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

Bukit Mertajam to Teluk Intan to Sitiawan

Guru Mahārāja woke up at 5.30 am. Since Guru Mahārāja and party were to board a train at 8:12 am this morning, Guru Mahārāja gave the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam class at 6:30 am.

I left earlier with a few devotees to the train station with the luggage. When I left there were about 20 devotees for the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam class.

ISKCON Bukit Mertajam (BM) is the first branch of ISKCON Malaysia. It is managed wholly by congregation devotees. Deities of Śrī Śrī Jagannātha Baladeva and Subhdrā Devī and Śrī Śrī Gaura Nitāi preside there.

Five minutes before the scheduled departure time Guru Mahārāja, ISKCON BM president Jagannātha Vallabha Prabhu and few other devotees arrived at the railway station only to hear an announcement that the train depart 45 minutes later. While waiting for the train to arrive we chanted our japa.

Some local devotees surrounded Guru Mahārāja to get some advice on their preaching programs. At 8.15 am the train taxied into the station. While loading our luggage into the coach we were greeted by His Holiness Bhānu Swami and His Holiness Bhakti Vrjendranandana Swami who had already boarded the train at the previous station at Butterworth town. They had stayed at the ISKCON Butterworth center last night. Since the train will depart about 40 minutes time, the Mahārājas all got down from the coach and were talking with all the devotees. We also took the opportunity to take some photo snaps.

The train left at 8:55am. Three Mahārājas, Siṁheśvara Prabhu, Marīci Prabhu, two other brahmacārīs and myself boarded the train. The BM devotees had made breakfast packs which was served in the train. The train ride was very comfortable. There were only a few other passengers on board.

Guru Mahārāja chanted his Japa during the ride before answering some e-mails. The train reached Tapah Road Station at 1.30 noon. Ādi Puruṣa Prabhu, ISKCON Teluk Intan Chairman, his brother Rādhā Mādhava Dāsa and another devotee were waiting to receive us and drive us immediately to Teluk Intan, a town about 30 minutes from the station. A noon program was awaiting Guru Mahārāja at Teluk Intan. Guru Mahārāja calls the town – “Tilak Intan”, Intan meaning valuable stone on Malay language. We loaded everything into three vehicles and moved on.

Teluk Intan is a fast developing branch ISKCON Malaysia. On May 1999 the branch organized the 2^nd Malaysia Hare Kṛṣṇa convention and attracted a devotees crowd of about 450 for a three days with seminars and spiritual recreation. Now they have a 1.5 acres land and want to put up a Temple for Lord Kṛṣṇa there. Guru Mahārāja was going there with all the Swamis and devotees to bless the project. They have a tightly knit congregation of about 200. Today they are holding a ceremony at their newly purchased land. While driving to Teluk Intan we noticed dark clouds above us. Just about 5 minutes before reaching the destination it started to drizzle. On arrival we were welcomed with a good downpour. Devotees rushed out from their zinc tents towards our car with big umbrellas in their hands. We walked across the soggy and muddy ground to the yajna arena. After reception of the swamis the yajña started. Soon after lunch was served to all the devotees and swamis while it was drizzling.

After lunch Guru Maharaj was requested by Ādi Puruṣa Prabhu to go on top an excavator and officially launch the project. The machine operator briefly taught Guru Mahārāja how to operate the machine and before we knew it Guru Mahārāja had the machine perfectly under his control. Guru Mahārāja had the machine digging earth and dropping it a couple of times to the amazement and excitement of all devotees. It was also fun for the devotees to see Guru Mahārāja in action. His Holiness Bhānu Swami and His Holiness Bhakti Vrjendranandana Swami also got into the spirits and went up the machine to join Guru Mahārāja. Devotees took opportunity to take some photo shots before we all adjourned to Ādi Puruṣa Prabhus house.

Guru Mahārāja and the other swamis took a nap at Ādi Puruṣa Prabhu’s home. Guru Mahārāja started with some e-mail after the short nap while His Holiness Bhānu Swami and His Holiness Bhakti Vrjendranandana Swami left to Sitiawan town to inaugurate the annual Ratha-yātrā festival there. Sitiawan is a town about 1 hour west of Teluk Intan. It is along the western coast of Malaya. Guru Mahārāja left one and half hours after them. The procession was almost ending when Guru Mahārāja arrived at Sitiawan. Still Guru Mahārāja had time to lead kīrtana and put the devotees in ecstasy. The procession ended at a Hindu Temple. Guru Mahārāja and the Mahārājas were given special honor the Temple Committee while the local pūjārī took the Swamis to take darśana of Deity of Mariamman (Śakti).At the stage all three swamis spoke for 15 minutes each to the participants and handed out prasāda. We were all then taken to a nearby well wisher’s house for dinner. Fruits and milk was served before we drove back to Ādi Puruṣa Prabhu’s house. The Mahārājas took rest at 1.30 am.
 

Yours in the service of Guru Mahārāja,

Mahā Varāha Dāsa