Dearest worshipable founder-ācārya, Your Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
On this sacred occasion of the 130th year of your divine Vyāsa-pūjā, we, the members of the Indian Continental Committee (ICC), offer our heartfelt gratitude and prayers. Whatever we have been able to do in your service is only because of your mercy.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you have given us everything – your books, your teachings, your movement, and a clear path to follow. When we look at ISKCON in India today, we can only feel that it is your work, your vision, and your compassion that are sustaining everything. The śāstra reminds us:
yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ’pi
Only by your mercy can we approach Kṛṣṇa. Without your mercy, we have no standing.
ICC is a small attempt to serve your mission in a cooperative way. It brings together ISKCON temple presidents, the general managers of preaching centers, Regional Secretary assistants, Zonal Secretaries, sannyāsīs residing in India, and leaders from various ministries, such as communications, education, goshala development, and social initiatives. The intention is simple: to support one another and serve your mission more effectively.
Over time, ICC has helped facilitate working groups in areas such as book distribution, harināma-saṅkīrtana, youth outreach, goshala development, and devotee care and other social initiatives. These are all small efforts to strengthen what you already gave us.
We have also tried to support large preaching events and festivals, including gatherings like Kumbha Melā and the Rāma Mandir inauguration, and are now assisting in coordinating efforts for the 60-50 global celebrations of ISKCON in India, working in cooperation with international leadership.
One important aspect of ICC has been that it provides a platform where leaders and devotees can come together, discuss openly, and help one another. Many times, challenges that seem difficult in one center become easier when shared and discussed with others.
We are trying to ensure that these discussions take place in a proper Vaiṣṇava mood – with respect, patience, and a sincere desire to understand. In this way, ICC helps leaders and devotees express their views in a constructive and respectful manner, while maintaining harmony.
The meetings, held twice a year, have been especially helpful. Leaders from across the country come together and make a sincere effort to discuss preaching, management, and how to improve our service. Recently, we have also begun focusing more on areas like sustainability, land development, and goshala initiatives.
By your grace, ICC has also been able to support efforts to preserve and digitally restore your audio and video recordings. We understand that your vāṇī is our life, and it is our responsibility to make it accessible for future generations.
At the same time, Śrīla Prabhupāda, we know that all these efforts are meaningful only if we remain faithful to your instructions. You gave very clear guidance to temple leaders. You wanted temples to be strong in sādhana, clean, and caring toward devotees. You wrote that the temple president is responsible for the spiritual standards of the devotees, and you also emphasized that everything depends on the sincerity of the leaders. Most importantly, you reminded us that our love for you will be shown by how much we cooperate. These instructions remain our foundation. They are simple, but not always easy to follow.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, in a country as large and diverse as India, differences in opinion and approach naturally arise. But we understand that such differences should not become obstacles in serving you.
So, on this day, we place a sincere prayer at your lotus feet. Please help us to cooperate. Please help us to listen to one another with respect. Please help us to remain focused on your instructions.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you showed us what real leadership is. You were firm in philosophy, yet deeply compassionate. You worked tirelessly, traveled constantly, wrote extensively, and guided personally – all for the benefit of others. Above all, you lived fully for the instruction of your spiritual master.
We may be trying to serve in different roles, but we know that we are far from your example. Still, we take shelter. India is very dear to you. You wanted that people here take Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously and help share it with the world. If we, as leaders and devotees in India, can truly work together – with sincerity, humility, and cooperation – then your movement can grow in a way that will please you and benefit many.
We therefore pray that you bless all the leaders and devotees in ISKCON in India. Please help us to work together in a cooperative spirit and guide us to follow your instructions carefully. Please help us strengthen book distribution, expand preaching efforts, care properly for devotees, train the next generation, manage temples responsibly, and develop goshalas and sustainable projects in line with your vision.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, whatever has been done is by your mercy, and whatever is lacking is due to our own limitations. On this day, we do not claim anything – we simply pray. If we have made mistakes, please forgive us. If we have not served properly, please correct us. If we are lacking sincerity, please purify us. Above all, please keep us together in your service. Let us not become divided. Let us not become distracted. Let us not forget why you created this movement. Let us remain your servants.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, please bless us that we may distribute more and more of your books so that your message can reach every home and every heart. Please bless us that we may develop consciousness of you – that we may think, act, and serve in a way that reflects your desire. Please help us to keep this movement truly centered on you, where your instructions remain the guiding force in all that we do.
We have no strength of our own – only the hope that by staying connected to your instructions, we may continue somehow in your service. Kindly keep us under your shelter.
Your servants,
Sahadev Dāsa, chairman
Sumithra Kṛṣṇa Dāsa, vice-chairman
Keshav Murāri Dāsa, secretary