Vyāsa-pūjā Offering 2025
Amaresvara Gopāla Dāsa
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 ācāryapādāya nitāi-kṛpā-pradāyine
gaura-kathā-dhāma-dāya nagara-grāma-tāriṇe
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Offering to Guru Mahārāja
I first of all present my humble obeisances to His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Guru Mahārāja, by whose mercy even a deaf man can speak, a lame man can cross mountains, and many souls can cross over this material existence.
I am very grateful to the Vyāsa-pūjā team for giving all of his disciples this wonderful opportunity to present their offerings to their beloved Guru Mahārāja.
The glories of Guru Mahārāja are unlimited, yet I will try to offer a small homage, according to my limited capability.
Recently, I was reading a Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam purport, where Manu Mahārāja tells Kardama Muni that those whose senses are uncontrolled generally have very little chance of getting darśana of a great paramahaṁsa. However, he considered himself fortunate to receive even the dust from the lotus feet of a pure devotee.
Similarly, I was thinking the same—I have zero qualifications, yet by the causeless mercy of Guru Mahārāja, I received dīkṣā from such a pure devotee and have been receiving unlimited mercy ever since the day I met him.
Guru Mahārāja’s Divine Qualities
My Guru Mahārāja is not an ordinary personality. He has sacrificed everything for the pleasure of his spiritual master, serving Śrīla Prabhupāda tirelessly even till this day. At the same time, he remains highly humble, considering everything as the mercy of Śrīla Prabhupāda.
My Guru Mahārāja is the ideal disciple, whom we can all follow and learn from at every stage of our life. He is the best example of dedication, humility, and unwavering devotion. He perfectly embodies all twenty-six Vaiṣṇava qualities, and each of these qualities can be contemplated upon for lifetimes.
Recognizing a Pure Devotee
How can one recognize that Guru Mahārāja is a pure devotee? How can a conditioned soul truly know?
I have one very intelligent answer:
1️⃣ Śrīla Prabhupāda is a recognized pure devotee, whose glories are even mentioned in scriptures. If Śrīla Prabhupāda has recognized someone as an eternal associate of Lord Caitanya, what more proof do we need?
2️⃣ Guru Mahārāja has served Śrīla Prabhupāda throughout his entire life—more than fifty years! How difficult is that? Any sincere and unwavering follower of Śrīla Prabhupāda must be recognized as a pure devotee.
3️⃣ When death seems inevitable, yet a devotee remains absorbed in chanting, what do you call such a person? Guru Mahārāja has faced many life-threatening situations, yet he remains absorbed in service and chanting.
4️⃣ Śrīla Prabhupāda defines a pure devotee as one who constantly serves Kṛṣṇa in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If we look at Guru Mahārāja’s life, it is clear evidence of this definition.
Apart from these points, there are countless personal realizations from devotees. Guru Mahārāja’s unlimited good qualities, his life of sacrifice, and his unwavering commitment to serving even in difficult conditions prove that he is beyond any material logic.
Unparalleled Compassion
Guru Mahārāja defeats all material logic.
Even when he is in the ICU, he asks other devotees how they are doing. Logically, it should be the other way around—we should be asking about his health! But you cannot ask this question to Guru Mahārāja, because he is always transcendental.
His compassion is beyond comprehension. This can be seen from his very first days of preaching. Devotees say that Guru Mahārāja was always preaching wherever he went, starting from Kolkata, and even now, when he is hospitalized, he continues to preach tirelessly.
How eager Guru Mahārāja is to spread the mercy of Gaura-Nitāi is an inspiration for all of us!
Conclusion
On this very special occasion of Guru Mahārāja’s Vyāsa-pūjā, I express my deepest gratitude to Guru Mahārāja for always guiding us and blessing us with his causeless, unlimited mercy.
I also beg for forgiveness for all my offenses, as I am a very incapable disciple, full of anarthas, with no qualification whatsoever. But I have only one desire—to develop an unflinching determination to serve your lotus feet eternally.
Final Prayers
All glories to your auspicious appearance day!
All glories to your divine lotus feet!
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Desiring eternal service at your lotus feet,
Your insignificant servant,
Amaresvara Gopāla Dāsa