Asia-Eurasia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
I have the fortune to have been invited to write the Vyāsa-pūjā offering for Your Divine Grace on behalf of the Taichung yātrā in Taiwan for this year. Although, I am telling my own experience of coming in contact with Your Divine Grace, my experience is similar to others in Taiwan who have come in contact with Your Divine Grace and your teachings. How fortunate I am to have met you in this lifetime!
When my father passed away quite some years ago, I realized that at the moment of death, a person possesses nothing. This realization set me on a path of searching for the meaning of life. After years of seeking, I finally encountered Lord Kṛṣṇa and His devotees. Without you spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness to every town and village across the world, it would have been impossible to receive Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mercy in a place as remote as Taichung, Taiwan.
Even after ten years of being in the ISKCON society, I am still like a toddler learning to walk, stumbling along the path of devotional service. For many years, your image in my heart was vague and distant, even seemingly unattainable, which deeply discouraged me. That changed in April 2020.
In April 2020, your disciple, Kṛṣṇa Baladeva Dāsa, encouraged me to begin reading Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta aloud online for fifteen minutes a day for the devotees in Taiwan. I agreed without hesitation. Within just a few days of reading your life story, my life began to change. After chanting my sixteen rounds of japa, I immersed myself in reading your biography and recording it for the devotees to listen to afterward. Often I was unable to stop reading and became filled with joy as I read of your glorious activities. I reduced my daily household duties as much as possible. This service became the center of my life. By reading and reciting every word daily, I became absorbed in your divine pastimes.
Then something subtle and wonderful happened: your form, words, conduct, and spirit – once unclear in my heart – gradually came together like the pieces of a puzzle into a complete and vivid picture. You nourished me and rekindled my enthusiasm for Kṛṣṇa consciousness and awakened in me a deeper desire to serve.
During this time, the recordings of your glorious activities were uploaded daily for the devotees of Taiwan. This received an enthusiastic response. The devotees eagerly longed to hear this nectar, and through it, they came to know you more fully and deeply.
Throughout the entire process of reading and reciting, what moved me most profoundly was your unwavering determination to follow the instructions of your spiritual master. Everything you did was solely to please him. Even encountering countless difficulties, you never retreated – something ordinary people in this world would have long given up.
I came to understand that the relationship between a spiritual master and a disciple can become unbreakable when the disciple faithfully follows the spiritual master’s instructions, even without physical association. You have said that following the instructions of the spiritual master is the eternal duty of the disciple. In the purport to Bhagavad-gītā 2.41, you explain that one should perform devotional service to Kṛṣṇa under the guidance of the spiritual master and accept his instructions as one’s life and soul. You also said that as long as a disciple follows the spiritual master’s instructions, the spiritual master is eternally present with the disciple. Today, we are able to receive your mercy, because your disciples have faithfully followed your instructions. These sincere disciples received your most precious gift – the opportunity to serve you in separation – and they have continued to spread this throughout the world, allowing it to flourish everywhere.
Ah! How fortunate we are, your granddisciples, to have met you, your disciples, your teachings, and your ISKCON society. We pray that we, in the Taichung yātrā, will continue to share your glories with others in Taiwan, thus allowing them to have the fortune of coming into contact with you, your teachings, your followers, and your ISKON Society.
Your humble servant,
Kuntī Kripa Devī Dāsī
On behalf of the Taichung yātrā
Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Your Divine Grace!
Here are what I (on behalf of the Taipei yātrā) deeply acknowledge as your wonderful contri-
butions to the world:
(1) Śrīla Prabhupāda, you spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world.
(2) Within eleven years you published about sixty-four books.
(3) You founded ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and organized
the GBC, the Governing Body Commission, to oversee its management globally. You are the
founder-ācārya of ISKCON.
(4) You stressed very much the printing of books on Kṛṣṇa consciousness as well as the distribu-
tion of these books. In 1972, you founded The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) to focus on
printing and publishing books on Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
(5) You built 108 temples around the world, and initiated more than four thousand disciples
before you departed from this world.
(6) To realize your idea of “simple living, high thinking” as the ideal Vedic way of life, you
opened gurukula schools to teach knowledge of the truth of the Vedas and the Vedic sattvic
life. And you built farm communities and constructed the spiritual community in Śrīdhāma
Māyāpur.
And the most touching thing to me is that you so profoundly abided by the instructions of your
spiritual master that even at a very senior age you went abroad to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness to
the whole world. When I read your biography for the first time, I was so amazed and so admired
your immense courage. I felt persuaded by your very firm conviction and dedication. You went
abroad alone, facing the mundane turbulence in America and other places in the Western world,
and all the helplessness and loneliness. There was no money for your mission, and no people
around to help out.
Whenever I read your books, I feel extremely indebted to you because you worked so hard to
translate and print these books for us, which contain the most important spiritual knowledge of
the Absolute Truth.
But I am so doomed and fallen that I haven’t completely grasped the essence of the Absolute
Truth, and I haven’t come to the point you expected us to come to. What you gave us is not only
spiritual knowledge but real shelter for helpless souls like us who are struggling in the material
ocean.
My heart is burning and trembling. I can’t help but offer you here some words:
Joyful blissful heart I aspire to keep
Life of material world is seemingly helpless and hopeless
If not with Śrīla Prabhupāda
Where could the souls who are shaking in this world be settled?
Śrīla Prabhupāda is the person who linked Bhagavad-gītā As It Is to us
He is the person whose cream of the Vedas we rely on and cherish
If not with Śrīla Prabhupāda
Where would the souls go?
If not with Śrīla Prabhupāda
How could we find and recognize the real scriptures?
If not with Śrīla Prabhupāda
How could we receive the grace of the Supreme Lord?
If without Śrīla Prabhupāda
How and where would we get to perform devotional service to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa?
O Śrīla Prabhupāda You gave the most precious gems to the whole world
You gave us the matchless gift, the Ocean of Mercy that nourishes us and shelters us …
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Your glories are spread throughout the three worlds. We humbly bow down at your lotus feet.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, kī jaya!
The servant of your servant,
Jaya Gaurāṅga Devī Dāsī
Taipei, Taiwan
Asia-Eurasia, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace!
Whenever I meditate on your pastimes, I am deeply moved by your unwavering obedience to and faith in your spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, as well as the profound surrender and love for Kṛṣṇa that resided within your heart.
Shortly after your first meeting, your spiritual master instructed you: “Whatever you have learned, you should go to the Western countries, and you must distribute this knowledge.” You unconditionally accepted this instruction as your life and soul, crossing the ocean in 1965 at the age of nearly 70 to disseminate Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the West. When others deemed your mission impossible, you humbly and humorously replied: “Since the mission of others to preach in London failed, let me go and fail in another place! Let me go to New York and fail there.”
Because of your absolute adherence to your spiritual master, even when encountering severe obstacles, challenges, and physical ailments, you persisted in spreading the message of Kṛṣṇa consciousness without fear. The humility and the relentless, compassionate spirit you demonstrated are not only awe-inspiring but also serve as a beacon for us, illuminating by example that all glory belongs to the mercy of the Lord and the instructions of the spiritual master.
Among your pastimes, what touches me most deeply is the Bengali poem you wrote while residing in Vrindavan, titled “Vṛndāvane Bhajan.” It reflects the purity of your detachment and your singular dependence on Kṛṣṇa:
Part One
(1) I am sitting alone in Vṛndāvana-dhāma and in the midst of my thoughts, I am receiving some realizations.
(2) My wife, sons, daughters, grandsons are all there, but because I have no money, they consider that my true wealth is useless.
(3) Śrī Kṛṣṇa, You have revealed to me the naked form of material nature, and today, by the power of Your mercy, I have become freed from all desires.
(4) “He whom I favor, I gradually take away his wealth” – how can I understand such mercy from the most merciful One?
Part Two
(1) Seeing that I am bereft of wealth, everyone has abandoned me – family, relatives and friends who were like brothers to me.
(2) Although it is miserable, I am amused and I sit alone and smile. Who are my dear one’s in this material world of māyā?
(3) Where have my mother and father, who were so full of affection, gone? Where have my elders and close relatives gone?
(4) Tell me, who will bring me news of them? All that remains of that family are their names only.
You dedicated your entire life to sharing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, guiding us by example how to obey the instructions of the spiritual master and how to cultivate devotion through the scriptures to become a humble servant of the Lord. There is no other path to pure devotional service except by serving your lotus feet. It is only because of your causeless mercy that I am able to traverse this ocean of material suffering. I cannot repay your kindness; I can only strive to follow in your footsteps, cultivating deeper Kṛṣṇa consciousness to offer better service to the spiritual master, to you, and to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
I know that I am unqualified to ask for your blessings, yet I beg for your mercy. Please allow me to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa, your mission, and the devotees with a more humble and tolerant heart. This is the only way I may hope to repay your kindness. Thank you for your selfless sacrifice. Your life remains our eternal example.
Your eternal servant,
Champaka Latikā Devī Dāsī
On behalf of the devotees of Taipei, Taiwan
Canada & USA, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our respectful obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to your infinite kindness and causeless mercy.
As the years pass, it is only by your pure example and unending inspiration that we continue to make even a humble effort to serve and please you. In this material world, the powerful illusory energy is constantly trying to divert the living entity from devotional service. Yet we have full faith that by following Kṛṣṇa and His sincere devotee – your good self – with humility and loyalty, we will always remain protected.
You emphatically instructed us, “No matter what happens, never leave this ISKCON society.” You also warned that if someone goes away under the pretext of a bad relationship between devotees, it is due to a lack of sincerity. We pray to Lord Kṛṣṇa to grant us the intelligence and strength to serve you – even in the humblest way – without deviation. You taught us to be respectful toward all Vaiṣṇavas, and we cannot be ungrateful or disobedient to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Through your books and lectures, you have taught we fallen souls how to love and serve Lord Kṛṣṇa and His devotees. You revealed our true constitutional position and guided us in expressing our spiritual identity through the many activities of this Kṛṣṇa conscious movement.
Here at ISKCON Tallahassee we are trying our best to share this love for Lord Kṛṣṇa through harināma-saṅkīrtana in the parks, festivals, home programs, Dāmodara home programs, and our daily online Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam readings and in-person classes.
On this glorious day of your divine appearance, we pray that always, no matter what, you never allow us to leave this holy movement, which is the genuine and practical hope for all living beings.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, we beg for your merciful blessings so that one day we may become expert representatives of you and the paramparā in presenting Lord Caitanya’s teachings so that more and more fortunate souls may be attracted to studying, following, and teaching this sublime philosophy.
We remain the servants of your servants,
Uddhava Krishna Dāsa, on behalf of ISKCON Tallahassee
Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2025
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories, all glories, all glories to Your Divine Grace.
athāpi te deva padāmbuja-dvaya-
prasāda-leśānugṛhīta eva hi
jānāti tattvaṁ bhagavan-mahimno
na cānya eko ’pi ciraṁ vicinvan
My Lord, if one is favored by even a slight trace of the mercy of Your lotus feet, he can
understand the greatness of Your personality. But those who speculate to understand
the Supreme Personality of Godhead are unable to know You, even though they con-
tinue to study the Vedas for many years. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.14.29)
Only one who has received a trace of mercy from the lotus feet of the Lord can understand His
unlimited greatness and act as His empowered representative. You, Śrīla Prabhupāda, are that
rare and divinely empowered personality, who not only understood the supreme truth of Lord Śrī
Kṛṣṇa but also revealed it to the world with unflinching faith and fearless conviction.
While countless scholars and yogis spend lifetimes studying the Vedas without grasping
the essence of bhakti, the exalted ācāryas in our disciplic succession – led by great souls like
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura – revealed the pure,
unalloyed path of devotional service as taught by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. They fearlessly
established the supremacy of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava siddhānta and worked tirelessly to distribute
this knowledge throughout India. Śrīla Prabhupāda, as the empowered representative of this
glorious paramparā, you fulfilled their vision by carrying this transcendental wisdom across the
ocean, planting the seeds of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the Western world and nurturing them into
a global movement. By your mercy, Śrīla Prabhupāda, the essence of bhakti and the teachings of
our ācāryas are now available to every soul, transcending all boundaries of language, race, and
nationality.
Here at ISKCON Tampa we are living proof of your mercy in action. Your life is our light-
house, guiding us in this dark age. Because of your pure devotion, we are empowered to celebrate
Janmāṣṭamī with jubilant kīrtana, Gaura-Pūrṇimā with ecstatic remembrance, and Rāma-navamī
with reverence and joy. These festivals, once confined to a specific region of the world, now radi-
ate from your temples to touch the hearts of thousands who had never before heard the name of
Kṛṣṇa.
You not only gave us knowledge, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you gave us culture. Through your teach-
ings on Vaiṣṇava etiquette, you showed us how to interact with one another with humility, respect,
and affection. You taught us that spiritual advancement is inseparable from how we honor the
devotees of the Lord. In a world increasingly divided by ego and misunderstanding, your instruc-
tions on how to serve, honor, and love one another have become the foundation of meaningful
relationships. Though we are still striving to follow the exalted standard you set, we pray for your
continued blessings so that we may grow in sincerity and service and reflect the genuine character
of a true Vaiṣṇava.
Your legacy enables us to give what you gave – the ultimate gift of Kṛṣṇa consciousness – to
others. Inspired by your example, the devotees of ISKCON Tampa strive to carry forward your
mission with humility and enthusiasm, knowing that only by your mercy and the mercy of Śrī
Kṛṣṇa can we hope to succeed.
On this most sacred day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we bow our heads and hearts in gratitude. You are
the crest jewel of spiritual teachers, the compassionate commander of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s
army, and the dearest servant of the Supreme Lord.
Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for everything. May we always remain your instruments in
spreading the holy name and serving your divine mission.
Your aspiring servants,
The devotees of ISKCON Tampa
Canada & USA, Homages ISKCON Centers, VP2026
Dearest and most beloved 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
Please accept our sincere and humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet on this most auspicious day of your Vyāsa-pūjā.
Today, we gather with hearts filled with gratitude and reverence, remembering your inimitable mercy upon the fallen souls of this age. Crossing oceans at an advanced age, with no material support, you carried the timeless message of Lord Kṛṣṇa to the entire world. Through your compassion, the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and the holy name have reached people globally.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, whatever meager devotion we have today is entirely due to your causeless mercy. You have given us everything: the holy name, the philosophy, the process of devotional service, the association of devotees, and kṛṣṇa-prasādam. You have built a spiritual home for us within your society, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, where we all can take shelter and grow.
At ISKCON Tampa, your presence is deeply felt in every kirtan, every class, every offering, and every attempt to serve. Your instructions guide our lives, your books nourish our intelligence, and your example inspires our hearts.
By your mercy, our small community is now endeavoring to expand your mission through the development of a new ISKCON Tampa temple, New Vraja-maṇḍala Dhāma, project and expansion. This effort is our humble offering at your lotus feet and an attempt to fulfill your desire to establish Kṛṣṇa consciousness in every town and village.
We envision this temple as a place where the holy name will be chanted constantly; your books will be distributed widely; people from all backgrounds will receive prasādam and spiritual knowledge; and families, youth, and children of all classes and genders will find shelter in devotional life.
We fully realize that this is not our project – it is your project. We are simply instruments trying to assist in your divine mission.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you taught us that success is not measured by external achievements but by sincerity and purity of service. Therefore, as we work on this expansion, we pray for the strength to serve in a mood pleasing to you. You have shown us through your own life what true surrender means: complete dependence on Kṛṣṇa, fearless preaching, and unwavering faith in the holy name. Despite immense challenges, you never compromised the purity of the message.
In our daily lives – with our various responsibilities, distractions, and struggles – we try to hold onto your instructions. Sometimes we fail, sometimes we become weak, but your mercy gives us the strength to rise again. Each moment we are inspired by your determination, compassion, and deep love for Kṛṣṇa and all living entities.
Your words continue to illuminate our path: “Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and your life will be sublime.”
On this most auspicious day, we offer our heartfelt prayers: may we always remain faithful to your teachings and develop a sincere taste for chanting the holy name. May we serve your mission with humility, cooperation, and devotion. May this Tampa temple and center expansion become an instrument for serving your mission and the spreading of Kṛṣṇa consciousness to one and all.
We know that without your mercy, we have no qualification. As expressed in the Guru-vandanā: yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo, yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ’pi. Śrīla Prabhupāda, please forgive our offenses, our shortcomings, and our lack of sincerity. Still, we take shelter of your lotus feet, knowing that you are the most benevolent savior of the fallen. Please bless us so that we may always remain engaged in your service eternally.
With folded hands and grateful hearts,
Your insignificant eternal servants at New Vraja-maṇḍala Dhāma, Tampa
