Our dear Oṁ Viṣṇupäda Paramahaṁsa Parivrājakācārya Aṣṭottara-śata Śrī Śrīmad Abhay
Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami 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 to Śrī Guru and Gaurāṅga.
On this auspicious occasion of your 129th appearance day, please accept these humble offer-
ings at your lotus feet.
Thank you very much for coming to this material world in this very dark age of Kali-yuga and
helping us realize the causeless mercy of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. We, being near the holy
land of Udupi, are trying to spread the holy names in every town and village to become part of
the legacy you created to fulfill the prediction of Lord Caitanya.
We are trying to renovate the temple building, making it into a magnificent castle for Lord Śrī
Jagannātha, and we want to offer this to your lotus feet by 2027. We seek your blessings and guid-
ance in this effort. Our contributions to this great society of yours are very insignificant, yet as
Lord Rāma recognized the small efforts of a squirrel when building the bridge from Bhārata-varṣa
to Śrī Laṅkā, we also feel you will recognize our sincere efforts and bless us with more and more
enthusiasm to serve more.
We face lots of challenges in the spreading of your mission here in Mangalore, mainly the
absence of stable, inspiring leadership, good working systems, and the commitment of devotees
to dedicate themselves to your lotus feet. By your mercy, things are improving and we are now
going ahead slowly and steadily. We each pray at your lotus feet that we continue to serve you in
a spirit of cooperation, with our senses controlled and our attention focused. As you mention in
the introduction of your masterpiece, The Nectar of Instruction, “Advancement in Kṛṣṇa conscious-
ness depends on the attitude of the follower.” We beg you to give us intelligence to have the right
attitude to serve the Vaiṣṇavas and all humankind, who will become Vaiṣṇavas in the time to come.
We sincerely pray at your lotus feet that we can be of some use to you and your mission and
therefore please you and Lord Caitanya.
Your insignificant servant,
Sutapā Dāsa
on behalf of the devotees and well-wishers at ISKCON Mangalore
Dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Your
Divine Grace.
Dearest Gurudeva, we wish to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making such won-
derful arrangements in our temple, ISKCON Málaga. Even though we were unfortunate not to
be in your physical presence, we feel your presence in your mūrti form every single minute, every
single hour, every single day. You have been guiding us in our management of one small particle
of your huge body, ISKCON.
Last year was a very difficult year for us regarding the management, and we expressed it in our
letter. You made such wonderful arrangements, which have given us huge relief. Here is a short
poem, written by a local devotee, to express our gratitude to you:
O blessed Gurudeva, beacon in the night,
you came from the East with a transcendental light.
Your words, like nectar, awaken the soul,
opening the path to the eternal goal.
Through your mercy, ignorance fades away,
the holy name in every heart now sways.
You revealed that life’s true aim
is a journey toward love for God’s name.
In your books, the Supreme Truth shines bright,
you taught us love as our guiding light.
Through your sacrifice the world has grown,
and Kṛṣṇa’s message is now well-known.
O Prabhupāda, sacred shelter divine,
may your legacy forever shine.
From this heart,
I offer my life to serve and never part.
Your humble servants at Villa Varṣāṇa, Málaga, Spain
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace!
On this most auspicious occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā, I wish to offer my deepest gratitude at
your lotus feet. You are the beacon of transcendental wisdom, the ever-compassionate guide, and
the savior of fallen souls like myself. Without your mercy, I would be completely lost in the dark-
ness of material existence. By your boundless compassion and the matchless gift of Kṛṣṇa con-
sciousness that you so tirelessly distributed, my life has found true meaning.
Your books are the foundation of my spiritual journey. The first time I read Bhagavad-gītā As
It Is, it was as if my soul had been awakened from a long slumber. Your words were not merely
explanations – they carried the power of divine realization. Through your purports, you revealed
Kṛṣṇa’s teachings in their purest form, and by your mercy I began to understand that life’s ulti-
mate goal is to surrender unto the Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
As I continued to read your books – The Nectar of Devotion, Śrī Īśopaniṣad, The Science of Self-
Realization – each page deepened my understanding of bhakti-yoga. Your instructions are not
abstract philosophies but living truths that guide every aspect of my life. You taught that devo-
tional service is the essence of real happiness and that chanting the holy names of the Lord is the
most effective way to purify the heart. By following your teachings, I have personally experienced
the transformational power of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Your divine mission to spread the glories of the holy name has inspired me in my service as
a preacher. As the president of ISKCON Lucknow, I strive to uphold your vision by spreading
Kṛṣṇa consciousness in every possible way. Through book distribution, kīrtana, lectures, and
prasādam distribution, we are reaching many sincere souls who are yearning for true spiritual con-
nection. I see firsthand how your teachings are transforming lives, just as they transformed mine.
Your emphasis on nāma-haṭṭa and the power of saṅkīrtana has been a guiding force in our
efforts. I have witnessed the miraculous effect of the holy names in purifying hearts and awaken-
ing dormant devotion. It is solely by your mercy that we are able to engage in these preaching
efforts and offer something in service to you and Lord Caitanya’s mission.
Your concern for the suffering of humanity extended beyond philosophy; you demonstrated
practical compassion through initiatives like prasādam distribution and community welfare.
Inspired by your instructions, we have undertaken various service projects, including food relief
programs, medical camps, and educational outreach to share Kṛṣṇa’s mercy with those in need.
Your teachings remind us that true service to Kṛṣṇa also means serving His devotees and all living
beings in a spirit of selflessness and love.
Despite my many shortcomings and imperfections, I pray that you will always keep me
engaged in your service. I know that my only real shelter is in your instructions and in following
the path you showed. On this sacred day, I rededicate myself to your mission, praying for the
strength to serve with sincerity, humility, and unwavering faith.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, I offer my heartfelt obeisances at your lotus feet. Please bless me so that I
may never deviate from your teachings. May I always remain your humble servant, life after life.
Your servant,
Aparemaya Shyām Dāsa, president
on behalf of the devotees at ISKCON Lucknow
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to you on this divine day of your appearance.
A criticism that comes up again and again in different generations of Lord Caitanya’s move-
ment is that the devotees seem sentimental, not thoughtful or reflective. Here in Trinidad and
Tobago, for many years the devotees would be invited to functions to chant and lead the attend-
ees in kīrtana. One year we were asked to put together a group of devotees to have kīrtana with
one organization; however, we thought we have much more to offer than ecstatic kīrtana – we
also have a deep philosophy that is practically unmatched. We therefore asked the organizer for a
few minutes to make a presentation at their program. They reluctantly agreed, but at the end they
remarked that for so many years they had known the Hare Kṛṣṇas to be just a group of persons
who chanted and danced in the streets and had had no idea that we had any philosophy. They
subsequently invited us to do a full presentation with them, and this relationship still exists today.
In reflecting on you and your contribution to the world, we thought of Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī and
his contributions, and how you are his modern-day representative.
Literary contribution: It is estimated that Jīva Gosvāmī wrote and compiled at least 400,000
verses in his own works. He was even instrumental in getting paper for the books to be printed
on. Not only did he produce the books of the Gosvāmīs along with his own books, he arranged
for them to be distributed.
You received the instruction from your own spiritual master to publish books. Armed with the
First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, you came to the West in 1965 and, until your departure in 1977,
you contributed at least sixty volumes, with original artwork – books that would be given high
praise by scholars around the world.
Leadership: Jīva Gosvāmī lived at an important turning point in the history of our sampradāya,
just after the departure of Lord Caitanya. He served to consolidate the movement after Lord
Caitanya’s departure and establish a foundation upon which it would spread.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you also established a foundation upon which the movement would spread
by building on the work that was begun by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and then furthered by
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.
Establishment of a legal framework: Jīva Gosvāmī was able to navigate the political climate of the
Mughal rule in India. He received legal guarantees from that government through his alliances
with the Rajput kings that the property of the Gosvāmīs would always remain in the hands of the
Gosvāmīs and their descendants.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you saw that the first step in establishing a worldwide preaching movement
was to establish it legally. This day is marked on our calendar as the “Incorporation of ISKCON.”
You also did not waver in your determination when devotees were taken to court to defend the
authenticity of ISKCON, or when unscrupulous persons tried to cheat you out of land, such as in
Bombay.
Teaching: Jīva Gosvāmī was instrumental in teaching the next generation of devotees, who
would go on to establish Lord Caitanya’s movement in Bengal, Purī, and other parts of India.
Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda, you taught your disciples by your example and instruction how to
continue the mission both in your presence and after your departure.
It is easy to find a person who excels in one or even two of these areas, but it is rare to find a
person who is superlative in a multitude of them. Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are indeed a person who
deserves the title ācārya. You demonstrated thoughtfulness, tenacity, and excellence in so many
significant areas that it set a solid foundation for us to carry your mission forward.
We pray to you on this occasion of your appearance that we may at least develop competence
in one area of need to continue to spread and consolidate your mission.
Your servants at Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Gopīnātha Mandir in Longdonville
(written by Jaya Lalitā Devī Dāsī and Śānta Vigraha Dāsa)
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā
cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
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
During my frequent japa walks in and around Regents Park, Russell Square, and other areas
where you were known to walk, an old song from school sometimes pops into my head:
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountains green
The fact that your lotus feet walked here in London makes it a holy place. Externally, it appears
that you left Vrindavan to come to the West to preach the glories of Lord Caitanya’s saṅkīrtana
movement, but the devotees understand that internally, you brought Vrindavan with you.
bhavad-vidhā bhāgavatās
tīrtha-bhūtāḥ svayaṁ vibho
tīrthī-kurvanti tīrthāni
svāntaḥ-sthena gadābhṛtā
My lord, devotees like your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you
carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of
pilgrimage. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.10)
Further evidence is provided in the miraculous pastime of the appearance of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-
Londonīśvara. Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa followed you to London, and you rescued Them from Mr. Goyal
to lovingly install Them for perpetual worship by the devotees you initiated in your fledgling
ISKCON branch at Bury Place.
We have since relocated to Soho Street, and the worship continues to this day with ever higher
standards, and by daily darshan of your favorite Deities in ISKCON, the devotees remain inspired
and encouraged to sacrifice their youthful energy for the betterment of the world. Kṛṣṇa is so
attractive that we regularly receive important guests, celebrities, and wealthy persons from the
highest rungs of society to bathe in Their splendorous beauty.
Your transcendental restaurant, Govinda’s, continues to go from strength to strength, and
Kṛṣṇa willing, we are planning to open a second restaurant this year for your pleasure. Your
perfect vision of combining restaurants with temples is a model that works and will always work,
because all we have to do is simply follow your instructions.
By your mercy, we have become the top temple in Europe for book distribution, even defeating
far bigger temples like Bhaktivedanta Manor. The new devotees coming through from our famous
outreach center, Studio 108, are now taking up positions of responsibility and have developed a
great appetite for distributing your transcendental books.
Following in your footsteps, we are attempting to capture your mood of unlimited compassion
to all fallen souls by regularly reading your books and explaining them to anyone who will listen
to your message.
Although we are in one sense helpless, without realization or qualification, we are not hopeless
because every time we hear your classes, sing for you as we worship you during guru-pūjā, or listen
to one of your pastimes, great hope and spiritual optimism fill our hearts. Your books are the light
in an otherwise dark world, and we want to share this light with everyone.
Thank you for the life you gave us – a life we in turn dedicate to you.
Always praying for your divine mercy,
Your servants, the devotees at ISKCON London
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
On this most auspicious day of your appearance, we want to express our deep gratitude and
love for everything you have done – not only for the world but for us here in this small corner of
Scotland.
It’s hard to believe sometimes that your message made it all the way to the quiet hills of Les-
mahagow. But it has, Śrīla Prabhupāda, and we know it’s only because of your mercy. You are not
just a teacher; you are the spiritual master for the whole world. You didn’t just preach; you lived
the teachings of the ācāryas with such conviction and compassion that even today, decades later,
we feel your presence guiding us.
Who would have thought that a little farmhouse in the Scottish countryside would become
a spiritual oasis for so many seekers? You transformed our lives with your books, your example,
and your fearless love for Kṛṣṇa. Your books, your instructions, your example – these are what
sustain us here. Whether we’re singing harināma on the streets of Glasgow/Edinburgh, tending
the gardens, or gathering for kīrtana, we feel your hand behind everything.
With hearts full of gratitude, we continue worshiping our beloved Deities, Śrī Śrī Khoda Nitai-
Māyāpur Śaśi, Śrī Tulsināth, Śrī Giridhārīlāl, and Śrīmatī Vṛndādevī. We go out regularly on
harināma, distribute your books, host wonderful preachers, retreats, and well-being events, and
try to live simply and serve sincerely, growing food on the land and trying to grow bhakti in our
hearts.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, your instruction to feed people with love and devotion has especially shaped
much of our service here. Through our Food for Scotland project, we’ve been distributing hot,
sanctified vegetarian meals to those in need across Glasgow and the surrounding areas. Our
Sunday community feasts have become a beautiful gathering point, where newcomers can experi-
ence prasādam, kīrtana, and your philosophy in a warm and welcoming way.
And, by your grace, we’ve now held Ratha-yātrā festivals in Glasgow and Edinburgh on two
consecutive years, taking Lord Jagannātha to the streets of Scotland with dancing, kīrtana, and
prasādam for all. Our dream is to take the Ratha-yātrā to more cities and more hearts in Scotland,
so that more people can have darshan and be blessed by your divine vision.
Looking ahead, we want to do more. With your blessings we hope to strengthen our congrega-
tion, helping more people take the next step on their spiritual journey by building a nourishing
community rooted firmly in your teachings. We want to develop children’s programs to inspire
the next generation, support one another better as a community, and train more devotees to confi-
dently share this philosophy. But we know we can’t do anything without your mercy.
You quoted yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo, yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ’pi and said that by the
guru’s mercy, everything is possible; without it, nothing is. So please bless us, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Help us stay sincere, united, enthusiastic, and determined in our desire to serve your mission here.
Thank you for everything. All glories to you.
Your grateful servants,
The devotees at Karuṇa Bhavan, Scotland
