My most revered spiritual master, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace. On this most auspicious occasion of Vyāsa-pūjā, I offer my humble words, knowing they can never adequately express the depth of my gratitude I feel for your causeless mercy.
A severe health challenge last summer forced me to confront the temporary and uncertain nature of this material body. In that condition, all illusions of independence were stripped away, and I could clearly perceive that I am completely dependent on your mercy, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
During that difficult period, I also felt deeply sustained by the heartfelt prayers of devotees throughout ISKCON. I remain profoundly grateful to every devotee whose sincere prayers, concern, and well-wishes carried me through that time and continue to do so now. It is only by their compassion and spiritual strength that I feel I have been allowed to continue in my service.
I’m truly grateful for this second chance – a renewed opportunity to carry out the service you so kindly ordered me to do at the Devasadan Mandir in 1976. Helping complete the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is a sacred trust, one that I see with ever-increasing clarity and urgency.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you envisioned this temple not simply as a grand building but as a spiritual and cultural beacon for the entire world – a place that would present the Vedic understanding of the universe, establish the supremacy of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, and powerfully counteract the influence of the Age of Kali.
The TOVP is meant to be a bold declaration of Kṛṣṇa consciousness to humanity, a center from which the teachings of Lord Caitanya can enlighten people and engage them in His service. It is to serve as a unifying spiritual home for devotees, a place of pilgrimage, education, and inspiration, the worldwide headquarters of the preaching mission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
To assist in manifesting this divine vision is an immeasurable honor, one I now approach with greater humility and seriousness than ever before. Having been reminded so vividly of the limited nature of my time, I feel an intensified determination to see the Deities installed and worshiped in Their full glory in this grand temple, your place of worship, and a worthy offering from you to our glorious paramparā!
The TOVP is a tangible expression of gratitude from all the devotees in your worldwide ISKCON movement to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for everything you have given us and as an expression of unity that was your parting wish for us.
I pray that this service may be performed purely as an offering, free from personal ambition, guided only by your instructions and the desire to please you and our previous ācāryas. Please allow me to act as an instrument in fulfilling this vision, despite my many shortcomings. May your dedication to carrying forward Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s mission continue to inspire us despite all obstacles. Your shining example of tolerating so many difficulties for the upliftment of others remains our guiding light. Whatever small service I may render is only possible by following your example and receiving your mercy.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, I would also like to give you a TOVP progress and current work update, and also assure you that we are doing our utmost to open the temple for your pleasure on 1 November 2027, your fiftieth disappearance anniversary. A three-month festival will follow that most sacred day, during which all our beloved Mayapur Deities will be relocated to Their new palace home, and fifteen new ācārya mūrtis will be installed. Our main focus is the completion of the TOVP’s main wing in all its gorgeous detail. Varieties of work continue unabated, almost twenty-four hours a day. This includes:
Main altar – to be completed by the end of 2026
Vyāsāsana – to be completed by the end of 2026
Flooring inlay work – to be completed by the end of 2026
Marble cladding of pillars and walls – to be completed by the end of 2026
Coffered ceiling and crown – to be completed by June 2026
In February this year, amid the progress in the main wing, as above described, we happily opened the beautiful and spacious TOVP yajña-śālā for your pleasure. In this yajña-śālā we perform daily yajñas to the Lord by the hands of our gurukula students and other devotee brāhmaṇas. It is a wonderful example to the world of placing the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the supreme enjoyer of all activities and offerings, as you have taught us to do.
On this most sacred day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, I place whatever remains of my life, energy, and capacity at your lotus feet. Kindly engage me in such a way that I may contribute to the fulfillment of your great mission and the glorification of our entire disciplic succession. Thank you for your boundless compassion, guidance, and inspiration!
Your insignificant servant,
Ambarīṣa Dāsa