Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble praṇāmas at your lotus feet!
On this auspicious occasion of your divine appearance, we are immensely blessed to offer these
petals of prayers at your lotus feet. Recognizing our complete inability to adequately glorify the
ocean of your qualities, we pray to Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, hoping to borrow his heartfelt
expressions, to glorify you and thus purify ourselves.
(1)
śrī-guru-caraṇa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,
vandoṅ mui sāvadhāna mate
yāhāra prasāde bhāi, e bhava toriyā yāi,
kṛṣṇa-prāpti haya yāhā haite
The lotus feet of our spiritual master are the only way by which we can attain pure
devotional service. I bow to his lotus feet with great awe and reverence. By his grace
one can cross the ocean of material suffering and obtain the mercy of Kṛṣṇa.
The lotus feet of our spiritual master as the way to pure devotion: We, a group of devotees in Stouffville,
deeply realize that your divine lotus feet are the sole means by which we can attain pure devo-
tional service. We bow to your lotus feet again and again with deep reverence, realizing that by
your grace, we can transcend the ocean of material suffering and receive Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. Your pres-
ence is the guiding light that helps us navigate life’s challenges and become fearless. You provide
us with the ability to overcome difficulties while rendering service to guru and Gaurāṅga.
(2)
guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya
ār nā koriho mane āśā
śrī-guru-caraṇe rati, ei se uttama-gati,
ye prasāde pūre sarva āśā
My only wish is to have my consciousness purified by the words emanating from his
lotus mouth. Attachment to his lotus feet is the perfection that fulfills all desires.
Purification through your words: Our deepest desire is to have our consciousness purified by the
words emanating from your lotus mouth. We deeply acknowledge the hardship and loving labor
you have poured into imparting this divine wisdom to fallen souls like us. Your teachings are our
source of strength, and our attachment to your lotus feet fulfills all our spiritual aspirations. As
we strive to follow your guidance, we find that your words bring clarity and purpose to our lives,
helping us overcome distractions and attachment to material things.
(3)
cakhu-dān dilo yei, janme janme prabhu sei,
divya-jñāna hṛde prokāśito
prema-bhakti yāhā hoite, avidyā vināśa yāte,
vede gāya yāhāra carito
He opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He
is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is
destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.
Enlightenment through your grace: Dear master, you have opened our darkened eyes and filled our
hearts with transcendental knowledge. Your mercy guides us on the path of bhakti, and your
teachings echo the wisdom of the Vedic scriptures. As practicing devotees, we are inspired by
the profound effect your guidance has on our spiritual growth and our understanding of Kṛṣṇa
consciousness.
(4)
śrī-guru karuṇā-sindhu, adhama janāra bandhu,
lokanātha lokera jīvana
hā hā prabhu koro doyā, deho more pada-chāyā,
ebe yaśa ghuṣuk tri-bhuvana
Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and
master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your
lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds.
The teacher and life of all: Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are the ocean of mercy. You are not just a
guide for us but also the life and soul of all devotees. You are the friend of fallen souls, providing
shelter, wisdom, and compassion to all who seek refuge at your lotus feet. Your presence binds us
together as a community of devotees, united by our love and devotion to Kṛṣṇa, and we strive to
embody your qualities of mercy and compassion in our own lives.
We humbly pray for your mercy and the shelter of your lotus feet. Please give us strength and
courage to overcome the challenges in spreading the holy name. Let us be determined to follow
your instructions and always be mindful of cooperating with one another. Your grace and teach-
ings are the foundation of our devotion, and we recognize that by following your instructions, we
not only honor you but also contribute to the greater mission of spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness
in Stouffville far and wide.
Falling at your lotus feet,
Your sons and daughters at ISKCON Stouffville
Canada & USA, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our respectful obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. On this most auspicious day of your divine appearance, we are very fortunate to have the opportunity to write to you and humbly offer our reflections on how you have cleared our vision, allowing us to see Kṛṣṇa’s hand in every aspect of our lives – past, present, and future.
In Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 1.45), it is stated:
guru kṛṣṇa-rūpa hana śāstrera pramāṇe
guru-rūpe kṛṣṇa kṛpā karena bhakta-gaṇe
According to the deliberate opinion of all revealed scriptures, the spiritual master is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa. Lord Kṛṣṇa in the form of the spiritual master delivers His devotees.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you embody the essence of divine mercy. While Kṛṣṇa may seem distant to our obscured senses, you appeared as the transparent via medium to bring Him into our immediate view. We recognize and acknowledge that every bit of clarity we possess is not our own achievement, but a gift of your unalloyed and unwavering compassion.
Looking Back: Gratitude for Protection
When we look back at our lives before we met your teachings, we see a landscape of confusion. Yet through your books, we now recognize that Kṛṣṇa was always there, protecting us even when we were unaware. You taught us that every hardship was a nudge toward Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. We thank Kṛṣṇa for the ultimate protection of sending you, His pure devotee, to rescue us from the ocean of birth and death.
Looking Ahead: Trust in the Lord’s Plan
When we look ahead at this uncertain world, we no longer feel fear. You’ve convinced us without a doubt that Kṛṣṇa’s got our backs and that He has the whole show on a string! Because of your instructions, we can trust that He has a plan for our purification. Our only desire is to remain tiny instruments in your mission, confident that under your guidance, the path home is secure.
Looking Around: Serving in All Circumstances
When we look around at the world today, we no longer see objects for our enjoyment or people to compete with. By your mercy, we see Kṛṣṇa’s energy everywhere. You taught us that the highest platform is to act as the “servant of the servant.” We pray for the strength to serve Kṛṣṇa in all circumstances – whether in joy or in sorrow – by sharing the message you so compassionately brought to us.
Looking Within: Finding Kṛṣṇa
Finally, when we look within, we are learning to find Kṛṣṇa residing as the Paramātmā in our hearts. Before your books touched us, our hearts were dark rooms filled with selfish desires. You lit the lamp of transcendental knowledge, revealing the presence of the Lord within. We are eternally grateful that you have reconnected us to the Witness within, guiding us back to our original, constitutional position.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are the lens through which we see Kṛṣṇa. Without you, we would be blind to His protection, doubtful of His plan, selfish in our interactions, and disconnected from our own souls. Thank you for giving us these “eyes of devotion.” We pray to remain forever servants of your servants.
Here’s a small poem from us:
We look back and see how you gathered the stray,
The lost and the lonely you led to the way.
From a storefront in New York to a worldwide family,
You protected our hearts and you made us all free.
We thank Kṛṣṇa for sending a father so dear,
Who built us a home and who conquered our fear.
We look ahead now at the seeds we have sown,
Trusting Kṛṣṇa’s great plan for the seeds that have grown.
We trust in the future, for your books are the basis,
Leading us home from all desolate places.
Ensuring the next generations find grace,
As they look at the smile of your lotuslike face.
We look around at the congregation so wide,
With Devotee Care as our compass and guide.
To serve one another in each circumstance,
To give every soul a spiritual chance.
We are servants of servants, as you have designed,
With a heart for the weary and a hand for the blind.
We look within and we find the Lord there,
In the heart of the teacher, in the student’s deep prayer.
The Supersoul whispers the wisdom you taught,
Bringing us the peace that we once vainly sought.
You showed us that Kṛṣṇa is closer than breath,
The friend who delivers from life and from death.
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, our founder and friend,
May our efforts to care for all never end.
Through teaching and serving, we offer our life,
To build up your family and end all the strife.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, we seek your strength and courage to navigate the challenges associated with disseminating the holy name. May we remain steadfast in our commitment to adhere to your guidance and consistently foster cooperation among one another. Your mercy and teachings serve as the cornerstone of our devotion, and we acknowledge that by following your directives, we not only pay homage to you but also advance the broader mission of promoting Kṛṣṇa consciousness in Stouffville and beyond.
Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for being the “plus” that gives value to all the zeros of our lives.
We pray to remain forever servants of your servants,
Your loving children at ISKCON Stouffville
Europe & Russia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Hare Kṛṣṇa, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept the humble obeisances of the devotees at the Stuttgart yātrā. All glories to Your lotus feet.
You glorify your spiritual master by your example and deep devotion, and in doing so, show us the greatest example. Your instructions and the legacy you left for the devotees are for us oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya, and the torch of knowledge burns, showing the way, purifying with its light our ignorance and selfishness.
By your blessing on our living, strong, and friendly local community, we are happy to inform you of the welcoming of more and more local followers. Regular, stable programs are held at the yātrā, delicacies are prepared for the Deities, devotees are trained in practical etiquette, and Vaiṣṇava education is applied with eager desire. Thematic lectures are held where the speakers generously share knowledge from heart to heart – and this is experienced when we see their shining eyes, deepening questions, and curiosity.
Thanks to your enthusiasm for glorifying and chanting the holy name, we continue to carry it forward, offering lessons on musical instruments. For the inquisitive and insatiable, we conduct Sanskrit lessons and readings from the Bhāgavatam.
During the harināma held on April 11, 2026, we distributed 340 plates of prasādam and 46 books. Lakṣmī, fruit, a bottle of milk, and a stuffed toy for the Deities were donated to the temple. A new person joined the program from the harināma, hearing about the holy name for the first time. He sat and listened attentively to the kirtan with tears in his eyes, and his consciousness was transformed.
Our prayer to you is that you please allow our Stuttgart mini-temple to eternally serve your lotus feet. May we always be among our brothers and sisters – all sincere followers. Allow that which you spoke to continue to resound, and allow us to act as you acted so that the holy name, as foretold by Lord Caitanya, “may be heard in every town and village.” May the people we meet take shelter in your association, and may the devotees become more and more numerous. Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, please accept these humble offerings and efforts so that we may become just as you wish to see us.
Your servants,
The devotees of ISKCON Stuttgart
Homages ISKCON Centers, Latin America, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
My most humble and prostrated obeisances unto Your Divine Grace, 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
On this most sacred occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā in 2026, we attempt to glorify your divine presence through service, philosophy, and measurable sacrifice, knowing well that no amount of words or numbers can truly capture your unlimited mercy.
Yet, as you instructed, devotional service must be practical, organized, and result-oriented. Therefore, we present before you a glimpse of how your mission is manifesting in Suriname.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, your movement in Suriname continues to expand steadily. Today, active preaching is taking place in four districts – Paramaribo, Nickerie, Wanica, and Commewijne – with established centers in Paramaribo and Nickerie, and outreach growing in the other regions.
In Paramaribo alone, your mandira serves approximately 150 active devotees, including 43 initiated members. We reach around 700 people regularly through our preaching programs. In Nickerie, a dedicated community of approximately 26 devotees (8 initiated) reaches out to around 220 people. Even in developing areas like Wanica, weekly programs are attracting 15–30 participants, showing the gradual awakening of devotion.
Your daily temple program continues without fail, with multiple āratis daily (maṅgala-ārati, Deity greeting, rāja-bhoga, and gaura-ārati) and a weekly Sunday feast, attracting around 60 people in Paramaribo, 20 in Nickerie, and 15–20 in Wanica. This is the living manifestation of nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā.
Your festivals, Śrīla Prabhupāda, have become powerful instruments of transformation. Major events such as Gaura-Pūrṇimā and Janmāṣṭamī attracted up to 500 people, while Ratha-yātrā reached approximately 700 participants. These are not mere gatherings; they are saṅkīrtana-yajñas, fulfilling Lord Caitanya’s prophecy.
In the area of book distribution, the very heart of your mission, the results are especially inspiring. In 2025, your followers in Suriname distributed 1,687 transcendental books in total, including 1,348 books in Dutch and 339 in English. This generated over SRD 313,580.65 in distribution value, representing an astonishing 197 percent growth over the previous year.
Truly, this is the sound of the bṛhad-mṛdaṅga resounding across the country. Not only did your devotees spread books, but a number of harināmas were conducted, as instructed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Your instruction that no one should go hungry has also been honored through our Food for Life program. In 2025, 3,120 prasādam meals were distributed, supported by over SRD 168,000 in donations. This is spiritual compassion in action. Furthermore, six cookouts were held to help the temple finances in the spirit of self-sufficiency, to which the Surinamese people respond very generously. Many people flock to get a taste of kṛṣṇa-prasādam, and this is all because of Your Divine Grace.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, your emphasis on education is also being realized. Weekly classes in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam reach 10–15 participants per session, while bhakti-vṛkṣa programs engage smaller groups deeply. Formal training programs, such as Bhakti Śāstrī and disciple courses ensure that your movement remains philosophically grounded.
At the infrastructure level, your mission is taking physical shape. ISKCON Suriname now holds 24 acres of land in Commewijne for future development, alongside established preaching locations in Paramaribo, Nickerie, and Wanica. In Wanica, 1.23 acres of land was secured and is finally in ISKCON’s name. This area is strategic and will serve for the expansion of your mission further onto the southern part of Suriname.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, when we reflect on these numbers, we understand a deeper philosophical truth: these are not statistics but souls being connected to Kṛṣṇa. Each book distributed is a life changed. Each meal served is karma purified. Each kirtan performed is ignorance destroyed.
Still, despite these efforts, we recognize how small our service is compared to your desire to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness to every town and village.
As stated in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma, sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma. You have given us both the mission and the method. What remains to develop is our sincerity.
Therefore, on this Vyāsa-pūjā day we humbly pray that we may increase our service. May we expand our preaching. May we purify our intentions. May we become true instruments in your hands.
Please bless us that in the coming years, these numbers will not only grow but deepen in quality, devotion, and purity. Śrīla Prabhupāda, everything we have is your mercy. Everything we do is in your service. Everything we aspire for is for your satisfaction. Please accept this insignificant offering.
Your eternal servant,
Shantipriya Dāsa
On behalf of the devotees at ISKCON Suriname yātrā
Homages ISKCON Centers, Oceania, VP2026
Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
You started this movement from small and humble beginnings. The residents of your own hometown did not care to support you, and very few in your home country believed in your mission of bringing Kṛṣṇa consciousness to the West. Yet despite this and all other setbacks, you persisted and fulfilled your spiritual master’s request to its fullest potential.
And now here we are, against all odds: there are millions all over the world, not just in the West, celebrating your Vyāsa-pūjā 2026 with you residing in their hearts.
Your devotees at Govinda Valley, near Sydney, Australia, are holding you close today. The majority of us have never had the chance to meet you, yet somehow, each one of us has reserved an eternal space for you in our hearts and minds. Our minds are saturated with thoughts of you. Should you enter that space, you would surely hear “Prabhupāda once said,” “Prabhupāda used to,” “Prabhupāda instructed,” “Prabhupāda this,” “Prabhupāda that.” One can never leave a conversation, no matter the topic, mundane or spiritual, long or brief, without hearing your name at least once from our mouths. Parrots we are, always uttering your name.
So, Śrīla Prabhupāda, on those nights when you were writing alone, struggling to personally fund and distribute Back to Godhead on the streets of Calcutta, were you already scheming to steal our unassuming hearts? Did you plan to inundate our minds and change the entire course of our lives? Were you already preparing to become the subject of our thoughts, the topic on our tongues, and the guiding force behind our days?
Somehow, we have happily declared ourselves your puppet boys and girls, ready to offer you love and service without a single reservation in our hearts.
And yet, in truth, it is not that you have taken anything from us, but that you have given us everything. You have given us purpose where there was once wandering, clarity where there was once confusion, and devotion where there was once emptiness.
So, on this day, we simply pray to remain instruments in your hands. To remember your instructions, to carry your mood, and to serve your mission with sincerity and steadiness. Please keep us always engaged in your service, lifetime after lifetime.
On behalf of all the devotees at Govinda Valley,
Your humble servant,
Bhaktin Christine
Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
My dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my most humble obeisances unto the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Your
Divine Grace.
Your Vyāsa-pūjā is near again. In recent years the whole world has been full of disasters, espe-
cially the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people suffered due to the economic depression. We are
very lucky because you established 108 ISKCON centers around the world when you were present.
Due to your causeless mercy, ISKCON centers have sprung up around the world. At this moment,
I especially feel your compassionate desire to protect the devotees.
In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 3.19) Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu said: “I shall personally inau-
gurate the religion of the age – nāma-saṅkīrtana, the congregational chanting of the holy name. I
shall make the world dance in ecstasy, realizing the four mellows of loving devotional service.”
Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Kali-yuga avatar. He gifted us the spiritual practice of this
age (yuga-dharma): harināma-saṅkīrtana, which allows us to dance, chant, and eat prasādam all the
way back to the spiritual world. Śrīla Prabhupāda, you took on this great and arduous mission to
propagate the yuga-dharma. In order to allow more people to get in contact with Kṛṣṇa conscious-
ness, associate with devotees, cultivate knowledge about Kṛṣṇa, and nourish devotees through the
six kinds of loving exchanges, ISKCON, our spiritual family, was established.
ISKCON is like the Bhaktivedanta Hospital. Everyone comes here for rehabilitation and shel-
ter. You have already prepared six kinds of medicine in The Nectar of Instruction to help us gradu-
ally recover and awaken our dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Enthusiasm: Due to suffering, we naturally desire to take medicine to cure our disease, and the
medicine is “the scriptures and the instructions of Śrīla Prabhupāda and the spiritual masters.”
We accept the instructions and engage in all kinds of devotional services with enthusiasm.
Faith: We should have full faith in taking the medicine (accepting the instructions). Without
faith, we won’t develop enthusiasm for devotional service.
Patience: We need to be patient and wait for the medicine to take effect.
Positive activities: Following the doctor’s advice and instructions for treatment means following
the regulative principles and performing our daily sādhana.
Isolation: Do not associate with nondevotees to avoid being infected by other patients.
Sincerely follow in the footsteps of the ācāryas – follow the examples of those devotees who
heal by following the doctors’ prescription (scriptures and guru’s instructions) and the ācāryas,
and desire to associate with them and render them loving service.
The Taichung yātrā has gone through more than ten years of hard work. Under the guidance
of the GBC and our spiritual teachers, the local devotees worked together to set up the ISKCON
Taichung Center. We established it in November 2023. The purpose of the center is for devotees
and new friends to continue to receive spiritual nourishment and learn to render devotional ser-
vice in a proper mood. We are so unqualified, so we are very eager to have your merciful shelter.
Service is the key to connection. On your Vyāsa-pūjā day, in addition to glorifying your cause-
less mercy, we also pray for your protection. When we render service, please protect us from the
desire for liberation and personal fame, position, and the selfish interests in our hearts. We pray
that we can treat every new and old devotee equally in a proper way. Whatever position the Lord
has arranged for us, we can always offer devotional service to please Lord Kṛṣṇa and Your Divine
Grace.
Please keep showering your mercy on the Taichung Center so that we have sustainable devel-
opment and can help fulfill Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s prophecy that the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-
mantra be spread to every town and village of the world. Let us distribute unconditional, pure
love of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa to the world.
Your unqualified servant of the servant,
Harināma Amṛta Devī Dāsī
on behalf of the ISKCON Taichung Center
