All glories unto Śrī Guru Mahārāja, His Holiness Jayapatāka Swami Mahārāja, the embodiment of compassion, wisdom, and divine service.
All glories unto the founder-ācārya of the International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and all glories unto His sublime teachings, which continue to illuminate the hearts of millions of devotees from every corner of the earth.
On this most auspicious occasion of His Holiness Jayapatāka Swami Mahārāja's 76th Śrī Vyāsa-pūjā Mahotsava, I humbly bow before him, acknowledging his unmatched contribution to the propagation of the Holy Name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the sacred teachings of Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā, and the mission of our beloved Śrīla Prabhupāda.
As we come together to celebrate the divine appearance day of our beloved Gurudev today, the mind spontaneously harks back to the limitless mercy he has showered on every one of us. To our life in this tempestuous ocean of material existence, he is like the lighthouse, shining brightly and leading the tempest-tossed boats ashore to the eternal haven.
The Life of Devotion and Service
His Holiness Jayapatāka Swami Mahārāja has always been a strength and inspiration to ISKCON. He joined the movement during the early days when he chose the path of selfless service to Lord Kṛṣṇa with deep humility and unflinching devotion. From initiation by Śrīla Prabhupāda, His Holiness took the vow to become a lifetime servant of the Supreme Lord by completely surrendering himself to His and His devotees' services.
One of the hallmarks in the life of Śrīla Jayapatāka Swami Mahārāja is the tireless and relentless way he spreads Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings everywhere, in every possible respect. Because of his devotion to the ISKCON movement, ISKCON has opened many temples, preaching centers, schools, hospitals, and cultural outreach programs around the world, particularly within the Indian subcontinent. He expanded not only the geographical perimeter of the movement but also made the essence of Bhakti-yoga, the process of devotional service unto Lord Kṛṣṇa, reachable to the masses. ISKCON has spread well and shone as a lighthouse for spiritual light in a world that desperately needs love, peace, and devotion under his leadership.
A Leader of Compassion and Wisdom
Śrīla Jayapatāka Swami Gurudev is respected not only as an exceptional leader but as a kind guide to all of his disciples. He cares for each devotee with deep and affectionate attention, incomparable to anyone else. Besides his heavy schedule, His Holiness always took time to give spiritual advice, encouragement, and support to those who needed or asked for it. Let his deep devotion in the hearts of devotees be testimony to his relationship, never to be turned asunder, with Śrīla Prabhupāda and the Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
His Holiness emulates in every way the ācārya Śrīla Prabhupāda's life in service. To him, life was ceaseless dedication to spreading the Holy Name of the Lord. Be it with travel and journeys, enunciating discourses on things sublime, or supervising engagements for various ISKCON projects, Śrīla Jayapatāka Swami Mahārāja leads a living example of one’s life offered in full commitment and humility to serve. He emphasizes spiritual sādhana and bhakti, instructing devotees to become firm in the process of chanting the Holy Names and performing services unto the Lord. The insistence of His Holiness on the need for humility and selfless service is an inspiration to us all who want to progress in spiritual life.
Overcoming Adversity with Divine Strength
In 2010, a great personal challenge befell Śrīla Jayapatāka Swami Mahārāja in the form of a debilitating stroke. Yet, at such a time, His Holiness showed the real strength of a devotee. His firm belief in the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa, together with the overwhelming support of his devotees, enabled him to recover and continue his service with even greater determination. This is a miraculous recovery, clear evidence of Lord Kṛṣṇa's mercy bestowed upon His sincere devotee. How much hardship His Holiness has faced—that also serves as an inspiration to all of us. That, in our lives also, whatever turmoil we are suffering, dependence on the mercy of the Lord, along with the guidance of the spiritual master, will carry us through any hurdle.
The Heart of a True Devotee
The crux of Śrīla Jayapatāka Swami Mahārāja’s teachings is that true devotion to the Supreme Lord can change our lives. His Holiness teaches us that in the service to the Lord and His devotees, our hearts will be cleansed and dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakened. He encouraged us to stay with the simple yet profound practices of chanting the Holy Name, hearing the scriptures, and performing acts of compassion and service in the world around us.
On this day of his 76th Śrī Vyāsa-pūjā Mahotsava, I am so humbly grateful to Śrīla Jayapatāka Swami Mahārāja for his guidance, his compassion, and his undying commitment to the mission of Śrīla Prabhupāda. I will always be in his debt, for by his mercy, the doors of Kṛṣṇa consciousness have been opened in my heart.
Prayers and Blessings
O Gurudev, as you continue serving the Supreme Lord with such humility and devotion, I humbly pray that your life of devotion and service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa may continue to inspire us all. May your holy presence keep blessing us with the wisdom, strength, and compassion to walk the path of bhakti. May you continue guiding and protecting us on the path to achieve the ultimate aim of life in eternal service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
On this sacred occasion, I offer my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet and pray that I may always be under your divine shelter, following, as far as possible, in your footsteps and examples.
All glories to His Holiness Jayapatāka Swami Mahārāja, the eternal servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa!
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda, the founder-ācārya of ISKCON!
II HARI HARI BOL II