I offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of Jai Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Astottarasata Sri Srimad Jayapataka Swami Maharaja. He has taken complete shelter at the reddish lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna Caitanya by his preaching efforts in taking the holy names of the lord in every town and village.
Dear Guru Maharaja,
On your 71st Vyasa puja celebration, I submit my million obeisances unto you for having appeared in my life and mercifully placing the seed of devotional service in my reluctant heart.
Caitanya Caritamrta, Madya 19.151 says,
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
After wandering through millions of planets in millions of species, by the mercy of Guru and Krishna, one gets the seed of devotional service.
Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport to Caitanya Caritamrta, Madya 19.152 that "The word guru-prasāda indicates that the spiritual master is very merciful in bestowing the boon of devotional service upon the disciple. That is the best possible gift the spiritual master has to offer." I beg you to give me the realization that you have offered me the best gift and then let me properly take care of it.
Caitanya Caritamrta, Madya 19.152 says,
śravaṇa-kīrtana-jale karaye secana
If one waters the seed gradually by the process of śravaṇa and kīrtana [hearing and chanting], the seed will begin to sprout.
After receiving the bhakti lata bij from you, I have taken shelter of a few of your God brothers particularly with importance HH Bhakti Vikas Swami, for the watering process of sravana-kirtana. In their shelter I am feeling bliss in this divine process of bhakti yoga. The fruit of Krsna prema has not manifested to me. But I see that due to the absolute nature even the process of bhakti is sweet. What then can be said of the all sweet love of Krishna that the creeper can produce!
Guru Maharaja, except for one instance, I did not have any personal association with you. But you are inspiring me by your deeds. The most wonderful thing that I see in your personality is your tireless service to Prabhupada amidst worst bodily conditions. I am definitely one of those wicked persons responsible for your bodily condition. Please forgive me for committing offenses at your lotus feet. My illicit desires to enjoy material existence is haunting me. (If not for HH Bhakti Vikas Swami, my situation would have been irrecoverably worse. Hope you are pleased for my taking guidance from one of your dear God brothers HH Bhakti Vikas Swami.) Serving my lusty desires, my body is endlessly giving me pains and troubles. My mind is filled with fear due to attachment to body. Please severe my attachment to my pain-giving body. I see that you are inconceivably dealing with your body. We often hear that your bodily parts are malfunctioning. Just like our philosophy of acintya bhedabheda, you are also inconceivably attached to your body in serving Krishna and non attached by your indifference to bodily situation. Your strong subtle body musters to serve Krishna unceasingly. By tirelessly working with your spiritualized body, you are making us attach to your divine body by worshipping it. Simultaneously by your action of callousness to your bodily situation in travelling and preaching, you're teaching us to transcend the bodily concept of life.
Guru Maharaja, Your transcendental body with all its organs and parts are our inspiration and I offer my million obeisances to each and every part of your transcendental body to relieve me from my bodily concept of life.
your eternal servant,
jaganmohangopal dasa,
Brahmacari, ISKCON Salem, India.