Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaj Has A Stroke

July 11, 2003

Dear worshipable followers of HDG Prabhupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur,

The following is the latest update on the health of His Divine Grace:

Our Guru Maharaja is now enroute to Calcutta accompanied by a special doctor and four of his disciples. He is flying from Bhubanesvara. Upon reaching there he will receive a scan to better determine the extent of his stroke.

The best facilities and easiest arrangements with doctors who know our Guru Maharaja have been arranged there.

During the past 20 hours since our last update, Srila Guru Maharaja spoke only once to the devotees and said "Why are you sitting there, Please chant Hari Nama", and then returned to His own chanting and deep internal meditation. Other than these words Guru Maharaja is not speaking to anyone , only chanting the Holy Name.

The doctors have said that Guru Maharaja's body is strong and in good health for his advanced age and therefore have allowed him to travel to Calcutta.

It is still too early to tell how the stroke may have effected his motor functions in the body as it normally takes several days for any patient to recover from the effects of a stroke. Under these conditions the doctors who have seen His Divine Grace have been amazed that he continues to chant while not appearing to be externally conscious of what is going on around him. He continues to remain in a state of samadhi. The general opinion is that his physical condition is gradually improving. We believe the Lord is hearing all of your prayers and reciprocating.

Devotees around the world continue to chant and pray for the continued darsan of His Divine Grace in this world. We humbly request all of you to bless us with your sincere prayers for the healthy recovery of our Guru Maharaja.

Today is the auspicious day of the appearance Sri Narasimhadev for whom Guru Maharaja has special affection and devotion. We are all praying to the Lord for His special protection at this time for His intimate servitor, Pujapada Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaja. Whatever plan the Lord has for us all is meant to enhance the love and affection we feel for His pure devotees, for without the grace and affectionate blessings of exhalted Vaishanavas it is not possible to advance on the path of pure devotion or to really chant the Holy Name of the Lord offenselessly.

As we are all one spiritual family under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, let us take this opportunity to come together as He desired with mutual respect and affection for His affectionate son and representative. Surely this will please His Divine Grace as His affection for our Guru Maharaja is certainly unlimited. He has great love for him and once glorified our beloved Guru Maharaja as follows:

"Sri Pranavananda Brahmachary (brahmachary name of Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami), who is expert in all scriptures, the perfect example of Sri Guru Seva and an eloquent preacher of bhakti, is hereby happily adorned by Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Pracharini-Sabha with the title of 'Upadeshak'--the Preceptor.

....everyone in the world should accept him as such. Let all the people know that his life is one with his words."

Prabhupada Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur

Srila Guru Maharaja will often say to any devotees before they leave on a journey after blessing them and chanting many prayers for protection to Sri Narasimhadev, "Jaya Narasimhadev, Jaya Prabhupada,; Jaya Narasimhadev, Jaya Prabhupada!"

We may also pray to Prabhupada and Sri Narasimhadev for their continued blessings on us in the form of Srila Puri Goswami Maharaja.

I pray that you are all successful in your dedication and services to Guru and Gauranga and are experiencing the charm and sweetness of the pure Vaishnavas.

das das anudas,

Ramdas das