Untitled - narottam.com | Lectures by Indradyumna Swami

On her Annapresna Day the first day she eats grain, she picked SrimadBhagvatam and Lord Jagganatha. I were really hoping she would pick
them because they were related to Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani.
Vishakha and I are very eager for your visits because you usually come
once a year and we don't see as often. Every time I see you bring joy
and happiness to my heart. You are an ocean of mercy that showers
tons of water on everybody, even people who are not devotees but trying to become a devotee, also non-devotees.
Your Humble Servants,
YogaVedya, Geetikka and Vishakha
The Most Blessed Event
Sri Vyasa Puja
The Appearance Day of Our Beloved Spiritual Master
Srila Indradyumna Swami Maharaja
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Held at Seattle on June 9th, 2007
Ramesh Yerramsetti and Padma
Dear Maharaja,
You have inspired us in so many ways. Most important teaching
we remember are "you are not the body". When we were embarking on
temple construction, you had mentioned "cut your darlings" and donate
the lakshmi to the temple. Your books offer us the insight on how difficult it is to preach and how you have been doing the preaching activity
despite all the difficulties. You are very affectionate to children and they
fondly remember you long after you travel to a different city.
Thank you Maharaj for helping our progress in Krishna Consciousness.
yhs
Ramesh and Padma
YogaVedya, Geetikka and Vishakha
Dear Indradyumna Swami Maharaja,
Happy Vyasa Puja!
Hare Krishna!
Please accept my humble obesiances all glories, all glories to Srila
Prabhupada!
On the auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja, I offer my obesiances towards you again and again. Please bless this fallen soul that she can
advance more in Krishna Consciousness and help preach Krishna Consciousness all over the world. Your preaching will make millions fall at
the feet of Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani. Please help me and tell
me more ways that I can chant more rounds, do them properly, and
when I can fit the rounds in.
His Divine Grace
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,
Founder-acarya of
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
(ISKCON)
When you said to my little sister Vishakha"Don't worry , soon you'll be
able to sit, then crawl, then stand, then walk, then finnaly run". Now by
your words if you sit her up she'll sit until she falls. I am thinking that
when she heard your words she got touched and felt as if she can do it.
Vishakha will eat almost everything and love anything.
Sundar & Vidya
Dear Maharaja,
SRI SRI GURV-ASTAKA
Srila Visvanath Cakravarti Thakura
Please accept our humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories unto you!
We want to thank you for all the things you had done for us. Initially
when I (Sundar) was new to Krishna consciousness, you kindly allowed
me and my mother to join your parikrama in Vrindavan. It was really inspiring to visit the holy dham with an exalted Vaishnava like yourselves.
My wife, Vidya often quotes that it was you who inspired her initially in
Krishna consciousness. It was because of your prayers and personal
attention that she took up to the practices of Krishna Consciousness seriously. You mercifully allowed her to participate in Vrindavan parikramas
as it helped her to appreciate more and more about this process.
We always feel very grateful especially when we think how nicely you
arranged our wedding.
Your diaries are always inspiring and instructive. Recently we just read
your diary chapter “A Second Chance” which reminded us about the
grave nature of this world. Thank you Maharaj for sharing these diaries
from your personal life and experiences as it gives us deeper insights in
Krishna consciousness.
Again thank you so much Maharaja for all the things you have done for
us. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we wouldn’t have
made this far in KC without it.
Your servants
Sundar & Vidya
samsara-davanala-lidha-lokatranaya karunya-ghanaghanatwam
praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy.
Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the
blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto
the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious
qualities.
mahapraboh kirtana-nritya-gitavaditra-madyan-manaso rasena
romancha-kampashru-taranga-bhajo
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because he is relishing
the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands
on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like
waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a
spiritual master.
sri- vigraharadhana-nitya-nana
shringaira-tan-mandira-marjanadau
yuktasya bhaktamsh cha niyunjato pi
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri
Radha and Krsna. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They
dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple,
and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.
chatur-vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasadaswadv-anna-triptan hari-bhakta-sanghan
kritwaiva triptim bhajatah sadaiva
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is always offering Krsna four kinds of delicious food
[analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the
spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavatprasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus
feet of such a spiritual master.
sri-radhika-madhavayor aparamadhurya-lila-guna-rupa-namnam
prati-kshanaswadana-lolupasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Radhika and Madhava, and Their qualities,
names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every
moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a
spiritual master.
nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai
ya yalibhir yuktir apekshaniya
tatrati-dakshyad ati-vallabhasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the
gopis, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the
perfection of Radha and Krsna’s conjugal loving affairs within the groves
of Vrndavana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of
such a spiritual master.
sakshad-dharitvena samasta-shastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhihi
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual
master, who is a bonafide representative of Sri Hari [Krsna].
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto ‘pi
dhyayan stuvams tasya yashas trisandhyam
vande guroh sri-charanaravindam
By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of
Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any
advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.
To travel with you will be an honor
I try to please you I try to chant
I try to make you a happy man
I need your help I need your consent
To go back home to be free again
Your future servant,
Ramananda das (Vivek)
Rasamayi devi dasi
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Hare Krishna!!!
Please accept my most humble obeisance unto Your divine lotus feet on
this most auspicious day of Your Vyasa Puja. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada !!!
I wish a very Happy Vyasa Puja. I am very happy and excited that we
are celebrating your Vyasa Puja in Seattle community and you given us
a chance to serve you. All the kids are very happy about this.
Maharaja I miss you very much and I remember you telling me that I
should always study a lot and do good job when I get elder, I am trying
my best. I got the new post card that you send me from Africa and I liked
the picture a lot. I also liked all the previous card you send me earlier.
I pray to Krishna to keep you in good health and get your association
and instruction all the time. Please allow me to always remain at your
lotus feet and serve you.
Always Your servants,
Rasamayi devi dasi (Rikky)
I am also eternally indebted to your sincere disciples. One of my closest
friends in Albany,NY was Tushar prabhu (now Ram Vijay das) – one of
your disciples. Last year, as I finished my studies, I was feeling sad that I
would be moving to Seattle and miss his association. I prayed to Krsna
that I get more association of your wonderful disciples in the future. After
your visit to Albany last year where you gave several programs, including the college program at SUNY, I was praying that I get to hear more
from you directly when I move to Seattle.
After I moved to Seattle, I was overjoyed when I heard that you would be
visiting Seattle. I was eager to see you. I was pleased that one of the
first programs that I attended was your program in Seattle. As an answer
to my other prayer of association of your disciples, Krsna gave me a
wonderful roommate in Saci Suta prabhu, who has imbibed your amazing qualities.
On this most auspicious day of your merciful appearance among us, I
repeatedly thank you for giving us the unmatched jewel of your association in the form of your diary, and also for leaving such wonderful and
sincere disciples all over the globe.
Your servant,
Gaur Kumar dasa.
Ramananda das
Dearest Maharaj
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories unto you!
Please accept my humble obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupadha. All glories unto you
Maharaja, I have seen the books and the tapes
Where you treat Srila Prabhupadha with no mistakes
You have served him with great devotion
I have observed this with great emotion
If I could treat you half as good
You wouldn't see me in this world
I love your smile I love your face
It's why I'm attracted to your holy grace
To be your servant will be a pleasure
Lord is and so do his dear most vaishnavas. I wish, I'd receive such
mails every day, instead of once in every fortnight.
Maharaja, I humble pray at the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga & Lord Nityananda to bestow all auspiciousness in your service to Srila Prabhupada.
His Holiness Indradyumna Maharaj Vyasa-Pooja Mahotsava Ki Jai…
Hare Krishna,
Your humble servants
Naren and Lakshmi
Gaur Kumar dasa
Dear Indradyuma Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisance at the dust of your lotus feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
By spreading this sankirtana movement around the globe, you are kindly
fulfilling the prediction of Lord Caitanya. Although you walk on the earth,
appearing as an ordinary man, the steps you are taking are extraordinary. By your staunch conviction to please Srila Prabhupada, you have
set the standard of pure devotional service, the only means by which
one can approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Your life
(which we read through your diary) is really making us understand the
austerities you are undergoing at every step to serve Srila Prabhupada. I
eagerly wait every month for your disciple Ram Vijay Prabhu’s email
about the next chapter of your transcendental diary:
vayaà tu na vitåpyäma uttama-çloka-vikrame
yac-chåëvatäà rasa-jïänäà svädu svädu pade pade
“We never tire of hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Personality
of Godhead, who is gloried by hymns and prayers. Those who have developed a taste for transcendental relationships with Him relish hearing
of His pastimes at every moment.” (Srimad-Bhägavatam 1.1.19).
Just like the transcendental pastimes of the Lord are relishable, the pastimes of his pure devotees are equally relishable.
The Meaning of
Vyasa-puja
Naren and Lakshmi
Dear Maharaj,
Hare Krishna,
Please Accept my humble obeisances. All glories onto your holiness. All
glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Maharaja, I'd like to recollect an incident when I first met you. It was in
March 2003, when you first came to Seattle to Govinda caran pr's
house. The day when you were leaving from Seattle, I was give an opportunity to cook and serve you and just after serving you, I asked you
for an advice. You then asked me how many rounds I was chanting. I
told, I was doing 8 rounds. Then you said " So you are just licking the
bottle of honey from outside. To taste the honey you need to open the
bottle, stuff your figure and then taste it. So start chanting 16 rounds of
japa from today onwards ." As soon as I heard this, I felt in back of my
mind, that it will be very tough for me and I'll not be able to do it. Also I
was thinking, why did I ask for an advice from you. Had I know this before I wouldn't have asked. That day, after I went home in the evening I
sat back & started thinking about your advice / instruction and then I
suddenly remembered that " With the instruction from a saintly person,
there will also be the blessing / power to execute that instruction". Then
I said to myself, if that is true, I'll start to do 16 rounds of japa from today
itself. And since then, I have been chanting 16 rounds and I wish to continue it for the rest of my life.
Maharaja, I'd like to thank you from the core of my heart for giving me
such a wonderful advise and also for blessing me with the strength to
execute it and I also beg at your lotus feet to shower more mercy on me
so that I continue this for the rest of my life.
Maharaja, I also remember from one of your lectures, where you have
given some tips on how to chant the Maha Mantra. You said, whenever
you chant, you should always try to remember 3 P's ( Posture, Pronunciation & Prayer). Since the day I heard this instruction from you, I always remember it as soon I begin to chant my rounds and I try to follow
it to the best of my ability. This has helped me a lot to improve my chanting. Thank you once again for this wonderful instruction.
Maharaja, One of my favorite things which I'd love to read, is your dairy.
Whenever I receive a new chapter of your dairy. I will stop whatever I'm
doing and immediately read the mail. It's is so inspiring, that It strengthens my faith in the holy name and enlightens me on how merciful the
The Meaning of Vyasa-puja
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
Srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa tarine
mukam karoti vacalam pangum langhayate girim
yat-krpa tam aham vande sri-gurum dina-taranam
Vyasa-puja is the day on which we glorify the bona fide spiritual master
appearing in disciplic succession from Srila Vyasadeva. Puja means
“worship” and Vyasa refers to Srila Vyasadeva, the compiler of the Vedas and thus the original spiritual master. Thus the literal meaning of
Vyasa-puja is ‘to honor and worship Vyasadeva’. Vyasadeva is acknowledged all over the world by worshipers of Krishna as the literary incarnation of Lord Krishna. The Vedas teach about the highest goal of life and
how to achieve perfection. Those who follow this knowledge and pass it
down unchanged to their students are called “gurus”, spiritual masters. It
is for this reason that the birthday of such spiritual masters are called
‘Vyasa puja’.
The Spiritual Master presents the perfect viewpoint of Srila Vyasadeva
and therefore only such a person is qualified to sit on the seat of
Vyasadev, also known as the vyasasana.
The Spiritual master is not only a fully realized soul; he is also an ocean
of compassion. At great personal risk and inconvenience, he travels the
world teaching and training others in the science of devotional service.
Completely non envious and a friend to all, the spiritual master is constantly working to try and wake the souls who are sleeping in illusion.
The spiritual master is the dearest servant of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Krishna. He never thinks that his disciples are worshiping him.
He is simply accepting it all on behalf of Krishna.
As far as the disciple is concerned, he has no other means of approaching Krishna except through the medium of the bona fide spiritual master.
It is stated in Guruvastaka:
saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-caranaravindam
.
"In the revealed scriptures it is declared that the Spiritual Master should
be worshipped like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and this injunction is obeyed by pure devotees of the Lord. The Spiritual Master is
the most confidential servant of the Lord. Thus let us offer our respectful
obeisances unto the Lotus Feet of our Spiritual Master.”
Srila Prabhupada states in one of the purports of Bhgavad-Gita “Since
time immemorial each living entity has accumulated the various reactions of his good and bad work. As such, he is continuously ignorant of
his real constitutional position. One's ignorance can be removed by the
instruction of the Bhagavad-Gita, which teaches one to surrender unto
Lord Sri Krishna in all respects and become liberated from the chained
victimization of action and reaction, birth after birth.”
And to liberate the conditioned souls, Krishna engages His confidential
servants as spiritual masters to deliver the fallen souls. Therefore the
conditioned soul has to take direct instruction from the spiritual master
and thus one will gradually become enlightened to the path of Krishna
consciousness. It is stated in Bhagavat Gita:
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva darsinah
(B.g. 4.34)
“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from
him submissively and render service unto him. The self realised souls
can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.”
When one has unflinching faith in the instructions of the spiritual master
and when one takes those instructions as his life and soul, one can easily cross the ocean of material existence and achieve spiritual perfection.
It is stated in Srimad Bhagavatam:
rajas tamaç ca sattvena
sattvaà copaçamena ca
etat sarvaà gurau bhaktyä
puruño hy aïjasä jayet
(S. B 7.15.25)
Nanda Suta Das, Vraja Bhakti DD, Aditi and Sachi
Dear Indradyumna Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krishna!
Please accept our best wishes of health and long age on this auspicious
day of your appearance. We feel very fortunate to have known you and
learn some of the wonderful qualities from your holiness. You have always inspired everyone with your contagious smile and unwavering faith
in Srila Prabhupada's teachings of Lord Krishna. Your glories are spread
everywhere for hard work you carry on. For an example: Summer festivals for preaching Lord Chaitanya's spiritual message. Looking at the
video of polish festival we learned that Krishna Consciousness is not
presented in mundane or dry philosophical way rather you have incorporated many of cultural aspects of Vedic dharma into it. Your presentation
method of employing classical dancers and singers, best cuisine to satisfy an appetite of attendees, very qualified preachers to answer philosophical questions and curious minds, and to top it off with the best of the
organization to put up a wonderful show is stunningly brilliant. We can
learn a lot from you as your tireless energy to travel every where
to preach is amazing. You are always on the go to spread Krishna's
message and his mercy like rushing to help out at Sri Lanka during Tsunami or going and distributing prasadam in South African village where
no white man dares to go. Your efforts to have darsan of Lord Jagannatha during Puri yatras are some of the amazing examples of your dedicated services. Reading your diary is very fulfilling spiritual experience
for us.
On this day, we humbly pray to the Lord Krishna to give you enough
strength to carry on this wonderful activities for many many years to
come. Also, we are seeking blessings from you so we can develop
Krishna Bhakti and service attitudes towards Vaishnavas.
Thank you for giving us wonderful memories during Seattle visits. Please
forgive us for offences cause to you and pardon us for any mistakes in
this offering.
Haribol!!
Your Servants,
Nanda Suta Das, Vraja Bhakti DD, Aditi and Sachi
Madhava Gopinatha das and Rajeswari
Dear Indradyumna Maharaja,
Please accept our humble obeisances unto your lotus feet
Jaya Srila Prabhupada
We get lot of inspiration reading your diary. Everyday in your life is an
adventure. We see in you Prabhupada’s mercy of preaching to the fallen
souls.
With your festivals in Poland and other places you attract hundreds and
thousands of people to Krishna consciousness. All glories to your service
We were fortunate to meet you briefly couple of times. We sincerely pray
that we get more and more opportunities to associate with you in future.
We are moving to India for good. I was very happy to hear from you that
you want to preach in India. Please let us know Maharaja if we can be of
any service to you in India
I pray to our beloved deities SriSri RadhaNeelaMadhava that you will
have a healthy long life to broadcast the mission of Lord Caitanya
Your aspiring servants
Madhava Gopinatha DAS
Rajeswari
“One must conquer the modes of passion and ignorance by developing
the mode of goodness, and then one must become detached from the
mode of goodness by promoting oneself to the platform of suddhasattva. All this can be automatically done if one engages in the service of
the spiritual master with faith and devotion. In this way one can conquer
the influence of the modes of nature.”
So let us take this rare opportunity on this special day and offer our
prayers for our spiritual master’s protection and well being and offer our
obeisances unto his lotus feet for our purification.
Your humble servant,
Jaya Subhadra devi dasi
Amritananda das & Sudevi dasi
namah om vishnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate Bhaktivedanta swamin iti namine
namah om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale
srimate Indradyumna swamin iti namine
Dear Maharaj,
Hare Krishna !!!
Please accept our most humble obeisance unto Your divine lotus feet on
this most auspicious day of Your Vyasa Puja.
All glories to You on this most auspicious day as You appeared on this
material planet only with the mission to help Srila Prabhupada reclaim
the fallen conditioned souls. While we think how much more Srila
Prabhupada could be pleased by Your services, You always remain unsatisfied thus continuously pushing Yourselves for outreach to guide
those helpless souls to destiny.
With our imperfect senses, Maharaja, we could only mention a few of
Your innumerable qualities of Your compassion. We are especially
amazed by the way You take special care of the kids of our society. Kids
are our future and with moments of Your compassionate association
they are inspired to remain close to Krsna thru out the year. Also, in
spite of Your extensive travel You don’t forget to send them cards whenever it’s possible for You.
We are praying to Srila Prabhupada that He continues to guide You, so
You will guide us in the same way and lead us back to where we came
from.
Dear Maharaja, we beg You to forgive for any offences that we may
have knowingly or unwillingly committed at Your lotus feet. On this most
auspicious day of Your Vyasa puja, we seek Your blessings to progress
in Krishna consciousness and render service to the best of our abilities.
Once again we pay our humble respect unto Your lotus feet.
Always Your servants,
Amritananda das and Sudevi dasi.
2006 Vyasa-puja
Homage to
Srila Prabhupada
by
His Holiness
Indradyumna Swami
So how could I be qualified to even approach you?
Everyone knows that a disciple’s sins affect the health of one’s Guru.
But as merciful as you are, you didn’t hesitate a bit in taking us in your
shelter. Prabhupada in one of his conversation said that by accepting a
disciple, a guru is said to absorb his karma. And as I feared, you did get
sick right after you initiated us. I pray to Krishna to give the adverse affect of my bad karma back to me. I only have a small family that gets
affected but you on the other hand are a very precious life in Prabhupada’s movement with huge global family.
Srila Gurudev, I pray to Krishna that one day I become qualified to get
even a fraction of the mercy you showered on your Blood Brothers in
Russia. Sure, I am still unqualified, but please don’t leave me behind, let
me also come along with others you plan on taking back to Godhead.
Your insignificant servant
Rasacandra das
Yasomati devi dasi
Dear Srila Gurudeva
Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet. All
glories to you!
On this auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja, I am deeply grateful for your
mercy. I remember your visit here in Seattle, when you visited our home
for a short kirtan program. You were on a strict diet and were not able to
eat much. I made a simple vegetable soup for you. You were so very
appreciative and very kind with your words. On that day you also gave
mercy to my sons. You took the time and carefully gave them both very
special spiritual names.
I am thankful to you for saving us and giving us this wonderful process of
Krsna consciousness. I will do my best to be Krsna conscious. We especially like to read your books, about all your adventures. It is truly amazing all the danger and continuous hard work you go through in your mission to serve your spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. With your mercy,
maybe someday I can be little bit qualified to serve you in some way. I
simply beg your mercy so that I can keep trying, and eventually have
courage, intelligence and strength to follow your instructions.
Thank you Srila Gurudeva, for giving me an opportunity to offer you this
simple, humble Vyasa-puja offering.
Always begging for your mercy,
Yasomati devi dasi
2006 Vyasa-puja Homage to Srila Prabhupada
by
His Holiness Indradyumna Swami
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to You!
This year I am writing my offering to You in Mexico. I have just returned
from a harinama party in Cuernavaca, a town outside Mexico City. But it
wasn’t just any harinama. While chanting in the local plaza, a devotee
informed me that You Yourself had chanted and given a public lecture
there in 1972. Not only that, but You had autographed Your books and
sold them to interested people at that outdoor event. I was astounded!
Suddenly the plaza took on a special charm. It became a tirtha – a holy
place where You lotus feet had walked and You had chanted the holy
names for the masses.
There are many such places on the earth planet – and, I imagine,
beyond as well. Your mission, based on deep compassion for the
suffering conditioned souls in this world, is very broad and expansive. I
feel fortunate to be able to assist You and play a small role in Your
efforts.
A disciple one asked You about Your identity in the spiritual world. You
replied, .”if I told You, You would faint.” It is not for us to know that now,
but one day, when we are pure, we will see You daily in Your spiritual
form as we assist You in Your service in the spiritual sky. For now, we
are duty-bound to serve Your mission here. It is such service alone that
will qualify us to join Your pastimes in the spiritual sky.
param gopyam api singdhe
tac chruyatam maha-bhaga
sisye vacyam iti srutih
goloka-mahimadhuna
The Vedas say that to a loyal disciple one may speak even the
most confidential secret. Therefore, O most fortunate one, now please
hear the glories of Goloka.”
(Sri Brhad-bhagavatamrta 2.1.6.)
Please bless me to help fulfill Your desires here,so that one day I
may serve You properly in the transcendental abode, where You sport
eternally with Your beloved Lord.
Your servant,
Indradyumna Swami
Rasacandra das
Srila Gurudev,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Once on a Govardhan Parikrama during Kartik month, I met with a devotee Mataji. Her name escapes me but after spending a few years in LA
she had packed up her bags and moved to New Zealand. I had good
long discussion during our Parikrama with her on many spiritual topics.
During the conversation she asked if I was initiated.
I said “No. I am not even aspiring yet. How about you?”
She replied “Yes I am. My Guru Maharaja is HH Indradyumna Maharaja”
I had already met with you a couple of times by then; I had already been
a fan of your diaries. I had already been admiring all your preaching efforts worldwide. So I was curious to hear even more about you and what
made her come to your shelter.
I asked “how can one know who one’s Guru is?”
She replied “Don’t worry. He will reveal himself to you. You just pray to
the Lord to arrange that meeting with you soon”.
Not too long after that Lord did arrange that. I felt the connection with
you. Twice I almost wept reading your diary email at work. I felt ecstatic
reading your successes. Once I attended the whole meeting at work
strategizing on something while continuously reading your diary entry. I
just couldn’t stop. I walked out of the meeting wondering what that meeting was really about. I am not emotionally expressive person by any
stretch but not having control of my emotions while reading your emails
convinced me of what was going on.
Unfortunately I wasn’t ready. I didn’t know the value of Guru. Guru is described as respectable as the Supreme Personality of God. Äcäryaà
mäà vijänéyät [SB 11.17.27]. an äcärya who acts on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be understood to be as good as
the Supreme Lord Himself. It is also said, sarva-devamayo guruh: he is
the sum total of all the demigods. If one worships the äcärya, then he
has fulfilled all his commitments to all the demigods. The äcärya is a
veritable repository of all strength, fame, knowledge, beauty, and wealth.
I could never comprehend my own blessings that you are right in front of
me, helping me in ways no one could. I still can not comprehend the
enormity of these statements from our shastra.
Vyasa-puja
Homages from
Disciples and Well-wishers
initiation, when looking for some personal service to You in return, H.G
Govinda Charan Prabhu mentioned the lack of a single website with all
of your lectures/kirtans providing a great source of inspiration for world
wide web community. Though we hardly knew anything about creating
websites, Krsna kindly reciprocated to our desire and gave us direction
and help from many devotees including H.G Taraka Prabhu and H.G
Govinda Charan Prabhu. On your vyasa pooja day today we would like
to offer http://narottam.com a very humble beginning on this front,
named after your favourite acharya “Srila Narottam Das Thakura”.
Though our offering is tinged with so many of our anarthas, we request
you to kindly accept it as a loving father accepts a imperfect gift from a
child.
Our prayer on this Vyasa-Puja day is that we always remain your faithful,
loyal servants, though not able to bring any glory to you, that we never
bring any disgrace to You and Guru Parampara. As You mentioned the
only thing a disciple can offer to Guru is his/her spiritual progress, this
day we reinforce our promise to execute your instructions sincerely for
rest of our lives and make steady spiritual progress.
All glories unto your lotus feet. Jaya Srila Gurudev.
Your humble servants,
Madhava Gauranga das
Syamala devi dasi
It is only due to your inconceivable causeless mercy that I am able to
remain on this path of Krsna Consciousness. Although there is danger
at every step, I feel safer knowing that you are the captain of the ship
that is helping me and countless others cross over this ocean of birth
and death. I pray for your blessings so I may render some service to you
as you bravely save the suffering souls.
Your insignificant servant,
Sudevi sundari devi dasi
Madhava Gauranga das and Syamala devi dasi
nama om visnu-padaya-krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate indradyumna-svamin iti namine
namah prabhupada-priya dasaya jagannatha yatrananda murtaya
bhakta-sukhaya
krsnot-kirtanena narasimhena raksitaya namah
Dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to You on Your VyasaPuja.
We first of all want to express our gratitude for giving us shelter at Your
Lotus feet. We are so happy to be part of your first personal Vyasa puja
celebration in Seattle. Though we feel unworthy of offering you anything
on this day, we would like to take your permission to offer few words of
appreciation for our purification.
Srila Gurudev, in your efforts and desire to please your Guru Maharaja,
you have set a fine example of how a disciple must act and serve one’s
Spiritual Master and His instructions. Not considering your own comfort,
nor being deterred by how difficult the task may appear, with no hesitation, no fear, no doubt, with a single minded determination, you are trying to please Srila Prabhupada and execute his personal instruction –
“Preach boldly – Have faith in the Holy Names!”. We pray that one
day following your example with your mercy we will also dedicate our
lives in Your service to Srila Prabhupda.
To gradually elevate us, You kindly blessed our engagement. With the
shelter of Grhastha Ashrama we are happy in devotional service and
trying to help each other come closer to Krsna and serve the community
to our best ability.
As an exchange of Your self-less love for us, soon after
Govinda Caran das and Rasika Siromani dasi
Dearest Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your lotus feet on
this auspicious day of your Vyasa-puja. All glories to Your Divine Grace.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Your glories are innumerable. In the form of the following poetry, we
have made a humble attempt to collect a few gems from the precious
ocean of transcendental qualities that you personify. We humbly beg you
to accept this as a small token of our gratitude for the non-repayable
debt we owe you for everything you have given us so far and all things
that are yet to come.
Our dear master
Srila Prabhupada’s dear
Lord Caitanya’s empowered commander
Radha-Vallabha’s loving attender
Such is our spiritual master unto whom we surrender (1)
Traveling wide and far with zero rest
Distributes Lord Gauranga’s treasure chest –
The Holy Names – for which we always hanker
Such is our munificent master unto whom we surrender (2)
Planting the seed of devotional creeper
Cultivates disciples as the transcendental gardener
In preparation to offer to Radha Syamasundar
Such is our expert master unto whom we surrender (3)
Investing in our movement’s future
Spends countless hours knowing children’s nature
Inspiring them what it means to be Caitanya’s soldier
Such is our affectionate master unto whom we surrender (4)
Sudevi Sundari devi dasi
Preaching boldly to many an Islamic brother and Christian father
With the courage of an Englishman and the heart of a Bengali mother
Reminds lost souls of Krsna’s personal splendor
Such is our fearless master unto whom we surrender (5)
My dear Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your merciful Lotus Feet!
Barring all discrimination, initiates the first ever gypsy
Thus qualifies to receive Thakur Bhaktivinoda’s special mercy
Is it possible without a heart that’s tender?
Such is our compassionate master unto whom we surrender (6)
Imbibing the mood of Narottam, the servitor of Vraja Mohan
And Srinivas and Lokanath and such residents of Vrindavan
Relishes life as both a rasika-bhakta and a stalwart preacher
Such is our blissful master unto whom we surrender (7)
Desiring to elevate the ignorant masses, beyond passion and even
goodness
Presents attractive festivals of pure nectarean Krishna Consciousness
Giving a drop of the spiritual world which is an ever-fresh wonder
Such is our benevolent master unto whom we surrender (8)
O master, we pray that the Lord may bestow upon you good health and
fulfill all your desires for glorifying Him to your heart’s content through
your preaching programs throughout the world.
Hare Krishna,
Your servants,
Govinda Caran das & Rasika Siromani dasi.
Happy Vyasa Puja Srila Gurudeva. When I heard the
news that you would be visiting Seattle again it really brightened up
my whole life. I feel every time while in your holy presence, I am reminded of the great importance of becoming more serious and sincere on this path of Krsna consciousness.
From the first time you directed your glance at me and said "I want
you to chant more" it was like I was hearing the voice of God through
your mercy. It was amazing to me that even I, a foolish ignorant conditioned soul, could make an attempt to take this process seriously.
Your enthusiasm for preaching around the world, in the most obscure
and even dangerous places really shows how surrendered you are to
Srila Prabhupada and how much faith you have in Krsna. He always
seems to be looking out for you as you are His very dear devotee.
The taste you have for the Holy Names is so apparent, even I, who
have no knowledge or bhakti can sense that it is very deep. I'll never
forget sitting near you in Mayapur after you had given a small japa
class, I felt this intense urge to cry while listening to you chant the
Holy Names. I found when I focused on my own chanting I didn't feel
much but if I listened to your pure chanting, I'd feel overwhelmed by a
wave of emotion. Not to mention the incredibly ecstatic kirtans that
you inevitably drown the devotees in everywhere you go.
The other day I distributed a book to a Polish boy who now lives in
Canada. His face lit up as he remembered seeing the devotees on
the Baltic Coast many years ago and my heart smiled, seeing the influence of your love and compassion reaching across the globe. My
short but enlivening time spent on your colorful Polish Tour was so
extraordinary and inspiring. To experience the potency of your kind
association and see the high quality service attitude of my talented
god brothers and sisters is a great inspiration for me. I am always left
humbled and in awe and I pray that this great festival continues to
flood the world and reach the hearts of the people.
We sincerely pray to their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Nila Madhava, Sri Sri
Radha Syama Sundara and Lord Narasingadeva to give You great
health, energy, and a very happy and long life to spread the message of
Sri Caitanya Maha Prabhu and to fulfill the desire and mission of Srila
Prabhupada and deliver many many souls across the globe in the years
to come.
Your most insignificant servant,
Saci Suta das
Kedarnath Das, Radha Krishna Lila Devi Dasi,
Krishneel and Shivneel
Dear Indradyumna Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisances on this auspicious occasion of
your vyas puja celebration. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
In all universes, there are innumerable planets. There are millions and
trillions of living entities everywhere. They are engaged by Maya in
suffering and enjoying the results of their fruitive activity. Out of many
of these living entities, we are actually fortunate to come in contact
with Your Holiness Indradyumna Maharaj our spiritual master by
Krsna’s mercy.
Krsna is situated in everyone’s heart-within as caitya guru and without
as spiritual master. Both are prepared to help us become free from this
material bondage.
We were sincere. We came in contact with the Krsna consciousness
movement. In association with the devotees, we got the chance to
meet you and get guru krsna prasada.
Maharaj, you are very kind toward your disciples. Bestow your mercy
upon us, so that we can serve you like a menial servant without false
prestige. We know that satisfaction of your holiness is the secret of
advancement in spiritual life. Your mission is to reclaim the fallen conditioned souls. Our only desire is to help you in your mission to spread
Krsna consciousness.
Your menial servants,
Kedarnath Das,
Radha Krishna Lila Devi Dasi,
Sons – Krishneel and Shivneel
It was my first visit to the Holy dham of Vrindavan last year during Kartik.
Thank you very much for letting me participate in the Parikrama. I
planned to visit the Holy Dham last year and so made arrangements for
my air tickets. However when I came to know that you were not coming
to Vrindavan for the Parikrama, I was very disappointed and sincerely
praying Lord Krishna. And later when I came to know that you had
changed your plans and would be doing the parikrama, I was so joyful
and thankful to Krishna for accepting my prayers.
My first visit to the Dham was a memorable part of my life. There I met
such a wonderful God Brothers and God Sisters from Russia and other
parts of the globe and it was a great learning experience for me. They
are all very special souls and have so much faith and love for you that I
have a lot to learn from them. I could see the shine in their eyes and joy
on their faces when they meet you, talk to you and serve you. It is a very
nice realization for me to understand my tiny position in our huge family.
I wish I would develop such faith and love one day by your mercy and
blessings from Krishna. I always relish the precious moments I had in
your presence and feel very fortunate for those little moments. For example you had given us the opportunity to cook prasadam for you during
your last visit and when you were relishing and appreciating the taste it
made me so happy. I tell other devotees that I might be an assistant to
the cook in the kitchen in your palace when you were a King. I felt so
bad and unfortunate that I could not cook for you the next day in view of
my commitment at the 'Dance for Peace' event even though you had
specifically asked me to cook.
I am always indebted to HG Harivilas Prabhu, HG Govinda Caran
Prabhu and Her Grace Rasika Mataji, HG Lakshmipati Prabhu and Her
Grace Rasavati Mataji and His Grace Madhava Gopinath Prabhu and
my loving God brothers and God sisters and to the very exalted congregation members who are always helping, inspiring and encouraging.
Your diary chapters are ever inspiring to us and many souls are getting
transformed through your experiences, messages and mercy through
them. When I see devotees very appropriately utilizing your realizations
from your dairy chapters in their preaching sessions, I could understand
how many more people are getting benefited.
Please forgive any offenses I may have committed knowingly OR unknowingly and shower your blessings on me and my family on this most
auspicious day for our progress in KC and give us opportunities to serve
you.
Saci Suta das
Hare Krishna Srila Gurudeva,
Please accept my humble obeisances onto your lotus feet on this most
auspicious day. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you.
Om ajnana timirandhasya
jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam ena
tasmai sri guravenamaha
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to celebrate this wonderful and
most auspicious event here in Seattle.
I would like to offer my sincere gratitude for having accepted me into the
Sampradaya though I am not at all qualified. I know the truth of how
fallen I am and besides me, you as my beloved spiritual master and
Krishna knows that truth. It is your causeless mercy that you are so kind
to give me the shelter of the Holy names.
I have been trying to be sincere in my sadhana and I humbly beg for
your blessings to improve upon my sadhana and fix my mind and soul
on the Lotus feet of the Lord.
You have taken special interest and time in explaining to our family the
importance of worshipping deities at home. It is by your mercy that we
have our most beautiful Sri Sri Dayal Nitai Vijaya Gauranga deities at
our home in detroit. Because of your blessings and most merciful Gaura
Nitai that my wife is making some progress in Krishna Consciousness in
chanting her 16 rounds and regularly doing Mangala Aartik and attending Bhakti Vriksha programs. In spite of your very busy schedules you
have taken time to name our deities and also send greeting cards from
time to time to my younger daughter Anuhya (Syamanandi as you have
named her) which we always remember as our good fortune. Your greeting cards are very precious to her and she feels very happy and proud in
showing those to devotees who visit our home. When I was worried
about my elder daughter Amulya that she was not chanting regularly,
you said 'don't worry, I can see she is a devotee...both of your daughters
are devotees', these words made me and my wife Rani very happy since
we sincerely believe in the power of your words.