Vyasa Puja celebration at New Delhi

Vyasa Puja celebration at New Delhi

Devotees of Delhi and NCR region celebrated the 61st Vyasa Puja celebration of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaj at Delhi temple with great pomp.
In the morning Mangal Arti when it was announced that today is the Vyasa Puja of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami devotees began to rejoice with great joy.
Formal ceremony started at the temple hall from morning 9 a.m onwards. Devotees and all the well wishers started the programme with recitation of Narasingha Kabaca for speedy recovery of Jayapataka Swami. It was followed by Vaishnav Bhajana lead by Dinanayak Prabhu with the Bhajan ‘Guru Dev Kripa Bindu Diya ----‘. The whole atmosphere surcharged with emotional longing for Guru Maharaj. Eyes of the devotees moistened with tears as the bhajan reached its climax. The bhajan created such a transcendental atmosphere that it once again revived Guru- Sishya relation afresh.
In the morning at the temple hall the video recording of Maharaj’s messages was delivered through a big screen. All the devotees assembled temple hall to listen the messages of Maharaj.
Senior devotees Rishi Kumar Das first addressed the gathering of the devotees while throwing light on life and activities of Jayapataka Swami. His narration was very succinct and full of interesting facts about Maharaj. He handled the whole programme nicely.
His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj highly glorified Jayapataka Swami. He remembered those days in Montreal where he used to have association of Jayapataka Swami.
“In those days Jayapataka Swami used to work in restaurant to earn money for the temple. Since then he had the mood to serve Prabhupad’s mission. While coming to India he faced lots of difficulties as foreign devotee. But he never discouraged. Prabhupad sent him to Mayapur to develop it. Maharaj was also in South India’s GBC. Under his direction lots of preaching has been done in South India. He also oversees congregational preaching. The contribution of Jayapataka Swami to GBC is immense. Since he joined Prabhupad’s mission he is always in the mood to further the mission as much as possible by undertaking any austerity required,” says Gopal Krishna Maharaj.
But the main attraction of the Vyasa puja this time was presence of Carlos A. Yrigoyen Frono, the ambassador of Peru. The Peru ambassador came at 11.30 and remained there for whole programme. He delivered a nice speech on the occasion-
“GURUR BRAHMA GURUR VISNUH GURUR DEVO MAHESVARAH
GURUH SAKSATPARAM BRAHMA TASMAI SRIGURAVE NAMAH”
The whole Creation is as vast and unlimited as its own Creator. And we are inseparable part of both as the reality of the Oneness beyond Lila and Maya. From this universal perspective, to be born in Milwaukee or to be reborn in Mayapur or in New Delhi is perfectly equal as far as the Divine Grace permeates all and reaches all. And John Gordan Erdman saw it all long time before 1949, as Srila Prabhupada himself confirmed that he as well as two other devotees was formerly associates of Lord Caitanya.
Some of us have been born in the Eastern side of this world as some others made it in the Western, in order to facilitate spreading Krishna consciousness around the whole world. I remember having read the Mahabharata when I was 14 years old (45 years ago) and discovered the greatness of the Bhagavad Gita, as the very same core of this magnificent piece of Indian culture who displays the unity of mankind despites spaces and times.

However, few endeavours in the world has been more successful and deserves our entire acknowledgement as that one that spreads the text and message of the Bhagavad Gita as His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada does, through the life and devotion of such disciples -now Gurus- as the Maharaja Jayapataka Swami himself. It is really remarkable to observe the path of his evolving to reach that same universality of origin and destiny.
He has visited so many countries all over the world that has become not only an Indian by adoption, but a citizen of the whole Universe. His visits to Peru, where I come from with my wife Regina, Bolivia, Chile, and Ecuador, as well as other places in South America in 1980 gave a new impulse to the spirituality of thousands of people.

The mission accomplished by Maharaji all these 41 years is to enlighten humanity crossing the barriers of all boundaries is really wonderful
It is a particular privilege to thank him by his important seva as Zonal Secretary of ISKCON in Peru, having as he has so many other duties and responsibilities to observe and to accomplish in both realms of the Visible and the Invisible. And it is also a grace to share with all of you this particular opportunity of the Vyasa Puja Festival 2010 that he certainly deserves.
Because, it is through the grace of the Guru that the disciple finally discovers himself and the Unity of this whole diversity: I offer my obeisance to Jayapataka Maharaj on this very auspicious day. All glories to Maharaj”, says Carlos A. Yrigoyen Frono, the ambassador of Peru in his speech. Later the Ambassador joined the Arti and Pushpanjali. He also joined the prasad ceremony.
Vice-president of the temple B.N Das started his glorification with high praises of the Jayapataka Swami. “It is due to the hard labour of Jayapataka Swami that today Mayapur is flourishing. He is blessed by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to lead the mission of Prabhupad. Besides, Maharaj have special mercy of Narasimha Dev. That is why in spite of so many difficulties he is performing so many missions one after another.”
Temple president Mohan Rupa Prabhu poetically glorified Maharaj. “Jayapataka means victory flag. Prabhupad gave the responsibilities to develop Mayapur and he did with élan. But he never takes credit for it. He gives all the credit to Prabhupad. Mahraraj is upset that he has not been able to look after Mayapur as before. He displays the qualities of immense determination, perseverance and tolerance. Maharaj has disciples all over worlds. Even in Muslim countries he has so many disciples. During the Navadipa Parikrama Mandal he used to deliver lectures from Los Angeles everyday and he was doing Mansik seva everyday,” says temple president Mohan Rupa Das.
Senior devotee Hayagriva prabhu also described those difficult days of Maharaj in Mayapur in an interesting manner. “Jayapataka Swami used to travel on Cycle in Mayapur to save money while he came to Mayapur. He has greatest contribution to Namahatta and Navadipa Praikrama Mandal for making very successful,” says he.
Prabhupad’s disciple Sri Dham Prabhu came to glorify Jayapataka Swami Maharaj despite his ailing health.
Senior devotee Benu Krishan Das, Nitai Siromoni Das etc highly glorified Maharaj.
Seba Padma Mataji from Gurgaon glorified Maharaj very emotionally. “It is during the Vyasa Puaj ceremony that we get the opportunity how much aparadha we have done to Maharaj. Maharaj you are so merciful and gave us so much mercy but we are always engaged in sense gratification only. Maharaj please give us Bhakti and Krishna Prema to progress in devotional life”, says Seba Padma Mataji.

Maharaj was offered a big cake and 56 different dishes. The devotees had started their cooking from 7 a.m in the morning. They prepared the dishes which Mahara liked most.
Finally all the devotees had joined Arti and did ecstatic Kirtan and every one began to dance in transcendental mood. After the ceremony was over all joined the joined Sumptuous Ekadashi feast Prasadam. Tomorrow devotees are giving a great love feast in honour of Maharaj at the Temple hall.
Seva list of the devotees
Decoration: Kalrupi Prabhu, Seva Padma Mataji, Radha Premalaya Mataji, Bhakta Kovid,
Reception: Vrsnipalak Das, Anandmayi Mataji, Radha Kishori Mataji, Pratima Mataji, Biswasree Mataji,
MG Kitchen: Mathuresswari Devi Das, Premamayee Devi Dasi, Navadweep Lila Devi Dasi, Saumya Kaushalya Devi Dasi,
Bhog offering and Arti Arrangement: Kovid Prabhu, Rajendra Chaitnya Das, Kirpalu kaniah Das, Ramananda Das.
Prassad Distribution: Siromoni Nitai Das, Mukud Keshav Prabhu, shivanand Govidn Das, Laxinath Gour Das, , Sk Mandal,
Juice Distribution: Murali Murari das.
Photography and Video: Kshitisj Prabhu , Panchatattva prema das