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Vyāsa-pūjā 2024

Hemarūpa Caitanya dāsa (Wada - India)

Hare Kṛṣṇa

All Glories to Śrī Śrī Guru and Gaurāṅga!

All Glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!

All Glories to Śrīla Gurudev!

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet,

This 75th Vyāsa-pūjā Mahostav is an awaited event for all us disciples. We are so fortunate to be able to able to celebrate your transcendental glories and achievements and forever be grateful to Lord Kṛṣṇa, Lord Caitanya the entire Paramparā and especially Śrīla Prabhupāda for giving us the path of fearlessness and victory by service unto the lotus feet of a pure devotee, as yourself.

In the past years, you have encouraged everyone hearing your talks in - taking shelter of an āśrama (brahmacārī/gṛhastha) and not dangling in between; in systematically studying Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books and taking the qualifying exams; establishing monumental projects like TOVP, MOVP and Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet emblems at various tirthas; the Lord Caitanya Līlā Project; Gṛhasthas to be Paramahaṁsas and making thousands of Ācāryas. You also had setup a kind of spiritual adoption agency, to facilitate gṛhasthas who want children but are unable to conceive; with those devotees who may be unable to take care of a conceived child.

I repeatedly try to remember all these contributions and projects you are doing – that keeps me inspired and focus in my own practice and services. It also helps me to understand your mood, your nature, your thought and your desire. I feel so grateful that your openly share these engagements and projects, so much so, just by reading about them, we feel almost a part of it. Thank you so much Gurudev!

In the 7th canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 15th Chapter, verses 20 to 25 – Nārada Muni explains how different anarthas can be overcome by different means:

Lust is counteracted by being determined

Anger is counteracted by giving up envy

Greed is overcome by discussing disadvantages of accumulating wealth

Fear is overcome by discussing truth

Lamentation and illusion is counteracted by discussing spiritual knowledge

Envy is counteracted by giving up sense gratification

Pride is counteracted by serving to a great devotee

Sufferings due to karma are counteracted by meditation

Sufferings due to others are counteracted by good behaviour

Sleep is conquered by developing goodness

Passion and ignorance can be overcome by goodness

Goodness is overcome by Shuddha-sattva

And so on …..

After speaking all these wonderful things which any sincere devotee would become inspired and even excited by, Nārada Muni says, “etat sarvam gurau bhaktya purusho hy anjasa jayet” – all these can be attained easily by anyone who has devotion to Guru.

Śrīla Prabhupāda says in the purport of the 25th verse: “Just by treating the root cause of an ailment, one can conquer all bodily pains and sufferings. Similarly, if one is devoted and faithful to the spiritual master, he can conquer the influence of sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa very easily.”

Just as we glorify bhakti being the one-stroke-solution or panacea for all conditions, factually, service to the spiritual master with love and devotion grants us freedom from all anarthas and also attainment of good qualities.

In the 26th verse, it is said;

yasya sākṣād bhagavati
jñāna-dīpa-prade gurau
martyāsad-dhīḥ śrutaṁ tasya
sarvaṁ kuñjara-śaucavat

“The spiritual master should be considered to be directly the Supreme Lord because he gives transcendental knowledge for enlightenment. Consequently, for one who maintains the material conception that the spiritual master is an ordinary human being, everything is frustrated. His enlightenment and his Vedic studies and knowledge are like the bathing of an elephant.”

Hence, we are reminded sternly, that the Guru is not ordinary. My dear Guru Mahārāja, your entire activities, life, mission and love is not ordinary. On this holy day, I bow down at your lotus feet and seek your blessings that I may remain steadfast in my dedication and devotion, and pray to cultivate some Vaiṣṇava qualities that may please the vaiṣṇavas.

Your son and servant,

Hemarupa Caitanya dasa

ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village

Wada, Maharashtra.