Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
We offer our daṇḍavats to the topmost empowered ācārya, predicted even by Kṛṣṇa himself,
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda! Śrī Kṛṣṇa says in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
(10.80.32, 41):
sa vai sat-karmaṇāṁ sākṣād
dvijāter iha sambhavaḥ
ādyo ’ṅga yatrāśramiṇāṁ
yathāhaṁ jñāna-do guruḥ
My dear friend, he who gives a person his physical birth is his first spiritual master,
and he who initiates him as a twice-born brāhmaṇa and engages him in religious duties
is indeed more directly his spiritual master. But the person who bestows transcenden-
tal knowledge upon the members of all the spiritual orders of society is one’s ultimate
spiritual master. Indeed, he is as good as My own self.
etad eva hi sac-chiṣyaiḥ
kartavyaṁ guru-niṣkṛtam
yad vai viśuddha-bhāvena
sarvārthātmārpaṇaṁ gurau
This indeed is the duty of all true disciples: to repay the debt to their spiritual master
by offering him, with pure hearts, their wealth, and even their very lives.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.33.31: īśvarāṇāṁ vacaḥ satyam – “The statements of the Lord’s empowered
servants are always true.”
Nārada-bhakti-sūtra 69: sac-chāstrī-kurvanti śāstrāṇi – “[Great pure devotees] make scriptures
authoritative.”
tatra vaiduṣe ca vipratipatti-bhramādi-nṛ-doṣa-rāhityāt, śabdasyāpi tan-mūlatvāc ca
About the perceptions of the wise there is no disagreement, because these percep-
tions are devoid of the human weaknesses, such as faulty judgment. Moreover, the
perceptions of the wise are the basis of even verbal testimony [śabda-pramāṇa]. (Tattva-
sandarbha, Sarva-saṁvādinī commentary, anuccheda 9, by Jīva Gosvāmī)
The statements of Thakura Bhaktivinoda are as good as scriptures because he is a
liberated person. Generally the spiritual master comes from the group of such eternal
associates of the Lord. (Letter to Janārdana Dāsa, New York, April 26, 1968)
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. (Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādī-līlā 2.86).
So a disciple is always in deficiency before his spiritual master. Just like Caitanya
Mahāprabhu says, guru more murkha dekhi karila śāśana: “My spiritual master saw Me a
fool number one. Therefore he has chastised Me.” So disciple should be always ready
to be chastised. He should not think that he has become perfect. That is perfection.
So long he thinks that he is not perfect – he’s to be chastised – then he’s perfect. And
as soon as he thinks that he has become perfect, he’s nonsense immediately, nonsense
number one. [break] … always to be chastised by the spiritual master for perfec-
tion. And if he thinks that now he has become perfect, then he’s a foolish. Caitanya
Mahāprabhu said, guru more murkha dekhi: “My spiritual master saw Me a fool number
one.” Was He fool number one? He’s God Himself. But that is the position. He should
remain always a fool number one, ready to be chastised. Then he’s perfect. (Morning
walk, April 8, 1975, in Māyāpur)
And from a lecture in Vrindavan, given on November 6, 1976:
Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasya.… This is the injunction of the ācārya, Viśvanātha
Cakravartī Ṭhākura. He has described very nicely vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru
nandana. The order of guru should be the life and soul of the disciple, without caring
for his personal salvation. This is the qualification of śiṣya. Śiṣyas te ’ham śādhi māṁ pra-
pannam, fully surrendered.
So please bless us, Śrīla Prabhupāda, to be your full followers, without any deviation. In that way
we can be successful in the preaching of your sacred mission in Lord Caitanya’s movement.
Your servants at Rādhā-Govinda Mandir, ISKCON Saltillo
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our most humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace!
As you resided at Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Dāmodara temple in Vrindavan, your heart was wholly
absorbed in the divine order of your spiritual master, eager to fulfill the sacred mission of Śrī
Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Filled with boundless compassion, you embarked on an arduous jour-
ney to the Western world, enduring immense hardships to deliver the matchless gift of Kṛṣṇa
consciousness.
We, the aspiring followers of your beloved servants here in Sacramento, are struggling to
imbibe even a drop of that compassion with which you selflessly preached. In our small capac-
ity, we seek to serve the people of this land, who remain unaware of the supreme joy of Kṛṣṇa
consciousness.
On this most auspicious occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā, we offer our heartfelt prayers at your
lotus feet. Kindly bless us so we may rise above our selfish concerns and dedicate our lives sin-
cerely to assisting you and your loyal servants. May we serve in such a way that this glorious
legacy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness continues to illuminate the world for generations to come. Thank
you very much.
Servants of your humble servants at ISKCON Sacramento
(written by Śaṅkarānanda Dāsa)
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupāda, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Bhaktisiddhānta
Sarasvatī Gosvāmī. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and
delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.
Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
We are eternally grateful to you for giving us this valuable opportunity to serve in Roorkee,
near Haridwar, in the sacred land of Uttarakhand. When you traveled to Rishikesh in May 1977,
you may have passed through Roorkee, and thus this place is also blessed. His Holiness Gopal
Krishna Goswami Mahārāja, your dear disciple, engaged us in this Roorkee outreach service, and
he would say, “Roorkee is a gold mine.” Currently, we are serving here under the guidance of His
Grace Mahāmān Prabhu and His Holiness Guru Prasad Swami Mahārāja.
For the past fifteen years, local congregation outreach and youth preaching at IIT Roorkee
have been going on actively. We are trying to follow your instructions on how to cultivate India’s
educated youth in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Your teachings, as given in your lectures and letters,
remain relevant and powerful. They serve as our guiding light as we strive to counter the igno-
rance spread by modern education.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, we wish to report our service and developments over the past year.
• Resident youth devotees: Currently, 27 students from IIT Roorkee and other colleges are stay-
ing at the center. We are trying to maintain a strong morning program, which begins at
4:15 a.m., and includes japa, cleaning, ārati, and a lecture. Devotees at the center are engaged
in various services related to youth outreach and maintaining the center. All of them are
chanting sixteen rounds and regularly reading your books. We organize camps, yātrās, and
association with senior devotees to keep them spiritually strong and inspired. Recently,
devotees completed the ISKCON Disciple Course, and many are preparing for initiation.
• IIT Roorkee outreach: We have two parallel programs, one for B.Tech students, and the other
for M.Tech and PhD students. Around 35 students are participating. Devotees conduct dis-
cussions and chanting sessions daily at the hostels. On weekends, the students come to the
center for kīrtana, prasādam, maṅgala-ārati, and verse recitation, which strengthens their spir-
itual journey. Additionally, 15–20 students are connected through the Prerna program. We
organize Sankalpa and Sphurti camps for new students, and are now registering students for
the Renaissance Camp, a hybrid two-month training program.
• Local congregation program: By your mercy, we also started a congregation outreach program
this year. Around a hundred members connect regularly through saṅkīrtana and other pro-
grams. We conducted twenty-five saṅkīrtana sessions, gathering the contact information
of nearly a thousand locals, whom we invite to monthly programs and festivals. Our IIT
faculty outreach is also growing, with about thirty-five faculty members and their families
connected. We conduct weekly and monthly programs for both groups. This year, we orga-
nized our first congregation camp at the holy land of Kurukshetra. Thirty-three devotees
participated.
• New center construction: Seeing the limitations of our current accommodations, we feel the
urgent need for a dedicated center that can serve both youth preaching and congregation
programs. By your mercy, on April 1, 2025, we acquired land in ISKCON’s name. We pray
for your blessings and guidance to build the center as soon as possible.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, we are inexperienced, weak in our determination, and prone to make mistakes.
Only by your mercy can we continue this most important mission that you pioneered, which
was originally established by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. We humbly seek your blessings and
protection so we may remain absorbed in service and offer our mind, body, and intelligence to
push forward this divine movement. We also pray to strictly follow your instructions as revealed in
your books, lectures, and letters. Thank you very much, Śrīla Prabhupāda.
Your humble servants at ISKCON Roorkee
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my most humble, respectful, and prostrated obeisances at your divine lotus feet.
I write to you with the deepest reverence and gratitude for your transcendental guidance,
which illuminates our path and continues, unstoppable, to inspire countless souls in their devo-
tional service. Your divine teachings constantly remind us that the word of the spiritual master
is the vital substance of our existence. Reflecting on your teachings, I am deeply moved by the
sentiment expressed in your purport to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.24.15, where you state: “The disciple
should unhesitatingly think about the instructions or orders of the spiritual master and should
not allow himself to be disturbed by anything else.”
This sacred injunction encapsulates the essence of perfect meditation and serves as a constant
beacon for all devotees. Your life, teachings, and compassionate guidance have offered, and will
continue to offer, an unparalleled example of how one can truly serve the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa. It
is with this spirit of unwavering devotion and clarity that we strive to assimilate every instruction
you have lovingly imparted.
With a sincere desire to serve your mission, I am committed to promoting the expansion of
Kṛṣṇa consciousness in Rome and its surrounding areas so that more and more souls may benefit
from your mercy and teachings. I will endeavor – and we will all endeavor – with ever-increasing
determination, to ensure that the pure message of bhakti-yoga, which you have so graciously
bestowed upon us, continues to spread with strength and authenticity.
I humbly pray for your blessings so that I may always remain faithful to the teachings con-
tained in your divine books – our Vedas, our śāstra – and to their continuous distribution, perse-
vering in service with sincerity and humility. Only with your constant support and mercy can we
hope to obtain the strength and determination necessary to fulfill the mission you entrusted to us.
Your humble aspiring servant of your servants,
Hari-kīrtana Dāsa
on behalf of ISKCON Rome
Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, to Śrī Gaurāṅga,
and the entire gaura-vṛnda.
The mercy and love that the jīva receives from Guru and Gaurāṅga are immeasurable, limitless,
and beyond the grasp of my small, ignorant mind. It is a treasure so vast that words cannot do it
justice. If I were to express even a fraction of this divine grace, all I could do is cry and fervently
beg for more. You have fulfilled the desire of every town, and now it is time for every village to
be touched by your mercy. My only prayer is to be your humble instrument, used in any way you
desire for the advancement of your mission.
Writing on behalf of ISKCON Regina,
your most fallen, eternally indebted servants,
Cintāmaṇi Devī Dāsī
Jagannātha Dāsa Adhikārī
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 at your lotus feet. We pay obeisances before you. All glories
to you! All glories to you! All glories to you!
At ISKCON Red Deer, we would like to make a humble attempt to share with you our updates
in terms of propagating Kṛṣṇa consciousness in our city. We are actively doing Sunday Love Feast
programs at a community hall setting and are actively getting sponsorships for these programs.
Under the heartfelt guidance of your beloved disciple Bhaktimārga Swami, we are trying our best
to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness in Red Deer. We are hoping that more and more people come and
join our Sunday Love Feast programs and develop love for Kṛṣṇa. We also actively took part in
the Live to Give Gītā campaign and were able to get 297 Bhagavad-gītās sponsored to give out in
the community. We distributed books to the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Central
Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter, and to outreach centers and other agencies. Without your
books we wouldn’t have known that the true essence of human life is to engage in service to
Kṛṣṇa.
Also, this year we are working toward building a bigger chariot for our Third Annual Ratha-
yātrā. Last year we had success in our Second Annual Ratha-yātrā. We held our parade at a park.
Our Ratha-yātrā included free food distribution, cultural performances, book distribution, gift
shops, hand painting, a bouncy castle, and Deity darshan. Even though we are a very small group
trying to organize Ratha-yātrā in Red Deer every year, we do get a great amount of help from the
humble devotees at ISKCON Calgary and ISKCON Edmonton.
With this Vyāsa-pūjā offering, we, the devotees of ISKCON Red Deer, beg at your lotus feet to
please continue to shower your mercy on us so that we may continue to remain inspired serving
your ISKCON movement. Your mercy will help us progress on our spiritual journey of chanting
the holy name, being active at our local center, singing in kīrtanas, and reading and distributing
your books. Please guide us not to be complacent in our understanding of how to expand our
movement here for the benefit of the whole society. Kindly help us in our attempt to continue
following you by adhering to your clear directives and faithfully serving your mission.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, may we become your insignificant instruments in bringing thousands to
Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We beg you to please let us be engaged in your service and the service
of your devotees. Here at ISKCON Red Deer, we are begging you to please forgive us for any
offenses we have made. Please allow us to serve you eternally. We aspire to serve and assist in your
service to Lord Kṛṣṇa to the best of our abilities, for our own purification and ultimately for the
glorification of Kṛṣṇa.
Your aspiring servants,
ISKCON Red Deer
