offered by the children of your
dear disciples who addressed you as their dear grandfather and shared all their experiences. We also
heard from devotees who gave you their tally of book distribution and other preaching developments.
On this day, we contemplated on the ocean of blessings you shower on each of us and help us to
always follow your instruction and teaching so we continue progress in Krishna consciousness and
be of assistance to others as well in Krishna consciousness life. All devotees listened intently to many
pastimes which was shared and felt so grateful to have you as our dear Guru Maharaj. We are all
indeed blessed and fortunate to be sheltered by Guru Maharaj and protected by your immense love
for each one of us. We cannot offer anything in return as we are already indebted to Guru Maharaj’s
causeless mercy. We can only obey and strictly follow the vows we have taken by following the 4
regulative principles and chanting minimum 16 rounds on beads and help GuruMaharaj to fulfill Srila
Prabhupada’s mission. We sincerely pray to Gauranga for Guru Maharaj’s health and pray that you be
able to fulfil all your instructions to Srila Prabhupada.
After homages were completed, we invited all devotees to offer Pushpanjali and participate in
Guru Puja. We had more than 108 bhoga being offered to our temple deities Sri Sri Nitai Sachinandan,
Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada and GuruMaharaj. Once the bhoga offering and Pushpanjali was
completed, we had a blissful Guru Puja led by Rasa Vigraha Prabhu, where everyone was dancing and
singing joyously. We had the temple hall filled with love, ecstasy and power packed energy, and last
but not the least the sweet desire of all present to be a part of this auspicious day of your 75th
appearance day.
We, then had all the devotees honour the sumptuous royal feast which comprised of 15dishes
that was prepared by Rasa Vigraha prabhu and his team of helpers, and the big cake was made by
Shruti Mataji. Everyone relished prasadam and had loving exchanges while honouring prasadam. We
had around approximately 150 devotees who attended this beautiful Vyasapuja Celebration and some
of them were new devotees who were inspired by the relationship between Guru and disciple.
We are truly blessed being Guru Maharaj’s children thereby belonging in a wonderful Krishna
conscious family. Everyone who attended the Vyasapuja, reinforces spiritual goal of our life and the
vow we have taken to please dear Guru Maharaj. Please bless us with sincere dedication, seriousness
in practicing Krishna consciousness and follow your instruction. May GuruMaharaj empower us to be
a small part of Srila Prabhupad’s mission, and be able to please GuruMaharaj by our insignificant
efforts.
Dear GuruMaharaj, we have attached a Google drive link for you to see the pictures and videos
of celebration.
Video Link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cyahoI57_sKfWtZnSnGEsvvl6dINwwD7/view?usp=drive_link
Photo Link
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1c2uUFGdzc1fc2PHCKVfb9vtmOl8-5d5n
Your humble servants
MalaSevini Citra Devi Dasi
Tulasi Lilavati Devi Dasi