Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja: Now we will hear from HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja. Actually he is the one who first started this book distribution here and he has been witnessing, the point he started book distribution and where it has reached now and I’ll tell you all this is happening because of his energy. Even if he is in hospital he is encouraging calling everyday the sankirtana buses during marathon period. And because of his dedication, he sacrificed for this book distribution, Srila Prabhupada that Mayapur has reached at this level. So we are very happy to hear from His Holiness now. Hare Krishna!
HH Jayapataka Swami: I will speak in very brief. Srila Prabhupada said ‘Preaching is the essence. Books are the basis!’
Because of my health reason I went to Delhi. So HH Gopala Krishna Maharaja and Mohan Rupa dasa were helping me very nicely.
Last year Mayapur sankirtana devotees were doing Vrajamandala Parikrama. Mayapur sankirtana devotees came to meet me in Delhi, Sant Nagar temple. Mayapur sankirtana devotees were talking to me, getting blessings and challenged that we will defeat Delhi and become number 1. (laughter)
Gopala Krishna Maharaja was neutral, BBT Trustee, he just blessed them. (laughter) So I saw different devotees, from ashraya group, bhakti vrksa group, namahatta group and other devotees, for last two months they are preparing and pledging how many books they will distribute. I spoke to the Mayapur devotees, and asked that you have any shame! don’t feel shame? So then I told Mayapur devotees, in Delhi 2500 devotees are taking part in marathon in month of December, congregational devotees. But Mayapur only 100 sankirtana devotees! What they can do? So sankirtana devotees may be ati- rathi, maha-rathi, but they are 100. But Delhi 1000’s.
So if Mayapur devotees, also namahatta devotees, if they take part in book distribution then there is a chance that we can show our face. Whether we can become number 1 or not but we can show our face at least! (laughter) Then Mayapur devotees took part in marathon and because of that by the mercy of Krishna became number 1. (Devotees: Haribol!) Devotees can do different kinds of service but each and every devotee irrespective of their service should do book distribution at least in the month of December. In the West its the Christmas marathon and in India its called Gita Jayanti month. In the month of December Krishna spoke Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.
Early days we used to distribute Gitar Gana, each book Re 1. I was asking how was the sankirtana, so now sankirtana devotees they don’t talk about sets, they talk about sets, Bhagavatam sets, Caitanya Caritamrta sets, other sets. Srila Prabhupada how much he will be pleased. I saw when the first set came, Prabhupada seeing that set of books he was crying! You are fulfilling the desire of Srila Prabhupada. Now in computer ebooks are available. In certain countries if you distribute books like that, and books are visible you may be in prison. But ebook that problem is not there. You can buy ebook from BBT and anywhere and everywhere you can use these books.
Bhakti Caru Maharaja glorified Vaisesika Prabhu. So book distribution is our family business. We are very happy that congregational devotees are also taking part in book distribution. Srutidharma prabhu sent me a message. Out of India, the top book distribution temple out of India, is Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK. And he said, how they became number 1 because the bhakti vrksa devotees all of them took part in the book distribution marathon in the month of December because of that Bhaktivedanta Manor became number 1 outside of India.
You are distributing books throughout the year. Other devotees if they distribute also, especially during marathon time, then it will be very nice. Golden jubilee year every devotee should distribute 50 books at least and sankirtana devotees will distribute 1000’s of books. So I spoke in brief. I’ll end now. Hare Krishna! By the way I personally distributed books in Delhi and in Bombay.
Devotees: Haribol!
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