2nd day of 2009 Safari tour at Bombay with HH JPS
Dear devotees,
Dandavat Pranams
All these days in Mumbai are very ecstatic and special for all the devotees
in general, not only for those who are for the safari tour that is
traditionally done by HH JPS Gurumaharaja after Gaurpurnima festival and his
Sri Vyasapuja every year for the last 20 years or more, although the safari
tours were started by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada in the 70’s that was
between Mayapur and Vrndaban after Gaurpurnima. This tradition was revived
by our Gurumaharaja and many other senior devotees in ISKCON. Back to our
report on the activities of HH JPS in Mumbai with the safari devotees that
officially started yesterday with the Festival of reciprocation from all the
worldwide disciples and well wishers of HH Jayapataka Swami towards the
devotees and institutions that have helped for the recovery of our beloved
Gurumaharaja. Mainly ISKCON JUHU Sri Sri Radha Rasbihari Mandir, the
Bhaktivedanta Hospital and the Mira Road Sri Sri Radha Giridhari Mandir.
As you all may have received pictures and report from the Bhaktivedanta
Hospital event, we are posting some small info and pictures of the yesterday
night event at the auditorium of the Juhu temple that started at 7:30 pm.
During day time the safari tour devotees went to visit the Sri Sri Radha
Gopinath Mandir at Chowpati. Also they visited Babulnath Siva mandir which
is located nearby in Chowpati.
HH Jayapataka Swami is assisting to main pandal programs with the safari to
give them association and guidance and in fact his presence is the real
divine force behind everything that is happening here and by His divine
gurudeva’s mercy our Srila Prabhupada is that making these events to be
unforgettable and full of Bhakti and happiness as you all may see that
everyone is fully in ecstasies doing whatever service they have to please
Guru and Krsna. For example and what I mean with this is that most of the
devotees have trained up themselves in many artistic skills to offer their
best abilities for the pleasure of Sri Krsna and his devotees, as for the
last few days the artistic and cultural event are of a first class standard
depicting pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Krsna and their devotees with well
designed outfits and choreography.
After the arrival of HH JPS that was at almost 6:45 pm, many devotees were
waiting at the main gate to greet and offer respects to the important
visitor, with kirtans, while he arrived also another kirtans party arrived
back to the temple from their sankirtan procession around Juhu and were
escorting HH JPS to the temple that coincided his arrival with the conch
blowing to open the altars for darsan. Gurumaharaja was taken by HG
Devakinandan Prabhu along with HG Braj Hari prabhu and during the darsan the
pujaries offers garlands, flowers and caranamrita, Gurumaharaja is alive and
back with us only by the mercy of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Rasbihari
who are the presiding Deities of Juhu Mandir and by the prayers of the
devotees, that is why we encourage people to always pray and chant the holy
name. That is why is very important and enlivening to Gurumaharaja to always
come and take darsan of their Lordships.
On his way to the temple, Gurumaharaja dictated a short report about his
health that we are pasting at the end of this text.
After greeting the Deities GM went to a room in the new guest house took
some rest and prasada and then came to the Auditorium to grace us and give a
short speech and offer the gifts of appreciation to the main devotees here
and the temple administrative council.
The program was first class in all means, as it was almost complete with
dramas, kirtans, acrobatic shows, magic shows, dance, cultural and official
ceremonies. The presenter of the shows was Manohar Shyam Prabhu and the
master of ceremony of the official ceremony was done by myself. The overall
organization was under HG Marici das prabhu, who has been for many years
helping GM in organizing these safari tours.
In the next report I wish to give the names of the presentations.
For this occasion on behalf of the devotees we gave certificate of
appreciation to His Holiness Gopal Krsna Goswami who came at last minute
from Delhi and his flight arrived at night but few minutes before the
official program ended Maharaja could make and received few gifts from HH
JPS and a certificate from us the disciples of Gurumaharaja, HH JPS
glorified the service that HH GKG has offered always to him since June 1968
as they met each other in Canada, so just imagine how dear they are to Srila
Prabhupada, HH GKG Is one of the main ISKCON leaders we have in India and
one of the most serious and successful in his service to Srila Prabhupada
and has a high degree of appreciation by our Gurumaharaja and he mentioned
yesterday that he took his second time Sannyasa form HH JPS so he sees him a
senior God brother and spoke about the activities of HH JPS GM and the love
and faith that Srila Prabhupada has for him. HH JPS also replied with
similar words from HH GKG. We at the beginning of the official ceremony we
spoke about how helpful has been ISKCON Juhu temple every time we need them
to all the devotees and basically how GM feels at home whenever he comes
here for a program of for transit or for a meeting as this was called by
Srila Prabhupada Bombay is my office. All facilities are available always
and at service of the vaishnavas and when HH JPS GM got the stroke here all
rushed to offer their best service and attention and to take him to one of
the best hospitals in Bombay, the Hinduja.
HH JPS offers gifts to Their Graces Devakinanda Prabhu, Zonal Secretary, The
Temple President Braj hari Prabhu, HG Mukunda Madhava Prabhu & HG Kapila dev
prabhu, The Vice Presidents. The General Manager Pundarik Govinda Prabhu who
is also Temple President of Khanpur Mandir, HG Rajsuja Prabhu (Raghubir) who
is in charge of the medical department and gave an amazing service to our
GM. and others who helped in different areas. while we (Ekanath Gaura,
Mahavaraha & Marici prabhus) on behalf of the disciples gave certificate of
appreciation to Devakinanda, Braj hari, Pundarik Govinda and Rajsuja
prabhus. Also some devotees who were taking prasad and care of the devotees
at hospital like Partha Sakha das, Gokulapati das, were honored.
After this event there were more kirtans and drama presentation.
Today we will have a special night program at Mira Road temple which is
located in front of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital and tomorrow morning a super
special event which is the Deity installation of the very magnificent Temple
in Khargar at New Bombay. This temple is built on 9 acres of land which
which is worth almost 400 crores and the project will require almost 70
crores of rupees as is one o the biggest we have. Tomorrow I will post few
pictures of the same. At night devotees will depart for Tirupati the second
phase of the safari tour and will be join later HH Jayapataka Swami who
wants to go personally and thank devotees in Tirupati and offer thanks and
respects to Lord Balaji for all his mercy that bestowed upon our
Gurumaharaja and then head to Mayapur for the Vyasapuja Celebration.
ys
Tustimohan krsna das