Wednesday 15 January 2014

Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja in Pune January 2014

4th Januaray 2014

Guru Maharaja came to Pune from Mumbai by car. All devotees in Pune were making various preparations for receiving Guru Maharaja. Guru Maharaja arrived at HG Parshuram Prabhu’s house at around 1 PM. Some students went to welcome Guru Maharaja at the gate of the society but as they went down from one lift, Guru Maharaja mysteriously came up by another lift at the same time. So, as they reached down they realized that Guru Maharaja already reached up. Here upstairs, devotees were not expecting Guru Maharaja so early. As Guru Maharaja entered everybody just freezed their activities and offered obeisances. It is always so wonderful and purifying to see Guru Maharaja.
Guru Maharaja honored lunch feast prasadam prepared by various congregation matajis from Pune headed by HG Shyamangi Radhika Mataji. Students travelling with Guru Maharaja got first time the rare opportunity of serving prasadam to Guru Maharaja. After taking prasadam and little rest, Guru Maharaja came to meet all the devotees.
Guru Maharaja personally inquired everyone about their spiritual and material life. Guru Maharaja was talking with HG Deenbandhu Chaitanya Prabhu, teacher from a college in Pune, where Guru Maharaja told that how material science have killed God. Guru Maharaja told :
Material science first expelled God and then killed God. It all started with the invention of clock. Otherwise scientists in old era like Newton, etc. were theists. When clock was invented, it had a great influence all over the world. Even now we can see that various churches in Germany, etc. have big clocks and elaborate decorations over them. From clock they interpreted that just as we start clock once and then it keeps on functioning on its own, God created world and then left it. God eventually grew old and died. World is functioning on its own just like a clock.
Then Guru Maharaja lifted a glass show-piece and then asked the devotees that whether it was possible that that object can come by its own. Then Guru Maharaja took out a small glass sphere ball out of it and asked the same questions. If this small object can’t come by its own then how it is possible that whole world can come by its own?
Then Guru Maharaja told that how now top class of people in India – students from IIT’s and other prestigious colleges are appreciating Krishna Consciousness. Guru Maharaja told that when he went to IIT Patna, the director of the university, instead of sitting on stage, sat in front in the audience so that he can listen to Guru Maharaja better. Also many educated students are coming forward to accept Krishna Consciousness.
After all devotees took prasadam, Guru Maharaja took rest. In evening Guru Maharaja came to ISKCON Pune – Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanchandra Mandir. Guru Maharaja was received by many deovtees headed by Pune Temple President HG Radheshyam Prabhu. Guru Maharaja embraced Radheshyam Prabhu with affection. Then Guru Maharaja took the darshan of the beautiful deities – Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanchandra, Sri Sri Jagannath Baldeva Subhadra and Srila Prabhupada while Gaura Arti was going on.
Then Guru Maharaja gave class to the youth forum devotees. Guru Maharaja spoke on the “Position of Srila Prabhupada as the pre-eminent Siksha Guru of ISKCON.” Then Guru Maharaja answered many questions by the students and Brahmacaries. After that Guru Maharaja lead the most ecstatic kirtan and all devotees danced. HG Radheshyam Prabhu requested HG Ganga Narayan Prabhu to lead the devotees in his matchless dancing steps. After kirtan, Guru Maharaja went back to Parshuram Prabhu’s house.

5th January 2014

Guru Maharaja took breakfast and then mercifully observed other devotees taking prasadam. Guru Maharaja said to the servers, “No need to ask to the youngsters. Just give them!” Then Guru Maharaja gave a very wonderful Sunday feast class at temple on Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. After the class Guru Maharaja gave prizes to the many devotees who did well in Srila Prabhupada book distribution marathon in Pune. Guru Maharaja then came back to Parshuram Prabhu’s house and took rest. In evening Guru Maharaja met many devotees individually. In evening Guru Maharaja first went to take darshan of Balaji at ISKCON Pune. This deity of Balaji is the only Balaji deity in ISKCON. Lord was gifted to the devotees in the very initial days of Pune Yatra. After taking the darshan of the deities, Guru Maharaja gave wonderful class on BG 7.1 and the theme was how to be attached to Krishna? Guru Maharaja answered many doubts and queries of devotees. After that Guru Maharaja lead wonderful kirtan for the shayan arti of the Lord. Finally Guru Maharaja came back to Parshuram Prabhu’s house. Guru Maharaja had ticket to Coimbatore for the ayuervedic treatment where HG Subal Sakha Prabhu would be personal servant.

6th January 2014   

Devotees assembled at Parshuram Prabhu’s house by 4 AM. They were informed that Guru Maharaja is not going to Coimbatore. All the devotees became very happy on receiving this news as they thought Guru Maharaja will stay more in Pune. Then Guru Maharaja came and told about the sad news of departure of his dear godbrother HG Shyamlal Prabhu. Guru Maharaja started to tell about him. Guru Maharaja told that how Shyamlal Prabhu joined ISKCON when he was a teenager. He was involved in Calcutta for making life members when Guru Maharaja joined Mayapur temple. Since then both of them are very close friends. As Guru Maharaja was telling about him, there was a very mild smile on his face on remembering about his old days with Shyamlal Prabhu. Then Guru Maharaja booked tickets for South Africa and decided to leave immediately.
Just before sitting in car, Guru Maharaja gave special mercy to all the devotees. He garlanded some of the devotees. When Guru Maharaja had the last garland in his hand, Guru Maharaja wanted to give it to Mohit Prabhu, a student from Pune, but then Guru Maharaja saw an another guest and gave that garland to him. Guru Maharaja then told Mohit Prabhu, “I will give you next time.” Then Guru Maharaja embraced him! Then one by one Guru Maharaja embraced all the students there. For them who just die for one smile of Guru Maharaja, getting Guru Maharaja’s embrace was something unimaginable and unforgettable. Then Guru Maharaja left Pune for Mumbai accompanied by Their Graces Ganga Narayan Pr, Parshuram Pr, Subal Sakha Pr, and Kapila Muni Pr.
Guru Maharaja is expert in the art of conquering heart. Getting Guru Maharaja’s association and love for last two weeks, all the students travelling with Guru Maharaja had received such strong impression in their hearts that they can never forget at any point of their life. They are eternally grateful to Guru Maharaja for everything.