excerpts from Guru Maharaja’s Godbrother’s VP offerings

——–
Never have I known any devotee who does as much service as you, and is able
to multi-task; preaching, managing, caring for devotees, attending meetings
and other duties. Certainly Mahaprabhu manifests through His devotees to
provide vision for spreading the Sankirtan Movement. Many years ago when all
of us were still in the temple mode, you began the Congregational Ministry,
which is now the main beacon of hope, chalking out the direction for the
future of ISKCON.

Srila GuruPrasada Swami.

Godbrothers love Gurumaharaja
—————————-
During these days I saw so many GBCmen and sannyasis crying because the very
thought of your possible departure was unbearable for them. I cried too
suddenly realizing how important role you play in my life.

Please, dear Maharaja, get better soon. The news of the improvement of your
health is the best news we can all have these days.

Bhakti Vijnana Goswami

Gurumaharaja a perfect servant of Srila Prabhupad’s family
————————————————————
We can all see how arduously you serve Iskcon so that devotees are aware of
how important it is to fortify Prabhupada’s big family and foster the
Congregation. You carefully help all those who meet you, and assist the
Iskcon members to understand the importance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri
Panca-Tattva and Sridhama Mayapur.

Srila Paramagathi Swami

God brothers love Gurumaharaj
——————————-
We thought, ” What will happen to his disciples and projects?” Hearing of
your recent health improvement, we experienced great relief. We are most
happy to hear that you are doing so well and that there is great hope and
practical expectations that you will be able to carry on your services to
our beloved spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada!

Balabhadra Prabhu – Iskcon Cow Ministry.

Guru Maharaja,friendly,sweet and Kind.
————————————–

I would be hard pushed to think of knowing a more friendly, sweet, kind and
loving person in my lifetime than you. So for selfish reasons I dearly want
you to return to full health because otherwise I will miss the full benefit
of your warm association.

I have been fortunate to have had many opportunities to serve with you.
Often we are involved in management together and while we sometimes have
differing opinions, I have always been inspired by your detachment to those
opinions and how all differences cease to exist once the discussion has
ended. That quality of yours is something that I am endeavoring to learn
from and is yet another reason why I am looking forward to your complete
recovery.

Praghosa Prabhu.

GuruMaharaja, spontaneous caring attitude is rarely seen.
——————————————————–

Back in the early seventies Sridhama Mayapur was very austere. You had been
ordered by Srila Prabhupada to stay in Mayapur and develop it.

Many other sannyasis were travelling all over the world preaching and
starting big projects, obtaining recognition by the Iskcon devotees at large
and being honoured at the Mayapur Festival for their achievements.

You would silently, undemandingly, and tirelessly spend the whole year going
to Krsnanagar with the Mahindra-Mahindra jeep to purchase iron rods or
cement (and you were so tough in negotiating the prices !), or dealing with
contractors like Golam mistry, Channad mistry for the construction, or
trying to get through to Calcutta using our phone: here Swarupganj 31
placing long distance call to Calcutta, operator it is urgent call ! And in
the evening, after a whole day service, just some muri (puffed rice) and
milk. This year after year. An obedient glorious servant with no expectation
of recognition, but capturing the Lotus Feet of Radha Madhava and Srila
Prabhupada in his heart.

The devotees knew that you would protect them under any circumstance. If
someone had gone to the Ganges and foolhardily swum a bit too far from the
shore, better hope that Jayapataka Maharaja be nearby to jump in and save
him. I someone had a philosophical doubt, a problem with his service, or
some stiff relationships, you would calmly sustain him and give him real
help. I recall one night when the Goshalla was being attaked, seeing you
running bare foot in the fields, alone, going to help the devotees there at
the risk of your life, without considering anything but the devotees
welfare. Such spontaneous caring attitude is rarely seen.

How pleased must Srila Prabhupada have been by such unmotivated service of
yours.

Madhu Sevita Prabhu

GuruMaharaja Loves everyone
—————————

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.

Srila Bir Krsna Maharaja.

GuruMaharaj would know the answer for everything.
————————————————-
“Jayapataka Maharaj is one of the generals in Lord Caitanya’s army and it is
very hard for me to accept that he does not have further duties and battles
to win for Krsna. At our meeting yesterday, at the GBC meeting, repeatedly
we thought ‘Jayapataka Maharaj would know the answer’. If Jayapataka Maharaj
was here… as far as spirit of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, relationships with
Gaudiya Math, how to develop Mayapur, Prabhupada’s instructions and vision
for the future temple, he is an irreplaceable storehouse of practical
experience and transcendental knowledge and an ocean of Prabhupada’s
instructions. So just like Nrsimha brahmachari, his mind could not go beyond
a certain point on the path I cannot picture going on without our Jayapataka
Maharaj. Still Krsna has his plan. We don’t have that vision so we simply
fold our hands and pray that whatever Krsna wants may it become manifest and
we understand it. Hare Krsna.

HG Badrinarayan prabhu

Guru Maharaja the defender of Mayapur and his godbrothers.
———————————————————
I was remembering those early days in Mayapur – going to swim in the Ganges
with him. With steady, powerful strokes he used to casually swim across that
river. So many incidences flashed across my mind – once Radha Jivan lost his
breath in the middle of the river and panicked and started to cry out for
help, and Jayapataka Maharaja came to his rescue and carried him to the
shore. Guru Kripa, (at that time a Swami), used to come to Mayapur with his
tough group of devotees, called the Nama Hatta, from Japan. Often we used to
sport on the bank of the Ganges. One day I was forced to wrestle with one
tough American devotee who defeated me and it was seen as a defeat of
Mayapur. Jayapataka Maharaja could not tolerate that. He just stood up and
challenged anyone from that group to fight with him. A devotee who was equal
to his size accepted his challenge and they started to fight. After a little
struggle, Maharaja pin him to the ground and started to slam him again and
again on the mud. We all, Mayapur devotees, felt that this was our victory
in response to my embarrassing defeat. Once we got a false alarm that the
Muslims attacked our Goshala and we all ran towards the Goshala with sticks
and spears to protect our cows and on the head of our group was Jayapataka
Maharaja. Once someone brought a crossbow from America and we used to
practice occasionally with that. Jayapataka Maharaja would always hit the
bull’s eye without fail. He disclosed that he used to be a champion shooter
in his early days.

Srila Bhakti Charu Swami.

Gurumaharaja darling of all Vaishnavas
——————————————-

HH Jayapataka Maharaj is a darling of all the Vaishnavas. Srila
Prabhupada declared that he is an eternal associate of Lord Chaitanya.
Prabhupada gave him Sanyaas when he was just 21. He took up, and continues
to execute, major responsibilities in Srila Prabhupada’s mission, including
the Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir and many others. He is pretty much the
spiritual master of the whole Navadwip Dham! One can’t think of Sri Mayapur
Dham without thinking of Srila Jayapataka Swami Maharaja. His glories are
unlimited. Not for nothing did Srila Prabhupada give him the name Jayapataka
– the victory flag – signifying the victory of Lord Chaitanya’s Sankirtan
Movement. Param Vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirtanam

Srila Radhanatha Swami Maharaja