Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
On this most auspicious occasion of your Śrī Vyāsa-pūjā, we offer our humble obeisances at
your lotus feet. All glories, all glories, all glories to Your Divine Grace.
The Vaiṣṇavī Ministry here in South Africa has had wonderful opportunities within the past
year. Being part of the delegation representing ISKCON at the United Nations Commission for
the Status of Women in 2024, there was a wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with other
Vaiṣṇavī leaders from across the world. This association gave rise to a renewed focus of strategy
and pillars that are now being established within the yātrā.
We have also made an in-depth study and analysis of your instructions on how to care for and
protect Vaiṣṇavīs. Something that has been endearing and insightful is the sharing of pastimes
and experiences from the female devotees who have taken direct shelter of you, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
When they share their experience of being in close service to and association with Your Divine
Grace, it is clear that their minds and hearts are fixed upon you. Although you departed from this
material world forty-eight years ago, your disciples exhibit such warmth and fondness when they
speak of their association with you, and their emotion is deep and real. This, Śrīla Prabhupāda,
shows their sense of attachment to you and also the inclusivity that you created for Vaiṣṇavīs to
feel safe and protected when you were physically present.
As part of our strategic approach to the Vaiṣṇavī Ministry office in South Africa, we took an
in-depth look at the opportunities presented here. This leads us to discuss our history and the
depth of the apartheid regime, where women found themselves oppressed by apartheid laws. It
was a group of brave women who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on August 9, 1976,
to protest against such oppression based not only on race but on sex as well. Women have always
been left out, segregated, and the girl child looked down upon. Opportunities for the female
gender were never equal, especially in a country riddled with a history of division, yet you, Śrīla
Prabhupāda, came forth with a hope and vision for shared togetherness when you visited South
Africa fifty years ago.
This year, on the anniversary of your milestone visit to South Africa, we seek your blessings
to be of valued service to the Vaiṣṇavīs in our yātrā. There is so much to do to create sisterhood,
support, and scope for training and inclusivity in leadership within ISKCON. Our focus, Śrīla
Prabhupāda, is to create a safe space for Vaiṣṇavīs to grow in their service and establish a place for
saṅga and support.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, what is also noteworthy is that the Vaiṣṇavī Ministry SA embraces a fresh
perspective on inclusivity, focusing on empowering young girls who are confronted with unique
challenges in today’s world. Unlike the older generation of women, who navigated different
societal landscapes, these young girls face a rapidly evolving world with its own set of complexi-
ties. The Ministry is dedicated to addressing these distinct challenges and providing the support,
guidance, and resources needed to help these girls thrive in an increasingly dynamic environment.
Again, your instructions on protection and purpose are timeless – although the generations are
rapidly changing, the wisdom that you have selflessly shared with us remains our foundation of
hope. It is with this mood that we wish to create a space for mentorship by senior Vaiṣṇavīs who
are able to guide the younger girls through their challenges in their daily lives. Your instructions
are clear, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and your books provide a clear definition on character building and
living a life that is free from the burdens of the material realm.
South Africa celebrates you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, with pomp and grandeur, showing the world
that our great hero visited our shores fifty years ago. Your Divine Grace was a powerhouse, visit-
ing City Hall in Durban and other significant venues that were only used for approved events. Yet
you walked tall and spoke with such eloquence, clarity, and authority, and were not intimidated
by the land of apartheid. Śrīla Prabhupāda, you embraced everyone, regardless of background or
status, and your words touched the hearts of all who met you.
Today, fifty years on, we are so grateful for your visit to South Africa, and it is with pride and
joy that the Vaiṣṇavīs celebrate our founder-ācārya. Śrīla Prabhupāda, you have always been
inclusive and showed care and protection. We pray that you will guide us in this service so that we
are able to make a difference in the lives of our young girls and Vaiṣṇavīs. We reach out, hanging
onto your words, instructions, and love alike, so that our mood of service will be embraced and
supported throughout the yātrā.
We beg for your shelter and beg for your unlimited love. All glories, all glories, all glories to
Your Divine Grace on your fiftieth anniversary landmark visit to our shores.
Your servant,
Kṛśāṅgi Rādhe Devī Dāsī
Vaiṣṇavī Minister for South Africa