By Yashovardhana dasa, from All-India Padayatra
I am a forty-year-old padayatri from Bodwad, a village in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. After getting initiated I joined ISKCON Pandharpur as a full-time devotee, and when I got deity backup seva in the temple I started serving Sri Sri Radha-Pandharinatha. My spiritual master, Lokanath Maharaja, told me to join padayatra when it comes to Pandharpur.
Then in 2009 the All-India Padayatra came to Pandharpur dhama. I had heard a lot about the glories of Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundara and the oxen, how the ratha is moving non-stop all over India since 1984, making multiple rounds of India and taking darsana of chara dhama. From Pandharpur I joined and to date I am walking in padayatra. I have completed one round of India and started a second. I could only have had darshan of chara dhama and many pilgrimage places due to padayatra.
I drive the rath and also serve our oxen who I like, as they are fortunate souls serving Their Lordships. While distributing books I feel Srila Prabhupada is showering his mercy upon me. I love Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundara. Even if I am sent home I will not go. I will live and die in padayatra.
By the mercy of Their Lordships I am fit and fine, with no health issues. Once Prabhupada came in my dream saying, “Distribute my books.” So, I love book distribution, especially Bhagavad-gita, the Song of God. My being in padayatra pleases Srila Prabhupada.
