Srila Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj Vyasa Puja 2016 - Part 27

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. We shall continue to hear further.

HG Rohinisuta Prabhuji from Dwarka: I first met Maharaj in 1998. We were from Saurashtra and in our family we had the habit of worshipping Krishna as well as all other demigods. I was working in Mitapur which is few kilometers away from Dwaraka and so in the weekends we used to attend the mangala arati of Dwarakadish as we had some affection for the Lord. During one of the visits I met our Godbrothers HG Sundargopal Prabhuji and HG Kishorechandra Prabhuji who were doing book-distribution there. And they gave me the books, "Perfect Questions and Perfect Answers". So when I inquired what is in the book, they invited me to come to the ISKCON temple in the evening. After reading the book in the afternoon, I went and met Maharaj in the evening. Simply by seeing Maharaj, I became so attracted to the process of bhakti and started visiting the temple daily in the evenings. I didn't know anything about what devotional service is or how to approach or serve Krishna. But simply loved to hear from Maharaj, have his darshan and do whatever service Maharaj asked me to do.

When Maharaj got the Deities, Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarakadish for the temple, somehow Krishna arranged to send HG Gaursundar Prabhuji as poojari and from then, there was regular Deity worship in the temple and we used to engage in whatever service possible. Once Maharaj came from Nasik to Dwaraka alone by bus (30 hours ride) and at that time, the new temple was also not yet built. It was not a planned visit, we were bit surprised and were thinking that after this long journey, Maharaj would like to rest for sometime. But Maharaj sat beneath a neem tree on an ordinary chair. He asked us to open Bhagavad-Gita and started giving class. Though we were all much young in age, we used to be tired after few hours of service, but Maharaj's stamina was amazing. He was always enthusiastic for service. Then Maharaj gave me Laddoo Gopal Deity - I was hesitant as to whether my family members, wife would be able to serve the Lord. But Maharaj said not to worry. And by Maharaj's mercy, as soon as Laddoo Gopal came to our house, family members also started engaging in regular service.

Few years later one devotee wanted to gift me Radha Krishna Deity. When I checked with Maharaj, Maharaj gave the names as "Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda" for the Deities and also personally did the abhishek for Them. So by Maharaj's mercy our family is now engaging in Lord's service. Also in the initial days there were hardly one full time devotee in the temple. When Maharaj had to travel to Rajkot and other places, I used to wonder how will the temple activities continue. But somehow or the other Maharaj used to get things done. For 3 full months Maharaj managed with just three or four of us, who were not full time devotees in the temple. I used to sleep in the temple in the nights and early morning, after doing mangala arati and shringar for the Deities, I used to leave for work. Meanwhile my wife would come and take care of bhoga offerings in the morning and afternoon. Then again in the evening, I will return from work and do seva in the temple. The point I would like to highlight is that although I am completely unqualified, Maharaj mercifully engaged me in service of the Supreme Lord. We are like his children and I cannot imagine what a big change he has brought in our lives and we miss him a lot. Maharaj is everything for us in our lives. 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.