nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate jayapatākā 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
Hare Kṛṣṇa, my dear Śrīla Guru Mahārāja,
Please accept my respectful obeisances at your divine lotus feet.
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!
All glories to your most auspicious 76th Appearance Day!
Śrīla Guru Mahārāja, you have dedicated your life to delivering conditioned souls like me. Every breath of yours is in fulfilling Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions, and you have proven to the world that nothing can ever stop you from your service to Śrīla Prabhupāda. Your example inspires everyone to faithfully serve Lord Caitanya. Your compassion, mercy, and love know no limits. Thank you for giving me the greatest fortune to call you my spiritual master. The best day of my life was 1 February 2024, when I received your picture by your causeless mercy, and then got your shelter on 18 June on Bhīma Ekādaśī. You are an ocean of mercy, Śrīla Guru Mahārāja—you have been so merciful to your most unworthy child.
For New Year, I was very fortunate by your mercy to be in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, Śrīla Guru Mahārāja, to be under your shelter, but unfortunately, because of certain reasons, I couldn’t attend your live Caitanya-līlā classes. Realizing the purport wherein it is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, tatrāpi durlabhaṁ manye vaikuṇṭha-priya-darśanam, that though this human form of life is rarely attained, even rarer is to gain the association of pure devotees, who are dear to the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha. My dear spiritual father, though I am not eligible in any way for your darśana, as you are very dear to Lord Śrī Nitāi-Gaura, I still pray—because you are karuṇāmayī, the abode of causeless mercy—you would be merciful upon your servant and undeserving child and grant me the fortune of beholding your lotus feet soon.
As a NEET (pre-medical exam) aspirant, studying has been a service I am grateful to be able to offer unto you, Śrīla Guru Mahārāja. Being able to hear your vāṇī, despite the schedule, keeps me going and alive in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Just as it is elsewhere enjoined in the scriptures, tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā (BG 4.34)—how sincerely hearing from the spiritual master, a disciple is nourished in his Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Though I am not able to hear from you regularly, I pray at your lotus feet that I can also gradually realize the purport to nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā—that is, to regularly be able to hear from you. For only then, by your mercy, will I know Kṛṣṇa consciousness as it is, my dear spiritual master.
Please bless me that I may be able to hold your lotus feet within my heart and please you by sincere service.
I sincerely pray with all my heart to Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava Aṣṭa-sakhī-vṛnda, Śrī Pañca-tattva, and Śrī Prahlāda Nṛsiṁhadeva for your good health, long life, and unstoppable services to Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Your insignificant servant,
Yashaswi Gautam
Jharkhand, India
Krishna Bandhu Congregation