After 20 days I got the opportunity to meet Guru Maharaja again today.
Bhaktin Niki accompanied me. We reached the hospital at 6pm. Braja Hari
prabhu and few other devotees were there already in the hospital waiting
outside the room to see Guru Maharaja. One devotee doctor, Radhanath
Maharaja’s disciple by name Kishori dd, was inside Guru Maharaja’s room to
give Acu puncture treatment. So we all waited for her to finish. Dharesh
prabhu and Isvara Puri prabhu was there in the afternoon shift to serve Guru
Maharaja.
After the doctor left, Braja Hari prabhu entered the room with another
devotee to meet with Guru Maharaja. Around 7pm myself and Niki went inside.
Guru Maharaja saw Niki and said, “I know her”. Guru Maharaja gave his
blessings to her. Niki is an aspiring disciple from Delhi. Guru Maharaja
showed all of us how he is able to move his right hand and also said it is
getting stronger than before. Guru Maharaja with great effort holded his
left and right hands together and lifted it up to his head and we all
chanted loudly, “Hari Bol! Hare Krsna!” But Guru Maharaja responded,
“Gauranga!” Everyone was amazed to see Guru Maharaja’s determination.
We were only there for few minutes and we were asked to leave. But Guru
Maharaja pointed to me and said, “I want to talk to her. She is sending all
the reports. She should come sometime and meet me everyday to write
reports.” So all the other devotees left the room. Also the afternoon shift
devotees left and replaced with the evening shift devotees with Ekanath
Gaura prabhu and Acintya Nitai prabhu. Guru Maharaja just finished taking
the fruits which were fed by the devotees.
Guru Maharaja started dictating the report of himself today. The first thing
that Guru Maharaja said, “I have started to chant (Hare Krsna mantra on the
clickers) now and also Gayatri mantras.”
Guru Maharaja made some movements with his right hand to show it is getting
better but it is still weak and not fully alright. He is able to move his
face slowly from one side to another. He said the face muscles are still
stiff and he is able to chew only soft food. In the hospital although they
are giving vegetarian food and even agreed to give without onion and garlic
Guru Maharaja said he is only accepting prasadam. He cannot close his left
eye and therefore in the night, the nurses close it with a patch. Previously
they had a thread to close his eyes but now he doesn’t need it anymore. When
the devotees come closer he is able to see them but when they are far it is
not clear and cannot focus his eyes.
He also mentioned how tracheostomy tube popped out by itself and neither he
nor anyone recognized it had come out. Dr.Shiromani Mataji noticed it and
informed the doctors about it. When Guru Maharaja said this, I exclaimed,
“Guru Maharaja, Krishna is personally taking care of you.” Guru Maharaja
replied, “I am in Krsna’s hands.” Guru Maharaja showed how they have closed
the hole in the throat were the tracheostomy tube was inserted before. He
said he is speaking now without the aid of the speaking device and the
servants are able to fully understand what he says. He is unable to
pronounce clearly all the letters. Except few words (which Ekanath Gaura
prabhu repeated) I was able to understand what Guru Maharaja was speaking.
His speech is getting better. Guru Maharaja said he is hearing all the
devotees’ letters being read to him. He is unable to reply to them as he is
sick in the hospital.
Guru Maharaja mentioned that he received an acupuncture treatment today.
He felt the treatment had some good
effect on him. Guru Maharaja said his right hand feels like a wood and also
some burning sensation in his legs which is all connected to the brain
haemorrhage. The doctors also adviced him to use the right hand as much as
possible eventhough there might be difficulty.
Guru Maharaja said it was an austerity for him to be in the hospital. Then I
replied, “Yes, Guru Maharaja it must be very difficult for you to be lying
down on the bed. You are used to travel and preach and always very active.
Never stayed in a place for so long. Knowing your nature Krsna arranged that
you keep moving from one floor to the other to give association and thus
preach to the different nurses and staff.” Guru Maharaja said, “Yes. I told
them I am a traveling preacher! I was moved from 10th floor to 2nd, to 7th
and now in the 15th.”
Guru Maharaja also inquired about his office staff in Mayapur. I mentioned
how Madhuri Yamuna and myself are in Mumbai. Mayuri Sakhi dd is supervising
the spanish section being in Sweden to get all the reports translated into
Spanish. Vackresvari Mataji is coordinating the russian translations of the
reports. The rest of the devotees in the office are continuing their seva
and waiting for Guru Maharaja to come back to Mayapur.
He said that the doctors are amazed that he is alive. Even if someone is
alive generally they would have to be on respiratory aid or paralysed. But
Guru Maharaja’s case was exceptional. Guru Maharaja said, “Bhakti Caru Swami
had come to meet me before and said I should stay.” Guru Maharaja said it is
only by the blessings of the GBCs and the prayers of the devotees it is
possible. He is very grateful to everyone who is praying for him, chanting
for him, for the Narasimha kavacas and the yajnas. I said to Guru Maharaja,
“You have been praying for all of us so far and now it is our turn to pray
for you. All the devotees are so eager everyday to check your health
situation. Everyone is happy to hear the news of your progress. You are the
pillar of our ISKCON.” Guru Maharaja replied, “I am small.” I responded, “It
is your humility, Guru Maharaja. Even your godbrothers, godsisters,
disciples and no one can even imagine without you.”
Guru Maharaja said the Bhaktivedanta hospital doctors are there 24hrs
constantly present with him taking turns along with the servants to look
after him.
Guru Maharaja said now he doesn’t have any internal tubes in his body. Only
an external tube for passing urine. Guru Maharaja said for the past two
months his body was cleaned with the
sponge. But for the first
time he was given shower yesterday by the servants. Guru Maharaja was today
able to balance his standing without any physiotherapists support just
holding to the parallel bars for a short time. He is also able to do some
baby steps with the help of the physiotherapists and the devotees.
Guru Maharaja’s sugar level and blood pressure are being maintained with the
help of medicines. His WBC has come up slightly today which is a good sign.
There is a possibility that Guru Maharaja could be discharged from the
hospital in a week or two. He wants his face muscles to become normal, to be
able to see, talk and walk normally. Guru Maharaja wants all of us to keep
praying for his full recovery.
Your humble servant,
Ratnavali dd