My dearest and beloved Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine
Grace!
On this auspicious and momentous occasion of your 129th Vyāsa-pūjā, as I bow before your
exalted presence, I am filled with profound gratitude, awe, and reverence for the immeasurable
mercy you have bestowed upon this world. You, the divine senāpati-bhakta of Lord Caitanya
Mahāprabhu, descended into this material world to fulfill His divine mission, to awaken the souls
of the world to their eternal, loving relationship with Śrī Śrī Radha-Kṛṣṇa. As I reflect upon the
countless blessings of this past year, I am filled with immense joy and eagerness to share with
you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, the inspiring progress that we have achieved in your mission, especially in
India.
The 2024 December book marathon was historic – both in India and worldwide. Especially in
India, it has reached a new global benchmark and can be considered an unparalleled achievement
in the history of ISKCON. Together, we, your devoted followers of ISKCON in India, distributed
a staggering 6,676,509 books, setting a new global standard in sharing the transcendental knowl-
edge you so mercifully gave us. Śrīla Prabhupāda, from the very inception of ISKCON, book
distribution has been at the core of your mission. This monumental accomplishment is a direct
offering of love and devotion to you. The credit and inspiration for this year’s book distribution
goes largely to His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Mahārāja, a lifetime trustee of the interna-
tional BBT. Mahārāja was a steadfast pillar of support and guidance, and a tireless distributor of
your books. It is a fulfillment of your instruction, “The success of your preaching will be substan-
tiated by how many books are sold. If we just depend on temple collections, that will not be very
satisfactory. We should make our program so strong that book-selling alone will maintain our
economic situation.” (Letter to Rameśvara, Los Angeles, December 9, 1974)
I vividly recall the December 10, 2018 disciple retreat at Sri Krishna Goshala, in Durban, South
Africa. There, amidst a gathering of dedicated devotees, we brainstormed new ways to enhance
our collective chanting and increase the reach of the holy name in different ways. It was in that
moment that the idea of a virtual conference platform for global chanting emerged, which ulti-
mately led to the creation of the “Zoom Temple.” What began as a simple idea with ten devotees
blossomed into a revolutionary initiative, quickly uniting more than two thousand devotees daily
from around the world. Six years later, in July 2024, the World Book of Records, London, offi-
cially recognized our “Zoom Temple” for its unprecedented contribution to spiritual outreach.
The “Zoom Temple” now connects over two thousand login locations globally, reaching more
than five thousand devotees, and inspiring one of the most innovative and far-reaching initiatives
in online spiritual engagement: chanting together and concluding with a japa talk.
When you were with us, ISKCON had under ten temples in India, and your vision of a thriving
Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement in the land of Bharata (India) was still unfolding. Today, Śrīla
Prabhupāda, that vision has been realized in the most magnificent manner. ISKCON India has
expanded to over three hundred ISKCON centers, including outposts, extension centers, preach-
ing centers, and full-fledged temples. The growth is staggering.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, I remember a striking conversation we had back in 1973 at Mr. Mahadevia’s
home. You asked me how many visitors attended our evening ārati and kīrtana at Hare Kṛṣṇa
Land in Juhu. I humbly answered, “Fifty to sixty visitors, Prabhupāda.” You exclaimed with
great satisfaction, “Oh, so many!” Śrīla Prabhupāda, I knew how concerned you were when you
observed that the Indian population was slow to embrace Kṛṣṇa consciousness in those early
years. At one point you said to me, “We need more men like you.” And now full-time brahmacārīs
are filling ISKCON ashrams, and countless congregational devotees are daily visiting temples in
India. The participation of the youth and congregational members has surpassed all expectations.
Thousands of young men and women are embracing Kṛṣṇa consciousness with fervor, dedicat-
ing themselves to chanting, studying your books, distributing literature, serving in temples, and
joining padayātrā, especially the one-day padayātrās. ISKCON’s youth groups, Bhakti-vriksha
programs, and nāma-haṭṭa initiatives are flourishing, with millions participating in congregational
activities all over India. I feel a deep sense of reassurance that the Lord is fulfilling your wish
and sending sincere souls who are eager to serve in your mission. This exponential growth is
proof to the causeless mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the power of your divine mission:
paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam. India has awoken, Śrīla Prabhupāda! Your Kṛṣṇa conscious-
ness movement has taken deep root in its homeland, and the wave of devotion continues to rise,
unstoppable and ever-expanding. Good will continues to grow, and our relationship with the
government has reached new heights – evident from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participa-
tion in the recent inauguration of the Navi Mumbai temple.
As I reflect on the most recently concluded Māyāpur festival, a moment of great significance
comes to mind. During the flag-hoisting ceremony, I was reminded of your words in New York
when, as you were passing by the United Nations, you asked, “If the United Nations truly stands
for unity, why are there so many separate flags?” But in Māyāpur, the transcendental headquarters
of your movement, we witnessed true unity. Devotees from over fifty nations stood together under
one spiritual flag, united not by artificial borders but by the shared mission of love and devotion
to Lord Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda, your words resonate so powerfully: “We are creating the real
United Nations on the basis of spiritual understanding.” In Māyāpur, that vision is being realized.
We raise the flag of Lord Caitanya’s mercy, the flag of His saṅkīrtana movement. That flag, soaring
high, has become the symbol of your vision. Devotees from fifty nations celebrated the festival
together, chanted and danced together in ecstatic joy, walked side by side on the Navadvīpa
maṇḍala parikrama. We honored prasādam together, sharing love, laughter, and spiritual camara-
derie like a true united family. In the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (One world, One family),
we stood together as servants of the Lord, bound by the eternal bonds of bhakti.
This year, on April 6, we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma temple. It
is not just a milestone, Śrīla Prabhupāda, but also a testament to the unbeatable strength and
endurance of your divine mission. In the sacred land of Vrindavan, you inaugurated a magnificent
temple. For half a century this temple has been a lighthouse of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This temple
is your heart. On that auspicious day of Rāma-navamī, you personally offered the very first ārati
to Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma, inaugurating Their glorious temple. The temple was overflowing with devo-
tees. I found myself standing right at the altar’s edge, witnessing this historic moment, meditating
on Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma and Your Divine Grace. I distinctly remember the divine smile on your face
as you offered ārati. It was an expression of pure devotion, fulfillment, and boundless joy. That
moment remains etched in my memory forever. It is this memory that reminds me of December 6,
1975, in the very same Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma courtyard, that you awarded Śrīdhara Swami, Pṛthu-putra
Swami and myself sannyāsa, instructing us to become traveling preachers. This year is also my fif-
tieth sannyāsa anniversary. You emphasized the importance of spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness far
and wide, reminding us of the paramparā tradition of great traveling preachers: “A sannyāsī’s duty
is to travel and preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He should never remain stagnant, but must move
from place to place, distributing the mercy of Lord Caitanya.”
Little did I know that this instruction would lead me to many years of traveling by bullock cart
padayātrā, bringing Lord Caitanya’s movement to every town and village. One year after receiving
sannyāsa, in the autumn of 1976, again in Vrindavan, you inaugurated our first padayātrā bull-
ock cart traveling party, which would cover the pioneer route from Vrindavan to Māyāpur. You
instructed: “The basic principle is this: induce them to chant and take prasada. You’ll be success-
ful … Yes, go village to village. It is a very noble attempt.” You further instructed me in a letter
dated December 23, 1976: “Prasada distribution and chanting and book distribution is sufficient
for your program.”
Last year on Rādhāṣṭamī, in Jagannātha Purī, we joyfully celebrated forty glorious years of
the All-India Padayātrā – the mother of all padayātrās, which commenced in 1984. Traversing the
length and breadth of India nearly six times, it has brought Kṛṣṇa consciousness to countless vil-
lages, towns, and cities. The All-India Padayātrā, and padayātrās in one hundred countries, includ-
ing the one-day padayātrās and so many other occasional walking festivals – put together we have
covered an astonishing 300,000+ kilometers – the equivalent of circling the earth close to eight
times.
You said, “Kumbha Mela is the largest spiritual gathering in the world, and we must be there
to preach Krishna consciousness. This is the duty of ISKCON devotees, to bring the message
of Lord Caitanya to the seekers who come searching for spiritual truth.” ISKCON has a steady
presence at every Kumbha Mela, distributing prasādam, books, and the holy names. Initially, we
were not recognized. We had no official place and no standing. Despite these challenges, your
disciples endured the harsh conditions to distribute your books and spread the holy names
among the millions of pilgrims attending this momentous gathering. However, everything has
changed. Your ISKCON has been formally recognized and honored with a prestigious position
within the Kumbha Mela setup. ISKCON has now been officially acknowledged as a legitimate
and respected spiritual organization within the vast network of traditional akhaḍas and religious
groups. Śrīla Prabhupāda, on February 10, 2025, during the Maha Kumbha Mela in Prayagraj,
the Akhila Bharatiya Akhara Parishad bestowed the prestigious Vishwa Guru title on Your Divine
Grace, marking the first and only time this recognition has been bestowed upon anyone in history
(India Currents, February 18, 2025). ISKCON is now inseparable from the great spiritual traditions
of India. They are embracing ISKCON and honoring your legacy. This is the ultimate victory, a
truly glorious moment Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Close to ISKCON Pandharpur we have established a Prabhupāda Ghata on the banks of the
Chandrabhaga River. It has become a major attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of pil-
grims. It stands as a spiritual landmark in Pandharpur Dhāma, glorifying Your Divine Grace.
The new Bhūvaikuṇṭha temple project is progressing steadily, guided by your vision, instruc-
tion, and desire.
In your letter to me, dated July 30, 1977, you wrote: “The whole of India, and specifically your
Maharashtra, are enthused with Krishna. Now you have to revive their Krishna consciousness.
This is Tukaram’s country, but now they are becoming bad politicians. So revive them by the pro-
cess of the sankirtana movement. I am very glad that you are preaching village to village and will
cover all of Maharashtra. You should train one farmer from your native village so that he can actu-
ally become an ISKCON representative there. I am especially pleased to see how you are pushing
forward the book distribution … Now you are also doing this all over India. Organize very solidly
and thus increase the number of books distributed, the number of devotees made, and develop
centers of Krishna consciousness everywhere.”
Inspired by this instruction, we continue to revive Kṛṣṇa consciousness through the process of
devotional service. The Bhūvaikuṇṭha project, conceived under this vision, is making remarkable
progress. With construction advancing steadily, it stands as a significant step in fulfilling this mis-
sion, providing a sacred space where people can awaken their devotion.
Alongside all this progress, there is also one observation of concern. As I reflect on the eter-
nal glory of your ISKCON and your instructions about unity, we must remain vigilant against
internal discord (infighting, groupism, politicking). I remember a particularly distressing inci-
dent from the early days at Hare Kṛṣṇa Land, when a devotee in a moment of intense agitation
pursued the temple president with a tree branch, determined to strike him. The scene was deeply
unsettling, and I found myself overwhelmed with sorrow as I sat before your vyāsāsana. With tears
in my eyes I was mentally appealing to you. Where have you brought me? Is this the Vaikuṇṭha
world? This was the last thing I was expecting to happen in your spiritual movement. So, now I
lovingly appeal that differences be amicably resolved to keep your institution together. We must
remember your instructions more than ever and address disputes with humility and love, remem-
bering your call for unity in diversity. You wrote to Kīrtanānanda on October 18, 1973: “The
materialist without being able to adjust the varieties and the disagreements makes everything zero.
They cannot come into agreement with varieties, but if we keep Krsna in the center, then there will
be agreement in varieties. This is called unity in diversity.”
My godbrothers and godsisters are leaving us behind to join Your Divine Grace and Gaurāṅga.
It is your gain and our loss. I miss them all deeply. I especially wish to remember Gopal Krishna
Goswami Mahārāja, your “right-hand man,” who recently departed. His departure weighs on my
mind. I was fortunate to be with him during his final moments. His dedication to you and his
guidance were a constant source of inspiration and support for me. This year would also have
marked fifty years of us serving shoulder to shoulder in your mission. Now I once again turn to
you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and to the memory of His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Mahārāja,
seeking your divine strength and blessings. May I continue my service to you with the same reso-
lute dedication that he so tirelessly exemplified throughout his life.
Whatever I have done and continue to do is simply a manifestation of your will. I again offer
everything – my body, mind, and soul – at your divine lotus feet on this most sacred day of your
appearance. May I continue to serve you with sincerity and dedication. May I carry forward your
mission with the same relentless spirit of perseverance and devotion that you instilled in us all.
The legacy you bestowed upon us is not just for today but for countless generations to come.
You are my eternal master, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and I will always remain your eternal servant.
Your insignificant servant,
Lokanath Swami