As thousands of devotees pray for him around the world, ISKCON guru and GBC Jayapataka Swami is slowly making a recovery at Mumbai’s Hinduja hospital.

“He is being gradually weaned from ventilator support,” says Dr. Madhavananada of the nearby Bhaktivedanta Hospital. Adding, “His Holiness’ condition is far less critical than it was during the first ten days after his admission to the ICU.”

Doctors first attempted to remove Jayapataka Swami’s ventilatory support on November 15, but replaced it after two hours. Every day, they take him off the ventilator for some time, and note down how long he can sustain respiration without it.

Jayapataka Swami has been fully alert and conscious this week, recently using an alphabet chart made by devotees to indicate the spelling of Haribol. “When asked whether he was saying Haribol to all the devotees around the world, he emphatically nodded yes,” says Dr. Madhavananda.

His Holiness has met with several devotees, including Sacinandana and Candramauli Swamis on November 18. He feels hungry and requests food, taking several teaspoons of semi-solid prasadam 2-3 times a day. Endocrinologist Dr. NF Shah noted that his insulin requirements are reducing, a sign of gradual progressive recovery with decreasing stress levels.

“It is very heartening to see his progress,” says Dr. Madhavananada. “The neurologist and intensivist are happy with the current positive outcome and feel that very soon he will be able to pull through without ventilatory support.”