Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my respectful Obeisances
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
All Glories to you - Srila Gurudev
Nama Om Vishnu padaya Krsna presthaya bhutale Srimate Jayapataka swamin iti namine,
Nama Acharya padaya Nitai kripa pradayine Gaura katha dhama daya nagara grama tarine
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
All glories to your auspicious appearance day !!!
I offer my humble prayers to the LORD ALMIGHTY that you continue to maintain good health, dear Guru Maharaja.
This is your humble disciple - VISHWESHWAR GOVINDA DAS – initiated under your loving care in May 2013. While I belong to Bangalore under the care /guidance of HG Caitanya Avtari Das and HG Rasmayi Devi Dasi, I have now been living in Mayapur for the past 18 months.
To say that the past year has been a ‘challenging one’ would be an understatement. It is more apt to call out this period as a glimpse of how the Kali-yuga is likely to deteriorate further in the future. The fury of nature getting back at us, unending miseries, the helplessness of the human species to an invisible virus, the physical and mental pains that one is going through, the loss of dear ones - these have brought the complete human race to a state of despair without any permanent succor in sight.
While the general population is caught in the nuances and debates around the pandemic like the statistics of the daily new cases / fatalities, its cause, the effects, the remedies, etc. great acaryas like yourself – Guru Maharaja, have looked beyond to recognize the opportunities abound to dwell deeper into the Sastras and preach Krishna consciousness to more needy souls. You have capitalized on this opportunity to redefine this grim situation from a Sastric viewpoint so that the masses can put some sense to this otherwise chaotic scene.
Dear Guru Maharaja, in these tough times you have continued to be the epitome – literally a torchbearer of sorts by showing us the way; especially to ignorant souls like me and the many thousands of people across the globe by introducing us to the practice of Krishna consciousness.
The extreme limits that you treaded to fulfill your commitments made to Srila Prabhupada speak volumes on how a true disciple should obey and follow the instructions of one’s spiritual master.
During the past year, it is ironic that even while physically being confined to your quarters at the Lotus building in Mayapur for months at a stretch, you virtually visited the homes of thousands of disciples across the length and breadth of this small planet. Reminiscent of your heydays when you were the greatest globe trotter (for preaching purposes), your travails this past year are no fewer achievements by any standards.
Your daily virtual home visits have become so endearing to devotees across countries that they plan their day’s activities around your session and look forward to your visit, (virtually) honoring the bhoga, appreciating their altars, and blessing them, etc. In fact, the warmth and affection that you exude during these visits cannot be put into words or traded for anything else in this material universe. Especially you saying ‘Wow’ (on seeing the sumptuous prasadam) and ‘Krishner matir astu’ (as a blessing) have made the day for most devotees including me – acting as a booster and antidote in an otherwise morose environment. Personally, I vividly recall the day when you blessed us (me and my spouse) on our 25th wedding anniversary – the said video clip has become our proud possession for us for life.
Further, come rain or shine, your strong determination to speak on the Gaura Katha every evening even during the most difficult of times when you were impacted by the pandemic, your patience in answering devotees’ questions even though many of these were repeated, your affectionately enquiring about the well-being of all our family members, lovingly blessing us on our birthdays and anniversaries, as a parent seeking everyone to stay safe and follow Covid-appropriate measures, etc – all of these have given a completely new meaning to the terms – LOVE, CARE and AFFECTION.
When I look at the demoralizing mental state of many of my peers, friends, and relatives from the secular world, I dread to think what would have happened if I was not under your shelter and that of ISKCON as a whole. My sincere thanks to you, dear Guru Maharaja, for accepting me to stand and feel protected under your BIG umbrella of love, care, and affection.
This is also a time for me to update you – my Spiritual father, on some of my key spiritual pursuits during the past year. As always these remain infinitesimal attempts in contributing to your monumental efforts at spreading Krishna consciousness to the world at large.
As updated in my earlier offering, I and my wife (Lilamayi Rukmini DD) came over to Mayapur to pursue the Bhakti Sastri course at Mayapur Institute. We both completed the BS course with high grades and appreciation – we felt doubly blessed to receive our certificates from your lotus hands.
Beyond the Bhakti Sastri course, while still at Mayapur (due to the continued lockdowns) we both have also completed the Bhakti Vaibhav-1 course from Mayapur Institute.
During our stay at Mayapur, we have literally experienced the true meaning of the words ‘Simple living and High thinking’ in its entirety – as propagated by Srila Prabhupada. Experiencing the real protection of Their Lordships at Mayapur & Rajapur, engaging ourselves in services with various institutions here, participating/serving during the festivals at Mayapur, imbibing the love and devotion of the dham-vasis, living in harmony with the cows at the Goshala, birds and the bath at the Ganges every evening – all have given a new meaning and purpose to our life that otherwise craves for the din of the cities.
While at Mayapur, I also continued with my attempts at preaching to the youth online, started teaching students as part of the Bhakti Sastri course, and also supporting the MI management in administering these sessions. We hope to get connected with the conduct of the Bhakti Sastri course in a larger capacity during the ensuing year.
I am involved in some small services at our temple in Bangalore – addressing the accounting/book keeping and providing the occasional editorial support for the GKBD publications that are conceived and printed by our seniors.
I remain ever indebted to you for accepting me under your tender care and opening a whole new chapter in my life about 8 years ago – the wonderful world of Krishna consciousness.
I am also grateful to you for providing me the association of a wonderful extended family (in the form of HG Caitanya Avtari Das, HG Rasmayi Mj, and HG Vaisnavananda Nitai Das) who have thanklessly been patient and loving in their efforts at correcting and guiding me on this spiritual path at all times.
I continue my interest in cooking for the Lordships; this has motivated me to build on my cooking skills – something I now practice and cherish regularly with my cooking experiments at home. The Lord has been merciful and patient in accepting our Raj-bhoga preparations without ever complaining on its quality.
I also cherish singing to Their Lordships at home and temple whenever I get an opportunity.
In conclusion, the past year continues to one of knowledge gathering (thanks to the BS and BV1 courses); I now feel better equipped to share this knowledge with more and more souls in the following period. I seek your blessings and guidance in this regard, Guru Maharaja.
We continue to pray for your speedy recovery so that you can continue with your mission to spread the word of the Lord to more people. Please feel free to order me to take up any service which can help your mission albeit even in a small way.
Your humble servant
Vishweshwar Govinda Das (DIKSHA), Bangalore (Currently in Mayapur), India
(vis.jps@gmail.com / +91 98452 97415)
