Today morning as usual, Deva Gauranga Pr, Maha Puran Pr, and Dharesh Pr were on the morning shift. Guru Maharaja’s interaction with each shift differs and every interaction is very unique.

As last night, my luggage and Janakiram Pr’s luggage got unloaded to a different place, we went to collect it. Before I left, I gave one unit of Caitanya Lila to Deva Gauranga Pr for Guru Maharaja to do. And when I return back, Guru Maharaja was taking fruits. We thought this was the best time for Guru Maharaja to read it out so Deva Gauranga Pr with full enthusiasm, started to read the whole Bengali portions with proper metre. Guru Maharaja got fully absorbed in that and he was explain some mistakes on the Bengali to English translations. We were just amazed, as always. Maha Puran pr was feeding fruits to Guru Maharaja. Like this, Guru Maharaja. Then he took his lunch, Srivas Pran Pr and Panchajanya Keshava Pr fed Guru Maharaja. Guru Maharaja then went to bed by 4:30pm. His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja called up Maha Varaha Prabhu and informed him that, he will come today evening to meet Guru Maharaja at 6pm.

When we said to Guru Maharaja, he was so happy. Then after sometime we got a call that, “Maharaja got stuck in the rain. And he has a class at 6:45pm in the ISKCON temple so he will come at 8:00pm.” When Guru Maharaja said, “So, he spend very limited time with me.” Anyhow, Prasanna Pr called up Maharaja’s cook and inquired about his dinner and what he would like to eat, etc. And Kaliya Gopal Pr got a garland from temple (especially I asked for a red rose garland which Maharaja likes it). And he reached the garland, which was offered to Sri Radha Govindji.

As the schedule got changed, one family got the opportunity to take the association Guru Maharaja. They were from Mathuradesh. And at 6pm Guru Maharaja met them, and he was taking some fruits, and he also gave them some fruits as Prasadam. And took a family group photo with them. Their son, named Prahlad, Guru Maharaja mercifully gave him different fruits. And Guru Maharaja did some exercise with the help of Maha Varaha prabhu. And did walking for 20mins along with Maha Varaha Pr and Janakirama Chandra Pr. Guru Maharaja also made a visit to Dr. Acyutananda Pr’s room and checked about his well being. His stomach was little upset, so Guru Maharaja said, “Take some buttermilk, which will cool down your stomach. And as soon as Guru Maharaja reached back to his room, he sent one labon bottle of buttermilk for the Doctor. And when Guru Maharaja was there in his room, he was in front of the big window and seeing the city, and said, “Now so many big, big buildings… Those days, buildings are not able to see now…” Guru Maharaja can say the direction and route from any corner of Kolkata. That much he served Srila Prabhupada.

Then Guru Maharaja came back and took his dinner. Janakirama Chandra pr fed dinner to Guru Maharaja. Soon after dinner Asraya Gauranga pr got the opportunity to introduce Adhoksaja Madhava Pr and family to meet Guru Maharaj. And they received blessings, and few took Asraya (Shelter).
Then Maha Varaha pr said, “In another five mins His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaj will be here.” And immediately he rushed down to receive Maharaja. Meanwhile, Guru Maharaja said, “I want to sit in the hall and meet Maharaja.” And he was very eagerly waiting for Maharaja. When Maharaja entered the room, he immediately hugged Guru Maharaja, and that hug fulfiled all their long separation.
Then Maharaja started to ask Guru Maharaja about his health, and next about his diet, and even more detail he wanted to know. He asked, “What did you eat today?” Then Shyama Madhusudan gave the complete detailed intake list and how we calculate proteins etc. Maharaja was so happy to hear it. Then Maharaja said, “I receive updates from Maha Varaha regularly. And I am amazed by seeing his long time service to you, Maharaja. I also saw him long back in Kuala Lumpur, he served me there.” And Guru Maharaja explained his short visit to Vrindavan Dham. And Maharaj, asked about Mayapur Dham visit, Guru Maharaja answered, “It depends upon my health.”

Maharaja remembered the old days, and said, “When Prabhupada went to London, the road to Vrindavan was very bad, and now it is very good. India is making great improvement. But Kolkata to Mayapur is the same from those days.” And everyone started to laugh.

Guru Maharaja explained to Maharaja about his current Caitanya Book status. And the lila that Guru Maharaja is working on by compiling from different sastras. Gauranga and Lakshmipriya’s marriage. He explained it in very great detail to Maharaja, and he was listening to it attentively, with full focus.

Panchajanya Keshava pr brought prasadam, one plate of nuts and one plate of fruits. And Guru Maharaja offered it to Maharaja, and Maharaj took few nuts and ate it. Then some Vrindavan Prasadam also he honoured. Then Guru Maharaja extended his hands to Maharaja for Prasadam, and Maharaja gave to Guru Maharaja with some much of happiness and distributed to all the assembled devotees.
And then Maharaja took a leave from Guru Maharaja after an hour of loving exchanges. And Maharaja hugged Guru Maharaja for a long time, and Guru Maharaja said, “lets give pose, and everyone took their mobile and cameras to take this wonderful hugging pose of Maharaja and Guru Maharaja. Both were laughing greatly. And Guru Maharaja said, ” For a video, you all have to pay more…” And everyone was laughing…

When Maharaja reached the doorstep, Guru Maharaja took the fruit plate and said, “Maharaja you didn’t make this as Maha Prasadam!” And Maharaja with a smile took some from that plate, and ate the Mango and said, “These mangoes are very sweet and good.” And distributed the fruits again. In this way today’s evening was like something very special.

Later, before going to bed Guru Maharaja was telling to Satananda Krishna Pr, how he was removed by Tamal Krishna Maharaja 10 times from Temple President Kolkata. And one time by Srila Prabhupada. And he said, “Once Tamal Krishna Maharaja removed me and put Gurudas as temple president, and when Tamal Krishna Maharaja came to Kolkata, Gurudas held him on his neck and said, ” Why you made me temple president?” The service was like that.

I got removed from temple president seva because, the Pujari was very lusty to eat the sweets that were offered to the deities. So, they eat the sweets as soon as they bring the offering plate out from the altar. So, I asked them to transfer and take that Prasadam. So, like this small things, I got removed.” And it was very dramatically explained by Guru Maharaja, and Ekanath pr enacted the pujari’s act and everyone was laughing.

And before going to bed, Guru Maharaja was telling about making a map of Navadvipa, present day Navadvipa and super emboss with Bhakti Vinoda Thakura’s map. And also I discussed about Caitanya Book artworks with Guru Maharaja. And he went to sleep, Haridas Caitanya Prabhu and Golokeshwara Govinda Pr joined the night shift.