Guru Maharaj blesses Atlanta!
July 4th
A lot of North Atlanta Gita Study Group members including devotees were
anxiously waiting near the escalator to have Guru Maharaj’s darshan.
The plane had already landed but no sign of Guru Maharaj. All eyes were
glued to the escalator hoping to see their beloved Guru Maharaj soon.
There came His Holiness smiling and compassionately looking at everyone
and making sure to talk to each one of us. He was showered with many garlands
and bouquets. Guru Maharaj left airport to go to Ram Laxman Prabhu’s
house for lunch and later arrived at the Impact Conference Center of the
Global Mall.
About 200 people were anxiously awaiting Guru Maharaj’s arrival at
the Hall to hear the nectar. People from 35 cities around the world were
also waiting to hear and see Guru Maharaj’s live lecture on the internet,
including places like Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Balabhadra
Prabhu, the Temple President, had already concluded ecstatic kirtan before
Guru Maharaj’s arrival.
4th of July being the Independence Day in North America, Guru Maharaj
spoke on not just the political independence but on independence from
the cycle of birth and death! The audience heard the lecture with rapt
attention. (audio lecture will be posted on the site soon along with pictures)
The lecture was followed by interesting question-answer session alternating
between the live and virtual audience. Bhagavad Gitas were awarded to
the 3 best questions!
After the program in the Hall, Guru Maharaj left for Gita Govinda’s
house to rest. He took darshan of Sri Sri Panca-tattva there and then
went to his room. As he had not found time to walk that day, he used the
treadmill for an hour and later took prasadam. As I was serving him more
prasadam, he said “no, no, no! don’t serve me more – you
are sending me to hell by giving me so much prasadam!!!” Jagadish
Prabhu from Alachua who was also staying in Gita Govinda’s house,
massaged Guru Maharaj’s lotus feet. It was 2 am before Guru Maharaj
went to sleep.
July 5th
As usual Guru Maharaj woke up at 5 am and after shower, did his Deity
worship for over an hour. Then we quickly left for the temple where he
was greeted by Balabhadra Prabhu and the devotees including Gita Study
Group members. The Srimad Bhagavatam class that Guru Maharaj gave on the
5th and the 6th were very powerful. (audio lectures will be posted on
the site soon)
After the lecture, Guru Maharaj went for
a walk with Jagadish Prabhu for about an hour and then had prasadam. Afternoon
program was arranged in Rupa Krsna’s house where Guru Maharaj gave
an informal talk but very inspiring and powerful. He talked about how
important it is to be disciplined even in spiritual life! After prasadam,
Guru Maharaj gave dictation to me to answer his important emails.
Guru Maharaj left for Bhakta Haresh and Avni’s house to encourage
them to chant their rounds regularly. He always likes to visit their house
just to shower his mercy on them. How fortunate they are!
Krsna Saranam had arranged the evening program in his house wherein many
people had gathered to hear Guru Maharaj speak on Prahlad Maharaj. After
the class, Guru Maharaj gave special darshan to the North Atlanta Study
Group members encouraging them to increase their rounds and become more
determined. He was very pleased with their progress and working together
to arrange big programs. Gita Govinda asked Guru Maharaj if we could serve
him prasadam before he met everyone, he said very firmly, “I have
not come here to eat but to preach!”
It was around midnight before Guru Maharaj left for Gita Govinda’s
house to rest. Jagadish Prabhu massaged his lotus feet and it was 2 am
before Guru Maharaj finally went to sleep but was up again at 5 am the
next day!
July 6th
I took Guru Maharaj to the temple along with Jagadish Prabhu for the Bhagavatam
class. The drive was transcendental as I could get so many instructions
and guidance from my beloved Guru Maharaj. He was so merciful and compassionate
like a father is to a child!
Balabhadra Prabhu greeted Guru Maharaj with all the devotees present there
including the Gita Study Group members. Then Guru Maharaj’s Gaura
Nitai Deities were brought to the altar for everyone to have the darshan.
After an ecstatic kirthan, Guru Maharaj gave a wonderful class on Dhruva
Maharaj.
After the lecture, Guru Maharaj gave darshan to the Gita Study Group members
encouraging them again and again. Later he gave instructions to all the
disciples present there.
The flight to Chicago was at 1 pm and Gita Govinda and Janardana Prabhu
left for the airport with the luggage before us but got stuck in the traffic!!!
Jagadish Prabhu drove Guru Maharaj and myself to the airport and as soon
as we entered the airport, Guru Maharaj told me, “gita, you have
brought me to arrival hall but I need to go to the departure hall.”
For a moment I got confused out of fear but in a few seconds I realized
that arrival and departure are on the same level, side by side. When Guru
Maharaj understood that he said, “oh in bombay, its on different
levels”.
There were just a few minutes left for the plane to take off and we were
still in the queue! The gentleman standing before His Holiness offered
to let us go before him. Guru Maharaj was so pleased and relieved. Savitri
Mataji and myself were watching this and she said, “this person does
not know that he has made spiritual advancement by doing this service
to Guru Maharaj!” So very true! When Guru Maharaj reached the United
Airlines checkin counter, he was asked to go for special checking of his
hand baggage. By Krishna’s mercy, an Indian lady was the inspector
to whom His Holiness was sent. She was very respectful though she had
to do her job too. Everyone was in anxiety hoping everything will be ok.
Finally they had to go to another security check before boarding the plane.
It was ten minutes before Guru Maharaj finally was allowed to go further.
That was the last
darshan we had of His Holiness.
Everyone left the airport with a heavy heart . . .
ys
gita devi dasi
