January, Saturday 31st: Guru Maharaja went to the Hinduja Hospital to do a
medical check up. Doctors from Bhaktivedanta Hospital will be sending a
medical report.
February Sunday 1st: Guru Maharaja was invited to the Chowpatty temple for
the Sunday feast. He arrived there around 1 pm. It was the right time for
giving the lecture. Devotees of the Chowpatty temple welcomed Guru Maharaja
with a very loud, heartfull, sincere chanting of the holy names of the Lord.
The atmosphere was very exciting and it reached its peak when Guru Maharaja
entered into the temple room which was packed with devotees. The chanting
was intensely going on while Guru Maharaja was taking darshan of the Deities
and then Guru Maharaja was brought in the wheel chair next to vyasasan for
delivering the lecture.
Srila Radhanatha Swami welcomed Guru Maharaja and gave initial speech
introducing Guru Maharaja as the most senior sannyasi in our movement, who
survived this severe stroke due to his intimate relationship with Lord
Krishna. Yogeshvara Prabhu, Srila Prabhupada’s disciple from USA was also
present. Guru Maharaja was first to give the lecture, since he had to go
back to the hospital soon.
Guru Maharaja’s speech was quite clear and understandable. Although
Shiromani Mataji was repeating whatever he said, we could understand 95% of
it. Guru Maharaja expressed his gratitude to Srila Radhanatha Swami and all
the devotees of Radha Gopinatha temple, who dedicated their Vrindavan yatra
for his wellbeing. He was glorifying devotees of Chowpatty temple, talking
about their dedication to the Deities of Radha Gopinath, whom they serve
with an outstanding devotion. Guru Maharaja was commenting on the verse of
Srimad Bhagavatam, which was telling that nobody can know what is the plan
of the Lord. Guru Maharaja was not expecting this sickness to come upon him
and this verse is true for himself. But devotee is accepting whatever
Krishna gives to him. He said there is always a purpose behind everything
that Krishna makes. Like Krishna allowed Bhismadev to be defeated on the
battelfield of Kurukshetra, because He wanted to show that even if you are
the best warrior you are going to be defeated if you fight on the wrong
side. Then he asked all the devotees if they are on the wrong side or on the
Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s side. Of course, devotees very loudly answering that
they are on Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s side.
Then Guru Maharaja was enthusing devotees to preach. He said they have a lot
of work to do since they live in a city like Mumbai which is more populated
than many countries of the world. Srila Prabhupada had said that Mumbai is
his office, and office is meant for work. Guru Maharaja expressed his
appreciation to the devotees of Pune yatra who have been doing college
preaching in Kolkata, and already they have brought 10 new devotees to the
temple. Also he expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the devotees and
crew of Bhaktivedanta Hospital, who are doing amazing preaching to the
patients and make a lot of devotees in that way.
He was talking about Lord Caitanya’s predictions, that His holy names will
be chanted in every town and village, and of the Golden age that is about to
come in which there will be only one class of man, eka-varna : devotees of
Hari. He was enthusing all of us to be part of this great preaching mission.
It was so inspiring to see Guru Maharaja in his enthusiastic preaching mood,
the same as before his illnes. His alive preaching spirit was radiating from
his words and his voice, and we were overwhelmed by the stream of his pure
desire to serve the Lord and to inspire us in the service of the Lord. At
the end of the lecture devotees reciprocated with a very long and sincere
applause, and Guru Maharaja chanted Gauranga as loud as he could, and
everybody reciprocated with a really loud GAURANGAAAAA!
The lecture was finished and Guru Maharaja was ready to leave (he said he
does not want to make any more disturbance since he is still not fully
moveable). Then the brahmacary from Radha Gopinatha temple stood up and
announced the Festival of Joy and Inspiration conducted by ISKCON Youth
Services on Wednesday, which will be dedicated to Srila Jayapataka Swami. He
invited Guru Maharaja to come, if it’s aligned with doctor’s permission.
Srila Radhanatha Swami and Srila Devamrita Swami will be also present. The
name of this festival is Prerna, and Guru Maharaja had participated the
previous one, just before his sickness.
After the lecture Guru Maharaja went to the Vrindavan Garden to take his
lunch. This is a wonderful small garden in the courtyard of the temple that
looks like an oasis of spiritual world in the middle of an asphalt jungle of
Mumbai. Embraced with many green tropical trees and bushes, decorated
with small ponds full of lotuses, spiritualy enriched with the different
shrines, like the one of the Six Goswamis and the other of Vrinda Devi, the
murtis of Kaliya Krishna and gazing cows, filled with the pleasing sound of
peacocks, this garden really brings you in the sweet and charming atmosphere
of Vrindavan forest.
Guru Maharaja went in there with his servants and 10-15 devotees who were
taking opportunity to have his darshan. He was talking to the 3 sisters from
Coimbatore, who are doctors and his disciples. They were giving some medical
advices and later they were discusing with Syamlal Prabhu, doctor from
Bhaktivedanta Hospital, about Guru Maharaja’s medical treatment. Srila
Chandramauli Swami was accompanying Guru Maharaja during his lunch. The
devotees were sitting around and taking the lunch together with Guru
Maharaja. My husband Ivesvara Prabhu, who is one of Guru Maharaja’s cooks,
brought his prasadam and fed him. It happened that day was my husband’s
birthday, and devotees brought pizza for him from Govindas Restaurant. Guru
Maharaja said since they brought pizza for my husband, he should take it
immediately and Ekanath Prabhu should continue feeding him. My husband was
not happy to leave the service of Guru Maharaja, but since it was his
spiritual master’s instruction, whatelse he could do…
Radhanatha Swami came to the garden just after Guru Maharaja finished his
lunch and they had a talk together. Radhanatha Swami was expressing his
appreciation for Guru Maharaja’s lecture, which according to Maharaja was
very inspiring for the devotees and enthusing their preaching spirit. They
were discusing about the Prerna festival which was announced after the
lecture.
We came back to the Bhaktivedanta Hospital late afternoon. Guru
Maharaja took rest and came back to his daily schedule full of different
kinds of therapies. It seems that these kind of short preaching experiences
and exchange with the devotees give inner strength and enthusiasm to Guru
Maharaja.
Your servant,
Teja Gaurangi dd