Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories, all glories, all glories to Your Divine Grace.
athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya-
prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hi
jānāti tattvaṁ bhagavan-mahimno
na cānya eko ’pi ciraṁ vicinvan
My Lord, if one is favored by even a slight trace of the mercy of Your lotus feet, he can
understand the greatness of Your personality. But those who speculate to understand
the Supreme Personality of Godhead are unable to know You, even though they con-
tinue to study the Vedas for many years. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.14.29)
Only one who has received a trace of mercy from the lotus feet of the Lord can understand His
unlimited greatness and act as His empowered representative. You, Śrīla Prabhupāda, are that
rare and divinely empowered personality, who not only understood the supreme truth of Lord Śrī
Kṛṣṇa but also revealed it to the world with unflinching faith and fearless conviction.
While countless scholars and yogis spend lifetimes studying the Vedas without grasping
the essence of bhakti, the exalted ācāryas in our disciplic succession – led by great souls like
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura – revealed the pure,
unalloyed path of devotional service as taught by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. They fearlessly
established the supremacy of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava siddhānta and worked tirelessly to distribute
this knowledge throughout India. Śrīla Prabhupāda, as the empowered representative of this
glorious paramparā, you fulfilled their vision by carrying this transcendental wisdom across the
ocean, planting the seeds of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the Western world and nurturing them into
a global movement. By your mercy, Śrīla Prabhupāda, the essence of bhakti and the teachings of
our ācāryas are now available to every soul, transcending all boundaries of language, race, and
nationality.
Here at ISKCON Tampa we are living proof of your mercy in action. Your life is our light-
house, guiding us in this dark age. Because of your pure devotion, we are empowered to celebrate
Janmāṣṭamī with jubilant kīrtana, Gaura-Pūrṇimā with ecstatic remembrance, and Rāma-navamī
with reverence and joy. These festivals, once confined to a specific region of the world, now radi-
ate from your temples to touch the hearts of thousands who had never before heard the name of
Kṛṣṇa.
You not only gave us knowledge, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you gave us culture. Through your teach-
ings on Vaiṣṇava etiquette, you showed us how to interact with one another with humility, respect,
and affection. You taught us that spiritual advancement is inseparable from how we honor the
devotees of the Lord. In a world increasingly divided by ego and misunderstanding, your instruc-
tions on how to serve, honor, and love one another have become the foundation of meaningful
relationships. Though we are still striving to follow the exalted standard you set, we pray for your
continued blessings so that we may grow in sincerity and service and reflect the genuine character
of a true Vaiṣṇava.
Your legacy enables us to give what you gave – the ultimate gift of Kṛṣṇa consciousness – to
others. Inspired by your example, the devotees of ISKCON Tampa strive to carry forward your
mission with humility and enthusiasm, knowing that only by your mercy and the mercy of Śrī
Kṛṣṇa can we hope to succeed.
On this most sacred day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we bow our heads and hearts in gratitude. You are
the crest jewel of spiritual teachers, the compassionate commander of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s
army, and the dearest servant of the Supreme Lord.
Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for everything. May we always remain your instruments in
spreading the holy name and serving your divine mission.
Your aspiring servants,
The devotees of ISKCON Tampa

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