(30/JUN/2014) - Sri Mayapur, India

Today I was busy with transferring Guru Maharaj's recordings around the world into Archives backup. And checking the quality of recordings. And I didn't take part in Guru Maharaj's personal service till evening. But, Guru Maharaj was doing exercise in the hall and I was in Maha Varaha Pr's room, we were speaking on different subjects and we were watching Guru Maharaj's 2002 Kolkata Ratha-yatra pandal lecture in Bengali. All of a sudden little commotion; Guru Maharaj entered into that room. I got and paid my obeisances. He asked me, "Have you posted the mercy contest?" Yes! Guru Maharaj!!! Then he gave the next day question for contest and left the room.

In the evening there was some meeting on legal issues in Guru Sadhai Building. So Guru Maharaj went with Dayaram Pr and few servants. Then we went ahead to Pandal and waited for Guru Maharaj.

Guru Maharaj arrived at pandal at 8:00pm; and he went to lecture pandal. But the bengali drama was going for long time. So, he went to VIP Lanch to take his dinner along with meeting. But the meeting went till 9pm. Then Guru Maharaj stomach got upset. So he went to toilet. But we were trying bring Guru Maharaj to flat. But Guru Maharaj doesn't want to leave  the pandal. So he just adjusted with no facility toilet. Really! I don't understand, why this personality taking this much trouble to deliver conditioned souls! With very much difficulty; no ordinary man will do. Since that pandal area was open ground and they made pandals. Ruci Rangada Pr, Janakiram pr and myself said to Guru Maharaj, 'you should take Ayurvedic detoxing treatment and clean your stomach, and liver. Since, Ruci Pr and Janakiram pr both very much into automobiles, they said, this vehicle need some servicing; and this vehicle had travelled thousands of miles. But we don't what fule giving this much mileage?' Immediately Guru Maharaj said, "High Speed Petrol"... Then everyone cracked into laugh... who can cut jokes in this situation. He is transcendental. NO DOUBT!!!

Then Guru Maharaj came and took Lord Jagannath's Maha Prasadam. SPECIAL LOW SALT KITCHADI. Then some salty preparations. Then his dinner.

After dinner Guru Maharaj took Lord Jagannath's tooth brush stick and started to bless every devotee who were on his way... Then on the way back, Guru Maharaj was chanting his Gayathri. Then Guru Maharaj asked to call one devotee; and I was trying to call that grihasta couple; but I was not able to connect to them. When Guru maharaj's car reached the parking area of our apartment. They rang back. They don't know it was Guru Maharaj and it was 10:35pm. They called and said 'Hare Krishna! Who is this?' The reply was, "please accept my blessings, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!" This is your spiritual master speaking!!! They didn't expect this, the. Guru Maharaj enquired about their health and their spiritual progress. And talked with the wife and said, "please accept my sahasra koto blessings!" She was speechless, also blessed that Marhaji for her child, who is in the womb 6 months. Guru Maharaj said, "you should read Bhagavad-gita for your child and also for yourself." Then Guru Maharaj asked "how is your family life?" She said, "there are sometime some misunderstand!" Guru Maharaj said, "perfect couple Uma and Mahadev sometime have misunderstanding; but it can be solved with co-operation and it will be pleasing in the service of Guru & Krishna, and nice to Krishna & Guru. There lot of help have to do for me; Srila Prabhupada gave me lot of instructions, I need lot of help to fulfil those." And this conversation went upto 20 mins. Then Guru Maharaj said, "Thank you my dear spiritual daughter, accept my blessings and keep in touch!" Guru Maharaj's mercy extending limitless...

Then we came up; Guru Maharaj was wiped up. And the night shift servants were waiting for Guru Maharaj.

Then Guru Maharaj went to bed. As I lost my beads in Pandal. I got a new bead and offered it to Lord Balaram Was Waiting To Get a chance to get it from Guru Maharaj. But It didn't happened. Night 12'o clock, I said this to Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj said, "How can you say this to me? I won't!!!" Then I appologies; and said sorry! Then immediately Guru Maharaj had his hand on his heart for few seconds and took the bead from me. Then chanted few mantras and gave it to me, holding my hand for several seconds and said, "JPS Archives Das". Then everyone started to laugh... I said, I offer this to Lord Balaram AND ASKED Him To protect my beads all the time. Since this my third bead from you Guru Maharaj. Then I just put Guru maharaj to rest and left his flat...

His every activity makes me to feel him more and more, In one word HE IS MY HERO EVER!

- (Shyama Rasika Dasa - Personal Diary)

(29/JUNE/2014) - Kolkata, India

Today being Ratha-yatra. Guru Maharaj was ready by 11am to go to Rath site to inaugurate the 43rd Kolkata Ratha-yatra. With Guru Maharaj car, many devotees followed with many taxis. And Guru Maharaj reached Rath site on time. But chief guests were late. So Guru Maharaj decided to first go to Balaram Rath and did the coconut breaking ceremony; sweeping ceremony; sprinkling sandalwood water. And after that he went to Subhadra Maharani Rath and did the same. The he came to Jagannath Rath and did all, then offered ghee lamp. Then spoke for two to three minutes about the importance of Ratha Yatra. Then with chief guests he swept the road and inaugurated the Ratha Yatra.

After that we return to our flat. When Gm arrived Puri Ratha Yatra was on live on DD Odisha channel. And devotees had put it on the big screen with projector. So Guru Maharaj started doing his Gayathri and watching Ratha Yatra. Then Lord Jagannath was getting up on His chariot... And Guru Maharaj called me and said, "I was there in 1970. That time there was not these buildings..." And after some time again he called and said, "First Kolkata Ratha-Yatra was packed with people as like Puri the whole road in Kolkata was full..."

Then Guru Maharaj went to take his lunch. I got the opportunity to feed him. So I was feeding him. As we heard that chief minister of West Bengal is going to visit Gundicha Mandir (Pandal) to take Jagannath Darshan. So Guru Maharaj has to be there at 5 pm. But it was already 3pm. So we forced him to take rest. And Guru Maharaj said I will take one hour rest.

At 4pm we woke him up and he took his shower and got ready by 5:15 pm. Then we got the message that 5:30pm will be the program. Then Guru Maharaj went to Maha Varaha Pr's room and got some nuts to offer to Lord Jagannath. Which Guru Maharaj got from Dubai.

Then we went to Pandal. It was raining. And when we entered the main entrance Acharya Ratna Pr came to receive Guru Maharaj and took him to the Lord Jagannath's altar. And in front of Lord Jagannath, there was performance of Odisi Dance. And all the chief guests with chief minister was watching that performance offered to the Lord. Guru Maharaj was also the joined with them. After the performance Chief minister left the pandal. Then the leader of the Odisi dancers was Sourav Ganguly (Cricket Player's wife). And she came and offered her pranams to Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj said, "wonderful performance, by seeing this I thought Lord Krishna would come down from the Altar and join with you all and dance..." And she said, this Odisi dance is only for the pleasure of Lord Jagannath. So we offered it to Him. Then Guru Maharaj went to take darshan of Lord Jagannath. And Guru Maharaj offered nuts and fruits to Lord Jagannath and then did arati. Then few devotees were introduced to Guru Maharaj, they were mainly working on Fund raising department. In that one devotee he had a batch or like ID. Guru Maharaj saw it and asked what is that. He said, "RATH SEVAK", Immediately Guru Maharaj said, "I AM RATH SWEEPER"... "I AM RATH SWEEPER..."

Then Guru Maharaj went to ViP Lanch to take his dinner. There devotees were eating Lord's famous Kitchadi prasadam. Guru Maharaj said, I wil take my dinner here. But somehow, the dinner got delayed. And it reached late. By the time Guru Maharaj said, I also need Jagannath's Kitchadi. Then we got one plate. Guru Maharaj started to eat. We said, this prasadam is full if ghee it is not good for your health. Guru Maharaj was keep on eating; without considering our plea. And then half plate he finished. Then his diet prasadam. Arrived. Then Guru Maharaj took little from that. Then I asked him "Guru Maharaj it is not good for your health, then why you took so much." He said, "when Lord Jagannath's prasadam is in front of you. You should not see any rules."  Then laughed...

After finishing his dinner. We said, you are schedule to give class at 7:30pm. And it is already 7:30pm. Then he asked Acharya Ratna Pr about public prasadam distribution. He said, we have distributed so far 10,000 plates and we are giving Alu sabji and sweet with Kitchadi. Guru Maharaj said, I want little sample to check the quality. Then only I will go to lecture pandal. So we got it and gave to him. Then after tasting it Guru Maharaj showed with his finger like this SUPERB!!!!

Then we reached pandal and Guru Maharaj gave 30mins speech in Bengali on the glories of Lord's maha Prasadam.

Then we started our way back. While coming back Guru Maharaj asked to call Different temple presidents, who were also celebrated their Ratha festival locally. So we called Silchar, Patna, Tripura Gwuahati, Siliguri, Hyderabad, Visakapattanam and to Bhakti Purusottama Swami, who was in Mora Road, Mumbai Ratha Yatra. So Guru Maharaj blessed all the presidents and asked for their reports on their successful Ratha Yatra and how many participants, prasadam distribution, Chief Guests like this all the details. Every one was happy... When they heard the voice of Guru Maharaj, that to unexpected call... No one can imagine that moment of happiness.

At last reached back to flat at 11:00pm. I was tired so I left Guru Maharaj Flat And to servants flat. But Guru Maharaj was tiredless... He was talking to some devotees even at that time. All glories to Gurudev!

-(Shyama Rasika Dasa - Personal diary)

(28/June/2014) - Kolkata, India

Today Guru Maharaj's servants travelled from Mayapur to Kolkata. And few from South India. And we all gather together in Kolkata. Around 7:30pm Guru Maharaj's flight will be arriving from Dubai. So some of the servants selected to go to Airport to receive Guru Maharaj, somehow I was not in that list. Then at 9:50 pm Guru Maharaj reached his Flat. I was in his flat. And the devotees called; and Guru Maharaj was inside the lift. I went to help him to get out from the lift, to do that, I just have to hold his lotus feet; so I was just holding up the lotus feet till he enter the home. And removed his shoes. And went to pick up Guru Maharaj's luggage and some of the books. When I came back the lift got stuck. So half laggaues were in ground floor and half reached his residence. So we started to carry those luggages through staircase. 8 floors... walking...walking... Somehow we reached all the luggages. Guru Maharaj was chanting his Gayathri.

Around 12  midnight Guru Maharaj went to brush his teeth... No! No! We forced to brush his teeth. So That He Can Hit the bed. Then he started brushing... and Guru Maharaj said, count my feet action. So while brushing he started to chant. This is new. Previously he won't do like this. I mean counting... obviously he chant 24x7. Today I was counting; and Guru Maharaj was brushing, brushing... brushing... and it was too long... and he stopped at one point. It was exactly 108. One round Japa. And I was just counting inside my mind. That was astonishing for me. He was totally wiped out. But he is he!!!

Then we somehow, manage to put him on bed. Before sitting on bed., Guru Maharaj asked, which side is East? We said, you are in a right position to keep you head, towards East. Then he went to bed. After that Guru Maharaj asked, where is Victoria? Devotees puzzled? Then Guru Maharaj asked Where is our ISKCON Kolkata Temple? Which side is Yadu babu (I didn't understand exactly words) sweet shop? There Rasagulla...? Which is in bhaul bazaar? Everyone puzzled... why Guru Maharaj asking these questions? But the reason is if this is East... then Victoria must be this side; ISKCON will be this side; sweet shop will be this side. So immediately Guru Maharaj  calculated four directions... and said what is there? We all astonished. Such a great preaching he has done in kolkata; he knows every road of this city... We all said, tomorrow is Ratha Yatra, you have come from the big yatra (round the world) now please take rest. Good Night! Guru Maharaj!

It is always wonderful to be with our wonderful Spiritual Father...

- (Shyama Rasika Dasa # Personal Diary)