Europe & Russia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble and respectful obeisances at your divine lotus feet on the sacred day when your transcendental appearance is celebrated.
On this holy occasion, we first wish to glorify your inconceivable mercy and the extraordinary power of your devotional service. Your life is the living demonstration of how a pure devotee of the Lord can become a perfect instrument in the hands of Śrī Kṛṣṇa to transform the spiritual destiny of the world. With unshakable faith in the order of your spiritual master and complete dependence on Kṛṣṇa, you crossed oceans and continents to bring the holy name and the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to people who had never before heard of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Contemplating your activities, we are especially struck by how your mercy works in subtle ways, often invisible to our limited vision, yet capable of producing the deepest effects in the hearts of conditioned souls. There is a very significant incident that illustrates this truth.
During a flight to America, while you were taking some prasādam – puffed rice – a stewardess on the plane, attracted by its fragrance, put her hand into your plate and took some of it. Your servant became disturbed, thinking that the prasādam had been contaminated, but you immediately stopped him with great simplicity and compassion, saying, “That is all right. She is taking prasādam. Very good.”
Years later, some devotees engaged in saṅkīrtana arrived in a small village in the middle of the Amazon jungle. Knocking on the door of a house, they were greeted by a woman who was wearing a sari, with tilaka on her forehead. When they entered her home, they noticed a tape of your voice playing and an altar dedicated to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Surprised to meet a devotee in such a remote place, they asked her how it was possible that she had come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness while living in the middle of the jungle. She then explained that many years earlier she had been working as an airline stewardess and that one day she had taken some prasādam from the plate of Śrīla Prabhupāda. That simple contact with mahā-prasādam had transformed her life and led her to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Through incidents like this we begin to understand how deep and mysterious the mercy of a pure devotee truly is. Even an apparently small contact – a crumb of mahā-prasādam, a book, or a recording of your voice – can become the beginning of a complete spiritual transformation. In this way you have planted the seed of devotion in the hearts of countless souls, a seed that, in time, can sprout and lead them to devotional service.
In this way we can glimpse how the principle of ajñāta-sukṛti, spiritual merit obtained unknowingly, acts in subtle and mysterious ways. Even a small service rendered to a pure devotee can, in time, lead to a meaningful connection with Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Meditating on such incidents, we increasingly understand how immense your compassion is for the conditioned souls. You did not simply preach a philosophy; you opened a doorway of mercy through which even the smallest contact with Kṛṣṇa consciousness can transform a person’s life.
For this reason, today we offer you our deepest gratitude. Without your mercy we would have no possibility of understanding the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Without you we would not have received Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, nor the living example of how to serve the Lord with complete dedication.
Through your teachings we also understand our duty toward the conditioned souls. In your purport to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.8.5 it is explained that the devotee appears in this world precisely to help the souls who are imprisoned in material illusion. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that the word durvinīta, used by Hiraṇyakaśipu to insult Prahlāda Mahārāja, can be understood in a spiritual way: duḥ refers to this material world, which is full of suffering (duḥkhālayam), vi means “specifically,” and nīta means “brought.” Thus Prahlāda Mahārāja was specifically brought into this world to teach people how to become free from the material condition. When Kṛṣṇa is not personally present, His devotee is present, but the mission is the same: to free the poor conditioned souls from the clutches of māyā.
By your mercy, we have understood that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a divine gift that must be shared with others. Just as that stewardess was transformed through a simple contact with mahā-prasādam, in the same way countless souls can benefit by coming into contact with the holy name, your books, and kṛṣṇa-prasādam.
Therefore, on the day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we wish to renew our determination to serve your mission. We want to continue participating in your work by distributing your books, spreading your teachings, and offering people the opportunity to come in contact with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We desire to engage more and more in saṅkīrtana so that more and more souls may receive even a small spark of your mercy.
We also wish to inspire those who approach Kṛṣṇa consciousness to understand the greatness of your mission and to take part in it. If even a small contact with mahā-prasādam or with one of your books can change the course of a person’s life, then we want to do everything possible so that more and more people may receive this spiritual opportunity.
We therefore pray that you grant us the strength, humility, and determination to continue this service in the sincerest way possible, becoming ever more useful instruments in your mission to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout the world.
Your aspiring humble servant,
Hari-kīrtana Dāsa
On behalf of the devotees at ISKCON Rome
Europe & Russia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Please accept our obeisances and immense gratitude for the opportunity to experience the teachings of Lord Caitanya that you brought to the most remote corners of the Western countries!
Because of you, in Ryazan, people were given the opportunity not only to hear the holy name but also to serve the Lord and rejoice in that service with all their hearts. The spiritual revolution you brought to the hearts of your followers not only brought no harm, unlike revolutions in the material world, but, on the contrary, enabled them to experience true happiness and realize their spiritual nature!
Through your mercy and followers, who became spiritual teachers, we were able to join this movement, join the disciplic succession, and receive the opportunity and hope of returning home, back to Godhead. Yes, we are full of faults, our minds are restless, and our hearts are torn by material desires, but the practices you gave us, the books you wrote for us and which your sincere followers distribute throughout the world – all of these purify us and prepare our hearts for the seed of bhakti to grow within.
By your mercy, a temple has been built in our city, Deities have come to us, preachers have come, including your disciples, and people come to serve and receive your mercy.
Your servants at ISKCON Ryazan
Europe & Russia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, every day I try to read one or two offerings from your Vyāsa-pūjā book. So many books being distributed, so many temples opening, so many farming projects starting, so many educational courses being studied, so many new fresh souls stepping forward and helping to serve the mission.
Also, we see how some devotees see the challenges that lie ahead for your ISKCON Society. One of your disciples, Anuttama Prabhu, in his Vyāsa-pūjā offering to you, fears the growing demise of your disciples could lead to ISKCON also losing your mood and the Kṛṣṇa conscious standards you set. He also foresees the potential problem of growing prestige as ISKCON emerges as a world-renowned spiritual institution.
Another disciple, His Holiness Bhakti Vikāsa Swami, highlights his concerns that devotees may be losing sight of your mood and mission in his most recent three-volume book.
Another disciple, His Holiness Śivarāma Swami, in his book, Śuddha Bhakti Cintāmaṇi, lists all sorts of things that go on in ISKCON now that were never heard of when you were with us. His concern is that looser standards and the introduction of so many new things will threaten ISKCON’s ability to fulfill the prophesies of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He concludes, however, like a lot of ISKCON devotees, that if your priceless books are always present at an ever-increasing volume, then all inauspiciousness and deviation in this age of quarrel can be counteracted and triumphed over. Not only distribution of your books, but distribution combined with serious study, assimilation, application, and realization of your teachings will safeguard ISKCON against mission drift and relaxation of our core vows and values.
Here in the UK, there is a strong drive to increase book distribution, and the results are reflecting a strong and pure leadership in pursuance of this goal. You once said, “We are a society of goṣṭhyānandīs, not bhajanānandīs,” which means when we see deviation, untruth, or unscrupulous behavior, we have to stand up for what we know to be right. Turning a blind eye whilst trying to quietly go back to Godhead will not safeguard the future of this dynamic preaching movement. By being conversant with the literature you gave us, rich in memorization of key verses and strict in the practices of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we can follow in your footsteps and be fearless and articulate in defending the faith and spreading the message of Kṛṣṇa.
Here in Scotland, we have faced some major challenges over the last few years. We have experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to continue in the face of adversity, and yet how important it is to keep faith in our very capable leaders – and that by doing so, Kṛṣṇa vindicates the faithful.
As we move into the middle of 2026, we look at what our strategy will be for increasing book distribution and bringing new devotees in to carry this yātrā into the next ten thousand years under the auspicious gaze of our worshipful Lordships, Śrī Śrī Khoḍa Nitāi-Māyāpur-śaśi.
Everything is underpinned by our ability to cooperate and chant the holy name purely. As our yātrā emerges from a fire of purification, we place our heads at the feet of your true followers, both disciples and granddisciples, so that we may enthusiastically serve and assist them and thus please Your Divine Grace.
Certainly, we are very blessed to have the shelter and fine example of your genuine followers. May you be pleased with us all, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and may all devotees learn to see the true intentions to please you and show all love and respects to one another.
Your insignificant servants at the Scottish yātrā
Europe & Russia, 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
Please accept our humble and respectful obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet.
On this auspicious day, we, the devotees of ISKCON Ávila – Navalakuṇḍa, wish to approach you with sincerity and open hearts, just as we are.
We are deeply grateful for your presence in our lives and for the path you have given us. By your mercy we have received direction, shelter, and purpose in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Although we are mindful of our many limitations, within our community there exists a sincere desire to serve you and to advance spiritually.
We pray for your guidance from within our hearts. Please help us to remain steady and faithful, even when we face challenges and difficulties in our service.
We beg for your blessings so that we may continue preaching with enthusiasm, without becoming discouraged and without letting ourselves be overcome by circumstances.
Allow us to be instruments in your hands, so that many souls may draw closer to Kṛṣṇa. May our efforts carry a reflection of your mercy and touch the hearts of those who come in contact with this project.
You know the responsibilities we are carrying as well as the difficulties we face. Please bless us with intelligence, patience, and purity of heart, so that we may act correctly, without falling into offenses or deviations.
Help us to protect and nurture the spiritual environment where we are serving, and to never lose our sincerity nor the desire to serve, even in the midst of trials.
We thank you for your limitless mercy and for continuing to guide us, even when we are not aware of it. We offer all that we are and all that we are attempting to do at your lotus feet, with the hope that one day it may be pleasing to you.
Your servants,
ISKCON Ávila – Navalakuṇḍa
(written by Amala Śacī Devī Dāsī, temple president)
(Text in its original Spanish)
Querido 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
Por favor, acepte nuestras humildes y respetuosas reverencias al polvo de Sus pies de loto.
En este día auspicioso, nosotros, los devotos de ISKCON Ávila – Navalakuṇḍa, deseamos acercarnos a usted con sinceridad, con el corazón abierto, tal como somos.
Le estamos profundamente agradecidos por su presencia en nuestras vidas y por el camino que nos ha dado. A través de su misericordia, hemos recibido dirección, refugio y propósito en la conciencia de Kṛṣṇa.
Aunque somos conscientes de nuestras muchas limitaciones, dentro de nuestra comunidad existe un deseo sincero de servirle y de avanzar espiritualmente.
Oramos por su guía desde dentro de nuestros corazones.
Por favor, ayúdenos a mantenernos firmes y fieles, incluso cuando enfrentamos desafíos y dificultades en nuestro servicio.
Le suplicamos sus bendiciones para poder continuar predicando con entusiasmo, sin desanimarnos y sin dejarnos vencer por las circunstancias.
Permítanos ser instrumentos en sus manos, para que muchas almas puedan acercarse a Kṛṣṇa. Que nuestros esfuerzos lleven un reflejo de su misericordia y puedan tocar el corazón de quienes entren en contacto con este proyecto.
Usted conoce las responsabilidades que estamos sosteniendo, así como las dificultades que enfrentamos.
Por favor, bendíganos con inteligencia, paciencia y pureza de corazón, para poder actuar correctamente, sin caer en ofensas ni desviaciones.
Ayúdenos a proteger y nutrir el ambiente espiritual donde estamos sirviendo, y a no perder nunca la sinceridad ni el deseo de servir, incluso en medio de las pruebas.
Le agradecemos por su misericordia ilimitada y por seguir guiándonos, incluso cuando no somos conscientes de ello.
Le ofrecemos todo lo que somos y todo lo que estamos intentando hacer, a Sus pies de loto, con la esperanza de que algún día pueda ser de Su agrado.
Sus sirvientes,
ISKCON Ávila – Navalakuṇḍa
Servidora representante: Amala Śacī Devī Dāsī
Presidenta de ISKCON Ávila Navalakuṇḍa
Europe & Russia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Our most beloved Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble obeisances in the dust of your merciful lotus feet. All glories to you and to your divine appearance day!
As the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya forest addressed Śrīla Suta Gosvāmī, we would like to address Your Divine Grace in the same way:
tvaṁ naḥ sandarśito dhātrā dustaraṁ nistitīrṣatām
kaliṁ sattva-haraṁ puṁsāṁ karṇa-dhāra ivārṇavam
We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of human beings. (Bhāgavatam 1.1.22)
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, we are so fortunate to be on the boat where you are the captain. That boat is a shelter for all of us worldwide who have taken refuge at your lotus feet. To encourage us and to confirm that you are still personally with us, something wonderful happened in our yātrā.
Exactly thirty years ago, during your glorious centennial year in 1996, your wonderful mūrti came to our yātrā. How unimaginably merciful in the form of this wonderful mūrti you are! Although we never met you personally while you were still on our planet, we get your association through your books, audio classes, video recordings, disciples, and, since 1996, through this most beautiful mūrti.
Over the last thirty years you stayed with us during the most dangerous and challenging times of our yātrā. You never left us. When you arrived, we had a big temple in Belgrade inhabited by many devotees, and where around a hundred guests came to our wonderful Sunday feast programs. Our Nityānanda bhajana band held concerts all over Serbia, attended by many thousands of people. We had many enthusiastic book distributors, distributing around 50,000 books a year. The Deities were carefully worshiped with so much love and devotion. Prasādam was prepared with so much love and devotion as well. New people started to join.
But then, after some years, the situation changed. We lost our temple due to unfortunate circumstances, Kali-yuga influences tricked us in different ways, and our unity was decreasing. Since that time, your mūrti stayed in the homes of different devotees, in rented spaces, at summer camps, and finally at a property we got just two years ago.
Over the last thirty years, after being at our temple for only the first three years, you were traveling and staying in at least ten different places and devotee homes. You never left us, although the circumstances where we kept you were sometimes very humble. Sometimes, they were even more humble than the Bowery on the Lower East Side in New York City, where you opened your first temple in the West. But despite our limited possibilities to serve you, we were growing and maturing in your presence and in your company.
And what is the result of your confidence in us? The situation has again started to improve, slowly but surely. Over the last six years, for the first time in the history of our yātrā, we have been registered as ISKCON. For the first time in thirty years we have printed a full edition of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is in the Serbian language. For the first time in the history of our yātrā we have a permanent place, where we hope generations of Vaiṣṇavas and Vaiṣṇavīs will continue to live and serve together.
Our cooperation and our relationships are improving. We are making a conscious effort to develop more love and trust among us. Cooperation enriched with love and trust is a wonderful formula for success, and we have inherited this understanding from Your Divine Grace.
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, without your mercy and your constant presence, who knows what would have happened to us? By your mercy, our yātrā is getting stronger again – slowly, surely, with small careful steps. We are trying not to repeat the mistakes of the past and to not again fall into the traps of this fallen age. We know that our achievements are almost insignificant, especially in comparison with many developed yātrās. But those small achievements that we have, they are for us like small precious gems – our loving offering to you and our humble attempt to please you. Those gems are our wealth, and they keep the devotees together and bring new hope for the development of a bright future for our yātrā.
Please accept the members and devotees of our Serbian yātrā as the small spiders who also want to help Hanumān and the other great devotees still present all around the world. With the hope that we can steadily continue with our humble attempts to bring satisfaction to your merciful heart, we remain your grateful servants.
The devotees of the Serbian yātrā
Europe & Russia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Hare Kṛṣṇa, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Meeting you is a good luck and reward for us!
Please accept our obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet
and an offering of several lines.
Let me put a garland on you –
Thanks and flowers!
Although to pay tribute to your contributions and talents
We really will never have enough words …
We are very glad to have met you!
How difficult it is to describe in words
All the gratitude and love
In exchange for eternal priceless gifts!
We congratulate you on the day of Vyāsa-pūjā
And firstly, let us glorify Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī
For the fact that he found you in this world
And made you the founder-ācārya!
He acted in accordance with Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s orders,
Taking care of the entire world and us through you!
You fearlessly took over his legacy.
Accept our gratitude for this!
For many years,
Keeping and fulfilling the sacred vow,
Following the mission of Bhaktisiddhānta,
You have been rescuing fallen souls from the cycle of saṁsāra.
Generously bestowing on your followers and disciples
Your personal example and the wisdom of your words,
Using the power of the śāstras and your teachings,
Destroying the doubts in their hearts.
Thank you once again for conveying to us
That Kṛṣṇa needs all of us very much,
That He is our eternal and loving friend,
That He is the creator of everything around,
That He is our goal, refuge and keeper,
Witness, savior, and the main teacher!
O Prabhupāda, thank you very much,
For you make the truths so simple to us.
Thank you to the Lord for your extraordinary feats, lectures, and books:
From Caitanya-caritāmṛta to Bhagavad-gītā!
Thanks for the knowledge we have received from you,
That we have come to understand:
It is the greatest fortune to be in the company of devotees,
And in this way, our karmic bondage is terminated!
This privilege has been bestowed upon us by your grace,
From the guru-paramparā and Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself!
And to please you and the Supreme Lord,
We serve and will continue to serve in your mission!
Dear Prabhupāda, in gratitude for everything,
Accept from us the 2025 annual report:
Your books truly work miracles,
Resurrecting people’s hearts to life!
Saṅkīrtana-yajña has gained momentum:
32,386 books were distributed this year!
Many new people appreciated the taste of attractive prasādam
More than 15,000 fed by the project Food of Life!
To preach more in the territory of our temple,
The Ashrama Sochi guesthouse has been completed.
Now we can accept more devotees and guests,
To expand your mission of preaching.
So, for those who want to understand Vedic culture,
We held the Veda-Life preaching festival.
Many new people joined The Ajñāta-sukṛti Movement,
And they are now serving the Lord in the spiritual elite!
We also held the Vaiṣnavī Sochi All-Russian Festival.
Allowing mātājīs to study from morning to night.
Replenished and united the leadership team,
Encouraged active devotees for their many years of contribution:
Organized rest and additional training for them,
Invited senior Vaiṣṇavas of special importance!
Such as: His Holiness Adhokṣaja Swami,
His Holiness Bhakti Ratnākara Ambarīṣa Swami,
His Holiness Bhakti Bhāgavatāmṛta Keśava Swami,
And His Holiness Bhakti Rasāyana Sāgara Swami.
A charge of innermost wisdom to the yātrā’s asset,
Gave the famous Prabhu His Grace Yuga Dharma.
Continued the successful training of novice Vaiṣṇavas
To prepare for initiation and receiving praṇāma-mantra.
Conducted fifty-four preaching and festival programs
With Deity worship from abhiṣeka to vibrant performances!
More than forty fire sacrifices,
The saṁskāras for the devotees and the satisfaction of the Lord!
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, we are concluding our glorification,
We are putting a garland of gratitude on you,
Let us always serve the Lord and the guru-paramparā,
Let us open the gates of the spiritual world for others!
Your servants at ISKCON Sochi
