Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet. All glories to the saṅkīrtana
movement of Lord Caitanya.
On this sacred day of your glorious appearance, we wish to express our deep gratitude to you
for bringing the eternal words of Śrī Kṛṣṇa to these forgotten countries. Thank you very much
for giving us the opportunity to perform loving devotional service to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead through the ancient system of bhakti-yoga. Thank you also for giving us your inspiring
books, which contain precise instructions for purifying and liberating all souls. Thank you very
much for giving us the Deities to worship and the merciful prasādam distribution program.
May your blessings reach this humble place, enlightening all beings through the mass distri-
bution of your books. Please bless us so that the saṅkīrtana movement may flourish ever more
with renewed enthusiasm. We humbly ask for your powerful blessings for the spiritual health of
all of the devotees in this yātrā and that the nāmahaṭṭa programs that have been established may
continue united and strong. May the expansion of the movement be consolidated with beautiful
future bhakti-vriksha groups and Ratha-yātrās. Bless us so that the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa conscious-
ness may triumph in all educational and social spheres of these lands.
We also beg for your blessings so that the Kṛṣṇa conscious self-sustaining farm project may
also be a success. All for your transcendental pleasure, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda. All glories to your
beloved International Society for Krishna Consciousness, our original consciousness. We bow
down again and again in the dust of your lotus feet.
We remain insignificant servants of the servants of your beloved devotees,
Sundara Śekhara Dāsa
on behalf of ISKCON Montevideo
Canada & USA, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
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
kali-kālera dharma — kṛṣṇa-nāma-saṅkīrtana
kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana
The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. Unless empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot propagate the saṅkīrtana movement.
This verse is a direct reference to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for being the kṛṣṇa-śakti, a saktyavesa- avatāra, the nāma-saṅkīrtana ācārya. For who else has spread Lord Caitanya’s saṅkīrtana movement far and wide?
We can just imagine the reactions of your godbrothers and others when they found out that you had gone to America to preach. So many things must have crossed their minds. They surely had concerns for the perils and challenges associated with such an undertaking.
At 69, people retire. Hardly anyone would start anything at that age – especially not a worldwide movement like ISKCON.
Traveling to America with only 40 rupees (which was around 8 US dollars at the time) is unheard of. This journey on the Jaladuta, a cargo ship, was not an overnight flight; it would take 37 days to reach Boston from India. Although you did not know anyone in America, Kṛṣṇa arranged for you to meet Mr. Prasad Agarwal from Agra. Since his son was living in Butler, Pennsylvania, at the time, Mr. Agarwal requested him to send you a letter of sponsorship to assist you in your preaching mission.
Where would you live? The Agarwal’s had limited space in their home with a family of four. Being in a foreign land, alone, what could you attempt to accomplish? Would there be anyone to claim your body if you suddenly passed away?
In the early ’30s, efforts were made to preach in England, with little if any result. Therefore, few of your godbrothers made attempts to preach outside India. Besides, not one Englishmen had shown any interest for Kṛṣṇa consciousness in two hundred years of British presence in India. Why would Americans be any different?
Sumati Morarji, director of the biggest cargo shipping company in India, was apprehensive. To allow your passage on the Jaladuta would be a voyage to death. She did not want this on her conscience. Your conviction was paramount in changing her mind.
It was a difficult journey. We cannot imagine what it was like for you to experience, both the seasickness and the two heart attacks. You wrote in your diary: “I do not know how I was saved. Struggling between life and death.”
During the height of your health crisis, you had a vision of Lord Kṛṣṇa rowing the boat, which gave you the strength to continue. In New York, a third heart attack and some paralysis forced you to return to India. Your young students were shocked, not knowing if you would ever be able to come back. Somehow, in India, your health improved. Time was not on your side, however, making your mission more pressing to fulfill. Reflecting on all this we understand how your determination and the compassion for us was always so much greater than any personal physical considerations.
ya idaṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati
bhaktiṁ mayi parāṁ kṛtvā mām evaiṣyaty asaṁśayaḥ
For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ
bhavitā na ca me tasmād anyaḥ priya-taro bhuvi
There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.
As Bali Mahārāja became one of the mahājanas by surrendering everything to Vāmanadeva, so the risks you took, Śrīla Prabhupāda, leaving Vrindaban, India, to preach on the Bowery – skid row of New York City at the time – is quite astonishing. To travel the globe fourteen times over, making thousands of devotees, we have to declare you to be the thirteenth mahājana, (mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ) for you have shown the path of kṛṣṇa-bhakti for all the world to follow.
In the Gītā there is a statement by Arjuna to Lord Kṛṣṇa that we feel also applies to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, since you are the living Bhāgavatam:
arjuna uvāca
sthāne hṛṣīkeśa tava prakīrtyā jagat prahṛṣyaty anurajyate ca
rakṣāṁsi bhītāni diśo drainait sarve namasyanti ca siddha-saṅghāḥ
Arjuna said: O master of the senses, the world becomes joyful upon hearing Your name, and thus everyone becomes attached to You. Although the perfected beings offer You their respectful homage, the demons are afraid, and they flee here and there. All this is rightly done.
We are lost for words to express our deepest gratitude for your gift of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. On this most auspicious day of your appearance, we pray to get a glance of your mercy, for that is all we are begging for.
Your servants at the Montreal temple
(written by Lakṣmīnātha Dāsa)
Europe & Russia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
On this most auspicious day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we, your followers in Moscow, Russia, offer our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
Today we celebrate the sacred day of your appearance in this world. For us, this day holds a special, historical significance, as this year marks a double jubilee – the fifty-fifth anniversary of your arrival in Moscow and the fifty-fifth year of the formation of the Vaiṣṇava community in Russia and the CIS countries.
In 1971, you visited Moscow for a few days – a journey that was both risky and incredibly difficult. Upon learning of your plans, some devotees tried to dissuade you, suggesting a vacation in Hawaii to engage in book translations. They sent messages that the mango season was beginning. Śrīla Prabhupāda, your reply was immortal: “Preaching in the snows of Russia is far sweeter than any mangoes!”
Fifty-five years ago, fulfilling the order of your spiritual master, you fearlessly stepped onto Moscow’s soil. At a time when spiritual inquiry was forbidden, you brought here the greatest treasure – bhakti, pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. You planted a seed of faith that, against all obstacles, has sprouted and grown into a mighty saṅkīrtana movement of Lord Caitanya, its branches now spread throughout Russia.
By your mercy and the tireless efforts of your disciples and followers, that seed has grown into a thriving Vaiṣṇava community. We gratefully remember your visit to Moscow and look with sincere gratitude at every available picture from your time here. Today, the Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and all your books are easily accessible throughout Russia. We are proud that during the last visit of the President of Russia to India, he was gifted a copy of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is in Russian language by the Prime Minister of India. The picture of Mr. Modi presenting the Gītā to President Putin was shared worldwide.
Because of your purity, you were able to attract thousands of conditioned souls to the path of pure devotional service. You were always humble and gentle in dealing with others. You gave the medicine by which suffering humanity can be cured – the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
You gave us not just a philosophy, but a practical path to spiritual life based on chanting the holy names:
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare.
Today we proudly witness the fruits of your preaching. Throughout Russia – from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok – ISKCON temples and centers stand where thousands of devotees gather to glorify the Lord. Millions of your books in Russian have found their readers, igniting the fire of knowledge and love of God in people’s hearts. Your teachings have become an integral part of our country’s spiritual culture.
You often stated that as long as book distribution goes on, you would live forever. Through your Bhaktivedanta purports, you continue to preach to the conditioned souls. Like Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, you have converted so many atheists and impersonalists to the path of devotional service. As Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura stated, a Vaiṣṇava is recognized by his preaching work. Your books will continue to preach for the next ten thousand years.
We pray for a drop of your mercy. Please engage us in pure devotional service without any tinge of karma or jñāna. Allow us to become humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree.
On this auspicious day, we pray for your causeless mercy so that we may always remain fixed in executing your divine instructions and helping to propagate Lord Caitanya’s saṅkīrtana movement.
Your servant,
Sādhu-priya Dāsa, Regional Secretary and temple president
On behalf of the devotees at ISKCON Moscow
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.
We find this verse in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.34, spoken by Lord Rāmacandra and
quoted from the Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha-kāṇḍa 18.33:
sakṛd eva prapanno yas
tavāsmīti ca yācate
abhayaṁ sarvadā tasmai
dadāmy etad vrataṁ mama
It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me, saying “My dear Lord,
from this day I am Yours,” and prays to Me for courage, I shall immediately award
courage to that person, and he will always remain safe from that time on.
When Vibhīṣaṇa comes to surrender to Lord Rāma, He promises complete shelter by quoting the
above śloka. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you give anyone and everyone who joins ISKCON at
any level immediate shelter by connecting them to the guru-paramparā of thirty-two ācāryas and
the Supreme Lord Himself.
Lord Rāma declared Vibhīṣaṇa as Laṅkeśa, coronating him king of Laṅkā, while promising to
protect anyone who surrenders. And Lord Rāma declared that if Rāvaṇa surrenders, He would
make Rāvaṇa king of Ayodhyā. On being questioned about Bharata, Lord Rāma stated He would
give Him a Vaikuṇṭha planet to rule. When He was questioned where He would stay, Lord Rāma
very happily said He would stay in the heart of Hanumān.
Similarly, we see, Śrīla Prabhupāda, that Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
always stays in your heart. You have converted practically every city in every state in every country
in the world into an abode of the Lord and gifted Kṛṣṇa consciousness to unlimited souls.
All the qualities of Hanumān are found in Your Divine Grace.
Devotion: Hanumānjī represents the epitome of devotional service. Lord Rāma expresses His
indebtedness to Hanumān, stating, “I don’t know how it is possible to ever repay the debt to you.”
At that time Hanumānjī asked, “Let me also be affectionate toward You – that is all I want.” And
Lord Rāma reciprocated. Similarly, you are blessed with unalloyed devotional service.
Service: Lord Rāmacandra Himself on occasion says to Hanumān, “Even if I sell myself
completely, still I cannot, because your service makes me bankrupt.” This is the reciprocation of
the Lord with the devotee. Similarly, Lord Kṛṣṇa is always indebted to Your Divine Grace.
Nonenvy: Hanumānjī crossed the ocean to find Sita, and on his way entered Surasā’s body and
came out again by shrinking himself. He escaped without being touched by her enviousness.
Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you crossed the ocean aboard the Jaladuta, facing various challenges
to fulfill your guru’s mission.
Self-control: Hanumānjī was not affected when he saw Rāvaṇa’s wives. Similarly, although you
possessed so much opulence, you were never attracted. Rather, you used everything for serving
the Lord.
Commitment: When Hanumānjī returned after his mission to find Sītādevī, the Lord said, “My
dear Hanumānjī, I am in exile and have nothing with which to reward you for what you have
accomplished. The only thing I can offer you is My embrace, dear Hanumānjī. Please accept it.”
Lord Rāma then offered Himself to Hanumānjī. Similarly, Lord Kṛṣṇa has offered Himself to
Your Divine Grace.
Glorious moments: As Hanumān meeting Lord Rāma is glorious, so your first meeting in 1922
with Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura is glorious. At that very first meeting, he gave
you an instruction: “You are all educated young men. Why don’t you take up Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu’s cult and preach it all over to the English-speaking public? Why don’t you take up
this matter?”
Lord Rāma’s order to Hanumān to find Sītādevī was his life and soul. Similarly, Śrīla
Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s order, “If you have money, print books,” was your life and
soul.
When Mount Maināka offered Hanumānjī rest during his flying-journey to Laṅkā, Hanumānjī
said, “I am an arrow shot from Lord Rāma’s bow and can accept no rest until I reach my destina-
tion.” Saying this, Hanumānjī showed humility, giving importance to Lord Rāma’s bow. Similarly,
to fulfill your guru’s order, you never rested.
Although Hanumānjī could have accomplished the whole mission by himself, he gave all credit
to Lord Rāma. Similarly, whenever you were glorified, you gave all credit to your spiritual master.
Hanumānjī brought out the importance of Lord Rāma’s name by writing His name on each
and every stone while building the bridge to Laṅkā. In the same way, you glorified the mahā-
mantra throughout the universe.
On May 5, 2024, you called His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami back to you to join your
pastimes in the spiritual world. It has been a time of great separation for us here. On February
23, 2025, our temple president, His Grace Kamalalocana Prabhu received sannyāsa initiation and
became His Holiness Bhakti Padma Saurabha Pracharak Swami Mahārāja.
Here we share the offerings for the 150th appearance day of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī
Ṭhākura by devotees at ISKCON Mira Road:
• 150 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam sets were distributed for Bhadra Pūrṇimā.
• 65,000 Bhagavad-gītās were distributed for the Prabhupāda marathon.
• 150 summer camps were conducted, offering stories and descriptions of Śrīla Bhakti-
siddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, along with a list of thirty-six qualities, with stories from chap-
ter 12 of the Bhagavad-gītā. These were shared with hundreds of children in residences and
schools.
• 1,500 bhoga offerings were made on Jagannātha Rath-yātrā.
• 150 devotees glorified Śrīla Prabhupāda on Vyāsa-pūjā day.
• 1,500 devotees joined in on a harināma kīrtana-mela.
• 150 devotees chanted sixty-four rounds on nirjala-ekādaśī.
• 150 students learned to sing the guru-paramparā bhajana written by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta
Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.
• 150 students participated in stage performances, enacting the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa
through dramas and dance performances, opulently costumed, to celebrate Janmāṣṭamī
in an auditorium of ICSE board schools N. L. Dalmia, Kapol Vidyanidhi, and Shailender
School.
• 80 schools celebrated Diwali in their schools by doing deepdhan to Lord Dāmodara.
• Bhaktivedanta College has started short courses apart from the Journey of Self-Discovery
course and Bhakti-śastrī. These are Teachings of Lord Caitanya (TLC); Four Books Are
Enough; Teachings of Queen Kuntī; and Science of Self-Realization. This course announce-
ment was done on Nityānanda-trayodaśī, and His Holiness Bhakti Padma Swami began the
TLC course on March 3 this year.
• The Deity department has been functioning perfectly, with pūjārīs serving the Deities by
dressing in innovative ways, making the Deities flower outfits on festival days, and perform-
ing divine āratis at all times with great devotion. Mātājīs cook regular offerings, and on
festivals offer fifty-six types of bhoga. Mātājīs also make the flower garlands with great love
every day.
• Govinda’s is attracting huge crowds on weekends and holidays.
• On Ekādaśīs we hold twelve-hour kīrtanas.
• Upāsanā festivals for boys from our youth group attract numerous boys from different areas.
• Jagannātha Ratha-yātrā, Janmāṣṭamī, Rādhāṣṭamī, Brahmotsava, Nityānanda-trayodaśī,
Gaura-Pūrṇimā, Balarāma Jayantī – all these festivals attract huge crowds from in and
around the Mira Road area. The Deities are dressed opulently, and thousands attend and go
home happily after a grand feast.
• The Food-for-life department serves khicadi daily to visitors, and opulent prasādam on
Sundays.
• Harināma-saṅkīrtana is done daily for one hour in the streets around Mira Road.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, please protect us from the narrow-mindedness and divisiveness that pollute the
world today. Please empower us, your humble servants, to carry forward this great mission of love
and redemption. Let us remain fascinated and inspired by your boundless compassion, remem-
bering that all souls are the Lord’s servants and that there is “no bar for anyone in the world” to
go back home, back to Godhead. We pray to develop the determination you had for serving Śrīla
Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and thus please Śrī Guru and Gaurāṅga.
Your insignificant servants,
The devotees at ISKCON Mira Road
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
Europe & Russia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Śrī Guru and Śrī Gaurāṅga.
We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to write this Vyāsa-pūjā offering on behalf of the devotees and congregational members at ISKCON München Verein für vedische Kultur e.V. We view this as an opportunity to think about you deeply, remember your divine instructions, and feel grateful to be serving in your paramparā. Through your books, your lectures, and your letters you have given very important instructions that we are humbly but dedicatedly trying to follow.
You gave very important instructions for the Deutsch yātrā in your letter to the then president of ISKCON Hamburg His Grace Haṁsadūta Prabhu, dated 11 April, 1972:
In the meantime, you do your duty as president of Hamburg Temple, and try to improve spiritually. Our spiritual way should strictly observe the following points especially: (1) Neatness and cleanliness of all personal bodies. (I still see those who are initiated as Brahmins, they do not wash their hand after eating even; of course, there may be so many defects due to your births in non-Brahmin families, but how long it shall go on? It is very easy thing.); (2) Chanting 16 rounds daily. (I don’t think everyone is following these principles.); (3) Temple worship, which should be performed rigidly between four and ten a.m.
We are delighted to inform you that we are humbly attempting to follow your instructions “as it is” despite many practical difficulties in Munich. For your pleasure, we would humbly like to inform you that in our congregation, more than twenty devotees are chanting sixteen rounds daily. Additionally, we have Deities of Śrī Śrī Gaura-Nitāi whom we are collectively worshiping “rigidly,” as you have instructed, between 4 and 10 a.m. Under the supervision of our temple president, Her Grace Dānakelī Kaumudi Mātājī, we are trying to maintain the utmost standard of cleanliness in our temple, as you instructed. Please bless us that whatever difficulties we have, we will be able to overcome them and follow your spiritual guidelines as they are.
With good spiritual sādhana established according to your will, we are humbly attempting to preach through our book distribution scores. Some of the scores of our temple in the recent past are listed as below:
- December marathon 2025: ISKCON München Verein für vedische kultur e.V distributed 1,191 books, including 14 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam sets. We secured fifth place in the Deutsch yātrā. Her Grace Dānakelī Mātājī single-handedly distributed 1,062 books.
- Gaurāṅga marathon 2026: we distributed 15 books, mostly in Arabic, and secured sixth place in the Deutsch yātrā.
- Nityānanda marathon 2026: we distributed 25 books and secured seventh place in the Deutsch yātrā.
We are regularly doing harināma as per your instructions, and have conducted more than 25 harināmas since last year. We especially do harināma–saṅkīrtana during the period of Oktoberfest, when people in Munich need the holy name the most.
Very importantly, you instructed in your letter to His Holiness Bhakti-bhūṣaṇa Swami (formerly, Suchandra Dāsa) and the Munich congregation, on 1 January 1972, that you desire a temple in Munich:
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter undated. Kṛṣṇa has been very kind to you that as soon as you have gone to Munich to open a new center, He has helped you with a very suitable accommodation. Now develop everything very nicely there and build a fine, strong Kṛṣṇa Consciousness center.
We are humbly attempting to buy our current temple near Munich and thereby serve His Holiness Bhakti-bhūṣaṇa Mahārāja by fulfilling your will. We are doing it under the esteemed guidance of your stalwart servants in the form of the local GBC and National Council for the Deutsch yātrā.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, all the auspiciousness we are achieving is solely due to your divine mercy. We pray that you continue to shower your blessings upon us so that we may serve you and Śrī Śrī Gaura-Nitāi with sincerity, dedication, and humility. Please empower us to expand your mission in Munich, fulfilling your vision of a Kṛṣṇa conscious world.
All glories to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Your servant,
Uddhava Ānanda Dāsa, vice-president
On behalf of Her Grace Dānakelī Kaumudī Mātājī, our esteemed board members, and our congregation
