By Damodarleela dasa, Maharashtra Padayatra leader
Srila Prabhupada expressed his desire, “We can introduce many millions of such carts all over the world,” and keeping that in mind our spiritual master, Lokanath Maharaja, ordered us padayatris to start the Maharashtra Padayatra.
Although serving in the All-India Padayatra for ten years I was, nonetheless, not feeling qualified when ordered by Gurudev and my senior God-brother, AIP leader Acarya dasa, to take up the service of Maharashtra Padayatra leader. Since then, however, I have felt it’s Their Lordships who actually lead the padayatra; we padayatris are just nimitta matram. Their Lordships take care of us and though difficulties keep coming the Lord gives us strength, just as when a child falls while walking, his mother picks him up and gives him motivation to continue.
Our padayatri who was driving the tractor could not come back to us due to the lockdown, so we arranged for another devotee but after one month he also left. When I called Acarya, he said, “You drive the tractor.” We are just six padayatris and have so many services to manage, but then I thought, “Okay, done. Now I will drive the tractor,” and started taking training.
One day a devotee from Kolhapur called saying one more devotee would be joining padayatra. I said, “Most welcome, there are only a few devotees in padayatra, he will help us.” When I asked if there was a devotee who could drive the tractor he replied, “Prabhu, this devotee I am sending can drive the tractor.” I exclaimed, “Haribol, jai Nitai-Gaurasundar! That means the Lord is taking care of everything.”
Sometimes when the gas cylinder is empty, someone comes and helps us. Whatever the need, the Lord sends help. We have few devotees, but I am sure the Lord will take care of that also.
Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar, ki jai.
Srila Prabhupada, ki jai.
