March 21st, 2006, Safari at Tirumala

March 21st, 2006, Safari at Tirumala

I woke up at 2.30 which was earlier than I planned. I realized it was the
time for the first group of devotees to go for Suprabhat. Just checked to
see whether they had left or going. Saw that everyone was going but Madhava
Kanta. He was still sleeping in my house. I woke him up. He said he wanted
to go to the later worship. I said there is no later worship. This is the
only place available. Got him up and got him off in time.

We had to report by 3.30. for the puja. Our puja was archana. One of the
devotees had contacts with who was going with us. There were five of us
going for the darsan. Put us in the VIP waiting area. Took us to the darshan
area. There were many people who were big donors and they were put before
us. I was hoping we were going to be close to Balaji and have his close
darsan. But looked like it wasn't going to be possible. Then our devotee
contact arranged that I would be allowed to go in first. Took me by a
separate doorway. The curtain opened and I was trying to go into the darsan
area. The pujari waved me on to hurry up because I looked and saw that the
others were running behind me to get a chowki for the best spot. I also
started running and just barely reached in time at the very front of Balaji.
No one before, between me and Balaji except this pujari chanting mantras. He
was a little to the side. It was really special mercy. Couldn't look behind
but later I heard the other devotees also got good vantage points.

We were at the arcana seva. They offer a thousand and eight offerings to the
lotus feet of Balaji. Balaji was so beautiful. He was fully decorated with
His flowers and weapons. He had the two Lakshmis on His chest. His smiling
face was encouraging all the devotees. I tried to focus my mind and make
many prayers. Prayers for the different temples around the world facing
difficulties, prayers for my devotional progress, prayers for different
devotees and prayers for glorification of the Lord. Chanted rounds. I
chanted four rounds having darsan of the lotus feet of the Lord. I must have
been sitting before the Lord, glancing at His lotus feet for forty minutes,
non stop. This is a most unheard of in Tirumala. Normal darshan periods are
counted in seconds. When I left the room of Balaji I was feeling separation.
We had been together so long. Tears were swelling in my eyes. I will tell
the rest of the events later. Now I have to go on another safari.

Your well-wisher always,

Jayapataka Swami

(transcribed by Su-gita Vani dd, Mayapur)

20th March, 2006, Safari at Tirupati

20th March, 2006, Safari at Tirupati.

Tirupati's deities are Radha and Govinda. They are very beautiful. After
attending Mangal arotik, I sat with the devotees and chanted intense japa
for one hour. Then we went on a japa walk. By the time I finished the japa
walk, I had already completed seventeen rounds. From now on whatever I chant
is extra rounds for my credit.

I gave Bhagavatam class. The verse was on the Mohini Murti. She offered the
demons to divide the nectar if they agreed that whatever She did was alright
whether it was honest or dishonest. She joked with them and said why do you
believe in me? I am an independent woman. They thought that she may not be
honest. She may give them the lion's share because obviously she was
speaking so flirtingly with them. Eventually she gave all the nectar to the
demigods.

At eleven 'o' clock we were at the Padmavati temple. I arrived a slight bit
late. I had a beautiful darshan of Padmavati, she is the most chaste. So I
want also to be fully chaste in my devotion to Krishna and to following my
spiritual master. I pray for her blessings. The temple of Krishna is in the
middle. Originally this was Krishna's temple. Later He gave a space to
Padmavati. On the other side there was a self-manifested deity of Sundara
Raja, a beautiful form of the Lord, king of beauty. In all the TTD
(Tirumalai Tirupati Devasthanam) temples they give out prasad. In this
temple they gave out curd rice and tamarind rice. You could also buy ladoos.
Padmavati had a different style ladoo than Balaji.

We went to the Kalyana Srinivasa temple where the Lord spent six months
after He got married. Afternoon we were supposed to go on Harinam. But I had
a headache. I rested for a bit but the devotees went ahead on Harinam. Then
I joined them on the way when I felt better. By that time they were outside
the Govindaraja temple and I chanted on the long road going up to the
temple. Govindaraja is the big brother of Krishna. It is a Balarama temple.
But He is in the form of Garbodakasayi Vishnu with Brahma coming from his
navel.

We went off to the smaller temples, to Visvaksena, to the Alwar Nila. Nila
was a thief before but he became purified by drinking the water from the
feet of Vaisnavas. Everyone was feeling very blissful in the temple of
Govindaraja. We saw the different subsidiary temples including Andal. Andal
is the Alwar or the saint who promoted chanting Hare Krishna, chanting the
names of Krishna in the streets with drums and cymbals. I told the devotees
that one jeer or spiritual master of the Ramanuja sampradaya said, "Hare
Krishnas are followers of Andal."

Tonight we are going upto Tirumala to see Balaji and have his worship. So by
ten 'o'clock we were driving up to the top of the hill and reached our house
by eleven, took rest by eleven thirty. We had to get up by three latest in
order to go to the worship.

Your well-wisher always,

Jayapataka Swami

April 22nd, 2006, Leicester Congregational Retreat, UK

April 22nd, 2006, Leicester Congregational Retreat, UK

I was picked up at Heathrow, terminal 3, driven to Leicester and then did
the seminars. First seminar was on leadership of the congregation. I started
at 12.30. I showed a PowerPoint presentation on Bhakti Vrksa, the mood and
the qualities of a Bhakti Vrksa leader; how it brings out the best in
people; how they need to develop these good qualities of humility,
tolerance, of desire to serve and facilitate. The devotees were enthused to
take up some leadership roles.

We had a city recreational hall and it was filled with devotees. Seems there
was a over of hundred - hundred and fifty devotees who were present, a very
intelligent group of the Congregational devotees of UK, from the
Middlesex??, London.

After showing the Bhakti Vrksa opportunity for people to take up leadership
role, then I showed the 2005-06 Annual GBC Congregational Development
Ministry report. To see the highlights of Krishna Consciousness around the
world and how it was spreading they expressed their realization that ISKCON
was really happening and growing and they are very enthused. They also
thought that there was of scope for them. Everybody can fit into the
congregational development programs. One of the members of the congregation
was preaching in the prisons. He was the captain for three prisons.

After the lunch everybody broke themselves into small groups; eight
different groups to discuss the different aspects of surrender. I came back
and they presented each group a drama. Trying to express what their type of
surrender was. I was asked to be the Judge. So I judged them in four
categories: enthusiasm, creativity, originality and message also considered
the clarity of their presentation. They did a lot of scoops on the Queen, on
Prime Minister, on George Bush. Somehow they all got purified and chanted
Hare Krishna. It was very difficult to judge the different groups. Each of
them was very well performed.

Your well wisher always

Jayapataka Swami

April 20th-21st Mathuradesh, Middle East, 2006

Here we had a country program for hundreds of devotees gathered. They
performed a drama. There were reports from all the Mahacakra, greater circle
leaders. There were initiations and there was a drama. A skit on how one
should please the guru by being in a proper mood of service. There was one
devotee who came and asked permission to get married from the guru but then
he asked if he could bring his wife to see the guru. Then the guru said,
"You asked permission but you are already married! What is this? So you are
just informing me." Like that they showed humorous scenes showing how not to
actually serve the guru by practical explanation.

The devotees are coming to see me. We are having some nice association and
they prepared a special feast with over a 108 preparations saying that they
couldn't cook personally for me during the Vyasa Puja so they wanted to cook
a feast, all the matajis. Had nice time and good association.

Now I am preparing to go to Leicester for a special Congregational retreat.

Your well wisher always,

Jayapataka Swami