Timeline of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami's Life - 1991-2000

Guru Mahārāja arrived in Kuala Lumpur at 12.30 noon. Marīci Prabhu, Siṁheśvara Prabhu and few other devotees from Klang Nāma-haṭṭa group received him at the airport. At a nearby highway rest point Guru Mahārāja showered and was served lunch. The devotees from the Nāma-haṭṭa offered Guru Mahārāja a well-balanced and sumptuous meal. Guru Mahārāja had to fly again at 5.15 to Penang Island, a favorite tourist state in northern Malaysia. The island will celebrate its 14^th annual Ratha-yātrā festival this evening.

ISKCON Malaysia organizes a total of 14 Ratha-yātrās annually and the island festival is undoubtedly the most famous with 3 chariots and a float for Śrīla Prabhupāda. An average of three thousand people participate in the festival every year. To my knowledge Guru Mahārāja has been attending this festival for the past 14 years without fail.

Guru Mahārāja and the devotees arrived in Penang Airport at 6pm. He refreshed himself upon arrival and hurried to the procession which had already started. Guru Mahārāja took advantage to get a 15-minutes nap during the 30-minutes drive. He was really very tired. We caught up with the chariots at a famous Indian Street. His Holiness Bhānu Swami and His Holiness Bhaktivrajendra Nandana Swami were already seated on two chariots.

Before getting out of the car Guru Mahārāja asked me to get his medicine to relief his headache which was certainly due to lack of sleep. Some devotees spotted Guru Mahārāja and ran towards the car with garlands in their hands and while fencing the car.

Guru Mahārāja got down and offered his obeisances to Śrī Śrī Jagannātha, Baladeva and Subhadrā Devī, and to the Swamis. Another 2 km and we would reach the arrival hall. When the kīrtana party saw Guru Mahārāja appearing they started jumping like anything with fire. A hailer was passed to Guru Mahārāja to lead kīrtana in front of Śrī Jagannātha Chariot. At this time about 1500 people including devotees, were pulling all four chariots. The chariots had the best of decorations especially Śrīla Prabhupāda float which was covered with flowers and lights.

From Śrī Jagannātha chariot Guru Mahārāja went to Śrī Subhadrā Devī’s chariot. And then to Śrī Baladeva chariot to perform kīrtana. Many devotees especially the brahmacārīs with their mṛdaṅgas were like shadows, behind Guru Mahārāja wherever he was went. It was very nice to see. They were moving back and forth like waves.

Actually, something different took place this year. May be this is a millennium end surprise. The procession ended at the famous Rex theatre. Guru Mahārāja delivered a lecture after the ārati. Bhajanas followed after the lecture. A drama called ‘Kali’s Conspiracy’ was staged. Dinner was served for Guru Mahārāja during the drama. Immediately after the drama Guru Mahārāja was surrounded by devotees. Guru Mahārāja asked them all about their spiritual well-being. It was 11.30 pm night then. There were still many devotees waiting to chat with Guru Mahārāja. Somehow, we got Guru Mahārāja to leave the place to take rest. By the time he took rest it was 30 minutes past midnight.

Yours in the service of Guru Mahārāja,

Mahā Varāha Dāsa