Today is the Vyas Puja (Appearance Day) of one of the greatest heroes the world has ever seen and definitely one of the biggest heroes in my life. Today is the Appearance Day of His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaj. "Jayapataka" means "Victory Flag". As his name suggests, Maharaj has achieved victory over insurmountable and seemingly impossible obstacles. His life is an emblem of one-pointed dedication to Guru, selfless service to the Vaishnavas and unparalleled compassion to the common people. Even after going through a life-threatening brain hemorrhage, a liver and a kidney transplant, he still continues to preach the message of His Dear Lord Chaitanya with great vigour and zeal. For him the word "Impossible" means "I am possible". His life is a glaring example to the entire world that, if one is possessed by a burning desire to serve Guru and Gauranga, then anything, literally anything is possible.
Srila Prabhupada, in the initial days of ISKCON itself, recognised him and introduced him to the world as an eternal associate of Lord Chaitanya. Now, we can see with our own eyes how this is so very true. How this eternal associate of Lord Chaitanya has earnestly and sincerely assisted his spiritual master and toiled endlessly to plant the Victory Flag of the Sankirtan movement in every part of the world is a wonder of it's own and will be an important chapter in the modern Sankirtan era. By planting the Victory Flag of the Sankirtan movement around the world, Jayapataka Maharaj has proved true the words spoken by Lord Chaitanya - "param vijayate sri krishna sankirtanam" - "Let there Victory to the Sankirtan of the Holynames".
Offering my most humble and respectful obeisances to the lotus feet of His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaj millions and millions of times and begging him to bestow a drop of his dedication, determination, devotion and compassion on this fallen yet hopeful soul.
Your most insignificant servant,
Achyut Gopal Das.
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