HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja’s brief life story

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HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja.

(this first part is for a movie introduction on the life story of HHJPS, so
it is done under this aspect.)

After flooding India with the Mahamantra and after many years of Kaliyuga
The Supreme Lord promised to send and empower a great personality  to flood
the world with the  Krsna consciousness, He called him, The Ganapti of his
army.

At the end of the 19th century, a great personality takes birth to enlighten
the world, the Ganapati of the army of the Most merciful and munificent Lord
Gauranga who appears on earth and takes shelter as a disciple of one of the
greatest Acaryas ever descended on this planet, known as His divine grace
Srila Bhaktisidhhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada,  Who at the very first
time when he met a young and talented man in 1922, he could see in him with
his transcendental vision the devotee, capable to carry on the most
extraordinary spiritual mission of the 20th century and make possible
fulfillment of  the prediction of  Lord Gauranga, that he is sending  a big
personality to preach the holy name in every town and village, Srila AC
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is this great commander in chief of the army
of the golden avatar to purify the world with the chanting of the Maha
Mantra and the teachings of the Acaryas, thus giving birth to the real age
of enlightenment for the western world.

Srila Prabhupada after been trained and empowered by his Divine Gurudeva
and after writing many books on Krsna consciousness, and after going into
deep meditation in in his new mission,  and been blessed for his new mission
by great personalities at the very holy places of  Sri Vrndaban Dham, Sri
Mayapur dham and Shantipur dham, embarked to the west in the most
extraordinary mission in the life of a vaishnava outside india.

While the most genuine ambassador and biggest exponent of the vedic culture
is traveling from India to the USA, he was very much worried on how to carry
on the mission of his divine gurudeva, and even with 2 heart attacks and
many tests of the illusory energy that rules this material world . His
divine grace was determinant to bless the world with the greatest knowledge
ever, always surrendered to Krsna and meditating upon his lotus feet which
gave him sufficient strength and energy even when he was  65 years old for
this task. So he  never gave up the hope as he knows when Krsna’s blessings
are there,  as the  supreme controller  His Lordship  makes everything
possible.

while been in America, with many difficulties at the beginning  Srila
Prabhupada prays to Krsna to help him in his mission.  The supreme lord
seeing the seriousness and determination of his genuine devotee,  sends to
him a group of very sincere young boys and girls to embrace and follow the
greatest path and knowledge to be under his care the guidance.

Once Srila Prabhupada said after his successful preaching in America to his
devotees:

” I went to your country with a mission & you all good souls were sent by
Krsna to me..!!!!!

In 1968 a great soul meets Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami and his life  changes
forever.

A light is igniting, a great soul is beginning to manifest! And the
predictions start becoming truth. The age of illumination and purification
starts getting shape by the surrender of great devotees. But one is very
special with unique features and mission, with unconditional love and
dedication, one who hearts, soul, mind and body will forever been dedicated
and surrendered completely to the Ganapati of lord Caitanya’ army.
This light, this devotee, this great soul is Jayapataka Swamii!

The Supreme Lord Krsna is most pleased when instead of glorifying His
Lordship; we glorify his devotees or the servants of His servants. So please
allow me to write this text of glorification and the realization about our
Spiritual Master HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja who during  this year 2003 we
are celebrating His 35th anniversary as a devotee of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu
and disciple of Patita Pavana Jagatguru Om Visnupada Paramahamsa
Parivrajakacharya 108 Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Writing an article about HH Jayapataka Swami is not easy, but only by the
mercy of the Lord and the devotees is it possible to write something about
the work, achievements and devotional life of a dedicated servant of Sri
Panca Tattva Bhagavan and Srila Prabhupada. Although I am afraid to commit
any offense or omit important details, I feel encouraged by different God
brothers to present part of the biography of our beloved Guru Maharaja, and
also present a few realizations gained from having worked directly with HH
Jayapataka Swami this past few years. By His mercy my life has changed
completely, and the conceptual understanding of this world and our purpose
in this human form is conveyed through Guru Maharaja and the Shakti of Srila
Prabhupada, while HH is preaching, traveling and working tirelessly for
everyone to become Krsna Conscious in every town and every village.

I was planning to present this small article by points but in fact all the
points it will all interact together, each aspect and subject has something
from the other since all refers to the same person who is none different
from His preaching, thoughts or attitude therefore I will write something
about His life as a devotee, His qualities that inspire us and activities.

Once I, interviewed His Holiness Jayapataka Swami (HH JPS) for a magazine
that this year we will publish. So I am adding part of it on how Gurumaharaj
became a devotee.

HH JPS: There were devotees sitting in a circle doing kirtan. One devotee in
the group turned to me and looked at me.  When I saw the tilak then I was
overwhelmed with fear. I was like somebody who saw a ghost or something. All
the hairs on my body were standing on end. It was like you see those
pictures of a Cat with shhhhh (sound expression). That’s how I felt. All my
back, everything was like electrical shock. I just turned and I ran as fast
as I could. I ran about 2kms.  And then I asked Myself:  who am I running
for, who are those people, what is this? It was just like a spontaneous
reaction. Then I went back but the devotees were gone. I asked around and
they said those are Hare Krsnas. So I was looking around for them.

There was another time before this when one devotee wearing a western dress,
T-shirt, pants with shaved headed and sikha. No tilak. He was like a hippie
or something. I don’t know what he was. He came up to me and handed me a
paper and it said “Hare” – the Supreme Pleasure potency, “Krsna” – the
Reservoir of All Pleasure, “Rama” – the Supreme Pleasure. Chant this Mantra
and you’ll be happy. You get high forever. He gave the address, I tried to
find the place, and I couldn’t find it. I must not have been ready then.

TMKD: Do You know the name of this person?

HH JPS: No, I don’t know. He didn’t talk to me, he just was walking around
and handing people this paper. There was no kirtan party. Even I got the
paper, immediately I was attracted, wanted to find but I couldn’t find the
temple.  When I saw this devotee chanting with tilak that’s when I got this
big reaction.

TMKD: And after that time how long it took You to join the movement?

HH JPS: From the time I saw the devotee, that wasn’t such a long time. From
The first time when I received the paper maybe 6 months or a year. I didn’t
get connected till later. I thought who this people were. I never saw them
again.   But the second time I think it was within a month or two because I
saw one poster and it said that there was a Ratha Yatra, I think Festival of
the Chariots. At the bottom it says you come and get a vegetarian meal for
25cents donation. So then I went to the temple and got the vegetarian meal.
After 7 days of visiting ISKCON on the day of Ratha Yatra, HG Jayananda
Prabhu shaved me up and I surrendered. “What I did!”, I said in my mind I’ll
try it out fully for 2 months and then I’ll re-evaluate whether I’ll stay or
not but my desire was to surrender. But just, you know, like my intelligence
said, “Come on, how you can do it so quickly”. So I said, all right, I’ll
try it out, if I don’t do it fully how I will know what it is like. And
after 2 months if I don’t feel any change and I can reconsider. But then I
was not looking back after that.

TMKD: What was Your feeling when You met Srila Prabhupada for the first
time?

HH JPS: After the Ratha Yatra in San Francisco in 1968, then I wanted to go
and see Srila Prabhupada in Montreal. Then I flew to New York and from New
York I went up to Montreal. In New York I saw 26, 2ND Avenue temple, then I
Went to Montreal. That time there were only 3 temples in the world – San
Francisco, New York and Montreal. So when I first saw Srila Prabhupada, he
came for giving Bhagavad-Gita class in the evening. There were about 25 to
30 people there, to hear his class. When I first joined, because I was doing
yoga and different things so I could see people’s auras. So then when
Prabhupada came to the room, it was like his aura filled the whole room.
There was yellow, white color, very soothing. I was so amazed; I’ve never
seen anybody with aura like that. Everybody has green, red, blue, and
different but I never saw something that was so big. At the end of class
Srila Prabhupada said, “Who’s that? That time Gargamuni had also come from
San Francisco, he said “This is Bhakta Jay”, my nick name was Jay. That’s
what everyone calls me, not by my legal name; Gordon John was my legal name.
Jay was what everyone called me. So then Srila Prabhupada said, “Have him
come for lunch with me tomorrow”

TMKD: When Your father left his body, did he leave anything for You?

HH JPS: Just a message that he was very pleased with me. My father disowned
me for that but after about 8 years he accepted me back. For 8 years he
wouldn’t write to me, wouldn’t talk to me, I was no longer his son. I had
one brother who died. I met him…then soon after he died. He told the
priest that he’s most proud of me. That he had not treated me properly but
he’s most proud of me that I had made something out of my life. That priest
read that out during the funeral. Other brothers and sisters were there,
they were surprised. I couldn’t make it to the funeral. I didn’t get the
information, so it was too late. (It is good to see how HH JPS got the
respect of his father for what he was doing at the last days of his life and
this shows how those who leave their home to surrender to the lord are
highly protected by His Lordship) ii end of interview.

The life story of our Gurumaharaj is very long since it I very Rich in
Activities, Lectures, Marathons of book distribution, Festivals, as a
Associate of Srila Prabhupada, as Preacher, Pujari, Administrator, Temple
President, GBC, Various Committees Member, Member of World Organizations,
Kirtan Leader, as a Lecturer and Writer and many more but it is important
that we start from talking little bit from His early days so I am adding
part of His biography that is made with the help of few devotees.

His Holiness Srila Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja appeared on the Ekadasi
day after Rama Navami in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, America (09-04-1949). We can
see few coincidences (although there is no coincidence) that the place of
his birth gives an early indication of his future achievements. Within the
name Wisconsin, is the name ISKCON! And Milwaukee literally means a place
where important people meet. (We do not know the truth behind this nor the
real plans of the lord but we just make our analysis and conclude like this)
Guru Maharaja’s special connection with the Lord and His holy name was
apparent from his very childhood. In fact, even His name, Gordon John, as
Guru Maharaja pointed out very happily could be pronounced as Gour Dhan Jan
(the follower of the wealth of Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu). (Would this be also
true? I prefer to keep it to the devotees to think in it) When Guru Maharaja
was only two years old, He almost drowned in a lake while swimming, but was
miraculously saved by the mercy of the Lord. Guru Maharaja’s mother also
recollects a very revealing incident that took place in the church, one
Sunday. When Guru Maharaja had gone along with His mother and uncle to the
church, His mother suddenly noticed that her son was missing and there was
also a little commotion near the altar. When they went close, they found
Guru Maharaja, still a very little boy, standing in front of Lord Jesus,
with His arms outstretched in front, saying, “Oh, Lord, hallowed be thy
name!” Though born in an affluent family, the riches and the lifestyle did
not influence Guru Maharaja.

When in primary school, His extraordinary intelligence was recognized by the
school authorities, who advanced Him to a higher class skipping some years
of education. His Holiness studied mythological books as soon as He could
read and His interest in philosophy and spiritual matters was astounding for
a young child. At eleven, when He was affected by a skin disease at the
suggestion of His grandfather, He cured himself by invoking the holy name of
the Lord.  He was also in the top 1% of the students taking the American
University admissions exams and was offered scholarships by several major
universities. His Holiness accepted admission into Brown University. A guest
lecture in the university on eastern philosophy awakened in His Holiness,
the mission for which He had appeared, and He began the search for a Guru.

As He was preparing to leave for India, by the will of the Lord, He met the
disciples of His Divine Grace. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and
joined them on Ratha Yatra day in San Francisco. His Holiness then went to
Montreal and met Srila Prabhupada. During those days He accepted ordinary
jobs in order to raise funds for the temple. (HH Jayapataka Swami once had
to do all the main services at once like being Temple President, Pujari,
Cook and Cleaning and Working outside at the same time) Being the son of
rich parents, He endured various hardships and became close to the common
workingman, also showing His pure dedication to carrying out His spiritual
duties during extreme trials. He was then initiated by Srila Prabhupada as
Jayapataka dasa brahmacari, which means “Victory Flag”. Srila Prabhupada
told Him that He would be the Victory Flag of Lord Krsna. (this also made me
meditate little bit that there is no coincidence in this, because Srila
Prabhupada gives him the name of Jayapataka that means the Victorious Flag
of Lord Jagannath and HH Jayapataka Swami met ISKCON during Jagannath
Rathayatra, this shows the will of the Lord behind every spiritual activity
of a Guru as when He gives Harinam to his disciples) Following Srila
Prabhupada’s order He helped to establish the Toronto and Chicago temples.

In 1970, Srila Prabhupada sent Him to India to establish ISKCON on behalf
of Him.  (If HH Jayapataka Swami would be an ordinary person Srila
Prabhupada would not send Him with this important task in a very difficult
country for North-Americans, this also brings to my mind what once Guru
Maharaj told me about something happened to Him in Canada that the wife of
the Temple President at that early day wanted that Gurumaharaj would marry
and not remain as brahmacari, maybe to help as grihasta. But Srila
Prabhupada replied that Jayapataka das brahmacari would be directly under
His personal care and Srila Prabhupada said I have important plans for Him.
So He will remain as brahmacari) He, along with the other devotees already
in Calcutta, would perform Kirtan, enroll Life Patron Members, deliver
lectures, and perform public and private programs in various homes. In the
same year, 1970, on the holy day of Radhastami, His Holiness was initiated
into the renounced order of life, (sannyasa) by Srila Prabhupada. He was
given the name Jayapataka Swami. (Srila Prabhupada told personally
Gurumaharaj that He wanted Him to be among the first 12 sanyasis in ISKCON
and Guru Maharaja accepted this austerity when he was only 21 years old)
Soon, He took the service of being the President of ISKCON Calcutta, and in
this capacity, He helped organize two gigantic programs, where, over 30,000
people gathered to hear Srila Prabhupada every night.

In 1971 land was obtained at Sri Mayapur Dham (HH Tamal Krsna Goswami worked
hard for it) for constructing the world headquarters of ISKCON and Srila
Prabhupada assigned Him to develop the project as his life’s mission. “I
have given you the kingdom of God, now you develop it,” Srila Prabhupada
told him. During the initial development of Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir,
the presiding Deities were brought to Mayapur and His Holiness recognized
Them from a dream He had years before while preaching in the West. On one
occasion, Srila Prabhupada told His Holiness that He had formerly been born
in India as a devotee and associate of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu and that He
and other devotees had taken their birth in the West to assist in spreading
the Krsna consciousness movement there. (This story is recorded and I had
the opportunity to see it in a video where His Grace Sri Netaji das was
telling the story about this event where Srila Prabhupada requested his
father to help in making HH Jayapataka Swami an Indian citizen, this makes
our dedication and surrender more and more) The early days in Mayapur were
difficult. Guru Maharaja was given a very small amount every week with which
He had to cover all expenses including food for the brahmacari. To meet to
the challenge of the situation, Srila Prabhupada requested HH Jayapataka
Swami to develop the agriculture in ISKCON land so we can be self-efficient
and Guru Maharaja followed this instruction and use to utilize modern
methods of farming for a good produce and ISKCON became less dependant in
this area. Also Srila Prabhupada requested Him to learn Bengali language.

As Guru Maharaja expected, his application of modern techniques, yielded a
crop much better than all the other farmers and He, out of His natural
kindness, shared the secrets with the local farmers who were all very
pleased to have His guidance. During this time, Guru Maharaja also
manufactured all by Himself a bio-gas unit to save on cooking expenses,
which was greatly appreciated by Srila Prabhupada. Guru Maharaja organized
the ISKCON Food Relief program in India after the Bangladesh war to feed the
refugees and hungry people. This program has continued for over a decade,
feeding an average of around four million plates of nourishing Krishna
prasadam every year to the needy without discrimination. The people and
children would eat so much that Guru Maharaja would be very afraid that the
children would die because of a stomach burst! But by the mercy of Lord
Chaitanya no untoward incident happened. Every year almost there is a big
flood in the area of west Bengal and Bangladesh, so during the 1978 flood in
Bengal He did a remarkable job, sometimes risking His life for distributing
prasadam to the affected villagers. Ever since then, the food relief
program, headed by His Holiness, has continued to provide this much-needed
service. All this selfless service caused several prominent Indians and tens
of thousands of villagers to petition the Indian government to grant him
Indian citizenship. In 1978, after the disappearance of Srila Prabhupada,
His Holiness began accepting disciples on behalf of the Gaudiya Sampradaya.
He is at present one of the initiating spiritual masters (Guru) of ISKCON
and a member of the Governing Body Commission, as well as divisional trustee
for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. He is also the Minister for Congregational
Preaching, Convener of The Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaisnava Association (SGVA),
Life Chairman of the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust (BSCT) and Vice
Chairman of The World Hindu Federation (WHF).
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“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,
Bhakti Vaidurya Madhava Maharaja,
Bhakti Raghava Maharaja,
Gauranga Prema Maharaja.
Bhaktisidhanta Swami.
Bhakti Dhira Damodra Swami and
Bhakti Vasudeva Swami who are disciples of HH Bhakti Tirtrha Swami.

Two more sannyasa were initiated but left this asram.
For the 60th Vyasapuja celebration Sarvaisvarya Prabhu who is authorized by
the GBC to take sanyassa order may take it during this event, HG Simheswara
Prabhu from Malaysia was authorized few years back to take sanyassa order
but he prefers to wait for some time to finish his administrative duties in
Malaysia.

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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).
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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…
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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.

Recently Gurumaharaja finished a book on Srila Prabhupada Vrndabani Bhajans,
that have been very much appreciated and awaited byt the devotees, where HH
JPS explains the real meanings with depth behind the poems written by Srila
Prabhupada in Vrndaban.

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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.

In 2001 His Holiness Jayapataka Swami was given a special award by His
Majesty the King of Nepal Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, for his success in
promoting an defending Hindu Dharma around the world.
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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.
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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.
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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”. Recently when I visited Srila Govinda Maharaja
after HH Jayapataka Swami had his brain stroke which worried him very much,
he told me that, Jayapataka Maharaja is the best vaishnava in the world as I
have seen him always and due to his activities. 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.

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.

HH Jayapataka Swami went to Sridham Mayapur on the 20th of February to be
present during the Mahaabhisheka to the Panca Tattva deities and to give
association to devotees as well as to be for 2 days in the GBC meetings that
all were impressed by his determination that even been limited physically he
could make it. His arrival to Mayapur dham was the biggest ever in the
history of ISKCON Mayapur. He also gave lectures on Caitanya Lila every
night. He had more activities than any other senior devotee as many used to
say. HH JPS never missed the Gaurpurnima festival so he was present in the
official ceremony for the inauguration and flag hoisting. Gurumaharaja also
impressed thousands of pilgrims during Parikram when he joined them for the
first 3 days in some important holy tirthas, like Yoga pith, Narasimha Pali
and suvarna Bihar. He also gave few initiations during his presence in
Mayapur as well as during his visit to Bangalore and Tirupati.

This year 60th Sri Vyasapuja is one of the biggest ever as it has been
organized to welcome great speakers to deliver seminars on Krsna
consciousness as HH Lokanath Swami Bhakti Charu Swami, Bhanu Swami and
others.
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From today there will be available the first DVD-movie presentation Part I,
on HH Jayapataka Swami’s life story. To make a movie on his life will
require more than 10 parts so we started with the first one in a simple way,
but soon a complete version will be ready for release as well as a very
important magazine on his preaching life fro more than 40 decades.

This story was compiled by Tusti Mohan Krsna das and in certain segments
with the help of Tarini Radha Mataji from Madras Mandir who also did the
editing.