The End of an Era

Last week Maharaja met with the doctor and after a check-up the doctor has said that one more week of treatments and then Maharaja can return to the lotus feet of Giriraja Govardhan.

Well that week finishes today and tomorrow morning we will set sails for teh Holy Land of Govardhan. Giriraja Maharaja KI JAYA!!

Maharaja will have to continue with a HEP (home exercise program) to keep things in order and to prevent a relapse. Maharaja will have to return in about 3-4 weeks time for a review and possibly more treatment if necessary. Otherwise, Maharaja is in very good spirits and excited about returning back home back to Govardhan.

Maharaja invited Dr. Nijhara and his whole staff to Govardhan for a Japa Retreat. The doctor agreed and promised they would all come out for a session. This exchange between doctor and patient went far beyond the bodily platform. Maharaja has mesmerized and captivated the whole crew here with his out-going, up-beat, positive and personal interactions. Proving once again that the key to success lies in loving relationship.

This means I will now head back to London on 26th June after a one night stop in Mumbai with teh Radha Gopinath devotees and then proceed to USA to visit with my dear Mother.

This has been an intense and enlightening turn of events for me. There is MUCH to be digested and assimilated from such close association with such a wonderful and dedicated servant of the Lord. I will share some of my realisations later.

Maharaja was reading out-loud Caitanya Caritamrta this morning. the section about Sakshi Gopal. Specifically he read the following verse and purport just as part of daily reading. I found it significant and felt very blessed and fortunate.

CC Mad. 5.23
PURPORT

Both brahmanas were pure Vaisnavas. The younger man took special care of the older one simply to please Krsna. In Srimad-Bhägavatam (11.19.21) Krsna says, mad-bhakta-püjäbhyadhikä: “It is better to render service to My devotee.” Thus, according to the Gaudiya-Vaisnava philosophy of Caitanya Mahäprabhu, it is better to be a servant of the servant of God [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. One should not try to serve Krsna directly. A pure Vaisnava serves a servant of Krsna and identifies himself as a servant of a servant of Krsna. This is pleasing to Lord Krsna. Srila Narottama däsa Thäkura confirms this philosophy: chäòiyä vaiñëava-sevä nistära peyeche kebä. Unless one serves a liberated Vaisnava, he cannot attain liberation by directly serving Krsna. He must serve the servant of Krsna.