Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble and most unworthy obeisances.
I want to share with you something that has been on my mind since reading the first chapter of
the Sixth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, about the story of Ajāmila. It is the difference between sin-
fulness and offensiveness, and how powerful destiny (or latent karmic influences) are upon those
of us living here within this material world.
Ajāmila began his life’s journey as a serious young man – a brāhmaṇa – with all disciplines,
ideal character, heritage, and good training. Yet, when he encountered explicit sensuality he could
not prevent his downfall – in fact, he welcomed it. He made a decision to bring a prostitute into
his intimate association, and from there, everything good was forgotten. Thus his life sped by.
Having committed all kinds of crimes, in his old age he was given a gift of inspiration to name
his son Nārāyaṇa, and due to affection for the child, he repeatedly called out the name of the
Lord while calling his son. He was extreme in his sinfulness, extremely divorced from his religious
upbringing, and yet his calling the name of Nārāyaṇa was effective because he did not know
what he was doing! Hence his chanting was inoffensive and the chanting acted. It purified him.
Because he was inoffensive. Such a sinful person was now considered pure, and he was saved.
And then there is myself. Clearly, you personally came, like the servants of Nārāyaṇa, to save
sinful, ignorant people like me from so much nonsense by giving us the light of the Bhāgavatam.
Yet clearly, we too are free to fall back into our previous bad habits and, like Ajāmila, forget the
greatness of our good fortune. That freedom is always there. And whilst in my case I act to avoid
such a disaster, I daily witness so many subtle offenses I continually commit, and thus my chant-
ing remains offensive. Previously I was simply ignorant or sinful, but now I am simply offensive.
Ajāmila was not offensive because he did not know what he was doing incorrectly, whereas I rec-
ognize the weight which is upon me to act as a deeply genuine Vaiṣṇava and share the gifts that
you have given me.
So here at Vrinda Valley, where I am blessed to reside, we all have a deep yearning to share
with others. Our Sacred India Gallery was praised by the Prime Minister of India, which in itself
is quite astonishing, and we are planning how to serve cooperatively in bringing others with us on
the journey toward purity and offenseless acts of devotion.
Please continue to bless us all, and please continue to strengthen my efforts to become a
genuine devotee.
On behalf of all the devotees who reside here in your service,
Jagattāriṇī Dāsī
Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
Today, we fall short in words – but not in inspiration. You envisioned spiritual farm commu-
nities where Kṛṣṇa is the center – where cows are protected for Kṛṣṇa, the land is cultivated for
Kṛṣṇa, festivals are celebrated with devotion, spiritual knowledge is shared, and bhakti is woven
into daily life. At GEV this vision is not just remembered but lived.
Your vision and desire are reemphasized and manifest through your dedicated disciple, His
Holiness Radhanath Swami Mahārāja, and we are fortunate to serve in fulfilling this desire under
his esteemed guidance.
A Day at GEV: Vrindavan Is Lived
Before dawn, devotees gather for maṅgala-ārati at the beautiful Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Vrindavanbihārī and
Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Madana-mohana temples. The deep call of conch shells breaks the silence of the
night. Voices rise, singing the saṁsāra dāvānala prayers, as mṛdaṅgas and karatālas carry the offer-
ing of devotion.
Then, the first darshan. The Deities stand resplendent, merciful, and effulgent. “If one
attends maṅgala-ārati at the temple, he is supposed to be transcendentally situated.” (Lecture on
Bhagavad-gītā 2.44, Paris, 1974) This is not merely the start of the day; it is the realignment of the
heart. It reminds us that life is meant for Kṛṣṇa’s service – everything else is secondary.
As the sun rises, Girirāja Govardhana stands smiling, watching over the sacred waters of
Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Śyāma-kuṇḍa. Devotees sit nearby, chanting on their beads, their fingers
moving in rhythm with the holy name.
By evening, as the sun sets behind the banks of the Yamuna, the temple hall fills with devo-
tees for the sandhyā-ārati. The flickering ghee lamps, ecstatic devotees, waves of kīrtana, and the
Deities bathed in golden light – all come together in an experience that is not different from Śrī
Vrindavan-dhāma.
A Place of Learning that Leads to Realization
You taught us that knowledge should lead to devotion. At GEV, this is happening. People from
all over the world arrive for the Yoga Teachers Training Course (YTTC), expecting to master
postures and breathwork, but what begins as a pursuit of wellness eventually leads to a shift in
consciousness. They come seeking asanas and leave yearning for āśraya, shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus
feet. They enter as students of posture and breath and leave as seekers of transcendence. This is
your gift of Kṛṣṇa consciousness to them, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Not Just a Retreat – A Life Centered on Kṛṣṇa
GEV is not just a temple, retreat, or wellness center; it is a living demonstration of Kṛṣṇa’s culture
in action. Here, bhakti is not theory but is woven into daily life.
Visitors, villagers, and devotees come together to celebrate Vaiṣṇava festivals like Janmāṣṭamī
and Govardhan-pūjā – not as spectators, but as active participants in abhiśekas, yajñas, go-sevā,
and other devotional offerings. Prasādam is freely distributed, nourishing both body and soul.
Several people, including the local villagers, partake in festival feasts, darshans, guided Vrindavan
parikramās, and explore Kṛṣṇa’s līlās through the dioramas that dot the property. Cows graze
freely with their calves, reflecting Kṛṣṇa’s eternal pastime: lakṣa-vṛteṣu surabhīr abhipālayantam (Śrī
Brahma-saṁhitā 5.29).
A Deep Cultural Impact: Bhakti Rooted in Rural Life
GEV is not just a temple but a way of life. It transforms the lives of rural villagers through both
material and spiritual empowerment:
• Employment in Kṛṣṇa’s service: villagers are engaged in goshala service, garland-making,
cleaning, cooking, and gardening, not just as work but as devotional offerings to Kṛṣṇa.
• A new generation growing up in bhakti: the children of villagers who once knew little about
Kṛṣṇa now grow up hearing His names, participating in festivals, and chanting the mahā-
mantra. They are learning that education is not just to develop a livelihood; it’s to learn
devotion.
• A shift in identity: first-time visitors are startled to be addressed as Prabhujī or Mātājī – a
reminder of the humility and respect that define Vaiṣṇava culture.
• Skill center: at the Govardhan Skill Centre rural women are trained in handicrafts, devo-
tional arts, and sustainable vocations, making them financially independent while keeping
them rooted in Vedic values.
• Village preaching and nāgara-saṅkīrtana: villagers receive the Bhagavad-gītā, mahā-prasādam,
and Kṛṣṇa consciousness through regular nāgara-saṅkīrtana and rural outreach.
• Attracting thoughtful seekers: The simple kurta-dhoti attire of GEV residents, combined
with scientifically advanced projects like the bio-water treatment plant, attracts people to
simplicity and deep thinking.
• Ayurveda for holistic well-being: The Ayurveda Centre provides authentic Vedic healing to
those seeking holistic treatments, bridging ancient wisdom with modern needs.
Your Mercy, Our Aspiration
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you did not just build temples, you built a way of life. You taught us that:
• Prosperity is not industrial; it is spiritual.
• Sustainability is not just ecological; it is devotional.
• Progress is not measured by material gain but by Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure.
The world searches for solutions, but you already gave them.
Your servants at ISKCON’s Govardhan Ecovillage
Asia-Eurasia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
You showed us that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not separate from life, but meant to be lived fully, through every stage, and in every moment of life. It is not confined to temples or limited to specific spiritual moments, but is meant to permeate our thoughts, shape our relationships, guide our responsibilities, and purify our intentions.
In The Nectar of Devotion, you explain that devotional service means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord. In this way, you taught us that spiritual life is not an escape from the world, but a transformation of how we live within it, where even ordinary activities, when performed for Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure, become spiritualized.
At Govardhan Ecovillage, we are trying, in our small and humble way, to follow this instruction practically – under the compassionate guidance of His Holiness Radhanath Swami, who is sincerely striving to carry forward your desire. Over the past year, we have seen this effort gradually take tangible shape in several meaningful ways.
You have also given us a complete vision for a spiritually balanced society. In your purports to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.16.10 and other verses), you described how five categories of creatures – brāhmaṇas, cows, women, children, and the elderly – must be properly cared for and protected.
Inspired by this vision, a variṣṭha-vaiṣṇava-āśrama has recently been established for elderly devotees who have dedicated their lives to your service. Here, they are lovingly cared for in a devotional environment enriched with kirtan, sādhana, and sacred association. Their lives continue in the same spirit of service, now deepened by reflection and absorption. It reminds us that devotional life does not diminish with age but matures. As you taught us, “In Kṛṣṇa consciousness, there is no retirement.”
At the same time, a new residential facility, Govardhana Kuñj, has been developed for devotees who wish to live within the Govardhan Ecovillage campus and participate more closely in its variety of services. For many devotees, especially Vaiṣṇavīs, this has become a meaningful support. Freed from long commutes and urban challenges, they are able to engage more naturally in temple services and community life. Gradually, what begins as a place of residence transforms into a place of belonging, where daily life revolves around sevā – in the temple, at the gośālā, and in other areas of service.
In alignment with your instructions, efforts are also expanding in the areas of cow protection and education. The gośālā is steadily growing, providing loving care for the cows. And, the Govardhan English Medium School (GEMS) is nurturing students in both academic learning and Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We have also developed a children’s play area inspired by Kṛṣṇa’s bālya-līlās, providing a space where children can engage in joyful activity while being spiritually nourished. Through seasonal camps during the summer, monsoon, and winter, we further help in educating and inspiring young minds in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
In addition, the scope of spiritual education at GEV has been expanded in the form of the “Govardhan School of Education and Culture (GSEC),” which includes the Bhaktivedanta Vidyāpīṭha, and which continues to serve as a center for systematic scriptural education, offering course like Bhakti-śāstrī, Bhakti-vaibhava, and Bhakti-vedānta to help devotees become firmly grounded in philosophy and brahminical character. And several courses on traditional arts and sciences, such as music, dance, yajña, and Deity worship are also part of GSEC.
A Navadvīpa-ghāṭa is also being developed along the Vaitaraṇā river, a tributary of the Godāvarī. This simple yet sacred place offers devotees an opportunity for quiet remembrance and purification. A dip in these waters becomes more than a ritual – it becomes a pause for inner reflection and reconnection with Kṛṣṇa. As you repeatedly emphasized that remembrance of Kṛṣṇa is the essence of all spiritual practices, we are trying to facilitate such remembrance in natural and accessible ways.
Along with these developments, we are witnessing a steady increase in visitors. Many arrive without a specific intention – some out of curiosity, others seeking a brief respite from their routine lives. Yet something in the atmosphere touches their hearts. Through the darshan of the Deities, the sound of kirtan, the warmth of devotee interactions, and the simplicity of the surroundings, they experience a sense of peace and connection. Even if they cannot fully express it, they carry something meaningful back with them.
You taught us, “Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and your life will be sublime.” Here, we see how even a brief exposure to kirtan or prasādam can plant a seed of devotion in the heart – a seed that may quietly grow over time.
Under your instructions, prasādam distribution continues extensively through the Govardhan Annakṣetra. Every day, large numbers of people are lovingly served sanctified food, both within the Ecovillage and in surrounding rural villages, where devotees personally go to serve. For many, this becomes their first genuine encounter with devotional life. What appears to be a simple meal often leaves a deep and lasting impression. As you beautifully explained, “If you simply take kṛṣṇa-prasādam, your spiritual life begins.” We see this truth unfolding again and again.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, through all these efforts, we are beginning to understand that your vision is reflected not only in visible projects but also in subtle transformations – hearts becoming softer, relationships growing more respectful, and lives gradually aligning toward devotion.
As we look ahead, the next phase of development, GEV Madhya, is emerging, with expanded facilities for education, healthcare, and community living. The purpose is not merely expansion, but integration: to create an environment where devotees can harmoniously balance their practical responsibilities and spiritual aspirations. You emphasized this ideal in your instruction, “Simple living and high thinking.” We are trying to create a setting where this principle can be experienced in daily life.
Ultimately, the success of these initiatives is not measured in structures or numbers, but in whether they help us become better sādhakas – with greater sincerity, humility, and steadiness in our practice. You taught us that the essence of spiritual life lies in attentive chanting, humble service, and genuine compassion – as you explain in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.14), where Kṛṣṇa says satataṁ kīrtayanto mām – always chant My glories. This consistency is what we aspire to cultivate.
You also instructed, “Do not try to see God, but act in such a way that God will see you.” This reminds us that our focus should not be on recognition but on sincerity.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, we are simply trying to assist in your mission in whatever small way we can. Whatever is happening here is only by your mercy and the blessings of the previous ācāryas. We have no qualification of our own.
We pray for your continued guidance and blessings that we may remain instruments in your service, that we may not lose sight of the true purpose behind all these efforts, and that we may develop the sincerity and steadiness required to serve your desire.
May we always remember that everything we do is meant for Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure.
Your insignificant servants,
ISKCON Govardhan Ecovillage
Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupāda, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master,
servant of Bhakti siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya
deva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.
Please accept our humble and respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to you.
We are in the year 2025, which marks sixty years since you first set your lotus feet on Western
soil to fulfill the instruction of your Guru Mahārāja. Oh, how blessed are we all to have somehow
or other come in contact with your message of the Supreme Absolute Truth.
The world has turned dramatically ever since you departed from it. The only way we can keep
ourselves sane and focused is by staying close to you and your words and advice. You came
to the West and carried the torchlight of knowledge in three volumes: your translated Śrīmad-
Bhāgavatam, an endless truth and incarnation of the Supreme for this Age of Kali.
You gave the message of Kṛṣṇa’s love for us freely, as did Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda.
The only request you made is for us to stop entangling our minds with this material world. How-
ever, as Arjuna already says in the Bhagavad-gītā, the mind is harder to control than the wind. We
do struggle to control our mind, to loosen our attachment to Māyā in all her seemingly pretty
facets. She is waiting on every corner, ready to snap us up, making us question ourselves and even
your movement. The Age of Kali is progressing, and distraction is the new normal if we are not
careful.
Why am I saying all these things that should not affect a devotee? Because the truth is, we
are all affected in one way or another, whether it be by questioning our path to Kṛṣṇa, measur-
ing what other devotees do, or being tormented by our thoughts and the mind’s activities – the
clutches of Māyā are so manifold.
But the actual truth is that this is harm done unnecessarily, as you made your way to America
to bring us the knowledge that can untangle us from these clutches of the material world. Now,
sixty years later, we have to also make use of it. Daily sādhana is the medicine you brought us, but
like many children, we don’t like to take that medicine. Still, we all know how healing and reliev-
ing it is to be free of pain.
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, on this special day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, and indeed every day, let us
remember what kept you going in your first year in America: your firm faith in your spiritual
master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī, and your unalloyed devotion to Kṛṣṇa.
Although often you didn’t know how to pay your rent for the next week, and you didn’t yet
find people who were eager to get out of their darkness, you always stayed true to the instruction
of your spiritual master to help the people in the Western world out of the clutches of Māyā. You
showered them with the light of the Bhāgavata. We are here only because of you, and we can only
share what you gave us.
In the name of everyone here at Govinda Valley, I pray to you to keep us always close to your
lotus feet. Let us always share the light of knowledge with those whose hearts are open to receive
it, and please let us always be engaged in your service, for this is our life and soul and all we want
for this life.
As I was describing before, life seems overwhelming at times, distractions can be huge, but our
hearts are calling for Kṛṣṇa deep inside. Please grant us your mercy to get free of these conditions,
become deeply attached to Kṛṣṇa’s holy names, and develop a heart full of compassion so we can
help you in your mission and always stay faithful to you and Kṛṣṇa. We thank you from our hearts
for the life you gave us.
Your servants,
the sādhakas at Govinda Valley
(written by Mālinī Devī Dāsī)
Canada & USA, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
You gave us a purpose, a meaning, and a reason to live. You gave us positive engagement. You gave us temples, devotee association, and loving exchanges. You gave us books in which we can find shelter and which have become our medium to serve others.
You gave us an example. Your deep devotion gives us faith. You gave us the morning program. We beg you to please guide us on how we may become internally pure. Please give us the intelligence, words, and strength to know how we can share the message among diverse audiences in western Michigan.
Your humble servants,
Shyāmānanda Krishna Dāsa
and the devotees of the ISKCON Grand Rapids community
Canada & USA, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
To Your Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace. All glories to Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāṅga.
On this most auspicious occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we, the members of the ISKCON Grande Prairie center, offer our heartfelt gratitude, prayers, and glorification. Though we are limited and insignificant, we pray that our words may carry a sincere attempt to express our appreciation for your causeless mercy upon us.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are the embodiment of compassion. You carried the message of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, across the ocean, fulfilling the predictions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. With unwavering determination and complete dependence on Kṛṣṇa, you established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and gave the entire world access to the highest spiritual knowledge.
As you have stated in an August 1975 room conversation: “I have not done any magic. Whatever I have done is due to my Guru Mahārāja.”
Through your humility we learn what it means to be a true servant of the spiritual master. You never claimed credit, yet the entire world is indebted to you.
In our small community in Grande Prairie, the northernmost center and far from the holy dhāmas of India, we experience your presence through your books, your instructions, and the association of devotees. Your teachings have become the foundation of our lives. Through your translations and purports in Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, we are gradually understanding our identity as eternal servants of Kṛṣṇa.
You have given us a practical process to purify our lives by chanting the holy names, honoring prasādam, engaging in devotional service, and associating with devotees. Even in our daily struggles, your words guide us and bring clarity.
In a lecture given in London in 1973, you instructed, “Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and your life will be sublime.”
By following this simple yet deep instruction, we find hope and direction. In a world filled with confusion and distraction, your teachings stand as a beacon of truth.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you have also given us the mission to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Though we are not qualified, we try in our small ways by organizing kirtans, distributing prasādam, sharing your books, and celebrating festivals. Every effort we make is simply an attempt to assist in your mission.
Our community continues to grow by your mercy. New devotees are joining, families are finding spiritual shelter, and people are developing faith in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is only possible because of your sacrifice and vision.
In a letter from 1972, you wrote, “The Krishna consciousness movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all kinds of departments of knowledge and action.”
We pray to become instruments in fulfilling this vision to live by your teachings and to share them with sincerity and compassion.
On this sacred day, we reflect on how fortunate we are to be connected to your disciplic succession. Without you, we would remain lost in material existence, unaware of our true purpose. You have opened our eyes and shown us the path back home, back to Godhead.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, please bless us that we may remain steady in our sādhana, develop genuine humility and a service attitude, work cooperatively as a family, spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness in our region, and always remember your instructions in all circumstances. We pray to never forget your mercy, even for a moment. Please forgive our shortcomings and offenses. We are trying, but we are still learning. Kindly guide us from within our hearts so that we may serve you better. At your lotus feet, we offer our repeated obeisances.
Your insignificant servants,
The devotees at the ISKCON Grande Prairie Center
