Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances on the occasion of your 129th appearance day. All glories
to Your Divine Grace!
In a Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam purport, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you beautifully explain that Kṛṣṇa is the
CSO, the Chief Sanctioning Officer, because nothing happens without His will. Even a blade of
grass doesn’t move without His sanction
Today’s corporate world is filled with CEOs, CIOs, CXOs, and buzzwords like “strategy” and
“servant leadership.” Yet true leadership, as shown by you, isn’t about titles but impact. Without
corporate backing you inspired a global movement (ISKCON) through selfless service, genuine
care, and unwavering dedication. Founded in 1966, ISKCON is presently the fastest-growing
spiritual movement, with over six hundred centers worldwide. And it continues to expand, estab-
lishing new temples, farm communities, and cultural centers each year. An example modern lead-
ers can learn from!
By fully surrendering to the order of your spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī
Ṭhākura, Kṛṣṇa empowered you to achieve the impossible: building a global spiritual movement
with zero investment. No venture capitalist can dream of launching even a small business without
seed capital, yet you established a billion-dollar spiritual empire, where followers work tirelessly
not for salary but out of love for Kṛṣṇa. This is the greatest success story the world has ever seen!
While organizations sell products for profit, Lord Caitanya’s followers like you distribute the
rarest treasure – love of God – freely. This divine gift, unattainable even by great yogis after life-
times of meditation, is given to all sincere souls without cost, purely out of compassion
You redefined success not as wealth, beauty, or power, but as striving to attain love for Kṛṣṇa.
No management consultant could ever offer such an extraordinary vision of true success! Your life
itself was the perfect demonstration of this divine way of life!
You exemplified extraordinary servant leadership by personally cooking prasādam, cleaning
floors, and tolerating all difficulties simply to fulfill Lord Caitanya’s vision of spreading Kṛṣṇa
consciousness to every town and village. This selfless service was your divine strategy to attract
conditioned souls to Kṛṣṇa, proving that true leadership is expressed through humility and love.
Another perfect example is the construction of your beloved Juhu temple, built purely by the
power of harināma and book distribution. This proves that Kṛṣṇa’s mission thrives on devotion
and preaching.
After countless debates, arguments, and struggles to secure the Juhu temple land, when your
opponents finally surrendered, you rejoiced, saying: “The fight was worth it!” Your determination
turned an impossible battle into a glorious victory for Kṛṣṇa!
After winning the Juhu land, a day came when all the food supplies ran out. You calmly
instructed Mr. Sethi to arrange khichdi prasādam for the devotees. And that very evening, as you
sat on the vyāsāsana, you spoke with unwavering determination, describing in detail how the
temple should be built: white marble, red-bricked towers, and a majestic altar for Śrī Śrī Rādhā-
Rasabihārī. Your unshakable faith and vision by which you fulfilled your promise to the Deities
remain truly phenomenal!
Your approach wasn’t based on corporate jargon but selfless service, deep wisdom, and an
unwavering commitment to your spiritual master’s mission. Unlike modern executives focused on
profit and market dominance, you distributed something priceless: love, devotion, and genuine
spiritual transformation. Your “strategy” wasn’t driven by analytics or shareholder value but by an
unshakable faith in Kṛṣṇa and the power of pure bhakti.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you led not for power but to uplift others, giving the world Kṛṣṇa con-
sciousness through love and care. Your legacy lives on at the Juhu temple through multiple initia-
tives like:
• Sunday Love Feasts: the program you initiated continues to grow and thrive.
• Youth outreach: we reach out to young people and support their spiritual growth alongside
their studies through the BACE setup. This year’s Tarang festival attracted 6,000 young
boys!
• Value education contests: ISKCON Juhu’s nonprofit initiative of hosting a Bhagavad-Gītā
open-book contest and rewarding students for their study.
• Japa stalls: we offer a pamphlet about chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra on beads, with a
take-home mahā-mantra card. An inquiry pamphlet also guides visitors on the Kṛṣṇa con-
scious lifestyle, benefiting many.
• Devotional gift stall: the gift shop carries a wide variety of devotional items, from pūjā
paraphernalia to clothes to aromatic incense sticks, of which the Rasabihārī variety is highly
sought after.
• Vegetarian cuisine: Govinda’s Restaurant, Govinda’s Bistro, and prasādam at the sweets stall
and bakery attract many. Visitors leave with cherished memories of Deity darshan, delicious
prasādam, and enriching experiences, drawing them back.
• Farm community: as an extension of our temple, Nilachal Vedic Village, in Talasari, Palghar,
promotes sustainability through its farm and goshala. We offer day tours, overnight stays,
and sell farm produce at our temple stall.
• Harināma and Shobha yātrās at Juhu Beach are held regularly.
• Grand festivals throughout the year – spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness just as you envisioned!
• Food-for-Life: you introduced Food-for-Life at the Juhu temple, where millions still receive
prasādam, nourishing body and soul!
• Bhaktilata Ladies Forum: empowering women to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness in their daily
lives.
• Life Membership program: the program you introduced in the 1970s still offers members
a chance to join ISKCON’s family, stay at temples, and attend spiritual programs. This
program continues to expand. Today, over 50,000 Life Members are part of our growing
community.
• Sri Rupa Manjari Institute: ladies from all walks of life are welcome to learn more about
ancient Vedic philosophy and culture.
• Bhaktivedanta Institute: started by you, the Bhaktivedanta Institute is attempting ground-
breaking work within the field of Consciousness Studies. The Institute’s research aims at
offering a new perspective on foundational problems in allied fields of modern science.
The Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Rasabihārī temple, as envisioned by you, our beloved ācārya, has proved to be
more than just a place of worship; it’s a spiritual oasis for people seeking refuge from the material
world.
You perfectly embodied Bhagavad-gītā 2.41 – vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ – by staying resolute in
your mission. Your single-minded focus on spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness made the impossible
possible. Your unwavering determination was the key to your success. You fulfilled your promise
to Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Rasabihārī by building a marble palace for Their pleasure.
We pray to align our temple’s activities with your divine strategy, creating a win-win for all –
bringing true peace and auspiciousness to the entire world.
Thank you, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, the greatest Chief Strategy Officer the world has ever and
will ever see! Let your divine love and compassion continue to guide and uplift us all at your
office – ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai, home of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Rasabihārī!
Please also accept this poem as an offering to you:
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
You are an embodiment of compassion, a messenger of love.
By your wisdom and teachings of the realm above,
You thwarted our miseries and delusions,
which clouded our vision.
You gave us the language of devotion,
Freely distributing experiences of higher emotions.
With a heartwarming smile and merciful glance,
You captured our heart, giving us the chance,
To utilize this lifetime in service of Kṛṣṇa,
Through the joyful means of arcana, vandana, and saṅkīrtana.
Thank you, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
For extricating us from the material roundabout!
Your servants at ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai