Tag: Vyasa Puja

Vyasa Puja Offering to Srila Prabhupada on His 130th Appearance Day

This year, 2026, we are celebrating the 130th appearance anniversary of Srila Prabhupada. On this auspicious occasion, let us bow our heads at his lotus feet and reflect upon a few of his wonderful qualities.

1. Age is just a page — he showed us how to engage

After the age of 60, most people prefer to live a retired and comfortable life. Surrounded by family members, they seek a secure and peaceful life. Even those who have renounced material life and wish to engage in the service of the Lord may prefer to avoid strenuous or demanding service. This is natural because, after 60, a person is generally no longer as young or energetic as before.

But Srila Prabhupada never allowed his age or bodily condition to become an obstacle to his mission. As a dedicated devotee of Krishna, he knew that we are not the body; we are eternal spirit souls. The body may be young or old, just as our clothing may be new or old, but this does not determine the determination, enthusiasm, and spiritual strength of the soul.

A spiritually realized soul is not distracted by the changing conditions of the body. Prahlāda Mahārāja taught that devotional service can begin at any age—he himself began when he was just five years old. Srila Prabhupada showed us the other side of the same truth: devotional service can and should continue throughout our entire life, regardless of age.

At an age when most people were thinking about retirement, Srila Prabhupada was busy planning how to expand Krishna consciousness all over the world. From the age of 69, he began travelling all over the world to share the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. He would get up in the middle of the night to write commentaries on Vedic literature. He continued doing so until the last breath of his life.

Srila Prabhupada taught us how to always remain enthusiastically engaged in the service of Krishna.

Age was just a page for him—but every page of his life was dedicated to Krishna’s service.

2. He influenced the West, did not get influenced by the West

In the 1960s and 1970s, the West was considered far more advanced and prosperous than India. Many Indians dreamed of going to the West in search of a better life. Even some spiritual teachers travelled to America and Europe to share India’s spiritual wisdom. But there was always a danger of becoming enamoured by Western material culture. People could begin imitating the Western way of dressing, eating and behaving.

Srila Prabhupada, however, went to the West for an entirely different purpose. He did not go there to be influenced by the West; he went there to influence the West.

Prabhupada had no personal desire to settle in a foreign country or enjoy Western comforts. He went because his spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, had instructed him to spread the pure philosophy of Krishna consciousness throughout the world. Moreover, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had predicted that the holy name of Krishna would be chanted in every town and village of the world. Srila Prabhupada took up the responsibility of helping fulfill that prediction.

And he did not simply teach Western devotees how to chant Hare Krishna. He taught them how to live as Vaiṣṇavas. He taught them how to dress like Vaiṣṇavas, eat like Vaiṣṇavas, behave like Vaiṣṇavas and organize their entire lives around Krishna consciousness.

What an extraordinary transformation it was! Those who had grown up in Western culture began wearing dhoti-kurtas and colorful saris, applying Vaiṣṇava tilaka, following regulated principles and dedicating their lives to serving Krishna.

The world had expected India to imitate the West. Srila Prabhupada reversed the direction of influence.

He went to influence the West—not to be influenced by the West.

3. Risk taker, fear breaker — Krishna-consciousness mission torchbearer

After retiring from family life and dedicating himself completely to Krishna’s service, Srila Prabhupada had no assured financial support. During his stay with the Gauḍīya Saṅgha in Delhi, he faced tremendous difficulties. He struggled even for the basic necessities of life—food, clothing and shelter.

Srila Prabhupada’s biography describes those days:

“Without income or institutional shelter, Abhay began staying in various homes in Delhi, living from week to week wherever he received an invitation. In terms of food, clothing, and shelter, these were the most difficult times he had ever gone through.” Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta, Volume One, Chapter Eight, New Delhi – “Crying Alone in the Wilderness

Yet none of these difficulties could stop him. He continued writing, editing and publishing Back to Godhead, and then personally went out to distribute it.

Once, while distributing Back to Godhead, he was hit by a bull in the middle of the road and suffered severe injuries. But he did not become discouraged. He did not complain to Krishna, asking, “Why are You doing this to me?” Instead, he saw Krishna’s protection even in the midst of difficulty.

Srila Prabhupada later narrated this incident in a lecture:

“So when I was publishing this Back to Godhead from Delhi, one day one bull thrashed me, and I fell down on the footpath and I got severe injury. I was alone. So I was thinking, ‘What is this?’ So I had many days of very tribulations, but it was all meant for good. So don’t be afraid of tribulations. Go forward. Krishna will give you protection.” Ref. Lecture – April 17, 1969, New York  https://srilaprabhupadalila.org/read/SPFPP_1046

On another occasion, while distributing Back to Godhead in Connaught Place, Delhi, Srila Prabhupada fainted from sunstroke. But as soon as he regained consciousness, he resumed distributing the magazine.

And then came the greatest risk of all.

With only ₹40, Srila Prabhupada boarded the Jaladuta, a cargo ship bound for America, to begin his worldwide preaching mission. He was 69 years old. He had no disciples waiting for him, no institutional support and no guarantee of success. During the journey, he suffered two heart attacks and severe seasickness.

Yet he continued.

He did not turn back. Prabhupada did not allow fear, physical suffering, financial insecurity or uncertainty about the future to deter him from his mission.

He was a one-man army. With practically no resources, he single-handedly carried the flag of Krishna consciousness across the world.

And today, because that one fearless devotee refused to give up, you and I have the opportunity to serve Krishna and practice devotional service.

That is why Srila Prabhupada was a:

Risk taker, fear breaker — Krishna-consciousness mission torchbearer.

My Prayer to Srila Prabhupada

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

You took so many risks and underwent so many hardships to save us from the miserable material life.

You struggled tirelessly to connect us with Krishna, giving us the opportunity to perfect our lives and return to Him.

I do not have the words to adequately express my gratitude to you. Whatever spiritual opportunity I have today is because of your causeless mercy.

On this auspicious occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā, I humbly beg at your lotus feet to always keep me under your shelter.

Please continue to guide me, bless me and give me the strength to give up my desires for material enjoyment and dedicate my life to the service of Lord Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada, please never let me forget you, your instructions, and the mission you gave us.

I pray that I may remain your servant, under your shelter, life after life.

All glories to you, Srila Prabhupada!

Your eternal Servant

Purushottam Nitai Das

Further Reading

Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada on his 129th appearance day

75th Vyasa Puja of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj celebrated at Govardhan Eco Village (GEV)

75^th Vyasa Puja of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj was celebrated at Govardhan Eco Village (GEV) which is around 70 km from Mumbai on 7^th Dec 2025. This Vyasa Puja was celebrated as “Festival of Gratitude.”

I had the wonderful fortune of attending this glorious event. People from all over India and also from outside India congregated at GEV to wish Maharaj on his appearance day. Around 20,000 devotees participated in the “Festival of Gratitude.”

Morning Program at GEV

Program began since morning with Mangala Arati, Narasimha Arati, Tulasi Arati and Sistastakam prayers at Sri Radha Vrindavan Bihari temple. The temple located in the midst of GEV is surrounded by beautiful trees, gardens and fountains. This exquisite temple has a magnificent rooftop and is open from all sides. The cool breeze from the surrounding greenery and the early morning sunrays gave us a soothing experience.

After the sistastakam prayer, devotees sat in the temple hall to chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Chanting with Maharaj in the morning

The best part of the morning program was to get association of Maharaj during chanting. Maharaj came and sat with all the devotees to chant his rounds. Seeing Maharaj chanting with intensity motivated us too to chant our rounds with utter sincerity.  It was such a divine experience that it cannot be described in words.

After chanting, there was darshan arati followed by guru puja. Maharaj did the guru puja and also participated in the kirtan. During the guru puja HG Yadubar Prabhu and HG Bali Mardan Prabhu were also present, and Maharaj embraced each one of them after guru puja.

After guru puja devotees went on Sankirtan to do parikrama of Giriraj Govardhan and the temples located in the Vrindavan Garden.  

Srila Prabhupada katha by Prabhupada’s disciples

Srimad Bhagavatam class started at 8 am and continued till 12 noon.  This class was special as in this class Srila Prabhupada’s pastimes were shared by Prabhupada’s disciples. HG Srutkirti Prabhu who was Prabhupada’s personal servant shared wonderful pastimes of Prabhupada from 8 am to 10 am.

After that HG Abhinandan Prabhu, HG Yadubara Prabhu, HG Sruti Prabhu and HG Balimardan Prabhu shared pastimes of Prabhupada.

HG Srutakirti Prabhu shares pastime of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj

HG SrutakirtiPrabhu also shared as how HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj first met Srila Prabhupada at Cross Maidan festival in Mumbai. Prabhuji said that during the festival thousands of people had come to hear from Prabhupada. Maharaj was around 19 years old at that time and he was sitting at the back. Prabhupada could see Maharaj and asked devotees to bring that yogi on the stage. Devotees could not see Maharaj, but Prabhupada showed them where he was sitting.

After the program, when Maharaj tried to touch the feet of Prabhupada then HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj said that no one touches Prabhupada’s feet. But Prabhupada said to Maharaj that you can touch.

Prabhuji was saying that Maharaj was a yogi in last life. He loves to live in the caves. Once in Hrishikesa, he was staying in a wealthy man’s house. But he would not stay in the house. He would go inside a cave located on the bank of the Ganges to chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

At noon there was bhoga arati. Lunch prasadam was arranged for all the devotees. Many devotees had come the day before to attend Maharaj’s Vyas Puja. But thousands of devotees on buses and cars were coming on Sunday from different places for the Vyas Puja festival.

The Evening 75th Vyasa Puja celebration of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj at GEV

Evening program started from 4 pm onwards. Many senior disciples of Maharaj made their heartfelt offerings. They shared how Maharaj’s teachings and his personal dealing touched their heart and helped them in their spiritual journey.

Maharaj’s godbrothers who are Srila Prabhupada’s disciples also shared Maharaj glories. HG Srutakirti Prabhu, HH Chandramauli Swami Maharaj, HG Yadubara Prabhu and HG Vishakha Priya Mataji, HG Abhinandan Prabh, HG Sruti Prabhu, HG Balimardan Prabhu graced the occasion and shared pastimes of Maharaj.

Later HG Shubha Vilas Prabhu, HG Gauranga Prabhu, HG Radheshyam Prabhu, HG Gaur Gopal Prabhu, HG Govind Prabhu and HG Krishnananda Prabhu shared glories of Maharaj.  Subha Vilas prabhu said that he considers himself fortunate as he got the service to distribute more than 5 lakh books of Journey Home.

Maharaj spoke at the end.

Here are few of the glorification of Maharaj shared by devotees. Many devotees spoke and they shared many pastimes of Maharaj, but I am here sharing those which I could recollect.

Offering of HG Gauranga Prabhu

When Maharaj expressed the desire to build GEV in Vada then no one was enthusiastic – neither the brahmacharis nor the congregation devotees.  Everyone was thinking why Maharaj wants to develop the project which is so far from Mumbai. So, Gauranga Prabhu went to Maharaj and said that no one has desire to develop GEV.

Maharaj said that it is not about your desire or my desire. It is to fulfil the desire of Srila Prabhupada. Maharaj said, in New Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada wanted to build seven temples which the Goswamis built in Vrindavan.

But unfortunately, it has not yet happened. So, I want to fulfil that desire of Prabhupada here. Because if I do not do so then when I will meet Prabhupada and he will ask me why you did not do so in spite of having land, resources and qualified devotees then what will I say to him. Maharaj said that we all have to come together to fulfil the desire and mission of Prabhupada. And for that we have to come out of our comfort zone.

Offering of HG Radheshyam Prabhu

Maharaj expertly makes sure that all the devotees and all the four bona fide sampradayas are respected and no one feels offended. Once when Maharaj had taken around 5000 devotees for South India yatra then one sannyasi said to Maharaj that you have conquered South India and also the Sri Vaisnavas.

Maharaj then explained to the sannyasi that he has no desire to conquer anyone and does not want to show that Sri Vaisnavas are less superior to Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Then he explained how Lord Chaitanya respected all the four sampradayas. The sanyasi was so inspired to hear this from Maharaj.

Once when Maharaj gave class then one scientist came to Maharaj as he had some questions. Maharaj looked in the temple hall and saw a devotee who is a professor and has good scientific knowledge. Maharaj asked that devotee to speak with the scientist. Later when Maharaj met the scientist then he was quite happy as all his doubts were now cleared. This shows that Maharaj knows how to properly address the needs of a person who approaches him.

Maharaj expects his disciples to take care of their spiritual life

Maharaj never forces his opinion upon others but expects his disciples to properly take care of his/her spiritual life. HG Radheshyam Prabhu said that once Maharaj was going to give class in Chowpatty temple and also there was Puspha Abhishek. But HG Radheshyam Prabhu told Maharaj that since he has invited HH Nava Yogendra Swami Maharaj in Iskcon NVCC Pune, he will have to go. Then Maharaj told Prabhuji that you are too hospitable.

Prabhuji was confused what to do. So, he asked Maharaj what to do and Maharaj said follow your heart. Prabhuji was confused but he decided to attend Maharaj’s program and sat in the car in which Maharaj was going. Prabhuji attended the festival and Maharaj’s class. Later when he returned to NVCC temple then HH Nava Yogendra Swami Maharaj was jokingly saying that you called me but you were not here.

Maharaj expects all his disciples, especially senior disciples, to attend his classes and take care of their personal life very nicely. Prabhuji was saying that when he chants in the temple hall in the morning then he looks around to see who all have come and when he sees the devotees then he folds his hand and greets them. Prabhuji was saying that Maharaj greets the devotees as if saying – Thank you for taking care of your spiritual life.

Offering of HG Gaur Gopal Prabhu

HG Gaur Gopal Prabhu in his offering said that Maharaj is such a great leader that under him we all feel valued and inspired to serve the mission of Srila Prabhupada with more grit and enthusiasm. He further said that Maharaj is the king of all hearts because he has stolen the heart of all the devotees. And he is king of all hearts because he has given his heart to Krishna, the king of Vraja.

Once a devotee who was getting initiated came with his fiancée. The lady was not practicing Krishna Consciousness. After initiation, the devotee came with his fiancée to meet Maharaj. But his fiancée was crying.  When Maharaj saw her crying, he said that you cry very beautifully. Upon hearing this she started crying more. But on that day Maharaj’s words full of compassion touched her heart. Now she has become a devotee, and she chants daily 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

One devotee lost his young son. He was very disturbed. He came to GEV and asked Maharaj if he could put the picture of his son along with the Goswamis’s samdhi. Maharaj said, yes. Not just that Maharaj even paid obeisances to the picture of the devotee son and offered Giriraj prasada to him. This greatly touched the devotee who had just lost his son.

HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj speaks

Maharaj began his class by thanking all the devotees for coming to GEV to attend the “Festival of Gratitude.” As the road to GEV was full of potholes and was not smooth, so Maharaj said that devotees have come traveling on road which is like aghasura.

How to develop gratitude for Srila Prabhupada and Vaisnav acharyas

Maharaj spoke in detail how Srila Prabhupada dedicated his life to serve his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarswati Thakura. He shared the pastimes of Srila Prabhupada when he first met his guru in 1922 at Ulta Danga Junction Road, Kolkata.  In the first meeting, Prabhupada was saying that people will begin listening to the message of Krishna only when India gains independence.

But Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura told that Krishna Consciousness is emergency, it cannot wait for anything. All these things like political changes, regime changes will keep on happening and most importantly these are not going to solve the problems of our life. Krishna Consciousness can only save the world and humanity. Maharaj said that Prabhupada would narrate his meeting with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and would proudly say that “I was defeated by my spiritual master.”

Maharaj then explained that Isvara Puri got the opportunity to serve Lord Chaitanya as his guru because he did menial service for his spiritual master, Madhavendra Puri.  

We should also develop the attitude of service and then we can have gratitude for Srila Prabhupada and our acharyas.

Radharani provides ingredients to cook sweet rice to Rupa Goswami

Maharaj said one important thing which I liked a lot. He said, “When we do not get what we want we get depressed. And when we see others getting something then we become envious of that person. All this is because of false ego. On our own we cannot free ourselves from this ego. But when we beg Krishna for his mercy and practice devotion to him with determination then Krishna can mercifully take away the ego.” 

Maharaj also shared the pastime that when Rupa Goswami decided to cook sweet rice for Sanatana Goswami, then Srimati Radharani personally came to provide all the ingredients like rice, milk, sugar to Rupa Goswami. Rupa Goswami prepared kheer (sweet rice) and offered it to Sanantan Goswami to eat. When Sanantan Goswami began eating, he found that the taste of the sweet rice was beyond this world.

Rupa Goswami said how a little girl came and gave him all the materials for cooking. When Sanatana Goswami heard the description of the girl then he understood that she was Radharani. Sanatana Goswami was upset with Rupa Goswami that he had taken service from Srimati Radharani. He said that our purpose is to serve Radha & Krishna and not take service from him. Rupa Goswami also realized his mistake. But both of them continued eating the kheer.

Maharaj shared this pastime to teach us that all our great acharyas want us to always be engaged in serving Krishna unconditionally and without any ulterior motive.

With his heart flooded with humility, Maharaj said, “I am a very small person, I have not achieved anything great in life, but I am getting an opportunity to serve you all.” The world especially the devotees know Maharaj’s extraordinary achievements and his unflinching dedication towards the mission of Srila Prabhupada.

The Ecstatic Kirtan

Although it was getting late, still devotees were relishing each word which was coming from the lotus mouth of Maharaj. After flooding the heart of all with Krishna katha, Maharaj said that let us now do kirtan.

He said, “As you all have been sitting for 4-5 hours, so please get up to perform sankirtan.”

I do not think that anyone was feeling tired after hearing wonderful glories of Maharaj and finally his nectarean words.  We all joyfully participated in the kirtan. Towards the end of kirtan, Maharaj asked devotees to raise their hands, close their eyes and loudly call Krishna by chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

We chanted 3-4 times and each time Maharaj said that our chanting the names of Krishna should be millions of times louder than the previous chanting.

Maharaj’s association, his divine words, his heart touching kirtan immersed all the devotees in an ocean of joy.  It was the best way to celebrate 75^th Vyasa Puja of HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj. It is because of his mercy only that thousands of souls all over the world, including me, now know that the purpose of life is to give our life to Krishna.

Program concluding at round 10:30 pm.  There was delicious Krishna prasadam for all the devotees.

Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan Bihari Temple at GEV

Praying to Srila Prabhupada for his mercy on his 129th Vyasa Puja

Today we are celebrating 129^th Vyasa Puja of Srila Prabhupada. On this auspicious day, let us pray to Srila Prabhupada for his mercy so that we get strength to resist the temptation of this material world and get determination to consistently practice devotion to Krishna.

If we do not become serious in our spiritual life, then we will remain stuck in this material world. Material world means suffering and we have suffered enough here. Now we should try our best to free ourselves from this never-ending suffering.

For this to become a reality, we need grace of Srila Prabhupada. Without his mercy getting the mercy of Krishna is not possible.

Material nature is extremely powerful. She is not going to leave us easily. On our own we won’t be able to free ourselves from its grip. Krishna himself says this. Only those who take shelter of Krishna can become free from the control of this material world.

“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” Bhagavad Gita 7.14

Our condition is akin to Gajendra who was helpless when he entered into water and got caught by a crocodile. Gajendra tried his best to get out of its grip but failed.

We have been also trying to free ourselves from the clutches of maya, but we are seeing that it is very difficult. Only Krishna and his pure devotees have the power to save us. Krishna saved Gajendra and Srila Prabhupada too saved millions of people by helping them to get connected to Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada came to give us Krishna

It is amazing that how so many people were able to surrender their life to Krishna at the call of Srila Prabhupada. They were able to shun material life so easily and were able to quickly take to spiritual life.  

Not just that those who sincere followed Srila Prabhupada’s guidelines were able to give up all bad habits. They were able to free their heart from the evils of lust, anger, greed, pride, envy, illusion and false ego.

Srila Prabhupada was chosen by Krishna to give Krishna to the suffering masses. He came to this world to teach us how to take shelter of Krishna. He convinced you and me to give up this abominable material attachment which causes us always pain. Srila Prabhupada always asked us to become serious in our spiritual life and enjoy a life of peace, bliss and prosperity.

On this auspicious day of his 129^th Vyasa Puja, I pray at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada to give me intelligence to understand his divine message.

I beg him to give me determination so that I give up material desires and material attachments and develop spiritual desires and attachment to Krishna.

Dear Srila Prabhupada, please bless me so that I always serve you, your followers and Sri Sri Radha Govinda & Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga for eternity.  

Three Reflections

• Without the mercy of Srila Prabhupada getting the mercy of Krishna is not possible.
• He was chosen by Krishna to give Krishna to the suffering masses.
• Srila Prabhupada always asked us to become serious in our spiritual life and enjoy a life of peace, bliss and prosperity.

Ask Yourself

• Have you prayed and thanked Srila Prabhupada for the gift of Krishna Consciousness on his 129^th Vyasa Puja?

Action Item

Reflect on Srila Prabhupada’s contribution in your life and write a personal prayer of about 300 words to him.

Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada on his 129th appearance day

Dear Srila Prabhupada, this year, 2025, we are celebrating your 129th Vyasa Puja. It is because of your tireless efforts that today Krishna Consciousness has spread all over the world.

When the entire world had wilfully chosen the path of annihilation, you were the only one desperately trying to save the humanity from gliding towards the path of darkness and ignorance.

People had turned away from Krishna but wanted to be like Krishna, the Supreme Lord, the creator, maintainer and destroyer of the cosmic world. Lesser mortals of this world were working hard and making many plans with a desire to enjoy unlimitedly here. They had forgotten their real identity and their real need.  

Seeing the plight of the world, your spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, asked you to spread the teachings of Krishna and Chaitanya all over the world. As soon as you got this instruction in 1922, you decided to dedicate your life in making the whole world Krishna Conscious.  

A glorious journey

Your journey wasn’t smooth. You did not get immediate success. But you never gave up. You persisted. You got help from none and you never blamed anyone for this. We never see that you ever saying to Krishna that I am doing so much for you but still you are not giving me the desired result. You just wanted to serve Krishna and in return you wanted nothing.

The only desire you carried in your heart was to spread the glories of Krishna in every part of the world. Just like the sun rises from the eastern sky to illuminate the entire world, you too travelled from the east from the glorious land of Vrindavan, carrying the transcendental teachings of Krishna, to enlighten the entire humanity.  

Nothing can stop the sun from disseminating its rays, similarly no one could stop you from sharing the pure teachings of Krishna.

Through your life’s example you are teaching us that nothing should demotivate us in practicing devotion to Krishna and in serving the mission of Krishna Consciousness. And also, our service should be without any ulterior motive. 

Srila Prabhupada’s teachings & books brought us closer to Krishna

You brought us closer to Krishna, you connected us to Krishna, and you showed us how happiness will become our constant companion if we decide to never leave the company of Krishna.  Dear Srila Prabhupada, you gave us everything which is required for us to grow in Krishna Consciousness.

You taught us how to chant, how to worship Krishna and how to always be conscious of Krishna. You gifted us transcendental literatures like Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita and many more books.

Day and night without caring for your own comfort, compromising with your food and sleep, you wrote these books. When we read these books, we feel that Krishna is personally talking to us and calling us back to him.  

Because of your books and teachings millions of souls all over the world have got addicted to Krishna. They chant the names of Krishna, sing the glories of Krishna, dance while singing beautiful songs which talks about Krishna, worship the beautiful deity of Krishna, read the wonderful pastimes of Krishna and enjoy the prasadam which is lovingly offered to Krishna.

While doing so they experience great joy which they love to share with all.  Your books are full of wisdom and talks about pure devotion to the Supreme Lord. When we read it, we feel connected to Krishna.

Mahavatar Narsimha movie inspired by your teachings

Recently an animation movie Mahavatar Narsimha which was based on your teachings was released in India and it got phenomenal success. People with their family members are thronging to theatres to see the movie. The movie is now being released globally too. It was your teachings which inspired, the director, Ashwin Kumar, to make such a wonderful movie.

He says, “Srila Prabhupada has said that art is a window to the spirit world. We have to become mediums. When I embarked on this project, I decided to depend more on the shastras than mere concoctions. Srila Prabhupada, the Lord, and Srimati Radharani blessed me with visions, which I sketched and gave to my studio artists for production. This entire process—of cleansing, meditating, and creating—transformed me.” 

Your books and teachings are now inspiring creative people to present your teachings globally in the form of movie.  And people are loving it too.  Movies are one of the best ways to connect people especially children and younger generation to spirituality.

It shows how purity is the force. You have given us scriptures as it is and when we read it or see it in the form of movie, we feel connected to the Supreme Lord. We also understand the necessity of leading a God centred life.

Whatever you have given to the world, in recent times, no one has given. It is important that the world comes to know your glories for their own good.

Regular Bhagavad Gita Classes in Schools

Few months back I had gone to a school in Kolkata to conduct quiz on scriptures like Ramayana and Mahabharata. I saw that faculty members of the school were asking questions to students about different spiritual leaders of India but sadly there were no questions related to you.

It is high time that we make people aware about your contribution to the world especially to the people of Kolkata as this is your birthplace.  When people will come to know you, they will connect with you and when they connect with you, they will automatically get connected to Krishna and their life will be successful.  

Although devotees are trying their best but obviously much more needs to be done.

Now we have started Bhagavad Gita classes in different schools in Kolkata, which is based on your book, Bhagavad Gita As It. In one of the schools, they are now using this book in their course curriculum.

School purchased the book and distributed it to the students. We are having regular Gita class for students. They are memorizing the verses, understanding its meanings and also appearing for exams. During the class, they also chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Begging for Prabhupada’s mercy

I pray at your lotus feet to bless us so that we can start Bhagavad Gita classes in many more schools in Kolkata.  You brought us closer to Krishna, you connected us to Krishna, and you showed us how happiness will become our constant companion if we decide to never leave the company of Krishna.

When you had nothing, you served Krishna and a time came when you had everything, name, fame, success, still you continued serving Krishna.  You taught us how to dedicate our life to Krishna and how to selflessly serve him without expecting anything from him.  

You are the spiritual master of the entire universe because you are taking us towards Krishna, the Supreme Lord, the Supreme master and our eternal father.

Dear Srila Prabhupada on your 129^th Vyasa Puja, I pray at your lotus feet for your mercy and guidance so that I become sincere in practicing devotion to Krishna.  Please show mercy upon me and free my heart of lust, anger, greed, pride, envy, illusion and false ego.  

Please shower your mercy upon me so that I never leave your lotus feet and continue serving you and Krishna in any situations and circumstances and without any wrong motive.

Your eternal insignificant servant

Purushottam Nitai Das

Three Reflections

• Srila Prabhupada’s life teaches us that nothing should demotivate us in practicing devotion to Krishna and in serving the mission of Krishna Consciousness.
• Immensely successful Mahavatar Narsimha movie is based on the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.
• Srila Prabhupada brought us closer to Krishna, connected us to Krishna, and showed us how happiness will become our constant companion if we decide to never leave the company of Krishna.

Ask Yourself

• Have I written Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada on his 129th birth anniversary?

Action Item

• If not, then please write Vyasa Offering to Srila Prabhupada and share your heart’s feeling with him.

Reflecting upon 7 wonderful qualities of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj on his 74th Vyasa Puja

Today we are celebrating 74^th Vyasa Puja of HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj. It is very important and auspicious day for all his disciples, in fact for all the devotees of the world. 

I consider myself very fortunate that Maharaja gave me shelter of his lotus feet and accepted me his disciple in spite of me not been qualified. 

I pray to Maharaj on his Vyas Puja day to give me determination and patience so that I can free myself from all vices like lust, anger and greed which is binding me to this material world.

On this auspicious day of 74^th Vyasa Puja of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj, let us reflect upon his 7 wonderful qualities.

1. The humble acharya

Maharaj is one of the senior most disciples of Srila Prabhupada and for more than 50 years have been tirelessly working hard to spread Krishna Consciousness all over the world. He has influenced the lives of lakhs of people. Today he has thousands of disciples and there are thousands of others who aspire to become his disciples. Not just that there are many materially well accomplished people who take inspiration and guidance from Maharaj from different parts of the world.

But in spite of all these great achievements and honour, he always remains humble. In fact, if someone who does not know Maharaj sees him, he will feel that he is just any ordinary saffron robe wearing monk.

He never allows devotees surrounding him & chanting his glories, clicking his pictures, throwing flower petals upon him or putting huge garlands upon him. He leads a very simple life and does not want to be treated as a celebrity.

Once when Maharaj was staying at the house of HG Srinathji Prabhu then prabhuji had arranged everything nicely for his comfortable stay. Maharaj was given a nice room, comfortable bed, wollen blanket so that he could take rest properly.

But to his surprise, HG Srinathji Prabhu early in the morning saw that Maharaj is sleeping on the terrace and not in the room. Prabhuji asked Maharaj, “How were you able to sleep on the terrace as there are so many mosquitoes?” Maharaj said, “While staying in the jungles and the Himalayas, he has learnt how to wrap his body nicely so that he is not disturbed by the mosquitoes.”

By this we learn about the importance of being simple in our life. I remember one of the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya with Sanatana Goswami. When Sanatana Goswami was wearing a valuable woollen blanket then it looked as if Lord Chaitanya was not happy. So, Sanatana Goswami decided to give it up. He went to the bank of the Ganges and there he traded his valuable woollen blanket with a torn quilt. And when Lord Chaitanya saw Sanatana Goswami having old torn quit instead of the costly woollen blanket, he was happy.

So, in spite of our accomplishments – spiritual or material – we should always lead a simple life and should not allow ourselves to be glorified by others.  

Yes, we should not imitate Maharaj, but we should at least try to follow his footsteps and guidelines.

2. Hearing from Srila Prabhupada again & again

During this year’s (2024) Kartik Yatra at Mayapur Dham, while giving class and speaking about Jagai and Madhai, Maharaj said that, “Today morning I was hearing Srila Prabhupada’s tape and Prabhupada was describing about Jagai and Madhai.”  And then Maharaj spoke what Srila Prabhupada had said in his lecture.

Maharaj might have spoken about the pastimes of Jagai and Madhai hundreds of times. In fact, I myself have heard it from Maharaj in his many lectures. But still Maharaj was hearing Srila Prabhupada speaking on this important pastime associated with Lord Chaitanya.  Maharaj through his example is teaching us the importance of hearing from Srila Prabhupada regularly. 

These days so many lectures and YouTube videos are available which is good. But what lesson we learn here from Maharaj is that we should make it a habit to regularly hear from Srila Prabhupada.

Now many times when I see any Srila Prabhupada lecture, I think that I have heard it earlier so let me hear something else. But Maharaj has directly heard from Srila Prabhupada, and he might have heard Srila Prabhupada’s tape on Jagai and Madhai so many times but still he is hearing.

In spiritual life, hearing is extremely important and hearing from a pure devotee have great impact in our heart.  Just by attentively hearing from Sukhadev Goswami, Maharaj Parikshit attained perfection. So, if we also try to hear from Srila Prabhupada, a pure devotee, attentively and constantly, we may also one day attain perfection.

3. Leading by Example

Great leaders do not just give sermons but always teaches the masses by his own example. During Kartik Yatra, every morning Maharaj would come to the pandal to chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Maharaj would always sit erect, face towards Tulsi Maharani and chant attentively on his beads.

Seeing Maharaj chanting so sincerely and with such absorption motivated us to also chant sincerely. In this age of Kali, chanting the holy names of Krishna is the only was by which we can deliver ourselves.

Maharaj by his personal example is teaching us the importance of chanting 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra in the morning. And chanting should not be done to just finish the rounds but to be absorbed in the holy names of the Lord.

Seeing Maharaj chanting with such absorption in front of Tulsi Maharani made me remember namacharya Haridas Thakura who would sit in front of Tulsi Maharani and would remain absorbed in chanting the names of Krishna.

4. A dear, loving & caring friend of all

I have always seen that during each Kartik Yatra many of Maharaj’s godbrothers and godsisters come. It is only because of Maharaj’s loving nature that all these disciples of Srila Prabhupada who lives in different parts of the world come for Maharaj’s Kartik Yatra to give their association to all of us.

And especially on the day of the disappearance day of Srila Prabhupada, we get to hear so many wonderful pastimes of Srila Prabhupada from the lotus mouth of these disciples of Srila Prabhupada. We were not here when Srila Prabhupada was transforming the whole world. So, our connection with Srila Prabhupada is through his disciples. So, the more we directly hear from them about Srila Prabhupada, the more we come to know about him and more we feel connected to him.

Maharaj would invite HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj to speak every evening and we had great fortune to hear from HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj in Mayapur Dham. And when because of bad health HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj was not able to come then HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj sent a long message for all the devotees who had come for Kartik Yatra. In his message Maharaj was thanking HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja and the devotees for coming to Mayapur. And, he was inspiring all of us to come again to the holy Dham.

We read in Chaitanya Charitamrita that how all the devotees would always come together to glorify the Lord and the devotees. This is what we see during Maharaj’s Kartik Yatra. Maharaj is teaching us about the importance of devotee association especially with our equals.  

Many times, because of our false ego and impure consciousness, we consider equals to be our competitors and so we do not develop loving relationships with them. Maharaj teaches us that we should always be respecting, honouring and glorifying our equals and should always have friendly relationships with them.

5. Always appreciating

Whenever there is an opportunity Maharaj begins to glorify the devotees.

Not just he glorifies great personalities like Vaisnava acharyas, Srila Prabhupada and Srila Prabhupada’s disciples, but he even glorifies his disciples and anyone who renders any service to Krishna. During the last day of Kartik Yatra, Maharaj was glorifying all the devotees who worked hard to make Mayapur Kartik Yatra successful.

Many times, I have seen that when someone renders some service then we think that it was their duty to do so, and there is nothing great about it. Or sometimes, although we appreciate their efforts, but we fail to glorify them in front of others.

But Maharaj makes it a point that everyone is appreciated and should feel that their services are being valued. Although it is not possible for Maharaj to remember name of each devotee who does service, but Maharaj makes it a point that he takes the name of all those devotees whom he knows. Such an appreciation by Maharaj inspires them to serve more and more. For those devotees, including me, who does not do service it gives us motivation to render some serve to Krishna.

And during his class and also during kirtan, he would recollect the services which his godbrothers and godsisters did for Srila Prabhupada.

6. Importance of cultivating devotional qualities

In all his lectures, Maharaj again and again emphasises on the need of cultivating high moral values. One of the oft quoted verses of Maharaj is

trinad api sunicena

taror api sahishnuna

amanina manadena

kirtaniyah sada harihi

“One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.”

Maharaj never likes criticising anyone even if the criticism is genuine.

For example, during the Kartik Yatra 2024, the mic system was giving some issues. But I never saw Maharaj singling out those who were managing sound system. Maharaj would have pointed out their mistakes and we would have thought that Maharaj did the right thing. But he did not do it.

In one of the Vyas Puja offerings, HG Radheshyam Prabhu was saying that it is not that Maharaj does not correct devotees but he does it in such a loving way that the devotee who is doing mistakes learn the lesson and does not feel bad. 

But whenever Maharaj gets an opportunity, he begins glorifying any service rendered by devotees. 

In the outside world we just see the opposite. Something bad is exaggerated and something good is minimised. That is why material world is abominable, and material life is so miserable. 

Maharaj by his example is teaching us the consciousness which a devotee should cultivate.  A devotee should always try to see good in others. In one of the class Maharaj was saying that devotees should be like honeybees. Just like honeybees only looks for nectar in a flower and extracts it similarly we should always try to see good in others. 

And we should not be like flies who loves to sit on the wounds of a person causing him pain.  This may appear very easy to do. But it is extremely difficult. In this world most of the conflicts are only because people disrespect others, insults others and always sees bad in others. But as we change our mindset and starts seeing good in others by understanding that we all are parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, Krisna, the conflicts will cease to exist.

Maharaj teaches that a devotee should think about others welfare and try his best to motivate others to serve Krishna.  And along with that devotees should have impeccable character.

7. His words touches the heart

Just like after speaking Bhagavad Gita, Krishna does not force Arjuna to follow him. Similarly, Maharaj never forces devotees to do certain thing but he always inspires them so that his disciples may engage in the service of Krishna.

Although Maharaj is a sannaysi, a guru, a spiritual leader, our spiritual father but his talk is never authoritative. I was not fortunate to have any personal interaction with Maharaj but after Brahmana initiation Maharaj spoke to few of us who had got Brahmana initiation. Maharaj spoke for few minutes and while speaking he said, “Now since you all are Brahmana initiated, so try to do some deity service also.” These words were enough to inspire us to engage in deity service.

Begging for his mercy

On this auspicious day of 74^th Vyasa Puja of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj, I beg at his lotus for his mercy so that I can constantly serve Krishna, serve Srila Prabhupada, serve him, serve all the devotees without any ulterior motives. I beg at his lotus feet to purify my heart of all the anarthas especially lust so that I can always be engaging in loving devotional service to Krishna.

Maharaj’s insignificant servant

Purushottam Nitai Das

Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada on his 127th Appearance Day

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your transcendental lotus feet.

This year the entire world is celebrating your 127^th Vyasa Puja, dear Srila Prabhupada. And rightly so because you have made an extraordiary impact on every devotees life. In their 127th Vyasa Puja offering to you Srila Prabhupada Your disciples, sannyasis, senior devotees have spoken in detail about your transcendental qualities and how you have transformed the lives of so many people.

As a pure devotee of Krishna, you are full of transcendental qualities, and we can learn so many lessons from your life. 

Clarity about the goal

One of your greatest qualities, dear Srila Prabhupada, was that you had complete clarity about your life’s goal.  Your life’s mission was to fulfil the instructions of your spiritual master. His instruction to you was to flood the world with Krishna Consciousness and make every citizen of this world a devotee of Krishna.

And without worrying about success or failure, you dedicated your entire life in spreading Krishna Consciousness.

You worked hard enthusiastically and had complete faith in the orders of your guru. With patience and determination, you kept on pursuing your mission. And again and again you prayed to the Lord that he bestows his mercy on the suffering souls.

Also, you knew that only by the causeless mercy of Krishna, you will succeed in your mission of spreading the glories of Krishna all over the world.

“Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure. I am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts, they will certainly feel engladdened and thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life. I am just like a puppet in Your hands. So if You have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, O Lord, make me dance as You like.” Mārkine Bhāgavata-dharma

The most important reason why you made this the mission of your life is because you had great compassion in your heart. Your heart could not tolerate seeing the plight of the suffering souls.

As Prahlada you wanted to deliver all the people of this world who are caught up in this repeated cycle of birth and death.  

In this world everyone suffers – some know about this, and some do not know about this.

Why we suffer here?

We suffer only because our consciousness is material, and we are convinced that by trying to enjoy this material world by our senses, we will experience happiness and will succeed in solving all our problems. 

Just like a drug addict believes that taking another dose of drug will give him a kick or relieve him from the pain which he is undergoing, similarly, we think that another dose of sense enjoyment will give us a kick and relief from different sufferings.

As long as we have this mindset, we will never experience happiness in our life.

But unfortunately, almost everyone is mad after sense enjoyment. It does not matter whether one believes in God or does not believe in God, everyone is looking for carnal pleasure.

An atheist tries to enjoy this world by keeping God aside. Whereas a theist tries to enjoy this world by seeking God’s help. So, we see people thronging temples to pray to the Lord to fulfill their wishes. They are ready to go anywhere where they think their material desires can be fulfilled.

They stand in front of different demigods requesting them to give in to their demands. Not just that if such people come to know about some baba who gives benedictions which works then they go there too.

But in spite of all this endeavor, we see that we continue to suffer. Sometimes we get temporary relief from suffering but soon some new suffering pops up. And our mind always remains in constant anxiety.

And honestly speaking no one knows how to get complete relief from all the sufferings.

But you gave us a process following which we can lead a life free from all sufferings.

Why we always remain disturbed?

Your message has totally revolutionized the thought process of the people. Before reading your books or hearing your lectures, we did not even know that we were suffering. And even if we knew we are suffering, we did not know the solution for our suffering.

You made us understand that things of this material world do not have the potential to give us lasting happiness.  Why? Because we are not material beings, but we are spiritual beings. We are spirit souls sitting within our material body or we can say that we are spirit souls bound within this material body.

True, this material body needs care. Just like the driver of a car takes care of the car but he is aware that he is not the car. Similarly, we the drivers of this material body should nicely take care of this body understanding that we are not this body.

As spiritual beings our needs, wants and desires are best taken care spiritually and not materially. But if we continue seeking pleasure from this world then we will always remain dissatisfied. All this wrong understanding which we have developed should be give up.

How anything material makes us miserable?

We are spirit souls and if we want to be happy then we should understand that this world is not going to give us any pleasure. Things are not going to give us pleasure. Material relationships are not going to give us any pleasure. Because they come and go.

People whom we love may leave us and go.  And we just helplessly watch. Sometimes death may take them away from us and sometimes they do not want to be with us anymore.

Parents spend most important period of their life in taking care of their children. But when the children grow, they leave the parents.

A husband may love his wife, but the wife may decide to leave the husband to be with someone else. Or vice versa.

People find solace in money. But they always remain in anxiety of losing the money. People who are rich or famous are always fearful of losing their fame. A person in a high position is always fearful of people around him because at any moment they may rebel and take away his position.

So, no matter how best we try, as long as we think that this world is going to give us pleasure we will remain in pain.

So, what is the solution?  The solution is to understand who we are and accordingly we should act. We need to redirect our life’s goal from material to spiritual. As souls, our needs are spiritual and not material.

How to be happy in this world too?

You taught us that as souls, we belong to Krishna.  When we water the roots of a tree then everything associated with the tree – leaves, flowers, fruits, twigs, stem – get nourished. Similarly, when we serve Krishna, the root of the entire creation, then we as the parts and parcels of Krishna also feel completely satisfied.

With all our senses and mind, we should continuously render service to Krishna. Our life should be so planned that everything we do should be centered around Krishna.

We should live for Krishna, work for Krishna and be ready to die for Krishna. Sorry, we actually never die. But we just change our bodies. And in this world based on our karma we are given different bodies.

Its not that we have to continue to be in this material world. We can even go back to the spiritual world and live with Krishna forever.  And if we completely dedicate our life to Krishna then even in this world we do not suffer. We can be happy here by constantly serving Krishna.

On your 127^th Vyasa Puja, I beg Srila Prabhupada for your mercy so that I can give up all material attachments and develop attachment to your lotus feet and your divine instructions.

Your eternal servant

Purushottam Nitai Das

Meditating on the pastimes of HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj on his 72nd Vyas Puja

Hare Krishna, I am sharing some of the pastimes of HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj on his auspicious 72nd Vyas Puja. Let us meditate on these beautiful pastimes of Radhanath Swami Maharaj and try to assimilate his life’s instructions in our spiritual journey.

HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj meeting Srila Prabhupada at Cross Maidan

HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj left home in search of God when he was very young and came to India. He met Srila Prabhupada first time in Cross maidan in Mumbai on March 25^th, 1971. At cross maidan there were thousands of people who had come for Hare Krishna festival.

Srila Prabhupada was sitting on vyas asan on the stage and Maharaj was sitting amongst the audience. At that time Maharaj had long hair. He was sitting far behind. He was trying to have a glimpse of Prabhupada, but he was not able to see him properly. 

At that time HG Gurudas Prabhu, a senior disciple of Prabhupada, came to Maharaj and said that Prabhupada is calling you on the stage. Maharaj was surprised. He was thinking, “Why Prabhupada is calling me on the stage? Why did he single him out?”

Anyway, he went on the stage and got an opportunity to see Prabhupada closely. Prabhupada did beautiful kirtan and addressed thousands of assembled people. After the program when Prabhupada was leaving, Maharaj tried to touch the lotus feet of Prabhupada.

As he was trying to do, a senior disciple of Prabhupada said in a commanding tone, “No one touches Prabhupada’s feet.” But Prabhupada said, “No, he can touch.” So, Maharaj touched the lotus feet of Prabhupada and got his blessings.

From this pastime, we can understand very clearly that the relationship which a disciple has with his spiritual master is eternal.  Just like a father recognizes his son amongst thousands of people, similarly, Prabhupada recognized his spiritual son amongst thousands of people.

After meeting Prabhupada for the first time only, Maharaj felt that he is my guru, my spiritual master.

Making sandesh for Srila Prabhupada

When HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj was serving in New Vrindavan temple then he had a service of preparing sandesh, a Bengali sweet, for Srila Prabhupada. And when Srila Prabhupada would come to New Vrindavan then Maharaj would give him sandesh at the airport.

Once one another devotee also thought that let me prepare sandesh for Prabhupada. He prepared it and offered it to Prabhupada and asked him if he liked it. Prabhupada said, “Yes its good but what Radhanath Maharaj prepares is tastier.” 

Earlier Maharaj prepared sandesh, Bengali sweet, for Prabhupada and now he is carries sandesh, transcendental message, of Prabhupada all over the world.

Maharaj practices vairagya

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has come to teach bhakti and along with bhakti he also teaches us to practice vairagya and have jnana (spiritual knowledge). Maharaj has sadhu life. He lives frugally. Maharaj has very simple lifestyle. He does not have any bank balance.

While addressing HSBC bankers in 2013, Maharaj said, “I am addressing the top bankers of the world, but I do not have bank account since 1969.”   

HH Gaur Govinda Maharaj on HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj

Once HH Gaur Govinda Swami Maharaj in a lecture (lecture name:  Story of New Vrindavan) was saying, “One should cry for Krishna. Unless you cry for Krishna, you cannot get Krishna. Dhruva Maharaj cried for Krishna. Bilvamangal Thakura cried for Krishna.”

Then he saw HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj who was also sitting there and said that Radhanath Maharaj knows how to cry for Krishna. He said, “He has seen that while chanting Maharaj cries for Krishna. And by his tears of love, Maharaj has purchased Krishna.“

Once HG Krishnananda Prabhu was saying that when Maharaj is in Iskcon Chowpatty, he gets an opportunity to sit beside Maharaj and chant.  While chanting Maharaj is completely absorbed and tears comes from his eyes, but he does not show it to others.

Becoming mad for Krishna

In one yatra in Udupi there were HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj, HH Jayadvaita Swami Maharaj, HG Jananivāsa Prabhu and HG Pankajanghri Prabhu.  

While giving lecture, HH Jayadvaita Swami Maharaj said, “Srila Prabhupada said that we have so many rules in the organization and that is required to run a global organization. But we should not forget that the life’s purpose is to become mad for Krishna.”

Then HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj picked up the mic and said to HH Jayadvaita Swami Maharaj, “You are a bona fide mad man.” Then HH Jayadvaita Swami Maharaj took the mic from HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj and said, “Only one mad man can recognize another mad man.”

Best gift to Maharaj on his vyas puja day

Once one devotee from Kolhapur wrote to Maharaj, “On your vyas puja day I want to give you a gift. So, what can I give you?”  Maharaj said that the best gift you can give is to chant the holy name with three qualities – faith, attention and humility.

Maharaj says that each bead represents the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya and while chanting we should think that we are holding the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya and chanting.

Maharaj’s best sweet

Once one devotee in Prerna lecture asked to Maharaj that what is your favourite sweet. Maharaj said, “My favourite sweet is Hare Krishna Mahamantra.” In someone’s birthday we gift them sweets. So, on Maharaj’s birthdate, we can chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, this will be the best birthday gift to Maharaj. Maharaj always emphasizes that we should chant sincerely and always have a mood of

tṛṇād api sunīcena

taror api sahiṣṇunā

amāninā mānadena

kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

(Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Adi 17.31)

When a devotee went to Maharaj with complaints

Once one devotee came to Maharaj with lots of complaint. Maharaj heard it for a long time. The devotee thought that since Maharaj is patiently hearing me, he will give some practical solution to resolve the problem.

But after hearing the complaints Maharaj told the devotee, “Just chant. It will give you peace and solution.”

HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj’s deity

Someone asked Maharaj, “What is your deity?” Then Maharaj took his beads from his bead bag and said, “This is my deity. And I worship my deity, by chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.”

Be always conscious of Krishna

Maharaj does not like if someone is practicing bhakti externally or unconsciously.  He says that we should be conscious in every aspect of our Krishna Consciousness be it chanting, reading, hearing or doing any service for Krishna.

Practices the principle of tolerance

Several years back, I saw one video of Maharaj. In that video one person was accusing Maharaj of something. He was very loud, very aggressive. But Maharaj kept his cool. And in his typical humble way, he was just saying, “I have not done anything. Why are you blaming me.”

Want to be right or Krishna Conscious?

Once when there were differences between two devotees and they wanted solution from Maharaj then Maharaj said, “Do you want to be right or do you want to be Krishna Conscious.”

Maharaj stole hearts of thousands of people

Once Maharaj was in Nandagaon with the devotees and he was explaining many pastimes of Krishna. He also spoke how Krishna would steal butter from the house of the gopis to give them topmost pleasure.

At that time one senior brajvasis said, “Krishna stole butter from the house of the gopis but Maharaj has stolen the hearts of thousands of people and have offered them at the lotus feet of Krishna.”

Conclusion

These are the few pastimes of HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj which is touching to the heart and teaches us many important lessons. On this auspicious occasion of 72^nd Vyas Puja of HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj, I pray Maharaj to shower his mercy upon my so that I develop taste in chanting the holy names of Krishna and develop a desire to always follow his instructions as it is.

(Note: The pastimes of HH Radhanath Swami Guru Maharaj is based on the lectures and offerings given by senior disciples of Maharaj such as HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Maharaj, HG Krishnananda Prabhu, HG Gauranga Prabhu, HG Radheshyam Prabhu and other devotees)

72nd Vyasa Puja Offering to HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj

This year, 2022, devotees and disciples of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj is celebrating his 72^nd Vyasa Puja. Each one of us feel blessed to have the mercy and association of Maharaj in our life. Whenever I face any challenges in my life, I try to hear Maharaj’s lectures or try to read his books like Journey home.

His teachings are full of transcendental wisdom which helps to find best Krishna Conscious solution in a given situation and circumstances.  Below is my offering to HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj, my spiritual master, on his 72^nd Vyasa Puja.

Maharaj’s emphasis on rediscovering inner happiness

While addressing the employees and their families at HSBC headquarters in London in 2013, His Holiness Radhanath Swami Maharaj said, “While I am speaking to the top bankers of the world, but I never had a bank account since 1969.“

We all know that Maharaj left the comforts of his home in USA and came to India when he was just a teenager in search for that wealth which is sublime, eternal and bestows uncontaminated bliss. 

He was looking for a genuine spiritual teacher who could show him the right path.  And when Maharaj met Srila Prabhupada, he knew that he has found a realized soul who knows the secret of true happiness.

He decided to take shelter of the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada had left Vrindavan to distribute the wealth of Krishna Consciousness all over the world.

Following the footsteps of his spiritual master, Maharaj decided to dedicate his life in helping people discover inner wealth which gives pure bliss. And that inner wealth can be accessed only when we connect to the lotus feet of Krishna.

Maharaj again and again emphasizes in his lectures that we should search for happiness within ourselves and not in the outside world. Maharaj says, “Unless one is happy within one’s own heart, one cannot be happy no matter what one acquires.”

The real treasure is within us. Unfortunately, we have forgotten it. But once we get it then we will never be unhappy in our life.

Heart can never be satisfied by any external means

But sadly, even after coming to Krishna Consciousness and practicing for many years, we are not able to find that inner happiness. And this is the reason that sometimes we see unfortunate incidents of devotees having difficulties in getting along with each other. It can be within the devotee community, or it can be within a family too.

Since we feel unfulfilled within, so, we try to satisfy ourselves with external means. Sometimes we think by amassing wealth and accumulating material facilities we can be happy. Or we may start delighting in having power and positions. We start looking for name and fame. But these are not going to give us much pleasure.

In fact, these may become the cause of misery eventually. Heart can never be satisfied by any external means. If we are happy within, we will always remain satisfied and we will be able to spread happiness everywhere. 

When Maharaj saw a boy full of joy

Maharaj in his The Journey Home book tells the story of a 16-year-old boy whom he met in Kandahar, Afghanistan.  The boy was extremely poor, emaciated, was wearing rags and had swollen eyes. He had a little musical instrument with him which was also not in good shape. 

But with that instrument, as he began singing spiritual songs, his face lit up and in spite of his deplorable material circumstances, he was joyful. He appeared to be the happiest person Maharaj had ever seen in his life at that time.  

Maharaj writes, “He was smiling and crying in joy as he sung, and it was a culture shock for me. I was born and raised in northern Illinois and I was taught that having good health, having beauty, having money, having property, having education, this is what defined a happy life. This boy had absolutely none of it, He was impoverished, he was diseased, he was blind but I could tell you, he was the happiest person I had ever seen up to then in my life and I had to question, what really is happiness?”

How to always have positive experiences

Maharaj expects that each and everyone of us should discover that inner joy. And that can be possible when we change our consciousness from material to spiritual. Spiritual life does not mean just doing some spiritual activity. It depends upon our consciousness. 

Krishna Consciousness should change the way we see the world. We should see the world from the eyes of the scriptures given by Krishna. We should utilize every opportunity to get closer to Krishna.

Here in this world, we have good and bad experiences both. But how we deal with good or bad situations determines our destiny. Once devotees had gone with Maharaj to his hometown in USA. Maharaj was narrating various incidents of his childhood days. One of the devotees said, “Maharaj you have many positive experiences in your life.”

Maharaj immediately replied, “Those are positive because I process them to be positive.”  Situations and circumstances do not automatically become positive or negative. Maharaj teaches us that how we deal with that situation makes it positive or negative. 

Maharaj being a spiritual leader have faced many oppositions and challenges. We hear that during initial days in New Vrindavan Maharaj had to go through difficult circumstances. But even in those situations Maharaj found positivity and explored ways to serve Krishna in a better way.

Lesson to learn when we are insulted

Maharaj goes on to say that we can even draw positive experience even if someone insults us.

He explains that “When someone insults us, blames us, use harsh words against us, criticizes us then we feel great pain within our heart.  So, we should think that if we use the same words and behave in same way with others then the other person will also feel the same pain. Therefore , the lesson we should learn is that we should never insult others.”  

Maharaj says that there are principles and there are higher principles. And one of the highest principles is to never hurt any devotee’s feelings. Because this will displease Krishna and if Krishna is displeased then how we will be happy.

Maharaj does not want to see any one of us morose

HG Radheshyam Prabhu in his offering to Maharaj was saying that “Maharaj does not want to see any devotee morose.” Maharaj says that since we have been practicing Krishna Consciousness, so we should always be happy because we have got the treasure of Krishna Consciousness which is pure, and which never depletes.  

HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s quote on happiness

• Everyone seeks happiness. True happiness is a product of inner fulfilment.
• You cannot give happiness to another person, unless you are happy yourself.

On this auspicious occasion of his 72^nd Vyasa Puja, I thank HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj, my spiritual master, from the core of my heart for revealing to me the wealth of Krishna Consciousness.  I pray at his lotus feet to give me intelligence and determination to always follow his instructions and serve Krishna as per his wishes which will make my human life successful.

Maharaj’s insignificant servant

Purushottam Nitai Das

Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata, India

126th Vyasa Puja celebration of Srila Prabhupada at Iskcon Newtown temple

Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata, celebrated 126^th Vyasa Puja of Srila Prabhupada in a grand way. Thousands of devotees came for the Vyasa Puja celebration. A day before was Janmashtami. And on that day, there was heavy downpour. The weather was not good on Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day too.

But these ephemeral difficulties did not deter the devotees to throng Iskcon Newtown temple. Devotees were in the temple since morning. Large number of devotees participated in the guru puja at 7:30 am and attended Srimad Bhagavatam class.

Guru Puja and Pushpanjali

Many devotees fasted till 12 noon and also chanted more number of rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra for Srila Prabhupada’s pleasure. At 12 noon there was Pushpanjali i.e. flowers were offered to Srila Prabhupada and arati was performed.  The mood was festive. After fasting for almost one and a half days devotees relished noon prasadam.

One of the things of Iskcon which attracts even a non-devotee is Iskcon’s prasadam. Lord Krishna appeared as Lord Chaitanya and made practicing devotion to Krishna simple. Srila Prabhupada an ardent follower of Lord Chaitanya carried the same mood and have ensured that devotees in Iskcon is not deprived of anything. One of the best ways to satisfy the senses is to eat nice food.

But when the food is prasadam then it not just satisfies the senses but also purifies the senses. So, devotees not just relish the delicious verities of prasadam but also parallelly remove unwanted substances from their heart which keeps them away from Krishna.

Offering of Devotees to Srila Prabhupada

Evening program started at 5 pm.  To set the mood first there was lively kirtan which rejuvenated physically tired devotees. After the kirtan devotees began making their offerings to Srila Prabhupada on his 126^th Vyasa Puja.

It is strange to see that how Prabhupada has touched everyone’s life in a personal way. Devotees one by one narrated their struggles in their Krishna Conscious journey and how Srila Prabhupada’s guidance through his books and lectures helped them and showed them the right path. Today, you and I cannot deny the fact that it is only because of Srila Prabhupada that each one of us are practicing Krishna Consciousness.

Srila Prabhupada was a revolutionary preacher. He led the worldwide Krishna Conscious movement from front and fought with anyone who opposed it with intellectual argument.   

I liked an offering of one of the matajis. While giving her offering, she strongly opposed the idea of feminism which is taking women away from authentic Krishna Conscious practices. In her address she said that she felt proud that Srila Prabhupada gave her the position of mother. If you address any non-devotee young (or even not so young) lady mataji then she will become wild and will yell at you. But this mataji who was not old felt privileged to be addressed and respected as mother. It is a revolutionary idea which Srila Prabhupada promoted.

Some devotees wrote heart touching poems to glorify Srila Prabhupada.

While devotees were making their offerings to Srila Prabhupada, some devotees were making arrangements for the abhishek of Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada’s grand abhishek on his 126^th Vyasa Puja at Iskcon Newtown

Abhishek started at around 6:30 pm. The stage was decorated with colourful flowers. Srila Prabhupada’s deity was brought for abhishek and reverentially placed on an elevated marble platform on a table.  

First his body was smeared with chandan oil. Then his arati was done with 9 pista lamps which were put on a circular plate. Rose petals and other colourful petals were put around the lamps. These pista lamps are made of wheat flour or fine flour called maida. After that white til paste was applied on the body of Srila Prabhupada.

Bathing ceremony begins

The first liquid item which was poured on Srila Prabhupada was milk which was followed by curd, ghee, honey, sugar candy water and kusha grass water.

After that Srila Prabhupada was bathed with different fruit juices like banana juice, green grapes and black grapes juices, pomegranate juice, watermelon juice and mango juice. After the fruit juices, Prabhupada was bathed with kesar water and rose water.

And after this Prabhupada was bathed with Sarvaushadhi, Mahaushadhi, Ratnodak and Ashtagandha. Ashtagandha means eight sacred items, it consists of Panchpushp jal, Camphor, Jatamansi and Chandan paste.  

After Ashtagandha bath there was Sahastradhara snana. For Sahastradhara snana, a vessel having multiple holes (ideally having thousand holes) was put above the head of Srila Prabhupada. Few peeled bananas were put on the vessel.

Few devotees held the Sahastradhara vessel which was on Prabhupada’s head and couple of devotees started pouring water on it.  Water started flowing through multiple holes bathing Srila Prabhupada. Several pots of water were poured. It looked so beautiful. Devotees loudly started clapping and singing.  

After bathing with Sahastradhara, Srila Prabhupaada was bathed with flower petals consisting of yellow and orange marigold and juhi.

While Srila Prabhupada was being bathed with different types of sacred liquid hundreds of devotees in chorus were singing the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Devotees also sang the vaishnava song – vaishnaba thakura, doyara sagara, e dase koruna kori.

After the abhishek, Srila Prabhupada was taken for dressing and bhoga offering.

126^th Vyasa Puja book offered to Srila Prabhupada at Iskcon Newtown

Devotees again started giving their offerings. HG Acharya Ratan Prabhu offered the 126^th Vyasa Puja book of Iskcon Newtown devotees to Srila Prabhupada. After offering the book at Prabhupada’s lotus feet, HG Acharya Ratan Prabhu read the offering of Iskcon Kolkata GBC HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj, other senior sannyasis and devotees. He then read his offering. While devotees were giving offering, Srila Prabhupada was getting ready.

Arati & Bhoga Offering

Beautifully dressed Srila Prabhupada came on the stage. Many devotees had worked hard to prepare bhoga for Prabhupada. Since it was the appearance day celebration of everyone’s beloved Srila Prabhupada, so devotees had put in their heart to prepare different delicious bhoga for him. If I am not wrong then more than 100 items were offered to Prabhupada along with a cake. After bhoga offering, it was arati time.

HG Vrindavan Chari Prabhu did the arati and HG Amar Kishor Prabhu sang the song – Sri Guru Caran Padma and led the kirtan.

The festival culminated with delicious prasadam. Every devotee loved the prasadam and had a big smile which was bigger than their prasadam plate.

Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada on his 126th Appearance Day

This year we are celebrating 126th Vyasa Puja, birth anniversary, of Srila Prabhupada. On this auspcious occassion let us reflect on Srila Prabhupada’s great contribution in spreading Krishna Consciosuness all over the world.

Honestly speaking, I am not at all qualified to write vyasa puja offering to Srila Prabhupada on his 126th appearance day but I am trying to do so for my own purificaiton. It is said that just by glorifying a vaisnava a person who is extremely sinful also gets purified.

In my humble attempt of discussing the glories of Srila Prabhupada, if I committ any mistake then please do forgive me.

An incident from the life of Srila Prabhupada

Once there was disappearance day celebration of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Since it was Friday so HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj asked devotees to prepare feast in the evening because he thought that in the evening more guests will come.

At around 11 am Srila Prabhupada inquired how the feast preparation is going. HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj informed to Prabhupada that since it was Friday so he decided that the feast will be prepared in the evening when more guests will come. Srila Prabhupada became angry like Lord Narasimhadeva. He immediately went to the kitchen.

Only one mataji was in the kitchen and she was cooking prasadam. Srila Prabhupada asked her why she is not preparing feast for his spiritual master. She said because HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj asked us to prepare it in the evening.  This made Prabhupada more angry.

Without wasting a moment, he himself started cooking the feast. Few devotees began assisting him. In an hour Srila Prabhupada was able to prepare ten course feast for sixty devotees. After the feast preparation, there was disappearance day celebration of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. There was arati, kirtan and lecture by Prabhupada.

An important lesson Prabhupada teaches

Once the program was over, devotees sat to relish the feast. Srila Prabhupada went to his room. One devotee carried feast prasadam in a silver plate to Prabhupada’s room. But to the surprise of all, the devotee quickly came out of the room with the silver plate.

Prabhupada did not even touch the feast. He did not eat anything. In fact, he felt very disturbed that his spiritual master’s disappearance day was not celebrated nicely. He felt deep pain in his heart. All the devotees who were relishing the feast, became numb. They all realized that how their carelessness and lack of spiritual understanding had upset Srila Prabhupada.

Narrating this incident, HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj writes in his book “Servant of the Servant”, “Our carefree, festive mood became broken as we realized the sober lesson that without pleasing guru and Krishna, there is no possibility of our own satisfaction.”

Spiritual Initiation not a formality

For Prabhupada initiation was not just a formality. He took each and every instruction of his spiritual master very seriously and did his best to fulfil it.  From his life we learn that we should not take spiritual life lightly or casually. No matter how much difficulty he was facing but he never compromised with the principles. 

Whatever means he had with that he tried his best to serve the instructions of his spiritual master. He hardly complained and whatever opportunity he got to serve Krishna he made best use of it. From the core of his heart, he always glorified his spiritual master and always wanted to please him.

His spiritual master had asked him to preach the message of Lord Chaitanya all over the world. Also, he had asked him to print books in English and distribute it to the English-speaking people.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura would say, “Indians influenced by western culture had started blindly following the western world and are neglecting Vedic culture. So, if people of the west become devotees, then Indians too will become devotees by following their footsteps and will start taking Krishna consciousness seriously.”

Prabhupada took this instruction to his heart and soul and dedicated his life in writing books in English and preaching the message of Lord Chaitanya all over the world.

Never gave any excuse

After taking sannyasa he faced many difficulties. Many times, he could not find a place to stay. He did not have sufficient money or means to have meals. But in spite of these challenges, he continued translating Srimad Bhagavatam in English and continued his preaching activities. He did not give any excuse for not writing or not preaching.

Before embarking to west on a preaching mission he had translated three volumes of Srimad Bhagavatam. In the west too especially in the first year of his stay he faced lots of difficulties, but he persevered.  His desire was to translate almost all Vedic literatures in English language so that the entire world is inundated with Krishna Consciousness.

All credit to spiritual master

Whatever he achieved, for that he gave all credit to his spiritual master. Prabhupada took no credit for himself.

He writes in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.29 purport, “Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the great preacher of the principles of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, has stressed the importance of association with sādhus, pure devotees of the Lord. He said that even by a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can achieve all perfection. We are not ashamed to admit that this fact was experienced in our practical life. Were we not favored by His Divine Grace Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja, by our first meeting for a few minutes only, it would have been impossible for us to accept this mighty task of describing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in English. Without seeing him at that opportune moment, we could have become a very great business magnate, but never would we have been able to walk the path of liberation and be engaged in the factual service of the Lord under instructions of His Divine Grace.”

A one-man army against Maya

Prabhupada was a one-man army. Material situations and circumstances did not demotivate him. He single- handedly waged war against maya, the illusory energy of Krishna. Maya’s writ ran in the west. But Prabhupada was not enamoured by the glitch and glamour of the west.

When he first time landed in the west, he saw skyrise buildings, people driving in fancy cars and everyone flaunting their wealth. Prabhupada was not impressed. He would often ask, “What is the use of all these if you do not know Krishna and have not heard about Lord Chaitanya?”

He saw these material amenities as a ploy of maya to bind the conditioned souls in this material world and make him suffer more and more.

When Prabhupada saw an affluent American proudly riding in a Cadillac, he saw him as an unfortunate soul imprisoned by maya in a dazzling iron box.  And when he saw young American boys and girls holding each other and dancing in clubs to the tune of rock music, he saw them as misguided souls who because of utter ignorance are swiftly gliding towards hell. When he saw someone flaunting wealth, he would ask him, “Will you carry it to your next life?”

Never compromised with Krishna Conscious philosophy

Many Indian spiritual leaders who had gone to west to spread Vedic Indian philosophy had got attracted by western culture and had assimilated it in their life. Many hesitated in introducing Vedic culture there for fear of losing followers and influence.

But Srila Prabhupada is the only Indian spiritual leader who had the courage and conviction to completely convince thousands of western people to give up materialistic way of life and adopt Vedic lifestyle. 

Many scholars who went to west during Prabhupada’s time preached how to use the principles of Bhagavad Gita to become a materially successful person. It is true that Bhagavad Gita is an encyclopedia of life and if one just follows few of its lessons then one can get material success too. But Prabhupada was not much interested in material success. Why? Because material success is temporary and the sensual gratification which any worldly success provides binds us to this material world and perpetuates suffering.

Also, achieving material success is not the ultimate conclusion of Bhagavad Gita. While concluding his teaching to Arjuna, Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 18.65, “Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.”  The Supreme Lord further says, “Give up everything and just take my shelter.”  Bhagavad Gita 18.66

Chosen by Krishna to give Krishna

Prabhupada came to this world to give Krishna. In fact, it won’t be wrong to say that seeing the plight of people, Krishna personally sent him to deliver unfortunate souls of this world.

Prabhupada’s unflinching faith in the instruction of his guru and the mercy of Krishna helped him to penetrate the heart of each and every one who met him. And each one was happy to embrace Krishna with open heart.

So, we see that in just few years the western world was flooded with Krishna Consciousness – thousands of people began chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra, gave up all activities which is prohibited in Vedic scriptures and adopted Krishna Conscious lifestyle. Everyone started decorating their body with tilak, men started wearing dhoti-kurta and women saris. And everyone ate only Krishna prasadam.

Prabhupada did not just talk but he walked the talk. By his personal example, he taught us what it means to be a devotee of Krishna. And how if we just take shelter of Krishna, then we will be able to experience the highest pleasure which we are wrongly seeking in this world.  

If we look at any picture of Srila Prabhupada, we will find that he is always at peace and is always in control. This is because he is always under the shelter of Krishna, the Supreme Controller.

Srila Prabhupada infiltrated everyone’s heart and convinced all that other than Krishna, nothing can make us happy in this world.

It won’t be an exaggeration to say that it is because of Srila Prabhupada that millions of people in this world got the mercy of Krishna and millions of people are still getting attracted to Krishna Consciousness.

Begging mercy of Srila Prabhupada on his 126th Vyasa Puja

And it is because of Srila Prabhupada’s causeless mercy that I have got an opportunity to practice Krishna Consciousness.

This year, we are celebrating 126^th Vyasa Puja, birth anniversary, of Srila Prabhupada.

On this most auspicious day of the year, I beg Srila Prabhupada to give me shelter of his lotus feet and shower his mercy upon me.

Dear Srila Prabhupada, it is because of you that an unfortunate soul like me of this unfortunate world have got an opportunity to end all suffering of my life.  

In Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Chapter Twenty Two, Text Thirty One, it is mentioned that wherever there is Krishna there is no darkness.

kṛṣṇa — sūrya-sama; māyā haya andhakāra
yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra

“Kṛṣṇa is compared to sunshine, and māyā is compared to darkness. Wherever there is sunshine, there cannot be darkness. As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish.”

Dear Srila Prabhupada, you came to enlighten people like me so that I can go from darkness to light by taking shelter of Krishna. But because of my past conditionings, I am not able to fully surrender to Krishna.

Without pleasing Prabhupada, I cannot please Krishna

On the auspicious day of your 126th vyasa puja, dear Srila Prabhupada, I beg at your lotus feet to purify my heart of all anarthas, impurities, which keeps me in darkness and is keeping me away from your lotus feet.  Without pleasing you, I cannot please Krishna.

And I cannot please you without following your instructions completely. In spite of reading your books and hearing your lectures, I still get attracted to this illusory material world and carry a hope that somehow by my endeavour I will be able to become happy here without Krishna.

Many tried in the past and all have failed. I am too failing again and again. The mighty time is dragging me towards the graveyard. But because of my utter foolishness I still see a glimpse of hope in this material world. My condition is akin to a goat standing in queue in a slaughterhouse enjoying green grass oblivious to the fact that it is slowly inching towards the butcher’s knife.

You appeared in this world to save people like me from unending misery. Please shower your mercy upon me so that I give up all hope of enjoying in this material life and instead develop all attraction for Krishna and become his sincere devotee.

Your eternal insignificant servant

Purushottam Nitai Das