oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate jayapatāka svāmin iti nāmine
nama ācaryapādāya nitāi-kṛpā-pradāyine
gaura-kathā-dhāma-dāya nagara-grāma-tāriṇe
My dear spiritual father,
Please accept my most respectful obeisances at your lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your Vyāsa-pūjā. All Glories to Your Holiness! All glories to His Divine Grace Śrīla Prabhupāda! All glories to saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya.
On this auspicious day I would like to thank you from bottom of my heart, for all the blessings, protection, guidance, and care that you are giving me at each and every step of my life. On my own, I have no qualification, but you have kindly extended your causeless mercy on this fallen soul and put me onto the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Gurudeva, you are the personification of genuine compassion and love. Although you are physically not very comfortable, you have the strong desire and continuously endeavoring to facilitate Lord Caitanya’s mercy to reach everyone’s heart, which is the most welfare activity for the entire mankind.
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (8.7.44)
tapyante loka-tāpena… “It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone’s heart.”
Gurudeva, this year we had the good fortune to attend ILS at Śrīdhāma Māyāpur. As usual, a great conference of the big ISKCON family and we had a great experience altogether. And this occasion had become even more memorable and cherishable because of your presence. Amidst of all these you have taught us many lessons through your personal example.
Despite your physical conditions still you took time to attend almost every day of this ILS programs. We were very much encouraged by your presence. We saw you everywhere: in the morning plenary sessions of ILS, in seminars, in the temple hall taking darśana, in the ILS stalls outside, in Śravaṇa-utsava giving a lecture, giving your darśana to your disciples and well-wishers, attending annual day celebrations at Śrīdhāma Māyāpur International School, in your quarter giving Caitanya-līlā class at night - what not! We can’t comprehend how much spiritual energy you possess.
Today we were attending JSSS program, one of your senior disciples was mentioning how Your Holiness always believed in “doing a little bit more than one’s ability in doing services to one’s guru, as a responsibility out of love”. We can see that how you extend yourself that little bit extra in serving Śrīla Prabhupāda mission with so much love and dedication without considering your physical conditions.
Amidst of these programs, we could see the most auspicious Bhakti-vaibhava certificate issuing ceremony of yours. It was such a great inspiration to all of us to take up these courses seriously so that we can become better instruments in the hands of guru-paramparā in propagating this science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Currently I am doing Bhakti-vaibhava course and whenever the time comes for submitting the OBAs I feel like stepping back and again I remember you and feel encouraged and inspired to move forward.
It always amazes how you take care of the needs of all the devotees who comes to Śrīdhāma Māyāpur. During this trip my mother-in-law (80+ years) joined us, and we were wondering how we can take her to the temple and for your darśana as the accommodation was little away from the temple premises. And the next day morning after maṅgala-ārati announcements we hear that His Holiness Jayapatākā Mahārāja arranged special transport service for the elderly people, pregnant ladies and Mātājīs with infants from in and out of temple premises. We were amazed for your kindness and the care you take for all of us.
Gurudeva, I used to think I am so unfortunate, and I may never get an opportunity to serve you personally. And then over a period you made me realize through my śīkṣā-gurus, that while serving my yātrā I am directly serving you. Serving your disciples in their service to follow your orders is serving you directly. This realization has given me some sincerity to dedicate myself to the services given to me. By your mercy, I was given the opportunity to take up Bhakti-śāstrī course in Telugu, and 1st batch was completed by this January 2023. Also, trying to serve Bālya-sevā Department and taking children classes.
My desire is to assist in translating your books into Telugu language, which I was unable to focus much. This year I would like to dedicate specific time and take up this service wholeheartedly. Online Bhakti-vṛkṣa is ongoing, and most of them have started chanting. But I am unable to help them to progress in their Kṛṣṇa consciousness because of lack of purity in me. Need your blessings and mercy of Gaurāṅga on all of them so that they can get connected to nearby temples or congregations and progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness with their families.
“Gurudeva, Kṛpā bindhu diyā…” Gurudeva, O spiritual master! Give this servant just one drop of mercy so that I have the spiritual strength to execute my sadhana more rigidly and strongly and to reach up to your expectations. Please forgive me for all my offenses and please take full control of my heart and make me dance as you wish.
My daughter Amrutha and son Anirudh joins me in paying their respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. They have completed Bhakti-śāstrī course by your mercy. Please bless them so that they will be always in the association of devotees and in the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness all through their lives.
We pray to Their Lordships Rādhā Mādhava, Pañca-tattva and Prahlāda Narasiṁhadeva that They continue to protect you, and that They bless us so we may help you in spreading Lord Caitanya’s mission.
Your insignificant daughter,
Ujjvala kalindi devī dāsī (2nd initiated)
Kṛṣṇa-kathā Deśa
