Guru Maharaja woke up around 5am and used his commode, took his medicines and went back to sleep. As he couldn’t sleep last whole night due to itching all over his body, he even scratched his left knee while sleeping and started to bleed. Then Guru Maharaja woke up after 2 hours, did exercises, but he was asking servants to scratch as he was having his itching all over the body. It was too much of inconvenience. Then Guru Maharaja came up to rooftop to take shower and chanted his Gayatri. Then was sitting to take his breakfast. First he offered it to Visvaksena, we usually keep a separate plate with all the prasadam samples in one silver plate in front of Guru Maharaja, and he will offer it. Then after that he takes his prasadam. Before that, I asked Guru Maharaja, "How are you feeling now?" He said, "I am feeling too much itch! Everywhere in my body it is itching, and he showed that many places are reddish, and we were sctraching his back!
Then there was a discussion why he got this itching suddenly, I discussed this morning with Dr. Hari Guru Gaura Prabhu, and he said, the blood urea may be high, as last time, then did dialysis through AV Fistula, they couldn't get the same result as they did with permacath! So in blood urea level might have increased, so today before dialysis blood samples will be taken for the test to check the urea level. And today the dialysis will happen through permacath. Then Subhanga Govinda Prabhu said, may be it is the side effect of the antibiotic. As in Delhi also Guru Maharaja had an itch due to this antibiotic.
But this Antibiotic got him out of the fever, now they sent blood samples for culture to know about the antibiotic effect and change the antibiotic. As Guru Maharaja's skin is very tender, and getting dry, we were applying ghee. Then while bath also we are putting neem leaves in water and then give bath with that medicinal water.
Anyhow, again the subject of the 11 years 5 months old boy's audio message came to convince Guru Maharaja, about his initiation, then Guru Maharaja listened to it carefully, and said - Srila Prabhupada asked us to give initiation from 12 years onwards..." Then I said, "So better we say no to initiation now, and say after 7 months!" But Guru Maharaja was not agreeing to that, rather he was saying, "Ask him to convince me!" Then we decided better not to discuss this further as they are leaving this evening.
Today, breakfast was Gujarati preparation called Kandva..
Guru Maharaja asked Prasanna Gauranga Prabhu, what is this preparation, he said, it is Gujarati Khandva, and he had little bit, then there were so many tablets to eat. Guru Maharaja remembered that in 1977 when Srila Prabhupada was in Juhu, he was in the night shift, and Srila Prabhupada asked Guru Maharaja to scratch his back, and he was doing - then Srila Prabhupada said loudly, "Use your finger nails!" And Guru Maharaja said, I was not having much finger nails.
Dr. Hari Guru Gaura Prabhu said, Guru Maharaja should not go anywhere out, as he is having bacterial infection, so it was decided that we don't take Guru Maharaja anywhere. I conveyed the same to Guru Maharaja. But, he asked for the reason - then I asked Hari Guru Gaura Prabhu to come and say it directly to Guru Maharaja. He came and said, "Guru Maharaja, if you would like to go to temple for darsana, then we should not have any crowd around you!" Then, I asked, "So, if no crowd Guru Maharaja could visit temple for darsana, and only three servants will accompany Guru Maharaja! Is that okay?" He said, "Then it is fine!" I asked Guru Maharaja, "Will you give permission to control the crowd for your peaceful darsana?" Guru Maharaja nodded, "Yes!" I called the security and said, no one should be there from the Caitanya Exhibit and in any of the pathways, no brahmacaris, no one should be there." And also called Subala Sudama Prabhu and explained him - its importance. Actually, the securities were very happy, they immediately tied ropes, and cleared the crowd everywhere, and also said to everyone with folded hands, Guru Maharaja is sick, "Do not throw flowers, or breach the barricade and come for blessings." And also, we said to the servants, only three servants will go and it should be very peaceful darsana. I was there personally to make sure.
Then Guru Maharaja came out from his room, there was disciple, Prema Vinodini Mataji, who is an Ayurvedic Doctor. She mentioned to Prasanna Gauranga Prabhu that, "This mataji suggesting that, if we reduce the diary products in your diet, then this itching will reduce!" Then Guru Maharaja raised his voice and said, "I am having dialysis trice a week, Ayurveda doesn't have any remedy! So, now I have to follow allopathy only! Why I have to reduce the diary products." Seeing Guru Maharaja getting upset, Prasanna Gauranga Prabhu said, "No! Guru Maharaja, we will ask her to discuss with your doctors, and we are not going to reduce any thing in your diet!"
Guru Maharaja accepted one Mataji as her shelter disciple, and got down to the temple floor. Fortunately, Guru Maharaja had a peaceful darsana as expected. No pushing and there was no 10 devotees doing arati with Guru Maharaja. And everyone in the temple were able to take Guru Maharaja's darsana peacefully. In temple, one devotees Gopesvari Shetty from Chowpatty teared a paper from her diary and wrote few lines glorifying Guru Maharaja and gave, then there was one 8 year old boy and his mother, came and gave a card that boy made for Guru Maharaja and gave, then one disciple from Pune: Hemangi Gopi Devi Dasi gave a letter and clicker with a siddha bakul wood pasted, on it. We read all the small letters to Guru Maharaja. And Guru Maharaja came to the 3rd floor and we weighed him - as a protocol before dialysis and after dialysis we should check his weight.
As soon as Guru Maharaja entered the room, he replied to these letters that these devotees sent, I read one by one and he gave a one line answer and blessings. And we sent to them via Whatsapp. How will it be for them? Each one was in great happiness, before leaving from Mayapur, they took the effort to write something and reach to him that shows their gratitude and appreciation to him, and he responded back, which was like amazing! Then we shifted him to bed to start the dialysis. Dr. Hari Guru Gaura Prabhu and team started to connect the dialysis machine and also gave a tablet to reduce the itching.
Around 12:15pm, I was in our room, and Subhanga Govinda Prabhu called me, Guru Maharaja calling you. When I went, Raja Babu Prabhu was holding Guru Maharaja's right hand connected to dialysis machine, and Dr. Hari Guru Gaura Prabhu putting antibiotic on his left hand canola. So, it was like very hard to see Guru Maharaja in that position, he was very weak, and I thought he is sleeping not to disturb, then Guru Maharaja called me and asked about the boy, I said, "I have already informed their parents that he can take initiation after seven months! They also agreed." Then Guru Maharaja said, "I didn't say no! I asked him to convince me! I got 50% convinced, he should convince me 100%." So, I called them back again and said, just wait there is a 50% chances are still there!"
Meanwhile, Syamalala Prabhu made his visit to Guru Maharaja, he is a Doctor from the Bhaktivedanta Hospital, and he just came yesterday and wanted to meet with Guru Maharaja, he served Guru Maharaja very nicely in many instances, when Guru Maharaja was in the Bhaktivedanta Hospital. So, he came and met with Guru Maharaja, and talked for sometime, he was pricing the servant team, Maha Varaha Prabhu, Bhadra Balarama Prabhu and everyone, as they are providing high class care for last 16 years, and the Bhaktivedanta Hospital also learning the serving attitude from this team, and he also requested Guru Maharaja to take rest, and not to come to pandal and exhaust your energy, you need rest. I will update Maharaja about your health." like this he was talking - and his talk actually convinced/ or consider Guru Maharaja to take rest.
Then again, Guru Maharaja called me back, and he was very tired and he said, I have three questions, ask that boy, if he convince me, I will accept him. It was barely audible. Still Guru Maharaja pushed himself to talk. Then I immediately recorded his voice, 1. Why do I have to compromise Srila Prabhupada's words and initiate you before you turn 12 years. What reason that is there to overrule? 2. What is the guarantee that you will follow four regs, as young kids cannot understand much, as they cannot understand the seriousness of the vows. third question also similar to first question. Guru Maharaja said, Mani Gopala Dasa took initiation when he was 10 years old, may be in Bangladesh, and Namahatta, they don't follow these rules strictly so they must have recommended. So like there was some conversations we had. Then I said to Guru Maharaja, it is already 1 pm or so, and they are scheduled to leave by 5pm from Mayapur to catch their flight. Then I went immediately to listen to the audio and transcribe, then I gave to Jaya Rasesvari Mataji to do, she took lot of efforts to transcribe, but in so many places she also couldn't catch the words. Then I summarized and sent the parents. Then they said, Acyuta Gaura will answer and send it soon. After some 30 mins, I received four short audio answers to Guru Maharaja. Then I went to play to Guru Maharaja, even though Guru Maharaja was taking his lunch, still he said, he will listen. I said, "As you are eating, you should not speak, I will play the audio, if you are convinced, then just show your thumbs up, I will talk and bring the boy before you to your rest." Guru Maharaja said, "Okay!" Then, I played the audio, as the boy was speaking fast, so I was repeating the boy's audio. The boy gave a very wonderful answers, "I need your mercy, you are the deliverer. I am a conditioned soul, after six months what will happened to me, who knows, I don't want to waste this moment to grab your mercy, This material world is full of miseries, so I want you to deliver me by accepting me as your disciples. By your mercy, I can follow the four regs, as my family members are Vaisnavas, I am very confident that it should be easy for me to follow the 4 regs. My parents are not forcing me, actually they are asking me to take initiation after I turn 12 years. But, why I have to miss your mercy until then." So, after hearing these audio messages, Guru Maharaja gave a THUMBS UP!
So, I just went immediately and called the parents and said, "You have 10 mins time to reach to the lotus building to take initiation!" They were in super joy, and uncontrollable happiness. And I got the beads and kanthi mala for the boy, and Guru Maharaja was ready, he completed his lunch. Tarun Gaura Prabhu said, "I am going to fix bi-pap machine for Guru Maharaja to take rest!" I said, wait for two mins after this initiation do it. The whole family came running. I said, "We allow only this boy!" Ramanipati Prabhu also came, but I said, "Only this boy is allowed." and we entered, but Dr. Hari Guru Gaura Prabhu was changing the dialysis tubes, and disconnecting AV fistula, then he asked us to wait ten mins. Guru Maharaja asked Srivatsa Syamasundara Prabhu to take the vows. Then the boy came next to Guru Maharaja, and Guru Maharaja asked to repeat the vows, he said everything, minimum 16 rounds a day. Then Guru Maharaja said, "See I am suffering like this, because of the disciples, who don't follow their vows." Then he gave the name, "Acyutananda Gaura Bhakta Dasa!" And Guru Maharaja said, "He is very much young, his parents should take the responsibility and make sure that he is following!" This boy when he made all the promises, he said, "I will follow until my last breath!" Some special Vaikuntha kid. The whole dialysis room was in astonishment and silence for a while, and Hari Guru Prabhu said, it is really amazing thing happening - in right hand dialysis is going on, and Guru Maharaja, with his left hand was giving beads, but before giving the beads he painstakingly touched with his right hand and gave the beads. Actually, we should not take photos in dialysis room, but I asked Srivatsa Syamasundara Prabhu to take a photo in my mobile to keep it for the record. And the boy was very happy, and he was told to beg from five people minimum. And he did - and gave back and submitted the guru-daksina!
Then Guru Maharaja took his afternoon nap, we thought that he will sleep at least for 3 hours, but with an hour, he was awake. And they called me, as soon as I entered, Srivatsa Syamasundara Prabhu said, Guru Maharaja woke up shouting that I will go to pandal, it was 6:30pm. And I started my statement by saying, Guru Maharaja today we don't go anywhere, we want you to rest. He was like not looking at me and acting as if he was not listening to me at all. I was trying to explain him, then I said, "I didn't say these things, Doctors are saying - and we would like to follow whatever you say! We are just saying what is good as per the doctors, you know what is best, and whatever you say that will be our action! Please tell us in advance, so that we can prepare!" Guru Maharaja said, I will go and take shower now. Meanwhile, already Maha Varaha Prabhu made one draft and sent to me. This draft we will read out to Guru Maharaja and then send it to Vraja Vilasa Prabhu to read out. Guru Maharaja added many points, he asked me to write the glories of the Navadvipa and Mayapur, so I was typing and also was reading out loud, and Guru Maharaja was making corrections, some sentences he said, and I said, so like this we completed the letter, then I read the whole letter to him, and he approved. Actually, it was easy, I just typed all the sentences that are we heard from his lectures about Mayapur. Then we send it to Vraja Vilasa Prabhu and called him and informed him to go immediately! Then Guru Maharaja said, I will take my pre-dinner and rest. Then he went to bed. Siddha Hari Prabhu was reading some emails to Guru Maharaja.
There was a phone call from Bhakti Purusottama Swami Maharaja and from the JPS Office that, one mataji suppose to get initiation, along with the boy, as she is leaving to Atlanta tomorrow. Then I said, "Guru Maharaja is resting!" Then when Guru Maharaja woke up, I mentioned to him about this. Then Guru Maharaja said, "Okay! I will give." There were around 10 devotees suddenly came to rooftop, saying some servants name to take darsana of Guru Maharaja. I got very much upset and said, it is not possible as Guru Maharaja is just recovering. And we moved the curtain, and they all took darsana through the window and left. Then I decided to look all the doors in 3rd floor, 1st floor - so that no devotees will come up. Some servants were not happy, but when devotees comes up - Guru Maharaja wants to give darsana and extend his mercy. But, now we want to be merciful on him - and allow him to take rest. And let him have his own time watching some news, updates.
Guru Maharaja had his dinner, and he said, today they gave me bread and cucumber on top, I didn't like it. I said, I will inform Prasanna Gauranga Prabhu. Then, Guru Maharaja asked, what is the name selected for this mataji, we said the name that was selected by the office, Guru Maharaja said, "Why are they selecting very lengthy name?" For that boy also, the name was lengthy - it is four words names, I want two words or three words. Then he jovially said, "Govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami dasa". Next they will select like this. Then this mataji's name also selected like this. I asked the security to allow the mataji and family to come up to take initiation. Then we asked Guru Maharaja shall we take you in front to the doorstep where Lord Narasimhadeva photo is there, and there you can give the mala. Guru Maharaja said, "Ask her to come here to my room." He asked us to open the big Panca-tattva photo in his room, then Guru Maharaja called her, meanwhile Bhadra Balarama Prabhu gave a suggestion and shorten the name, and also checked in the Namavali, and asked Guru Maharaja, and he said, this name is better. Then Guru Maharaja asked her to say the vows, and she said, "Minimum of 17 rounds a day!" Then Guru Maharaja corrected her by saying, "Minimum 16 rounds a day, then you can do. But Prabhupada said, minimum 16 rounds!" And gave her a name, "Sri Syama-priya Devi Dasi"
After she left, somehow, along with her one youth boy names Abhaya Abhimanyu dasa also came up to rooftop, and he was pleading to meet with Guru Maharaja and give one gift to Guru Maharaja. He said, I am a disciple of His Holiness Gopala Krishna Goswami Maharaja, I want a siksa-guru. I just need his blessings, tomorrow early morning I am leaving Mayapur." Initially I didn't agree. Then I thought, please wait and take darsana from outside, he wrote a note in that gift to read out. By that time, Guru Maharaja started his Gayatri, then we waited for him to complete the Gayatri. After that Guru Maharaja asked, "Is anyone there waiting outside for me?" I said, "Yes!" I asked him to stand near the doorway and Guru Maharaja saw him and as I was reading his letter, "Abhaya Abhimanyu!" Guru Maharaja exclaimed - and this boy fell like a stick and paid his obeisances, and Guru Maharaja took his Jagannatha stick and blessed him. Then, he gave an unique gift, "150th Vyasa-puja Coin of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura released by the Indian Government!" And Guru Maharaja was very much amazed to see that coin - and was seeing it for long time! And Guru Maharaja asked him, "Āp Hindi bol saktā hain?" He said, I can speak both Hindi and English. And in this way, even though we tried to stop devotees, and stop Guru Maharaja and put him in rest, he attracts devotees somehow! This is his speciality - he is regaining his energy, and was not going to bed, and finally we all lifted him from his wheel chair and put him on the bed to sleep. Jaya Radha Krishna Prabhu started to read Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. And I return back to my room and continuing to type my diary.
I thought it will be easy to type diary, but it is consuming lot of time to write things in detail. Everything that is happening around Guru Maharaja is all very special. And by the mercy of the Lord - feeling fortunate to be in the service of the transcendental avadhuta, who is beyond our perception. [END] (Personal Diary - Syama Rasika Dasa)
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