Jayapataka Swami
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Jayapataka Swami was born John Gordan Erdman on April 9, 1949, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, North America and was later given the name 'Jayapataka dasa' upon receiving initiation into the Hare Krishna movement, by his guru, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Presently he is one of the initiating spiritual masters (gurus) of ISKCON and a member of the Governing Body Commission (GBC), and is also divisional trustee for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT).
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[edit] Birth, Childhood and Education
John Gordan Erdman was born to John Hubert and Lorraine Erdman. At 14, he graduated in the top of his class from St. John's Academy, a college preparatory school. He was offered full scholarships including tuition, books, food, lodging plus incidental expenses by several major universities around America. He accepted admission into Brown University. There, as a fresh enrollee, he was influenced by a guest lecture on the life of Buddha that he lost all interest in his studies and began searching for a spiritual teacher. After some time of searching he concluded he would have to go to India to find his teacher.
Before leaving for India, Gordan came across some Hare Krishna devotees, doing kirtan and distributing 'Back To Godhead' magazine. When one devotee approached him to take a copy of the BTG, he was stunned to see the tilak on his face, and experiencing some strange feelings, he began to run. After running a few minutes, he stopped to contemplate on what he had seen and decided to return. However when he walked back the devotees had left.
Shortly after he visited the San Franciso ISKCON center, where he met Srila Prabhupada who encouraged him by inviting him to take prasadam with him. Gordan took first initiation in Montreal, Canada and was given the name 'Jayapataka dasa brahmachari'. Soon after he was awarded 2nd initiation in New York.
While in Montreal, Jayapataka was engaged in the service of printing books and dispatching them to other ISKCON Centers around the world. Later, on the instruction of Srila Prabhupada, Jayapataka went to Toronto to open a center there. When Jagadish dasa took over the Toronto center as president he wrote to Srila Prabhupada enquiring about his service and was told by him to go to India.
[edit] Preaching in India
At Calcutta, Jayapataka began to learn Bengali by going out to buy fruits and vegetables. Along with the other devotees, he conducted house programs, organized pandal programs, and went out on sankirtan and book distribution.
On Radhashtami in 1970, in Calcutta, Srila Prabhupada gave Sannyas initiation to Jayapataka dasa, awarding the title "Tridandi Biksu Jayapataka Swami".
When ISKCON got a land in Mayapur, Jayapataka Swami went there on the instruction of Srila Prabhupada.
There were 5 other devotees with Jayapataka Swami in Mayapur. As funds were short, Jayapataka Swami began engaging in agriculture. He studied several books, learnt different methods and got the best crop. Local farmers were surprised and wanted to learn from him. This helped build a lasting relationship with the local people. Jayapataka Swami taught them modern techniques of agriculture and the farmers taught him Bengali. Jayapataka Swami began to oversee construction work in Mayapur and the lotus building was built.
With the permission of Srila Prabhupada, Jayapataka applied for Indian citizenship. This meant that he could not leave the country. He utilized this time for traveling within Bengal into the villages preaching and distributing books. Srila Prabhupada told Jayapataka to distribute 10,000 'big books' and 100,000 'small books' every month. Also, Srila Prabhupada instructed Jayapataka Swami to build the congregation and this is the area that Jayapataka Swami is very much focused on nowadays. He's been travelling extensively around the world for many years with the desire to fulfill this instruction of his Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada.
[edit] Namahatta
Jayapataka developed the system of Bhakti Vrksa preaching which assists namahatta preaching by enabling wider preaching and giving intensive and personal training to devotees so that everyone gets the chance to train to be a pure devotee while engaging in preaching activities.
[edit] Mayapur Mandala Parikrama and Pilgrimages
In March 1974, the first Gaura Purnima festival was held. Four hundred devotees from North America, South America, England, Europe, Australia, India, and other parts of the world joined in the festival in Mayapur.
Coinsiding this event, Jayapataka Swami led groups of devotees on parikrama (pilgrimage) to local holy places. This visit to Mayapur would constitute the first half of the devotees’ Indian pilgrimage; after ten days they were scheduled to go to Vrndavana. The Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama has been continuing ever since with the number of devotees participating increasing each year in the thousands.
Jayapataka also has recently introduced the 'Ganga Safari' to visit those holy places connected to Lord Caitanya which are approachable only along the river flow. Similarly he conducts a tour of holy places in India and neighbouring countries.
[edit] Uniting the Sarasvat Gaudiya Family
Initially Jayapataka stayed in Gaudiya Matha for a few months in Calcutta and Mayapur, and earned their respect. That short period of stay in the Gaudiya Math made it easier for Jayapataka Swami to relate with some of the Gaudiya Maths. Prabhupada told Jayapataka to unite the Gaudiya Matha in an effort to connect the spiritual family. After endeavouring for more than five years finally the Sarasvat Gaudiya Vaisnava Association was formed with the blessings of Prabhupada and blessings of all the senior Vaisnavas like Bhakti Pramode Puri Swami and other acaryas and Jayapataka is the convenor for this association.
[edit] ISKCON Responbilities
[edit] Spiritual Master
Jayapataka Swami was one among the eleven named by Srila Prabhupada to give initiation on his behalf when he was seriously ill. After Srila Prabhupada died, Jayapataka Swami began to accept disciples as a spiritual master in the Srila Prabhupada branch of the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya.
[edit] Food For Life
Jayapataka is the world chairman for 'Food for Life' and ISKCON's Food Relief Programs. A descendant of Advaita Acharya, selected Jayapataka Swami to be in charge of the annual Santipur mass prasdam distribution program.
[edit] Life Chairman of Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust
On November 5 1977, Jayapataka went to Vrndavana to meet Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada told him, "I am making Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust" and added, "you are the life chairman." Jayapataka at this time also got the mandate from Prabhupada to unite the Sarasvat family, preserving the holy dham of Lord Caitanya and serving the pilgrims.
[edit] Governing Body Commission
Jayapataka started as GBC in East India which includes Bihar, Orissa and Bengal. From 1980 to 1999 he was the GBC for South-East USA, as well as South America. He is also the GBC for Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Jayapataka serves as Co-GBC in the Far East. Jayapataka is also a GBC for Assam. He is also the Minister of Congregational Preaching and Minister of Congregational Development, the Vice-chairman of the World Hindu Federation and Convenor of the Sarasvat Family.
[edit] Bibliography
- 'Vaishna ke?'
- 'rtvik-maya-vada-sata dushani'
- 'Spiritual Truths from Cyberspace'.
- 'Caitanya Bhagavat'
- 'Prabhupada Remembrance'
- '100 transcribed lectures'
