Nayaka mataji 2010
Hare Krishna,dear
Devotees.
Please accept our
humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Guru
and Gauranga.
A few days ago we came
back to Ujjain from Sri Mayapur dham where we spent almost one month. It
was an unforgettable and most blissful experience. The only negative thing
about the festival was that it ended so soon. We immediately noticed that
the beautiful fountains and flower garden in front of the temple were gone
and we were greeted by an empty field and heavy machinery. All around this
fenced area were pictures of the spectacular future Temple of the Vedic
Planetarium. Everything was ready for the important bhumi puja of the new
temple.
The bhumi puja was held
on 14 February. Guru puja was followed by a flag hoisting ceremony and
powerful speeches from disciples of Srila Prabhupada. HH Bhakti Vidyapurna
Maharaja and the gurukula boys performed the yagya and the rest of the
program was held on the building site with all the members of the GBC and
a large crowd of cheerful devotee faces.
By the kind arrangement
of Guru Maharaja we stayed at Vamsi Bhavan. Our Godbrothers helped us to
our room and offered us assistance whenever we needed. We felt so grateful
to see how Guru Maharaja was taking care of us. That same night we were
enchanted by Guru Maharaja’s sweet kirtan after Gaura arati. It was so
special to see Guru Maharaja in front of Panca Tattva in Mayapur with so
many of our Godbrothers and sisters around us, singing and dancing
joyfully. Afterwards Guru Maharaja spoke with everyone and
enquired about their
wellbeing.
We were also very
pleased to see all the devotees who came from Ujjain. Their big, friendly
smiles always reminded us of Ujjain.
So many interesting
programs and seminars were organized for the enlightenment and education
of the devotees. It was difficult to choose where to go as so many things
were happening at the same time. On the
disappearance day of HH
Tamal Krsna Goswami, Guru Maharaja gave a heartfelt speech about his
beloved Godbrother. He said that Maharaja always had perfect and beautiful
tilak and that he never used a mirror to apply his tilak. He also
mentioned that, for him, Tamal Krsna Maharaja was such an exalted devotee
and he at first thought that it was impossible to approach him. When Guru
Maharaja started to serve Srila Prabhupada personally he used to
stay with Tamal Krishna Maharaja in one room and their relationship
became very close.
Later there was a special program where senior disciples of HH Tamal Krsna
Maharaja spoke about their pastimes with him. A transcendental atmosphere
of love and devotion of his disciples to their beloved Gurudev prevailed.
Guru puja and pushpanjali at Maharaja’s Samadhi was followed by a maha
feast at Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi.
Guru Maharaja also
spoke movingly in honor of HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami on his vyasa puja and
afterwards Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja’s disciples served a lovely feast to all
the devotees who could not attend the parikrama.
Guru Maharaja often
gave the devotees news about the health of HH Jayapataka Maharaja and read
Maharaja’s letters to the devotees. Everyone really missed HH Jayapataka
Maharaja’s presence in Mayapur.
Guru Maharaja attended
a prize giving ceremony for sankirtan devotees. He and many sanyassis
spoke about the importance of book distribution and gave awards to
devotees who have dedicated their lives to the glorious mission of Srila
Prabhupada and Gauranga Mahaprabhu.
A huge pandal was the
venue for cultural programs every evening. Devotees enjoyed wonderful
performances of song, dance and drama. HH Bhakti Marga Maharaja enchanted
everyone with his brilliant dramas. One drama was about Saksi Gopal and
the other, a contemporary piece, dealt with the lives of
lonely people. Our
Godbrother Chandrashekar prabhu delighted the audience with his talented
and accomplished performances in these dramas. We also saw a
memorable performance by Manipuri devotees where diminutive Radha
and Krsna danced in traditional dress. The next day a wonderful surprise
awaited
one and all when Sri
Sri Radha Madhava and the gopis were all decked out in Manipuri dress
looking exactly the same as the children the night before.
Thousands of devotees
participated in the parikrama. There were 3 groups, an international group
with about 1500 devotees, a Bengali group with 2000 devotees and a Russian
group with 1200 devotees. Guru Maharaja visited all 3 groups. Some friends
from the Russian group said their hearts were touched
by Guru Maharaja’s
sweetness. Guru Maharaja attended the International group about 4
times. The most special time during the parikrama with Guru Maharaja was
the last day when he walked in front and carried Srila Prabhupada. Guru
Maharaja also gave a very nice speech about the pastimes of Murari Gupta
with Lord Caitanya when we visited his house. The main leader at the
international group was HH Lokanatha Maharaja. Many other sanyassis and
senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada also enlivened us with their
presence. At the
Jagannatha temple, we saw a drama about Kalavecha Sridhara and Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. It was performed by the sanyassis and Pankajanghri and
Jananivasa prabhus. The 2 brothers played the leading roles.
On this divine day of
Gaura Purnima it is greatly fortunate to be in Mayapur where Gauranga Mahaprabhu
appeared and performed his lilas. So many guests came from near and far to
get darshan of the Deities. Even at Mangal arati time the temple was
packed and it was difficult to go inside. Guru Maharaja gave the Srimad
Bhagavatam class inside the pandal and he was followed by HH Bhakti
Purushotama Maharaja. There was a broadcast of HH Jayapataka Maharaja’s
class from America. At noon Guru Maharaja gave initiations
alongside HH Bhakti
Vaibhava Maharaja and HH Bhakti Vikasa Maharaja. Some devotees got initiation
from HH Jayapataka Maharaja in absentia. Guru Maharaja appreciated HH
Bhakti Vikasa Maharaja who spoke in Bengali for devotees who got
initiation.
After initiation Guru
Maharaja went with a group of disciples to Ganga to take bath. The
abhishek of the Deities started at 4 pm. Three small pandals were erected
in the garden next to Padma bhavan for the abhishek, one
for sanyassis and disciples of Srila prabhupada, one for prabhu’s and one
for mataji’s. During pushpanjali it looked as if the Deities were drowning
in the fragrant petals. All the devotees happily enjoyed the feast
that followed.
Guru Maharaja said that
everyone was happy to do parikrama and they loved parikrama but they would
be even happier when they go back to their homes and remember the sweet
times. His words were so true and now we are all really missing those
sweet times.
Once during parikrama
when Guru Maharaja saw us, he asked how we were. I replied that we were
fine but I really wanted to say that were missing his association.
Still the few times we saw him was wonderfully special and sweet. Actually
we saw him only a few times in Mayapur because he was always extremely
busy, but still, we are so happy that we were there by the mercy of Guru
Maharaja and had so many unforgettable moments.
Sridham Mayapur Gaura
Purnima Festival of Loving Exchanges, ki – jaya!
Guru Maharaja, ki –
jaya!
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