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Appearance Day of Srila Janardan Maharaj

Posted by Sushila Devi Dasi on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 in 2012 Photo Gallery | Comments (0)
January 27, 201201-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012

This was the second annual Appearance Day Celebration honoring Srila Janardan Maharaj in Soquel and it was unbelievably sweet. For years Janardan Maharaj has traveled annually to Mexico around the time of his birthday. In Soquel we are always sad that Maharaj leaves and that we cannot join the celebration. Now the problem has been solved; we have started to celebrate his birthday according to the lunar calendar. After all, most vaishnava festivals are calculated according to the lunar calendar, including the appearance days of our guru parampara.

Due to his humility Janardan Maharaj only reluctantly agreed to allow this festival but what a wonderful festival it turned out to be! After singing many vaishnava songs all together in the temple room, several devotees were invited to glorify of Srila Janardan Maharaj. If there had not been some concern about finishing the program on time, perhaps many more devotees would have liked to speak. It was an evening program after all, and there was a feast to honor (the menu was selected by Maharaj himself and included his favorite preparations.) We were able to hear from Jivana Devi, Sanatani Devi, Vrinda Devi, Ramachandra Prabhu, Sarvabhavana Prabhu, Sureshwari Devi, Kalindi Devi, and Vimala Devi. Their short speeches were heartfelt and often humorous. The most common themes that arose were humility, humor, friendship and family. Maharaj himself was touched and happy with the devotee’s offerings.

He responded,
…as for hearing everyone I appreciate their kindness and the sweet things they are saying. What can I say? “I just pray I can live up to eveyone’s expectations…The one thing I never wanted to be is a role model of anyone.” I didn’t like being a guru in ISKCON. It is easier to serve someone else than to take responsibility for getting respect from others.

…We have so much we really can’t complain about anything…”We should be ok.”

With that everyone laughed and I believe everyone felt very comfortable and happy. Maharaj was explaining that Srila Govinda Maharaj has given us everything we need and we can have faith that he will continue to take good care of us all. Janardan Maharaj’s mood was that of a gentle and wise father although he expressed himself as a brother. He said he feels like Srila Govinda Maharaj’s disciples are all his brothers and sisters (only some of the children are nieces and nephews.) It was really very clear, even to someone without any spiritual vision such as myself, that Janardan Maharaj is in fact as humble as all the devotees had expressed, and that his whole purpose in life is only to please his spiritual masters.

Jivana related a conversation that Janardan Maharaj had when he left ISKCON (after Srila Prabhupad disappeared from the world) to join Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Someone asked how much of his heart was for Srila Prabhupad and how much for Srila Sridhar Maharaj. He had explained that all three gurus, Srila Prabhupad, Srila Sridhar Maharaj, and Srila Govinda MaharajĀ  occupy a 100% of his heart. “When someone is in your heart you really can’t take them out.” How fortunate are we to have as our friendly guardian this wonderful personality who personally served all three of these great vaishnavas?

I hope you will listen to the recordings from this festival, especially if you feel like part of Janardan Maharaj’s family. Happiness and affection ring out from the expressions of all the devotees and Janardan Maharaj expresses himself very nicely.

Click to listen to lecture: 120127 BPJ Appearance Day.mp3 (52 minutes, 36.2 MB)

Photos were taken by Murali Mohan Prabhu.

[Show as slideshow]
01-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Srila Janardan Maharaj ki jay!
02-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Arotik of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari

03-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 The rhythm section: Sarvabhavana Prabhu, Ramai Prabhu archa-niketan, and Janardan Maharaj
04-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 All glories to Srimati Tulasi Devi!

05-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 "Nitai Gaura Hari Bol Hari Bol Hari Bol Hari Bol"
06-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Our honorable Sarvabhavana Prabhu

07-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Janardan Maharaj takes a seat...
08-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 and leads many vaishnava songs

09-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Seated kirtan continues with mridanga playing
10-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 and many happy devotees chanting the holy name

11-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Sushila, Laksmipriya, Vimala and Vrinda Devis
12-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Hale, Jayanta Krishna and Ratan Krishna Prabhus

13-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Jayananda Prabhu is always enthusiastic for kirtan...
14-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 And so is everyone else

15-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Sanatai Devi happily glorifies Srila Janardan Maharaj...
16-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 and tells some funny stories from the twenty years she has known him

17-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Jivana Devi gave a lovely talk reminding everyone that Janardan Maharaj is very humble
18-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Vrinda Devi tells a humorous story about Janardan Maharaj pretending to steal Srila Gurudev's mango...

19-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 and is clearly enlivened
20-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 What a smile!

21-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Even Janardan Maharaj is happy to remember so many stories
22-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012

23-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 This is an exciting class
24-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Ramachandra Prabhu takes a turn

25-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012
26-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012

27-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Sarvabhavana Prabhu as well
28-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012

29-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Jivana Devi and Ramachandra Prabhu
30-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Some of lovely community

31-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012
32-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Kalindi was very moved to say some words about Maharaj...

33-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 especially about the good influence he has been in her own life
34-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012

35-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012
36-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Vimala Devi also spoke about Janardan Maharaj's influence in her life...

37-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 and made him laugh
38-Janardan-Maharaj-Appearance-2012 Kumari Shivani practices a dance

Tags : B.P. Janardan Maharaj
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