On 9th of December, I met with His Holiness Jayapataka Swami at the ILBS hospital in Delhi. 

Here I’m sharing some of the conversations that I had with Maharaja.

Maharaja asked the following questions:

How is the construction of the “Sri Krishna Arjuna Temple” going on?

How is funding going on?

How is your father? Give him my blessings and Hare Krishna.

When is the Kurukshetra Rathyatra?

How was the Gita Jayanti celebration?

How cold is it in Kurukshetra?

Apart from this Maharaja also said:

I’m eager to come to Kurukshetra Dham soon! 

I will try to come for the Rathyatra next year.

This project (The Sri Krishna Arjuna Temple) is Prabhupad’s Project, it will manifest soon.

Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja is there, so the temple will come up very fast.

Then came the interesting part.

I asked one question to Maharaj:

Question: Why does Krishna make it so difficult for his devotees to build His temples & centres? We struggle for funds, manpower, keeping up with time and our own sadhana at the same time!

Maharaja answered:

“Krishna loves the struggle you do for Him. When you get anything without the struggle, it does not satisfy the heart neither is that achievement valued or remembered. But when you struggle and get something, it is always cherished as everlasting memories. 

We also had so many difficulties & struggles in Mayapur. But Prabhupada said: 

“Krishna is watching your efforts. So just keep trying, trying and trying for Krishna and that’s what we did.

So Krishna wants to see to what extent you can go for His service. So if there is struggle with sincere service that is already perfection for Krishna”

Arjuna had Krishna with him but still, Krishna made him fight. Although Krishna was controlling everything on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, He wanted Arjuna to serve Him by making his effort. So Arjuna did it for Krishna andbecame the true hero of the Mahabharata war.”

I was convinced and understood that this journey of trying to build the Sri Krishna Arjuna Temple with struggles was Krishna’s own will!

Thank You Maharaja. Though in such a physical state, you give me the highest teachings. Thank You unlimited times for Your personal time, teachings and love!

Sri Krishna Arjuna ki jaya!
Kurukshetra Dham ki jaya!
Srila Prabhupad ki jaya!
His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja ki jaya!
His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaja ki jaya!

“By a disciple of His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja”