“WELCOME TO KOLKATA “
Please accept my most humble obeisance. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.
Finally
GM and His servants returned from the second trip around the world since that day of stroke. Everyone knows it was his first trip to South America and some devotees wrote and sent us stories of Guru Maharaj’s activities in this journey. We are entirely grateful to those devotees who connected us to Guru Maharaj through such stories.
Most of the servants of Mayapur were in Kolkata a day before to make and see the necessary preparations being carried out for this momentous arrival of Guru Maharaj. The apartment where Guru Maharaj would stay this time was different and much better than had been the previous 2 years. Almost seemed to have been re-modeled and looked like new. Guru Maharaj arrived on 2nd July in Kolkata at about 3:35 pm on a flight from Delhi. At the airport we discovered that the flight was 10 minutes late. Although it was a domestic flight we had to wait for a little over half an hour to see the transcendental appearance of Guru Maharaj through the door.
About 10 devotees were expected even though the temple authorities of Kolkata were present. This time there was a kirtan hosting as used to be in previous years, so the “Bengali” was conspicuous by his absence. Before leaving the airport Guru Maharaj will be offered some garlands. GM talked awhile with the temple authorities and then Acintya Caitanya, presented the new manager of His office in Mayapur. Guru Maharaj gave them all garlands, especially Acintya Caitanya Prabhu, which were remnants of Srimati Radharani or Radha Krishna Balaram Mandir Syamasundara of Vrindavana. The garland was made of a few small flowers that were apparently already fading, but I was filled with wonder when Guru Maharaj told him that these flowers could last up to 10 years or more to completely wither and perhaps also to lose their smell.
After I had offered my obeisance, I went to greet Him, when I saw Him, first thing he said was: ”
WHO’S THAT? “(Who is this?). I smiled without comment his first joke of our meeting. It had been a month and a half apart.
After about 15 minutes of chat with the devotees, we left the airport and went to the car. This was entirely decorated with flowers in the form of garlands; I think it was the only car in Kolkata with such a feature.
Acintya Caitanya Prabhu and the new office manager in Mayapur went with Guru Maharaj in such a car to discuss some issues, so there was only room for the servant who attend. Prabhu Pañcajanya was chosen. I helped Him climb into the car, so change of mind if I suggested I go with Guru Maharaj. I know the servant is a new servant of Guru Maharaj and like most of the Bengalis; they get a little nervous when they have to serve Guru Maharaj alone for the first time, so because of this, I had this special mercy.
Before leaving Daresha asked if Guru Maharaj wanted to go first to the temple or directly to the apartment. Guru Maharaj looked completely exhausted. He thought for a while and then decided to go directly to the apartment. Actually Guru Maharaj sometimes does not decide things on the spur of the moment; He would wait a while and then let the “circumstances” direct itself. Before getting off from the car He had asked for fruit, Daresha said he had not brought any fruit, before starting again He asked for fruit, we told him no fruit, but just when the car was starting, he did stop, asking everyone who had brought some fruit from Delhi. Daresha Ekantah called, he was in another car and within few minutes of being told of Guru Maharaj’s request he brought the fruits. When the fruits arrived, the car drove off.
During most of the trip we were discussing matters of the office. Guru Maharaj when he is very tired he can hardly understand anything until Acintya Caitanya Prabhu, which is well skilled and his wife Dr Siromani try to make him understand, sometimes there is trouble understanding some phrases and Guru Maharaj had to make him repeat it. Finally after he took the fruit, he asked to come down a little back in his seat to rest, but still continue to discuss the issues with devotees, about 15 minutes before arriving He finally fell asleep. The journey lasted more than 2 hours because we had to detour, and later saw an accident on the road.
At the apartment, down the was pretty easy. Because the elevator was a bit small and barely fit Guru Maharaj and one of the servants with the elevator, the others had to stay downstairs to wait their turn. Anyway, we heard a short kirtan that was done in the apartment on the eighth floor. Others went up as Guru Maharaj was in his room. He presented the dilemma of whether He be wheeled back to the room to make Gurupuja. Finally decided that then we had to quickly provide all aroti paraphernalia.
Some devotees quickly offered flower petals at His feet or better lotus shoes and while he entered the room some got their blessings.
Immediately Guru Maharaj would take his dinner. Vasudeva, his cook officer was in charge of offering it. When Guru Maharaj was near completion of His meal, He was almost asleep in his chair. Since finishing His dinner, gave him His medicine, brushed teeth and taken to bed. He was fatigued. The biggest problem came when we tried to put Him to bed. Almost could not stand or sit up, and His knees bent due to the fatigue as a result this was still with great effort toward those who supported His posture. There was a time when it sank, fortunately Vasudeva who was behind him, helped to sustain it.
Finally when we got the almost impossible to put Him back to bed your bed. I discovered something unusual. GM was sleeping a little past 9pm.
In a quick meeting the servants came to the conclusion that I would do the night shift for all these days or rather nights here in Kolkata in celebration of this, “The Ratha Yatra # 40. Tomorrow is the departure of the Rath and Guru Maharaj will certainly attend, so I will do everything possible not to miss such an event and send energy to all of you.
Now here in the east it is 1:30 am July 3. Needless to say GM has been sleeping soundly. I want to thank Guru, Gauranga and all Vaisnava’s to continue giving me this undeserved opportunity to serve GM and all of you. Hare Krishna.
The servants in the care of Guru Maharaj.