On May 10th  2015, ISKCON-guru Jayapataka Swami was hospitalized in India due to severe difficulty breathing. As of May 28th, he is still in critical condition. He had to be placed on a ventilator due to his ongoing difficulty breathing. 

It was identified that Jayapataka Swami has pneumonia. All relevant tests and medications had been administered to check this problem. Nevertheless, his body is not responding as it is expected. Thus the situation is at a critical stage. There are fluids accumulated in his abdomen and lungs, which is compounded by the pneumonia. Antibiotics and other medications are given to him with due care to prevent complications with other organs.

A team of devotee-doctors is supervising Jayapataka Swami’s treatment given by the hospital. Two of these devotees are currently with him in Delhi and others are participating via tele-conference practically around the clock. There is a constant  discussion with the doctors’ team to consider pros and cons of treatment and the immediate course of action.

On May 28th, the Executive team of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission has issued the following statement:

Dear Devotees around the world,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

As you may know HH Jayapataka Maharaja’s health is not so good, indeed we
have to unfortunately inform you that he is currently in a critical
situation. He is in the ICU of the ILBS hospital in New Delhi.

Our simple request to all of you is to kindly pray to Srila Prabhupada and
Lord Krishna for Maharaja’s well being.

It is by the prayers of the devotees that the most auspicious outcomes are
achieved and while no one can know the plan of the Lord, even though great
philosophers inquire exhaustively and remain bewildered;

na hy asya karhicid rajan puman veda vidhitsitam
yad vijijnasaya yukta muhyanti kavayo ‘pi hi

the fact remains that devotees can appeal to the Lord with their sincere
prayers for the well being of other devotees.

HH Jayapataka Maharaja has not requested us to pray for him but as he is
such a senior devotee who has done so much for Srila Prabhupada’s mission
and of course had so much intimate association with His Divine Grace, we
feel we must make this request on Maharaja’s behalf.

Srila Prabhupada once wrote:

“I came here [to America] with a great mission to execute my spiritual
master’s order, but my heart is stabbing me. If I die in this condition, my
mission will remain unfulfilled. Please therefore pray to Prabhu Lord
Chaitanya and Vrindaban Bihar [Krishna] to rescue me this time. My mission
is still not finished” (Letter to Sri Krishna Pandit, 1967)

We are all so thankful that Lord Krishna allowed Srila Prabhupada to remain
with us for another 10 years and achieve so many extraordinary feats in the
mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Likewise if the Lord decides to allow
Maharaja to remain with us he can continue to build on all the wonderful
successes he has achieved on behalf of Srila Prabhupada.

Therefore we are sincerely and humbly urging you all to offer your prayers
for the well being of HH Jayapataka Maharaja, whatever the plan of the Lord
may be.

Thank you.

Your servants,

Praghosa dasa GBC Chairman
Sesa dasa GBC Vice Chair
Bhakti Charu Swami GBC 2nd Vice Chair