Category: General

HH Jayapataka Maharaj’s status report by Dr Madhavananda das, Director of
Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai

Today the physiotherapists made Maharaj take a few steps with alot of
support and effort. He uses parallel bars and 4 people support him while he
tries to take some steps.

Maharaj is still unable to sit on his own without support, but is getting
more strength in his back daily.

He is gradually being encouraged to become independent in his eating by
using the stronger hand, the left hand for eating.

Please continue to pray.

HH Jayapataka Maharaj’s status report by Dr Madhavananda das, Director of
Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai

Today Maharaj was taken to the physiotherapy department where he was made
to stand with support for about 20 minutes in two sessions. He was holding
on to a set of parallel bars on either side of him, with about 4
physiotherapists helping him to stand straight. Maharaj put in alot of
effort to stand up and is looking forward to his next session tomorrow. He
even asked the physiotherapist about when he would be taking baby steps.
The physiotherapist told him to first start standing on his own and then
they would proceed to baby steps.

He was also made to do different exercises to strenghten his right arm
which is weak.

Maharaj is stable otherwise.

6th and 7th Dec 2008 Night shift 6pm – 6am
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5th December 2008 Afternoon shift 12noon till 6pm
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HH Jayapataka Maharaj’s status report by Dr Madhavananada das, Director of
Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai

Maharaj is steadily recovering. His lungs are much better now. He is able
to cough out mucous from his mouth on his own which is again a step towards
removing the tracheostomy tube in a few days.

The physiotherapy is going on intensely and is sometimes tiring for
Maharaj. But he takes rest for a short time and then continues. He has to
practice sitting on the bed on his own with minimal support from his hands.
Maharaj is very alert about doing these exercises daily and more than once
in a day.

Maharaj’s appetite is improving.

Please continue to pray intensely.

4th Dec 2008 Morning Shift 6am – 12 noon
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HH Jayapataka Maharaj’s status report by Dr Madhavananda das, Director of
Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai

Today the nasogastric feeding tube was removed and the tracheostomy tube
was replaced with a smaller diameter one. This is part of the process of
closing the tracheostomy gradually over the next few days.

The physiotherapy is getting intense. Today Maharaj was made to sit on the
edge of the bed with his feet dangling down. He was asked to use only his
hands for supporting himself. Maharaj was able to do it for sometime and
then became exhausted and couldn’t support himself anymore. It will take
some practice but he is very determined to do it.

Maharaj’s white cell counts are still low.

Please pray intensely.

HH Jayapataka Maharaj’s status report by Dr Madhavananda das, Director of
Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai

Yesterday evening Maharaj was shifted to another ICU which is less intense
and is for patients who do not need a ventilator. It is more quiet here and
Maharaj finds it more comfortable here.

Today Maharaj was given a walker to try to stand but he was unable to
support his weight. Nevertheless he was made to sit in a normal chair and
was able to support his back and neck by himself. Later in the day he was
made to sit in a wheelchair and taken around the ICU.

The physiotherapy is going on intenslely and Maharaj is eager to be able to
walk soon.

His swallowing is also improving daily. He was able to eat and drink more
easily today.

Please continue your intense prayers.

Present Camp: Juhu Mumbai, India, Hinduja Hospital Lila of Guru Maharaja

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Afternoon shift: 12noon to 6pm

1 pm We arrived at Hinduja hospital with the prasadam. Hinduja security is
very high because of the past terrorist attack. By Krishna’s mercy we are
all safe.

Today the Speech Therapist came from Bhaktivedanta Hospital to teach
us few systems and movements for Guru Maharaja’s face muscles. Guru Maharaja
was very attentivly listening and he is totally surrendered to whatever the
doctors or devotees advice him. Guru Maharaja’s mood is very humble, patient
and tolerant. I would say extremely or even very extremely!!!! He is in the
hospital already for one month and eleven days in ICCU.

1:30 pm Guru Maharaja took his lunch. While he was eating, Dr Syamalal
prabhu spoke to him about changing Guru Maharaja to ICU room in the second
floor. We are right now in the ICCU which is for the patients who need to be
on ventilatory support.

Guru Maharaja although has so many tubes he is very tolerant. Sometimes the
other patients in similar situation are very distressed and their hands have
to be tied so that they don’t pull out the tubes. But Guru Maharaja is very
cooperative with the doctors, nurses and devotees.

Since Guru Maharaja’s speech is not yet fully clear it is difficult to
understand what he says sometimes. If he wants us to scratch, we would ask
him, if he wants to drink water or other things. He doesn’t get frustrated,
but always remains calm.

2:30 pm After Guru Maharaja finished his lunch he was moved from the sofa to
the bed for a chest physiotherapy. He was sitting on the sofa since 7am.

3:30 pm Guru Maharaja took some rest until 4pm. Guru Maharaja was waiting
for a very important guest. I told Guru Maharaja that one devotee from
Russia that used to help Mayapur alot will come to visit him and he
imediately asked me, “Brahmananda?” and I replied, “yes”.

4 pm Vidvan Gauranga Prabhu, one of Guru Maharaja’s pandit (scholarly)
disciple came to read few letters to Guru Maharaja and do some massage to
his legs.

5 pm HH Radhanath Maharaja came with Brahmananda Prabhu, a Russian devotee,
that used to help and support Mayapur project with big donations. He is very
well known to Guru Maharaja and he loves him a lot.

Before HH Radhanath Maharaja went inside I applied tilaka to Guru Maharaja
as he always likes to have tilak on his face.

HG Brahmananda took Guru Maharaja’s hand and HH Radhanath Maharaja started
speaking to Guru Maharaja. Guru Maharaja asked Brahmananda, “Kakdila?” It
means, how are you in Russian. He also asked few other words in Russian.
Guru Maharaja always kindly enquires everyone who comes to see him, how they
are, where they are staying and for how many days.

HG Brahmananda Prabhu specifically came to see Guru Maharaja from Russia! He
was very pleased to see Guru Maharaja and Guru Maharaja’s special concern
for him. Even in this condition of lying down on the ICCU bed he is always
concerned about our welfare if we ate, if we are ok, etc, Amazing!!! Seeing
Guru Maharaja’s dealings with the devotees, Radhanath Maharaja was enjoying
and admiring his care and concern.

Guru Maharaja started to glorify Radhanath Maharaja and then Radhanath
Maharaja glorified. Like this they were glorifying each other. It was such a
pleasure to watch their loving exchanges.

Radhanath Maharaja narrated the incident of how Guru Maharaja met
Acyutananda Prabhu after a long time of separation.

Guru Maharaja and Acyutananda Prabhu were preaching together in India for
many years. 30 years ago. They were very nice friends. During the New York
Ratha Yatra Guru Maharaja met Acyutananda Prabhu surprisingly. In the
beginning he could not recognize him as they haven’t seen each other for so
many years. Acyutananda Prabhu saw Guru Maharaja and said, “I am your
godbrother, Acyutananda Prabhu.” Guru Maharaja looked at him and had tears
in his eyes. Guru Maharaja embraced him and Acyutananda prabhu also started
crying. Acyutananda called Yogesvara prabhu and informed him about his
meeting with Guru Maharaja and how both of them cried.

After Radhanath Maharaja spoke Guru Maharaja told us how they used to preach
together and also he asked Radhanath Maharaja to send a message to
Acyutananda prabhu saying he loves him.

Guru Maharaja also asked about Radhanath Maharaja’s travel to America. He
asked in which airline he was flying. Maharaja replied British Airways. Guru
Maharaja said, “In BA they have flat bed.” We all started laughing. Guru
Maharaja asked if Brahamanada prabhu knows what flat bed means, and
he didn’t. I explained to him that in business class one can make the seat
flat. Then Guru Maharaja asked Radhanatha Maharaja if he was flying on a
business class. Maharaja replied, “I don’t know what kind of ticket they
bought for me.”

HH Radhanath Swami is a very simple sadhu and a powerful spiritual master.
He is very caring and loving towards all of us. He just came to see Guru
Maharaja before going to America. He traveled so many hours to just come and
see Guru Maharaja, to exchange few words with him and to encourage us. We
are really grateful to His Holiness for all his love and care for our Guru
Maharaja and for all of us. He even cancelled his Vyasa puja just because
Guru Maharaja was in hospital in a serious situation. We conveyed the
message to Maharaja saying Guru Maharaja is not happy that he had cancelled
his Vyasa Puja. But he didn’t want to celebrate at this moment when Guru
Maharaja was on ventilator and he said he will celebrate his Vyasa puja
another day during the year.

Brahmananda Prabhu and Maharaja were telling Guru Maharaja how the devotees
are praying for him and how they all love him. Guru Maharaja said, “That’s
why I am still here.”

Guru Maharaja asked Brahmananda Prabhu about the Moscow temple and he said
that it is going to be built only if Guru Maharaja will give class. Guru
Maharaja said he will go as soon as he can play his kartals.

Guru Maharaja asked if we had any Balaji’s Laddu (Mahaprasad from Tirupati
Balaji). Guru Maharaja wanted to give to Brahmananda prabhu. Since we didn’t
have we gave them some Jagannath Maha Oil.

Nurses told us to go out to change Guru Maharaja’s position. After I went
again inside to discuss with Guru Maharaja, what present to give to HH
Radhanath Maharaja. Guru Maharaja chose a nice pavitram from Lord
Narasimhadeva and he personally gave to Maharaja and said, “Happy Vyasa
Puja”. Maharaja was happy to receive the gift from Guru Maharaja.

There were many loving exchanges amongst Radhanath Maharaja, Guru Maharaja
and Brahmananda prabhu. Once we tried to guess what Guru Maharaja was saying
for 15 min, until we realized that he was speaking in Russian to Brahmananda
Prabhu’s wife.

6:45 pm After Maharaja and Brahmanada prabhu left, Braja hari Prabhu came to
see Guru Maharaja.

I would like to say few words about HG Braja Hari Prabhu. He is Guru
Maharaja’s disciple more than 25 years now, a brahmacari and a very simple
and pure hearted devotee. He is the Temple President of Juhu, Mumbai. He has
dedicated his life in the service of Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji. He is one
of the key person in Guru Maharaja’s hospital lila. He arranged everything
for us and Guru Maharaja. Whenever he comes to see Guru Maharaja he gets the
best fruits for him. He is also like a father to me.

Your servant

JPS caregivers

HH Jayapataka Maharaj’s status report by Dr Madhavanada das, Director of
Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai

Maharaj’s consciousness is normal. He is taking both soft solids and
liquids orally. The physiotherapist is teaching him exercises to strengthen
his muscles to help him sit without support and later stand with support.
She said he is doing well in terms of physiotherapy.

Maharaj had a slight fever today. His white cell counts are low. This may
be a hurdle to his recovery. Please pray intensely for Maharaj’s recovery.