17/FEB/2022 Chennai, India

(17/FEB/2022 Chennai, India) Today morning I came to meet Guru Maharaja around 10:30am with Venudhari Kanhaiya Prabhu. As Guru Maharaja was little free, because today Radharamana Sevaka Prabhu didn't come for shift, the previous day, the morning shift did 16 hours seva, so today afternoon shift will do 16 hours. So today the afternoon shift was there from morning 5am. I thought to utilize this opportunity talk with Guru Maharaja regarding Madana Gopala Deity in Belpukur, and give Guru Maharaja some updates.

First Maha Varaha Prabhu and I had a talk with Kirtana Priya Prabhu regarding the progress about Madana Gopala Deity casting, and renovations. Kirtana Priya Prabhu sent latest pictures of Madana Gopala dressing in ISKCON style with new garments. So, Guru Maharaja was lying on his bed, and Dr. Hari Guru Prabhu was ready to make the dressings. Then Guru Maharaja said, I will first watch Madana Gopala. So, Guru Maharaja saw the Mula-vigraha and Utsava-vigraha and said, utsava-murti looks thin, but Mula-vigraha looks bigger. And he meditated for a while and said, we can paint the utsava murti in blue like the Mula-vigraha. And suggested that we can do abhiseka for salagrama. And Guru Maharaja saw the Deity for long time. And then Doctor did the dressings and Guru Maharaja was resting and mainly he was watching news about Ukraine and Russia, also about Nepal riots.

Then again went to servants flat then along with Venudhari Kanhaiya Prabhu went to shop to buy batteries, and then went to temple and took darsana of the Deities and then collected mic stand for evening class and returned to Guru Maharaja's residence. And Guru Maharaja was little free, so I asked him about the upcoming Santipur festival, as Bhakti Nityananda Swami Maharaja is not ill, and he was leading this festival. Every year, ISKCON Mayapur spend around 13  to 15 lakhs. So, I asked Guru Maharaja, do you have any instruction on collecting funds for this festival. But, Guru Maharaja just asked, when is the festival?

Then also, I asked about his charity projects - can be taken by disciples and continue the services, such as donating dhal and rice for Surabhi kunja matha, every Gaura Purnima. Charity for Madana Gopala Deities; GBC gifts for every Gaura Purnima, and Guru Maharaja said, now GBC meetings are happening face to face on Zoom. Guru Maharaja heard me.

And it was around 6:30pm Guru Maharaja was preparing to take his dinner. And Dr. Hari Guru Prabhu brought a couple (who were also Doctors Dr. Aman and Dr. Ankita) recently got married a week back, and Guru Maharaja blessed and both of them and gave a short speech about grhastha asrama and instructed them.

"[...] normally people forget Krishna; and if the people remember Krishna and you together try to serve Krishna. And then you can achieve all success. Svayambhuva Manu, he was a grhastha, he had several children. But he always did his grhastha life Krishna consciously. And also he became the grand father of Kapila deva. So he had Personality of Godhead as his grand son. In Chennai I saw a drama, where they had some gurukula children played the role of Yamaduta and Yamaraja, "What can we do? We have nothing to do! In their house they have Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavatam; they are chanting japa, they have Deities. Everyone is going back to Godhead. So what do we do?" Yamadutas were asking. They were ready to resign as they see in the future lot of people are Krishna conscious. But we know that was drama and very few are Krishna conscious now. So as Krishna conscious grhasthas, you can encourage others to take up devotional service. And Krishna, He will be happy if you take care of each others; take care of your children, and serve Krishna. I am happy that you both have taken this step. In Kali-yuga, it is especially recommended that to practice grhastha life. One should engage in devotional service. Hare Krishna!" 

After addressing the couple, Guru Maharaja honored his dinner prasadam. While Guru Maharaja was taking his dinner, Ajita Gopinatha Prabhu's son Dhruva Prabhu was there and Guru Maharaja asked him to check on internet - about Covid cases in Chennai, Dubai, UK, USA, West Bengal, and he was checking and giving reports one by one! Meanwhile, I was preparing for the live class, as today is the first day, gathering necessary things, and checking things took some time. And Guru Maharaja completed his dinner and went to his room and was waiting for our set up. And Guru Maharaja came out and was asking Ajita Gopinatha Prabhu about Nepal riots and asked to check about Dr. Acarya Ratna Prabhu - who is now in Nepal.

Then we began the class, Guru Maharaja's voice was very clear and we thought we will take two or three questions and end the class. But, Guru Maharaja continued with few more questions, and the class was almost 30 mins. All the devotees were so happy seeing Guru Maharaja after a month time. And Guru Maharaja also was happy, seeing the devotees. There was a question from South America. At that time Lilavati mataji's daughter Mathuresvari was here with her husband to take darsana of Guru Maharaja. And we were just wondering how Guru Maharaja going to speak in Spanish and we have to repeat it, then Guru Maharaja saw her, and called her inside and said she can translate. Mathuresvari also took it up and started to translate; and Guru Maharaja was happy engaging her.

After the class, Mathuresvari and her husband (who is Nigerian), but with the OCI he lives here in Bangalore and works in IT profession. Guru Maharaja, also preached to him, as he said he is a catholic Christian, then Guru Maharaja said, we all worship one God, and Jesus said in his ten commandments, first commandment is, "Thou shall love God" and we follow bhakti-yoga, which gives the experience to systematically love God. And our of love we call Him in different names like Krishna, Rama, according to His pastimes, and activities. And he said, "Please take care of my daughter!" And he was very much impressed with Guru Maharaja's words! And took blessings with Jagannatha stick from Guru Maharaja! And Guru Maharaja asked him and Mathuresvari to be in touch with him via email.

Then Janaki Ramacandra Prabhu's wife Nanda Priya Nivedita Mataji and their daughter Gaura Priya entered, and the baby girl was very much got excited seeing Guru Maharaja, and started to rush towards Guru Maharaja, calling, "Guruma! Guruma! And they brought the kid inside and Guru Maharaja blessed three of them. Guru Maharaja discussed with Nanda Priya Mataji about his dental treatment. Then went to his room. 

As everything seems to be very normal, like before. Guru Maharaja spending time for devotees, and talking personally! And blessing with his Jagannatha stick. Due to Covid, we missed all these interactions. But still there is a fear, when devotees come and meet Guru Maharaja. But Guru Maharaja said, in Chennai there is Zero cases. Let Lord Narasimhadeva protect our Guru Maharaja! There are lot more to write, but due to time restriction, I think, I will stop here. (Syama Rasika dasa - Personal Diary)