nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate jayapatākā-svāmin iti nāmine
namo ācāryapādāya nitāi-kṛpa-pradāyine
gaura-kathā dhāma dāya nagara-grāma tāriṇe
nāma oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Remember with devotion the divine grace of Kṛṣṇa who can make the dumb speak with eloquence and the lame cross high mountains
Remember and extol that grace which flows from the Supreme Bliss manifestation of Mādhavam
All glories to His Divine Grace Sirla Prabhupada! All glories to you Guru Mahārāja!
Dear Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept my Obeisance and your Divine Lotus Feet
I am most fortunate that I have met you after bahunam janme ante - last one year has been an absolute nightmare for me - I got operated for a detached retina in May and subsequently in June and November. All my services got affected as I had to rest my eyes. I missed many festivals also. However listening and connecting with you on Facebook has enabled me to carry on services in a very limited way since I am not able to see very clearly with my left eye especially at night and at present not driving a car. By your grace I was able to participate in a very limited way during Damodar month and prabhupāda marathon. I think if it was not for your mercy I would not have been able to do any devotional service. I am very grateful to the senior devotees Aarvinda Kṛṣṇa Prabhu and Yamuneswari mataji who continue to guide us under the authority of Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple we are all trying to knock on 50 doors a month and distribute books. Our main challenge is many people in the neighbourhood are Muslims. But despite this we are using the catchphrases vegetarian and yoga to distribute books and some people are receptive.
During the past year especially after each of the eye operation devotees have helped me a lot by bringing prasāda to my home. If it was not for Bhakti-vṛkṣa and the emphasis on devotee care I am sure I would not have to able to ensure I ate only prasāda.
I know I am suffering due to my bad karma but observing you either by hearing or watching you on social media have given me a lot of courage to carry on and never give up. You have suffered a lot due to us disciples not following the regulative principles and not keeping to our vows of chanting 16 rounds.
Though you have been through major surgery you have maintained your sankalpa of chanting, preaching, reading Śrīla Prabhupad's books, and carrying on your devotional services. As you say you have kept yourself very much in the fire of devotional services. A few weeks’ ago we had a welcoming ceremony of Deities and because of hearing you narrating the pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates when we sang Vaisnava bhajans we were able to sing with feelings. We felt very much connected with Gaur Nitāi. So thank you for your enlivening classes.
My last operation will be on April 16 – your Vyāsa-pūjā day so I am requesting you that please bless me so that I can overcome this obstacle and thereby continue to render devotional service especially the service of Bhakti-vṛkṣa. We know that only by rendering devotional service can we be happy because that is our constitutional position as part and parcel of the Supreme.
Your most fallen diksha disciple
Kuṣumamodadharaṇī devī dāsī