Message from Jayapataka Swami – Vaisakh Month

Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Krishna says that of all months, Kartik is the best, but some of the Puranas say that better than Kartik is Magha and better than Magha is Vaisakh. In any case, Vaisakh is a special month to do some services...

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami

Jayapataka Swami is a senior disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He was born John Gordan Erdman on April 9, 1949 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA to John Hubert and Lorraine Erdman. He was born into opulent surroundings, his grand-father being the founder of...

Taking devotees to the holy place

Srila Prabhupada wanted Mayapur to be a center where devotees from all over the world could conglomerate and be strengthened spiritually to continue their preaching. In March 1974, the first Gour Pournima festival was held. Four hundred devotees from America, England,...

Serving in Mayapur

There were 5 other devotees with HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja in Mayapur. As funds were short, HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja began engaging in agriculture. He studied several books, learnt different methods and got the best crop. Local farmers were surprised and wanted...

An expert traveller

Jayapataka Maharaja’s flight to India gives already the hint of his expertise in traveling with the most mileage and least expense possible. He flew for 48 hours in what was the “cheapest flight in history” flying Montreal – London – Brussels – Bombay –...

Service to BBT

Jayaptataka Maharaja, (then Jayapataka dasa) began to render a number of services for ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada. The first most important was the service as the president of ISKCON Montreal. Srila Prabhupada wrote him in a letter, “For the present I think you cannot...