Maharaj's Appearace Day 2011

My guru Maharaj H.H Bhaktimarga Swami had his appearance day celebration the other night. It was an unforgettable exeperience. By Lord Krishna's mercy I was able to witness for the very first time a guru's vyasa puja which is considered very very sacred. Without a bona fide spiritual master one cannot make any advancement. So we did this ceremony for Maharaj yesterday in celebration of his birthday. He turned 59. Next year he will be 60 and I hear it will be a much bigger celebration.

We did a fire sacrifice in the temple room for Maharaj for a half hour.Maharaj wore the red, white, and orange flower garland I made for him. I was blissful it looked so nice on him and that he accepted it. He didn't know that I made it for him. I was going to tell him but decided not to.  Not many people were there yet. Maharaj looked a bit uncomfortable sitting there and he did look slightly nervous even in Govinda's I don't think he felt too comfortable about his vyasa puja being celebrated. I can tell he looked nervous. Then after the fire sacrifice, Maharaj led kirtan for the Deities for a half hour.

At 6:30 we all headed into Govindas which is our temple's restaurant. There they did Aarti for him and four Prabhu's bathed Maharaj's feet I wish I could have gotten a glimpse of Maharaj's feet or get a picture of his feet but unfortunately I wasn't able to. Then everyone was invited up to go up to Maharaj and offer obeisances unto him. I was so terrified that I let everyone else go ahead of me. I didn't feel ready to go up to Maharaj. I felt like I was back at my initiation which is why I nearly went last. So not only did it seem like Maharaj was nervous I was  terrified myself when  I went to offer my obeisances to him. I had gotten Maharaj a new iron for his clothes and made him a copy of the slideshow of Srila Prabhupada for him in case he wants to watch it  again. After everyone gave Maharaj gives or obeisances, Maharaj went to cut the cake. And then lastly was the slideshow of Prabhupada that I made for him. I was surprised that everyone loved the slideshow of Prabhupada that I made. I was not expecting the devotees to go wild over it but they did. And Harinam the prabhu who was in charge of the celebration wants me to make another slideshow for next year. Maharaj had thanked me several times for the slideshow. I was so happy he was  very pleased with it.

Then we all had prasadam. However I couldn't stand in the long line because my back was hurting me from sitting on the floor. Maharaj was so kind he gave me  prasadam from his plate so I thanked him for it and I told him he didn't have to do that. So I went  and distributed some of it to my fellow godborthers and godsisters because it was maha prasadam from Maharaj.  I also forgot to mention that  during  the  gift giving ceremony and glorification, Maharaj suddenly tossed to me a flower he was  holding. He startled me with that. I still have the flower of course. During prasadam I sat with my godbrother Ramachandra and a friend of our s Rishi. I told Ramachandra we needed a new photo taken with Maharaj and Rishi helped by using his camera. Here is the picture below.

And also here is a photo of Maharaj wearing the flower garland I made for him.

I felt so blissful seeing this garland i made for him around him.

Over all it was such an auspicious day for many of us. I had fasted all day for Maharaj to burn off my bad karma I may have had so as not to spiritually harm him on his vyasa puja. I felt I had to do it since he has done so much for me. And to finish it off here is another beautiful photo of my guru Maharaj during the second half of his vyasa puja.All glories to H.H Bhaktimarga Swami! May Lord Krishna send him many blessings and give him all protection!