Saturday 7^th Feb 2009. Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mira road, Mumbai.

It is 6:15 pm and Anukampa Rukmini, Anuradha Kesavi & myself were waiting outside H. H. Jayapataka maharaj’s room in Bhaktivedanta hospital, I saw Siromani mataji going inside. As I saw her, I remembered my first visit to their home in Mayapur in April 2008. I had visited them first time to give the boxes which Ragatmika mataji had asked me to deliver. Acintya chaitanya prabhu (Siromani mataji’s husband) had mentioned that his wife will be coming to Mumbai very soon for learning & practicing medicine in Bhaktivedanta hospital.

Few months later she came to Mumbai and I met her in the chowpatty temple. By then we had become good friends as I was helping her with what ever problems she has in mumbai. Few months later I was in Delhi, I heard the news of Jayapataka maharaj’s health and him being admitted to hospital. I called up Acintya chaitanya prabhu to give the news but they already knew it because Siromani mataji is one the doctors in Bhaktivedanta hospital. She was in Delhi along with her husband and in-laws. We had planned to go to vrindavan the next day. We went together and I returned back to Mumbai. When I checked with Acintya chaitanya prabhu, He mentioned that Siromani mataji had to immediately go to Mumbai to take care of Jayapataka maharaj. This was in October 2008 and it is amazing to see her closely serving Jayapataka maharaj for almost past 4 months.

Wow! Isn’t it astounding that Krishna made the arrangements for Jayapataka maharaj well in advance. He sent Siromani mataji well before hand to Mumbai anticipating Jayapataka maharaj to fall sick and eventually making her maharaj’s doctor and translator. No doubt Krishna takes care of his pure devotees.

While waiting outside, I asked Anukampa if I can click the pictures of you and maharaj when he is talking to you. She said ok. I had not planned to meet maharaj, so I wanted to be a spectator of his various pastimes in the hospital. But as we entered inside we paid obeisances and immediately Siromani mataji introduced me. She was waiting for me to come inside so that she could introduce me to maharaj.

She said “Maharaj, He is Harinaam Anand, he is from chowpatty temple and he helps me a lot and he has kirtan band and he organizes various kirtans programs in Mumbai”.

Maharaj was looking at me. I was scared. Becauses he looked angry with no expressions on his face, but eventually I realized that he is not able to express himself and his face muscles are still to recover.

Maharaj said “Did you have the mahaprasad”

Initially I did not understand and I looked at Siromani mataji and she translated for me. I was confused, I thought “is he asking me whether I had Prasad lunch or Maha Prasad of the festival”, in my confusion I said “yes maharaj”.

Maharaj realized that I was confused and he raised his left hand and pointed his finger on the desk behind me which had Mahaprasad from Radha rasbihari and  Radha Gopinath temple.

“Give them Mahaprasad” Maharaj said.

At the back of my mind, I was thinking how Krishna is so merciful. Today when I was at the temple, I got an opportunity to serve Prasad, by the time I finished serving the entire Mahaprasad was over. I was surprised that Maharaj read my mind and Lord Nityananda fulfilled my desire to get His Mahaprasad.

Anukampa was clicking pictures and Maharaj noticed her. Maharaj raised his Right palm as if making a Stop sign. Anukampa stopped clicking as we thought he was asking us not to click pictures.

“He is posing for the picture” Siromani mataji said.

We were all smiles. I went next to Maharaj, Anukampa and Anuradha sat next to Maharaj’s lotus feet and Siromani mataji took the camera and clicked the pictures. We were so happy that Maharaj was posing for the photographs.

He then looked at me and asked “you have a professional kirtan setup”

I said “Yes maharaj, I have sound system, harmonium, mridanga’s, chimes, etc.

“Do you have mixer” He asked. I said “Yes Maharaj, a complete setup for a professional kirtan program”.

Maharaj then looked at Anuradha and was talking to her. I was noticing him very closely as I was sitting very next to him. He was so concerned about everyone who comes and visits him. Anuradha mentioned that she has a flight back to dubai from Kolkata and Maharaj said “You could have taken the flight from mumbai. It is cheaper”. Anuradha gave the reason that most of her luggage is in Kolkata and therefore she will have to go there.

Maharaj asked “What time is the flight” Anuradha said “08:30 in the evening”

Maharaj said “Is this the flight which goes late once in a week” Anuradha did not know about it. As I was hearing these conversations, I realized that Maharaj still has a strong memory power.

As the conversations stopped, Anukampa showed maharaj a video recording on her camera and then rubbed her hand on the mat where maharaj’s lotus feet was resting. He noticed that she took his dust. Maharaj then rubbed his feet again on the mat. Indicating her to take more dust we all giggled and then Anuradha rubbed her hands and took the dust and maharaj rubbed his feet again and then we all took the dust and everyone was laughing. It was such a heart touching experience to get the mercy of Jayapataka maharaj on Nityananda trayodashi. I was in bliss to experience this intimate association.

I guess it was time for Maharaj to eat some fruits. Maharaj’s personal servant was feeding papaya pieces to maharaj with spoon. I decided to move from my position and as I was sliding out maharaj patted on my back. Indicating me to stay right besides him and everyone started laughing. At this moment, Anukampa was clicking pictures of maharaj and maharaj raised his right palm, this time we thought he is posing but then he spoke. “Prabhupada said not to take pictures when eating prasad, changing clothes & using bathroom”

Every sentence he spoke was like a cool breeze, giving us the fresh and lively experience of his spiritual & merciful nature.

We sat there quietly as one more couple came to meet maharaj. Maharaj again asked them to take Mahaprasad. The old devotee couple spoke to maharaj for sometime and then maharaj’s face therapist came in. He looked like a nice brahmachari boy. As he came in, Maharaj asked him to take some Mahaprasad and as he was approaching the Prasad table and about to grab the big piece of cake,  maharaj immediately said “hey! shuu shuu”. We all busted out laughing, Maharaj was teasing that devotee.

I never knew that Maharaj is so humorous. He was taking every opportunity to make everyone of us laugh.

As maharaj finished eating fruits, Dr. Achyutananda prabhu came in and asked maharaj to be ready in 10 minutes for the lecture he had to give on Phone. But it was just 7:00 pm and Achyutananda prabhu realized that the lecture will not start in 10 minutes. So we just had to wait. Maharaj’s personal servant Maha Varaha prabhu asked Achyutananda prabhu if maharaj can have his face therapy. Achyutananda prabhu said No. After sometime Achyutananda prabhu left the room and that is when Maharaj asked the devotee to start the face therapy. After the face therapy, Maharaj wore the sun glasses and was ready for the class.

It was around 7:40 PM and maharaj was noticing the watch every time looking at the top left side of the wall. He was so particular about time. He was going to give a lecture on phone sitting in his hospital room about to address thousands of devotees waiting to listen to him in Radha Gopinath temple, Chowpatty. Achyutananda prabhu, connected the phone and gave it to maharaj. Maharaj said the prem dhwani and he loudly said Jai Nitai ! … he did not hear a response. He again said Jai Nitai ! …. But still there was no response. Maharaj looked at us and said Chowpatty devotees are not responding we were anxious what is going to happen now. Achyutananda prabhu immediately dialed the sound engineer of chowpatty temple and we realized that the connection was lost.

The phone was connected again and this time Achyutananda prabhu tried and tested the sound and then gave it to Maharaj. Maharaj spoke for almost 15 minutes. He was so hilarious, at one point, maharaj was imitating an old man crying out for Lord Nityananda and then he gave the phone to Siromani mataji. She giggled and said No, expressing that there is no need to translate that. Then maharaj took the phone again and said “Translation” again we busted out laughing, because we thought he would continue the lecture but he wanted Siromani mataji to translate. She tried her best to imitate like an old man. We were all laughing. I was ecstatic to see this pastime and also with the feeling that I was recording all this on Anukampa’s digital camera.

It was so much fun to see maharaj live on phone giving a lecture. I am sure all the devotees listening to maharaj at chowpatty temple were wondering what’s going on here. We were the fortunate few to experience this pastime of Jayapataka maharaj. All glories to Srila Acharyapad and Lord Nityananda.

After the lecture we all moved out as maharaj had to honor his dinner Prasad. But it was planned that Anukampa and Anuradha would do kirtan for maharaj while he is honoring Prasad, so we 3 were allowed inside. We sat in one corner and did kirtan for almost 30 minutes. We took turns to sing our favorite mahamantra tunes for the pleasure of guru maharaj.

I just finished singing and Maha Varaha prabhu whispered to me that they have organized a surprise drama for Maharaj. So we went on one corner and sat there. I borrowed the camera from Anukampa again and started recording. It was the sweetest drama I have ever seen. Maharaj also acted a little and it was fun looking it from the camera lenses realizing that this recording would be one of my most cherished memories.

We all clapped for the drama and took a group snap with maharaj. After everyone moved out, I was positioning myself to pay obeisances and Maharaj saw me and he said to Ekanath prabhu “He has a professional kirtan setup”, I was zapped, maharaj wanted Ekanath prabhu to inquire more from me. I spoke about how we organize kirtan programs in South Mumbai and the purpose is to spread the holy names and dedicate kirtan programs for various occasions like birthdays, death anniversaries, marriage anniversaries etc…

Then maharaj asked me which part of Mumbai is Mira road. I said it is in the western part of Mumbai and also known as the suburbs. South Mumbai is the place where the affluent crowd lives and it’s a indirect way to make them chant the holy names. If we invite them for a lecture then they would not be eager. But if we call them for kirtan & bhajan program they are enthusiastic to come. I mentioned about the kirtan program which one of my friend, a famous Reiki teacher organized for Karnamrita mataji (the world famous singer) Around 500 young effluent crowd was invited and they all danced till late night where Karnamrita sang the bhajans from her famous album Dasi – prayers by women. Ekanath prabhu wanted me to guide him with setting up a system like that and I agreed to offer any kind of help he might need. I touched my head to Guru Maharaj’s lotus feet and bid him good night.

Coming down in the elevator, I was wondering how fortunate I am for the reciprocation by Lord Krishna. I had always desired to serve him. When he was admitted in Hinduja hospital, one of my brahmachari friend  from mayapur, Ashraya Govind prabhu was his personal servant and I helped him with getting a mobile sim card. We were not allowed to see Maharaj that time. Even during the Pune yatra when Jayapataka maharaj came, everyone was crowding over his van and there was practically no way to see him or do any service for him. But merciful Krishna gave me this wonderful opportunity to be with Jayapataka maharaj and relish his association for the rest of my life.

tulayama lavenapi

na scargam napurnar-bhavam

bhagavat-sangi-sangasya

martyanam kim utasisah

Translation: The value of a moment’s association with the devotee of the Lord cannot even be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which are for those who are meant for death. – Srimad Bhagavatam 1:18:13

* Breezy -  Fresh; brisk; full of life (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary)

- Harinaam Anand Dasa

On Monday 2^nd Feb 2009, I was returning home on my bike from office. While on my bike I got a text message and I was thinking whether to read it on bike or read it once I reach home. But somehow I felt I should read it. On the next signal I read the message “Hi Harish, I want to talk to you if you are free”. The message was from Sheila my chat friend from Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.

The signal turned green and while riding I was thinking why would Sheila suddenly send me a message at 20:30 hrs, which means it is approx 09:00 AM in USA. I was curious… I stopped my bike on the sidewalk and called up from my GSM phone. As soon as the phone rang, Sheila answered and within seconds she was crying, she could not speak. After few minutes she said that, Mark had committed suicide. He shot himself on Saturday 31^st Jan. I thought Sheila’s husband Mark had committed suicide but later on she said her Son, Jr. Mark had committed suicide. He was 19 years old.

I was shocked and I wished I was there with her at that moment. After few minutes of consoling, I asked if they are going to bury Mark’s body or burn him. She said they are going to burn him. I requested her if she can courier me his ashes so that I can perform his final rights in Sridham Mayapur at the banks of the Holy river Ganga. I explained her importance of performing this final rights ceremony and as I am planning to go to Mayapur on 21^st Feb to 1^st March I can do this as a service for my best chat friend. She agreed.

She said they are going to organize a memorial ceremony for Mark on Thursday 5^th Feb 2009. I asked her if I can write a memorial note and if she can read it for Mark on my behalf. She said Yes. Following is the note which I wrote…

~~~~ Hare Krishna ~~~~

Thursday, February 05, 2009

A Silent Soul

I remember the time when I first met Sheila online in 2003. It was a new experience to be a close friend to someone whom I’ve never met physically. However as time passed by I realized that relationships are not about being physically close to one another. But it is about being close to one another in our hearts.

I realized that Sheila and her family are the nicest American family I’ve ever met online. Sheila always mentioned that Jr. Mark never had any bad habits and how he is a very silent and a nice boy. It is very rare that we come across a loving family like this. I remember sending a small Chess game as a gift for Jr. Mark and his father to play. I am sure they might have played and shared those loving moments to cherish.

This is the first time I have come across an incidence which has happened to someone very close to my heart.

I am sure everyone present here is wondering that how can this happen. But it is very important that we understand that Death is certain for everyone and Just as many leaves or twigs in the current of a river may bind or join together for some time, eventually they get separated again in the currents, similarly we will come across many such loved ones in our life time and by the force of TIME we will again get separated to them.

In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna mentions that “As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.” Since every living entity is an individual soul, each is changing his body every moment, manifesting sometimes as a child, sometimes as a youth, and sometimes as an old man. Yet the same spirit soul is there and does not undergo any change. This individual soul finally changes the body at death and transmigrates to another body;

We all know that action taken by Mark was not correct but it is our duty to pray for his departed soul. I personally pray that his soul gets a human birth very soon and let his new life be amongst all of us where we can take care of him spiritually and materially.

It is a tough time for Sheila and her family and I wish I was there with all of you to help them revive, but all I can do for them is go to the temple and pray for them in front of Lord Krishna who is the cause of all causes. I am sure that there is no better communication then the connection of hearts coz I know that a heart felt prayer by me will touch Sheila’s heart just like our heartfelt prayers are heard by the Lord because it doesn’t matter the physical distance we have from each other.

I shared this news with My Family and friends and they all are praying for Mark and I am personally organizing a Kirtan program (Prayer session) dedicated to Mark.

Before I end I would like Sheila and her family to ponder on this small poetry written by David Harkins (British Poet & Painter)

“You can shed tears that he is gone,

or you can smile because he has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back,

or you can open your eyes and see all he’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him,

or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him only that he is gone,

or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back.

Or you can do what he’d want: Smile, Open your eyes, Love and Go on.”

Your ever well wisher and loving friend,

Harish Matabonu (Harinaam Anand Dasa)

Mumbai, INDIA. 

For a very long time I had been planning to visit Tirupati. Finally I boarded the train on 11^th Dec along with my parents, my neighbour Shoba aunty and Bhakti from Alachua. As soon as we reached on 12^th afternoon, my Dad’s friend had arranged for the VIP Darshan tickets and we were suppose to go and take darshan immediately.

Me, my dad and Bhakti tonsured, wore fresh clothes and headed for the darshan, It was 5:00 pm as we reached at the Vaikuntha dwaram the gates were closed and no one was allowed to go inside as the pujari’s in the balaji temple were decorating the altar, Since it was a full moon day there was a special darshan. We were asked to come after 8:00 Pm. At the said time we reached the gates and entered the Queue. We had to wait in the long queue for darshan and me and Bhakti were chanting the Brahma Samhita prayers together. Everyone was looking at us as we were chanting little loud. The queue started moving and everyone were screaming loud, Govinda, Govinda, Govinda !

We got the most beautiful darshan of Lord Balaji, This trip was different from the ones I had before. I learnt lot of lessons and had lot of realizations about relationships. It was a quick trip we stayed in Tirumala for 2 days and visited many other holy spots. We then came down to stay at Beautiful Tirupati ISKCON temple. It was very beautiful and gorgeous. H. G. Revati Raman prabhu had really built a magnificent temple for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.

On 16^th Dec we boarded the train back to Mumbai. On the way Bhakti forced me to write a poem on Tirupati balaji. I said I am not a poet like her, but she insisted that I should try. Following is what I wrote in her book.

Beautiful Darshan

Beautiful weather on top of seven hills

Clean air touching the skin, Cold it is that’s how it feels

Traveled for twenty-four hours in the train

Always thinking it might be cold or it might rain

Finally we go to take the darshan

Beautiful smile, standing far, tall, dark, and handsome

I hope I visit Tirupati someday again, and that time I would ensure that I meditate at the pastimes of Lord Balaji at all the holy spots and experience the blissful spiritual atmosphere there.

mahaprabhu cali’ aila tripati-trimalle

catur-bhuja murti dekhi’ vyenkatadrye cale

Translation: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu next arrived at Tirupati and Tirumala, where He saw a four-handed Deity. Then He proceeded toward Venkata Hill.

Purport: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has actually described the chronological order of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s visit. The Tirupati temple is sometimes called Tirupatura. It is situated on the northern side of Arcot in the district of Candragiri. It is a famous holy place of pilgrimage. In pursuance of His name, Venkateshwara, the four-handed Lord Vishnu, the Deity of Balaji, with His potencies named Sri and Bhu, is located on Venkata Hill, about eight miles from Tirupati. This Venkateshwara Deity is in the form of Lord Vishnu, and the place where He is situated is known as Venkata-kshetra. There are many temples in southern India, but this Balaji temple is especially opulent. A great fair is held there in the month of Ashvin (September-October). There is a railway station called Tirupati on the Southern Railway. Nimna-tirupati is located in the valley of Venkata Hill. There are several temples there also, among which are those of Govindaraja and Lord Ramachandra. – Chaitanya Caritamrita, Madhya lila 9.64

- Harinaam Anand Dasa

All across the world people celebrate the New Year on 1^st Jan. Many people party whole night and wake up late where as some pious people wake up and go to the temple.

I went for morning japa to the temple on 30^th and 31^st Dec but woke up little late on 1^st Jan and reached the temple during Bhagavatam class. After the class I took darshan of Radha Gopinath and came down to sit at my chanting spot, which is just outside the Vrindavan forest garden at the stair case of Guest house building.

As usual I was chanting there suddenly I saw some devotees paying obeisance’s near the shoe stall. I realized Guru Maharaj was coming. As he was walking I paid obeisance from far. He came closer and closer and I could see a smile on his face. He was walking towards Vrindavan garden and suddenly he came towards me and smiled ear to ear and opened his arms. An indication of a merciful hug, I understood that, and I immediately bent a little (cause I am 6’ 2” tall) and entered into his chadar covered arms. It was like entering the small tent of supreme mercy. My heart was pounding hard. I stayed in his arms for few seconds while Guru Maharaj was rubbing my oily head (recently I had tonsured in Tirupati and had applied oil on my head) I was feeling bad thinking that his hands would get oily… but immediately while rubbing my head he asked sweetly “How are you prabhu?” I answered while experiencing the merciful hands on my head “Fine maharaj” and as he released his hands I said “by your mercy maharaj”. He was looking at me with a wide smile and then slowly went back to enter the Vrindavan forest.

I reclined back to my seat dumbfounded trying to realize that how fortunate I was for getting his mercy on the first day of the year. I was telling myself Wow! what a wonderful way to start the new year. I noticed maharaj walking inside Vrindavan forest and chanting his rounds. Maharaj likes to circumambulate inside the vrindavan forest and chant his rounds. There were around 6 to 7 devotees sitting and chanting their rounds in vrindavan forest. Just few minutes later a devotee boy came to me asking about maharaj. I know this devotee to be Vishvarup prabhu’s councelee. I said he is inside the garden. He immediately went inside, paid obeisances to maharaj, spoke a little and gave him something.

I noticed that incident and was chanting looking at the direction of Vrindavan forest gate waiting for maharaj to pass from there. As maharaj took a couple of rounds I noticed that there was something in maharaj’s hands. I was thinking that it might be so inconvenient for maharaj to hold something in hand while he was walking and chanting japa. “I wish I could hold that thing for maharaj and when he leaves I can give it back to him” I was praying intensely, I even thought of approaching maharaj and telling him about my desire to serve him, but I did not have the courage to do that.

I again got back to chanting, keeping this desire in mind and noticing maharaj. Within few minutes I saw maharaj noticing me everytime he would pass by the Vrindavan forest gate. I was wondering why is he turning back everytime and looking at me. I thought may be he wants me to chant attentively. I started doing that and stopped looking at the direction of Vrindavan forest.

After sometime Maharaj came out of Vrindavan forest, he slowly came towards me, again my heart started pounding. He forwarded his hands which had a small silver foil box. He said “This is Vrindavan Prasad”, I said “Jai”. I immediately forwarded my hands to take the box but maharaj immediately took the box closer to him and opened the box. I thought oh no, I am so greedy instead of waiting for maharaj to give me one piece I put my hand forward to take the whole box. Then Maharaj noticed a small clay pot full with sweet rabdi. Maharaj took a pinch of it and put it in his mouth. As he did that I was thinking oh no, I am such a fool even before maharaj ate, I was thinking of grabing the entire box, what a rascal I am. Maharaj then looked at me and smiled then gave the whole box to me. I was surprised but internally ecstatic and I said “Thank you Maharaj”. I paid obeisances and Maharaj turned and gave me a side glance noticing me.

Hmm… now what do I think of this. I was so surprised by the kind mercy being showered to me on the first day of the year by none other than my guru maharaj. I reclined again on my seat and was thinking about my desire. I had desired to hold that box for maharaj and I did not even tell him about it but maharaj realized that desire and gave me the box of Vrindavan Prasad. Not only he gave me the Prasad he first ate from it and then gave me, making it the maha mahaprasad. I was thinking about the SMS which I had received 1 year back from Trivikram prabhu.

Devotee: What is the one thing we should do to become Krishna Conscious?

Srila Prabhupada: DESIRE !

I was relating this incident with the answer of Srila Prabhupada and realized that all we need to do in spiritual life is to DESIRE. DESIRE – not to be happy, DESIRE – not to be free of problems, DESIRE – not to get mercy, DESIRE – not to get spiritual name, fame, adoration distinction, but DESIRE to serve devotees in a humble mood and Rest all will follow as a byproduct. I did not desire to get this mercy, I did not desire to eat or get the box of sweets, I did not even know what was there in maharaj’s hands. I just mentally desired to serve maharaj by holding the box for him while he chants his rounds. By Krishna’s mercy Maharaj reciprocated almost immediately as if he read my mind. If maharaj wanted he could have given the box to any of the devotee sitting in the Vrindavan forest. That’s the causeless mercy of the Guru whether we know it or not he reciprocates with everyone.

After realizing this I went to my sisters office which is inside the guest house building and told about this pastime, She said we should keep the mahaprasad pot for my father as a birthday gift. It was his birthday. I said ok and I took the rest of the sweets to distribute it to all the devotees who were chanting inside the vrindavan forest. I gave them the maha mahaprasad and came back to the place where I was chanting my rounds thinking about the following verse.

 chatur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasada-

swadv-anna-triptan hari-bhakta-sanghan

kritwaiva triptim bhajatah sadaiva

vande guroh sri-charanaravindam

Translation: The spiritual master is always offering Krsna four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. Sri Sri Guruvastakam (verse – 4) by Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura.

- Harinaam Anand Dasa

Saturday 22^nd November 2008.

The most ecstatic experience is when you visit Mayapur Dham. I have been to Mayapur many times but this time it was special. I was in Kolkata for my official trip and was planning to go to Mayapur on the weekend. I was unaware that in this trip I am finally going to find my service.

I informed Ashray Govind prabhu about my visit and he asked me to board the local train to Krishnanagar from Sealdah which leaves at 5:00 am. He came to pick me up from Krishna Nagar station. I was feeling ecstatic especially because I was going to stay in mayapur for a night and leave on Sunday evening. My earlier 3 trips to Mayapur were just for 8 hours. I use to hire a cab from Kolkata in the morning, reach mayapur at 8:00 am and leave at 3:00 pm back to Kolkata airport for my flight to Mumbai. I was happy that I was gonna spend the next 32 hours in Sridham Mayapur.

I kept my luggage at Acintya Chaitanya prabhu’s home and went to Lotus building along with Ashray prabhu for breakfast. Ashray prabhu had arranged for a special Radha Madhav mahaprasad breakfast for me. He has always been merciful to me and helps me whenever I come to Mayapur. After breakfast I immediately went to take Darshan of Radha Madhav, they were dressed in their famous Rainbow dress. They were looking so beautiful, The dresses of the Gopi’s are so nicely designed to flow like a rainbow. I moved to take darshan of Panchu, they were dressed in beautiful Green dress. They all were looking so handsome as always.

After taking darshan I was heading towards Bhaktivinod Thakur’s home (Dadaji – Granpa) on the way I met Kumari, Rowita, Priya and their friends. It was fun to meet them after a long time. We had earlier met at Radha Gopinath temple and had been for an outing . We had lot of fun that time. So it was nice to meet them again. Kumari had some work so she gave her cycle to me and I exchanged that with Priya as she had a bigger cycle. We all pedaled our way towards Halur Ghat. I was riding the cycle after many years and was having tough time pedaling as my dhoti was getting stuck.

Well… finally when we reached Halur ghat I bought the tickets to cross the Jalangi river and Nimai, who was with us decided to do pranams to the River and as he reached the shore his feet got stuck in the mud. He tried to pull it out and somehow he got it out eventualy to realize that his slippers were stuck inside and then he had to put his hands inside and remove his slippers. We were laughing out loud. It was soo funny. All we could do is stand on the boat and wait for him. Somehow he got out with muddy feet and hands.

I had carried along my broken mridanga which I had got from Mumbai for repairing, I gave it to Narayan the owner of Radha Madhab (Bengali’s don’t use V they use the letter B) mridanga shop and checked on the 3 bangladesi mridanga’s which I had ordered.

We all finally reached Svananda Sukhada Kunja, Dadaji’s home. We took darshan and went to his room upstairs and we opened the balcony and had a beautiful view of Mayapur. We got back in his room and Nimai suggested that we read from Navadwip mahatmya, we read from his book and came down. I gave some donation to the pujari and we sat in the hall to do some kirtan. Within few minutes the pujari got some mahaprasad for all of us. We all relished the mercy and we sang few bhajans written by Bhaktivinod Thakur.

On our way back we drank Dab water (Coconut water), All the devotees were so humble and had full service attitude. Nimai, Anushka, Rowita, Priya, Nanda and few other girls. They had amazing consciousness and were full of devotional mood. We reached back to ISKCON and we went directly to Madhu’s bakery for pasta’s. Although I like Italian food but somehow I am not a fan of Pasta’s. All the other friends were enjoying pasta to the core., by the time we finished it was 4:00 pm. We all dispersed and decided to meet at Mahanidhi’s maharaj’s class at 5:00 pm above the Panchatattva hall.

While I was heading back to my room I heard the ecstatic kirtan of Shastra prabhu’s Mayapur Harinaam Sankirtan party, I joined them and enjoyed dancing and chanting with them and on the way I met Ragatmika mataji, she introduced me to her younger brother David and his daughter Jane. It was wonderful to meet them after almost 6 months. Post which I went to Mahanidhi maharaj’s class, I reached there by 5:15 pm.

After the class I met Maharaj and thanked him for the wonderful class and also thanked him for giving me the association of Damodar prabhu (his 1^st disciple from Mumbai and my best friend). Maharaj asked my name and I replied back and he said he has heard my name before, (I have been sending small gadgets etc for Maharaj through Damodar prabhu and I am sure Damodar might have been mentioning my name to him) then looking at me he commented that I look like Shyam Gauranga, Lord Gauranga with dark complexion. I was thinking how is that possible and immediately as if he read my mind he mentioned about the pastime in Krishna lila where Lord Krishna was in separation of Srimati Radharani he turned into golden complexion and looked like Lord Gauranga and similarly during Gaur lila once when He went to Vrindavan, He was in separation with Krishna and He changed to dark complexion. While he was telling me this he was patting my back. I had never heard of Shyam Gauranga. It was a revelation to me by a pure devotee of Radha Kunda.

My feet were sore as I was dancing bare feet with the sankirtan party. But I had to go and shop for some articles which my devotee friends had asked me to get. On the way to the shopping I decided to have a look at the gift shop which is next to Garud ji’s diety in the temple complex. The person who was managing the shop was a brahmachari. His name was Vishwajit and we introduced eachother and he was mentioning that he loves to listen to Radhanath maharaj’s lectures, and because of this lectures he is getting inspired to serve his guru maharaj, H. H. Jaypataka Swami more and more. He has lot of awe and reverence for my guru maharaj and his humility really touched my heart. Bidding him good bye I went on for shopping chamar & a peacock fan for Gopinath (Braja vilasini’s nephew). I then bought 10 sets of Narsimha dev’s book mentioning the stories and pastimes of Lord Narsimha in Mayapur and some Narsimha stickers to be given to Sankirtan prabhu.

While going back to keep all the gifts in my room I met Balagopal (a small and naughty boy) and his mother and Krishna preshtaya mataji with her kids, Omar and 2 girls amina & yamuna. We were discussing about Gopal’s Fun School and I invited her to join tirupati yatra with me in December. I kept the gifts and came out to see Radha Madhav’s elephant procession. It was soo beautiful. Laxmi priya, the female elephant is small and getting trained. She is still wild and devotees are not allowed to go near her. The procession was awesome and there were lot of gurukuli’s chanting mantras, playing drums, holding flags and auspicious sign boards. It was like a mini brahmotsava festival of Tirupati Balaji. After the procession I took darshan of the deities and went along with Acintya Chaitanya prabhu for a delicious and sumptuous dinner at his home.

The day ended with deep appreciation for my new devotee friends and Sri Mayapur dham. Crashing on the bed I realized that every moment spent in the association of devotees is so valuable. I should be more and more grateful to Srila Prabhupada and Guru Maharaj for guiding me and bringing me closer to them. Devotees in mayapur are so sweet and soft hearted that when you take their association you will actually taste the sweetness like a soft and juicy Rasagulla.

Sunday 23^rd November 2008.

The alarm rang and I woke up lazily, I was dead tired because of dancing bare feet. My legs were paining, but I did not want to lose the opportunity of attending Mangala Aarti in Mayapur. I hurried up but by the time I reached Narsimha Aarti was going on. I attended the morning program and was chanting my rounds outside Panchatattva hall. I met ragatmika mataji and she was mentioning about some alliances for me and within the next 1 hour she told me about couple of profiles, I was surprised but I can understand her motherly nature. I really felt like her son, she was so eager to get me married asap.

Ragatmika mataji invited me for the Food for Life on boat with Harinaam Party and I was eager to join her at 11:00 am. As I was chanting my rounds I decided to go to Gurukul maharaj’s school. I went there and took darshan of all the deities. I was more eager to take the darshan of my favorite Sadbhuja Gauranga deity. He is so cute and beautiful almost a year back I had decided that if I ever have deities at home it will be Sadbhuja. As I returned back I realized that I lost my cell phone. I was least bothered about the phone, I was more worried about the contact numbers. However I just thought may be it is Krishna’s arrangement and I should forget about it. I was doubting that I might have left it at the gurukul while I was paying obeisances. But I had to go for breakfast so I postponed.

Kumari and Rowita had bought Breakfast coupons at Lotus building, We had planned that we will have breakfast together, I lied to them that I have already bought 8 coupons for all of us, I thought I would give them a treat, It was ekadashi so I was hoping that it would be nice to treat all the devotee vaishnava’s and serve them. I went to the Lotus building and inquired and they said that they can’t have any more people for Prasad. It was very embarrassing for me because I had also invited Ragatmika mataji and her husband for Prasad. Rowita had gone and invited all the other friends, I had to accept my fault and tell them the truth about my goof up. However I told them that we can go to Madhu’s bakery for breakfast and we all had delicious ekadashi pizza. Me and Rowita love Sugar cane juice so we drank couple of glasses to tickle our taste buds. It was awesome.

Meanwhile I was wondering if I will find my cell phone, I walked towards lotus building and met Vaghis prabhu (he stays in Gurukula) and he said that he did not see the phone in the Gurukula, he suggested me to ask the security guards. I asked one of them and he directed me to go to the security office. I went there and found my phone. I had probably lost it while paying obeisance’s in the temple hall and a honest guard had deposited in the office. Mayapur Security Guards ki jai !

I met Ashray govind prabhu and told him about my phone and he was very happy to know. We were discussing about the deities that I had ordered and he said he would get the half carved deities for me and show so that the artist can paint the deities post my approval. Being ecstatic about the deities I went to prabhupad ghat along with Ragatmika mataji for the food for life boat sankirtan party. No one had reached there, but gradually shastra prabhu and his son Krishna das came with a rickshaw with the Khicdi Prasad and the sound system.

We loaded the boat with 2 big vessels of Khicdi, around half a dozen of buckets and spoons and went along the ganges singing Hare Krishna. It was the most ecstatic moment of my life. I was feeling blissful to be part of the harinaam sankirtan party and we were on the way to distribute free food to hundreds of dhamwasi’s as we reached the first village I started pouring hot khicdi in to the buckets and all the devotees took each bucket and distributed Prasad. While doing this seva I was in bliss especially because there was beautiful kirtan going on and we were on a boat all set to give the mercy of Krishna Prasad, it is a very memorable feeling for me especially because life in Mumbai is different there is so much maya and all the materialistic people are just waiting for an opportunity to pull each other down and there is a mad race for name, fame, money etc. But here in mayapur there was no such burden, Life is simple and we were all serving the dhamwasi’s and chanting the holy names.

The Khicdi Prasad was sponsored by Ragatamika mataji’s younger brother David. He is such a kind person and was happily serving Prasad. He and his daughter Jane were carrying buckets of Khichdi and serving the localites. We finished 1 big Khicdi vessel within 10 minutes, Shastra prabhu suggested that we move on to the next village. Again we all hopped in to the boat and reached the other village. There again we distributed Prasad. When we finished distributing, Shastra prabhu asked us to clean the buckets in Ganges, so that the leftover Prasad can be eaten by the fishes. Wow… I was amazed at his thought and merciful nature.

While coming back I was thanking shastra prabhu for allowing me to be part of the ecstatic seva, I expressed my desire to serve him in whatever way I can and he asked for my email address. I also told him that it was my good fortune to accompany him in this seva. We discussed few things and as we reached Mayapur, we unloaded all the things and while walking towards the temple he requested me to sing and lead the harinaam party that day. I was surprised at the offer and was more than eager to accept it but since I had a flight back to Mumbai I had to say no. I told him that may be next time I would love to do harinaam sankirtan in mayapur.

I reached back to lotus building and met Ashray Govind prabhu, he showed me the carved Sadbhuja deity. I was over whelmed to see the deities. He had been personally looking after the carving of my deities, they still have to be painted, so I had to leave them and we went for lunch together. After Prasad I met Ishan Krishna prabhu, everytime I come to mayapur I buy Silver Narsimha dev pendants (they are very beautifully carved and made in Nepal). My friend Ishan Krishna prabhu sells them in mayapur. I bought few of them and while on my way back I met Kumari. I gifted her one of the pendant and thanked her for introducing me to all the wonderful friends and making my short weekend trip a success.

I headed back to my room packed my luggage and got on to the cab to reach the airport. I had 3 mridanga’s and 2 bags. I asked the Kingfisher attendant that I want to take all the mridanga’s on flight. They were shocked at my request but then I told them that if they take it as a luggage and if it breaks they have to repay me the costs. They agreed but said that if the security personnel does not allow, they can’t do anything. I agreed and I was confused, but then I decided to keep my clothes bag and the small Fibre mridanga as luggage, The Kingfisher attendant was kind enough to hold the small mridanga personally. I then put my laptop bag for check in luggage, the attendant insisted that I should not put my laptop bag as luggage but then I said that I don’t mind losing my laptop but I can’t afford to lose these mridanga’s. They were surprised and checked in my luggage.

So here I was holding 2 Bangladesi Clay mridanga and heading towards the security check. I boldly went inside, put the mridanga’s inside the scanner machine and walked straight towards the waiting area. I went in to the flight after the boarding call and tried putting the mridanga inside the handbag compartments but the mridanga’s could not get in. The Air hostess suggested that I keep the mridanga’s next to my seat till any one comes. Immediately my neighboring passenger came. I then looked at the Air hostess. She said she will check with her senior. All the while I was standing there feeling a little embarrassed for troubling other passengers. After few minutes the Air hostess came back smiling and said she can put both the mridanga’s in special compartment in the first class section. She showed me the compartment and I was happy to keep both the mridanga’s there safely. I knew Krishna would arrange everything for me. When I was buying those mridanga’s I was not sure how I will take them back to Mumbai. But I had faith that Balaramji will make space for himself and he did. Balaramji ki jai !

As the flight took off for Mumbai, I was looking down at the small street lights wondering how merciful Chaitanya mahaprabhu is. Ever since I first came to Mayapur in 2004, I had decided that in future I want to settle down and stay in mayapur forever and everytime I came to mayapur I use to ask myself, if I ever settle down in mayapur, what service will I do? Alas! I found my service.

The ecstatic feeling that I was having on the boat while pouring hot khicdi into the buckets listening to the blissful kirtan going on, the encouraging and heart throbbing harinaam sankirtan of Shastra prabhu – It had touched my heart deeply. I was happy that my desire has been fulfilled. I found my service. I really found my service. When I got initiated in 2003 I was always wondering that if my name is Harinaam Anand, I should be getting bliss in chanting the holynames, but I realized that I never get the blissful feelings. 3 years later when I decided to watch my initiation video and hear what Guru maharaj mentioned just before handing over the initiation beads, following is the transcript

 ” Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur taught us … that the greatest pleasure for all devotees is to see others experiencing the bliss in Harinaam Sankirtan, on this auspicious day we offer you the new name Harinaam Anand Dasa”

After hearing it again and again I realized that I am the servant of all the devotees who experience the pleasure in chanting the holy names and I realized that I should be serving devotees by organizing kirtan programs. I found my service – Serving in the Mayapur Harinaam Sankirtan Party.

If you have read this blog and if you ever go to mayapur, try attending the harinaam sankirtan party. You will really experience bliss and have transcendental feelings … you know why? Because few centuries back Chaitanya mahaprabhu started the Harinaam Sankirtan party at the very same place and he proclaimed it to be the Yuga Dharma. You will be a part of the YUGA DHARMA right in the place where it originated. Isn’t that an amazing feeling! All I would say is TRY IT!

yuga-dharma pravartaimu nama-sankirtana

cari bhava-bhakti diya nacamu bhuvana

Translation: “I shall personally inaugurate the religion of the age Nama Sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy name. I shall make the world dance in ecstasy, realizing the four mellows of loving devotional service.” (Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam Adi-lila 3:19.)

1^st June 2008, I came home from office and immediately went online. I was browsing through some tech websites which have innovative gadgets. One of my craze is to shop online, many times shopping for gadgets and sometimes musical instruments.

While browsing I came across a “Moon” – it looked very real, It had a Built-in light sensor which illuminates the moon when it gets dark. Beautifully detailed, gorgeously rendered, scientifically accurate – that’s what was mentioned on the specifics. I immediately felt like buying it so that I can gift it to Sri Sri Radha Gopinathji for their annual sharad purnima festival which is celebrated during Kartik month (October ’08)

Sharad purnima is one of the most crowded festivals of ISKCON Chowpatty. The altar is beautifully decorated and the entire temple is converted to Vrindavan, with trees, flowers, lights etc. This is one of the most beautiful darshans of Radha Gopinath.

As I was inspired to buy this gadget, I also started thinking of buying Stars, I looked for it in the same website and came across “Laser Stars”. Safe, powerful green laser technology creates a breathtaking display of stars and ever-shifting clouds. This is the latest in immersive electronic art, combining a visionary but simple sense of programming with smart technology intelligently deployed to transport the viewers into worlds they could never conceive. After reading the details I got convinced to buy the stars too.

I was zapped at the description but I was unsure if what they mentioned is real or not. Anyways I realized that the immediate thought of giving this Star and Moon to Radha Gopinathji is inspired by Them. So I checked for the details, I had to inform Rasika Siromani mataji (disciple of H. H. Indradyumna Swami) from Seattle about me purchasing these gadgets. Once I got confirmation from her, I bought the gadgets on 4^th June 2008 and got it shipped at her home. She collected the gadgets and informed me that as soon as she has someone coming to INDIA she will send it through them.

Till now I was wondering if the pujari’s in Radha Gopinath temple will use these gadgets or not. I had not even physically seen the products, I had just bought them based on online comments, reviews and the inspiration that I got to gift Radha Gopinathji.

I got the gadgets by August. I did not expect them to come so early. Anyways the day when I got it, I immediately went home and opened the package. I wanted to check if they are in good condition – after all the gadgets were coming from U.S of A that too for Radha Gopinathji. I connected it to the electric points and switched off all lights. WOW !!! the stars were amazing. The effects that it gave at my home was mind boggling. I was really amazed at the beauty.

Next day I met Madhavacharya prabhu (Head Pujari) and told him about this gift for Radha Gopinathji. He said “why don’t you get it and we can check if it can be used or not”. I said “Ok”. I took the gadgets on the weekend and showed it to the pujari’s. They liked it and said they would try and use it during the festival.

I decided that it was Radha Gopinath who inspired me to buy these gifts for them and I gave it to Their pujari’s. Now it is completely up to them to use it. The pujari’s told me that when they test it, they will call me. I was hoping that they would call me in few days but days passed and slowly weeks passed by and eventually I thought that they would never use it.

On the day of Sharad Purnima, I was hoping and praying deep in my heart that Radha Gopinathji would accept my gift. But the pujari’s never called me for testing the gadgets. I was a little sad and reached the temple after office. As expected the temple was over crowded. I met my devotee friend Damodar and we both went in the general public queue to take darshan, we got darshan for few seconds and then we came out, as the queue became smaller we went again for darshan and came out, the whole time I was wondering if they used my gadgets or not, but I did not get to see properly.

There was no space to enter the temple hall so I went on the Brahmachari terrace and was looking at the beautiful full moon in the sky and was wondering if this was the same moon when Krishna performed the Rasa Lila… As I was thinking about it and Madhavacharya prabhu saw me and he asked me “Did you see your gadgets? They look so beautiful, isn’t it? I was surprised because I never saw them and they did not call me for testing it. I was so excited that Radha Gopinath accepted my gifts.

Later on as the temple hall crowd got lesser, I squeezed in and saw that the moon was just behind Radha Gopinathji and they had used the Lazer stars right above Guru Maharaj, The stars were all over the ceiling and looked amazing. I was so happy to see that Radha Gopinath used those gadgets.

I was almost in tears, just thinking how merciful Krishna is. Just like when Sudama, gave few grains for Krishna and Krishna accepted it lovingly. I was feeling the same way, that although those gadgets did not have any spiritual significance but Radha Gopinathji accepted it.

patram puspam phalam toyam

yo me bhaktya prayacchati

tad aham bhakty-upahrtam

asnami prayatatmanah

Translation: If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it. BG – 9.26

I guess in this case it would be Patram, puspam, phalam, toyam and gadgets

Sri Sri Radha Gopinath ki Jai !

Day started at 04:00 am with my cell phone alarm singing Jai Radhe… Jai Krishna … Jai Vrindavan… rasika mukunda mali jaya gopi gana (from the album “Dasi” by Karnamrita mataji) I was rushing for my flight to Delhi from Mumbai.

I reached Delhi safely and had to pass on a few messages to my sister Sitalila and she mentioned to me about H. H. Jaypataka Maharaj’s bad health. I was surprised coz I had heard his Bhagavatam class on Sunday 19^th Oct at Radha Gopinath temple. I could not believe that he is in a critical condition because when I saw him he was looking perfectly alright and he was inspiring us to spread the Glories of Damodar Month and lighting lamps and offering it to Krishna.

He was showing the presentation on how his disciples have gone all out – to preach the non devotees in Malaysia by inspiring everyone to offer lamps to Krishna during Kartik month. I had first seen him at Simhachalam in July 1999 during the South India Yatra organized by ISKCON Chowpatty. He was giving a class on how to chant attentively. One of the devotees had told me that he is a very senior prabhupada disciple and very senior to my gurudev, so when I first saw him I had lot of awe and respect for him and offered obeisances.

Personally I consider him to be the backbone of ISKCON. As he is the GBC member and at the same time he was one of the first GBC members appointed by Srila Prabhupada and also currently he is guiding so many important projects and is very active in preaching all over the world.

I hope and pray that if Krishna desires let Maharaj recover his health and give his valuable association to us. Whatever might be the result I would like to meditate on this verse.

udarah sarva evaite

jnani tv atmaiva me matam

asthitah sa hi yuktatma

mam evanuttamam gatim

Translation: All these devotees are undoubtedly magnanimous souls, but he who is situated in knowledge of Me I consider to be just like My own self. Being engaged in My transcendental service, he is sure to attain Me, the highest and most perfect goal. BG Ch 7.18

Hare Krishna !

Harinaam Anand Dasa

23^rd October 2008.

Delhi.

Please accept my humble prostrated obeisances at your Lotus Feet.

All Glories to You, Srila Prabhupada and Sri Gauranga.

Maharaj, before I say anything else… Let me Thank you for everything.

Maharaj, I really don’t know what qualifications or what previous good karma’s I’ve had for getting your association. I am so very much grateful to you for everything that you have given me so far. You have given me such a nice devotee community, you have given me the best of projects, you have given me the best of brahmachari’s, you have given me the best of prasadam’s, you have given me everything that a devotee or a demigod would ever want to have in Kaliyuga.

Thank you so much Maharaj for your sweet lotus like smiles and your inspiring lectures. Maharaj, I am also really grateful to you for giving me such nice God brothers and God sisters. Each and every devotee in our temple and I am sure across all ISKCON temples are such high class devotees. I just hope that I remain a servant to all of them in the mood of Trinad api sunicena… Maharaj thank you sooo much for reminding me this verse every single day. Yes it is difficult to practically follow the verse but as you always mention nothing is impossible. I know for sure that if I constantly meditate on this verse I will be able to live up to it. As you have explained how Srila Prabhupada said that this is the secret for attracting devotion to Krishna.

Maharaj, thank you so much for sharing the secret with me. Maharaj I am not as sincere as all other devotees but I am trying my level best to strive for that and I am sure your mercy is always there on me.

Maharaj, I also want to thank you for giving me the inspiration and opportunity to serve H. H. Indradyumna maharaj. I really get inspired by his adventurous preaching, kirtans, projects etc. Maharaj last year during Mayapur yatra I got a opportunity to be with H. H. Indradyumna Swami and serve him personally. In Shrikhanda You touched my hand and told me “Please ensure that you take Indradyumna swami to Srinivas acharya’s home.” I said “yes maharaj” and you smiled at me. I was soo confused. I myself was new to Shrikhanda and it was pitch dark. I did not know how to go there. I was with H. G. Pankajangri prabhu, H. H. Indradyumna swami, H. G. Chandrashekhar prabhu and H. G. Uttam sloka prabhu. I was confused and I asked Indradyumna maharaj about visiting Srinivas acharya prabhu’s home and He said he was very tired and would like to go back to Mayapur.

I was soo afraid and feeling sad that first time I had got some service from you and I am not able to fulfill that. I was praying desperately to Krishna and you, and suddenly the very next second Pankajangri prabhu patted on Indradyumna maharaj’s back and said “we should go to Srinivas acharya prabhu’s home”. Indradyumna Maharaj said that he is very hungry and somehow we got Hot Khichdi from your car. Pankajangri prabhu guided us to Srinivas acharya prabhu’s home. By the time we had darshan of Srinivas acharya prabhu’s paduka, Samadhi and his worshipable deities it was very dark and we all were tired. H. H. Indradyumna maharaj said that “my today’s parikrama is successful just by visiting this place, we have heard so many past times of Srinivas acharya pabhu but to see this spiritual place in reality is so inspiring”. I was soo happy to hear this. I was thanking you again and again.

“Along with Guru’s instruction we get the strength to fulfill the instruction”…

Thank you sooo much Maharaj for Everything

Your unworthy servant,

Harinaam Anand Dasa.

Second Half

I joined ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, all excited with my new corporate profile with a DAY Job, better package, better post and nice facilities. I was surprised that how Krishna had fulfilled my desire. I am grateful to Sri Sri Radha Gopinath, Krishna Balaram and all the devotees who prayed for me. Few years back when one my colleague from old office had got a job in JET Airways I was wondering why did Krishna not give me this opportunity. I was wondering that I was a devotee and I have been looking for a proper day job in a reputed organization. But now when I look at my current situation, all that I experienced in this last 6 months was a lesson and blessing in disguise. By taking up a job in IBM pune, I got a promotion and a raise in my salary. I enhanced my skills, I realized the importance of association; I realized how special Sri Sri Radha Gopinath bhakta samaj is. If I would have got a job with Jet airways I would have to travel in train to reach office and earn half of what I am earning now. If I look at my situation now, my profile is much more respected. My boss and my organization is happy with my work. My work place is closer to my home and temple. I am able to attend almost all programs in the temple and do services. I am really relishing the association of devotees and most of all I am enjoying delicious Krishna Prasad.

I am glad that I am back to Mumbai and amongst devotees. After I came back from pune I was practically busy every weekend for kirtan programs or any other house programs. I had 3 major Janmashtami Kirtan programs with a crowd of more than 150 people. We have started Ekadashi kirtan at H. G. Damodar prabhu’s home. I am able to do services in the temple and am also part of the Gopal’s fun school. I became closer to so many new devotees and children. After a gap of almost 3 years I could participate in drama. I became closer to H. G. Adi keshav prabhu, H. G. Prem lila mataji, H. G. Trivikram prabhu, H. G. Krishnanaam prabhu and many other sincere devotees. I realized that how so many devotees got attached to me. Some of my devotee friends in pune are still calling me up and missing me and asking me to come back and inspire them for kirtan programs. Because of my new profile I frequently visit Hyderabad and Kolkata. This gave me an opportunity to visit the Hyderabad temple, Kolkata temple and Mayapur dham. I visited Mayapur thrice in the last 3 months (Oct-Nov-DEC). In October I could experience the floods in mayapur. It was such an awesome experience to take darshan of Sri Sri Radha Madhav standing in knee deep Ganges water, Wow !!

It felt so nice. I really felt as if Radha Madhav, Narsimha dev and Panchatattva have come to Ganges although it was the other way round. I became closer to the brahmacharis in Mayapur and how can I forget the Mayapur yatra in November, I got a chance to be with H. H. Indradyumna Swami and serve him personally also I could be with my Guru Maharaj and realized that how along with Guru’s instruction we get the strength to fulfill the instruction. In Shrikhanda Guru Maharaj touched my arms and told me ” Please ensure that you take H. H. Indradyumna swami to Srinivas acharya’s home.” I said “yes maharaj” and he smiled at me. I was soo confused. I myself was new to Shrikhanda and it was pitch dark. I did not know how to go there. 

I was with H. G. Pankajangri prabhu, Indradyumna swami, H. G. Chandrashekhar prabhu and H. G. Uttam sloka prabhu. I was confused and I asked Indradyumna Swami and he said he was very tired and would like to go back to Mayapur. I was soo afraid and feeling sad that first time I have got some service from my Guru Maharaj and I am not able to fulfill that. I was praying desperately to Krishna and Guru Maharaj and suddenly Pankajangri prabhu patted on Indradyumna swami’s back and said we should go to Srinivas acharya prabhu’s home. Indradyumna Maharaj said that he is very hungry and somehow we got Hot Khichdi from Guru Maharaj’s car. But by then he had already ate some oranges. I was very hungry too and was feeling dehydrated. Suddenly Pankajangri prabhu looked at me and said do you want to have some khichdi, I was shocked I said no cause I did not want to gratify my senses when other senior devotees were tolerating their hunger. Pankajangri prabhu guided us to Srinivas acharya prabhu’s home. By the time we had darshan of Srinivas acharya prabhu’s paduka, Samadhi and his worshipable deities it was very dark and we all were tired. H. H. Indradyumna swami said that “my today’s parikrama is successful just by visiting this place, we have heard so many past times of Srinivas acharya pabhu but to see this spiritual place in reality is so inspiring”. I was soo happy to hear this.

I was thanking guru maharaj again and again. Mayapur yatra was awesome and I am so glad that I got the chance to attend the yatra, thanks to Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Yatra committee. They did a mind boggling seva by organizing 66 buses, 50 boats, prasadam and staying arrangement for 3000 plus devotees and most of all managing everything for 15 consecutive days. My Prostrated Obeisances to all those devotees who were involved in this seva. My December trip to mayapur was very nice too I gifted a 80GB Ipod to my brahmachari friend in Lotus building. I got the beautiful darshan of Panchatattva wearing Sherwani dress. They were looking so damn handsome. As if all of them are going to attend a marriage ceremony. They were really looking very beautiful and I was constantly telling them that “you all are looking very handsome”.

Thank you Krishna for giving me this spiritual life and giving me this job and the opportunity to visit mayapur.   Apart from being a frequent flyer I am so happy to be back to leading a normal human life. Somehow this year has been the best with ups and downs in life but at the end, lot of learning, realizations and feeling closeness to Sri Sri Radha Gopinath and my Guru Maharaj. 2 days back I got confirmed in ICICI Prudential and my boss rated me as one of the most valued employee. I was just thinking how 6 months had passed by as if I just blinked my eyes. Where as when I was in pune every single day was like living in Hell. As Ramanuja acharya says “If nothing is happening in your life, if you are not making any advancement then just run to the association of devotees and just be with them”. Thank you Radha Gopinathji for giving me shelter at your lotus feet and bringing me back to the association of such wonderful devotees of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Bhakta Samaj. Few realizations that I got this year was that Humility is the key to go back home back to godhead. We have to take the humble position not only when we come across any problems with any devotees but even when we are in bad situations in life. I was sharing with one of my close devotee friends that we should ensure that through out my life I should not forget these 3 points.

1)       Never offend any living entity what to speak of a devotee. Vaishnav apradh is not about hurting a devotee physically but it’s about hurting a devotee by what we speak about them either in front or behind their backs. Always appreciate a devotee, JUST RUN AWAY WHEN WE SEE ANYTHING BAD.

2)       Be grateful for what I have got in life and always appreciate good things in others and whenever anyone asks you for any service don’t use your so called intelligent brains JUST DO IT – we are fortunate to get a chance to serve Sri Sri Radha Gopinath and their devotees.

3)       Whatever happens in our life is for our own good and Krishna and his representatives are our eternal well wishers. TIME will reveal that what seemed bad to us was actually GOOD for us.

tam sukharadhyam rjubhir

ananya-saranair nrbhih

krtajnah ko na seveta

duraradhyam asadhubhih

“What grateful soul is there who would not render his loving service to such a great master as the Personality of Godhead? The Lord can be easily pleased by spotless devotees who resort exclusively to Him for protection, though the unrighteous man finds it difficult to propitiate Him”.

PURPORT

Every living entity, especially persons in the human race, must feel grateful for the benedictions offered by the grace of the Supreme Lord. Anyone, therefore, with a simple heart of gratefulness must be Krishna conscious and offer devotional service to the Lord. Those who are actually thieves and rogues do not recognize or acknowledge the benedictions offered to them by the Supreme Lord, and they cannot render Him devotional service. Ungrateful persons are those who do not understand how much benefit they are deriving by the arrangement of the Lord. They enjoy the sunshine and moonshine, and they get water free of charge, yet they do not feel grateful, but simply go on enjoying these gifts of the Lord. Therefore, they must be called thieves and rogues. (SB 3.19.36)

Thank you soo much Krishna for being there for me, always and giving me this precious realizations and memories.

Harinaam Anand Dasa

27^th December 2007 .

Mumbai.

Well, to be precise I never thought I would write my memories of 2007. Thanks for the inspiration I received from Braj vilasini my devotee friend.

2007 – Appearance and Disappearance

First half – A new job, new city, Pune yatra, missing devotees, no proper food, missing temple, missing Mumbai, frustrated personal life, praying, praying, praying… Second half – New job, back to Mumbai, better salary, nice Prasad, good association, programs almost every week, months… frequent flyer, Hatrick mayapur trip and finally Christmas with good savings and nice memories

– that’s 2007 for me.

First Half

For me 2007 started with a new job in a new location. I got a job in IBM, Pune. I was very happy for being part of the Fortune 100 company with a world class brand name, joining them as a youngest Manager at the age of 25 and handling the entire WFM department with a team of 14 people directly reporting to me and most of them elder to me. This was the biggest project with almost 500 employees. I was feeling proud of being the youngest manager with such a profile… however I was also worried about my Spiritual life for staying away from Sri Sri Radha Gopinath, Mumbai. Initially I was happy for being in IBM, pune. January was nice I had the good fortune of getting the association of H. G. Krishna Prem prabhu. He stayed with me for 1 entire month and guided me in my spiritual life. Since I had a home in Pune, even Anand mohan prabhu and his family stayed with me during the pune yatra. I really relished and enjoyed their association. As time went by I started missing Radha Gopinath temple and Mumbai devotees. However with the help of Ram Rati prabhu I was introduced to Jay Narsimha prabhu, Yashoda rani mataji and their entire counselee group. I was so happy that I made some new friends in Pune. However every weekend I was coming back to Mumbai. These were the only 2 days when I was having sumptuous Krishna Prasad.

Almost 4 months passed by in Pune and I was already feeling the pain of taking the decision to join IBM, Pune and staying away from Radha Gopinath. Almost every single weekend I was coming to Mumbai so that I could spend time with devotees and eat nice Prasad… I was eating bread, butter, cadbury’s, chivda and ghatiya (only food available without onion & garlic) in pune for almost 4 months now. I really started feeling the importance of staying close to temple, importance of Krishna Prasad and most of all importance of association of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Bhakta Samaj. I realized that I could not live without the association of devotees and I was repenting for leaving my old job which was soo nice, although I was doing night shifts at least I was in the association of devotees everyday. Every single day I use to sing Guruvastakam prayers and then chant some rounds and pray to Krishna to bring me back to Mumbai, I had started looking for a job back in Mumbai and was ready to do anything – but things were getting worser, I had some serious problems in my personal life and on the other end I was not enjoying my work in IBM and hence I was not able to perform as per their expectations, I just could not give the best of my work. The same work for which I was soo well known in my previous organization and had received awards, I was being questioned everyday for petty issues, I was also feeling weak for not having proper food and many times just eating once a day and sleeping without eating food. I was completely frustrated with my so called Manager life. However one fine day I got a call from Krishna prem prabhu that he and his devotee friend from Dubai is gonna come to stay with me for 2 days. Just like a thirsty man about to die in the hot desert comes across a small bottle of water, I was soo happy, Krishna prem prabhu came in the middle of the night with his friend Sukhakar Krishna prabhu. Initially I was a little anxious to know who this friend would be but just in few minutes of our introduction I felt as if I know Sukhakar Krishna prabhu since soo many years. We became nice friends we visited the temple early morning, attended programs, had our lunch in nice Veg restaurant, went to Café Coffee day for some milk shakes, went home and rested. We had loads of fun, discussing Krishna consiousness, eating Prasad and sharing realizations. I really felt like crying when they had to go back to Mumbai. Those were the best 2 days of my life in Pune.

Again the same old life style of eating chivda, ghatiya, bread and sometimes when I was really really hungry I use to go to the tapri and eat pav bhaji which most of the time was mixed with some pieces of onions. I was really praying to Krishna to bring me back to Mumbai… I was so desperate that I use to call up Placement consultants every day and ask them if they have any job for me in Mumbai. I was very lonely in my life. If I look back and I think I was never felt soo lonely, there were days when I use to go to the office and not work and go to the lawn and just cry till my handkerchief was literally wet with tears. I was soo frustrated with my work and personal life. But I had one faith, that if I am seeing these bad days definitely there are good days waiting for me very soon

matra-sparsas tu kaunteya
sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah
agamapayino ‘nityas
tams titiksasva bharata

“O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of heat and cold, happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.” (BG. 2.14)

30^th April to 2^nd May – the best ever Narsimha chaturdashi festival for me, I had informed my boss that my Dad is unwell and I need to rush back to Mumbai urgently… they had a feeling that I am finding ways and means to quit the job but actually I wanted to take leave and exclusively attend H. G. Madhav prabhu’s beautiful, ecstatic and inspiring kirtans. I am soo greatful to the temple management for organizing this kirtan program. I even went and thanked H. G. Govind prabhu for inviting Madhav prabhu. These 4 days I really enjoyed the kirtans, I have heard his kirtans since so many years and had also interacted with him on email to buy Chimes. But to see him doing live kirtans was sooo inspiring, first time I realized that kirtan is not about singing 4 different tunes in 1 hour. I was amazed how when a pure devotee sings 1 mahamantra tune for more than 1 hour can sound soo beautiful, enthusiastic, ecstatic, inspiring, delicious, sweet, and most of all memorizing. I just could not stop singing those tunes, every single day till now whenever I ride my bike I sing the same tunes which madhav prabhu sang.

Well, 4 days passed away very quickly. While going back to pune I was literally feeling as if I am going back to hell. Never in my life I had felt like this… again the same old routine life without proper food. I realized that if a person does not get proper Krishna Prasad, how his consciousness changes. My senses were going crazy without proper food. I was missing my mother and family so much. I was praying to Krishna and begging for forgiveness for all my offences. Finally I got a call from a consultant for a day job in ICICI Prudential. I was excited and I really wanted to get this by hook or by crook. This was my only chance to get back to Mumbai and get my dream job of working day shifts, closer to my home, with a good position and a good salary. I gave all my details to the consultant and she forwarded by resume to them. In the following weekend I came to Mumbai and I was discussing with H. G. Vraj gopal prabhu and I was asking him to pray for me that I should get this job. Daily my bhakti was to pray to Krishna to give me this job. I was really frustrated with my BPO life and wanted to live a normal life. Few days went by and I did not receive any calls from the consultant. I was very desperate… I started calling the consultant every day. To my surprise she was so frustrated of me that she said if you want you can directly contact my future boss and she gave me his email id. I don’t think anyone would have ever done this but I wrote my future boss to consider my profile and revert back asap. By Krishna ‘s mercy he replied back asking me to schedule an interview. I immediately called the consultant and asked her to do the needful. She arranged for an interview and I came back to Mumbai telling my current boss that again I have to rush back to Mumbai because of dad’s health. I met my future boss and he was impressed with my profile and then he said he will contact me again. I went home and again in the afternoon he called me asking me to come for the final round on the same day. I went back and gave the final interview to the Sr. Vice President – HR of ICICI Prudential. In the evening I went to H. G. Madhumangal prabhu’s home for a program and I was praying to Krishna Balaram that I should get this job. I met H. G. Govind prabhu there and I asked him to pray for me that I should get back to Mumbai. The very next day I went back to Pune to resume work. I did not receive any call from ICICI Prudential nor the consultant. I was desperate again and did not know what to do. I was just praying and praying every single day that I should get this job. I knew that we are not suppose to ask anything from Krishna .

anyabhilashita-sunyam

jnana-karmady-anavritam

anukulyena krishnanu-

silanam bhaktir uttama

“When first-class devotional service develops, one must be devoid of all material desires, knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve Krishna favorably, as Krishna desires.” Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu (1.1.11).

somehow I was sooo desperate that I just did not wanted to miss this opportunity and I was desiring for this job. I did not get any call for a week neither from ICICI Prudential nor the consultant. One fine day I got a call from the consultant that I have got the offer and they forwarded me my offer letter. I was surprised that I was getting a better pay package and a better post. I was so happy. I gave 3 days notice to my current boss. They were not surprised, they knew that I was going to quit my job. I came back to Mumbai and joined ICICI prudential life insurance as a HR Manager.

———- End of First Half…