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Vyāsa-pūjā 2022

Subhadrā Śubhāṅgī devī dāsī (Mayapur - India)

My dear spiritual father,

Please accept my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet

All glories to you!

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!

I reflect on your auspicious appearance day as a great opportunity & great fortune in my life to glorify the whole paramparā through you. Though this glorification needs to be done each and every day, due to my inability I am unable to do so. For multiple generations of devotees, you have been a great inspiration; for those around you, a Kṛṣṇa-conscious influencer.

Some time back, I came across these two beautiful verses spoken by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa to His dear devotee Akrūra:

bhavad-vidhā mahā-bhāgā
niṣevyā arha-sattamāḥ
śreyas-kāmair nṛbhir nityaṁ
devāḥ svārthā na sādhavaḥ

na hy am-mayāni tīrthāni
na devā mṛc-chilā-mayāḥ
te punanty uru-kālena
darśanād eva sādhavaḥ

“Exalted souls like you are the true objects of service and the most worshipable authorities for those who desire the highest good in life. Demigods are generally concerned with their own interests, but saintly devotees never are. No one can deny that there are holy places with sacred rivers, or that the demigods appear in deity forms made of earth and stone. But these purify the soul only after a long time, whereas saintly persons purify just by being seen.” —(Śrīmad-bhāgavatam 10.48.30-31)

These two verses immediately reminded me of Yourself. I once again realized my good fortune that I am allowed to serve you. It is said that a disciple can never repay His guru for the thankless service of giving initiation. Despite my fallen status, by your mercy, I consider myself fortunate to be accepted as your spiritual daughter.

O Gurudeva! Daily, I wake up early in the morning and chant on my japa 20 rounds, read Śrīmad-bhāgavatam, and also do service in your office. Last year, I started conducting a Bhagavad-gītā class in my mother tongue, Marathi. Initially, I was not confident to give a class but after receiving your heartful blessings, they are going smoothly. So much so, some of them have started chanting rounds. I wish to preach more and more, as doing so will make you happy. Lastly, my deep desire to serve you more personally got fulfilled as I got the opportunity to translate the messages on the JPS app into Marathi.

I am praying daily to Lord Narasiṁha for your quick recovery and good health. I beg for your guidance and mercy at every step of my life.

On this auspicious appearance day, I pray at your lotus feet for two blessings — May I develop Śaraṇāgati, complete surrender at the Lotus feet of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava, Śrī Pañca-tattva, Śrī Narasiṁhadeva, and may I serve Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission perpetually.

Thank you very much for accepting me as your disciple.

Aspiring to be your significant servant,

Subhadrā Śubhāṅgī devī dāsī,

Śrīdhām Māyāpur, India.