Guru Maharaja giving initiation

Around 12.30 Guru Maharaja came to the Panca Tattva temple after his pool therapy. He had darsan of the Deities and gave a small speech to the initiation candidates. Guru Maharaja then gave initiation to the devotees.

Initiation Ceremony in front of Sri Sri Panca Tattva

Devotees from Krishnakatha Desh, Singapore, Bangalore, Guwahati and Orissa have come to take diksa from Guru Maharaja. Guru Maharaja met the candidates yesterday night at quarters in the lotus building rooftop after returning from Jhulan yatra. He was checking the candidates asking them to raise their hands if they are following regulative principles, if they are committed to chant 16 rounds and if they are willing to assist Guru Maharaja in fulfilling Srila Prabhupada's mission. Guru Maharaja said that due to stroke his right part of the body is not fully functioning. He was asking in spite of this situation if the candidates were willing to take diksa to which all the candidates immediately responded that they want to take diks from him. Few of the candidates were unable to tell the basic mantras and since they are illiterate they didn't know the basic philosophy. Guru Maharaja said that it is the responsible of the recommending authorities to train them through their congregation members. They should prepare rhe candidates using the check list which is already available for everyone and train them well ahead. He doesnt want that the candidates come all the way and they will get rejected and they start crying over here.

Right now the yajna arrangement has been made in the Panca Tattva temple. HG Jananivas Prabhu is giving a speech regarding the importance of Vaisnava initiation and the offenses of the Holy Names that we need to avoid. HG Bhadra Caru Prabhu is translating in Bengali. He is the today's priest as well for the initiation ceremony.

Guru Maharaja is doing his pool therapy and might come at any moment to give the names and beads for the candidates.

Radha Madhava Jhulan Yatra

Festival Radha Madhava Deities were taken on their palanquin and then they were seated in the chariot. They reached the gurukula at 5pm. Small children and different resident devotees brought bhoga offerings for the pleasure of Radha Madhava. After the bhoga offerings sandhya arotik was performed to the Deities. Guru Maharaja arrived right in time to swing Sri Sri Radha Madhava.

Today is the first day of Jhulan yatra (swing festival). Usually the arrangement is made nearby the Radha Madhava temple for the swing festival but this year the big temple project construction work is going on and therefore it is being done in the Gurukula. They have decorated the whole pathway starting from temple to Gurukula with lights twined on the barks of the trees on both sides of the road. Right after the entrance they have made a fountain arrangement in the pond.

Pool therapy

This is the pool next to Gada kitchen where Guru Maharaja does his pool therapy. Guru Maharaja does gym therapy and pool therapy on alternative days.

Guru Maharaja in Mayapur Tourism Center

Guru Maharaja in Mayapur Tourism Center

On 17th August, Guru Maharaja visited Mayapur Tourism Center and blessed us.
Mayapur Tourism department's new office was inaugurated in December 2009 but
we were missing Guru Maharaja's presence. Guru Maharaja at many instances
asked us about the department's activities like number of tourists visiting
and developmental plans. We were little bit worried that Guru Maharaja had
to climb stairs but as usual he is very very merciful and agreed to visit
our office. Before his gym therapy, he visited the center. He walked in
through all the rooms and enquired in detail what are the activities going
on. Mayapur Tourism center has an A.C. conference hall where we did a mini
Guru puja. We had put up various pictures of VIP visits, tourists visits,
which Guru Maharaja went through. Guru deva also saw the various Mayapur
Souvenirs developed and asked about the prices. On this auspicious day, we
launched http://www.visitmayapur.com/ , a new tourism website.
Though it was a short visit, but it was too sweet and memorable event for
all the staff of Mayapur Tourism Department.
All glories to Srila Gurudeva! Patita pavana Srila Gurudeva ki Jai!
Thank you
Your servant
Shyamagopika dd

Initiation ceremony

Around 8am Guru Maharaja came to Gada kitchen in front of Jagannatha Baladeva and Subhadra Deities to give initiation to 3 candidates and one devotee for shelter. They are from Bangalore. These devotees had booked their tickets long before the initiation dates were announced for 22nd august. They were not sure if they would receive initiation. Krishna and Guru Maharaja seemed to have reciprocated with their strong desire to receive initiation.

Bhadra Charu prabhu who is one of our senior devotees in Mayapur did the fire sacrifice. Originally Guru Maharaja suggested to do this ceremony in front of Gaura Nitai in Bhajan Kutir but after discussing with Jps care takers and Bhadra Charu prabhu it was arranged in front of Jagannatha Deities in Gada building. Guru Maharaja was in Gada prasad hall for gurupuja and after initiation ceremony he would be doing his pool theraphy which is right next to the kitchen.

When Revati mataji was saying her four regulative principles she didn't mention no intoxication. She and her husband just said no coffee and tea. They are 50+ . Guru Maharaja immediately responded that it is even beyond their thinking to mention it :-)

A devotee from Hong Kong by name Sukarttiki Radha dd has come from Hong Kong, China. She was recently initiated during the last ceremony held in Mayapur through online. We had sent her initiation beads by courier but she didn't get it before she came to Mayapur. Today is her birthday and she was so happy to receive the beads directly from Guru Maharaja.

Vidyaramba ceremony (first writing ceremony)

After gurupuja, Guru Maharaja did vidyaramba ceremony to two kids. One small boy and one little girl. The boy was crying so much and didn't want to hold the chalk. But the girl was little grown up and so she was cooperating while Guru Maharaja held her hand with a small stick and made her to write Hare Krsna mantra imprinted in the turmeric powder on a plate. Haribol!