Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your
appearance.
Your Divine Grace has written the most amazing books that are to be found on this planet.
These books are the lifesaving mercy of so many devotees. By reading them regularly we become
enthused with spiritual energy, intelligence, faith, love and hope. Your purports are brilliantly
clear, always to the point and wonderfully interesting and relevant. These books are gradually
attracting the whole world.
The other wonderful thing about your books is that we can distribute them. And this is a very
wonderful thing for the devotees. By distributing these books, we are engaging in charity by
giving people the most valuable thing for a small donation; austerity by endeavoring to not give
into the pushings of the mind and senses; and sacrifice because these books are glorifying the
Supreme Lord and His name and qualities. So this is saṅkīrtana.
What better way is there for us to preach than distributing these books? We have by good
fortune come under the shelter of Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s wings, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu is
ordering us to preach, but being products of Kali-yuga, we have practically no intelligence or
strength of mind, so how can we preach effectively? What effect will our preaching have? But
because of the books, we can be great preachers! We can induce people to buy the books, and the
books will preach to them.
We are extremely grateful to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for performing the sacrifice of coming here
to the material world to spread Lord Caitanya’s message in the West and for writing your books.
I cannot think there will be anyone dearer to the Lord than Your Divine Grace, ever.
So long as we preach, we are doing the essential work of this mission. Then we see things
developing. We see new people coming and taking up the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We
see happy devotees, pure devotees – devotees willing to cooperate. We see money coming in and
projects amazingly develop. We see standards maintained and etiquettes followed.
We pray for your mercy so that all the devotees here in Norway may act in such a way that we
will have the strength to preach the message of Lord Caitanya throughout this country. Then by
your divine mercy we can all go back to Godhead, hand in hand.
Your servant,
Mahābhāvi Dāsa, Regional Supervisor
Hare Kṛṣṇa, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble obeisances at your lotus feet. Happy Vyāsa-pūjā, Śrīla
Prabhupāda.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, the most auspicious day of your Vyāsa-pūjā provides us an opportunity to
reflect back on what we have achieved and where we have fallen short in the past twelve months
so that an accurate and meaningful report can be submitted at your lotus feet to seek your bless-
ings and guidance.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, by your blessings and teachings, ISKCON Noida has evolved into a healthy
mother temple, from which quite a few successful preaching outlets, land for new temples, and
new devotee communities have manifested. The Deities here at ISKCON Noida have mesmerized
the hearts of everyone. People in huge numbers visit us daily, and the temple is full of life all year
long.
Recently, we performed an installation of Ananta Śeṣa and held a bhūmi-pūjā to commence the
construction work of a new temple at Noida, which will be the second regular ISKCON temple
in the town. We have a vibrant Greater Noida preaching center, with its own sizable community.
We have paid in full the amount owed for the large piece of land on the Yamuna Expressway –
Jewar – for another regular temple, with a farm community and goshala coming soon. We have
just finalized a joint venture with our devotee families to come up with Prabhupāda Village in
Greater Noida West, where devotees will live in the vicinity of a temple and build a new temple
there. They will then serve there and take and give association to one another.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you always took very nice care of devotees who had completely dedicated
their lives to spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness by joining the temple ashram. Recently, on our elev-
enth Brahmotsava, we inaugurated a new brahmacārī ashram, comprising two floors to be used by
our full-time devotees. This facility has a new kitchen, dedicated for use by the brahmacārīs.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, by your blessings, our temple’s different areas where we get more visitors,
opportunities for preaching, and revenue are going great. The foot traffic and sales in our Match-
less Giftshop, Govinda’s Restaurant, auditorium, guesthouse, and Krishna Expo have scaled new
heights.
The Bhaktivedanta Academy has successfully graduated five Bhakti-śāstrī batches, and thou-
sands of students have passed the short-term courses as they progress on their devotional paths.
By your mercy, Śrīla Prabhupāda, to some extent we have been able to maintain a high standard
of education, delivered here along with focus on the overall spiritual personality development of
each and every student. Also, we have a Prahlada School, educating young children about Kṛṣṇa
consciousness and inspiring families to begin Kṛṣṇa consciousness as early as possible.
On weekends, we face a shortage of classrooms, as we have ISKCON Youth Forum (IYF) and
ISKCON Girls Forum (IGF) seminars and classes. The objective of these forums is to encourage
the youth to take up Kṛṣṇa consciousness seriously and strike a balance between bhakti and their
material endeavors. We constantly develop innovative ideas to attract the youth, like dramas, con-
certs, japa sessions, philosophical talks, quizzes, and debates.
The roots of our congregation are firmly grounded in our vibrant bhakti-vriksha programs. All
our festivals are happily managed by our bhakti-vriksha members. Hence, they form an integral
and necessary part of the temple.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you have given us a wonderful movement, a platform where anyone can
avail the opportunity to become Kṛṣṇa’s favorite. Prabhupāda, you gave us many powerful but
selfless leaders, who ensure steady growth, prosperity, and ISKCON’s existence in each nook and
corner of the planet. Your true leadership, foresightedness, investment of your energy in training,
and delegation of responsibility is now bearing fruit in spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness faster than
ever. Your personally trained disciples, in spite of their old age and medical conditions, are creat-
ing magic in spreading the message of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to the suffering souls.
Your disciples are so sincere and loyal to Your Divine Grace that they take extra trouble in
carrying out the mission you kindly assigned them. The sad thing is, they are leaving this planet
one by one. Śrīla Prabhupāda, we have a genuine fear of how we will manage ISKCON once
we are not protected and guided by your spiritually enriched and charismatic disciples. Please
bless us, Śrīla Prabhupāda, so that for your pleasure we can develop the highest level of sincerity
and a mood of cooperation and surrender toward our current spiritual masters so that we may
become expert in our dealings and exemplary in our personal sādhana. Please empower us, Śrīla
Prabhupāda, so that we may successfully develop, on the basis of your books and teachings, the
next generation of leaders to carry on the baton of your spiritual revolution.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, many times, out of your utmost humility, not taking any credit for your suc-
cess, you mentioned, “I am simply trying to execute the order of my Guru Mahārāja. That is my
qualification.” But we, your disciples, followers, and well-wishers, know for a fact that your quali-
fication is far beyond our comprehension. Your tireless efforts, your transcendental compassion,
and your unshakable faith in the holy name has rescued millions from the ocean of nescience. By
giving us the ultimate shelter of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, you have given us the greatest gift.
In a room conversation in Māyāpur, dated February 16, 1977, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you confidently
said “This movement will go on. There is no doubt about it. It is Kṛṣṇa’s movement. He will take
care.” And by your grace it has – and it will. We beg you to always keep us engaged in your divine
service, to protect us from the distractions of māyā, and to bless us with unwavering faith in your
instructions.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, we pray that we may truly imbibe the mood of unalloyed devotion that you
so perfectly exemplified. May we serve in your mission with purity, determination, and humility.
May we never forget your instruction that the foundation of all success is hearing and chanting
about Kṛṣṇa.
Just as the only way to pay respects to Mother Ganges is by offering her her own water, so the
best tribute we can offer at your lotus feet is to further Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mission.
Last, but not least, we once again offer our humblest obeisances at your lotus feet by offering
this verse, composed by our limited intelligence:
śrīla-prabhupāda-caritāmṛta-vāridheḥ
bhaktyāmbudheḥ pāraguṇārṇavasya
lokaṁ samuddhṛtya kṛpāmburāśe
namo namaste gurudeva tubhyam
Ocean of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s divine pastimes, vast like the nectar of immortality,
Boundless reservoir of devotion, filled with transcendental virtues,
Lifting the fallen souls across the world by the waves of your mercy,
O revered spiritual master, again and again, we offer you our obeisances!
Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Vyāsa-pūjā mahotsava kī jaya.
Your insignificant servants at ISKCON Noida
Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble obeisances at the divine dust of your lotus feet. All glories to
Your Divine Grace!
We are going through hard times. So much fighting, disagreement, and aggression in this
material world. Cynicism sneaks in, and people begin to doubt whether devotional ideals are
realistic and reachable. We cannot sit idly and accept that the vision of a pure devotee like you
will not fructify. Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, insignificant as we are, please empower us with the intel-
ligence to be part of the solution. Let us together make your movement what it can and should be.
Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda, your presence, influence, and inspiration has been the one constant
thread throughout our saṅkīrtana journey. We went from transition to transition. Yet almost every
day we try very hard to refer to your teachings and remember your personality, and then to render
some small service to your mission. We try really hard to chant, sing, and even dance for the
Lord’s pleasure. In spite of our efforts, it is during these saṅkīrtana journeys that we witness the
tiniest bit of our efforts manifesting. Still, we know it’s not enough. We need to fulfill your vision
for this movement! We need to do it as soon as possible. We need to do it before it is too late.
Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda, you envisioned a school – a place to learn the sacred art of recon-
necting with our deepest aspirations. We cannot take the world to a higher place than the place
we are trying to reach internally ourselves. But, you, our dearest, envisioned a mission with an
inspired team of spiritual change-makers who were out to trigger a revolution of consciousness –
the saṅkīrtana-yajña. Nothing less will do, of course. We try and try and try. We try our best to
participate fully in saṅkīrtana – with body, mind, and soul. Almost every week, or at least every
fortnight, we try to organize this great yajña, which has been empowered by the paramparā, in dif-
ferent villages and subvillages, and even in remote places. It is only through your ceaseless mercy
that we are capable of doing so.
One of our recent harināma-saṅkīrtana events inundated and then drowned many souls. While
chanting the glories of the Supreme at the sacred place called Ganga Talao, on the auspicious
occasion of Mahā Śiva-rātri, we witnessed your mercy flowing. Devotees from all over our small
island of Mauritius participated, somehow or other. What was mesmerizing was that Bangladeshi
and Nepalese workers from abroad joined the saṅkīrtana, dancing and singing with us. We did not
have to encourage them to do so. Thrilled, they danced, radiating pleasure and bliss, even if they
claimed it was for the very first time they were witnessing such a thing in their lives! You envi-
sioned a family – not just an official meeting of colleagues, but a community of love. You wanted
us to demonstrate relationships of love and trust. During these saṅkīrtana parties, that is exactly
what we try to show. You envisioned a house for the whole world – a place where everyone, from
every conceivable background, would be welcome and integrated. You called it the United
Nations of the spiritual world.
O ocean of mercy, we beg you to manifest your mercy so that we may produce artists of devo-
tion, individuals who are flying high in the skies of bhakti and becoming living embodiments of
everything we seek to share with the world during saṅkīrtana. May we become vessels that show
how this process changes hearts, turning crows into swans. Śrīla Prabhupāda, may we again
exude that urgency and reignite the spirit of sacrifice required to jolt this world out of its spiritual
amnesia. May we fully embrace that burden of love – going to bed at night in spiritual anxiety,
and waking the next morning enthused to take things to another level.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, may we bring more heart into our homes, seek to deeply understand one
another, care for one another, and resolve differences with maturity and kindness. Let us throw all
harshness by the wayside, fanning the spark in one another, staying united and harmonious.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, may we manifest inclusivity, openness, and a welcoming spirit, empowering
one and all to untap and unleash their spiritual potential. Let us ensure that divisive trends and
polarizing narratives never enter our communities.
Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda, insignificant as we are, please empower us with the intelligence to
be part of the solution. Let us make your mercy accessible to all.
Your most fallen grandchildren,
The New Māyāpura Dhāma Saṅkīrtana Team, Mauritius
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our respectful obeisances at your lotus feet! On this auspicious occasion of Śrī
Vyāsa-pūjā, we come together to express our deepest gratitude and reverence for you.
Your unparalleled dedication and tireless efforts have illuminated the path of Kṛṣṇa conscious-
ness for countless souls around the world. You bestowed upon us this invaluable gift. You made
this fortune for us. The Bhagavad-gītā says that after millions of births, one may get the opportu-
nity, but by your mercy, we are actively participating in the mission of Lord Gaurāṅga.
Through your extensive writings, enlightening lectures, and exemplary personal conduct, you
have shown us how to live a life of devotion, compassion, and humility. Your teachings continue
to inspire and guide us, providing a beacon of hope and spiritual strength in our lives. Your tire-
less travels and unwavering commitment to spreading the message of Lord Caitanya have left an
indelible mark on the world. Your compassion knows no bounds, and your love for all living enti-
ties is evident in every aspect of your mission.
At ISKCON Niagara we have a growing congregation. Our congregation has grown since last
year, which is very promising. We have more devotees taking up the process seriously. People
are looking forward to visiting us and actively participating in our programs. We hope to have
a temple soon, as we are currently renting. There are limitations to what we can do, but we have
seen that anything is possible by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.
On this auspicious day, we pledge to honor your teachings and strive to serve you with sincer-
ity and devotion. May we always remember your instructions and remain steadfast in our commit-
ment to spreading the glories of the holy name.
Your servants at ISKCON Niagara
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet. All glories to you on your most
auspicious appearance day!
Attempts to express my deep gratitude and appreciation for you manifest in my desire to give
your ISKCON as much energy and life as I can within this lifetime. There is no longer the ques-
tion of why, only how. And how can it be done better?
I owe you a huge debt, which I realize daily when I am able to experience true love, joy, ecstasy,
and happiness in the association of devotees. Not only have you brought meaning and purpose
to my life and the lives of countless others, but you also opened up the holy dhāmas and an entire
culture of spiritual opulence to those who would otherwise remain in a state of ignorance.
You said you never think small, that your problem was that you always think big – your vision
was never, ever limited.
Here in New York we desire to pay homage to you by our efforts to spread Kṛṣṇa conscious-
ness, but also to give back 1,008 times by resurrecting your beloved skyscraper – because there
is such a need for the householders to live close to the temple – and thereby we can bring that
mood, which is so prevalent in Jaipur, the home of Govindevjī, here to New York City. Jaipur is a
place where each morning and evening the many merchants and citizens come in crowds, together
as a community, with love and devotion, to take darshan of the Lord at the beginning and end of
their working day; where people bring Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda into their lives and hearts and dis-
play their Lordship’s photos proudly in their businesses and offices; where people from all walks
of life are inspired to engage themselves in Kṛṣṇa’s service; a community that reflects the diversity,
possibilities, and structure you taught us.
Returning ISKCON NYC back to the incredible gift you gave the world is at the forefront of
our ardent wish to serve you. Just last year we welcomed the magnificent return of Śrī Jagannātha,
Śrī Baladeva, and Śrī Subhadrā to their original home by the side of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda.
Next year we will celebrate the Golden Jubilee, the fiftieth anniversary of the New York Ratha-
yātrā, a commemoration to your Divine Grace’s first triumphant ride down none other than Fifth
Avenue – arguably the most famous street on earth!
We are currently remodeling areas of our building to accommodate more facility for the resi-
dents of New York to experience the beauty and mercy of your Deities, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda.
To date, these renovations include new classrooms, a new event space complete with arched win-
dows that connect us with the city, and most recently, we are about to complete a new street-level
Govinda’s Café, which will bring the unlimited power of kṛṣṇa-prasādam to a new audience.
New York was the first place you came, knowing full well that from here you could transmit
the message of Lord Caitanya throughout the world. ISKCON New York City is the mother of all
temples, helping to give birth to our major projects in India as well as cultivating and inspiring
the many devotees who have gone on to be empowered leaders and examples across the globe. All
this was done by your magnanimity and faith in Kṛṣṇa, encouraging devotees to share that convic-
tion and traverse the city’s subways and bus terminals, spreading the awareness and collecting the
donations that led to rapid growth.
Your movement started with young people, so by your example, we aspire to inspire many
more generations to come to take up the process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Thus we will become a
shining beacon and an example to the world, a jewel in the crown of your ISKCON, and by your
divine potency emanate out to the whole planet.
We need to have a temple and cultural center that reflects the greatness of the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness and all that it represents – a living example, of the rich culture
and lifestyle that you gave the world that will attract and inspire the hearts and minds of the mil-
lions of souls who pass through this most important city.
Your servants at ISKCON NYC
(written by Āditya Devī Dāsī, vice president)
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our respectful obeisances! All glories to your lotus feet!
Saintly persons like you perceive everything through the descriptions and in the context of
śāstra. One who is not bewildered by the storms of misconceptions and the flood of misinforma-
tion from our time, and who is sincere and courageous enough to face social pressure, can clearly
see that the course of history is becoming increasingly demonic. Global industrial society has
made life unnatural in almost every aspect: the population is entirely dependent on systems that
are unsustainable and alien to human nature; the so-called emancipation of women has atomized
the fundamental units of society – families – while also increasing the varṇa-saṅkara popula-
tion; no one receives varṇa-specific training, and those who end up in a particular field are rarely
capable of making responsible decisions; misinformation and advertisements driving consump-
tion are omnipresent; and community building has become nearly impossible due to mobility,
convenience, and individualism. Unfortunately, the influence of Kali-yuga sometimes affects even
devotees, posing a serious threat to their faith and spiritual purity.
The crisis is intensifying, and as challenges grow, devotees become increasingly divided regard-
ing possible solutions. Some emphasize inner transcendence of external circumstances, arguing
that bhakti is not material and therefore cannot be affected by material conditions. Others rep-
resent another way of thinking, recognizing that this philosophy often does not align with their
everyday experience, and they see a solution in transforming and regulating circumstances; just as
following regulative principles and maintaining standards of purity are essential for effective spiri-
tual practices, so must we shape our environment and social structure with the same awareness as
well, to support the healthy growth of the bhakti-latā.
What kind of environmental and social conditions are we talking about? There is nothing we
need to invent, for, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, thanks to you, we already possess all the necessary
knowledge. Following the examples of Māyāpur and Vraja-dhāma, you established farm commu-
nities. These holy places provide an environment for your followers that protects them from the
contamination of modern, adharmic lifestyles and strongly supports the cultivation of a spiritual
atmosphere. Beyond the karmic purity of the environment, you also considered the proper social
structure: you emphasized that varṇāśrama-dharma is the only societal institution that can fully
satisfy humanity’s need for spiritual progress. Unfortunately, you did not have enough time to
elaborate on the practical implementation of varṇāśrama, but you imparted all the fundamental
knowledge that enables us to experiment and realize it.
sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adokhṣaje
ahaituky apratihatā
yayātmā suprasīdati
The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to
loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must
be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
1.2.6)
vāsudeve bahagavati
bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ
janayaty āśu vairāgyaṁ
jñānam ca yad ahaitukam
By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one
immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world. (Śrīmad-
Bhāgavatam 1.2.7)
Bhakti is not the same as jñāna and vairāgya, yet these qualities naturally manifest as attributes
of bhakti and assist aspiring Vaiṣṇavas in attaining pure devotion. Kali-yuga lacks jñāna and
vairāgya – thus, we know that bhakti is increasing in our community when knowledge and detach-
ment gradually permeate our lives, pushing out the unfavorable influences of this age.
Jñāna includes the ability to discern between dharma and adharma, while vairāgya signifies
detachment from worldly activities. Modern life is fundamentally adharmic, and its pleasurable
commodities are designed to destroy our ability to renounce. In other words, modern life can
easily become an obstacle to the manifestation of pure bhakti.
Devotees often interpret vairāgya as yukta-vairāgya; however, yukta-vairāgya is only one form
of detachment. There are two ways to renounce worldly sense objects and activities: externally
and internally. Yukta-vairāgya is the internal path of detachment – one outwardly keeps engag-
ing in worldly activities but dedicating all possessions and abilities to the transcendental service
of Kṛṣṇa’s senses in reality. External vairāgya, on the other hand, involves physically renouncing
possessions or engagement of the senses, as seen when Sanātana Gosvāmī gave away his richly
decorated cādar upon Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s request.
It is crucial to possess the intelligence to discern when to choose the external and when to
choose the internal way of detachment. A higher principle can guide us in this: accepting what-
ever aids our Kṛṣṇa consciousness and rejecting whatever hinders our devotional progress.
We must not misuse the principle of yukta-vairāgya to justify our tendencies toward comfort
and sense gratification. The comforts of consumer culture and its instant pleasures can easily
captivate the minds of practicing sādhakas, not to mention the contaminating effects of ugra-karma
that operate in the background.
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, you saw all of this clearly, and for the sake of your disciples, you estab-
lished those sacred places that, through their purity, renounced simplicity, and economic inde-
pendence, create the perfect environment for a spiritually sustainable lifestyle to be passed down
through generations.
Due to your efforts and sacrifices, numerous farm communities now exist under the ISKCON
umbrella, each holding the potential to fully realize your teachings. Kṛṣṇa Valley is one of them.
We trust that our farm communities across the globe will play the most crucial role in fulfilling
your prophecy – that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will save humanity in the darkest hours
of history. Taking shelter at your lotus feet, we pray that we may prove ourselves useful in your
mission and be part of the fulfillment of your prophecy.
Your servants,
The inhabitants of New Vraja Dhāma
