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Vyāsa-pūjā 2025

Maanyata Mantri (Kolkata - India)

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate jayapatāka svāmin iti nāmine
nama ācārya-pādāya nitāi-kṛpā-pradāyine
gaura-kathā-dhāma-dāya nagara-grāma-tāriṇe

All glories to Śrī Guru and Gaurāṅga! All glories to Śrī Śrīmad Jayapatākā Swami Guru Mahārāja! 

Dear Guru Mahārāja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.

It was on the 1st of January 2024 that I first saw you in person. Amidst a large gathering of devotees, as your servants were making way for you, you happened to glance directly into my eyes for a few moments. Even though no one directed me or prepared me for such an encounter, those few seconds felt extraordinary. It was a moment of deep connection, one that still fills my heart with awe and gratitude.

Your presence is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Your compassion is so profound that even without personally knowing someone, you extend your blessings and care toward them. Your ability to forgive and uplift others is unparalleled, something that only a few exalted souls like you possess.

I also recall the time I was taking my first step toward initiation. It was just my mother, one other devotee, and I. Everything happened so quickly that even our śikṣā-guru was surprised and decided to grant us this opportunity. However, at that time, we did not fully know your praṇāma-mantra. Since we were unfamiliar with it, we mistakenly assumed that the second line of your mantra was the same as the second line of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s. My mother suggested we ask the devotee accompanying us, and when he told us, we panicked, realizing that our śikṣā-guru would ask us to recite it. Somehow, within just two to three minutes, we memorized it, and to this day, that mantra remains deeply engraved in our hearts. I know that this was only possible by your mercy.

Last year, on Nṛsiṁha Caturdaśī, I experienced yet another glimpse of your exceptional kindness. I had chemistry tuition at the same time as the temple preparations, and I longed to participate. My teacher never cancels classes—it is a rare occurrence. But on that very day, I received a message that he had a medical emergency and would not be able to teach. It was astonishing, as if Kṛṣṇa Himself had arranged for me to engage in service. I could only attribute this to your prayers and blessings upon me.

Sometimes, I wonder—do you know me? Do you care about me? But then, I realize that there is some unseen force that keeps me going in this path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Something that keeps me connected to this beautiful, spiritual world, where bhakti is not just devotion but also a source of joy. And I know it is you, Guru Mahārāja. Your mercy, your blessings, and your prayers are what sustain me, even when I falter.

Despite my shortcomings, laziness, inconsistency in my spiritual practices, and sometimes not taking things seriously, I find myself continuously engaged in devotional service. I continue to receive Kṛṣṇa’s mercy through prasādam, association, and remembrance of the Lord. I often wonder how, despite my weaknesses, I am still in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And then I realize it is only because of you.

Last year, I wrote to you regarding Nṛsiṁha Caturdaśī, and despite your immense responsibilities and countless correspondences, you took the time to reply to my mail. That act left me speechless—how can someone be so merciful, so accessible, and so caring? Every time I visit Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, I make sure to hear your lectures. They are a great source of inspiration and have helped me deepen my understanding of spiritual life.

Guru Mahārāja, even though I am not personally close to you, I know that we are spiritually connected. Your compassion extends to all, and I feel fortunate to be under your shelter. I eagerly await the day when I can receive dīkṣā from you. There is no one I could ever see as my guru other than you. You do not focus on the faults of others but rather accept them as they are, guiding them toward Kṛṣṇa with boundless love.

I am eternally grateful for your mercy, Guru Mahārāja. Right now, I am in Class 12 and hope to become a doctor and dedicate my entire life to this mission—to serve you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, the entire Vaiṣṇava community, and Kṛṣṇa eternally, forever, wherever I go. I pray that I may one day become a worthy disciple and serve you in a way that pleases you.

Your sheltered disciple,
Maanyatā Mantrī
ISKCON – New Alipore Nāmahaṭṭa (Kolkata, India)