nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāminn iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Please accept my respectful obeisance at your lotus feet.
All glories to your auspicious appearance day.
Guru Mahārāja, I know that neither I'm qualified nor do I deserve to make an offering to you. But you are the mercy of Ocean, and you gave this opportunity to the most fallen and conditioned soul like me.
Guru Mahārāja, I know you since past one year, That is to say, not fully, as I am not qualified to understand you. That's why I can only love and follow your footsteps. Guru Mahārāja, Last April (2022), I attended your Vyāsa Pūjā at ISKCON Hyderabad. On that day I skipped my college, and at that time I heard your glorification from senior devotees. I didn't know, Guru Mahārāja, that skipping of my college would make me very close to you that, I couldn't even imagine taking a single breath without you. And I didn't know that one day of skip to my college would change my life and make your divine lotus feet my world for as long as I exist.
The pain you took, the sacrifices you made to build Māyāpur, and the struggle you are still waging to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world are not understandable to my material mind. You are not only my inspiration, Guru Mahārāja; but also, you are my role model because you have been constantly proving to this world that our physical conditions are not barriers to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness. As Śrīla Prabhupāda said, "You are really his victory flag," my dear guru Mahārāja.
Guru Mahārāja, I have not just accepted you as my guru but also as my spiritual parent until I exist. Because, before I say anything else, you will understand my heart as a mother who cares for me, and as a father, you will guide me in all situations.
Despite all my offenses, your forgiveness has taught me how to be humble towards everyone, how to treat and love everyone equally, how to stick to the guru's vani and follow the guru with all surrender, and most importantly, you have helped me in increasing my love for Śrīla Prabhupāda, and you have made me realise that, yes! Prabhupāda is my beloved grandfather. You have made me taste and feel the nectar of Kṛṣṇa's love. You helped me to realise myself and the love of Śrīla Prabhupāda for us. I'm feeling very ashamed of myself because I have wasted 21 years of my life to just enjoy this material world and missed the blissful life with you and Śrīla Prabhupāda. But when I finally realised it, I'm unable to convey you that, how much I missed you and how much I missed serving you Guru Mahārāja. Please forgive me for my foolishness, Guru Mahārāja.
You have made me realise the value of guru-tattva and the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
With your mercy, I joined in Bhakti-vṛkṣa and getting śikṣā under Her Grace. Rādhāpriya Devī Dasī mātājī and His Grace Varada Kṛṣṇa Dāsa Prabhu Ji (Head of Vaiṣṇavī Forum Hyderabad) with your blessings I got very determined śikṣā guru Her Grace Kavipriyā Śyāmā Devī Dasī mātājī, Who always guides me and helps me in understanding everything related to you and Kṛṣṇa consciousness. On top of all these, the struggle of Śrīla Prabhupāda to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness is just heart-squeezing. I know, Guru Mahārāja, that it's difficult for the most fallen soul like me to withstand on my promise. But i wish in front of your love, all my difficulties and weaknesses may vanish. I promise you on this auspicious appearance day of yours that
1. I will try to practise Kṛṣṇa consciousness with all my heart until I exist.
2. I will never give up chanting and completing my chanting rounds.
3. I will follow the words of Śrīla Prabhupāda and try to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness to my best potency forever.
Guru Mahārāja, as a daughter is always identified by her father's name, in the same way I should be identified as your disciple and as your spiritual daughter as long as I exist.
I still remember Guru Mahārāja , that I saw you for the first time, when you came to ISKCON Hyderabad last year for Janmāṣṭami. I remember how you surprisingly showered your love and mercy on me. I still get goosebumps whenever I remember that pastime of yours. And all of your pastimes are unforgettable.
I surrender myself completely unto your lotus feet, Guru Mahārāja, and I'm completely dependent on you till I exist. I beg you unto your divine lotus feet, Guru Mahārāja, that please accept me as your servant forever and shower your mercy on me (the fallen soul) and on my family.
Yours, Aspiring Servant
Niharika Thumu (Vaiṣṇavī Forum, Abids Hyderabad)
