By Nanda Priya Nivedita Devi Dasi

The 27th Navadwip Mandal parikrama succesfully ended on 18th March. The seven day long parikrama culminated in ‘Mahamilan’ – over 10,000 devotees particpated in this event. The event was presided by Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja, Kavichandra Swami, Bhakti Vigna Vinasa Narshima Swami and other sanyasis who shared their appreciation about the parikrama and the efforts put in by the devotees to complete it. It was the ‘Real United Nations’.

“Srila Prabhupada started the Navadwip Parikrama with 50 people “, Guru Maharaj said. To carry out the will of Srila Prabhupada and the previous acharyas is certainly Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja’s life and soul , that explains his determination in spear heading the Navadwip Parikrama.

Everyday around 8am Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja would get into his car, be driven to the Ganges, get onto a boat and then be helped into boarding his car again, after which he would visit the parikrama parties. Knowing Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja’s health condition we surely know that it’s not easy for Guru Maharaja. It takes a lot of effort, a lot of determination and most importantly compassion!

After all this effort when Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja would reach the destination, devotees’ faces would lit up, instantly. In his lecture, Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja would practically transport everyone to the spiritual realm, he would make everyone chant “Gaura! Gaura! Gaura! Gaura!”. Curious to know what devotees feel when Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja visited their respective camps I asked a couple of them. “Guru Maharaja gives a perfect orientation of the place and I appreciate the place I am visiting even more.” , said one devotee. Guru Maharaja presence at the parikrama is so valuable. When devotees shared their realisations about the parikrama, many of them were saying that the very fact that Jayapataka Maharaja, despite his fragile health condition was visiting the parikrama was motivating them to go ahead and complete the parikrama. Also , Guru Maharaja encouraged devotees to bring more people to the parikrama and continues to do so.

Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja said at his address to the International party – “Srila Prabhupada once said that ‘I am giving you the spiritual world, now develop it’. “So there are many places that we have discovered but many need to be discovered and some we have discovered, but we are yet to buy it”. It is amazing to see Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja’s focus in trying to please Srila Prabhupada. Most of what has been discovered in the Nawadwip Mandal Bhumi is being done under the direction of Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaja. Not only did Guru Maharaja attend the parikrama, he also attended meetings at Mayapur and gave darshan everyday. He also continues to do his regular exercises that are essential for his good health.

One shouldn’t forget that just about 3 weeks ago Guru Maharaja was in very poor health. What he is doing now is inconceivable and that is living by example -Jayapataka Swami.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

By Nanda Priya Nivedita Devi Dasi