HH Jayapataka Swami, (life story)

<0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0>
“Preaching is my resting time.”

Accepting the Parampara of traveling constantly, that began with Narada
Muni, who was cursed to be unable to stay in one place for very long, HH
Jayapataka Swami began traveling to various countries in the world beginning
from 1979. Today HH attends to India, (and all the Indian subcontinent,
(Nepal, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh) Malaysia, North & South America, Australia,
Eastern and Western Europe, Asia and particularly Middle Eastern countries
as well as Africa ( basically South Africa and Mauritius) and most recently
has been very active in Russia, His Holiness is also meeting the necessity
of traveling to Russia, Eastern Europe and to places where ISKCON centers
have struggled with problems and with maintaining the faith of the devotees
in those countries. He is almost always requested by the GBC to be a GBC in
zones where many problems exist and must be solved) spreading Krishna
consciousness in every town and village. Though traveling constantly around
the world, spending very few days in His most Dear Dham, HH Jayapataka Swami
told me once that nevertheless feels that He never leaves the Dham because
he goes from one temple to another temple in cites around the world. Srila
Prabhupada mentioned once that some of the parents of His disciples cursed
him to always remain traveling and never stay in one place. It was also the
dharma of sanyasis to constantly travel and not remain in one place for very
long. Srila Prabhupada once called Guru Maharaja and other sanyasa into his
room and said that He was passing on the curse of constant travel to his
sanyasa disciples. Though there were other sanyasis in the room, when Srila
Prabhupada said this He was looking at Guru Maharaja and He took this as a
personal instruction for himself. Guru Maharaja accepted this curse from
Srila Prabhupada as a blessing from the Lord to give Him strength to always
travel and preach everywhere. This continuous traveling has made Guru
Maharaja expert in ticketing and traveling and making him sometimes to make
3 round the world tours to attend many programs everywhere and this causing
the KLM vice chairman to tell Guru Maharaja that He is one of the most well
versed persons in the world in routing and rules without being a travel
agent or airline worker. Once I asked Guru Maharaja that we should make his
schedule ahead in months or organize it better, so we can have good service
and not rushing at last moment, than Guru Maharaja said that only the lord
knows the plans of everyone and that his plans are already made him but The
Lord does not reveal it to him so we understood that is better to surrender
more the to Supreme Controller and planner since whatever Guru Maharaja does
it for the pleasure of the Lord and we should be instruments in His hands.
Thirty-five years of continual work and preaching is not easy for any person
who doesn’t stop traveling, who ignores all the inconveniences of this heavy
schedule. Giving absolute importance to His seva to Srila Prabhupada, Guru
Maharaja gives only secondary concern for personal health. Guru Maharaja has
amazing energy and sleeps very little. He has great resistance to height,
weather changes and timing. Very rarely does Guru Maharaja take rest before
1.00 am, but He is always ready for Mangalarati and Japa walking with
devotees in every city His Holiness visit.  When we once asked Guru Maharaja
to please take more rest and take care of his health, Guru Maharaja replied:
“Preaching is my resting time.”

Srila Prabhupada offered Sridham Mayapur and India as the guru-datta-desha
for preaching. However, inspired by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada who
traveled to the west to spread Krsna Consciousness to the whole world, Guru
Maharaja also takes this compassion and love that Srila Prabhupada has to
deliver people in every place possible, always trying to be soft with the
beginners to help them become more attracted and inspired in Krsna
Consciousness. Many times in one week GM visit seven countries or different
places distant one from each other and still He doesn’t stop or take rest,
while for the traveling secretary is a very heavy duty to resist this heavy
schedule that is why we see that every time we need to train a new devotee
to serve Guru Maharaja while the previous one takes rest, but as all they
says: it is a nectar and great experience” and still many devotees fight
between each other to get the mercy to travel with Guru Maharaj.  I
personally never saw HH Jayapataka Swami saying “OK now we will stay one
week here and take some rest, not even when He is sick, we keep fighting
with GM for his health and to remain in one place to have some treatment but
no, His Holiness cares more about His mission as international preacher than
about His health.

HH Jayapataka Swami is the longest standing sanyasa in ISKCON today. HH has
awarded the sanyasa order to 16 devotees so far. Two of them are His direct
disciples, and one has recently become reinitiated as a full disciple, while
the others are his god brothers.  The list of the names of the Sanyasa
Disciples of HH Jayapataka Swami are: Their Holinesses:

Bhakti Vidya Purna Maharaja,
Bhanu Maharaja,
Prabhavisnu Maharaja,
Bhakti Vikas Maharaja,
Mahavisnu Maharaja,
Gopal Krishna Maharaja,
Mukunda Maharaja,
Bhakti Vrajendranandana Maharaja,
Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja, (JPS)
Bhakti Vaidurya Madhava Maharaja,
Bhakti Raghava Maharaja,
Gauranga Prema Maharaja.  (JPS)
Bhaktisidhanta Swami (JPS)
Bhaktivinode Swami (JPS)

While sanyassa devotees were initiated but are disciples of other Spiritual
masters who left the planet. I will add their names soon.
<0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0>
Congregation Preaching & Namahatta.

As a minister of Congregation Preaching Guru Maharaja has set up a world
wide system to teach devotees how to make more people Krsna Conscious, as
well as teaching them how to organize house programs. Through His office, He
has made many books so as to make the preaching more systematic and
organized. He encourages devotees to attend congregational preaching courses
and gives seminars on this topic in many countries around the world. This
service remains close to His heart. His Holiness is at the forefront of
Namahatta preaching in India as well as in other parts of the world.
Acknowledging His keen interest in this area, He was given the role of
Increasing Congregation for Srila Prabhupada Centennial celebrations in
1996.

His Holiness works tirelessly and preaches dynamically in India and around
the globe. He has learned many foreign languages and has wonderfully
accepted the original Vedic culture, mainly the culture of Mahaprabhu’s
Bengal which helps him more and more in his preaching activities. One of the
main activities Guru Maharaja focuses on is the development of Namahatta
preaching centers inspired by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and we can see
hundreds of houses in the world who practice Krsna Consciousness
congregationally in their houses and neighborhood (mainly on the Indian
subcontinent, Russia, Europe and Malaysia and Middle east).
<0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0>
Festival’s Maharaja #1 in the world.

It is impossible to talk about Guru Maharaja without talking about His
performance in the big festivals of ISKCON, His Kirtans with the melodious
sound of His BIG Kartals, chanting with devotees around the main streets of
the world. It is impossible to talk about Guru Maharaja without mentioning
His devotion for Their Lordships Jagannath Baladeva and Subhadra. He is
present in almost all the Rathayatra festivals worldwide. HH Bhaktitirtha
Maharaja wrote once that “His Holiness Jayapataka Swami is the Festival’s
Maharaja # 1 in the world ”  since Guru Maharaja is always invited to
participate in the Rathayatra festivals everywhere and we can see how Guru
Maharaja inspires thousands to participate in this festival of chanting and
dancing before the chariots of the Lord of the universe. Guru Maharaja is
always invited to lead big Harinams – Kirtans in most of the cities in the
world, basically during anniversaries, inauguration, Deity Installations and
Rathyatra as it is part of his nature to preach on the main streets of the
main cities, many times after traveling from continent to continent with
almost not resting  and with changes in the time Guru Maharaja goes directly
from the airport to the procession site and still has energy to perform his
duty to dance and chant before the Lord with association of devotee, many
devotees says that this is one of the activities that makes HH Jayapataka
Maharaja be deserver of the title of extraordinary person. Once I had long
time without seeing Guru Maharaja and suddenly I was watching news on CNN
than I saw the reporter talking about big Hindu festival in South Africa and
I saw Guru Maharaja leading the procession with Kirtan during Jagannath
Rathayatra and it was really overwhelming, Who doesn’t know HH Jayapataka
Swami with his Huge Kartals and turbant chanting and dancing in most of the
great festivals of ISKCON worldwide if He became a devotee of the Krsna
during Rathyatra day. All is connected since the beginning with his
personality and ability in Kirtans, Festivals, Harinams, etc…
<0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0>
As a writer.

Due to the intensity of His traveling and varied services all over the
world, HH Jayapataka Maharaja hardly gets time for writing. Still, He has
given translation and commentary to Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura’s
Bengali poem ‘Vaishnava ke?’ To counteract the speculated ideas of Rtviksm
which have no basis on sastras, His Holiness made a book called the
Rtvik-maya-vada-sata dushani which give 100 points supporting the importance
of accepting initiation from the current link in a Sampradaya.

His Holiness is adept in the principle of yukta vairagya and uses all modern
facilities for spreading Krsna Consciousness. When the -mail facility came
into being, HH directed His disciples and others interested to keep in touch
with him through E-mail as He traveled around the world. An E-mail
conference was also formed where devotees could ask Him Krsna conscious
questions. These questions and answers have been compiled into a book called
the “Spiritual Truths from Cyberspace”. HH also writes for various articles
and conferences. If we would have to make them in books all what Guru
Maharaja have been writing to conferences and disciples definitely we would
have hundreds of books published. He is also assisting in the publishing of
Srila Prabhupada’s books in different languages. His Holiness’s translation
of the Caitanya Bhagavat, ‘Prabhupada Remembrance” and many transcribed
lectures await publication. and is currently preparing other important works
including Caitanya Lila, a book containing many pastimes of Lord Caitanya
from different biographers such as Vrindavan Bhajana (a poem written by
Srila Prabhupada), Sri Krsna Bhajanamrta and Godruma Kalpatavi.
<0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0>
Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaisnava Association (SGVA) – Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity
Trust (BSCT) – The World Hindu Federation (WHF).

It is important to mention that Guru Maharaja, following the instructions of
Srila Prabhupada, works with other ISKCON devotees to improve the
relationship of Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir with all the Gaudiya maths in
the Holy Dham. His Holiness is the Convenor of Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaisnava
Association (SGVA) which annually holds meetings in Srila Prabhupada’s
Samadhi auditorium to work together with the Vaishnava leaders to implement
the teachings of HDG Srila Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada and
to improve the conditions of the devotees in the Holy Dham, acting in the
spirit of a united family. At the same time Guru Maharaja works with other.

The SGVA was created to fulfill the desires of HDG Prabhupada Srila
Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakur, so that all his disciples and followers
would cooperatively work together to spread the message of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu to the entire world. Srila Prabhupada established the
Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust (BSCT) with one of its objectives being to
promote unity in the Saraswat (disciplic family). The BSCT took the
initiative for convening a meeting of all disciplic descendants of HDG
Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada. They decided to form a formal
association under the name of Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaisnava Association (SGVA),
with the purpose of fulfilling 0the well known desire of Prabhupada Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur – that his followers cooperatively preach
the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, while developing Vaishnava
communities in the Holy Dham.

Most of the direct disciples of Prabhupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakur appreciate this working together approach, which began through the
initiatives of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, It is important to
mention that since HH Jayapataka Swami learned Bengali, He gained the
respect of the local Acaryas and devotees and this was one of the reasons
that made Him the closer to the Vaishnavas in the Holy Dham. Srila
Prabhupada in Vrindavan appointed him as chairman of the BSCT.

Guru Maharaja is also the Vice Chairman of the World Hindu Federation and I
have personally assisted HH in few opportunities. Once in Lumbini Nepal I
could see the appreciation for Guru Maharaj  from the WHF leaders, since
after the end of the general meeting one of the leaders came and told GM, we
are very proud of you maharaja, we want you to help us because you have
succeeded in doing what we cannot do easily,  which is to bring people to
Sanatan dharma because we face the crisis in our religion that our people
are going to join other faiths attracted by some money or by force so please
help us, Than HH Jayapataka Swami replied : it is not because me but it  is
because the Bhagavad Gita and my Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada. Than a
year after the general meeting of the WHF was held in Mayapur bringing
hundreds of leaders to our ISKCON Mayapur showing the respect and
appreciation that these leaders have for our Guru Maharaja and for Srila
Prabhupada’s movement that now a days  have in the Hindu community.
<0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0>
Mayapur activities and festivals.

In relation to Mayapur – many things we can say but I will try to resume
Guru Maharaja’s activities. HH Jayapataka Swami participate in almost all
the areas and act as GBC and Co-director and takes part in most of the
festivals and their organization as well in future projects like the Vedic
Planetarium and the  improvements of all the areas and all the holy dham as
well as help in promoting Mayapur and fund raising programs around the world
and is part of many committees to make Mayapur worldwide famous with
spiritual tourism promotion and improving the infrastructure of the whole
area of Navadwipa Dham as was the desire of Srila Prabhupada Gaura Purnima
festival is part of the life of Guru Maharaja. HH never missed one festival
(a record as we could see in the last Srila Prabhupada night in Mayapur
during the Gour Purnima festival 2002) from the main festivities to the
small ones, Guru Maharaja leads an important team so things are done
properly, increasing in quality year after year.

Parikrama: one of the most auspicious activities organized by Guru Maharaja
and Mayapur devotees, This is one of the most pleasing for HH JPS, that
shows His strength and experience in the Holy Dham of Navadwipa, thousands
of devotees foreigners and Indians gather to experience the nectarean
pastimes of the Lord narrated by exalted devotees a long with HH Jayapataka
Swami during the Sri Navadwipa Mandal Parikrama. And in each place Guru
Maharaja with senior devotees narrates the amazing pastimes of these holy
places; definitely this activity is one of the most pleasing to Sri Sri
Gaura Nitai.  And after the Gaura Purnima festival Guru Maharaja leads a
group of devotees on safari (first was Ganga Safari) to the main holy places
in India. The result of this transcendental tour is amazing, when we hear
the realizations of devotees after visiting each Tirtha.  This safari have
been done under the leadership of Guru Maharaja for places like the Ganges,
Orissa, Vrindavan, Southinida, West Bengal in general from the Darjeeling
until the delta along with hundreds of foreigners devotees, in fact Guru
Mahraja want to show to the local people how foreigners chant the holy name
and are inspired by Srila Prabhupada to visit India and have association of
the holy dham. Caitanya Lila is part of the festival of Gaur Purnima
festival where devotees assist to the rooftop of the lotus building to hear
the nectarean lectures of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with His
associates in the holy dhams, this activity is now part of the festival
always awaited by devotees from different parts of the world and HH
Jayapataka Swami is very expert in these transcendental pastimes of the
Golden Avatar.

Shantipur: This is one of the most auspicious festivals on earth, is in the
house of the Supreme Lord Sri Adwaita Acarya where Gauranga Mahaprabhu along
with Nityananda Prabhu visited this house and took prasadam with devotees
and gave special blessing to all those who go to that place and take
prasadam would get Krsna Prema, so the descendant number 14th from Sri
Adwaita Acarya ( Sri Prasanth Goswami) have requested personally HH
Jayapataka Swami to organize and lead a group of devotees to feed more than
50.000 pilgrim annually on that same day ( 3 days before Gaurpurnima
festival) I am 108% sure that this is one of the main things that inspire us
to be under the lotus feet of Guru Maharaja in this transcendental seva to
the Lord and his devotees. Nitai pada kamala, from the times of Srila
Prabhupada HH Jayapataka Swami always wanted to have preaching programs in
the Ganges so he made arrangements to get a boat and Srila Prabhupada
installed Sri Sri GaurNitai and in this way the preaching through the
villages near by the Ganges started.

Pandal programs: These are one of the main programs that Guru Maharaja
organize and participate in India and Bangladesh since in this way thousands
have the opportunity to hear the glories and chant the names of the Lord
Besides all the festivals that Guru Maharaja is always requested to attend,
Guru Maharaja is also expert in deity installation rituals. So, many times
His Holiness has led these activities in many temples and locations. In West
Bengal HH have made an amazing work with his disciples and spiritual nephews
basically through the preaching and Namahatta programs as well Book
distribution, Prasad distribution, Pandal programs, School programs and
Spiritual artistic programs and as examples of the result of these
activities in such a poor areas like  Siliguri and Haridaspur we can find
one of the main temples in West Bengal that were recently inaugurated by
Guru Maharaja  accompanied by many senior devotees and we cannot forget
Kanainathshala ( a holy place on visited by Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu on the
bank of the Ganges) there Guru Maharaja along with many devotees have made
an important ashram and it is frequented by devotees few times a year and
especially during Ganga Safari with hundreds of devotees and foreigners
devotees as well.

Vedic Planetarium: Together with his God brothers, His Holiness is closely
monitoring and developing Sri Mayapur Dham into a spiritual city,
unparalleled in human history, as envisaged by the previous Acaryas. From
here, it is predicted that the message of Love of Godhead will inundate the
entire world and a great temple will be built in this spiritual city. So
Guru Maharaja along with many of senior devotees are working hardly to make
reality this project revealed by Sri Nityananda Prabhu. HH is a very active
member of the GBC and have been serving in many areas in the world as a GBC
in charge or Zonal secretary or GBC committee member and have been chairman
as well of the GBC and his areas includes most of the continents. As an
Administrator  Guru Maharaja is  very good in this area who always presents
many proposals for resolutions to increase the veracity of ISKCON and who
works very hard with other GBC members to improve a system of justice,
organizing ISKCON and its dealings with devotees and authorities. I
personally have seen how Guru Maharaja begins working ahead of the GBC
meetings in Mayapur. His Holiness plays the main role as host and ensures
things are done properly, giving the best attention possible towards
implementing systems to improve the conditions and relationships between
devotees around the world. HH Jayapataka Swami also has a very heavy task to
protect ISKCON properties and its reputation. By working with other god
brothers, disciples and devotees in general so as to address the latest
issues associated with the Ritvik philosophy, he risks himself in this
service to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON.
<0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0>
JPSOffice in Mayapur.

Guru Maharaja has established an office to provide better service to his
disciples (both diksa and siksa), god brothers, and well-wishers. He has
expertly implemented a technical way of maintaining a system of databases to
aid in caring for the devotees, as well as providing Krsna Conscious news
constantly to devotees via email, websites and printing works. He always try
to see how to improve the systems of attention to His followers and
well-wishers and try to update all the equipments of His office as well
oversea new systems that makes faster the replying of huge amount of snail
mails and E-mails, also through his office Guru Maharaja co-ordinate most of
his activities around the world and the relationship between other areas in
the world, JPSOffice in Mayapur is worldwide Headquarter office for his
service and intercommunication with all his disciples around the world.
<0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0>
Inspiration for his attitude and activities.

I would like to share with the readers some of the aspects from the
personality of Gurumaharaj that inspire us the most and that I have heard
personally or at least read in some books or have seen them in some video
presentation and also some of the realizations that some God brothers of HH
have said about Him. Guru Maharaja is an extraordinary person and I am
always impressed by His activities, efforts, and His renunciation in many
ways. Whatever He does it is not for Himself but for Srila Prabhupada and
ISKCON, as His very life is dedicated to serving the devotees and to
pleasing Gauranga Mahaprabhu. The long list of disciples that Guru Maharaja
has, shows the dedication and work He does around the world to inspire
people, and it is due to His purity and sincerity as a devotee, servant and
intimate associate of Srila Prabhupada, that makes Him be attractive to too
many devotees to join Him in spreading Lord Caitanya’s message around the
world. Guru Maharaja is a very caring father for all His disciples and He is
always worried about the well being of all those who meet him at least once.
I have seen in His Holiness Jayapataka Swami a very dedicated role in
protecting devotees who are in need, taking care as diksa guru and as siksa
guru. Guru Maharaja also takes care of the children in ISKCON and works
closely with many devotees to improve the attention and the education given
to them. He works to implement systems to avoid any kind of abuse to the
students or children and works to establish an annual budget for them as
well have them always in his annual budget and help.

Months back I visited HDG Nayananda das Babaji (God brother of Srila
Prabhupada) and He was very happy that Guru Maharaja have instructed his
office to offer help to Babaji on monthly basis and once there Babaji
requested me the following things and he said, “I have a request from you,
that you learn Bengali and speak Bengali as nicely as your Guru Maharaja
speaks” and this inspired me a lot. Babaji always use to tell me “try always
to serve Him and surrender to him, I appreciate him too much because He have
helped me a lot and help us in building the small temple of Sri Sri Gaura
Gadadhara, at that time I felt happy to see a great Vaishnava glorifying HH
Jayapataka Swami, and I remembered that also Gurumaharaj also was helping
HDG Lalita Prasad Brother of Srila Bhaktisidhanta Thakura Prabhupada during
his early days in Mayapur.

He always inspires people to perform seva and chant the holy names of the
Lord. He always protects Srila Prabhupada’s properties and Krsna’s laksmi,
inspiring people to spend their money in Krsna Consciousness. He is
continually preaching to other people, nations and religions and assisting
at large congresses and events. Nothing could make him decrease neither his
faith nor his strength and desires for preaching the message of Sri Gauranga
Mahaprabhu not even the murder attempt that HH Jayapataka Swami survived in
Spain. His Holiness always tries to encourage devotees to open centers and
temples so as to spread Krsna Consciousness, with devotees gathering
together to worship the Lord and establish workshops for chanting the
Mahamantra. His purity and association carries a very important meaning in
our lives. In order to make his preaching activities possible, I have seen
amazing things while traveling like Guru Maharaja’s last minute arrangements
to travel to reach his destination and fulfill his duties as a devotee. He
is very merciful with his disciples as well as with those who make a lot of
mistakes. He doesn’t want anyone out of ISKCON since the fight against Maya
is very heavy and He always insists that ISKCON leaders should try to reform
devotees instead of removing them.  For this Guru Maharaja is always trying
to give His best for the cause of justice in our movement. He is a General
in this army against Maya. We can see this when He chants Gauranga loudly.
This has become part of His personality along with the Kirtans with his huge
Kartals. Whenever we travel with Guru Maharaja on tours in India we see the
reception and respect He receives from other Sampradayas or schools of
different understanding. Also I remember when Guru Maharaja was glorified
for engaging more people around the world in Sanatan dharma and Guru
Maharaja humbly said that it is only due to the Gita and Srila Prabhupada,
this act of humility also inspires us a lot. Once I asked him what should be
my attitude towards our God brothers in Bangalore while the Ritvik issue was
prominent. He told me, “You just be spiritual and behave as a Vaishnava”.
Seeing the attitude and compassion of Guru Maharaja towards others even if
they offended or misbehaved with Him, inspired me a lot as a disciple. He
never considers anyone as his enemy. Instead, He talks and acts in a very
wise way as He is totally surrendered to the Lord.

At the beginning of my visit to Navadwipa Dham I visited many spiritual
centers (Gaudiya Math) and had a darsan with HH Srila Govinda Maharaja
(Successor of HDG Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Maharaja). He asked me who is your
spiritual master and when I told him HH Jayapataka Maharaja His Holiness
told me “Ah! Jayapataka Maharaja is one of us; He is part of the Dham, a
Dham vasi, and one of us”. This inspired me more and more and I am proud to
have him as our Guru Maharaja. Other things that impresses me is that
knowing how Indian society is organized by casts ( we do not follow this
system as per the mercy of Gauranga Mahaprabhu, all those who chant the
Mahamantra Hare Krsna and render devotional service are considered devotees
qualified for His mercy  and therefore devotees are beyond casts or color)
many local people and devotees take shelter as diksha disciples of Guru
Maharaja who was born in the west with in an American body, this shows His
purity and that devotees sees in him his real identity and as a servant of
the lord who took birth in the west for the purpose of preaching the glories
of the Sanatan dharma and basically Krsna Consciousness. Guru Maharaja took
the duty of being a GBC in South America and in some Yatras with large
preaching centers, along with his God brothers and disciples. Once a devotee
explained that before Guru Maharaja arrived in South America someone told
them that they would all be in good hands since HH Jayapataka Maharaja
carries the mercy of Lord Nityananda. And, in fact Guru Maharaja made many,
many devotees since the first day he arrived in the Latin-American
continent. In the USA Guru Maharaja is identified with the Panihati
festival, performing an important service for the Lord and devotees in
Atlanta year after year. HH  has a very mystic relationship with deities
basically in Mayapur and it is very hard for us to discover this intimate
Rasa but most of us have seen that something beyond our perception is always
there and the many things that Their Lordships manifest to Guru Maharaja. As
Book distributor is one of the leaders worldwide and basically during the
Srila Prabhupada Centennial Marathon always He was among the leaders. When
Guru Maharaja serves Srila Prabhupada he serves him with the utmost
dedication and happiness.

Krsna is always present with Guru Maharaja even when He goes with devotees
for swimming He instruct them to play the HARIBOL game by chanting the names
of the Lord while transferring the ball. And when he use to make teams for
book distribution also he use to create teams with names of Krsna and his
associates. Many incidents happened that we can recollect about HH
Jayapataka Swami and his extraordinary achievements but one come to my mind
as particular that in some place in South America the government have sent a
security agent to put drugs in the temple and make the police to arrest
devotees and close temple but when that police came and saw Guru Maharaja
arriving immediately was attracted by His personality and immediately
changed His mind and surrendered and now is Guru Maharaja’s disciple, this
shows how a representative of the Lord can make miracles, and protect
devotees.
Once I went to Atlanta and when Guru Maharaja saw me there as for the first
time in Atlanta He went to the kitchen and brought Prasad for me and I
protested that I have to go and serve him but he said, NO I want to serve
you, you I are a Vaishnava and is my duty to serve Vaishnavas, this incident
I can never forget. Other story that inspired me too much was when HG
Jananivas Prabhu told me that once Srila Prabhupada said in Mayapur, ” If I
have to do the seva that Jayapataka is doing I would do the same”, this
shows that Srila Prabhupada was satisfied with Guru Maharaja’s service to
the Dham, During the glorification of HH Tamal Krsna Goswami in Mayapur
after his passing away, one Maharaja said that few days before HH Tamal
Krsna Goswami told him that he would like to spend the rest of his life with
devotees as Jayapataka Swami, Bhakti Charu Swami and Sivaram Swami. This was
amazing to hear for us that day.

Other thing that also inspire us about HH Jayapataka Swami is when we read
all the letters that Srila Prabhupada use to send to Him about Mayapur and
the festivals where He is always expressing happiness for the work of our
beloved Spiritual Master. Once I was invited to visit an officer in the
Prime Minister Office in Delhi and since I came there the Officers use to
always Glorify Gurumaharaj and talk about the respect and admiration they
have for Him. From my side other things what I have seen in the office is
that Guru Maharraja doesn’t spend the money from the donations of devotees
basically those collected during initiations but instead He have created a
charity account to help other temples and poor centers as well to give
donations to institutions in ISKCON that requires money and help and most
recently He have given and important amount for the protection of the
children of ISKCON. In many places in the world Gurumaharaj is always
invited to organize and participate in retirement programs for devotees
basically in Australia, Russia, Europe and South India, this shows how Guru
Maharaja is always trying to use all the methods possible to make devotees
have Guru- Sadhu- Sanga. We would write books and books about HH Jayapataka
Swami if we have to add all his achievements and glories and services but
for this occasion I hope have presented important part of his life and seva
to Srila Prabhupada, again I offer my humble respects to our Gurumaharaj and
our God-uncles and God brothers and wish the best tour Gurumaharaj for this
Vyasapuja celebration.
<0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0>

On October 23rd at ISKCON Juhu Bombay Mandir, HH JPS suffered a brain
hemorrhage which paralyzed him partially and affected his brain and was
taken immediately at Mangal arati time to the Hinduja Hospital. Doctors gave
him 2% of chance of survival, but as this news shocked the whole Vaishnava
community, thousands were chanting for his benefit and praying to Lrod
Narasimhadeva for his protection and recovery, while many were performing
special yajnas and doing special parikrams in holy dhams and offering all
the tapasias for Gurumaharaja health, which makes that the Supreme Lord
Gauranga reciprocates with all of the prayers and made a miracle with
Gurumaharaja tha brought him back to the preaching field, even with some
physical limitations as he is now in wheel chairs undergoing many
physiotherapies for his full recovery. On December 20th he was discharged
from Hinduja hospital and then admitted at the Bhaktivedanta Hospital till
28th of March, where he joined his annual safari tour group to Tirupati via
Bangalore, At Tirupati Dham they were for 2 days then went to Madras for a
short program then went to Mayapur Dham. While in Bombay as soon as
Gurumaharaja felt strength to preach, he went on to give lectures at Mira
Road temple, Juhu Temple, New Bombay programs for Gaurpurnima celebration
and the very much commented the Pune Yatra program with almost 5000 devotees
that are organized by HH Radhanath Swami’s disciples.

As you all may know, after this incident in his health HH JPS never stopped
travelling, whenever doctors will allow him to visit his zones and his
disciples all over the world, no matter the distances, he is there and also
participating in the GBC meetings, either in Bombay or in Mayapur. You can
all read the letters sent by his God brothers to see how dedicated he is and
how all are impressed that while others would be retired or idle, now he is
still serving till last breath. No matter the limitations of the body our
Guru maharaja is working and preaching and making thousands to chant the
holy names of Krsna everywhere.

Many thousands of devotees were initiated even after his health problems and
many more feel more inspired by his spiritual potency and dedication to Sri
Guru and Gauranga.

The work of the Temple of  Vedic Planetarium is maybe one of the most
important sevas of Guru maharaja and he is there to look after it and to
help his gob brothers and devotees in general to look after it, also the
management of Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir is taking some time of Guru
maharaja as it is needed to upgrade the services to the world community of
devotees.

Now there is a plan to improve the office of Guru maharaja with new team and
better vision, in order to fulfill the demand of the devotees in having
better service and better connection with our divine Gurumaharaja.

Ys

Tustimohan Krsna das.

This is an other life story about HH JPS read by Her Grace Malati mataji
during one of the vyasapuja celebration, I sent it to her and she added few
things she knows.

Jayapataka Swami was born John Gordan Erdman on April 9, 1949 (the ekadasi
after
ramanavami) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA to John Hubert and Lorraine
Erdman. He was born into opulent surroundings, his father’s father
being the founder of a large paint factory, which was a multi-million
dollar concern at the time of his birth. Later HH Jayapataka Swami
Maharaja was glad to see that his name – Gordan John (Gour Dhan Jan) –
already suggested what Srila Prabhuapda confirmed, that he and two
other devotees were formerly associates of Lord Caitanya and that they
had taken their birth in the west to facilitate spreading Krishna
consciousness around the world.

When Jayapataka Maharaja was eleven years old, at the suggestion of his
grandfather he cured himself of a skin disease by calling on the name of
God. At 14, he graduated almost effortlessly in the very top of his class
from St.John’s academy, a college preparatory school. He was offered full
scholarships including tuition, books, fooding, lodging plus incidental
expenses by
several major universities around America. He accepted admission into Brown
University. There, as a fresh enrollee, he was so much moved by a guest
lecture on the life of Buddha that he lost all interest in his studies and
began searching for a spiritual teacher. After some time of
searching and austerity he concluded he would have to got o India to find
his teacher.

As he was preparing to leave for India, he met the devotees of His Divine
Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, founder acarya of the
International Society for
Krishna Consciousness, doing kirtan and distributing BTGs at the park.
When one devotee approached him to take a copy of the BTG, he was stunned to
see the tilak on his face and experiencing some strange feelings he began to
run. After running a few minutes, he stopped to contemplate on what he had
seen and how he had been so much affected.
It was the experience of seeing something after a long time, a re-awakening
of something that had been dormant and hidden from his memory. He walked
back to the park but by then the devotees were gone!

There began his search for the Hare Krishna devotees. Since ISKCON was not
very well known, he could not find them for a long time. It was finally
during the Ratha-yatra preparations in San Francisco that he found the
location of the ISKCON center. He came to the temple where HG Jayananda
prabhu was making the ratha cart for Jagannatha. HH Jayapataka Swami
Maharaja was drawn into service of the Ratha by Jayananda prabhu. Later he
met Srila Prabhupada who encouraged him by inviting him to take prasadam
with him and making sure he got more than just generous servings.

In just two months after visiting ISKCON, HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja
decided to commit himself to the principles of ISKCON. Jayananda prabhu
shaved his head and everyone was surprised to see that within two months of
coming in contact with ISKCON, he had shaved up and joined in. In 1968,
Gordan John took first initiation in Montreal, Canada and was given the name
Jayapataka dasa brahmachari and he was very soon awarded 2nd initiation in
New York.

Several years later, while discussing a difficult situation in Mayapur,
Srila Prabhupada remarked
upon the name ‘Jayapataka’ as follows:
Jayapataka Maharaja: You gave me the name Jayapataka. I hope that name comes
true, that there will be victory.

Prabhupada: It has already become so.

Jayaptaka Maharaja, (then Jayapataka dasa) began to render a number of
services for ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada. The first most important was the
service as the president of ISKCON Montreal. Srila Prabhupada wrote him in a
letter, “For the present I think you cannot leave Montreal. Your service is
much too valuable there.”

While in Montreal, His Holiness was was engaged in the service of printing
books and
dispatching them to other ISKCON Centres around the world. In a letter dated
6th October 1968, Srila Prabhupada wrote him, “I am interested in starting
the press, so if you can manage it will be very nice.” His service to the
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust continued in India and continues until today as he
is one of the trustees of the BBT.
Later, on the instruction of Srila Prabhupada, HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja
went to Toronto to open a center there. When Jagadish took over the Toronto
center as president he wrote to Srila Prabhupada enquiring about his service
and Srila Prabhupada told him to go to India on a long visa as “we have a
great deal of work to do there”.

Jayapataka Maharaja’s flight to India gives already the hint of his
expertise in traveling with the
most mileage and least expense possible. He flew for 48 hours in what was
the “cheapest flight in history” flying Montreal – London – Brussels –
Bombay – Calcutta.

At Calcutta, Jayapataka Maharaja began to learn Bengali by going out to buy
fruits and vegetables. Along with the other devotees, he conducted house
programs, organized pandal programs, and personally went out on nagar
Sankirtan  and book distribution though there was so much violence in the
city.

Soon the devotees found a new place in Mayapur and Srila Prabhupada arrived
29th August 1970 in India. When he arrived, it was known that Srila
Prabhupada had already given sannyas initiation to 9 persons in the US.
Srila Prabhupada one day called Jayapataka das and asked him if he would
take sannyasa and in response he said, “Yes, Prabhupada whatever you like”.

Thus on the day of the most auspicious Radhashtami in 1970, in Calcutta,
Srila Prabhupada
personally performed the fire yajna and Jayapataka dasa got his sannyas
initiation. This 12th sannyasi disciple of Srila Prabhupada would be
henceforth known as Tridandi Biksu Jayapataka Swami.

Arriving in Mayapur and eternal service to the holy Dham When ISKCON got a
land in
Mayapur HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja went there on the instruction of Srila
Prabhupada. When he first arrived in Mayapur, understanding that he was in
the holy land, he offered his obeisances and then dipped his head into the
cool Ganges mud to get the blessings, recollecting how Akrura, when he
entered Vrndavana, saw the lotus footprints of Krsna in
the holy mud of Vrndavana.

There were 5 other devotees with HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja in Mayapur. As
funds were short, HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja began engaging in
agriculture. He studied several books, learnt different methods and got the
best crop. Local farmers were surprised and wanted to learn from him. This
helped build a lasting relationship with the local people. Maharaja taught
them
modern techniques of agriculture and the farmers taught him Bengali. He
began to give classes in Bengali where his few listeners would correct him
in his language and soon he began to perfect his knowledge of the language.
Jayapataka Maharaja had wanted to learn even in 1968 when he
was in the West but it did not seem necessary there. His desire was
fulfilled automatically when he was sent down to Bengal by Srila Prabhupada.

Life in Mayapur in the initial days was very austere and full of different
types of dangers.
Devotees would sleep on the floor of a grass hut. Since they were living on
their own crop, they would have to eat the same vegetable for three months.
Once when Srila Prabhupada was there a large cobra was found in his toilet.
Prabhupada called out to Jayapataka Maharaj and he very quickly managed to
save Prabhupada. Eventually they got a three-room warehouse built by the
main gate.

Jayapataka Maharaja soon began to oversee construction work in Mayapur and
the artistic lotus
building was built. But envious circles began to give the devotees a lot of
trouble. With permission from Srila Prabhupada and the police, HH Jayapataka
Swami Maharaja kept a gun for protecting ISKCON devotees and property. As a
devotee who was with him at that time remarked, “He (Jayapataka Maharaj) was
a great shooter”.
==================================================================