Get Well Letter for Jayapataka Maharaj

By Bir Krishna das Goswami

My dear Jayapataka Maharaja,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I have been praying intensely to my Deities every day for your health.

It is essential that you get well as quickly as possible. I am saying this not only out of concern for our movement, but also for my own reasons.

When I came to the hospital and saw you in the intensive care unit, I had a number of realizations about you and Prabhupada’s great love for you.

Whenever I have been with you I have observed such an outpouring of love from your heart not only towards myself and other devotees but towards every other living entity that you come in contact with.

When I remember how you would greet me with such joy and affection, I am brought to tears. It is too painful for me to contemplate not having those interactions with you.

The compassion you radiate is evidence of your connection with Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda.

Because Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda’s mercy is shinning through you, you are able draw others to Their lotus feet like a strong magnet attracting pieces of iron.

I am begging you to remain with us for many many more years. We need your association.

Your servant, Bir Krishna das Goswami

Immediate spiritual action: best medicine for a miserable soul

By Bhakta Chandran

Please accept my humble obeisance to all vaishnavas.

I would like to share this experience with all the devotees. This is my personal experience.

During the first day of the Damodara programme, HG Rasika pr. from SJMKL received a call from one of the listeners of Minnal FM radio station. This caller is from Jelebu, Kuala Klawang town of Negri Sembilan state. His name is Velayutham He is a chemical engineer who studied in Japan and managing his own shampoo, soap and metal stain removing chemical factory in this town. He has been running this business for a few years in small scale supplying his product to east coast and FELDA schemes.

One Night while he was driving back home after delivering his remaining stock of product in small scales to maintain his daily needs, he was listening to the Damodara month Minnal FM talk show. Immediately he pulled his car to the side of the road and listen ardently. The talk excited him and without wasting time any further he called the contact number given in the talk show. He was re-directed to HG Rasika pr.

He requested for a similar programme to be carried out in his home. HG Rasika pr. contacted me at Port Dickson and gave his number to follow-up. I called Mr. Velayutham and made arrangement to meet up with him. I asked HG Hari Govinda pr. in Seremban to assist me. So we both drove up to Kuala
Klawang and met Mr. Velu and introduce ourselves. He introduced himself and his family to us. He has a wife and two boys. After a short conversation Mr. Velu started pouring out his miserable life. His business was good at the very beginning and at later part it was declining very badly. Due to giving his product to his clients in credit he lost about some hefty sum of money. He became a bad debtor so much so that he couldn’t even service his 2 vans hire purchased loans and ran out of fund
to even to buy the raw materials for his production but somehow or rather he is still managing to pull through his daily needs. He was very desperate, very down and everything was a lost in his life.

During the conversation he even mentioned to us that he was on the verge committing suicide together with his family. There were also some Muslim friends within his community approached him to help him in millions of dollars to help his business but on one condition that his whole family
embrace Islam. He refused it. I admired him for his principle for not thinking of converting even during all this bad times. Hoping for a turning point in life he even approached many mediums to find a solution to his problems but none worked out. He became very tense and stopped believing in divine help so much so that he decided to stop praying. As he was sharing his bitter experience, HG Hari Govinda pr. pacified him by sharing his own struggled and how finally he accepted Sri Krishna way of peaceful life. HG Hari Govinda pr. also shared his view on vegetarianism and how it helps to relinquish our bad karma and how it curtails our sin. After sharing about ISKCON to Mr. Velu for more than three hours and giving him the hints on how our Society will be able to help him to overcome his current miserable condition of life, he immediately decided to become a devotee and enquired further on the process. We spent another hour plus to explain to him on all the requirements and the rotocols to become a devotee of Sri Krishna. The whole family agreed wholeheartedly. I asked his son whether he is prepared to become a vegetarian. The young boy not even with a tinge of doubt told us that his father’s decision is his decision. I was really carried away by his answer.

HG Hari Govinda guided him on all the necessary changes need to be done, from food to setting up the altars. As we all know that Deepavali is just around the corner, they have also prepared their Deepavali cookies with eggs. Mr. Velu enquired about the non- vegetarian cookies. HG Hari Govinda pr. told him to give it away and not to eat it as they have decided to become devotees. Mr. Velu immediately agreed to the instruction. Why I am stressing this is because even though his earning is only sufficient for his daily needs he can?t effort to spend money unnecessarily and yet he was willing to discard the non-vegetarian cookies and make fresh vegetarian cookies.

His answer was simply that he has decided to become a devotee and nothing will forbid him from deviating from the regulative principles. I was amazed and I could not believe that there are such desperate souls hankering for our divine intervention.

Since then, we maintained our contact with him every other day. On the 23 Oct we had our Damodara programme at Mr. Velu?s home with his family, HG Hari Govinda pr.?s family, Srimen Perumal pr.?s family and some youths from PD centre. Mr. Velu was very happy and we all could see the gleam in
his face. After the Damodara astaka the Mataji’s served sumptuous prasadam and all of us enjoyed it to our hearts content. Later the mataji’s were giving some hints to Mr. Velu?s wife on vegetarian dishes.

HG Hari Govinda pr. invited Mr. Velu and family to the Seremban Centre for weekend programme since his house is nearer to Seremban. Mr. Velu made a plan to visit the center on one of the weekends. Unfortunately, the weekends he is suppose to visit the center, his car broke down somewhere near the jungle area at Felda scheme near Kuantan. It happens just after he has decided to become a devotee some days ago. He was stranded in the middle of the jungle with no food. He met a security guard on Patrol at that time and asked for his help to get some vegetarian food. The guard told him that there is no vegetarian food available around the area. So he decided to eat bread and sleep in the car the whole night. Just being a devotee for a few days and can we see how he is being tested by the Lordship to check on his sustainability but he was strong in his faith.

 When I asked him about this bad experience after becoming a devotee a few days ago and his answer was he has already surrendered to the Lord and let Bhagwan Sri Krishna to guide him through. The following week he visited the Seremban Centre and was very excited and shared his bliss with us.

What I am trying to stress here is that there are so many souls out there with similar miseries hankering for such help but we are not aware of it, if we get a slim chance to meet similar individual please follow up and pull them to the right track. It is our duty to do it. Immediate response is vital and delay is fatal.

The narration I gave might have been long and winding but I strongly felt to share this experience with all the good souls around. If any one of you has come across any individual within our vicinity whoever is miserable and needs our assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you and Hare Krsna.
Chandran
Humble Servant of ISKCON Port Dickson.

ISKCON Malaysia Book Distribution Scores

By Simheswara das

Hare Krishna. Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to the Sankirtan Devotees.

We are pleased to report Gaurabda 522 Cumulative Book Distribution Scores for Temples Category for the month beginning April-08 and ending October-08. The Gaurabda year ends on March 2009 with just another 5 months to go. Sri Jagannatha Mandir, ISKCON Kuala Lumpur is now leading with a score of having distributed 4624 Books and matching 2127.5 Book Points. Buntong though in the Nama Hatta category is probably the most steady in book distribution.

A total of 17,526 Books have been distributed by all temples. With another 5 months to go ISKCON Malaysia will need to distribute another 8,860 books to match the previous year score of 26,386 Books. We look forward to do better this year.

…. There is no literature throughout the universe like Çrémad-Bhägavatam. There is no comparison. There is no competition. Every word is for the good of the human society. Every word, each and every word. Therefore we stress so much in the book distribution. Somehow or other, if the book goes in one hand, he will be benefited. At least he will see, “Oh, they have taken so much price. Let me see what is there.” If he reads one çloka, his life will be successful. If one çloka, one word. This is such nice things. Therefore we are stressing so much, “Please distribute book, distribute book, distribute book.” A greater mådaìga. We are chanting, playing our mådaìga. It is heard within this room or little more. But this mådaìga will go home to home, country to country, community to community, this mådaìga. ……….(Srila Prabhupada Srimad Bhagavatam 1.16.18, Lecture at Los Angeles, January 5 1974)

 

Click on icons below to view ISKCON Malaysia Centre Cumulative Scores and Total Monthly Scores for period of April to October 2008.

Having a Strong Faith…and the time has come

By Visnu Caitanya dasa

It’s a known fact that the school text books carry a biased view on our culture,certainly negative and cynical.

The facts of the religion are distorted and to add salt to the injury its thought by those completely alien to our culture and dharma usually ending with ridicule and mockery.

And guess who are at the receiving end, a group of pathetic branded Hindu students completely defenceless and at the mercy of the predators.

Systematic deprogramming exercise at its best. The Hindu students are left in such contempt and they are left to feel ashamed and small belonging to this culture and religion.

Personally i went thru this ordeal. Seems nothing has changed even after achieving developed and civilised nation status.

You may be wondering why bring this up as we are Hindus and a bunch of self proclaimed tolerant beings.

Yesterday we were invited to be with Mr Rajaram and family as this was their maiden Harinam Voyage. We were more than willing to assist them.

Mr Rajaram and wife were more than elated over their youngest daughter Bhaktin Revathi’s exam results, straight A’s and I remarked “it was not surprising as his elder two also did remarkably well all straights”.

The second daughter of Mr and Mrs Rajaram, Bhaktin Divya was in the car with my wife and she related this episode, that blew me…

During a History class, the teacher was discussing Hinduism and she concluded that all things Hindu was just a myth with a tone of cynicism.

It was here that Bhaktin Divya confidently stood up and asked her teacher if she could beg to differ.

The surprised teacher allowed her and she spoke refuting this myth that has clouded the profound teachings of the timeless Vedic Sciences and then proceeded to give documented evidences on the historical facts that has been conveniently removed and thus portraying the ancient understanding to
be no more than a myth.

The History teacher was dumbfounded at this revelation and her wisdom took the better side of her. She allowed Bhaktin Divya to continue and further enquired on other relevant facts and it was all answered. Their discussion also touched on Bhagavad Gita and the class heard the recitation of some
slokas.

This revelation humbled the class teacher and she remarked “never in her twenty years has a student so confidently stood up and spoke this subject convincingly”. She apologised for the errors.

We can only thank Srila Prabhupada. Now we can witness how HDG fought to establish the facts and the message of the timeless Vedic wisdom.

I was truly touched by Bhaktin Divyas conviction and faith. Something that we can truly be proud off and not forgetting Bhaktin Divya is a member of the Pandava Sena, the youth wing of SJMKL.

In Vaishnava service
Visnu Caitanya dasa

Jayapataka Maharaja’s Miraculous Recovery

By Bhakti Charu Swami

The other day, just before entering into Jayapataka Maharaja’s room in the Hospital, Kavichandra Maharaja phoned me and asked me if I would like to speak to Maharaja. I was naturally excited and agreed.

Soon Kavi Candra Maharaja phoned me and arranged for me to speak to Jayapataka Maharaja through his speaker phone. I spoke to Maharaja for a few good minutes.

Later on Kavichandra Maharaja told me how Maharaja looked so happy to receive that call. Other devotees present there also gave some very exciting reports on how Maharaja gave visible indications of his appreciation of that phone call.

Upon hearing that I felt that if my phone call can give so much joy to Maharaja, then my personal presence could mean so much more to him and I decided to go to Mumbai immediately.

I came here three days ago. After dropping my luggage at the temple I went straight to the hospital. Maharaja’s condition did not look good at all. He was unconscious and during the one and a half hour that I was there he did not open his eyes even once. I just stood there by his bed praying to Srila Prabhupada and reading Sri Caitanya Caritamrita with a hope that he may be able to hear.

Yesterday I went to see him at mid-day. One of Maharaja’s disciples who was there with him informed him about my arrival and immediately Maharaja opened his eyes. The devotee told him again that I was there. Maharaja’s eyes opened wider as if trying to see where I was. Since I was on the other side of the bed, he could not see me. So I walked to the other side of the bed for him to see me. He kept looking at me and opened his mouth trying to say something. It was painful to see him in that condition. I asked him whether I should read the Caitanya Caritamrita out to him. He nodded his head in approval. I was reading and his eyes were fixed on me wide open. At one point he lifted his left hand. We felt very excited and informed the nurse and she told us that he had been doing that few a times already and she indicated that it was a very good sign. Soon afterwards the doctor came to check him. I was wondering whether I should stop reading the Caitanya Caritamrita. The doctor noticed my hesitation and assured me to continue reading. He seemed quite pleased to see the reports on Maharaja’s condition and noted his progress. I told him how Maharaja was lifting his hand and he asked Maharaja to lift his right hand. Maharaja did. He asked him to lift his left hand and he did that too. Then he asked him if he could lift his legs. His legs, which were covered with a bed sheet, started to move. The doctor was visibly excited to see his progress. He told me that it is a very good sign. All his limbs were working.

I went back to the temple and gave the good news to all the devotees. It seemed that all of a sudden the heavy atmosphere of uncertainty and gloom disappeared and the mood became so joyful. The lady disciples of Jayapataka Maharaja whom I saw crying in the morning their faces lit up with a beautiful smile. Everyone became so hopeful.

I would have written to you all earlier, but I did not because I had a strong feeling that today his condition would improve even further and I would be able to give you greater good news.

Today I went to see him in the morning. Kavichandra Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja, Brajahari Prabhu and I walked to his bed in the Critical Intensive Care area. He opened his eyes when I held his hand and spoke to him. As I anticipated, his condition seemed to be much better than yesterday. I told him who all were present there. He acknowledged everyone. He was visibly excited to see us all. He wanted to speak but in that condition it was not possible for him. We started to chant the Maha Mantra and his started to move. I could see that he also started to chant with us. At one point Kavi Candra Maharaja started to chant quite loudly, Jayapataka Maharaja immediately turned his face to see who was that. It was a clear reflex reaction.

Madhavananda Prabhu, a doctor disciple of Radhanath Maharaja, who also is the doctor in-charge of the Bhakti Vedanta Hospital came and when I informed Maharaja about his arrival he immediately looked at him and recognized him. Madhavananda Prabhu told him about a dream he had the last night. He saw that Jayapataka Maharaja took off the ventilator himself and started to speak. When he was told that it could be quite dangerous Maharaja did not pay any heed and continued to speak to the devotees and then started to sing and dance. He was indeed amazed at his improvement and felt that his dream was actually became a reality.

Although Maharaja is not able to speak but it is quite clear that he is fully conscious and he is also able to move his hands and legs which is a clear indication that there is no major brain damage or possibility of paralysis. Once again we are seeing how Krsna protects His devotees and makes impossible possible.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

Bhakti Charu Swami

Damodara program @ Sri Renganatha Temple – Kajang

By Uttama Caitanya Das

Hare Krishna.

Sri Renganathar Temple, Kajang, is one of the few Vaisnavas temples in Klang Valley.

The presiding Deities, Sri Renganatha and Sri Renganayaki are very sweet and merciful. For us this temple fondly reminds us of the original temple in Sri Rengam.

After the recent renovation, the temple pervades with a wonderful, divine ambience.

The Damodara programme has now made it into the temple?s annual calendar of events since the last four years. Thanks to Bhakta Jayaraman and the Kajang yatra, the event is gaining in pomposity and gaiety every year.

On Saturday, 8th November, close to 300 temple patrons were treated to a Damodara festival extravaganza.

The evening setting was perfect. At 8.00pm, Sri Sri Radha-Krishna Deities were carried majestically around the temple on palanquin with the accompaniment of kirtan and nadaswaram. Two matajis walked in front carrying ghee lamps. This was followed by at least 50 devotees.

After the procession, the Deities were placed on a beautiful chariot-like altar in the darsan hall. That was followed by a multi-media aided class by our humble self for 40 minutes.

One commendable feature about the patrons of this temple is their rapt attention during discourses. It is rarity nowadays in Hindu temples.

Simultaneously, the children were treated with a colouring competition.

One new, interesting feature this year was the ‘kummi” dance by a group of ladies, who danced to a folk song sung by Bh Kamalanathan. Next was the men’s turn. This sort of performance is a regular feature in South Indian temples performed for the pleasure of the Deities.

Finally, it was time for ghee lamp offering. While Damodarastaka was being sung, everyone eagerly and orderly came forward to offer ghee lamps to Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and Sri Sri Yasoda-Damodara.

Amazingly, more than 300 ghee lamps were offered!

Nothing is complete without the feast. A deletactable array of items – basmati rice, vegetable kurma, meal-maker subjee, mix vegetable, pakora, chips, chutney and halwa -was served out much to the delight of the devotees.

The real success of the this programme is measured in how we can inspire others to serve Krishna in one way or other, specifically to offer ghee lamps to the Lord in this auspicious month.

It was a hearty feeling to know that a few of the patrons that evening were regularly offering ghee lamps to Krishna for the last one year after hearing about the glories of Lord Damodara.

One other family from PJS, Old Klang Road, was eager to have the picture of Lord Damodara and start the puja in their homes.

A few others came forward to inquire more on this Damodara puja.

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, the evening was successful on many counts.

We thank Bh Jayaraman and the Kajang Nama hatta and all the devotees who assisted in the feast preparation.

May Lord Damodara shower His eternal blessings upon them.

Hare Krsna

Damodara Preaching@ local Varsities & College

DAMODARA HARINAM IN MULTIMEDIA UNIVERSITY (MMU), CYBERJAYA
Oct 10, MULTIMEDIA UNIVERSITY, CYBERJAYA (FRI)

By Bhakta Prajindra Sankar Krishnan

Srimen Gajen and Raju also got caught up with the “Damodara fever”. They worked together as a team to organize Damodara prayers at MMU and invited Srimen Hemalan, Navin Raja and Prajindra form UNITEN to help out. As they were informing their friends about the prayers, one of their friends, Thiben, voluntarily offered to host a onetime program at his apartment.

Damodara World Launch Diary 1, Part 6

By Uttama Chaitanya Das

 

Day 20: Tuesday, Chennai

Arrived in Chennai at 9.00am. Picked up at the airport by Vijay pr’s driver and rested at his place.

Darshana mtj was very happy to receive me. She was very kind and she prepared some nice lunch.

Chennai is very wet with daily showers. The streets are wet and filthy. The main complaint here – traffic congestion. I would add to that – bad roads.

Damodara World Launch Diary 1, Part 5

 

Day 18: Sun, Durban & Phoenix: Dis day of Narottama das Thakur and
Appearance anniversary of Sri Sri Radha-Radhanatha deities.

Mangala arati 0430.

Being a Sunday more than 60 people attended the MA. The Sunday Feast starts at 4.00pm. Nevertheless some devotees choose to come in the morning.

Today I was requested to speak on the pastimes of Narottama dasa Thakur, one of my favourite katha. I didn’t have much resources to refer. But i could recall some pastimes.