Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet! All glories to your Divine Grace.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, on this glorious and auspicious day of your divine appearance, we wish to
express our deepest gratitude to you for what has become the foundation, substance, and ultimate
goal of our lives – the opportunity to study, explore, discuss, and distribute your books.
In the Bhagavad-gītā (4.38), Kṛṣṇa says: “In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure
as transcendental knowledge.” Śrīla Prabhupāda, you transformed the spiritual sound of the
paramparā into the printed word, making it easily accessible to us. Reading your purports on the
Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Śrī Īśopaniṣad, and more than sixty other
books inspires and strengthens our faith.
By illuminating our lives with the light of knowledge, your books embody your mercy and
magnanimity. Out of deep compassion you wrote these books at night, when no one was with you
except Kṛṣṇa and His most intimate associates. You became the eastern horizon where the sun of
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has risen, dispelling the darkness of Kali-yuga.
Your books are filled with the love that Lord Caitanya has brought, and they also embody the
desire of your spiritual master. Just as Śrīla Vyāsadeva compiled the Purāṇas to attract people
from all walks of life to transcendental knowledge, your books attract everyone, making the deep-
est, most elevated truths accessible. For every verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam you provide an exact
Sanskrit word-for-word translation, a literary translation, and illuminating purports which, like a
lens, focus and clarify the message of the previous paramparā teachers.
Your purports are tīrthas, sacred places where the streams of the highest philosophical teach-
ings converge, allowing us to bathe daily in transcendental wisdom. Your books are bhava-
auṣadha – the medicine to cure material existence – and the catalyst for renouncing futile material
ambitions. They offer shelter and support. They are a mirror reflecting the state of our own hearts.
They are not merely representations of the ideal of life but also a source of joyful, invigorating
strength that help us move toward that ideal.
Just as the Kumāras were drawn by the fragrance of tulasī leaves from the Lord’s feet, so the
liberating fragrance of knowledge from your books gives relief from the burning miseries that
surround us. Furthermore, the pain of separation from you, as well as the suffering of material
existence, is soothed by the experience of your presence in your books.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, we pray to you to develop a deep appreciation for your books, which are our
true friend, teacher, refuge, companion, treasure, salvation, good fortune, and solace.
In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.16), Sūta Gosvāmī declares:
śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasya
vāsudeva-kathā-ruciḥ
syān mahat-sevayā viprāḥ
puṇya-tīrtha-niṣevaṇāt
We humbly hope that by serving you, a resident of the transcendental world free from any sin,
we may develop a taste for hearing the message of Vāsudeva. Your books extinguish the fever of
material life, halt the relentless march of time, and serve as both the ultimate goal and the very
essence of life itself. There is no greater joy than simply studying your books in the association of
your followers.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you mercifully outlined a structured program for studying your books, guid-
ing us toward the highest perfection of life. In your letter to Aniruddha on February 4, 1969, you
wrote: “Our theological school will regularly teach our published books, such as Bhagavad-gita As
It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Nectar of Devotion…. We wish to hold examina-
tions and award titles such as Bhakti-sastri, Bhakti-vaibhava, and Bhaktivedanta. The whole program
will continue for seven years.”
Following your desire, we have organized a course in our Academy for studying your books
according to the plan you approved. We are also actively engaged in translating your books into
Ukrainian. In your letter to Brahmānanda Dāsa on December 12, 1967, you wrote: “When one
book is published I think I have conquered an empire.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you are the true emperor, and we aspire to be your devoted assistants in your
most important service to your spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī. The publication
of each book, each volume of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, is an eagerly awaited event not only for the
devotees of ISKCON but also for people from various backgrounds in Ukraine who long to meet
you through the pages of your books.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, your books are our true wealth. They are the treasure of our hearts, the light
of our lives, our ornaments, the source of transcendental taste, and the fulfillment of all desires.
They are the essence of all teachings, and they are so potent that they awaken devotion and allow
us to see things as they truly are. Your books are, in fact, the only true shelter.
With deep gratitude,
Your servants, the devotees of the New Navadvīpa community,
Kyiv, Ukraine
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
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
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you gave everything that can spiritualize the world. Whoever sincerely follows
the path you set is worshiped and respected by everyone because they are dedicated to spread-
ing your instructions and teachings to every jīva in this world. All over the world, temples are
increasing, along with gurukulas, goshalas, varṇāśrama projects, book distribution, and prasādam
distribution. Your followers are getting great respect all over the world by dedicatedly working for
the ultimate benefit of the conditioned souls. Your teachings and conduct are the great inspiration
and strength of your followers. Your teachings are so potent that they can save humanity for the
next ten thousand years.
As stated in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi-līlā 2.86):
bhrama, pramāda, vipralipsā, karaṇāpāṭava
ārṣa-vijña-vākye nāhi doṣa ei saba
Mistakes, illusions, cheating, and defective perception do not occur in the sayings of
the authoritative sages.
Simply by following your instructions makes the lives of the condition souls successful. Out of
the many instructions you gave your followers, I want to thank you by meditating on two of them.
1. “My only desire for my disciples is that they chant Hare Krishna Mantra at least 16 rounds,
follow the rules and live in association of devotees then you will be happy and peaceful and not
disturbed.” (Letter to Bhavatāriṇī Devī Dāsī, April 3, 1974)
2. The world situation has completely deteriorated. The world’s current leaders are not quali-
fied to lead us. They are simply interested in their own selfish aggrandizement – how much they
can take advantage of their so-called leadership positions to maximize their own personal sense
gratification. Thus, if there is any hope for genuine peace and happiness on this planet, we must
have a new caliber of enlightened leaders who are fully dedicated to Kṛṣṇa, or God. The Kṛṣṇa
consciousness movement is offering this training around the world, teaching how one can be
a pure devotee of God and utilize his leadership propensity to render the highest service to all
living beings on this planet, even to plants and animals. Let everyone take advantage of this
movement right now and make their lives successful.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, this world is full of challenges. It is even becoming difficult to maintain min-
imum services and sādhana in some parts of the globe. We need the rain of your mercy to follow
your instructions.
Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for building such a glorious community where the whole world
can stay as one family. Your mercy is the only ray of hope in this world, which is an ocean of
faults.
Your insignificant servants of the servant,
The devotees at Kanhaiyadeśa yātrā
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace!
On December 1, 1975, you visited Kurukshetra with your disciples, walking the sacred grounds
of Brahma Sarovar and Jyotisar – the very place where Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke the Bhagavad-gītā. At this
divine site you envisioned a grand Śrī Kṛṣṇa-Arjuna temple. Now, by your causeless mercy, under
the guidance of your dear disciple Gopal Krishna Goswami and through the humble efforts of
your disciples and granddisciples, this sacred vision is manifesting before our eyes.
We express our deepest gratitude for the opportunity to serve this monumental project on the
holy land of dharma-kṣetra, Kurukshetra. It is only by your causeless mercy that we can contribute
in some way to the fulfillment of your divine vision.
The temple, designed as a grand chariot, symbolizes the divine chariot of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna.
It features six massive wheels, three on each side, each measuring 25 feet in diameter, with four
majestic horses standing in the front, each 28 feet tall. By your mercy we are striving to complete
the first phase of this sacred project by December 2026.
With your blessings, ISKCON Kurukshetra has been actively engaged in spreading Kṛṣṇa con-
sciousness, inspiring thousands to embrace the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā. We humbly present
before you a brief account of the various preaching activities, outreach programs, and temple
developments undertaken in the past year.
Preaching initiatives:
• Ratha-yātrās were organized in eleven cities across Haryana, with over 100,000 participants
glorifying the holy names through kīrtana and prasādam distribution.
• Bhāgavata-kathās were conducted in fifteen cities, immersing more than 25,000 people in the
glories of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the holy name.
• We recently inaugurated a new center at Karnal.
• Construction of a new preaching center in Jind is underway.
• We also purchased a saṅkīrtana bus and conducted over 300 saṅkīrtanas and preaching pro-
grams across various cities in Haryana, including at Kurukshetra, Karnal, Ambala, Panipat,
Jind, Sonipat, among others.
Youth and online preaching:
• The International Gita Olympiad witnessed the enthusiastic participation of 46,000 stu-
dents across the world.
• Throughout the year, many youth camps were organized, drawing participation from over
1,000 students. These camps helped strengthen their faith in the process of bhakti and
brought them closer to the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā.
• We opened a dedicated student center at Kurukshetra University to nurture the spiritual
growth of aspiring youth.
• Our online preaching platform reached and benefitted over 100,000 people worldwide,
helping them connect with the Bhagavad-gītā and Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Festival celebrations:
• Grand festivals like Janmāṣṭamī and Gaura-Pūrṇimā saw thousands of devotees
participating.
• ISKCON was invited to conduct Janmāṣṭamī celebrations at schools and colleges, introduc-
ing students to the joy of bhakti.
• On Gītā Jayantī, a mahā-yajña was performed, with over 2,000 devotees participating.
Education and academic outreach:
• 100 devotees completed the Bhakti-śāstrī course; the Bhakti-vaibhava course is now
commencing.
• The official Gītā Course at NIT Kurukshetra completed its fifth batch, with 120 students
receiving copies of the Bhagavad-gītā after their final exam.
• Inspired by our outreach, many universities have signed Memorandums of Understanding
with ISKCON to introduce the Bhagavad-gītā officially into their curriculum.
Tourism and pilgrimage:
• The Ministry of Tourism recognized ISKCON’s major contribution to spiritual tourism, and
the upcoming temple is officially listed as a major attraction in Kurukshetra.
• Even before the temple’s completion, 11,500 Indian devotees and 2,500 international devo-
tees from thirty-seven countries visited Kurukshetra and experienced the spiritual vibrancy
of this dhāma.
Public relations and government appreciation:
• The Chief Minister and Education Minister of Haryana participated in harināma-saṅkīrtana
and publicly appreciated ISKCON’s efforts.
• The Chief Minister was presented with a copy of the Bhagavad-gītā.
• On the occasion of his swearing-in celebration, the Chief Minister of Haryana invited our
devotees to his residence and personally acknowledged ISKCON’s contributions to the
state.
• ISKCON was invited to the British Parliament, where twenty copies of the Bhagavad-gītā
were distributed and ISKCON’s mission was highly appreciated.
Temple construction progress – by your divine inspiration and the humble efforts of devotees:
• The temple, designed as a grand chariot, is progressing toward completion of Phase 1 by
December 2026.
• The brahmacārī ashram is completed up to the third floor, and the superstructure of the
guesthouse is completed up to the second floor.
• A 4-acre basement has been constructed, and interior design work is in progress.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, you once wrote: “I may take up one project of constructing a Varna Ashrama
College and Temple in Kurukshetra in India. I am presently negotiating for this, and if we get the
opportunity, I shall spend the money here first.” (Letter to Gurukṛpa Dāsa, June 21, 1975)
In another place, you said: “We are trying to establish an International Institution in Kuru-
kshetra to teach Bhagavad Gita in practical life and inviting students from all over the world.”
(Press conference, August 17, 1976, Hyderabad)
In line with these desires, we are also working toward establishing Gita University in Kuru-
kshetra – an institution that will attract seekers from all over the world to study and live by
the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā in this sacred land. We humbly seek your blessings for this
endeavor.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, please bless us so we may continue to expand the preaching mission, always
remain aligned with your instructions and desires, and dedicate our lives to serving your mission
with sincerity and devotion.
Your servants at ISKCON Kurukshetra
Hare Kṛṣṇa, dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please kindly accept my most respectful obeisances. All glories to your most magnanimous
lotus feet. All glories to all our ācāryas in the disciplic succession.
On this most auspicious day of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we wish to express our heartfelt appreciation
for your love, kindness, and divine grace. It is only by this causeless mercy that we have been
blessed with the association of your pure and enlightened devotees. I cannot imagine a world
without you and your empowered representatives. You have mercifully drawn us close to the cur-
tain of Mahāprabhu’s nitya-līlā, granting us a glimpse into the spiritual world.
O divine architect, you built countless temples across the planet that are embassies and portals
to the spiritual realm. We were born in the darkness of ignorance, with no conception of the soul
or Kṛṣṇa, yet you have so creatively and ingeniously filled our lives with all auspiciousness.
You taught us how to sleep, eat, sing, dance, and work for Kṛṣṇa. You molded our lives in such
a way that we would not stray into Māyā’s illusions. You made God accessible – even to a fool
like me, who once had no clue what to do in this life or the next. You are indeed one of a kind,
the object of Kṛṣṇa’s divine glance, teaching the world to sing and dance to the sound of Kṛṣṇa’s
name, which has the power to uproot the tree of sinful life.
O dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda, thank you for teaching us that Kṛṣṇa consciousness is simple for
the simple – by your own life’s example. You showed us that simplicity, without duplicity, is a
necessity in our society.
Yet despite your boundless mercy, I am sorry that I have not been a worthy or responsible
servant. I have not taken seriously the family business of happily and scrutinizingly reading your
books and distributing them to others. I am sorry for not relating more consciously and cau-
tiously with those most dear to you – my spiritual family.
O dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda, though I am weak, dull, and pretentious, please do not let go of
me. I know I have failed you more times than I can count, but please – do not look at me as I am
but as you want me to be. Having taken shelter of you through your dear son, I am confident that
by your causeless mercy, I will learn to grow and uphold your instructions in the highest esteem.
Thank you, dearest Śrīla Prabhupāda, for all you have done and continue to do for us. Words
alone are not enough to express our gratitude. We pray that our actions and thoughts – not just
our words – will reflect our appreciation.
We remain forever indebted to you for your divine grace. Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Your most unworthy servant,
Caitanya Bhāgavat Dāsa
Kumasi, Ghana
Beloved Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet. On this sacred day of your
appearance, we offer our deepest gratitude for your boundless compassion in bringing the holy
names of Kṛṣṇa to Africa and for carrying Lord Jagannātha’s mercy to every corner of the world.
Your worldwide saṅkīrtana mission keeps planting the seed of bhakti to the extent that soon, no
land shall remain untouched by the sweetness of devotional service, and for this, we are eternally
indebted.
This year, the Vyāsa-pūjā celebration is happening under particularly troublesome situations
around the world, and our country is no exception. We fervently pray for your divine intervention
to protect the devotees and the saṅkīrtana mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
where strife and suffering weigh heavily upon the people. Fearlessness – that’s what we pray for.
You transformed hearts through the power of harināma. May your blessings bring peace, protec-
tion, and the light of Kṛṣṇa consciousness to this troubled land and its people.
As we prepare for the upcoming Ratha-yātrā festival in June, we recall how the ancient Opet
festival of Egypt – where the sacred procession of Amun-Ra fostered unity and divine connec-
tion – mirrors the unifying power of Lord Jagannātha’s chariot. The Skanda Purāṇa (Puruṣottama-
kṣetra-māhātmya) proclaims that wherever His chariot rolls, the influence of Kali diminishes and
divine grace flourishes. In keeping with these ancient traditions, may this year’s Ratha-yātrā in the
DRC become a beacon of spiritual harmony, dissolving discord and awakening pure love for the
Lord in every heart. Glories to your saṅkīrtana movement – the lifeline for all fallen souls!
On behalf of ISKCON Kinshasa,
Your unworthy aspiring servant,
Yugala Kiśora Dāsa
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 most humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet! All glories to Your Divine
Grace! All glories to your sacred day of appearance! O dear master, we have no qualification to
glorify Your Divine Grace, but it is only for our purification that we are trying to do so.
It is said in Śrīmad-Bhagavatam 3.22.21: “Pure devotees are so absorbed in thought of Kṛṣṇa
that they have no other engagement; although they may seem to think or act otherwise, they are
always thinking of Kṛṣṇa. The smile of such a Kṛṣṇa conscious person is so attractive that simply
by smiling he wins so many admirers, disciples and followers.”
It is your smile that has conquered the hearts of many, and even today we see its impact. Śrīla
Prabhupāda, by your own behavior you taught us how devotees, despite being in this material
world, are not affected by this world because of their constant engagement in the service of Kṛṣṇa.
Years are passing and your movement is flourishing. This shows how exalted a teacher you are!
You are the most compassionate ācārya ever, and you have been showering unconditional mercy
upon fallen souls like us and giving the treasure of your heart generously – love of Kṛṣṇa.
By your divine mercy, an ISKCON center in Khamgaon has been opened. We hold weekly pro-
grams and celebrate festivals like Janmāṣṭamī, Nityānanda Trayodaśī, Gaura-Pūrṇimā, and others.
These are attracting the hearts of many residents of Khamgaon. We are trying our level best to
please you by being instruments in the transcendental movement of Lord Caitanya.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, please bless us so we can serve you in unexpected ways in this upcoming
year, increasing both the quality and number of devotees. May the whole town swim in the bliss-
ful ocean of kṛṣṇa-prema! Please bless us with your merciful glance so that we can reach out to
each soul in town and engage them in Kṛṣṇa’s service somehow or other.
O dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, please bless us with your divine smile, which alone can deliver the
many fallen souls. Please give us the spiritual strength to carry out your orders, distribute your
books, the holy name, and kṛṣṇa-prasādam profusely. Let us offer you the best offering ever in
upcoming years by remaining humble instruments of your movement. Please bless us so we
always remain faithful servants at your lotus feet and of this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement, ISKCON.
Your most insignificant servants,
The devotees at ISKCON Khamgaon
