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 129th 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.
