20090124 Addressing Pune Yātrā

The following is a lecture given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on January 24, 2009 in Pune Yātrā.

Rādhānātha Swami: Everyone must be seated in the front . . . this is a historical event, we are all participating in Śrīla Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja, who was in Bhaktivedanta Hospital, miraculously survived, what was impossible. When we invited him for the Pune Yātrā, just a few days ago. He was so excited to his association and receive the association of all of the devotees here. Although, many doctors try to dismayed him from coming, many well-wishers and disciples, he was persistent. Ultimately, the senior most Doctor said, “Whatever makes him happy is what we should do! Because he is a preacher, he is happy to compassion to others.”

Devotees: Haribol!

Rādhānātha Swami: In an ambulance, he laid down on a hospital bed for four hours in order to reach us here. We are so grateful to you, Śrīla Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja. And I humbly request all the assembled devotees to very, very enthusiastically tumultuously from the core of your heart, to show our gratitude for this great sacrifice of Śrīla Jayapatākā Mahārāja by loudly chanting, Haribol!

Devotees: Haribol! Haribol! Haribol!

Rādhānātha Swami: Much, much louder please!

Devotees: Haribol! Haribol! Haribol!

Rādhānātha Swami: Mahārāja, we are so unlimitedly happy in your association.

Jayapatākā Swami: I offer my obeisances to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda.

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya
jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena
tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

I am sorry that my voice is not yet so clear. First of all, I want to thank all of you, and Rādhānātha Swami for . . . in Vṛndāvana yātrā prayed for me in mass and by the causeless mercy of Kṛṣṇa, somehow, I survived. They said that normally nobody survives the kind of attack I had and if they do survive, they become a vegetable. But, by the causeless mercy, I am still alive and . . . Kṛṣṇa’s causeless mercy. So that . . . actually, I always wanted to . . . I heard so much about the Pune Yātrā, this is the great opportunity for me to be invited directly by Rādhānātha Swami to attend, also get the association of the other Mahārājas. Bhakti Cāru Mahārāja also visited me several times in the hospital, he gave me instruction that I have to stay with him. I couldn’t go! And Candramauli Mahārāja also came, he is writing a book on “Prison Preaching”. And of course, coming to the Pune Yātrā, also the Pune is the headquarters for the ISKCON Youth program. So very happy to always come here and see the dynamic Youth preaching. Also, this yātrā shows, beautiful family spirit there amongst all of you. I heard that the drama tonight is going to be about, the appearance of the Māyāpur Narasiṁhadeva, I have to see that.

Devotees: Haribol!

Jayapatākā Swami: Being at the Bhaktivedanta Hospital has been a great experience. Because, when they come with Lord Jagannātha there every night, and they have been telling me, one of the pastimes, so that I can also share with Rādhānātha Swami. One of the neighbors trying to save a pigeon and he fell of the ladder, and he broke his arm. He went to the hospital emergency to get his arm fixed. So then the local devotee care preachers went preaching to him and he didn’t realize that this hospital also has a “Spiritual Care Department”. First of all, his kindness to the pigeon, later he became a devotee. So he was saved by the pigeon really. (laughter) Haribol! Haribol! Haribol!

I share some more stories with you later, right we all want to see the drama.

Devotees: Haribol!

Rādhānātha Swami: Let us thank Śrīla Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja!

Devotees: Haribol! Haribol! Haribol!

Rādhānātha Swami: And tomorrow morning, he will speak again. His Holness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja ki!

Devotees: Jaya!

Rādhānātha Swami: Thank you very much!

Devotees: Gaurāṅga! Gaurāṅga!