Asia-Eurasia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to your lotus feet.
This year we celebrated the fifty-first anniversary of the grand opening of the Śrī Śrī Krishna-Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan. You struggled tirelessly to establish this temple while you were also creating ISKCON temples worldwide. We are so grateful that Śrī Śrī Rukmiṇī-Dvārakādhīśa told you to open a temple in India that would be a hundred times better than any other temple you had established. We want to thank you for encouraging us by your enthusiastic determination to glorify Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the saṅkīrtana of the holy names at Krishna-Balaram Mandir, and also for allowing us to render some service to you and the guru-paramparā and to be part of Lord Caitanya’s saṅkīrtana mission.
The Krishna-Balaram Mandir Live high-definition broadcasting is followed by devotees all over the world. We invite everyone to participate and connect through our website, which shows darshans, kirtans, and festivals loved by everyone. Krishna-Balaram Mandir is one of the most popular temples in the entire world, and daily thousands of pilgrims take darshan of the beautiful Deities, dance in the twenty-four-hour kirtans, take prasādam, and purchase many books.
The upcoming Krishna-Balaram Cultural Center is beautifully designed, with arches, columns, guest rooms, a Govinda’s restaurant, a gift shop, and other facilities that will enhance and complement the temple, samādhi and museum. In the museum, we’ve developed unique diorama exhibits that give a glimpse of how you were empowered to spread Vedic knowledge all over the world. The new project will be ready by next year and will have more preaching facilities, cultural halls, more than 110 guest rooms, a new Govinda’s restaurant and bakery, and a very large book and gift shop.
For your pleasure, we are also building a senior care building with thirty nice rooms for your elderly disciples and devotees who wish to retire in Vrindavan. There is a new brahmacārī ashram, and many new bhaktas are joining. They are eagerly studying, being trained for book distribution, and serving in all the temple departments. Your Bhaktivedanta Swami International Gurukula has grown and is now developing a university on campus.
Fortunately, the Honourable President of India, Srimati Droupadi Murmu, along with the Governor of U.P. and a number of other top government officials, recently visited the Krishna-Balaram Mandir. She offered flowers to you at your samādhi and then at your vyāsāsana in the temple. While taking darshan of Their Lordships, she offered lamps to Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Śyāmasundara. Our cultural department presented a wonderful Odissi dance, performed by international devotees, and the gurukula boys chanted auspicious mantras.
With extreme gratitude we pray to you for the strength to carry on keeping the temple neat and clean, distributing many of your books, distributing free prasādam to everyone, and continuing the dynamic, twenty-four-hour kirtan, which inspires everyone to sing, dance, and appreciate your Kṛṣṇa consciousness saṅkīrtana movement. We feel your presence very much in your samādhi as well as in the Krishna-Balaram temple. You are our most worshipable, beloved representative of the Supreme Lord. You are the best servant of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Please bless us. Jaya Śrī Śrī Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma!
Your humble servants,
(written by Pañcagauḍa Dāsa, temple president)
Asia-Eurasia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāminn iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
From our Yokohama, Japan, center, a second busiest and the largest city after Tokyo, we express our deepest gratitude for your having given us the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We come together every month for kirtan, kṛṣṇa-kathā, dancing kirtan, and prasādam. Our team cooks bhoga, decorates the hall for the program, and places the Deities’ pictures. The Japanese participate in kirtan and festivals. The Japanese like Gaura-Pūrṇimā and the Holi festival of colors. They also like the festival of lights (Deepavali) and Govardhana-pūjā.
Our team has been growing because of your empowerment through the guidance and care of His Holiness Kavicandra Swami Mahārāja. Our team members are embracing the process of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, adopting the four regulative principles within their lifestyle, and observing Vaiṣṇava festivals. Our team members in Yokohama are cordial and cooperative in organizing our Hare Kṛṣṇa festivals and programs.
Our team is very much excited during book distribution, especially the book marathon month, November-December. Our team distributes books in groups and goes door to door to distribute your book Bhagavad-gītā As It Is in languages like Japanese, English, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, and Bengali. We also distribute small books as sets to our community members.
In Yokohama in 2025, we distributed 400 Bhagavad-gītās and 100 small books.
Our congregation also comes together during Bhadra Pūrṇimā to receive Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam into their homes and sponsor sets of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for yoga studios for the Japanese community.
In Yokohama in 2025, we distributed 11 full sets of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in languages like English, Telegu, and Hindi.
During this period, one of our members, Sudāmā Dāsa (KCS), worked with a devotee named Onon Zorigtkhuu, from Mongolia. He inspired Onon to speak to her friends and the devotees in Mongolia and encourage them to accept Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam into their homes. By Your Divine Grace’s mercy, she agreed to speak to her friends and the devotees in Mongolia.
With Onan’s coordination in Mongolia, Sudāmā Dāsa was able to send 25 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam sets and 3 Caitanya-caritāmṛta sets to Mongolia. All these sets were in the English language.
It took lots of coordination, but we did all of this legally and with permission from the BBT in America, the GBC, and respected ISKCON authorities. A very special thanks to our ISKCON of Silicon Valley (ISV) team for sending books to our centers in Yokohama and Tsukuba in Japan.
During the Bhadra Pūrṇimā campaign, our Japanese devotees distributed 6 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam sets and 1 Caitanya-caritāmṛta set among themselves or gifted them to friends.
The kids in Yokohama are very enthusiastic while doing dramas, kirtan, festivals, and chanting. They are excited to hear the pastimes of Lord Rāma and Kṛṣṇa’s childhood pastimes.
The families in Yokohama embraced the Monopoly game Every town and Village enthusiastically. This game was brought to Japan by His Holiness Kavicandra Swami Mahārāja. We distributed them to Japanese devotees, and devotees from India and Nepal.
As a team we’re growing slowly and surely to bring the auspiciousness Your Divine Grace gave us through Kṛṣṇa consciousness to Japan. Our Yokohama team humbly seeks Your Divine Grace’s blessings to continue and progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness with all cooperation, and to spread Lord Caitanya’s message and mission to more families in the coming years. We beg your mercy to help us properly understand and practice Your Divine Grace’s teachings, which we are learning through your books and lectures.
Your servants at ISKCON Yokohama
Sudāmā Dāsa and our team
Asia-Eurasia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Hare Kṛṣṇa, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāminn iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Please accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to your accomplishments in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. All glories to Your Divine Grace, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Happy Vyāsa-pūjā, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, we eagerly wait for the most auspicious day of your Vyāsa-pūjā each year. This day provides us an official opportunity to submit an annual report at your lotus feet and seek your blessings and guidance.
On this most auspicious occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we, the devotees of ISKCON Noida, offer our humble obeisances at your lotus feet again and again. By your unlimited mercy, even though we are insignificant and full of shortcomings, you have engaged us in your divine service. Whatever little service is happening here is only by your blessings and the inspiration of your teachings.
Many congratulations Śrīla Prabhupāda, on the glorious sixtieth anniversary of our wonderful society, ISKCON, which Your Divine Grace masterfully created and where the entire world can fit in happily.
With great gratitude, we wish to present a small report of the activities taking place in Noida in a humble and prayerful mood, seeking your continued mercy and guidance.
By your mercy, the construction of a new temple project in Noida Sector 151 has begun. This project is very dear to all the devotees, and we are praying that it may progress smoothly and without obstacles. The basement construction work has already started, steel has been procured, and a contractor, along with a dedicated team, is now present onsite. We humbly pray to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, to bless this project so that it may be completed successfully and become a beautiful place for spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
In Greater Noida West, a dream project named Prabhupāda Village is gradually taking shape. The vision is to create a devotee community where like-minded devotees can live together, serve together, and support one another in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Many devotees have already booked their apartments, villas, and plots with great enthusiasm. At present, we are facing some challenges with the developer, especially regarding the transfer of a portion of land to ISKCON’s name for building a temple. We are hopeful that by your mercy, the developer will soon agree, and we will be able to establish a small temple within the community. This will become a very unique devotee community – an ISKCON township further expanding your mission.
At the Noida temple, the Matchless Gifts shop has been completely renovated. Its size has been doubled, and the entire interior has been redesigned in a modern and attractive way. By your grace, it has now become one of the most grand and well-developed Matchless Gifts stores at ISKCON temples across North India. Devotees and visitors are very inspired to purchase devotional items, books, and gifts, thus increasing their connection with Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Govinda’s restaurant has also been fully refurbished and renovated. With new furniture, improved lighting, and a fresh, welcoming look, it has become a very popular spot for visitors. Many people are coming regularly to honor prasādam, and they deeply appreciate its quality and taste. By your blessings, Govinda’s is not only attracting more people to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but is also generating good financial support for the temple.
For the first time, we organized a program called Bhajan Clubbing in the temple auditorium. Initially, we thought this would mainly attract the youth, but to our surprise, many families from across the city attended. Through melodious bhajanas and engaging musical presentations, the audience experienced a glimpse of the mood of Braj Vrindavan Dhāma. The response was overwhelming. Our auditorium, with a seating capacity of around six hundred, was completely sold out, and many people could not get tickets. The feedback we received encouraged us to plan for an even bigger venue next year. We are making efforts to connect with the attendees and gradually engage them in structured programs like bhakti-vṛkṣa, IYF, and IGF.
By your mercy, the brahmacārīs have now shifted into their newly constructed two-story ashram facility. They are living happily and peacefully, with better arrangements for their sādhana and service. This has brought great enthusiasm among the brahmacārīs and is helping them remain steady and inspired in their devotional lives.
The land at Jewar has now been officially registered in ISKCON’s name. We performed a small bhūmi-pūjā ceremony, which was presided over by your dear disciple His Holiness Lokanath Swami and attended by local dignitaries and community members. The location has become significant, as the Jewar International Airport has been inaugurated nearby by the Honorable Prime Minister of India. This has made the area prominent, and the value of the land has increased. A small temporary shed has been constructed, where temple programs are being conducted regularly, allowing local people to come and participate. A few dedicated devotees are residing there permanently and carrying out daily temple activities.
By your blessings, the Noida temple is experiencing a large and increasing number of visitors every day. The temple premises are becoming more and more crowded, especially on weekends, when the temple is often completely full. The Bhaktivedanta Academy is also facing a shortage of classrooms during peak times due to the growing number of participants. This increasing footprint is a sign of your mercy, as more and more people are coming in contact with Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The Bhaktivedanta Academy has successfully completed its sixth batch of Bhakti Śāstrī students, with thirty-seven students graduating this year. These students have studied your books in depth and are now better equipped to understand and share Kṛṣṇa consciousness with others. This steady growth in systematic education is helping strengthen the foundation of the devotee community.
As an expansion of the Prahlad School initiative, we have now started a dedicated program for teenagers called the ISKCON Teenagers Forum (ITF). This weekly program is conducted in the temple by trained and qualified teachers, who guide the teenagers in a structured and engaging way. It is helping teenagers connect with Kṛṣṇa consciousness during a very unsteady phase of their lives.
Overall, Śrīla Prabhupāda, whatever little progress we are witnessing in Noida is simply due to your causeless mercy. We have no qualification, but you have given us the opportunity to serve your mission. We pray that we may remain united, humble, and sincere instruments in your hands, and that we may continue to serve your desire to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness in every town and village.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, please accept this verse composed by your servants from Noida:
prabhupādaḥ prāṇa-dhanaṁ bhaktivinoda-vāñchitam
caitanya-kāryaṁ kurmaḥ sma sarvatra yatnataḥ
rādhā-govinda-nāmāni vahni-vad vyāpnuvantu hi
pāvayantu jagat sarvaṁ prema-bhakti-pravāhataḥ
Śrīla Prabhupāda is our very life and treasure, fulfilling the desire of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. We strive everywhere to carry out Lord Caitanya’s mission. May the holy names of Rādhā-Govinda spread like wildfire. And purify the entire world with a flowing current of divine love and devotion.
We beg for your blessings that we may always remain fixed in your instructions, serve the Vaiṣṇavas, and develop pure devotion to Lord Caitanya – rādhā-kṛṣṇa nāhi anya. Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Vyāsa-pūjā mahotsava kī jaya.
Your insignificant servants from ISKCON Noida
Asia-Eurasia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāminn iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you struggled so much in Delhi, personally writing, printing, and distributing Back to Godhead in places like Jhandewalan and Connaught Place, thus laying the foundation of your mission with great determination. Carrying the instruction of your spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, you later spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world.
That very legacy in Delhi was powerfully carried forward by your dear disciple, His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami, who expanded your mission with profound dedication. By his sincere efforts, ISKCON in Delhi has now grown to nearly twenty temples throughout the NCR region. Now under the inspirational leadership of our GBC His Holiness Guru Prasad Swami, your dear disciple who is firmly aligned with your vision and who is continuing the tireless service rendered by Gopal Krishna Goswami, all the devotees in this region are working together.
His Holiness Gopal Krishna Mahārāja, who often paraphrased your words when you spoke about your own great spiritual master reaffirmed about Your Divine Grace that you are “a true Vaikuṇṭha man.” By your blessings, more than 3,500 devotees participated in last year’s book marathon, during which over half a million mahā-big books were distributed, continuing your glorious mission of spreading transcendental knowledge. We are praying every day for the ability to induct more traveling saṅkīrtana teams and thus participate in more frequent marathons during the year. We seek your blessings for this.
Furthermore, last year a mega youth festival named UDGAAR was held at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, drawing more than 15,000 youth participants and creating a Guinness World Record for the most pledges received for an anti-drug campaign within twenty-four hours. In this way, your mission continues to transform lives and uplift society.
Last year, Janmāṣṭamī attracted more than half a million visitors to the East of Kailash temple, and even the government commended the temple management on their remarkable ability to organize such a massive festival so smoothly. In this way, your movement continues to inspire and attract countless souls.
Understanding that saṅkīrtana is your very heart, our bhakta training program has now been renamed saṅkīrtana devotee training, emphasizing the importance of your mission. Every year, nearly twenty-five new dresses are offered to Their Lordships, and forty-nine festivals are celebrated, including fifteen abhiṣekas and eight adhivāsa festivals.
To ensure greater safety for the thousands of visitors who daily throng to your Glory of India Project, advanced cloakroom and baggage scanning systems have been installed, as ISKCON Delhi remains vigilant against unholy elements. Moreover, prominent personalities, such as Mrs. Rekha Gupta (Delhi Chief Minister), Kangana Ranaut (national award-winning actress and Member of Parliament), Bhupinder Yadav (Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change), ambassadors of several other countries, and many other dignitaries, have visited ISKCON East of Kailash, further glorifying your movement.
In the area of outreach and influencing society in Delhi NCR, a significant milestone has been achieved through a recent agreement with All India Institute of Medical Sciences for the ISKCON-AIIMS Wellness Center on three acres of land, reflecting a meaningful synthesis of spirituality and modern science. On the other hand, the Institute of Science and Spirituality (ISS), ISKCON Delhi’s scientific preaching wing (recognized under the Indian Knowledge Systems of the Government of India), engages scientists, academicians, and intellectuals through research-driven outreach, developing innovations like Sakshi Sense, is recognized at IIT Mandi and is conducting programs at premier institutes such as IIT Delhi, IIT Roorkee, and NIT Warangal.
And lastly, as an offering on the 130th anniversary of your divine appearance, and the 60-50 celebrations, we dedicate the new Vedic Expo, named, Rasa – An Ocean of Nectar, which was inaugurated at the end of April 2026 by the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with the Ambassador of Belgium, Didier Vanderhasselt.
By your mercy, we continue to witness the extraordinary manifestation of Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s prediction, which is becoming true day by day. Our duty now is to remain deeply loyal to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and to faithfully carry forward your divine mission by sincerely practicing devotional life. Please bless us to become humble and sincere instruments in your service, free from offenses and steady in our sādhana. Kindly forgive our shortcomings and always engage us in your service. Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Your servant,
Mohan Rūpa Dāsa, temple president
On behalf of the devotees of ISKCON Delhi, East of Kailash
Asia-Eurasia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
This year is being celebrated as the sixtieth anniversary of ISKCON, which you established in 1966. Her Grace Nārtakī Mātājī, while traveling by car across Dahisar Bridge, saw the small building-type arch and said, “Śrīla Prabhupāda built a house in which the whole world can live, while here they have built a house where no one can live.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda your vision was to establish Ram Rajya, a society rooted in dharma, peace, and spiritual prosperity. Being a pure devotee, your qualities find a divine parallel in the sixteen primary qualities of Lord Rāma, as they are described in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. When sage Nārada visited the hermitage of Vālmīki Muni, the muni asked him if there was a single, perfect individual who had been bestowed with all good qualities:
konvasmin sampraaptan loke gunavaan kashch veeryavaan.
dharmagyashch krtagyashch satyavaakyon drdhavratah || 1–1–2
charitren ch ko yuktah sarvabhooteshu ko hitah.
vidvaan kah kasmaarthashch kashchaikapriyadarshanah || 1–3–3
aatmavaan ko jitakrodho dyutimaan konaasooyakah.
kasy bibhyati devaashch jaataroshasy sanyuge || 1–1–4
“Who in this world lives today endowed with excellent qualities, prowess, righteousness, gratitude, truthfulness, and firmness in his vows? Who is that one gifted with good conduct, given to the well-being of all living creatures, learned in the lore [knowledge of all things that are known], capable of doing things others cannot do, and singularly handsome? Who (among men) is self-restrained? Who has conquered anger? Who is endowed with brilliance and free from envy? Who is that when, excited to wrath, even the devatās are afraid of (let alone his foes)?”
1. Guṇavān: Lakṣmaṇācārya writes, aganita guna gana bhuSītā ram … O Rāma, Who is adorned by a collection of innumerable qualities! Lord Rāma is accessible to all without discrimination. He moved around with the tribal Guha, monkey Sugrīva. He is willing to give shelter to anyone, qualified or disqualified. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you have innumerable qualities. You made yourself available to everyone, and to a man who did not know his father you should absolutely no discrimination.
2. Vīryavān: Courageous and valorous Lord Rāma killed Tataka, Subahu, and so many demons. In Janasthana, 14,000 soldiers came, including Khara and Dushana. Single-handedly, with one arrow, He killed them all. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you boldly preached in communist countries and courageously started book marathons. You said one should have the courage of a British soldier and the heart of a Bengali mother. After the struggle to purchase the Juhu land, you said, “It was a good fight.”
3. Dharmajñaḥ: Lord Rāma was well-versed in dharma and spoke about dharma with accuracy. He was well-versed in the principles of righteousness. He thoroughly played the role of son, disciple, and husband. Lord Rāma played the role of a disciple by knowing the mood of sage Viśvāmitra. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you were a first-class disciple, understanding the mood of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. You not only followed dharma but also made the Westerners follow dharma.
4. Kṛtajñaḥ: Lord Rāma was extremely grateful to Hanumān, Sugrīva, Jaṭāyu, and others. Lord Rāma appreciated the squirrel for shifting a little mud. Filled with gratitude, when Hanumān found Sītā, He embraced Hanumān and was ready to give anything to the Vanaras. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you had an “attitude of gratitude.” You were so grateful for even the slightest service done; you appreciated every little service. In a purport in the Dhruva Mahārāja pastimes in the Bhāgavatam, you mentioned that if even one of your disciples becomes like Dhruva and goes back to Godhead, then by your connection to that disciple, you too could go back to Godhead.
5. Satyavako: Lord Rāma always keeps His word. As Lord Rāma always walked the path of satya, truth, and lived by that principle, so, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you never compromised your principles. For instance, you instructed everyone to chant sixteen rounds, but you chanted sixty-four rounds as an ācārya who practiced more than what he preached.
6. Dṛḍha-vrataḥ: Self-determined and firm in his vows. Bharata tried his best to ask Rāma to return to Ayodhya. He told Rāma that his three mothers and Vasiṣṭha Muni were calling Him back. But Lord Rāma did not budge an inch. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, even in childhood you did not take chicken soup as medicine but kept the principles of Vaiṣṇavism without compromise. In the Rāmāyaṇa Lord Rāma promises to protect anyone who surrenders. There is a famous verse in the Rāmāyaṇa quoted in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 22.34, and Śrīla Prabhupāda appreciated this verse and promised each of us that if we simply chant sixteen rounds of the mahā-mantra daily and follow the four regulative principles in association with devotees, he will take us back to Godhead. On behalf of Lord Rāma, a pure devotee can make this vow.
7. Lord Rāma had high moral values. He asked Kaikeyī, “Why are you disturbing Daśaratha? You could have informed me of his vow.” Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, like a gosvāmī, all your senses were controlled and you never got agitated.
8. Rāma was the well-wisher of all: Up until his last arrow, Lord Rāma intended not to kill Rāvaṇa. Rather, He wanted to give Rāvaṇa every chance to change his heart and surrender. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you loved everyone. Once, a person blasphemed you in public, and a few days later you asked about his whereabouts.
9. Rāma knew everything: Rāma was expert at everything, including the scriptures, warfare, governance, and so many other things. He valued the love of every devotee. Similarly, because of your strong hold on the six philosophical systems, no one could defeat you.
10. Rāma was competent in doing things that could not be done by others: Lord Rāma gave Sugrīva confidence by felling seven trees with one arrow. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you fulfilled Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s mission that none of his other disciples could even dare to accomplish.
11. Rāma’s appearance is eternally pleasing. Even an enemy would be pleased when seeing Śrī Rāma. Mārīcha was stunned the first time he saw Lord Rāma. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, your appearance is celebrated for its spiritual potency.
12. Lord Rāma had control of His desires and senses and conquered His mind: Lord Rāma was undisturbed when He heard He had to go to forest for fourteen years and smilingly accepted the two boons Daśaratha had given to Kaikeyī. Similarly, when goons came to attack you in India, you began reciting the Brahma-saṁhitā.
13. Rāma conquered anger: Anger did not dominate Lord Rāma. Rather, He used His anger when He needed it, such as when Samudra did not respond. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, even when ISKCON was defamed in German newspapers and your book godown was burned down, you did not get angry.
14. Rāma had a special splendor emanating from His body: The demons were afraid and the devotees felt protected by Lord Rāma’s radiance. Swati Tirunaal compares the halo around Lord Rāma to one hundred suns rising simultaneously. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, your body is divine. Her Grace Yamunā Devī shared that when you walked, there were no footprints. You were effulgent. You attracted everyone like a magnet with your singing, which drew people to it because it was so deeply felt.
15. Rāma was never envious: Rāma never thought that He had lost His position because of Kaikeyī. In Kishkinda and Laṅkā he put Sugrīva and Vibhīṣaṇa on the throne, respectively. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, almost all spiritual movements are named after their founder, but you popularized ISKCON not using your name but Kṛṣṇa’s name.You were happy to see others’ success.
16. The devatās approached Lord Rāma with awe and reverence, fearful due to respect. Your disciples always respected and fully depended on you
Thomas Hopkins said that you did something unprecedented and unparalleled: you preached to the hippies, who were rebels without a cause, and tried to give them Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You brought them to serve Lord Rāma.
Here is our preaching report:
- 55,000 Bhagavad-gītās distributed during the marathon
- NICE department conducted value education in schools and weekly Gītā classes at residences and schools. Also, Janmāṣṭamī celebrations and deepdhan at schools
- Bhaktivedanta College started a Bhakti-śāstrī course
- Devotee care sessions are grooming families
- The Deity department and Food for Life department have been functioning perfectly
- Govinda’s is attracting huge crowds on weekends and holidays
- We hold twelve-hour kirtans on Ekādaśīs. Harināma-saṅkīrtana goes out daily for one hour in the streets around Mira Road
- Our upāsana festival attracts numerous young boys from different areas
We pray at your lotus feet to develop the quality to appreciate everyone and everything. We pray to simply remain together and practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness, as you taught us. Then we can go back to Godhead and serve your lotus feet. Please allow us to develop a taste for chanting and scrutinizingly studying the scriptures you gave us. During our upcoming 50/60 celebrations, we will try to improve and increase our services in all departments, by your blessings.
Your insignificant servants at ISKCON Mira Road
Asia-Eurasia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
My most revered spiritual master, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace. On this most auspicious occasion of Vyāsa-pūjā, I offer my humble words, knowing they can never adequately express the depth of my gratitude I feel for your causeless mercy.
A severe health challenge last summer forced me to confront the temporary and uncertain nature of this material body. In that condition, all illusions of independence were stripped away, and I could clearly perceive that I am completely dependent on your mercy, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
During that difficult period, I also felt deeply sustained by the heartfelt prayers of devotees throughout ISKCON. I remain profoundly grateful to every devotee whose sincere prayers, concern, and well-wishes carried me through that time and continue to do so now. It is only by their compassion and spiritual strength that I feel I have been allowed to continue in my service.
I’m truly grateful for this second chance – a renewed opportunity to carry out the service you so kindly ordered me to do at the Devasadan Mandir in 1976. Helping complete the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is a sacred trust, one that I see with ever-increasing clarity and urgency.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you envisioned this temple not simply as a grand building but as a spiritual and cultural beacon for the entire world – a place that would present the Vedic understanding of the universe, establish the supremacy of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, and powerfully counteract the influence of the Age of Kali.
The TOVP is meant to be a bold declaration of Kṛṣṇa consciousness to humanity, a center from which the teachings of Lord Caitanya can enlighten people and engage them in His service. It is to serve as a unifying spiritual home for devotees, a place of pilgrimage, education, and inspiration, the worldwide headquarters of the preaching mission of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
To assist in manifesting this divine vision is an immeasurable honor, one I now approach with greater humility and seriousness than ever before. Having been reminded so vividly of the limited nature of my time, I feel an intensified determination to see the Deities installed and worshiped in Their full glory in this grand temple, your place of worship, and a worthy offering from you to our glorious paramparā!
The TOVP is a tangible expression of gratitude from all the devotees in your worldwide ISKCON movement to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for everything you have given us and as an expression of unity that was your parting wish for us.
I pray that this service may be performed purely as an offering, free from personal ambition, guided only by your instructions and the desire to please you and our previous ācāryas. Please allow me to act as an instrument in fulfilling this vision, despite my many shortcomings. May your dedication to carrying forward Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s mission continue to inspire us despite all obstacles. Your shining example of tolerating so many difficulties for the upliftment of others remains our guiding light. Whatever small service I may render is only possible by following your example and receiving your mercy.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, I would also like to give you a TOVP progress and current work update, and also assure you that we are doing our utmost to open the temple for your pleasure on 1 November 2027, your fiftieth disappearance anniversary. A three-month festival will follow that most sacred day, during which all our beloved Mayapur Deities will be relocated to Their new palace home, and fifteen new ācārya mūrtis will be installed. Our main focus is the completion of the TOVP’s main wing in all its gorgeous detail. Varieties of work continue unabated, almost twenty-four hours a day. This includes:
Main altar – to be completed by the end of 2026
Vyāsāsana – to be completed by the end of 2026
Flooring inlay work – to be completed by the end of 2026
Marble cladding of pillars and walls – to be completed by the end of 2026
Coffered ceiling and crown – to be completed by June 2026
In February this year, amid the progress in the main wing, as above described, we happily opened the beautiful and spacious TOVP yajña-śālā for your pleasure. In this yajña-śālā we perform daily yajñas to the Lord by the hands of our gurukula students and other devotee brāhmaṇas. It is a wonderful example to the world of placing the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the supreme enjoyer of all activities and offerings, as you have taught us to do.
On this most sacred day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, I place whatever remains of my life, energy, and capacity at your lotus feet. Kindly engage me in such a way that I may contribute to the fulfillment of your great mission and the glorification of our entire disciplic succession. Thank you for your boundless compassion, guidance, and inspiration!
Your insignificant servant,
Ambarīṣa Dāsa
