Vyaspuja- 2024 Offering for His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
ISKCON Punjabi Bagh
Delhi, India
Dear Srila Prabhupada
Please accept our obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. As we celebrate the most auspicious 128th Vyaspuja festival, we are filled with gratitude and joy for your divine grace upon all of us. After wandering in different species of life, from time immemorial, a fortunate living entity receives the seed of devotional life by the causeless mercy of Guru and Krishna. The spiritual master is a representative of Krishna, a manifestation of Chaitya Guru, who guides the living entity on the path of pure devotional service to Krishna.
Your appearance in this world has increased the earth’s beauty and fame throughout the universe. Your glories are sung throughout the three worlds. (ebe yash ghushuk tribhuvana). Your life was dedicated to the service of your spiritual master Om Visnupad Paramhamsa Sri Srimad Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada. You spent your life carrying out the order of your spiritual master: to preach the message of Lord Chaitanya in western countries.
Despite the changing and most challenging circumstances, you were always fixed in carrying out the order. Because of your determination, compassion and unalloyed pure service to your spiritual master, millions and millions of souls have benefited from Krishna Consciousness.
You are so bold and courageous that you ventured into the unknown journey of going to the West without having any certainty of your accommodation, food or reception there, that too at the age of 69. You experienced two heart attacks on the cargo ship while crossing the sea. You received the vision of Dasavatars rowing the boat. You gave the most valuable and rare gift to your audiences: Pure Krishna Katha without compromising anything. You presented the sastric teachings and truth as they are. You were living by the teachings that you presented, and thus, your presenting them had profound transformative effects on the listeners. You presented the highest, the most esoteric, deep philosophy in a manner that people of the present age can understand and benefit from. You did not compromise truths or principles, and yet you were so open, flexible, creative and ahead of time that people from all backgrounds, genders, cultures and age groups felt accepted and inspired to serve Krishna. From your example, you presented teachings and dealings that Krishna Consciousness can permeate every field and is all-inclusive.
Starting single-handedly, You established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness on every continent amidst people having no background in spiritual life. To us, this is the biggest miracle in human history. You converted even a low-born person to Vaisnavism. You established temples, farm communities, gurukulas, schools, restaurants, and guest houses to expand the chanting of the holy names of Krishna. You responded to thousands of letters, gave thousands of discourses, fought legal cases, translated books, constantly travelled, gave initiations, established deities, met leaders, and sang bhajans as your pure sacred expression of Krishna’s love.
Your compassion touches and transforms hearts. Your sense of humor enlivens everyone. Your shelter instills security and peace. Your purity inspires surrender. Your singing and discourses transport listeners to the transcendental realm. Your expertise in sastric knowledge defeats every agnostic argument. Your faith instills faith.
You experienced countless reversals and apparent ‘failures’ at various stages of life. Even for your success and initiatives , you experienced envy and criticism from various sections of people. Despite reversals, difficulties and challenges, you portrayed the valor and courage of a fearless soldier in your personal service to Krishna. You tolerated personal inconvenience to serve Guru and Gauranga.
As a result of your service, teachings, expert management and organisation, the present generation is receiving the priceless gift of holy names, association of devotees, prasadam, temples , holy place, parikramas and service opportunities to Krishna. The society of devotees are expanding.
ISKCON Punjabi Bagh also received more land in the beautiful part of Delhi – the very place where you began your preaching by translating Srimad Bhagavatam and distributing Back to Godhead magazines. We look forward to building a new temple of your beloved Sri Krishna Balaram and Radha RadhikaRaman. By the contributions and efforts of various devotees here under the leadership and inspiration of your beloved Gopal Krishna Goswami, ISKCON Rohini is also opening on Ram Navami.
We are also celebrating the 150th Vyaspuja of Srila Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada this year. UNESCO recognised this historic occasion, the first for any Vaisnava Acharya. The Indian government released a stamp and coin for this occasion.
We seek your blessings, strength, and mercy on this occasion to follow in your footsteps and give meaning to our lives by surrendering to your lotus feet.
Your Servant
Premanjana Das
ISKCON Punjabi Bagh