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
Dear Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept my respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories unto you. On this most auspicious event of your appearance day, I would like to express my admiration by witnessing your uncommon activities.
As stated in the Vāyu Purāṇa,
ācinoti yaù sāstrārtham
ācāre sthāpayaty api
svayam ācarate yasmād
ācāryas tena kértitaù
“The ācārya is one who knows the import of all the Vedic scriptures,
abides by their rules and regulations, and teaches his disciples to act in
the same way.”
As described in this verse, you have thoroughly mastered the complete essence of the Vedic scriptures and emulated them in your thoughts, words and deeds. Despite undesirable obstacles in your health, you nevertheless completed the Bhakti Shastri and Bhakti-vaibhava degrees and began the Bhakti Vedānta degree in order to show us how important it is to learn Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books. You have lovingly demanded all of your disciples to complete the Bhakti Shastri courses so that we will become well-qualified preachers in our movement. Your disciples are like heroes who venture into the illusory world to recover the conditioned souls. Undoubtedly, you are the superhero who empowers them with such attraction to preaching. Your tireless enthusiasm and engagement in limitless services blow our minds. It is my long-standing desire to meet you in person and get your blessings which were fulfilled this year during our visit to Māyāpur. I am experiencing miracles whenever I desire something connected to your association. In ancient culture, the disciples approach a spiritual master to get his blessings, but in upside down Kali-yuga, you are reaching out to your disciples through different means and showering them unlimited blessings. Although I do not deserve them, I feel fortunate to receive such favors from you. On this auspicious day, I seek your blessings so that I can completely engage myself to fulfil your instructions without getting diverted by the lower nature.
Your insignificant son
Acyuta Aravindākṣa Dāsa