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
We offer our humble obeisances to your lotus feet on the most auspicious day of your divine appearance.
You are the representative of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Prema-Puruṣottama Gaurāṅga, who appears only once in a thousand yuga-cycles, in a kalpa, just after Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who Himself also appears personally only once in a kalpa.
In the same way, you, the confidential associate of Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, who have fulfilled the prediction of that same Prema-Puruṣottama, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, are equally rare. Therefore, we are most fortunate to have taken birth in this era and to have received the special mercy that you came to distribute throughout the entire world. The rarity of such an opportunity is beautifully expressed in the teachings of Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya-līlā 19.151):
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
Wandering throughout the universes, some fortunate soul, by the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa, receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.
We thank you gratefully from the core of our hearts for having arranged the needed and beneficial association of your disciples and followers in disciplic succession – for all of us and those to come.
Empowered by the complete mercy and desire of our guru-paramparā, and inspired by the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, what you have accomplished and were able to do was and is divinely ordained!
We will not so easily be able to completely fathom our great fortune, because only by becoming a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa can one actually understand the extent of that fortune. Therefore, on this sacred day of your divine appearance, we pray that we may come to understand in a fuller way the depth of our good fortune.
Jaya Śrīla Prabhupāda!
Your humble servant,
Puruṣottama Tīrtha Dāsa
On behalf of the devotees at ISKCON Antwerp
Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
We humbly pay our prostrated obeisances unto your divine lotus feet with hearts filled with
gratitude, reverence, and love. You are the eternal well-wisher of all souls, the messenger of Lord
Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, and the shining beacon of light that illuminates our path in this material world.
Your teachings, your dedication to spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and your compassion have
transformed the lives of millions and continue to inspire us every day.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, by your causeless mercy and boundless blessings, the ISKCON Aravade
temple is thriving as a spiritual sanctuary for devotees and newcomers alike. The temple activi-
ties, including book distribution and preaching programs, have been running smoothly and have
borne wonderful fruit. The enthusiastic efforts of our preachers have brought many souls closer to
Kṛṣṇa and enriched their spiritual journeys.
We cannot thank you enough for the divine gifts you gave us – a legacy of transcendental
knowledge, a global family of devotees, and the unwavering example of your surrender to the
Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Your mercy empowers us to carry forward your mission, and it is only
by your grace that we have initiated new projects to expand our service.
Under your guidance, Śrīla Prabhupāda, we are excited to share that construction of a
brahmacārī ashram is underway. This ashram will provide a nurturing environment for brahmacārīs
dedicated to practicing and propagating Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In addition, plans for a new Gov-
inda’s restaurant and a new bookshop are in progress. These projects will serve as avenues for con-
necting with the wider community and sharing the treasures of your books and teachings.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, none of this would be possible without your divine presence and blessings.
We offer our heartfelt gratitude for everything you have done for us and everything you continue
to do through your spiritual instructions and the association of devotees who carry forward your
mission. May we always remain steadfast in serving your divine vision and in spreading Kṛṣṇa
consciousness to every corner of the world.
On this auspicious day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we bow down and offer our lives, words, and
actions to your lotus feet. Please bless us with the strength, humility, and devotion to fulfill your
instructions and bring glory to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
All glories to Your Divine Grace, Śrīla Prabhupāda! All glories to the eternal service of Śrī
Guru and Gaurāṅga!
Your humble servants,
The devotees of ISKCON Aravade
Asia-Eurasia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda,
oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
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
On this sacred day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we, the humble devotees of ISKCON Aravade – nestled in the blessed soil of Maharashtra, the birthplace of our gurudeva – bow our heads and hearts at your lotus feet. Words tremble upon our tongues, for how can mere syllables capture the ocean of gratitude we feel toward you? You are the empowered representative of Vyāsadeva, the eternal link between the disciplic succession and the suffering souls of this age.
You are the compassionate captain of the ship of bhakti, guiding us across the turbulent ocean of Kali-yuga. You are the lion-guru who roared the holy name across continents, awakening sleeping souls. You are the gardener who planted the seed of devotion in barren lands, watering it with your tears, your books, your lectures, your kirtans, and your unyielding determination.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are the embodiment of humility and boldness combined. With no resources but your faith in Kṛṣṇa and the order of your Guru Mahārāja, you crossed the ocean at an advanced age, enduring heart attacks and uncertainty, simply to give us the priceless gift of bhakti. You did not come to take; you came only to give. You gave us Kṛṣṇa, you gave us meaning, you gave us family, you gave us hope.
Your books are not ink on paper; they are the very voice of the paramparā. Each page is a lamp that dispels ignorance. Each purport is a jewel that illuminates the path of devotion. Each word is a seed that blossoms into love of God.
Your temples are not buildings of stone; they are sanctuaries of mercy. They are havens where the weary find solace, where the lost find direction, where the hungry find prasāda, and where the soul finds its eternal home.
Your disciples are not merely followers; they are living testaments of your power to transform. From hippies to devotees, from wanderers to servants, from skeptics to lovers of God – your touch turned coal into diamonds.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are the sun that rose in the darkest night. You are the flute that carried Kṛṣṇa’s song to every corner of the earth. You are the bridge between East and West, between tradition and modernity, between the eternal and the temporary.
We glorify you not only for what you did, but for how you did it – with unwavering faith, with boundless compassion, with fearless preaching, and with the sweetest humility. You never claimed greatness for yourself; you only pointed to Kṛṣṇa. Yet in pointing to Him, you revealed your own greatness, for only the greatest soul can so perfectly efface himself in service.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, your impact is immeasurable. You did not merely establish temples; you established a revolution of consciousness. You did not merely translate books; you translated eternity into language accessible to all. You did not merely chant; you ignited a worldwide movement of kirtan.
Because of you, the holy name resounds in cities and villages across the globe. Because of you, the Bhagavad-gītā is no longer confined to scholars but is embraced by seekers of every background. Because of you, prasāda is served in schools, prisons, hospitals, and homes, nourishing bodies and souls alike.
You gave the world a new culture – a culture of purity amid pollution, a culture of devotion amid distraction, a culture of simplicity amid greed. You showed that bhakti is not bound by caste, creed, or nationality. You proved that the soul is universal, and its hunger for Kṛṣṇa is the same in every heart.
In India, you rekindled the flame of devotion that was flickering under the winds of modernity. You reminded us of our heritage, our dharma, our duty. You showed us that our scriptures are not relics of the past but living guides for the present. You gave dignity to the saffron robe, respect to the tilaka, and relevance to the temple.
You brought back pride in our spiritual culture, not as nationalism but as universalism. You showed that India’s gift to the world is not technology or politics, but bhakti – the science of the soul.
And here, in Aravade, your impact is deeply personal. This village, blessed as the birthplace of our gurudeva, has become a vibrant center of devotion because of your vision.
Your movement reached even our humble soil, transforming simple villagers into devotees, turning ordinary homes into centers of kirtan, and making our festivals into grand celebrations of bhakti.
Because of you, ISKCON Aravade stands as a beacon in rural Maharashtra. Thousands gather here for Brahmotsava, Gaura-Pūrṇimā, and Janmāṣṭamī, chanting and dancing in ecstasy. Because of you, book distribution thrives even in dusty lanes, carrying your words into the hands of farmers, students, and seekers. Because of you, prasāda is cooked in massive pots and served to thousands, nourishing not only stomachs but hearts.
You gave us the courage to organize, to preach, to distribute, to serve. You gave us the inspiration to overcome rural challenges, to harmonize relationships, to resolve conflicts, and to keep the flame of devotion burning bright.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, ISKCON Aravade’s devotees are your children. Every temple bell that rings here, every abhang sung in your honor, every book distributed in your name, every devotee who bows before the Deities – all of it is your mercy manifest.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, today we offer you not only words but our collective heart. We offer you the sweat of our festival preparations, the sleepless nights of our coordinators, the tears of our kirtan singers, the smiles of our prasāda servers, the determination of our book distributors, and the humility of our brahmacārīs.
We offer you the unity we strive for, the transparency we cultivate, the cooperation we nurture. We offer you our struggles, our challenges, our conflicts – transformed into opportunities for growth by your teachings.
We offer you our village itself: the fields that grow grains for prasāda, the homes that shelter devotees, the streets that echo with harināma, the hearts that beat with devotion.
We offer you our future: the children who learn your teachings, the youth who embrace your mission, the elders who guide with your wisdom.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, ISKCON Aravade’s devotees are not perfect, but they are sincere. We stumble, but we rise. We quarrel, but we reconcile. We struggle, but we persevere. And through it all, we hold onto your lotus feet, knowing that they are our only shelter.
On this Vyāsa-pūjā, we pledge anew:
- To distribute your books with greater zeal.
- To organize festivals with greater unity.
- To serve prasāda with greater love.
- To chant with greater sincerity.
- To live with greater humility.
We pledge to make ISKCON Aravade not just a temple but a family; not just a center but a sanctuary; not just a place but a movement.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, may our offering today be not only in words but in deeds. May our lives themselves become offerings at your lotus feet.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are our eternal father, our eternal guide, our eternal shelter. On this Vyāsa-pūjā day, we bow before you with gratitude that cannot be measured, with love that cannot be contained, and with faith that cannot be shaken.
May ISKCON Aravade’s devotees always remain your humble servants. May our village resound with your glories. May our lives reflect your teachings. May our hearts forever chant your name alongside Kṛṣṇa’s.
Your insignificant servant,
On behalf of all the devotees in Aravade
Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
Your Divine Grace has blessed every nook and corner of the world – not only with your vapuḥ
but with your vāṇī. You touched millions of souls across the globe and brought them to Kṛṣṇa’s
shelter.
ISKCON has established vibrant devotee communities in India’s large cities, and we always
prayed to have a similar setup in small villages as well. Our community is a newly formed center
in a small village called Ashti, located in the tribal district called Gadchiroli, in Maharashtra. This
center was begun by His Grace Parmeśvara Prabhu (your dear disciple, who leads the Chamorshi
center, 35 kms from Ashti). Because of his tireless preaching under the guidance of His Holi-
ness Lokanath Swami Mahārāja, many people from Ashti also become favorable toward Kṛṣṇa
consciousness – especially the many displaced Hindu and Bengali families who left Bangladesh
in 1965–71 and settled in this area. These persons have reverence toward Lord Caitanya, but had
become misguided by many asampradāyas.
We were doubly blessed when His Grace Hari Kīrtana Prabhu, a senior disciple of His Holi-
ness Lokanath Swami Mahārāja, was given responsibility for this zone. His constant support,
guidance, and blessing through daily japa meetings gave us proper inspiration. We felt so deeply
connected to him and to His Grace Parmeśvara Prabhu that both of their blessings and guidance
helped us establish and maintain this center.
With this support, on Gītā Jayantī in December 2022, we started a satsaṅga program to dis-
cuss the Bhagavad-gītā. About thirty people – which has since grown to between forty and sixty
people – attend every Saturday. We discuss Bhagavad-gītā ślokas and have kīrtana and prasādam.
Last year, our Janmāṣṭamī celebration was attended by about seven hundred well-wishers. The
event was graced by a talk by His Grace Hari Kīrtana Prabhu. After this, Hari Kīrtana Prabhu
declared Ashti a satellite center of ISKCON Nagpur.
Recently, a few devotees have started connecting for morning japa sessions as well. We have a
long way to go before everyone in this territory becomes a vibrant and happy devotee.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are the embodiment of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mercy. You fulfilled
not only Mahāprabhu’s prophecy but that of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18):
kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā
ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ
ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ
śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ
Kirāta, Hūṇa, Āndhra, Pulinda, Pulkaśa, Ābhīra, Śumbha, Yavana, members of the
Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter
of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my
respectful obeisances unto Him.
This prophecy was made even before Mahāprabhu appeared. You came in the form of the
senāpati-bhakta and delivered all people from all the mundane categories of human existence,
such as nationalism, caste, creed, race, ethnicity, etc. You were ordained to fulfill the desire of Śrī
Mahāprabhu by spreading His holy name to every town and village. Our village is no exception,
and by your divine grace, your disciples are extending themselves to deliver fallen souls like us.
Your mercy is not just in your vapuḥ and vāṇī but also in the form of your disciples and grand-
disciples – those who are tirelessly, sincerely trying to preach till their very last breath out of com-
passion for the suffering souls of the material world, who are bereft of bhakti. Please be merciful
to us by giving us strength, courage, determination, and the enthusiasm to become humble instru-
ments in the hands of our authorities, His Holiness Radhanath Swami Mahārāja, His Holiness
Lokanath Swami Mahārāja, His Grace Parmeśvara Prabhu, His Grace Hari Kīrtana Prabhu, and
others. All these persons are striving to bring the fallen souls back under your care and Kṛṣṇa’s
shelter.
Your aspiring servants at ISKCON Ashti
Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet.
Today, on the most auspicious day of your appearance, we are remembering you with great
reverence and humility as we honor your life’s achievements. We are remembering how you
worked tirelessly in order to give the conditioned souls of this world an opportunity to achieve
self-realization and enlightenment in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We are remembering your countless
personal sacrifices. We are remembering your struggles, in sickness and health, to carry out the
orders of your Guru Mahārāja and how you made it seem almost effortless!
Now that we are older, we are understanding and realizing more fully the extent of your efforts
and the intensity of your desire to fulfill those orders. With each passing year, we are better able to
understand and appreciate you and your amazing accomplishments. Now that most of your dis-
ciples are well past the age when you left India and came here to America to begin your mission,
we are getting the full taste of the challenges of older age.
I have come here in this old age neither for sight seeing nor for any personal interest.
It is for the interest of the entire humanity that I am trying to implement the science
of Krishna which will actually make them happy. So it is the duty of every devotees of
Lord Krishna to help me by all means. (Letter, March 18, 1966)
Your perseverance and your unflinching faith in the instructions of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta
Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja and Lord Kṛṣṇa serve as our shining example of pure devotion and
fierce determination. Even as you struggled alone in the early days here in America, you fought
on. You knew in your heart that somehow, victory was coming! May we also have such faith,
determination, and spiritual energy to carry on in the absence of your physical presence.
We are forever in your debt. We can never thank you enough, nor can we repay you for all that
you have given us. By our efforts here, we aspire to please you and the entire guru-paramparā. We
pray for your mercy and your continued blessings on our collective endeavors so that we may be
able to help you “by all means” and to serve the mission of Lord Caitanya here in Athens, Ohio.
All glories to His Divine Grace, Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda!
Your aspiring servants and codirectors of Athens Kṛṣṇa House,
Dr. Ashok K. Gupta
Prem Vilās Dāsa
Rāsalīlādevī Devī Dāsī
