My dear spiritual father,
All glories to Guru and Gaurāṅga! All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Your Divine Grace has mercifully given me another one year to serve your mission. There are thousands of disciples who are doing so much wonderful preaching, inaugurating temples, completing Bhakti-vedāntas, bringing so many souls into this movement, distributing thousands of books, conducting so many Bhakti-vṛkṣas, Nāma-haṭṭas, Deity worship, wonderful sādhana, etc. They are more qualified, with a lot more Vaiṣṇava qualities and dedication than I have. But Your Divine Grace has given me Your causeless mercy to be very close in Your association, encouraging and appreciating whatever tiny, insignificant things that I do. On the other hand, I see everything happening as pre-programmed or preplanned scenes.
In recent years, in my experience with pāda-pīṭham installation—it is all miracles happening in front of our own eyes. Who says you are physically challenged? You are making wonders and doing all the works through your inconceivable potency. If I own any credit at all, it is that I am simply witnessing your extraordinary power, which is truly goosebumpsevery time.
Your Divine Grace’s strong, intense desire is enabling Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s lotus footprints to be installed all over. And it is creating a great mercy revolution—bringing Lord Caitanya back to all the holy places, and energizing or imparting further sanctity. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura envisioned this, and now, after one hundred years, the victory flag of his movement is rising and fulfilling that vision—it is a spectacular wonder. When Your Divine Grace began this effort, we also discovered an article published one hundred years ago in The Gauḍīya magazine about pāda-pīṭham installations, with a list of all 108 locations. These events feel like the ācāryas are personally speaking and guiding Your Divine Grace at every moment. I am extremely happy to be near Your Divine Grace and witness all of this.
This year, the Bir Nagar land purchase is another miraculous event. In a recent Guru-ājñā, Your Divine Grace mentioned that you are constantly meditating upon the installation of the lotus footprints, Bir Nagar, etc. These projects are maturing and manifesting before our very eyes.
During the recent Madurai visit, Your Divine Grace journeyed to Tirukkoṣṭhiyūr and installed the lotus footprints. The amount of spiritual vibration emanating during your presence in that holy land was immeasurable—where the dust of Rāmānujācārya’s lotus feet lies, and where many Vaiṣṇavas have rendered devotional service in the past. This place is further sanctified by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu Himself having visited it. In such a supremely sacred place, Your Divine Grace added even more spiritual significance. Even amidst health challenges, Your Divine Grace travelled to Tirukkoṣṭhiyūr and installed the lotus footprints of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
In every situation, I feel my own insignificance and Your causeless mercy. Words cannot express it, nor is there any way to repay the mercy and love Your Divine Grace have shown me. I clearly understand that it is simply Your Divine Grace using me in Your Divine hands as an instrument in your mission to serve Śrīla Prabhupāda and the previous ācāryas. Jaya Ācāryapāda!
Your ever servant,
Śyāma Rasika dāsa