My dear Śrīla Ācāryapāda,
Hare Kṛṣṇa. Please accept my humble obeisance’s. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.
I am not a very eloquent speaker, even less of a good writer. Yet on this most auspicious occasion of your Appearance Day, I am duty bound to say a few words. If I can somehow glorify the preaching activities of Namahatta, then I feel this will directly glorify you.
In the Goudruma Kalpaṭavi Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura writes: “Whenever and wherever a pure devotee accepts birth he takes up and continue the pastimes of this marketing of the Holy Name.” You are that pure devotee as you have introduced within ISKCON the very preaching of Namahatta as originally conducted by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. The vision of the pure devotees is indeed very broad. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s son Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda. Although stressing mainly the printing and distribution of books, did not leave out the third and oress (our B.B.T), by distributing devotional scriptures (our Saṅkīrtana) and by spreading Namahatta (our congregational programs) one can serve Māyāpur perfectly. “These are thus the three pillars for solidly establishing the Divine Mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīla Prabhupāda, seeingin you the seed of a pure devotee, entrusted from the very beginning the development of Māyāpur in your very hands: “I have given you the kingdom of God, now you develop it.” And although in recording Śrīla Prabhupāda has apparently never used the terminology ‘Namahatta’ his preaching mood was totally in this line and his revelations on this last phase are to be found in the 50% of the unaccomplished task which he referred to in the latter days of his physical presence with us.
I have not a single doubt of the timely need for this preaching program. Especially for Bengal, it had to be firstly introduced as only Bengal had this unique congregation of devotees. But now gradually as congregations are built up around the world, the natural step will be to similarly introduce this same program with minor adjustments. So although at present so many limitations are there I feel very much indebted to you for having this foresight and for thus allowing such as unqualified person as myself to serve you and Śrīla Prabhupāda. Kindly excuse all the innumerable faults and blunders of all of us engaged in this preaching work.
Your servant,
Rāghava Paṇḍita Dāsa (Now Bhakti Rāghava Swami)
Regional Director - Nāmahaṭṭa