Hare Kṛṣṇa, my dear Guru Mahārāja.
Please accept my respectful obeisances.
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
All glories to you, and all glories to this most auspicious day of your 76th Vyāsa-pūjā!
I am so fortunate to be the recipient of your unconditional mercy, Guru Mahārāja. I was introduced to Kṛṣṇa consciousness in 2020 by the Mathurādeśa Yātrā through an online 18-day course on Bhagavad-gītā. That was the first time I ever got to experience the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā, and I was totally mesmerized. I requested my spiritual teacher, Apārā Prema Devī Dāsī, if there was any way that this daily nourishment of Kṛṣṇa-kathā would never end, and Mātajī agreed. So our Bhagavad-gītā class extended into daily online Bhakti-vṛkṣa. I got to learn the aspects of daily sādhana and very soon started chanting sixteen rounds and following the four regulative principles.
Then I got introduced to your glories, Guru Mahārāja, and I was totally amazed by your conviction towards spreading the glories of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and propagating the importance of harināma in the age of Kali!
harer nāma harer nāma
harer nāmaiva kevalam
kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva
nāsty eva gatir anyathā
(CC Madhya 6.242)
I realized that I had found the purpose of my life, and the quest of something missing in life ended.
In 2021, I started joining local temple classes and got in touch with Kṛṣṇa-nāma Ānanda dāsa Prabhu from ISKCON of Central New Jersey. Now I attend his morning japa sessions and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam class daily, followed by the online saṅga of Sevā Padmā Mātajī from Dubai. Daily classes helped me systematically study the Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Cantos 1–4 (Canto 5 in progress), and other Śrīla Prabhupāda books. All my spiritual masters are very kind Vaiṣṇavas and bestow their unconditional mercy upon me through their valuable instructions and guidance.
Last week, there was the Kīrtan Love Fest at ISKCON of Central New Jersey, where I got to experience the divine chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra through some of the world's great kīrtanīyas. It was my great fortune to be able to witness and get absorbed in such a divine festival. I also got an opportunity to serve and volunteer during the fest.
I know you have your mercy on me, Guru Mahārāja. I feel it time and again. By your blessings only, I recently completed the Bhakti-śāstrī course from the Māyāpur Institute, very kindly facilitated by Kṛṣṇa-nāma Ānanda dāsa Prabhu.
Gurudeva, you are the personification of guru-niṣṭhā. The love and loyalty you have towards your spiritual master, Śrīla Prabhupāda, is exemplary. Please bless me so that I may develop even the slightest portion of such niṣṭhā and dedication toward you and assist you in fulfilling the instructions Śrīla Prabhupāda gave you.
Please forgive me, Guru Mahārāja, in case of any offenses.
Your insignificant servant and sheltered disciple,
Shweta Gupta