Hare Kṛṣṇa dear Guru Mahārāja
Please accept my respectful obeisances unto your divine lotus feet.
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda! All glories to you!
On this most auspicious occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to offer my homage for you. I pray to Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava to always protect you and keep you in good health.
My most beloved spiritual father, you are my biggest inspiration. In spite of immense adversities you have kept on preaching the teachings of Lord Caitanya and praying for the spiritual progress of all your disciples.
mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha
daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam
(Bg. 9.13)
Those who are actually great souls have surrendered to the internal potency of the Lord and can similarly connect others to the internal pleasure-giving potency. A mahatma is described in Bhagavad-gītā as follows: vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ. It is to such a spiritual master, who has reached the mature understanding that Vasudeva is everything, that one must surrender. According to Śrī Nārada Muni, yo vidvān sa gurur hariḥ: such a great soul is to be considered the external manifestation of Kṛṣṇa Himself.
I am the most insignificant, fallen and sinful soul. It is only by your causeless mercy dear Guru Mahārāja that an ignorant soul like me received the fortune of becoming your disciple and get enlightened with Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
O dear spiritual father please bless me so that I can serve Śrī Śrī Rādhā Śyāmasundara with all my heart. I want to distribute more and more Śrīla Prabhupāda’s transcendental books, spread the teachings of Śrīla Prabhupāda and become one of your mediums to execute your divine plans. I beg the mercy of the dust of your lotus feet so that I can always serve you in every situation and keep on progressing in my devotional life. I know you are always with me.
I have committed innumerable offenses unto your lotus feet and you are so merciful to always forgive me, protect me and direct my path spiritually. May I sincerely, purely and lovingly chant and practice devotional services without ever getting distracted and offending you.
Your unworthy fallen spiritual daughter
Nivedita Rai Devī Dāsī
