Srila Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj Vyasa Puja 2016 - Part 21

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled "Srila Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj Vyasa Puja 2016", wherein we were hearing some of the glorifications of Maharaj, which were shared by the devotees in Sri Sri Radha Neel Madhav dham, Rajkot on the auspicious occasion of his Vyasa Puja in the morning. Now we shall hear the memories shared by the devotees in the evening.

HG Anand Prabhuji: I am very fortunate to be here. When I came here, I was bored with material life. And whatever I knew about spiritual life was based on my understanding of Srila Prabhupada's books. I used to follow very hard and fast rules. I was working in Reliance, but when I read Srila Prabhupada's books, I felt the need to become a full time devotee. So at that time I met HG Svayamsevak Prabhuji who told me about Sri Sri Radha Neelmadhav dham and introduced me to HG Vaishnavseva Prabhuji. So when we met, Vaishnavseva Prabhuji spoke for 30 to 45 minutes. He inquired me about my personal life and explained to me about Maharaj's way. He told me as to how Maharaj never encouraged anyone to escape or run away from family responsibilities in the pretext of devotional service and checked with me whether my decision to become a full time devotee was made with proper consideration. When I confirmed that I am taking this decision after due deliberation, Prabhuji engaged me in service here and has been guiding me here according to Maharaj's instructions. He always insisted on attending mangala arati, chanting and regular attendance of Srimad Bhagavatam class, serving saints. I have not personally seen Maharaj. But I have been hearing Maharaj's instructions through the classes given by his disciples and I understood that if I keep following the instructions, then there will definitely be progress in spiritual as well as material life.

And one thing I have noticed here is that whenever anyone has any problem, if they come and sit near Maharaj's samadhi and chant, then Maharaj gives us the solution for the problem. So although I had been chanting ever since I had been working in Reliance, I knew that it was a great struggle. I used to doze away while chanting. So I came to Maharaj's samadhi and prayed to Maharaj to help me chant my rounds nicely. And from the very next day, to my surprise I woke up at 2:30 am fresh. Since that day, I am unable to sleep after 2:30 am in the morning and by Maharaj's mercy I am able to chant my rounds in the morning time. I have heard Maharaj say in his classes that, "Sleeping is in our hands, but waking up is not in our hands." And it is very true that only by Maharaj's mercy I am able to wake up in the morning. I pray that by the blessings of Maharaj's disciples like HG Devakinandan Prabhuji, HG Vaishnavseva Prabhuji and HG Prasannatma Prabhuji, I remain fixed in devotional service, because I have heard from Vaishnavseva Prabhu that more than advancing in devotional service, remaining fixed in devotional service is more important. Hare Krishna.

Krishna willing, we shall continue to hear further glories of Maharaj in the subsequent offering.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,
Sudarshana devi dasi.