oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
To my dearest, beloved spiritual father,
Please except my humble obeisance’s at your lotus feet. All glories to Guru and Gaurāṅga! All glories to Jagad-Guru, Śrīla Prabhupāda and all glories to your loving divine grace!
Wish you a very, very happy appearance day dear Guru Mahārāja!!!
he guro jñāna-da dina-bandho
svānanda-datah karunaika-sindho
vrindavanasina hitavatara
prasida rādhā-pranaya-prachara
"O spiritual master, O giver of divine wisdom, O friend of the fallen, you are the giver of your own bliss and you are the only ocean of mercy. Although dwelling in Vṛndāvana, you have descended for the welfare of fallen souls like myself and you are preaching the divine love of Rādhā for Kṛṣṇa. Please be kind upon me."
Thank you very much for all your selfless guidance and for showering your mercy upon a fallen soul like me! I can never express just how much your prayers and blessings mean to me and how much I love you. You are the perfect spiritual father. This year has been a rollercoaster of events for me and I have only had the strength to get through them by your constant reassurance that you are praying for me.
As I hear more of your never-ending transcendental pastimes from God brothers and sisters, they make me realise even more how lucky that I am to have the opportunity to take shelter of the guidance of an exalted personality like yourself.
Your qualities are endless. You are the perfect disciple, magnanimous, extremely merciful, personal, a fighter, selfless, humorous, humble, loving, compassionate and completely transcendental. You always put our needs in front of yours and your love for Guru and Gaurāṅga is infectious. I remember in Māyāpur 2 years ago where you personally made sure to answer my question on your roof top despite it being so late, as you sensed it was important to comfort me.
It is only by your mercy that my family and I have managed to distribute 705 books during the December book marathon this year and distributed 9 sets of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Chaitanya Caritāmṛta as well and that I have had the courage to run a Science of Self Realisation and Nectar of Instructions girls saṅga for your pleasure for 2 years so far. I have also been involved in helping organise many park harināmas this year by your mercy as well with a few devotees to spread the Saṅkīrtana movement, given the opportunity to lead kirtans for Rādhā London Iśvara and Rādhā Gokulānanda regularly and also had the opportunity to give my first 3 Bhagavad-gītā classes at Bhaktivedanta Manor as well. I continue to sing tulsī ārati and circumabulate tulsī 8 times for your health daily.
I cherish my first meeting with you at Heathrow airport 6 years ago where you blessed me with your lotus hands and shortly after that gave me service at the Birmingham retreat to try and somehow prove that there was a link between Kṛṣṇa Consciousness and happiness and asked me if I wanted to take shelter of your divine lotus feet, I long for that again. I apply the Narasiṁha deva oil that you applied on yourself and gifted to me daily and wish for it to never end. I also treasure the times when I have been given the chance to sing kirtans for your pleasure and Yadi Prabhupāda Na Hoi in Gujarati and when you mercifully wished me Happy Birthday last year by giving me a virtual garland. Here I have named a few my treasured moments in your transcendental association because of limited space, but every interaction I have with you feels so magical that I never want them to come to an end! I can’t wait to read your recent Chaitanya book transcriptions in full when they are published as well.
Please can you pray that I never do anything to displease you and have the strength to dedicate my life to helping you fulfil Prabhupāda's mission. Also, I pray that I can continue to get your transcendental association and guidance forever and to remain a speck of dust at your lotus feet.
Lots and Lots of Love Always,
Your spiritual daughter, servant and the most insignificant soul,
Śyāmavallabha Gopī Devī Dāsī
(Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK)