oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
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
Dear Gurudeva,
I have no qualification nor capability to be able to glorify you, because as Bhakti Dhīra Dāmodara Mahārāja says, glorification is done by pure devotees—others can only flatter. However, simply by attempting to glorify a person like you, there is much benefit to be gained. Therefore, on this auspicious occasion, I would like to plead for your mercy on account of your compassionate nature, which is reflective—like that of Lord Nityānanda:
adhama patita jīvera dvāre dvāre giyā
harināma mahā-mantra dicchena bilāiyā
I pray for that fortunate day when your knock on the door of my heart will impel me to realize your unbounded mercy (kāruṇyā) upon me. Despite knowing me to be of a Jagāi-like personality, you refuse to turn me away. Allowing me to call myself your disciple, you have once again proven the magnanimity of Lord Caitanya’s movement.
I wish to take this opportunity to pray at your lotus feet for the strength and determination to make the best use of this human form of life. Being overcome by animalistic tendencies, I simply hanker after sense gratification day and night, knowing well that such desires further entangle one in the bondage of perpetual material suffering.
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.17.27, it is said:
ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyān
nāvamanyeta karhicit
"One should know the ācārya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way."
So I would like to offer this śloka as a prayer at your lotus feet:
mādṛk prapanna-paśu-pāśa-vimokṣaṇāya
muktāya bhūri-karuṇāya namo 'layāya
svāṁśena sarva-tanu-bhṛn-manasi pratīta-
pratyag-dṛśe bhagavate bṛhate namas te
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.22–25, it is said that all perfection is easily achieved by service unto the lotus feet of the spiritual master. In pursuance of such perfection, I have started my Bhakti-śāstrī degree program at the Vṛndāvana Institute of Higher Education.
Apart from that, I always try to engage myself in book distribution and saṅkīrtana, and have distributed at least 20+ of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books (mahā and small included) over the last year. I also contribute to the weekly Sunday feasts here in Vellore by taking part in various services like pot washing, floor cleaning, prasādam distribution, and kīrtana. I have come to realize that voluntarily taking up menial service for the pleasure of the Lord purifies me the most.
By these insignificant efforts, I am trying to please you and Śrīla Prabhupāda and hope to one day be able to meet the mark.
Your unworthy disciple,
Nareśa Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Dāsa (dīkṣā)
Dubai, UAE
(Gaurāṅga-deśa Yātrā)