H.G. Jayananda prabhu
The test of a theory is in its implementation. While one can spend a lot of
time analyzing the process of bhakti, faith readily comes when one sees the
theory in action. Jayananda Prabhu is such a devotee who exemplified in an
almost classical manner the process of bhakti from inception to completion. When
he left his body on May 1, 1977, Srila Prabhupada instructed that his
disappearance day should be celebrated as that of a great Vaisnava. Observing
the pastimes of such devotees greatly reaffirms one's faith in the process of
bhakti.
The background
**************
Jim Kohr was the all-American boy. Handsome, strong, intelligent born in an
upper middle-class family. A good student, he took a degree in mechanical
engineering from Ohio State University. However despite his outward trappings of
success, he was often unhappy, empty and dissatisfied with the material
conception of life. Jim did not fit into the upper class crowd, so it was not
very surprising that he ended up driving cabs in San Francisco. Though an
introspective person, he was not really religious. His depression was almost
suicidal when in 1967 he happened to read a small article in the San Francisco
paper about an Indian Swami who had come to the Bay area to propagate the
chanting of the names of God. For some reason the article ignited a ray of hope
within him. He resolved to attend the lecture of the Indian Swami.
In the Bhagavad Gita (7.16), Krishna says, 'four kinds of pious men begin to
render devotional service unto Me -- the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the
inquisitive, and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.' Jim was
searching for answers from the material miseries, and in such a mood took his
first step towards his destiny.
The beginnings
**************
Jim was instantly attracted to the Indian Swami, who was none other than Srila
Prabhupada, the founder acarya of ISKCON. He had been in the U.S.A for only a
year and was in the process of establishing his mission of bringing Krishna
consciousness to the Western world. Jim began to regularly attend the morning
Bhagvatam lectures of Srila Prabhupada. On some occasions Jim would be the only
guest listening to the morning lecture. Soon he became very attached to Srila
Prabhupada and his teachings. Prabhupada lovingly reciprocated and would
sometimes personally cook prasadam for Jim and serve him. Soon thereafter Srila
Prabhupada accepted Jim as his disciple and initiated him with the spiritual
name Jayananda.
In Cc Madhya 19.151 Caitnaya Mahaprabhu says that '. out of many millions of
wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to
associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krishna. By the
mercy of both Krishna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed
of the creeper of devotional service.' In this way Jayananda received the seed
of devotion, out of the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada. From the
instructions and teaching presented by Srila Prabhupada, he understood his
special relationship with Krishna, with Guru, and that there is an authorized
process to establish this relationship.
Attraction to Krishna consciousness
***********************************
Jayananda was completely enamored by Krishna consciousness. He would rise every
day morning before four, do a little arati, chant his rounds of japa, read and
cook prasad. Then he would go for his 'incense run' (selling incense sticks). He
never deviated from this, he was completely happy as long as he was practicing
Krishna consciousness.
Jayananda worshipped prasadam. When a little prasadam spilled on the floor he
would lick it up. He loved to cook, eat, offer and distribute prasadam in a big
way. He even said 'prasadam' with so much love and devotion that it made one
immediately want to take some.
Another example of his attachment to Krishna consciousness was his love for the
holy name. He was always seen chanting and dancing enthusiastically during
kirtans. One day after working hard for ten hours straight, when all the other
devotees were looking forward to some rest, Jayananda enthusiastically bounced
into the temple room for kirtan. His japa was very intense, very focussed, as he
strove to personally associate with each and every syllable of the mahamantra.
In Bhakti-rasamrta sindhu, Srila Rupa Goswami mentions that the process of
sadhna bhakti begins with a little faith (sraddha). This faith then blossoms
into a desire for devotee association (sadhu-sanga) and then into bhajan-kriya
(devotional service).
Similarly, Jayananda, after receiving the association of Srila Prabhupada and
other devotees at the temple began to execute devotional service as per the
instructions he received from his spiritual master. As he executed his sadhna
sincerely, he became purified of the material impediments to devotional
service(anartha-nivrttih) and began to manifest the all-attractive qualities of
a pure devotee.
Humility
********
Humility was certainly Jayananda's most prominent quality. He treated everyone
as his superior, even new devotees. Although his service was glorious, he never
wanted any glory. He avoided praise like the plague. Devotees got to know that
if they wanted to keep Jayananda's association they would better not praise him.
His humility was very natural and he always found something other than himself
that was praiseworthy. Even though he was a senior devotee, older than most of
the people around him and eminently qualified, he was happy to simply serve.
Once a new boy at the temple wanted to do some service and was asked to help
with the trash. The weekly trash run was done by Jayananda, who cheerfully took
the little help the boy gave. Later when the boy became a devotee, he remembered
thinking, 'If the garbage men at this temple can be so blissful, just imagine
what the rest of the devotees are like!'
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in the third verse of Siksastakam lays down the
qualification for offenseless chanting. 'One can chant the holy name of the Lord
in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street.
One should be more tolerant than the tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige
and ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant
the holy name of the Lord constantly.' Jayananda exemplified this verse. He was
so humble that just being in his association would make one feel ashamed of
one's pride. He was very special, yet no one paid any special attention to him.
That was just the way he liked things.
Service attitude
****************
Jayananda was an expert at everything: cooking, preaching, Deity worship, public
relations, sankirtan, selling incense, construction, and anything that it took
to spread Krishna consciousness. He was a tireless worker, first to rise in the
morning and last to sleep at night. He was always running out to get flowers,
washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen or taking out the trash. Whatever service
he was given, he would make sure that it was done, no matter how busy he was or
how much personal hardships he had to endure for it. No matter how hard he was
working, he would never stop for a nap during the day. He seemed inexhaustible.
Many times when Jayananda went to Berkley to distribute leftover prasadam, he
would first organize a crew to clean the kitchen, working twice as hard as
anybody else, then he would transfer the prasadam, load it into the van, drive
it to Berkley, organize the distribution there and have kirtan while all this
was going on. Many years later he readily accepted the position of the driver
for the Radha Damodar travelling sankirtan party, working side by side with
brahmacharis scarcely half his age. In spite of his advanced position and
seniority he never asked for anything special and readily accepted menial
position under new devotees.
In the Vishnu purana, Sri Krishna informs Arjuna that 'one who claims to be My
devotee is actually not My devotee. One who claims to be the devotee of my
devotees is in actuality My devotee'. Jayananda completely manifested this
quality. He was always striving to be the 'dasanudasa', the
servant-of-the-servant. But there was no artificial humility in him. Material
humility is relative, it is predicated on the qualifications of the recipients.
Jayananda had spiritual humility, it was absolute, without any consideration of
the status or qualities of the recipient. He served every one and expected no
one to serve him.
The process of remembering, discussing or enumerating the qualities and pastimes
of the Lord and His devotees is very purifying. This week we continue the
discussion of the qualities of Jayananda Prabhu, who in the relatively short
time he was associated with Krishna consciousness, perfected his devotional
service and left us many instructions by example.
Freedom from fault finding
**************************
Perhaps the most defining characteristic of Jayananda was that he never
criticized anyone. Even if a devotee did something that warranted criticism, he
would usually not say anything, or else make the mistake appear as something
perfectly natural. He never spoke harsh words or chastised anybody. Sometimes
devotees would come to him with expansive ideas of how to spread Krishna
consciousness. Jayananda would encourage these ideas, however extraordinary. At
the same time he was not a fool. He could always pick up the right man for the
job.
In the Nectar of Instruction (Verse 5), Srila Rupa Goswami says, 'one should
associate with and faithfully serve that pure devotee who is advanced in
undeviated devotional service and whose heart is completely devoid of the
propensity to criticize others.' Jayananda could not even bear to hear the
criticism of another devotee. If such a thing were happening he would simply
leave the room. These are the characteristics of an uttama-adhikari, one who has
reached the highest level of perfection in his sadhana bhakti.
Dear to everyone
****************
Like the six Goswamis, Jayananda was dear to both the gentle and the ruffians.
He was as much at home with the Italians at the produce market as he was with
the Brahmacharis at the temple. Once a devotee was approached by a staggering
drunk in San Francisco, who looked at his robes and asked, 'Hey, where is my old
friend Jayananda?'
Many devotees who took over Jayananda's old territory would meet people who
would say things like, 'Where is Johnny Ananda?' or 'That man - he's the nicest
and most pure man I've met' or 'I don't know much about your philosophy, but if
Jayananda is into it, it must be all right.'
One woman public official on the San Francisco board was famous for giving the
devotees a hard time during Ratha-yatra. One year when the devotees approached
her, she asked, 'where is Jayananda?' On hearing that he had passed away she
broke down and began to cry. The purity in Jayananda's heart would touch the
even most cynical.
In BG 5.7, Sri Krishna says that 'One who works in devotion, who is a pure soul,
and who controls his mind and senses is dear to everyone, and everyone is dear
to him. Though always working, such a man is never entangled.' Every one loved
Jayananda, since he had completely transcended the bodily conception. He would
approach a drunk, a hippie or a devotee with the same compassion and enthusiasm.
He spoke to the Supersoul in everyone, and everyone responded accordingly. Like
Maharaja Yudhisthira, Jayananda's enemy was never born.
Expert at engaging everyone
****************************
It is said that though Krishna has nothing to do with non-devotees, His devotees
are even more compassionate than Him and will try and engage them in the Lord's
service. Jayananda was eager to see everyone engaged in Krishna's service.
Whenever a new bhakta would come. Jayananda made him feel he was engaged in
important work. He was older, bigger and stronger than just about anyone in the
temple, and everyone was glad to be working under him.
His preaching style was very simple and direct. He would speak from the heart to
the heart. Once he was preaching to a couple of hippies, while crawled under an
automobile. All that was visible of him was a pair of legs, yet the two hippies
stood there, transfixed by his message. During Ratha-yatra time he would
organize a crew of cynics, hippies, bloopers, uncooperative personalities and
non-devotees off the street to help build the carts. He would get them to work
for ten to fourteen hours a day, always glorifying them.
The Cc Antya 7.11 it is stated, 'The fundamental religious system in the Age of
Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Krishna. Unless empowered by Krishna,
one cannot propagate the sankirtana movement.' Because of the genuine compassion
in Jayananda, Krishna gave Him the unique ability to make people want to render
devotional service, directly or indirectly.
Materially renounced
********************
Jayananda had almost no possessions, even during his years as a householder.
What ever he had, he used for the service of the temple and Srila Prabhupada.
When he was gifted five thousand dollars, he promptly donated that to Srila
Prabhupada. In the introduction of the Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada
acknowledges this contribution. For many years he was almost single handedly
supporting the temple by driving his cab for 12-14 hours a day. When he was in
his last days of his life, he used the money given to him for his treatment to
support the Ratha-yatra in Los Angeles.
He was extremely careful with what he considered to be Srila Prabhupada's money.
When selling incense, he would sleep on park benches in bitter cold rather than
spend money on a motel. He used his considerable charm to get people to donate
almost every thing that was needed. What he could no get for free, he made sure
that he received a good value for the money spent.
His final lesson in material detachment came when it was discovered that he was
suffering from cancer of the lymph and blood. Jayananda continued as if nothing
had changed. When his body became frail and weak, he continued preaching,
inspiring and organizing from his bed in the hospital. For him the body was
simply a means to render devotional service to the Lord.
In Cc. Madhya 6.254 Caitanya Mahaprabhu summarizes in the phrase 'vairagya-vidya-nija-bhakti-yoga',
which means 'renunciation through the wisdom that comes from practicing
devotional service.' Jayananda was a true sannyasi, as one who did not just
renounce material objects but actually renounced the desire for these material
objects. He was always eager to use everything for the service of Krishna,
however he had no personal desire for anything material.
Jayananda: king of the Ratha-yatra
***********************************
Jayananda was the backbone of the Bay area Ratha-yatra for several years. Behind
the scene he would do everything for the preparation of the festival. He would
beg food, flowers, funds - buy materials and build the carts. He would arrange
for the permits, organize the cooking and serving of prasad. Although things
always went right down the wire, he would consistently succeed in fulfilling all
this plans every year. After the festival he would cook a cake or a pie for each
and every person who had some how helped in the festival. Because of his efforts
the Bay area devotees to this day enjoy an amazingly harmonious relationship
with the city officials.
In his last days Jayananda was busy organizing the Ratha-yatra from the hospital
bed. He would talk to people on the phone, send his associates to meet various
persons and things began to miraculously materialize. Every moment of his life
was preciously used in the service of Krishna.
Mystic opulence
*****************
It is said that pure devotional service brings about much opulence. Thought the
devotees never seek them out, once they are there, they are used for the service
of Krishna.
Jayananda apparently could function with very little or even no sleep. Towards
the last few days of the Ratha-yatra he would sleep less than three hours a day,
yet he was the most energetic and enlivened member of the crew. His propensity
to consume prasad was astounding. He could consume buckets of halva, plates of
samosas and potatoes without any side effect. When he was in his last days, he
was put on an intravenous diet, yet he would often ask devotees to sneak in huge
quantities of samosas and cheese-potatoes for him, which he would happily
consume without any apparent distress. He would some times sleep in the
Bhagavatam classes, since he was very tired, yet later on he could perfectly
quote from the class or have a deep discussion about its contents.
In BG 4.26, Sri Krishna declares that, 'One who is engaged in full devotional
service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of
material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.' In the
Närada-pancaratra, devotional service to the Lord is likened unto a queen
attended by her maidservants in the form of material opulences, liberation and
mysticism. Jayananda never had any hankering for these, but when they came, he
simply used them in the service of Krishna.
Special relationship with Srila Prabhupada
******************************************
Jayananda has complete faith in Srila Prabhupada. He perfected his devotion by
making the instructions of Srila Prabhupada the very core of his life. He was
advanced enough to realize that real association was through following the
instructions of the spiritual master. Unlike most of the other devotees, who
would go out of their way to get some personal association of Srila Prabhupada,
Jayananda was contend to work in the background, carrying out his instructions.
He exemplified the superiority of association by vani (instructions) over vapu
(personal association). Srila Prabhupada would invariably call of Jayananda when
he was in the temple. Jayananda would resist saying, 'No, I cannot go. I am too
dirty. I am too fallen,' such were the transcendental exchanges between the
spiritual master and his dear disciple.
In Cc. Madhya 19.151, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that, 'Among all the living
entities wandering throughout the universe, one who is most fortunate comes in
contact with a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus
gets the opportunity to execute devotional service.' Jayananda was one of these
fortunate souls who came in contact with a pure devotee of the Lord and under
his guidance was able to perfect his devotional life.
Conclusion
**********
Jayananda passed away on May 1, 1977. He joined the Krishna consciousness
movement in 1967, just when it is in its beginning, and left the planet a few
months before Srila Prabhupada. In the scriptures it is said that when the pure
devotees of the Lord appear to execute His will, their associates invariably
accompany them. One cannot help but speculate that Jayananda had only come to
serve his eternal spiritual master. The fact that Srila Prabhupada was on this
planet at the time of his passing away is also significant. It let Srila
Prabhupada affirm that 'every one should follow the example of Jayananda.'
We offer our most humble obeisances to Sri Srimad Jayananda Prabhu, the
exemplary teacher of devotional service in Krishna consciousness.
Note: Special thanks to Jaya Tirtha Caran prabhu from NZ for allowing us to use some of the content from his site to compile these pages - http://www.hknet.org.nz
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