nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate jayapatākā svāmin iti nāmine
nama ācārya-pādāya 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
My dear Guru Mahārāja,
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On the auspicious occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā, please accept my respectful obeisances at your lotus feet.
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After joining ISKCON, this is my first letter to you. I just came to know that on this special occasion, devotees—especially your disciples and well-wishers—write offerings to you, disclosing their hearts. Taking this very opportunity, I have composed this small offering at your lotus feet and seek your blessings.
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I am from Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. While serving in the Indian Army in Bangalore, my wife met your disciples, and we started practicing bhakti-yoga. Our way of life began to change day by day. I began to feel happiness and bliss. My wife and I began cooperating with each other in the practice of bhakti, and we started attending the temple at ISKCON New Rājāpur Jagannātha Dhāma, Magadi Road, Bangalore, under the care of HG Caitanya Āvatārī Prabhu and his good wife HG Rāsamayi Devī Dāsī. Slowly, slowly, we began to progress on our journey in bhakti-yoga and decided not to go back to our native place, finally settling in Bangalore.
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Guru Mahārāja, during the Corona period, both of my kidneys were damaged, and at present I am undergoing dialysis three times a week. Had I not been in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, this illness would have affected me more and more. I feel and realize that this life is temporary and full of misery. If I am still alive, it is Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, spiritual strength, and bhakti—otherwise, I could have been somewhere else. Now my only aim is to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness under the guidance of HG Caitanya Āvatārī Prabhu and HG Rāsamayi Mātājī.
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At our place of residence, seeing us, many new devotees have joined this movement, and although we have tasted only a little of bhakti, we are trying to bring them as well.
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At present, my śikṣā level is Prabhupāda-āśraya. Considering my current physical condition and the uncertainty of life, may I humbly request you to give me shelter at your lotus feet? You, being an ocean of mercy, can save us from the cycle of birth and death. I promise to follow your instructions for the rest of my life.
Your servant,
Kṛṣṇa Gopāl Divedi
(with wife Śrīmatī Śobhā Divedi)
Aspirant for Shelter
New Rājāpur Jagannātha Dhāma,
Bangalore, India.