Homages ISKCON Centers, Latin America, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my most humble and respectful obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to you! All glories to your beloved Guru Mahārāja, the lion among the Vaiṣṇava sannyāsīs!
This year, 2026, following my recent trip to India, I come before you with a realization that has shaken my material complacency. Passing through Dubai, I encountered a city that defies imagination: impeccable architecture, boundless luxury, and an order that seemed almost paradisiacal. For a moment, my conditioned mind whispered, “What a wonderful place to live. What a comfortable refuge to spend my days in.”
But you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, do not allow your followers to sleep for long in the lap of Māyā. Barely two days after leaving that place, the reality of this world struck with the news of bombs falling upon that very opulence. That paradise was made of glass. I then recalled the verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.58) that you so often quoted: padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadām … – this material world is a place where danger lurks at every turn. No matter how much technology or beauty we accumulate, this world remains a place of suffering, and only your lotus feet are the safe boat to cross this ocean of ignorance.
Argentina: From the Pain of Envy to the Hope of Faith
You knew the character of this distant country well. We remember with sorrow that dark time when the movement in Argentina was shut down by the military dictatorship. It is said that upon receiving the news of the closure and the persecution, you remarked that Argentina was the most envious country in the world, for envy is the root of religious intolerance and the rejection of God. However, despite this harsh diagnosis of our nature, you never abandoned us.
In your letters to Brahmānanda and Hanumān, you wrote with transcendental vision: “The BTG Argentina and the photos showing Argentine ladies and gentlemen singing and dancing in ecstasy give me great hope.”
Even in a land marked by envy and conflict, you saw the potential of souls to transform. Here we stand, Śrīla Prabhupāda! Your faith in us was stronger than our own degradation. You taught us that the only way to cure envy in the heart is by chanting the holy names and performing humble service.
The Pastime at Jagannath Puri: Your Living Voice in Your Books
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you always say that you are alive in your instructions (vāṇī). I vividly recall proof of this in 1998. We were on pilgrimage to Jagannath Puri, the holy place where Lord Caitanya lived His final pastimes. While visiting the Gambhira, we were captivated by the atmosphere and heard a group of people chanting a mantra with a very sweet melody:
sri-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda
hare kṛṣṇa hare rāma śrī rādhe govinda
In our innocence and lack of technical guidance at the time, we began chanting it along with them, thinking we were deepening our devotion. However, upon returning to our hotel, we resumed our systematic reading of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, just as you had instructed us to do. Amazingly, we opened the book to the exact passage where you spoke directly to us:
There are many unscrupulous devotees who, taking advantage of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, compose their own mahā-mantra. Sometimes they chant “bhaja nitāi gaura rādhe śyāma hare kṛṣṇa hare rāma,” or “śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu nityānanda hare kṛṣṇa hare rāma śrī rādhe govinda.” In reality, however, one must chant the names of the entire Pañca-tattva … and then the sixteen words of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra…. Of course, they are Vaiṣṇavas and must be respected, but these unscrupulous and unintelligent men muddle the whole process.
It was as if you were right there, giving us a merciful “scolding.” You taught us that devotional feeling without following the prescribed method is dangerous. That instruction protected us from straying from the path and confirmed that your books are your personal presence guiding us.
Your Stature Grows: Saint Among Saints
You are no ordinary saint; you are the empowered śaktyāveśāvatāra. As the Kṛṣṇa-bhajanāmṛta of Narahari Sarakāra says, although all Vaiṣṇavas are transcendental, there are “waves of varying sizes” in the Ganges of devotion. You are the largest wave that has ever struck the shores of the West. You transformed degraded people into perfect ladies and gentlemen, and you continue to do so even today.
I long for the day when we can enter that beautiful house that Kṛṣṇa has prepared for you in the spiritual world. We know that you are waiting for us eagerly, with open arms, because your love is unconditional, and, as you wrote to Brahmānanda in 1969, you have no intention of returning to Goloka without us.
We bow before you once, a thousand times, a million times, because you are worthy.
Your grandson and servant,
Baladeva das
Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to your divine lotus feet.
This year marks the most important year for your Vyāsa-pūjā because it is fifty years since you
visited this darkest part of this world, South Africa. Your coming to this wretched corner of the
world was the greatest blessing of all. We are living in tough times, where there is no hope for
peace, love, prosperity, happiness, or tranquility. Everything here is temporary and full of misery,
and there is danger at every step. Śukadeva Gosvāmī, while speaking to Mahārāja Parīkṣit said:
kaler doṣa-nidhe rājann
asti hy eko mahān guṇaḥ
kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya
mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet
So true! This material world is like an ocean of faults, and there is no hope of reversing the situa-
tion, but you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, are so kind and merciful to come to our rescue. Thank you very
much, dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Here in South Africa, we have done much for your pleasure, Śrīla Prabhupāda. But there is still
a lot to be done, and we hope that by your mercy, more can be achieved. There are many stum-
bling blocks hindering the progress of Kṛṣṇa consciousness here, but we are hopeful that we will
come out victorious in the end.
Please guide us all to pursue this process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness with care and attention and
complete determination and detachment.
Thank you very much, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for everything you have done for us. We are forever
grateful to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda. We can’t thank you enough, so we will submit to your lotus
feet eternally.
Begging to remain your eternal servants of your servants,
Mahāprabhu Dāsa and the Soweto team
Asia-Eurasia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
In the first verse of the ninth chapter of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Lord Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna that He will speak the most confidential knowledge along with realization of it to one who is nonenvious. In your purport, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you mercifully explained that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not simply theoretical knowledge but knowledge combined with realization.
You not only presented the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but you also gave your own realization, which you received through your pure devotional service and complete surrender to your spiritual master. In this way, you made the highest spiritual truth accessible to all sincere souls.
At the same time, you clearly explained that although this knowledge is open to everyone, only those who are nonenvious of Kṛṣṇa and His devotees can truly understand and realize it. Only such sincere and fortunate souls can receive your mercy and become enlightened in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
We understand this principle through the example of Prahlāda Mahārāja. Although he had every opportunity to enjoy material comfort as the son of the powerful demon-king Hiraṇyakaśipu, Prahlāda did not compromise his devotion. He remained fixed in the instructions of his spiritual master, Nārada Muni, even in the face of severe persecution. Prahlāda Mahārāja did not choose comfort or convenience. He chose sincerity and loyalty to his guru. Because he received knowledge along with realization by the mercy of Nārada Muni, he remained steady in Kṛṣṇa consciousness under all circumstances. Ultimately, the Lord personally appeared to protect him.
In the same way, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you freely distributed Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. You gave both knowledge and realization through your transcendental books, without considering who was qualified and who was not. This is your causeless mercy.
However, we understand that although this gift is available to everyone, only those who are honest, sincere, and free from envy can actually realize and benefit from it. The key is not simply receiving the knowledge, but receiving it with the proper heart.
Your dedication and devotion to your Guru Mahārāja stand unparalleled. Because of your complete surrender, you have been able to present Kṛṣṇa consciousness in a pure and powerful way. Through your books, you gave the whole world a matchless gift. Anyone who sincerely follows your teachings can understand this knowledge, practice devotional service, and achieve perfection.
At ISKCON Sri Rangam and Trichy, we are making a small attempt to serve your mission. We have started the Sri Rangam Institute for Higher Education to systematically teach your transcendental literatures to all. We understand that we can only teach to the extent that we have understood your books. Therefore, we sincerely pray for your mercy so that we may properly represent your teachings and be instruments in your mission.
We are also trying to create facilities for pilgrims who visit this holy place by arranging proper accommodations and prasādam for them. In addition, we are constructing a small temple so that the message of Lord Caitanya may be spread from this sacred land. We fully understand that none of these efforts can be successful without your mercy. Therefore, we, the devotees of ISKCON Sri Rangam and Trichy, humbly pray at your lotus feet to kindly bless us with strength, sincerity, and purity so that we may be able to serve your mission and be of some use in your transcendental movement.
Thank you very much, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for giving us Kṛṣṇa consciousness, for giving us your association through your books, and for giving us the opportunity to serve.
Your insignificant servants,
Nandapūtra Dāsa the devotees of ISKCON Sri Rangam and Trichy
Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, our most beloved, eternal spiritual master,
On this most sacred day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we, the humble devotees of ISKCON Srirangam
and Trichy, bow down at your divine lotus feet and offer our heartfelt gratitude, prayers, and
homage. Words are too feeble to express the boundless debt we owe you, for you have rescued us
from the darkness of ignorance and given us the supreme gift of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, as we sit here in the holy land of Srirangam, our hearts are filled with deep
appreciation for your mission. Srirangam is no ordinary place; it is a sacred land where Śrī Cai-
tanya Mahāprabhu, the very embodiment of your teachings, chose to reside for four months.
This was His longest stay anywhere outside Navadvīpa and Jagannātha Purī. It was here that He
showered His mercy upon the great Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and transformed many hearts with
His divine love. For Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas, Srirangam holds an unparalleled significance, and we feel
blessed to serve here in whatever little way we can.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, though we are not aware whether Your Divine Grace physically visited
Srirangam, we are convinced that your transcendental presence must have graced this land. How
could you not have visited such a spiritually rich and historically significant place, where Śrī
Rāmānujācārya established the worship of Lord Raṅganātha and Mahāprabhu revealed the high-
est truths of devotion? Your divine vision and presence transcend time and space, and we are
certain that your mercy is ever flowing here.
We humbly beg for your blessings, Śrīla Prabhupāda, so that we may establish a wonderful
center in Srirangam – a place where your books, teachings, and mood of pure devotion can be
shared with all. The pilgrims who visit Lord Raṅganātha’s temple are already inclined to devotion,
and with your mercy we aspire to guide them toward the path of pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness as
given by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Kindly empower us to make this vision a reality.
Furthermore, Śrīla Prabhupāda, we pray for your divine grace upon all the devotees here.
Please bless us so that we may follow our sādhana with sincerity, purity, and enthusiasm. Let us
not become complacent or negligent in our spiritual practices. Please give us the strength to rise
early, chant our rounds attentively, study your books deeply, and engage wholeheartedly in devo-
tional service. May we become strong, united, and dedicated preachers, effectively sharing your
message with both the local people and the many pilgrims who pass through Srirangam.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, everything we have, every drop of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in our lives, is solely
due to your mercy. We pray that you continue to guide us, protect us, and inspire us to dedicate
our lives in service to your divine mission. Please accept this humble offering of our hearts at your
lotus feet.
Your servants,
The devotees of ISKCON Srirangam and Trichy
Europe & Russia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this wonderful day of your appearance! All glories to you!
We glorify you on this day and on all other days throughout the year, and from year to year. Every ISKCON devotee feels gratitude toward and love for you. There is no official membership in our society, but we are united by one goal – pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, performed by a pure soul. And you are the personification of this goal, our inspiration, and an amazing example – our ācārya. Therefore, the day of your appearance is a special celebration, and the feelings we experience on this day are accessible only to us, your followers, and this is our treasure.
In our yātrā, devotees always really want to make a special festival on your appearance day in order to somehow express their gratitude and their emotions. Despite the difficulties that the modern world is trying to overcome, devotees continue to serve Kṛṣṇa and glorify Him in all situations. We have learned this from you through your books, lectures, and personal example. We continue to study further, and along with this, our feelings of love and gratitude toward you are constantly increasing. Every time we read your books – over and over again – new aspects of sublime spiritual knowledge are revealed to us, and our desire to improve devotional service to Kṛṣṇa and give up our material attachments increases.
Every time we listen to stories about you, we are amazed at the example of your purity, simplicity, and single-mindedness in wanting to satisfy your spiritual master. Every time we come in contact with your disciples, we see their boundless devotion and appreciation for you. Every time we come in contact with the company of devotees, we remember the purpose of our existence and are filled with happiness and the mood of selfless service to Kṛṣṇa.
How fortunate and blessed we are now to see the smiles of the Vaiṣṇavas. For us, there are thousands of positive sources of Kṛṣṇa consciousness that have come and continue to come from you.
We would like to change our lives so that we can truly call ourselves a “Prabhupāda man.” Thanks to you, all the riches of the spiritual world are open to us, and we have the power to turn everything you wanted into reality. All we need to do is to let you into our hearts, removing all barriers, and this can be done if we continue to follow your instructions and adhere to the society of ISKCON devotees.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, please accept our attempts at service and give us your smile.
Aspiring to be servants of your servants,
Devotees at ISKCON St. Petersburg, Russia
Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
On this auspicious day, we bow down at your lotus feet with hearts full of gratitude and devo-
tion. As we celebrate your Vyāsa-pūjā, we reflect on the immeasurable gifts you gave us – the
sacred knowledge of bhakti-yoga and the opportunity to serve.
You came to the West with nothing but your unwavering faith, your deep compassion for all
souls, and your profound determination to spread the message of the Bhagavad-gītā. Through your
tireless efforts, you touched millions of lives.
Here, in our ISKCON community in Stoke-on-Trent, UK, we are fortunate to feel the warmth
of your teachings and the unity that comes from our shared devotion. Your books, your guidance,
and your personal example continue to inspire and guide us each day. Through chanting the holy
names, reading your writings, and living by your teachings, we feel your presence in our lives,
purifying our hearts and minds. Every step we take on this path is made possible by your mercy.
We thank you for the invaluable treasure of your teachings and for the spiritual family you gave
us. Through your presence in our lives, we have been given the chance to serve, grow, and find
peace and joy.
May we always remain at the shelter of your divine lotus feet,
The devotees of ISKCON Stoke
