Honoring Jayananda Prabhu's Disappearance Day

[Guest guest]

Dear Prabhus,

 

We wish to honor our wonderful godbrother, Jayananda Prabhu, on his coming disappearance day, Tuesday the 27th, by offering selections of Jayananda remembrances from Dhanista dasi's new book, Prabhupada Guide Dreams to Rock My Soul.

 

From her book:

 

Walking along Market Street in downtown San Francisco, 1973, I saw them. This time there were maybe eight devotees dancing, chanting, and playing, drums and cymbals. The person leading was a tall strong man with the kindest face, childlike innocence, and an intensity that took me to a higher level. He closed his eyes, tightly in total concentration as he sang and stepped side to side with the rhythms of the mantra - Hare Krishna Hare Krishna - I followed, recognizing the words from my favorite song and stayed glued to them until they turned to go back to the temple. this was it - all paths crossed here.

 

(Later in book) "I often see in my mind's eye that tall strong man with the kindest face and childlike innocence who was leading the Harinama Samkirtana Party down Market street the first time I saw devotees chanting - that gentle soul was Jayananda prabhu.

 

I believe without Jayananda's presence and memory early on in my devotional life, at times, I would have been completely forlorn and disillusioned. He is even more important to me now. I pray to Jayananda - the saint. He needs no canonization for us to recognize his qualities steeped in love and compassion. It was easy to follow his instruction and guidance. It is still easy and reassuring to feel his presence. He brought many souls to Srila Prabhupada's Krishna Consciousness Movement and by his loving strength, he kept us in good association, determined to keep our vows.

 

I remember before Srila Prabhupada's arrival, early one morning, some of the brahmacaris and Jayananda prabhu had gone for a japa walk through the Mission District neighborhood near the temple. when they returned, Krta Karma dasa said Jayananda had taken off a flower garland he was wearing, given from the Deities and had carefully placed it around a statue of the Virgin Mary they had passed during the walk. I had heard before that he did this sometimes and later went to see for myself. Sure enough, there she stood with hands to her heart and a pink and white carnation garland draped around her neck and shoulders. She would have seemed forlorn or a little forgotten if it had not been for this gesture of respect and devotion. It is remembrances like these that have inspired me to continue and to understand a little deeper (my capacity is minuscule). Understanding of true Vaisnava culture and behavior is a joy and source of relief in this world where disrespect and violence against innocent hearts of saintly men and women have become somewhat commonplace. (to read more, please access the Jayananda site)

 

If you would like to order this book and support efforts to create a small and humble women's asrama;

 

- please send a donation for $20.00 + $4.00 s&h ($ 8.00 for international orders) per book

- Make check or money order payable to Deborah Yarber

- send to;

Dhanistha dasi

Rt.1 Box 267

Stonefort. Illinois 62987

ph 618 672-4689

 

Also:

We just got an email from Devotees in Bangalore, which explains how many devotees throughout the world do not know so much about Jayananda, and that Srila Prabhupada asked us to honor him on his disappearance day.

 

"Dear Prabhu / Mataji,

Some of the brahmacaris are proposing celebrating Jayananda Prabhu's disappearance day in the Bangalore temple, after one devotee came across Srila Prabhupada's instruction to Ramesvara regarding this, in the folio. We need some orientation. Are any ISKCON temples observing this festival nowadays? If they are, then what exactly is done? Please rush your reply since, we have only 2-3 days left.

 

y.s. Anuttama Dasa, ISKCON Bangalore."

 

Dear Anuttama Dasa,

pamho agtsp

 

Thank you for the question. My name is Visoka dasa, and I keep up the Jayananda web page, http://members.aol.com/BigSlok108/index7.html.

 

It is true that many devotees do not know about Jayananda Prabhu. Srila Prabhupada loved Jayananda very much, he said that he was always thinking of Jayananda. Jayananda really got Srila Prabhupada's mercy, and he gave the mercy to everyone that he met, on the street, everywhere. Jayananda is truly an Iskcon saint.

 

We mostly honor his disappearance day out in California, because that is where most devotees know about Jayananda. But the whole society should observe this day because Srila Prabhupada instructed us to.

 

It is simple, it is celebration of a great Vaisnava. We cook a feast in honor for Jayananda, and we have a picture of him on the altar, to offer the feast. Then we sing the appropriate Vaisnava song by Narottama, and then we talk about Jayananda. Some older devotees tell of their experiences, and some read about Jayananda, especially from Kalakanta's ariticle.

 

You can access this website, and I recommend that you read the following, the Jayananda Katha 4 and 5 are very good, and many like the Jayananda 2 and 3 pages.

 

I guarantee that everyone will be in bliss from hearing these stories.

 

Hope this meets you in bliss,

your servant Visoka dasa

http://members.aol.com/BigSlok108/index7.html