(06/JUL/2014) - Kolkata, Durga Nagar, Habibpur, Sri Mayapur

Today is our last day in Kolkata. We got order from Dharesh Pr that we all should be ready with our laggaues by 10am to go to Mayapur. So I reached at 10am to Guru Maharaj's flat. But when I entered around 50 devotees were doing Kirtan and Guru Maharaj was not ready. Then I thought, I could have slept some two hours more. All the assembled people were Hindi speaking; especially Sindi; the disciple, who offered his flat for Guru Maharaj's stay (Rasa raj Gopal Pr) organised this program. And Guru Maharaj came and to living room; which was filled with devotees, Bhakti Vriksha members and their family members. Guru Maharaj gave one hour lecture, which we didn't expect; we thought Guru Maharaj will just address ten mins and Guru Puja and we will start to Mayapur.

Yesterday,  regarding Guru Maharaj's research Vidvan Gauranga Prabhu sent a mail. And we were. Discuss on it. How to make it. So, in that connection I remembered few days back in whatsapp one devotee shared Sri Vaishnava Saint Periya - alvar's one quote. So, I remembered and read the translation of that verse to Guru Maharaj last night. It is here: " Simple translation: I have witnessed the singing and dancing of abundance of bhAgavathas who are totally surrendered to bhagavAn who is most potent like the sea (which is filled with pearls, etc) and is most beautiful in sea-like bluish hue. Because of these bhAgavathas, the ignorance in the mind of people is vanquished. Since the ignorance is gone, there is no work for yama and his servants who punish the ignorants at hellish regions. The underlying reason which is the defects of kali yugam is also gone. Let this auspiciousness stay for ever."

So Guru Maharaj just said this in his lecture. And it was really inspiring to me. That Guru Maharaj accepted my tiny effort in this great mission.

Yesterday, Maha Varaha Pr and myself discussed about giving gifts to the devotees who were serving Guru Maharaj and taking care of us  during this 6 days. These three were dadus; they are over 60 age. Kaliya Gopal Das Brahmacari is their leader and they serve us prasadam, and wash Guru Maharaj's cloths, and etc. Where ever Guru Maharaj goes; these are common services. But we felt so much touched by their simple, loving service attitude in this old age. So we bought Dhoti as a gift for them. By the end of lecture; I was waiting for Maha Varaha Pr to come and give these present through Guru Maharaj's hand and bless them. But, Maha Varaha Pr was taking rest. Madhava Kanta Pr said, may be we will do it after Guru Puja. But somehow, my mind didn't hear anything, and I thought all the devotees are seated, so better to do it now so that those dadus will get more enthusiasm. So I just went and grabbed the mic. And just started to speak. And just explained few highlights of their services and call them and Guru Maharaj gave gift to them by his lotus hand. These devotees were sacrificed all the programs in 9 days big festival; and doing whole day service. So I just did it. And especially Bengali Dadus got emotional and their eyes got watered. Guru Maharaj's blessings and gift from Guru Maharaj's hand. And we also gave one gift to Rasaraj Gopal Prabhu's father to encourage him.

One dadu entered Maha Varaha Pr room and thanked him. And said, "Prabhu! Why you did this? Why you made Guru Maharaj to give cloth to us. We should give to him. And we should not take anything from him." And Maha Varaha Pr said, "you are a child, he is your father, you should accept his gift. May be you are old phyaically; spiritually for in front of Guru maharaj, we are all children only." Then that dadu didn't have any words to speak. He thanked very much. And one dadu just not able to control himself; he just came and hugged me; with so much love. I felt very, very happy today. Just small devotee care activity made me so blissful. Our beloved Guru Maharaj doing this 24x7x365 then how will be stop travelling. But I have made one idea as per Vidvan Gauranga pr's instruction and a gift to present to Guru Maharaj on behalf of all the servants and disciples, the day after ulta - Rath.

After this they did Guru Puja. And devotees took blessings and prasadam from Guru Maharaj's hand. Then Guru Maharaj took a nap and we started at 2:00pm to Habibpur via Durga-Nagar.

Durga-Nagar is on the way to Habibpur near Airport, there also devotees celebrate 9 days Ratha Yatra Festival. Every year Guru Maharaj visit there; but this year due to Guru Maharaj's health, Maha Varaha Pr was very strict and cancelled few programs even. But this pandal was just in our way. So we decided to visit. But Maha Varaha Pr had a condition that Guru Maharaj won't get down from the car. He will take darshan from the car and we will leave. As we are running out of time. But when we entered we saw more than 1000 people; Guru Maharaj took darshan of Lord Jagannath. Dharukesh pr leader over there; showed few pictures of Guru Maharaj in that same place in a 1996 for one preaching program. Those photo graphs also he got from that land owners house and showed it to Guru Maharaj. I asked for a copy for JPS ARCHIVES.  Then he said, "we got this big place just because of your visit here in 1996. They were still remembering you. And even they want to conduct our 9 days festival every year here in this place." It was amazing that Guru Maharaj where ever he go; he just plant a KC tree and it is giving fruit for the next generations after generations. From Lord Jagannath they offered two lotus garland to Guru Maharaj.  And people and devotees were just started to push and pull to get his blessings.  It was a big hassle to get out of that place. Mean while Guru maharaj started to give out one one lotus from his garlands. Normally whatever crowd it may be, he just bless and give blessings. But because of that only people just jump on Guru Maharaj;  but whatever happened he is fixed that he want to deliver all the souls. And somehow we came out from there. While giving out lotus, people were just trying to grab it; in that one lady's nail made a scratch on Guru Maharaj's hand; It made a small skin peel like 5 mm diameter.  Myself, JanakiRam pr and Srivas Pran pr was with Guru Maharaj in car. We all said, that no more blessings. And we started from there. I was reading mail to him and assisting in personal services, Janakiram pr fed Lunch to Guru Maharaj, but he took very lat re lunch. Started at 5 pm. And we reached Habibpur at 6:00pm. Guru Maharaj went and took his darshan of Habibpur temple deities. And then took some rest before going to pandal. Devotees were very eagerly waiting for Guru Maharaj.

At 8:50pm Guru Maharaj went to Ranaghat Pandal. One of the very, very wonderful, famous, grand Ratha Yatra festival, I always get admire. Every year they do different kind of Pandal decoration, like Jaladuta,  Tovp etc... This time they made red fort in Delhi.  Guru Maharaj was welcomed with Purna Kumbha. And Guru Maharaj went and took beautiful Jagannath Darshan  and offered different fruits and nuts. Then he came to Pandal at 9:10pm. The stage was packed with devotees; Brahmacaris from Mayapur and local. In center Guru Maharaj was sitting. And Guru Maharaj gave a extraordinary class; the pandal was fully packed. People were standing and taking Darshan of Guru Maharaj in all the possible ways. Guru Maharaj gave a class on Parama Karuna song and explaining for every stanza.  It just melted everyone's heart. This Habibpur ISKCON is flourishing every
Day, it is all because of their devotion to their spiritual master... They just love Guru Maharaj...

Then after the class, we immediately went to the car and started from there to Mayapur. But is was already 10:35pm. On the way back,  Srivas Prabhu and Ruci Prabhu and myself were with Guru Maharaj.  And I was reading mails to him. And Guru Maharaj took his dinner; while eating Guru Maharaj was repeatedly asking for Jagannath Kitchadi.  And finally we gave him two Spoons as he should not take it. At last by 12:20pm we reached Mayapur dham.  BACK TO HOME.

Then Guru Maharaj entered his room; and he was discussing about the quotes from sastra about our movement with Jaya Radha Krishna Prabhu.  Then I was also included in that discussion to help in some service; what I can do. We just thought like, we will just skip brushing and put him on bed. As he is too tired. But he just gave a look keeping hia hand in his cheek; he was simply beautiful. So we again asked him to give that pose, that time Dharmaraj Caitanya Pr clicked a photo. I am sharing it with you now. Then Guru Maharaj was ready to go to bed. I just rushed to my bed. I am not writing many things as I feel too sleepy...

I am tired... but if we keep microphone in front of him, and few devotees in front him, even now he wil just speak.  But I am deeply Conditioned soul.  -(Shyama Rasika Dasa - Personal Diary)