Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018 The Most Auspicious Appearance Day of His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami

23rd August 2018 Wellington, New Zealand

Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara, Vrindavan

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

ISKCON Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivendanta Swami Prabhupada

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

` His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Contents

Meaning of Vyasa-puja ...... 11 His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami’s offering to Srila Prabhupada ...... 17 Akhanda dhi das & Taravali devi dasi ...... 19 Ambarish Maharaj das & Anang manjari devi dasi ...... 21 Anandmaya das, Hiranyangi devi dasi, Niti Sohi, Raghunath Sohi ...... 23 Ananga Mohini devi dasi, Aradhana devi dasi and Aveechal das ...... 24 Aparajita devi dasi and Damodar Das ...... 25 Ashokha das, Lalita Sakhi Devi Dasi, Jugal Kishor das and kandarpa Devi Dasi 26 Asitaradhya Das, Shyampriya Devi Dasi ...... 27 Asoka devi dasi, Pawan Gupta ...... 29 Avyayatma Das ...... 31 Bharath, Anupama, Srihith and Saahith ...... 33 Chandanangadi dasa, Swarga Laxmi Devi dasi, Anirudh and Kireeti ...... 35 Chandra vamshi das & Nagendra Kanya Devi Dasi ...... 36 Damodar Dasa, Padmasambhava Devi Dasi, Ashritha, Varsha, and Krishna Chaitanya ...... 37 Damodar Rati Devi dasi ...... 40 Deepak Gulyani, Supriya Gulyani ...... 41 Divya Balaram das ...... 42 Divya Jnan Das and Reha ...... 43 Diyvanga Das ...... 45 Dhananjaya Das, Nandarani Devi Dasi, Saksham, Krishna ...... 46 Dharmakrit Das, Premapriya Devi Dasi, Swara & Manav ...... 48 Dhyanamurti das ...... 50 Goraknath, Keshinee Devi, Sanvir and Rasika ...... 51 Guru Gaurav Das and Padmaja Devi Dasi ...... 52 HariDasaVarya Das ...... 55 Jadabharat Das & Family ...... 56

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Jagatheeswari ...... 57 Jahnu Kanyaka Devi Dasi ...... 58 Janardan Das, Radhapriya Dasi, Kishan, Prayaag and Shyama...... 60 Janeshvar Dasa, Prema Tarangini Radha Devi Dasi, Keerthan and Devesh ...... 62 Jayanti Devi Dasi ...... 64 Jayapradha Devi Dasi ...... 66 Jayshree devi dasi ...... 67 Jnanagamya das, Rasanidhi devi dasi & Om ...... 68 Kardamamuni das, Madhumalti dd, Mita, Nilesh, Jahnavi and Krishna ...... 70 Karunamayi devi dasi ...... 71 Kaushalyanandan das, Dhamrupini Radha devi dasi, Aaria and Anay ...... 73 Kirti Patel ...... 75 Kunjvilasini devi dasi, Anil, Jigisha, Urvi, & Shivani ...... 76 Laddu Gopal Das, VrajSundari Devi Dasi, Siddharth and Himanshu ...... 77 Lavangalata Devi Dasi ...... 78 Madhavi Devi Dasi ...... 80 Madhu Malati Devi Dasi ...... 82 Maheshwar das and Parvati devi dasi ...... 84 Manuraj, Shrilatha and Sharadhi ...... 85 Mathura Mohan Das, Shreyakari Devi Dasi and Sharda Lalbahadur ...... 86 Mayapur Shashdar Das ...... 88 Mayeshvar Das ...... 90 Medhavi das ...... 92 Mrinalini devi dasi ...... 94 Nityananda Priya Das, Rukmini Devi Dasi, Harshil and Sunidhi ...... 95 Ojasvi das, Ojasvini Devi dasi, Aryan and Neev ...... 97 Pankaj Kishor ...... 98 Parjanya Das & Ananglata Devi Dasi ...... 99 Prasannatma das, Bhaava Bhavini devi dasi and Varun ...... 101 Priya Narma Sakha Das, Nitya Swarupa Dasi, Gaurangi, & Nityangi ...... 104

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Purandhar, Sreelakshmi, Varshita, Deekshita ...... 106 Radhakanta Das, Madhuri Devi Dasi ...... 108 Radhika Charan Padma Devi Dasi ...... 110 Raj and Kala ...... 112 Rajiv Lochan Das, Mitravinda Devi Dasi, Deepika and Sri Divya...... 114 Rajmani Ram Das ...... 116 Rajvidya Das and Nalini Devi Dasi ...... 117 Rasmandala Devi Dasi ...... 119 Revati Nandan Das, Gita Gamya Devi Dasi ...... 120 Rohini Devi Dasi ...... 121 Rohini Nandan das...... 123 Sadananda Devi Dasi & Unnatojjvala Rasa Das ...... 125 Sakshigopal Das and family ...... 126 Sannivas das, Lavanga Devi dasi, Suprasada das, Vijitha Devi dasi, and Kannaya ...... 128 Saranagati das ...... 130 Satyavati devi dasi ...... 131 Seva Manjari devi dasi and Shrini ...... 132 Shantanu Das, Sanchari Devi Dasi & Satcit ananda das ...... 133 Sharatchandra Das ...... 134 Shatrughan Ramdas ...... 135 Sitalsundari Devi Dasi, Shalagram Das ...... 137 Sri Radha Vallabha Dasa & Krishna priya Devi Dasi ...... 138 Sriniketan Das ...... 140 Steven Wolfe ...... 141 Stutipriya Das, Lalasamayi Devi Dasi & Mayuri Krishna ...... 142 Sumukha Das & Sumyukta Devi Dasi ...... 145 Sutapa Das ...... 146 Ujjvala Rasajna devi dasi...... 147 Vaikunteswara Das & Jagat Ambika Devi Dasi ...... 148 Vaikuntheshwar Balaji Dasa & Padmavati Devi Dasi ...... 149

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Vamana Hari Das and Kaulini Devi Dasi...... 151 Vasant, Rasika devi dasi, Sai ...... 152 Viraj Krishan das,Soumya devi dasi,Kapil dev das ...... 154 Vraja Raj Dasa and Smarana Bhakti Devi Dasi, Soumya & Radha ...... 155 Vrindvaneshvari Devi Dasi ...... 157 Vrndavanacandra Das ...... 158 Yashasvini Devi Dasi ...... 159 Yashoda devi dasi and Neel mani ...... 160 Yasoda Dulal Das, Subhankari Devi Dasi ...... 161

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Meaning of Vyasa-puja

Vyasapuja day is the most auspicious event in the life of every disciple to commemorate, remember and celebrate the holy appearance of his/her Spiritual Master. It is the duty of the disciple and well-wishers to show the humble mood of gratitude and render menial service unto their Guru who is declared as good as God. Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa is also addressed as Veda Vyasa. “Vyasa” (Diameter which divides circle into two equal parts) means divide equally. Veda Vyasa is one who divided the Vedas. Sri Guru is offered all the respects as same as Srila Vyasadeva who also represents through parampara system and connects further his disciples to the unbroken chain of disciplic succession. Similarly, Guru who is authorised and bonafide representative of Srila Vyasadeva enters in our lives and draw a fine line through the life circle by locating the Centre point of our life as “Lord Krishna”. Srila Gurudeva accepts his disciple and clears from all the doubts to situate all of us into right consciousness. Position of Vyasadeva is explained by Srila Prabhupada in his lecture on August, 23rd 1971 as follows:

"Vyasa means guru, because he is our original guru. When spiritual master's birthday is observed, it is called Vyasa-puja. This Vyasa-puja means a spiritual master is representative of Vyasa. Just like we are teaching this bhagavat-dharma, the Srimad- Bhagavatam, we are following the footsteps of Vyasadeva. So actually the preacher's seat is Vyasadeva's asana. It is the seat of Vyasa. Just like in the high court the seat, the seat of judgment, or... what is called? That seat, nobody else can sit there, in that seat. Only the high-court judge, representative of king or giving law to the citizens, he can sit down. Similarly, the vyasasana is occupied by the representative of Vyasadeva, who can speak on behalf of Vyasadeva. This is the system."

It is on this Vyasapuja day, we, as disciples have to meditate on what our Spiritual Master has done for us by entering in our lives. To be utmost grateful to that Guru who has connected us to the unbroken chain of parampara system, lets offer our respectful humble Obeisances with an understanding of what he has contributed to us by being our Spiritual MASTER

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Meaningful – He who made us understand meaning of life and thus made our life spiritually meaningful. Attribute – He who gave special quality and characteristic to our Spiritual life. Steady – He who brought stability in our lives to follow principles and vows Training – He who empowered and trained all of us in our Spiritual life. Escape – He who taught us to escape from the cycle of Birth and Death by giving us Holy Name. Realization – He who have given us ultimate and absolute realization – God Realization.

Having received so much of invaluable gifts, we are totally indebted to our Spiritual Master. Vyasapuja is the day to submit the report card on our preaching activities at the Lotus feet of all Acharyas through our Guru Maharaj. This is the only way one can please Guru and repay his debt. So on this Vyasapuja day, we can reflect on how to repay all those Matchless Gifts by offering our Body, Mind and words from our heart in order to try to repay the debts that we owe for him. Srila Prabhupada elaborates more in his lecture on July 11, 1974:

"We have got debts to so many people. First debt is to the demigods. Just like the sun- god, moon-god, they are supplying heat, light. The Varuṇa. In this material world we have got so many debts. But people do not care for it. Just like we are receiving light from sun, but what we are paying to the sun? Therefore we remain debtor. This is Vedic idea. You are getting this electricity. If you don't pay the bill, how long you will be able to use it? After some days the connection will be cut off. But although we do not pay any bill to the sunlight, because it is the order of Krishna, it is giving us light. But how long it will go on? This is sinful. If you take something from a person and if you do not repay, that is sinful. Rna. It is called rna. So there are so many debts. First to the demigod, then to the rsis, saintly persons. Because we get knowledge, Vedic knowledge, from the rsi, we must be debtor. Guru- rna: debtor to the spiritual master, to the sages, to the saintly persons, because we are getting knowledge from them. Therefore the Vyasa-puja is there. Once in a year the disciples are worshiping the spiritual master and trying to repay that he has received from the spiritual master."

Our Spiritual Master, HH Vedavyasapriya Swami, carrying the same mood and mission to glorify and spread the Holy Name as other Spiritual Masters in Disciplic succession in our Sampradaya. He is very easily approachable, friendly, caring, and

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

fatherly….. & so on…. by nature. His position cannot be misunderstood and dealt very ordinarily. Just as the offering made to the Spiritual Master on Vyasapuja reaches Krishna through Parampara, in the same way Krishna Krupa (mercy) flows through Parampara via transparent medium of Spiritual Master to the disciple. Thus Guru is called “Krishna Krupa Murti.” Guru is as good as God. He has to be given all due honour and respects. Srila Prabhupada explains this in his lecture on July, 8th 1974:

"So guru is the representative of God. Therefore the sastra says, the authority says, saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair (Sri Sri Gurv-astaka 7). Guru is as good as God. Here, in this Vyasa-puja day, we are teaching, or they are doing, offering respect to guru. That means they are learning how to offer respect to God. It is not personal affair; it is required. Because they are trying to be God conscious, they must learn how to offer respect to God or God's representative. That is required. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair. In all the sastra, Vedic literature, guru is described as good as God. But guru will never say that 'I am God.' The disciple's duty is to offer respect to guru as he offers respect to God. But guru will never say that 'I am... Because my disciples are offering me respect as God, therefore I have become God.' As soon as he thinks so, he becomes dog. This is the process, Vedic process, to receive the transcendental knowledge through the parampara system, and the reception or honour given to the spiritual master, it goes to Krishna. Spiritual master is the official collector. Just like in government there is collector. He receives the money, taxes, from the citizens, not for his personal use but for the government. Similarly, this is the Vedic system, to receive knowledge through the transparent medium, guru, and to receive... Guru means the honour goes to Krishna. So this is necessary. This is not an artificial thing, but spiritually it is necessary. Therefore we hold Vyasa-puja day."

On Vyasapuja day we try to understand our unimaginable, incalculable and immeasurable good fortune of being under the guidance and shelter of our Guru Maharaj who connected all of us with this Society (ISKCON) founded by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Our good fortune is not only that we received the message being carried from Vyasadeva to us through parampara but he also showed how to live and adapt the message in our lives. Srila Gurudeva continues to guide us to lift us from the darkness of ignorance to blissful world of eternal spiritual life. By his mercy we are able to cross over the insurmountable bhava-sagara. Our ultimate spiritual progress depends upon “3A”s being removed – Guru removes AVIDYA, disciples removes APARADHA and Krishna removes ANARTHA. So Vyasapuja is a day to beg for this mercy of

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

becoming offence less in serving Guru and Krishna. Thus on this glorious occasion of Vyasapuja day, we offer our thanks for his endless, boundless compassion and never ending efforts for saving us and guiding us to cross over this material ocean. Srila Prabhupada affirms this that our destiny by following Guru in his lecture on Dec, 10th 1976:

"The real ocean of mercy is Krishna and it is the duty of the spiritual master to tell his disciple to come to the ocean and be happy. The spiritual master's duty is to lead the disciple to this ocean. I am trying my best and if you try to follow surely you will benefit.

In our Sampradaya the first Vyasapuja was organised by Advaita Acharya Prabhu. He wanted Lord Nityananda to garland Srila Vyasadeva’s picture but instead of Vyasadeva Lord Nityananda Garlanded Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Just at that time Lord Nityananda saw his very self in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu thus showed that Lord Nityananda is the Adi Guru and that the Spiritual Master is simply His representative. Srila Gurudeva is an embodiment and bonafide representative of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His mission. He is faithfully serving his Spiritual Master in an extraordinary fashion by completely dedicating his life by travelling, preaching, guiding and following in the footsteps of his Spiritual Master. Vani from Spiritual Master is same message that is coming from Krishna through via media of Spiritual Master. Srila Prabhupada writes in BG 18.75 Purport:

"Actually there is no difference between hearing directly from Krishna and hearing directly from Krishna via a bona fide spiritual master like Vyasa. The spiritual master is the representative of Vyasadeva also. Therefore, according to the Vedic system, on the birthday of the spiritual master the disciples conduct the ceremony called Vyasa-puja."

Today is the day to acknowledge Guru’s unique position in our spiritual life and submit our genuine shortcomings in carrying out the orders of our Spiritual Master. Disciple becomes re-empowered to carry on the mission of Parampara to acquire and disseminate transcendental knowledge for the benefit of masses. On this Special and Auspicious occasion of Appearance of our beloved Spiritual Master, let us offer our humble, respectful Obeisances bowing down our head unto his lotus feet; let us understand the mood to prepare our consciousness to pay our heartfelt gratitude on this Vyasapuja day by hearing from Srila Prabhupada from his lecture on August, 22nd 1973:

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

"So this Vyasa-puja ceremony means to offer our thanks to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because He is the original guru. As we receive this message through parampara system from Krishna to Brahma, Brahma to Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva to Madhvacarya, in this way, Madhavendra Puri, then Isvara Puri, then Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then six Gosvamis, then others, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhakura, Jagannatha dasa Babaji, Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Then we have taken. So this..., as we come to this Krishna consciousness understanding through this long parampara, similarly, in the Vyasa-puja ceremony, whatever respect, honour and presentation you give, that goes to Krishna through that parampara system, from down. As it is received through the parampara system, so similarly, your offerings also go through this parampara system to the Supreme. The connection. Our system is gopi-bhartur pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasa (CC Madhya 13.80). It is sometimes called bureaucracy. If you apply something, at least in India, to the President, you'll have to submit to the local collector. The collector will submit to somebody else, somebody else, then secretary, you go; then to the President. So our system is that. So it is not that I am training my disciples to worship me, man-worship, I'm getting some honour from them for nothing. No. It is not that. Whatever honor, whatever respect, whatever presentation you are giving to your spiritual master, it will go to Krishna by parampara system. This is Vyasa-puja. Therefore, it is called Vyasa- puja."

Srila Gurudev Ki Jai! 74th Vyasapuja Celebration Ki Jai!!

On behalf of Vyasa Puja 2018 Team, Your humble servant Janeshvar Dasa

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami’s offering to Srila Prabhupada

Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisance hundreds of times at your lotus feet. On this occasion of your auspicious appearance, I offer my humble and prayerful heart at your lotus feet. Çré-Guru-Caraëe Rati, Ei Se Uttama-Gati Je Prasäde Püre Sarva Äçä Long ago I harbored lots of material desires in my heart. But after taking shelter at your lotus feet, I agreed to follow your instructions. Only then did you agree to deliver me. Since then I have to constantly remain attentive to your lotus feet to receive your mercy. Reminding myself of your shelter in good times and bad has given me a sense of total security as I make steady progress in rendering selfless service to please you. And, meanwhile, what has happened to those deep-seated material desires? Amazingly, they disappeared, as if they had been fulfilled! Dear Srila Prabhupada, your connection with Lord Sri Krishna through the unbroken chain of pure disciplic succession is the only key for me to succeed in going back home to Godhead. One does not have to fulfill one’s material desires before going back to Godhead. Rather, one requires only your shelter, and then right away, without delay, these desires will stop interfering with one’s progress, without one knowing how it is being done. Thus, taking shelter of a bona fide guru in the unbroken chain of the pure disciplic succession is the key for success in this golden age of the sankirtana movement inaugurated by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You carefully invested all your spiritual and material potencies in your organization. So many of your sincere disciples and granddisciples, who have been entrusted with your Society, are systematically guiding all of humanity on the path back to Godhead. This is my little realization of your mercy. It is enough for me, no doubt, yet it is required that I learn more about your magnanimity from the Vyasa-puja offerings of my senior godbrothers. Please forgive my offenses, knowingly or unknowingly committed at your lotus feet.

Your prostrated fallen servant, Vedavyasapriya Swami

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Offerings from Disciples

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Akhanda dhi das & Taravali devi dasi

Namah Om Vishnupadaya Krsna presthaya bhutale Srimate Vedavyasapriya Swamin iti Namine

My Dearest Srila Gurumaharaj,

Please accept my most humble obeisance’s at your lotus feet again and again. Your divine appearance fills every moment with great joy and celebrations. As the festive season starts for us- devotees, with most auspicious Jhulan Yatra of Sri Sri Radha Shyamasunder, its only by your appearance that we will ever be able to understand these pastimes. You have brought to us the most precious gift of devotional service, wrapped in love, care and affection of previous acarya’s. Gurumaharaj, the real understanding of Spiritual Master has been explained by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in his prayer - Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka. By reciting this prayer every day, I have realized that to have a spiritual master in one’s life is the greatest benediction. Srila Prabhuapada explains in the purport to this prayer that spiritual master is coming in the royal succession from Lord Krishna, Himself and bringing with him all the auspicity – “Praptasya Kalyana”.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Gurumaharaj your presence in our life is the embodiment of all auspiciousness. At times, due to my conditioning I am not able to fully realize the potential of your presence and make offenses in serving you, please forgive me for these offenses. Gurumaharaj, I have heard and read many times that Krishna’s name, form, qualities & pastimes are non-different and these are revealed to a devotee slowly and steadily as one matures in devotion service. Gurumaharja you have been immensely merciful upon me by bestowing upon me the Holy Name of Krishna in the form of Hare Krishna maha mantra and Gayatri mantra. And last year, you very very mercifully bestowed upon us the beautiful form of Sri Sri Radha Shyamsunder. Even though we are totally unqualified in serving Them, but we are trying our best to take care of Them, on your behalf. Sri Sri Radha Shyamsunder have become the center of our lives and we both are immensely attached to Their service. Gurumaharaj, I have full faith that by following your instructions sincerely, Krishna’s name, form, qualities & pastimes will be revealed to me in full. Gurumaharaj, on your recent transit visit to Melbourne, you spoke to us that as you are becoming old, you are being given more and more services and these services are constantly increasing. I personally felt that there was a subtle message for us, as disciples. As we are your limbs, we should try to help you in this endeavor of preaching opportunities and be ready to take more responsibilities. I beg you to use me as you wish in your service and in service of Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you for your unmatched love and affection for this fallen soul. Aspiring to be your most menial servant’s, Akhanda dhi das & Taravali devi dasi Melbourne, Australia

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Ambarish Maharaj das & Anang manjari devi dasi

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada & to you.

This is the most important day of our life, Guru Maharaj, as we have got the blessing to celebrate your Vyasa puja here in Wellington in your presence. We are also getting the opportunity to serve the god family coming from all over the world on this occasion. Thank you very much for giving us this rare opportunity. The godfamily & wider congregation is trying our best to please you & the god family

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

however despite our best efforts, because of our conditioned nature, we are sure that there will be many shortcomings in our service. We hope & pray that this imperfect offering pleases you. While doing the Vyasapuja book for this year & also in the past few years, my biggest realisation is how you touch so many hearts all over the world & transform them to make them Krishna conscious. I can clearly see from your example, what Srila Prabhupada meant by “Purity is the force”. Also another amazing thing is that everyone who comes in contact with you thinks that they are very close to you. This is a result of your very personal way of preaching. Though we are a movement which propagates & worships the personal form of the Lord, we still see a lot of impersonal dealings in our movement & hence your personal approach brings genuineness to the preaching. My father, Rama Lakshmana das, who you kindly accepted as your disciple last year, is continuing his Bhakti Sastri degree. He is passing all the exams with wonderful marks. However because of his health issues, he is finding it difficult nowadays to attend classes. In Wellington, GBC has approved registering our preaching programs as a separate centre. It is a big responsibility and I am sure that without receiving your invaluable spiritual guidance, we won’t be successful in this endeavour so we are praying for your merciful glance. Last year you gave us Brahmana initiation. We are trying our best to follow your instructions but our material conditioning is too strong & there is a long way to go before we can become good brahmanas. On this auspicious occasion of your 74th Vyasa puja, we pray to Sri Sri Gaur Nitai, that if They so wish, They give you good health & a long life so that many conditioned souls like us can become Krishna conscious. We also pray at your lotus feet for forgiveness for our offenses & request the boon that we become good instruments in your service.

Your servants, Ambarish Maharaj das & Anang manjari devi dasi Wellington, New Zealand

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Anandmaya das, Hiranyangi devi dasi, Niti Sohi, Raghunath Sohi

Hare Krishna, Guru Maharaj. Jai Srila Prabhupada. Maharaja, we are always inspired about how guru – disciple relation should be; by looking at your continuous efforts to serve Srila Prabhupada. Hope to serve you in the same way, however imperfect it may be. Our spiritual development and enthusiasm keeps increasing by serving devotees and Guru Maharaj. We have unwavering faith in your words and instructions. Hope to serve you better.

Your servants, Anandmaya das Hiranyangi devi dasi Niti Sohi Raghunath Sohi Ludhiana, Panjab, India

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Ananga Mohini devi dasi, Aradhana devi dasi and Aveechal das

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine

Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All Glories to you for the auspicious day of your vyas puja.

Every year when I write the vyas puja offering I keep thinking that how fortunate I am to be your disciple. A bonafide spiritual master presented to me by the grace of Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada. Guru Maharaj, you have always made arrangements for spiritual association not only for your disciples but to all conditioned souls via lectures, the internet, live broadcasts etc and above all arranging the yatras and ensuring your divine presence on the trips. During your association, humility, compassion, humbleness, tolerance, showering mercy and many other qualities were displayed and not to mention your sincere glorification of Srila Prabhupada exhibited the message on how to glorify ones guru and understand the mood of ones spiritual master. Guru Maharaj, thank you for your support and everything. May Lord Radha Shyamasunder continue to shower their blessings onto you. Please forgive for any unintentional offences and keep blessing the god family so we can serve you better and better.

Guru Maharaj I wish you a very auspicious Vyas Pooja. Your Eternal Servants, Ananga Mohini Devi Dasi, Aradhana Devi Dasi, And Aveechal Das

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Aparajita devi dasi and Damodar Das

Dear Worshipable Gurudev, Please accept my most humble obeisance at the dust of your holy lotus feet!! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to His Holiness!

Dear Gurumaharaj, On this auspicious occasion of Your Vyasa Puja celebrations I would like to take this opportunity to present my offering. As merciful Lord Gauranga distributed the holy name and love of Godhead not considering who asked for it or who were fit or unfit to receive it; you as a devotely following in the footsteps of the acharyas are distributing the mercy of Mahaprabhu. You are the mercy of the Lord who has appeared mercifully to connect the fallen souls back to the Lord. You do this as service to the Lord and your Spiritual master. All glories to you!! Gurudev, give to this servant just one drop of mercy. I am lower than a blade of grass. Give me strength. Let me be as you are, without desires or aspirations. I offer you all respects, for thus I may have the energy to know you correctly. Then, by chanting the holy name in great ecstacy, all my offences will cease. O lord and master! When will such mercy fall to this one who is weak and devoid of all intelligence? Allow me to serve you birth after birth. Gurumaharaj, you have always been so kind and compassionate to me. I am ever grateful to you for your unconditional love and mercy. Damodar is so fortunate to have got your love. I only hope that someday I will be able to do something valuable to this mission of Srila Prabhupada. I pray to Lord Narshima dev to protect your health. Please forgive me for my offences committed knowingly or unknowingly.

Your insignificant servant, Aparajita devi dasi and Damodar Das

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Ashokha das, Lalita Sakhi Devi Dasi, Jugal Kishor das and kandarpa Devi Dasi

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine

His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami Maharaj Ki Jai,

Dear Gurudev,

Today is a very auspicious day for us and we are very glad for your appearance tithi Vyasa Puja festival. Me and my family offer our humble obeisances at your lotus feet, Gurudev, for all the mercy you have bestowed upon us by accepting as disciples. We are nothing but because of the association of devotees we have been able to understand the science of self-realisation.

Gurudev Meri yahi prathna hai sada Hamare saat rahena charno se Kabhi dour na Karna Aur apane charno se laga ke rakhna. Mitakar abhgun saare, charno mei bhakti dena. Nitye Naam japu Tera hamare dush ko Bhula Dena Apane charno mei Sewa Dena aur Koti dandavat apaana lena.

Regards, Ashokha das, Lalita Sakhi Devi Dasi, Jugal Kishor das and kandarpa Devi Dasi

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Asitaradhya Das, Shyampriya Devi Dasi

Nama om vishnupadaya krsna-presthaya bhutale Srimate Vedavyasapriya swamin iti namine Nama om vishnupadaya krsna-presthaya bhutale Srimate Bhakti-vedanta swamin iti namine Namaste saraswate deve gaura vani pracharine Nirvisesha sunyavadi pascatya desha tarine

Dear Gurumaharaja, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Happy Appearance Day to you and Happy Deliverance Day to our Godfamily.

When we returned to India 5 years back, I spent lot of time travelling, obtaining possession of my properties, getting quality tenancies, etc but was not fixed in any service. I was rather careless in executing some of your simple instructions such as looking into financial affairs of Sri Radha Shyamsunder Seva Trust.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

But you indeed changed my life by urging me to take up a Zonal Supervisor course at GBC College. Just after the course, under your guidance I have started visiting Thailand where we have unique opportunity to establish a new temple and preach Krsna Consciousness to affluent Indian community. At the time of Brahmin diksha, you gave me an instruction to teach and preach. I am now engaged in teaching Bhakti sastri at Tirupati and soon after Sriniketan’s marriage, I intend to take position at MI to become a travelling teacher. When I retired, it was my personal desire to conduct annual yatra for our Godfamily. Why? Because that would strengthen the bond amongst us - God family members. I was amazed to hear your instruction, ‘’you are our Yatra Manager !! ’’ By your mercy, we have wonderful Godfamily sanga annually through this Yatra project. Our yatra strength has increased from 40 to 90 to 150 now. Gurumaharaja, please bless this service to grow more and more – ananda ambuddhi vardhanam. Please empower me to serve Godfamily more and more. Annual Yatra, Thailand project and teaching keep me quite occupied apart from serving Gopu. Yet I have 2 strong desires for which I seek benedictions, Gurumaharaj, on your auspicious appearance day. I want to scrutinisingly study all Goswami literatures, last 6 cantos of SMB and Chaitanya Charitamrita. When will that day be mine when I would have studied these literatures? This was the prime motive of my retirement and yet to be fulfilled. Travel with you to all countries and meet our Godfamily members and create an organizational structure through which we remain united even after your departure. Finally I pray to Gopu, the Lord of my heart, to bestow upon you the great health so you can continue to serve the mission of Srila Prabhupada. Please bless Sriniketan and Preeti as they enter grihastha ashrama. I want them to become prolific preachers of Krsna Consciousness. Please empower them Gurumaharaja.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

Asitaradhya Das Shyampriya Devi Dasi

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Asoka devi dasi, Pawan Gupta

नमः ॐ विष्णु पादय, कृष्ण पृष्ठाय भूतले, श्रीमते िेदव्यासविय स्वावमन इवत नावमने । नमः ॐ विष्णु पादय, कृष्ण पृष्ठाय भूतले, श्रीमते भक्ति िेदाांत स्वावमन इवत नावमने । नमस्ते सरस्वते देिे गौर िाणी िचाररणे, वनवििशेष शून्य-िादी पाश्चात्य देश ताररणे ।। जय श्री कृष्ण चैतन्य, िभु वनत्यानांद, श्री अद्वैत, गदाधर, श्रीिास आवद गौर भि िृन्द ।। हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण, कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे || हरे राम हरे राम, राम राम हरे हरे||

िेदव्यासविय स्वावम गु셁 महाराज जी की जय! चरणिांदना परम श्रद्धेय गु셁 महाराज जी के िवत मℂ कृतज्ञता व्यि करती हँ। गु셁 महाराज, इस पािन व्यास पूजा के अिसर पर श्रीमती राधारानी तथा श्री कृष्ण भगिान जी से िाथिना करती हँ वक आपको अच्छा स्वास्थ्य िदान करते रहे तावक आप सदैि हमारा मागिदशिन करते रहे।

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

गु셁 महाराज हमᴂ जब से आपका आशीिािद वमला हमारे सोचे काम अपने आप हो जाते हℂ। मℂ आपकी बहुत-बहुत आभारी रहँगी वक आपने मुझे अपनी वशष्या स्वीकार वकया । मℂ बहुत खुश वकस्मत हँ वक आप जैसे आध्याक्तिक वपता वमले । जब मℂ आपको पहली बार वमली तो आपने मेरा बहुत सी बातोां मᴂ मागॅदशॅन वकया उसके वलये बहुत आभारी हँ । आपको जब हम िृांदािन पररिार सवहत वमले तो आपकी blessings पाकर बहुत खुशी हुई। श्रील िभुपाद तथा आपकी असीम कृपा सदा हमारे पर बनी रहे और हम सब आध्याक्तिक मागि पर अग्रेसर होते रहे।

आपकी वशष्या असोका देिी दासी, पिन गुप्ता िेवलां嵍टन न्यूजीलℂड

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Avyayatma Das

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my most humble obeisance unto your divine lotus feet. All glories to your divine grace. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. And all glories to your service and loyalty!!!! Srila Gurudeva, the opportunity you are giving to your disciples is the chance to perform of devotional service. By the grace of Krishna one gets a guru. Wandering through the material universes for countless births, one finally comes to the point of meeting devotees of the Lord and taking shelter of a bona fide spiritual master in disciplic succession. This is something rarely achieved. The whole principle of the guru-parampara is that Krishna needs to find a way to connect to the devotees to expand Himself, to extend His mercy – so that those who are forgetful of their relationship to Him and who become separated, can become connected to Him again. He cannot come directly Himself and give us such a chance because we are far too offensive to be able to associate with Krishna. So we require the merciful association of the guru. Srila Gurudeva, this is how important a link you are for us. The spiritual master tests and thus trains the disciple to be able to put aside all selfishness, all separate interests, and simply serve. And this is indeed a thankless task because we resist the idea of being made to serve. Srila Gurudeva, you not only train your disciples but you also show by your own example how it is possible and how it works. Guru means “he who asks you to make sacrifice”. That is the meaning of guru. Nowadays people choose a guru who will harass them less, give the sweetest smile, sing nice kirtanas etc. But Srila Prabhupada himself was very heavy, and thus walking in his footsteps you know exactly how to be a guru. A guru is not meant to be a pet but the master. It is our beloved spiritual master who is sustaining us, not vice-versa. Srila Gurudeva, I bow down to the beautiful lotus feet of your divine grace, by whose causeless mercy I have obtained the supreme holy name. As I am always hoping for your mercy and kindness, I offer myself to Radhika- Madhava’s most dear servant – my Guru maharaj. Srila Gurudeva, on this most auspicious occasion I am begging you to please keep me in the shade of your lotus feet and in the shelter of ISKCON eternally – “ar na koriho mane asa”.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Srila Gurudeva Vysasa-puja mahotsava ki Jaya!!! Srila Prabhupada’s beloved senapati ki Jaya!!! Srila Gurudeva ki Jaya!!!

Yours eternally, Avyayatma dasa.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Bharath, Anupama, Srihith and Saahith

Dear Gurumaharaja,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your Vyasapuja. We used to always think about Srila Prabhupada, how he has overcomed so many obstacles just to follow the instructions of his guru maharaja. If Srila Prabhupada didn’t bother, we wouldn’t have ISKCON today, which is nothing short of a miracle. Though ISKCON was there, if not for your instructions to preach, we wouldn’t have received this knowledge of Krishna consciousness. Thank you, Guru Maharaja, for taking up this preaching mission to spread Krishna consciousness in Wellington. Last year, when we approached you to provide us your shelter, we didn’t have any qualification, we were in most fallen position engrossed in material life, our minds were so contaminated by the lower modes. We couldn’t even articulate

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

properly while asking for your shelter; yet you were so merciful and readily accept us. Thank you, Guru Maharaja, for taking us in. The three times we met you, you answered our questions so patiently and gave us suggestions so loving, just as a father would do to his children. You are our spiritual parent. Only a parent would forgive their children’s past and accept their children as they are. Guru Maharaja, because of you, we are able to chant the holynames regularly, learn the scriptures and understand the philosophy as it is, develop interest for Krishna katha, eat prasadam only and able to serve your preaching mission in an insignificant way. Guru Maharaja, because of you, we are able to understand the atrocities of this wicked mind, which is full of impurities and always looking for a chance to indulge in sense gratification. Though we are far from concuqering the mind, atleast now we realise the dangers it puts us through. Guru Maharaja, because of you, both our kids were introduced to Krishna consciousness. They are chanting regularly as well and we have a healthy Krishna conscious environment at home. Guru Maharaja, this year with your permission, we are looking forward to completely surrender at your lotus feet and serve you in any way you want us to. So please accept and instruct these impure, insignificant and unintelligent souls, so we could fully surrender to you and serve you.

Your aspiring disciples Bharath, Anupama, Srihith and Saahith

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Chandanangadi dasa, Swarga Laxmi Devi dasi, Anirudh and Kireeti

Hare Krishna dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept our humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to You on this auspicious occasion of Your Vyasa Puja.

We wish you a very happy Vyasa puja and pray to Sri Sri Guara Nitai, Sri Sri Radha Vallabha, Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Srimati Subhadra Devi to bestow you good health and strength to fulfil Srila Prabhupada’s mission. We have successfully completed the “Founder Acarya - Srila Prabhupada” course recently. We felt very happy to know about "Prabhupadanugas". We can see in so many ways of you following Srila Prabhupada in your spiritual journey and fulfilling the meaning of "Prabhupadanuga". Your purity and commitment to Srila Prabhupada is so attractive. We are grateful to Sri Krishna and Srila Prabhupada to send such a glorious spiritual master for us who is an expert captain to sail us across the material world. Thank you so much for taking all of us closer to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you so much for giving us your personal association year after year. We are very unfortunate this year as we are unable to attend this Vyasa Puja personally here in New Zealand, please forgive us. On this auspicious occasion of your appearance day, we pray to Lord Nrsimhadev to keep you in good health and protect you all the time. Please bless us, so that we can follow Your instructions and forgive us for our shortcomings and offences.

Your humble servants, Chandanangadi dasa, Swarga Laxmi Devi dasi, Anirudh and Kireeti Melbourne, Australia

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Chandra vamshi das & Nagendra Kanya Devi Dasi

Jai Jagannath.!

Dear Gurumaharaj,

Please accept our humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you. Guru Maharaj, we are so unfortunate that we are not able to serve you and Krishna up to the level because of our material attachments. Please bless us to come out of these attachments. We have started congregation for kids and parents in Albany only beacuse of your causeless mercy. We need your continuous mercy to chant better and to progress in spiritual path and to contribute to Prabhupada and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. We always pray to Jagannath and Lord Narsingha for your good health.

Your servants, Chandra vamshi das & Nagendra Kanya Devi Dasi

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Damodar Dasa, Padmasambhava Devi Dasi, Ashritha, Varsha, and Krishna Chaitanya

Dear Srila Gurudev, Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet on your auspicious appearance day. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. We consider ourselves to be the most fortunate despite our disqualification to be personally present for this divine celebration.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

As we understand from pastimes of Sri Dhruva Maharaj that Lord Krishna fulfills all the desires of those who take shelter of His lotus feet, whether it is spiritual or even material, our desire to visit Newzealand been fulfilled today through your appearance day celebration. In fact, that’s how we have been able to visit even other cities in Australia. Maybe next time in Singatoka Fiji and many more countries in the future. In fact, this is the only way we are able to do some devotional service at your lotus feet just by attending and witnessing the celebration. We don’t know even how to glorify your wonderful Krishna conscious activities around the world tirelessly year after year. But, we feel satisfied and always get encouraged to hear the glorious offerings of other wonderful godbrothers and sisters. Dear Guru Maharaj, you reminded me of several occasions about I am not speaking to you by calling. But, I am worried about disturbing you amidst your preaching sessions or while sleeping or in an important meeting. That feeling of mine, in fact, happened to be true in every event I tried to call you. But, by the mercy of devotees particularly, by HG RadhaVallabh Prabhu I am able to get that unexpected mercy as a surprise that keeps me shedding tears for next few minutes. Although however ignorant I have remained, there will at least one or few of your pastimes always keeps me inspired about your miraculous preaching activities of which I would like to mention one here today. I was surprised to know through the HG Mahojwala Mataji’s messages that how you were able to get someone inspired by your mere presence of walking across and merciful glance could get a material successful layer under your shelter in Kerala. I kept thinking about that afterwards, is this Lord Krishna’s empowerment on His dedicated servants who want to deliver all such conditioned souls? I can only contemplate but can’t conceive the invincible divine potency of Sri Guru and Gauranga because of my low qualification. We would like to thank you like every year on this occasion from the bottom of our hearts for allowing us to be under your divine shelter despite our disqualification and shortfalls. Thank you for speaking to me when I am in stressful and helpless situations and guiding and blessing me along the way. Particularly, I would like to recall the day of 15th August 2015 when we were literally shattered standing on the road in a chilly winter morning from 3:00 am and only with those merciful sentences by you over the phone call gave us hope, strength, and way for our future. I would like to thank you with my prostrated obeisances for its being one of such incidents. That’s Sri Guru and Gauranga’s mercy as the proof on fallen souls like us also. Such mercy will ever be shining just because of being under your divine shelter.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

I would like to thank you also for responding just within a few hours for my request to allow us for our Nitai Gaur Chandra’s new residence where we also wanted to live under their mercy. I can’t express my happiness to see that brief reply which not only allowing us to name it but also with your merciful blessings as a bonus. I am very glad the next day to remember, pray and share your merciful blessings with other devotees present for the occasion with bliss. Please keep your merciful blessings on us forever and empower us that one day I could such a preaching that will please you, Srila Prabhupada and Sri Nitai Gaura Chandra also. Praying Lord Sri Narasimha dev to protect your health and keep you at best of the health and abilities to keep liberating fallen condition souls like us for a long time.

Your insignificant servants Damodar Dasa, Padmasambhava Devi Dasi Ashritha, Varsha, and Krishna Chaitanya

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Damodar Rati Devi dasi

Hare Krishna Gurumaharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

You have been so merciful giving shelter to a person like myself with all the short comings which you are fully aware of. The magnanimity of having been connected to Lord Krishna and the parampara through a divine personality hasn’t fully sunk in and the more I think about it and the more I try to digest; it makes me realize how fortunate anyone who comes in contact with you is and hope that a tiny bit of it rubs off on myself and gets me where I’m trying to go.

Trying to be your eternal humble servant, Damodar Rati Devi dasi

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Deepak Gulyani, Supriya Gulyani

Hare Krsna to our beloved Guru Maharaj Ji, Firstly I would surely don’t miss a chance to thank you for your kind words and blessings given to me on the day when by some of my good fortune I got a chance to get your association. When I meet you I was skeptical to ask you about my doubts moreover I was also feeling that will you hear me or not however your such a vivacious aura and your presence in the room made my mind calm and with a ease I got a courage to share my heart with you. You guided me and your words “Be Strong” are with me, giving me strength to be strong in every phase of life. Your caring, humble and affectionate attitude towards all have really inspired me in Krsna consciousness. I bow my head on your lotus feet and whole heartedly pray to lord Jagannath Ji to give you long and healthy life always. Forgive me for any offense commited against you knowingly or unknowingly. Please accept my humble obesiences. Want to serve you always Deepak Gulyani Supriya Gulyani (D/o Dhananjay Das and Nandrani Devi dasi)

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Divya Balaram das

Nama om vishnu padaya Krishna preshthaya bhu-tale srimate Vedavyasapriya Swami iti namine. Dear Gurudev, Humble offering at the lotus feet of His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami Maharaj on the auspicious of Vyasa Puja 2018. Gurudev Krpa bindu diya, koro'ei dase trnapekha ati hina sakala sahane, bala diya koro' nija -mane sprha-hina

Gurudeva, O spiritual master! Give to this servant just one drop of mercy. I am lower than a blade of grass.Give me all help.Give me strength. Let me be as you are, without desires or aspirations. I offer my humble obeisances to your lotusfeet.

Your unworthy servant always, Divya Balaram dasanu das Rameshweram, Tamil Nadu, South India

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Divya Jnan Das and Reha

Hare Krishna Dear Guru Maharaj,

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

By the mercy of a sadhu, a jiva can attain self-realization. It is important for a jiva to realize its real svarupa, and this realisation does not come from within or through the study of vedas, but it simply comes through the darshan of a sadhu, through their association and their instructions. Because sadhus have the Gaura karuna shakti, they become compassionate towards the fallen conditioned souls. Such a sadhu is our beloved Jagatguru, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhativedanta Swami Prabhupada. Guru Maharaj, through the pastimes of Srila Prabhupada, I realised how Prabhupada remained untouched by the worldly difficulties and always remained in mode of goodness to carry out his service for his spiritual master. And amazingly, Lord Krishna proved time to time that He supplies tremendous amount of potencies to one who follows the instructions of his Guru. Similarly, Guru Maharaj, we are inspired to see how you have been carrying out your service to His Divine Grace. For a sadhu one quality is they can remain compassionate and tolerant at the same time. You have always been merciful to us to take us closer to Krishna, and simultaneously you have also been tolerant and forgiven our aparadhas. On this auspicious day, we seek your blessings for our spiritual advancement. You have always shown your love to us through your concerns, instructions and association. We seek more of that and pray to Lord Krishna to improve your health so that you can spread Krishna Consciousness for the service of His Divine Grace.

In your Service, Divya Jnan Das and Reha Brisbane, Australia

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Diyvanga Das

All glories of Sri Guru n Guranga. All glories of Sila Prabhupad.

My dear Guru Maharaj Please accept my most humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet on the most auspicious occasion of 74st appearance day. My beloved Guru Maharaj I think that by the mercy of Lord Nityanand I am very fortunate because you are my real spiritual father who always care to me. My Dear Gurudev, I would like to pray to SRI RADHA-SHYAMSUNDER, SRI KRSNA BALRAM and SRI GAUR NITAI to bestow there mercy on you with good health and long life, to give many more fallen souls like me to get them back to there Krsna consciousness and to back to God head (our real home). I beg you to bless me to develop purity, compassion and determination to follow your instructions. At last on this auspicious day, I beg to become a humble servant of your lotus feet... vande guroh sri-caranaravindam......

Hankering for your mercy, your most fallen servent, Diyvanga Das Roorkee (India)

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Dhananjaya Das, Nandarani Devi Dasi, Saksham, Krishna

Our Respected & Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! Relationship of Father (Diksha Guru) with Disciple (Son) on spiritual platform is real and eternal. On the material platform such relationship is ephemeral and temporary. Although we cannot give you anything as Son, Guru Maharaja please

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

give us your mercy so that we can serve more and more in Srila Prabhupada’s divine mission –ISKCON. In this material world, only you are the one who can make us free from JANMA, MRITYU, JARA, VYADHI. This can be done only by lot of chanting of the name of Lord Krishna through Sankirtana movement. You are the real disciple of Srila Prabhupada. You are perfect example in front of us, how to serve our Spiritual Master. You are inspiring us by your strong attachment and dedication to mission of Srila Prabhupada which is manifested by your constant engagement, travelling & preaching to save fallen souls from clutches of material existence. Guru Maharaja in this hellish Kali Yuga you are the only one who made us able to pass this materialistic life like ocean which is full of pain, desperateness by chanting the holy names of Lord Krishna. Guru Maharaja, please forgive our imperfect offering on your Vyasa-Puja, We pray to Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara, Srila Prabhupada for your good health, longer life on this planet. Please continue to guide your fallen children like us. Guru Maharaj, please keep us engaged in your service, we have the strong desire to serve you to our fullest capacity. Please forgive us for our countless offences we are committing knowingly and unknowingly.

Your dasanudas, Dhananjaya Das Nandarani Devi Dasi Saksham, Krishna New Delhi (India)

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Dharmakrit Das, Premapriya Devi Dasi, Swara & Manav

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe . All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga All glories to our Param Guru Srila Prabhupad.

Dear Srila Gurudev, Please accept our Dandvat Pranam at your Lotus feet.

Firstly, we would like to thank you for giving us chance to serve you in many occasions. We pray to Lord for your good health. You always encourage us by

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

showing your example that how to serve Lord in any condition and situation. We always remind ourselves when our mind wants to go away from any service that how you tirelessly serve the mission of Srila prabhupada. We request you on this vyasapuja occasion that please bless us so we atleast keep our mind to focus in service of the Lord and Pranhupada.

Your Servants, Dharmakrit Das, Premapriya Devi Dasi, Swara & Manav (Melbourne Australia)

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Dhyanamurti das

Hare Krsna Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. On this auspicious day of your appearance, I am doing this humble attempt to glorify your divine self. Guru Maharaj, as I look back since I first had your darshan in 2011, every moment spent in your association in form of Vapu and Vani has been so tremendously purifying and spiritually enriching. Your association awards determination to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission, keeping aside all differences I may have based on my conditioning. Your tireless efforts in travelling and making yourself available to people, so that they can rekindle their relationship with Krsna makes it easier for anyone to understand – your resolute determination in serving Prabhupada’s instructions. Guru Maharaj, you have been so kind to give my shelter, even though I have disappointed you so many times. I accept my weakness and my fumbling attempts in the performance of my service and cultivate a sincere desire to become stronger all around so I can serve you better. This is my heartfelt prayer to you on this auspicious day of your appearance. I beg for forgiveness at your lotus feet for all the offences I have committed knowingly and unknowingly.

Your Servant, Dhyanamurti das

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Goraknath, Keshinee Devi, Sanvir and Rasika

Dearest Guru Maharaj

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabupada. All glories unto your lotus feet. Guru Maharaj, I give my utmost respects and gratitude for your association. I admire all those that you inspire. Thank you for your continuous guidance and inspiration. Have a wonderful celebration. Dandavat Pranams.

Your servants, Goraknath, Keshinee Devi, Sanvir and Rasika Durban, South Africa

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Guru Gaurav Das and Padmaja Devi Dasi

Param pujya Guru Maharaj,

Kindly accept our dandavat pranam at your lotus feet on this most auspicious appearance day -74th Vyasa Puja mahotsava, being celebrated on 23.8.2018 at

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Wellington in New Zealand in your benign presence and at Sri Sri Radha Parthsarthy temple, Delhi on the same day by all my god-brothers/sisters in India. All glories to Shril Prabhupad and to you. We are neither qualified nor have any capacity to glorify such a grand spiritual personality, but as a matter of our spiritual duty we are attempting for expressing a bit of your most merciful behaviour. Your love and affection immensely touched us from the very first day when we met to you in 1995, and ultimately got shelter of your lotus feet as disciple thus moving from darkness to light and extreme ignorance to knowledge of Supreme Godhead Lord Krishna. Om agyan timirandhasya gyananjana salakaya Chakshurunmilitam yen tasmai Shri Guruve namah You are so merciful to further accept us for second initiation - Brahman Diksha. But we had only grudge that you seldom remain in Delhi and as soon as you come to India you reach to Vrindavan. Though it gave us an opportunity to visit Vrindavan dham just to have your darshan. We had very less opportunity to meet you, but whenever we get an opportunity to see you, it always had everlasting effect upon us. But in last few years to bridge this gap and to facilitate meeting of all god brothers/sisters in India and abroad you had initiated spiritual tours in India. To begin with, a Goverdhan parikrama was organised in November 2014 by you taking along various disciples of India and abroad. Despite of your health problems you lead the parikrama and completed even before many disciples like me. It was really a memorable event particularly the details of various Krishna temples and ashrams coming in the way as provided by you. Thereafter a south India tour in Kerala state was organised visiting various temples similar to that of Padamnabhswamy with their significence, and Kanyakumari also. Again during November 2016 you had conducted a holy tour of Karauli (Radha Madanmohan), Jaipur (Radha Gopinath, Radha Damodar, Radha Vinodilal and Radha Govinddev), Ajmer (Pushkar- Brahma temple), Nathdwara (Shrinathji and various nearby temples) and Udaipur (Jagdishji). This was a wonderful tour where we got darshans of Radha Madan Mohan, Radha Gopinath and Radha Govind dev in one day which was a dream of many of us. Besides, we had darshans of various temples and celebrated Gopashtami in Nathdwara. You travelled in bus with us whole day and night inspite of your health conditions. I was fortunate to remain one day in your personal service during Jaipur-Ajmer-Shrinathji tour. This was a rare opportunity to be with you which I cannot forget. Last year in December, 2017 a grand tour was arranged to Ahobilam, Kalahasti, Tirupati, Kanchipuram, Sri Rangam, Rameshwaram and Madurai from Hyderabad to Hyderabad in 2 buses with 80 godbrothers/sisters with excellent arrangements of staying and catering. I was again very fortunate to remain one day in your personal

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

service during visit to Tirupati temple. This year again a South India tour from Hampi to Udipi has been organised by you with 4 buses already full and more devotees in waiting list. Apart from this Whatsapp group ‘Lok Sanga - VVPS Disciples’ has become very very active and Guru Maharaj also gives his instructions from time to time. Thus no void is remained, and blessings of Guru Maharaj is reaching all the time everywhere not only to us but to all the godbrothers family in India and abroad. You are the ocean of mercy who indiscriminately distribute Krishna prem to all whosoever come in your contact, and turn out a real devotee of Lord Krishna. We pray Lord Krishna to give you long life and good health so that many ignorant like us also get a right path and ultimately got liberated within this span of life. We also pray you to forgive us for countless offences committed by us consciously or unconsciously due to your simplicity and merciful behaviour.

Yours most insignificant servants Guru Gaurav Das and Padmaja Devi Dasi Rohini, Delhi

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

HariDasaVarya Das

Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you.

Guru Maharaja, I am so fortunate to receive protection and guidance from you. Today when I look back I feel I have wasted so much time not listening to you the first time, my life is so better now, I am much happier and peaceful. It took me so long to understand though you kept repeating this. Had you not patiently preached and cared for me I would be completely lost. My fortune is boundless to have your grace. Srila Gurudev, please bless me that I will remain your menial servant forever and not leave you even for a moment.

Your Servant at your Lotus Feet, HariDasaVarya Das

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Jadabharat Das & Family

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj Please accept my obeisance at your lotus feet

All glories to Srila Prabhupada All glories to your service to Srila Prabhupada All glories to your jovial nature All glories to your life dedicated to Srila Prabhupada mission All glories to your service to Iskcon All glories to your friendly nature with your disciples and your closeness with each of them including their families and children All glories to your travelling around the globe at such an age Happy 74th Vyasapuja and Happy appearance day to you

With all the best wishes and love from Ys Jadabharat Das & Family Melbourne

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Jagatheeswari

Respected Gurumaharaj, Hare Krishna, Please accept my humble obeisances.

I feel blessed that I got your shelter. I have to be thankful to Srila Prabhupad that I got you as my guru. With your blessings I will grow in my spiritual life and I'll follow your footprints in the process of Krishna consciousness. Please guide me to use this human birth as a step to reach lotus feet of Krishna and always keep me as a servant for Krishna.

Please be merciful on this poor soul.

Jagatheeswari, Bangalore

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Jahnu Kanyaka Devi Dasi

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-sväminn iti nämine nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-sväminn iti nämine namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe

Dear Guru Maharaj, Please Accept My Humble Obeisances. On this auspicious day of your Vyasa Puja day I offer my respectful and humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. I pray to Srinathji and Nrsimha Dev that you will be healthy and be able to live a long time to encourage your disciples and me. I found these 2 beautiful verses from Guruv-astaka, and I thought these really relate to you. catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda- svādv-anna-trpṭ ān hari-bhakta-sańghān krtvaivạ trptiṃ ́ bhajatah ̣ sadaiva vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam “The spiritual master is always offering Krsna four kinds of delicious food [analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.” I thought this verse really glorifies you because I see in Vrindavan, in your apartment whenever any of your disciples call and say, “Weʼre coming Guru Maharaj.” you jump up make something to feed them, or make sure that they are fed. Most of the time, because of your diabetes, youʼre not allowed to eat what you cook, but still you enjoy feeding the devotees until they are full upto their necks.

śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā- śṛńgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau yuktasya bhaktāḿś ca niyuñjato 'pi vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam “The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.” This verse also glorifies you because you gave us Srinathji to worship. You also taught me how to dress Nathu properly. Also you install deities all over the world, in your disciple’s home and teach them how to worship the deities. I donʼt know what else I should say on your Vyasa Puja, so I am going to stop here. Have a very Happy Birthday Guru Maharaj. Also please bless me.

Sincerly Your Spiritual daughter and disciple, Jahnu Kanyaka Devi Dasi

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Janardan Das, Radhapriya Dasi, Kishan, Prayaag and Shyama

Nama om visnu-padaya krsna-Presthaya bhu-tale Srimate Vedvyaspriya Swamin iti namine

Dear Guru Maharaj, please accept our humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your Vyas puja. We pray to Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar for your best health and life long blessings. Dear Guru Maharaj, we would like to heartily thank you for your support, guidance and instruction for us while we were in Mackay. Devotees out there still wish to have your mercy and association. We believe our selves to be very fortunate to have a spiritual master like you. On this day of your Vyas puja we pray Lord Narshimdev for your wellbeing and protection so that we can have more and more of your association and instructions.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

We see Srila Prabhupada in you as you are our representative of Lord Krishna and without you we are not able to progress any further in Krishna Consciousness. Once again thank you for accepting us ignorant fallen souls as your disciples’ despite of our sinful and materialistic nature and thoughts. We humbly request on this occasion for your blessings and mercy that we will always remain in your service and association. And we beg for forgiveness for any offences we may have committed through the year to you and any other Vaishnavas.

Your servants Janardan Das, Radhapriya Dasi Kishan, Prayaag and Shyama. Brisbane, Australia

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Janeshvar Dasa, Prema Tarangini Radha Devi Dasi, Keerthan and Devesh

Nama Om Vishnu Padaaya Krishna Presthaya Bhutale Srimate Vedavyasapriya Swami Iti Namine Hare Krishna Dear Srila Gurudeva Please Accept Our Most Humble Obeisances on the Auspicious occasion of your Appearance day. All Glories To Srila Prabhupada and All Glories To Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Dear Guru Maharaj, It gives great pleasure to offer our humble respects and mood of gratitude from the bottom of our hearts at this time of the year during the Vyasapuja day, divine appearance day of our beloved Spiritual Master. When I contemplate on the time gone by this year since the last Vyasapuja and I always think it’s one year already... Then again my heart fills with more joy to have an opportunity to glorify you for all that you have given us in this life time. This has been a tough year for our family having gone through many changing situations in our material life. Never the time had we missed your association by both Vapu and Vani in all those situations and I cannot imagine life without your

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

causeless mercy on us and the enlightening God brothers and God sisters that you have given us. Your Melbourne Yatra, was a memorable one with another opportunity to serve you with third consecutive music recording session held in Melbourne (as every year). It has been a great pleasure in continuing and rendering this service unto you in turn serving Srila Prabhupada. We are greatly indebted to you Srila Gurudeva. During our Vrindavan Yatra, we were in great anxiety whether we are going to miss your darshan as you were arriving in the midnight and we were scheduled leave Vrindavan early in the next morning. Srila Gurudeva, you not only gave long darshan time to me after mid night but also gave special blessings to my family with your divine association to them in the early morning at Krishna Balaram temple. We thank you for your merciful glance upon us. Due to various circumstances, I was suffering with grief and guilt and was not able to be in touch with you at the start of this year. Then you mercifully sent messages and spoke to me which gave me strength to come back on track and engage in your services. Thank you once again Guru Maharaj. By your blessings, our humble attempt to facilitate Bhakti Vriksha in Ballarat preaching and Hobart preaching program is going well. Please keep us in your prayers so that we can be instruments in serving this mission of spreading the Holy Name of the Lord and assist Srila Prabhupada and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Under the guidance of Keshava Prabhu and Jagannath Ram Prabhu, our courses in Bhakti Vedanta and Bhakti Vaibhav have been progressing nicely so far. Please shower your blessings so that we can have proper understanding of Srimad Bhagavatam and continue to scrutinisingly study with right consciousness. On this Glorious occasion of 74th Vyasapuja Celebrations, we sincerely pray to our beloved deities Sri Sri Nithai Gaurachandra that by their sweet will, They bestow a long and very healthy life to you so that more and more generations of fallen souls like us be delivered from the cycle of birth and death. Last but not the least, please pardon and forgive us for any offenses that we have committed knowingly or unknowingly and bless us to serve you and be an instrument in serving Srila Prabhupada.

Your naive servants Janeshvar Dasa Prema Tarangini Radha Devi Dasi Keerthan and Devesh From Melbourne Australia

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Jayanti Devi Dasi

My dear Guru Maharāja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and yourself!

Happy 74th appearance Day! May Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundara and Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda bestow their unlimited blessings on you. This year again I am looking forward to be in your physical presence celebrating this special day in Wellington. Wellington is where I really accepted Krishna consciousness following my sister, Lajjavati Devi Dasi’s instructions. And a few years later in 2008, you graced our home here for a visit. That day still stands clear in my mind. We had no proper training or qualifications to serve you but you accepted our feeble efforts patiently tolerating all our faults and mistakes without a word. My parents and I still feel terrible about our lack of knowledge or protocol, and for which we will always seek your forgiveness.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

You have imbibed Srila Prabhupada’s mood so nicely by freely associating with novices like us and then engaging us so beautifully in Krishna’s service. We are so grateful for giving us your shelter. Because of your mercy shown ten years ago, I continue to be engaged in full-time service here at New Gokula now. It is a rocky road here and not a day in last few months have gone by without me thinking of you to give me the strength to carry through, like you have done against all odds. I pray that the dust of your lotus feet may always be upon my head.

Your servant, Jayanti Devi Dasi NSW, Australia

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Jayapradha Devi Dasi

Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. On this most auspicious day of your appearance I want to thank you for all the mercy you give me and my Family. All glories to you for bringing me in Srila Prabhupada’s movement and thank for all the opportunities to make me successful.

Best regards and wishes from, Your Servant, Jayapradha Devi Dasi Suva, Fiji

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Jayshree devi dasi

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada Another year has passed and I am feeling grateful that I am able to participate in Sri Vyasapuja 2018 and glorify the parampara who have mercifully given us instructions to attain ultimate perfection in our lives. Lord Chaitanya chose Srila Prabhupada as his commander to give the Holy Name to every town and village and Srila Prabhupada has chosen you to guide us by your own example. Your purity, strength, wisdom, kindness, friendliness and above all your personal approach brings even the unfavourable and mayawadis closer to Krishna. Your lectures not only answer my questions but also give me hope in moments of weakness and frustration. It teaches me how to deal with the devotees and the world at large. During your recent visit to Brisbane I recall you emphasising on how it is important to not get overwhelmed or sentimental but rise above maya and everything else on the material platform. You often say, “If you are a gentleman, try and get out of this world as soon as possible.” Even in the smallest everyday conversation I find myself remembering and quoting your examples and explanations. Although I feel genuine appreciation and gratitude for all that you are giving us, I know I am not reciprocating with you at a deeper level. I am not surrendered enough, I lack wisdom and therefore I face so many difficulties in being able to assist you in your mission: to awaken love for Lord Krishna in everyone's heart. Parroting the words of the acaryas is simple but evoking the audience's response and eagerness to take up the process is very difficult. Srila Gurudev, please bless and help me to make a difference by communicating the message in such a way so that the hearts and minds of the audience open up to receive the transcendental message.

Sincerely Your servant Jayshree devi dasi

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Jnanagamya das, Rasanidhi devi dasi & Om

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjan- salakaya Caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah mukam karoti vachalam pangum langhayate girim yat-kripa tam aham vandeshri-gurum dina-taranam

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains."

Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your vyasapuja. By giving us shelter, you have showered your unlimited mercy on fallen souls like us, we are very thankful to you. We are stuck in this dark ocean of lust, envy, greed, pride and anger, which are giving us pangs in every part of our life. Your knowledge and teachings are giving us direction towards spiritual realisation and cleaning contaminations of our heart. Helpless souls like us are suffering from pain, illusion, frustration, staleness and trying to search for real knowledge, unlimited happiness and lotus feet of the Lord, these can be only achieved by your causeless effort. Our life is darkened by ignorance and you are the light. Before we were thinking we are creator and maintainer of our life but by your mercy and teaching of scripture as it is, we are understanding and experiencing unknown aspects of our life that’s how insignificant we are. Your life has given us motivation and faith that there is something beyond these material miseries from which our real journey will start. As you have spread Srila Prabhupada’s teaching as it is, we came to know about Ishvara, Jiva, Prakriti, Kala and Karma. Before our family life was going aimlessly in nowhere and after having your mercy we got realisation about our goal. This is also possible by following your teachings of scriptures and serving devotees at our best whenever got chance and we are still making efforts to improvising in those devotional activities.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Please give us strength so we can serve in Lord Chaitanya’s mission. Please raise our determination so we can achieve to live life such as a pure devotee. Please cleanse our heart so we can taste what our gurus have tasted. Please give us your more teaching, guidance and mercy so we can enter in the realm of Radha-Krishna. Please forgive our mistakes and keep giving us guidance so we have an opportunity to follow your foot steps. Please give us some self-realisation from the unlimited source of the Lord so we can start our journey.

Your servents, Jnanagamya das, Rasanidhi devi dasi & Om

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Kardamamuni das, Madhumalti dd, Mita, Nilesh, Jahnavi and Krishna

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Dear Guru Maharaj HH Vedavyasapriya Swami Maharaj, Please accept our humble obeisances to your lotus feet. All glories to you and Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Nitai Gaurang. All glories to Sri Sri Radha Shyam Sundar.

This is the most auspicious day of Vyas Puja. We wish you very happy, most healthy, and wonderful Krishna conscious day on your appearance day. Our family is very lucky because you have given us new life. Whenever and wherever we needed you, you were right there with us. Even if you weren't present in person, you were with us through your words, thoughts, and blessings. By such association we were receiving great comfort and strength to get through all our troubles. Without you, we might have gone through immense suffering without the insight to come out of our crises. Especially by your blessing and Krishna's mercies, I came out of a serious sickness in one day. We wish you many more Vyas Puja Days to come, so that that you will continue to fulfill the mission of Srila Prabhupada.

We all pray for you that this day is the most wonderful and happy day. Your most humble and insignificant servants, Kardamamuni das, Madhumalti dd, Mita, Nilesh, Jahnavi, and Krishna St. Louis, MO, USA

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Karunamayi devi dasi

oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe

Dear Gurumaharaj, Please accept my humble obeisance All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and unto you

A very happy 74th appearance day to you!! On this very auspicious day I am praying to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai to always protect you from all calamities.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Dear Guru maharaj, when I look deep inside my heart, I see a host of wrangling weeds staring back at me. It is you who came and ploughed this heart with affection by instilling the seed of devotion. This seed which is growing very slowly nurtured by you, who is constantly reminding me of the goal to make devotional service my very life and soul, the chanting of Hare Krishna maha mantra and the systematic studying of Srila Prabhupada’s books. As I struggle and still am with the studying of the sastra’s, it is you who is continually encouraging for me to continue on. Your heart is endlessly filled with love for Krishna with such unshakable firm faith in the teachings and instructions of Srila Prabhupada. There is no end to your greatness which you have shown through your selflessness as you tend to every need of every disciple, well-wisher, friends and everyone who has come across in your path including myself. As I look back in the last 10 months, I sincerely pray to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai to honour this transcendental connection and to uphold the promises I have made with you even during lifetimes of sorrow and heartache. I pray for strength and faith to serve you, follow in your exemplary footsteps and most of all be faithful to you. This shall be my daily prayers which are not just to be remained written in a page but prayers which will be imprinted in the pages of my heart where you so kindly weeded over and over again. Thank you dear Guru maharaj. Hare Krishna Your servant Karunamayi devi dasi

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Kaushalyanandan das, Dhamrupini Radha devi dasi, Aaria and Anay

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj, Please accept our humble obeisance to your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Initially started with me, your love and compassion is now extended to my brother & his family in Sydney, my parents in Modasa and hundreds of other devotees in Gujarat. By your mercy our entire family had become stronger in Krishna Consciousness. Thank you for connecting us to the Parampara and accepting us to be a part of Prabhupada’s family. Earlier this year in Gujarat Yatra, I was able to have your association & serve you for few days, during those days I realised that how you serve Krishna and Prabhupada 24/7 since last so many decades. Starting from Mangala Aarti early in the morning, meeting devotees personally one to one, you were attending home programs all day and inspiring them. After busy and hectic day, I went to sleep around 10pm but you were translating disciple course in Gujarati, word by word till late night. I saw personally

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

that you are carrying same mood like Prabhupada who was translating books at late night and early morning. I have been fortunate to travel with you in Fiji and few other centres in Gujarat and I have noticed that you meet so many people from different country, different age, different culture but you inspire each and everyone in the same way. From my perspective you travel from different country but in your eyes you are doing same thing that you are serving Krishna and connecting a soul to Krishna. I wonder how much dedication you have for Srila Prabhupada that you are doing this for over 40 years now. You are certainly empowered by Srila Prabhupada or else who would be able to travel like you despite having so many health and diet restrictions. As per the instruction of Srila Prabhupada you keep on travelling around the world to deliver the fallen souls like us. On this auspicious day of your vyasapuja, I pray to Sri Sri Radha Vallabha for your long and healthy life so that you can continue to guide and inspire all of us in devotional service.

Kaushalyanandan das, Dhamrupini Radha devi dasi Aaria (Moti ben) and Anay Melbourne

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Kirti Patel

Hare Krishna Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

With your Vyasa Puja being held in Wellington it provides me a direct opportunity to associate with and serve you. I am glad and extremely thankful for this opportunity. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing me your shelter and connecting me with the divine instructions of Lord Sri Krishna. It is only because of the Journey of Self Discovery course, which was started in Wellington due to your instructions, that I have been able to make progress in my Krishna consciousness. Before I started attending these programs my Krishna consciousness was stagnant. The guidance, kindness and care shown by your disciples towards me have also been immeasurable. Please bless me so that I can continue to make progress and serve you and Srila Prabhupada to the best of my abilities.

Hare Krishna, Kirti Patel

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Kunjvilasini devi dasi, Anil, Jigisha, Urvi, & Shivani

Dear gurumaharaj,

Accept my dandavat pranam. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, and all glories to you on this auspicious day of vyas puja. Thank you for accepting me as your disciple. You inspired me to improve myself on my devotional path. By your mercy I received knowledge about going back to godhead. Please continue to shower your mercy on me and my family.

Your humble servants, Kunjvilasini devi dasi Anil, Jigisha, Urvi, & Shivani Richmond, ky

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Laddu Gopal Das, VrajSundari Devi Dasi, Siddharth and Himanshu

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe

We are not qualified to glorify your divine self but we will make humble attempt to say few words. Every year our family and devotees of Baltimore wait for your arrival in USA especially on Baltimore ratha yatra day. It was such pleasure and delight to personally see you and hear glories of Lord Krishna and Srila Prabupada through your sweet kirtan and divine lectures. Your dedication to serve Krishna and spiritual master is inspiring and keep us motivated to move on our path to become Krishna conscious. Today on your auspicious appearance day, we pray to Krishna to keep you healthy so that you can continue preaching and bestow your mercy on all the condition souls. The only way for us to become Krishna conscious is through your mercy. Please help us to become an instrument in your hands and serve you.

We thank for your causeless mercy and pray to Lord Krishna for long and healthy life in His service. Your disciple Laddu Gopal Das, VrajSundari Devi Dasi, Siddharth and Himanshu

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Lavangalata Devi Dasi

nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate vedavyāsapriya svāmin iti nāmine I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrīla Vedavyāsapriya Svāmi who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktivedanta svāmin iti nāmine I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrīla Bhaktivedanta Svāmi who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. namaste sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī pracāriṇe nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvatī Gosvāmī. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.

Dear Guru Maharaja

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara.

This year for me is one to try and deepen my relationship with the Holy Name, with our deities, Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara, with Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, with Srila Prabhupada and your mood and instructions. I am coming to practical realisation that my personal ability to render service to you and Srila Prabhupada mission is not exemplary, despite my false-ego hanging onto the idea that somehow it is, or would be soon. In as much as I try to reverse the effects of ageing including both mental and physical reduction in capacity in order to improve my ability to serve, I now come to the realisation that I had better work on trying to improve my full involvement in that service that I am able to do, including chanting good rounds, and engaging my mind in chanting and singing as well as deity worship. Thus my realisation of your stage of advancement, in being able to continue to increase your service to Srila Prabhupada despite any bodily restrictions is also increasing. From Nectar of Devotion: Chapter 18. Character of One in Ecstatic Love Rūpa Gosvāmī next describes the characteristics of a person who has actually developed his ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. The characteristics are as follows: (1) He is always anxious to utilize his time in the devotional service of the Lord. He does not like to be idle. He wants service always, twenty-four hours a day, without deviation. (2) He is always reserved and perseverant. (3) He is always detached from all material attraction. (4) He does not long for any material respect in return for his activities. (5) He is always certain that Kṛṣṇa will bestow His mercy upon him. (6) He is always very eager to serve the Lord faithfully. (7) He is very much attached to the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. (8) He is always eager to describe the transcendental qualities of the Lord. (9) He is very pleased to live in a place where the Lord's pastimes are performed, e.g., Mathurā, Vṛndāvana or Dvārakā.

I aspire to always follow in your footsteps, with firm realisation that I am only following and not on the same platform.

Your willing but insignificant servant, Lavangalata Devi Dasi, Vrindavan, India

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Madhavi Devi Dasi

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu-nityänanda çré-advaita gadädhara çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

To My Dearest Gurudev, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories unto you on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa puja. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupad.

Guru Maharaj, We are eternally grateful to you for the causeless mercy you have showered on us worthless, conditioned souls. We are awestruck since the day Shree Gopaliji has kindly graced our house with His divine presence. It will be 1 year this October since this miracle has happened and we feel extremely fortunate to have the Divine darshan of the Lord everyday on our altar. This is all because of your causeless mercy, Guru Maharaj! Few months ago, a senior devotee had visited us and I was showing off my greatest asset - Shree Goplaji. Sensing my pride he duly corrected me saying that one does not get the deities because one is already qualified to worship Them rather Guru gives the disciple an opportunity to come up to this level so they can get qualified to worship Them. This was an eye opening for me Guru maharaj and since then with all our inadequecies, we are putting forth our best efforts to please Gopalji. As per your instructions, we are doing a minimum of one aarthi and one offering a day and change the dress every ekadashi. Hopefully one day with your blessings we will live upto your expectations and get qualified to serve Their Lordships Lotus feet in the righ mood. We beg to forgive our shortcomings in not being able to render any service to you, Guru maharaj, but we sincerely hold that deisre. Thank you so much for all the kindness shown to us especially towards both our kids Neel Madhav and Tulsi Priya.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

It is said that spiritual master is eternal and knows the heart of his disciple. I believe that this is true. I am always your servant and please always be my spiritual master. Wishing you a very wonderful Vyaspuja celebration in New Zealand, dear Guru Maharaj.

Your insignificant servant, Madhavi Devi Dasi (Melbourne)

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Madhu Malati Devi Dasi

Dear Srila Guru Maharaj.

Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Guru and Gauranga. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you. Today on this auspicious day, please allow me to wish you very happy, healthy and liberated birthday so I can serve you eternally.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

I consider myself the most fortunate that you accepted me as your disciple and showered on me the divinely “Brahmana Diksha” in Wellington last year (2017). I have realised your instruction that Krishna will help me remember only what I need to. Instruction given to me in Wellington was for me to understand Naam Sankirtan, work done by Srila Prabhupada, our acharyas, our scriptures and the whole movement of Krishna consciousness. You are the real disciple of Srila Prabhupada. You have been preaching with great enthusiasm irrespective of health condition. You are perfect example how we can serve our spiritual master and Shri Shri Radha Girdhari. In addition, songs of acharyas are amazingly sung by you. Maharaj by your mercy I am starting to understand the Sankirtan movement but at very slow pace. I pray to Lord Narsimha to give you good health so that you can continue to give instructions to fallen soul like me. Please forgive my offences. Hare Krishna.

Your servant Madhu Malati Devi Dasi. Auckland, NewZealand.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Maheshwar das and Parvati devi dasi

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva. We seek your blessing Maharaj on this auspicious day remembering and celebrating your appearance day. Thank you Maharaj for all of your mercy and we pray that you are well. We appreciate your assistance during our recent visit to Mayapur dham. I know you were so busy yet you found time to help us. Such is your humble nature Maharaj. We were blessed that we were able to visit Mayapur, Jaganath Puri and Vrndavan. Our experience in Maypur was so enlightening to be able to see various past times of our Lord and the senior goswamis, gurus and disciples. Recently we had further opportunity to associate with you and our god family and other devotees in Brisbane. It is always inspiring to see you and your high level of energy even after long periods of travel. We look forward to your association again soon.

Hare Krsna, Your humble servant, Maheshwar das and Parvati devi dasi Brisbane, Australia

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Manuraj, Shrilatha and Sharadhi

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your Vyasapuja. When we first met you in 2017, we were so happy and satisfied with your association as a bonafide Spiritual Master for us. Thank you so much for giving divine shelter and protection for us. You have explained so nicely on how to concentrate while chanting in relation to the four quadrants in time management theory as the X axis represents the urgency and the Y axis represents the importance. Also recently you have helped us while buying Sri Sri Gaura Nitai deities in Vrindavan. We seek your blessings on this auspicious day to become more serious towards devotional service. We pray for your long life and good health always.

Aspiring to be your eternal servants, Manuraj, Shrilatha and Sharadhi Wellington, New Zealand

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Mathura Mohan Das, Shreyakari Devi Dasi and Sharda Lalbahadur

Dear Guru- Maharaj, Please accept our humble obediences. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you on this auspicious day on your Vyasa puja.

Guru-Maharaj, you have changed our lives! Our household is transformed the day you entered our house, it is blessed with the dust from the lotus feet of our spirit father. Our lives are now centered on your expectation to follow the four regulative principles and chant 16 rounds of japa daily. Guru-Maharaj you’re so merciful to give these fallen souls the opportunity to be your servants. Guru-Maharaj with your mercy we are hosting Bhagavad Gita class monthly with the local devotees, family and friends.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

In the beginning we had some challenges in completing all our rounds since we had to leave before six to go to work, but with your mercy we are waking up an hour earlier and this made a huge difference.

Your humble servants, Mathura Mohan Das, Shreyakari Devi Dasi and Sharda Lalbahadur

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Mayapur Shashdar Das

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu-nityänanda çré-advaita gadädhara çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare

Dearest Srila Guru-Maharaj,

We offer our most respectful and humble dandavat pranams at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Jagad-Guru, Srila Prabhupada and all glories to your loving divine grace. We wish you a very happy Vyasa-puja and pray to Srimati Radharani and Gaura-Nitai for many many happy returns of this auspicious day. Guru-Maharaj, I am afraid that my realization won't be pleasing to you as I don’t have so much to offer. By your causeless mercy, Gopu entered our life. We developed personal attachment with Gopu and we are trying to follow all the standards of deity worship. I know your causeless mercy is always flowing towards us resulting in new spiritual experiences all the time. After coming to Melbourne and observing the devotees I realized what is unconditional pure love towards Guru. It is you Guru Maharaj who instill this mood by displaying eternal unconditional pure love to your Guru maharaj Srila Prabhupad thus demonstrating what is Guru-shishya relationship. I hope one day I would receive at least a drop of that servitorship mood that you have for His Divine grace Srila Prabhupada. Had it not been your mercy, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity to get association of my beloved god brothers and sisters. On this auspicious day, I pray to Guru and Gauranga for your better health and well being. Wishing you the most wonderful Vyasa-puja celebration again and again. This time we missed an opportunity to associate with you and hope that next time, we will be in your personal association to celebrate this day and directly get the nectar of your association.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Jai Srila Prabhupad! Jai Srila Gurudev! Srila Guru-Maharaj Vyasapuja Maha Mahotsav ki jai! Your most fallen child, Mayapur Shashdar Das

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Mayeshvar Das

Hare Krishna Guru Dev, Happy appearance day to you. Please accept my humble obeisances. I am eternally grateful for your mercy you have shown me for accepting me as your Disciple and helping me get back home to Godhead. Hope to see you again soon Guru Dev!

Mayeshvar Das Las Vegas

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Medhavi das

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. It is a very joyous occasion for us, your disciples, to celebrate your appearance day. I am feeling delighted at the opportunity to once again write an offering on the occasion of your Vyasapuja and offer this humble offering at your lotus feet. Guru Maharaj, with each passing year, I am continuously amazed at your endeavours in serving Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON with your non-stop preaching activities with renewed vigour in spite of your advancing age and health conditions. Through your unflinching faith in, and complete surrender to, Srila Prabhupada and the Guru Parampara and, the uncompromising way in which you deliver the message of Lord Sri Krishna and Sri Caitanya Maharprabhu, you are continuing to show us how one can be continuously in the service of Srila Prabhupada and the Guru Parampara.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

As you have said in your vyasapuja offering to Srila Prabhupada last year, “Taking shelter of a bona fide guru in the unbroken chain of the pure disciplic succession is the key for success”. You granted me this shelter even though I am not worthy of it. As every year passes, I am appreciating the guru-disciple relationship that I have with you more and more, as a result of getting a better understanding of what it means to be a disciple and how the disciple should serve their Guru. I realise that to even serve the Guru, the disciple requires his mercy and to get the Guru’s mercy the disciple needs to help the Guru in his mission. Your instructions form the base on which my ability to serve you, Srila Prabhupada and Srila Prabhupada’s mission rests. On this most auspicious day, I pray that you grant me your mercy by which I may be of service to you and Srila Prabhupada.

Your humble servant, Medhavi das

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Mrinalini devi dasi

Dear Gurumaharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your vyasapuja. I can not even begin to express my appreciation for your kindness, love and mercy, for taking me as your disciple and leading me on this difficult soul journey to love, to real life. Thank you for helping me to meet challenges on the way. From the bottom of my heart thank you for believing in me.

Your humble servant, Mrinalini devi dasi Vancouver Canada

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Nityananda Priya Das, Rukmini Devi Dasi, Harshil and Sunidhi

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya cakshur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj, Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, Sri Guru and Guaranga.

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Hare Krishna to you Guru Maharaj on your 74th birthday. May Lord Krishna bless you with good health and long life to spread Krishna consciousness in every living entity and reclaim all the fallen souls. I am blessed today to attend your live Vyasa Puja in Wellington, New Zealand. Thank you to you and our dear New Zealand god family to make it happen. We feel so joyful. We pray at your lotus feet to have the next 75th Vyaas Puja in Melbourne, Australia. We are whole heartedly thankful to you, our beloved Guru Maharaj for accepting us as your disciples and giving us Hari Naam diksha last year. You have bestowed your mercy to the most unqualified souls, so we can start our real spiritual journey. Just as a kind compassionate father teaches small child with so much love, you are teaching and guiding us and making us capable to serve the supreme lord by regularly chanting his holy name and to make him the goal of our life. Your love, guidance and mercy only will bestow us our continuous spiritual progress and make our bhakti lata stronger. Guru Maharaj, your qualities are limitless. You are very loving and kind hearted, very clear and see things as they are. You are very understanding, thoughtful, merciful and very patient to all living beings. As per your instructions, me and Rukmini Devi Dasi are currently doing the Bhakti Shastri course. Rukmini DD is very punctual and very much on the way to successfully completing the Bhagawad Gita part of the course. I am the one who always find excuses. At times, I feel overwhelmed with too many things coming at the same time including new job’s material learning challenges, health issues in the family and good things like trying to help in various Krishna consciousness activities in western suburbs. But, I do struggle to keep focus and keep balance. Guru Maharaj, we pray at your lotus feet. Please bless us for our rapid spiritual growth. Please forgive us for our faults and keep your mercy on us. In the end, we again pray at your lotus feet to have the next 75th Vyaas pooja in Melbourne, Australia.

At your lotus feet, Your servants, Nityananda Priya Das, Rukmini Devi Dasi Harshil and Sunidhi

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Ojasvi das, Ojasvini Devi dasi, Aryan and Neev

Namah Om Visnupadaya Krsna presthaya bhutale Srimate Vedavyasapriya Swamin iti namine Dear Guru Maharaj, Hare Krishna, Please accept my humble obeisance at your lotus feet on your appearance day. From the day we got your association for the first time one thing which really stands out is that you have time for everyone and anyone at anytime. Your mood is always to serve and guide others towards Krishna in a very jovial way. You always wanted us to keep Srila Prabhupad in centre of our life by engaging Ojasvini and me in preaching/ studying which we are trying to do by serving bhakti Vriksha and studying Bhakti Vaibhava course. By your mercy since last year we are got engaged in deity worship and cooking at temples which both of us feel very privileged and humbled. Serving temple deities in the form of doing Their aarti / Abhishek and cooking bhoga for them has given good insights of brahminical services. Our life has changed due to your causeless mercy. I’ve lot of anarthas in the heart and mind which I need to work on to progress in bhakti. Please guide me so that I can overcome these anarthas and be steady on the path of Krishna consciousness. Please kindly engage me in your service and devotees services.

I pray to Krishna for your good health and wellbeing. Your servant, Ojasvi das, Ojasvini Devi dasi, Aryan and Neev

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Pankaj Kishor

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj, Dandvat Pranam. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. This year is a year of lot of ups and downs. I along with my family may have done offenses which didn’t please you. I understood later, I should have taken strong steps to fulfill your desires. But I am happy that by Krishna’s mercy and with your continuous guidance things got improved and executed positively. I am very thankful for your time and guidance wherever and whenever required. I am very fortunate enough that I am attached to this Krishna consciousness movement that I am able to reduce some of my material desires and able to detach with those desires easily. Thanks to Srila Prabhupada for providing us such a beautiful and well organized platform which reminds us and helps us to be on track in sensitive situations. On this auspicious day of Guru Purnima, I will whole-heartedly pray to Sri Narsingh dev for your better health. Also I will try not to do any offence which has to be repaid by you. Please give us your mercy so that we can get advancement in this krsna consciousness.

Please always keep us in your shelter Yours servant Pankaj Kishor Muzaffarnagar

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Parjanya Das & Ananglata Devi Dasi

namah om visnupadaya krsnapresthaya bhutale sri-mate vedavyasapriya swamin-iti namine namah om visnupadaya krsnapresthaya bhutale sri-mate bhaktivedanta swamin-iti namine namaste saraswate-deve gaura-vani pracarine nirvisesa sunyavadi pascatya-desa tarine

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj, All Glories to Srila prabhupad and all glories to your lotus feet.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude for your compassion and mercy upon us. You have kindly guided us throughout, in spite of our inability to understand some of your instructions properly. You take so much trouble to visit different countries to inspire and motivate devotees and are determined in your service to Srila Prabhupada and expanding this

Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Krishna Conscious movement. We have been motivated and recharged spiritually by your yearly visit to Wellington. We were also fortunate to have your association at last year’s Vyaspuja in Brisbane. At one of your Bhagvatam lectures, you have mentioned that “we can please Krishna by pleasing spiritual master and spiritual master is pleased when devotees are pleased”. This has inspired us to develop a serving attitude towards other devotees. We feel indebted with the golden opportunity to have your 74th Vyaspuja celebration in Wellington. We are eagerly waiting to serve you and other devotees during this year’s Vyaspuja at Wellington. We pray at your lotus feet to develop a fraction of your service mood in serving devotees and Srila Prabhupada’s mission. It will help us to progress in the path of Krishna Consciousness. On this auspicious occasion of your 74th Vyas Puja, we pray to Sri Sri Gaur Nitai, that they give you long life & good health. We also pray at your lotus feet for forgiveness for our offences & mistakes.

Your servants, Parjanya Das & Ananglata Devi Dasi Wellington, New Zealand

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Prasannatma das, Bhaava Bhavini devi dasi and Varun

Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept our humble obeisance at your lotus feet. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Guru Maharaj. All glories to your god children at Wellington, New Zealand, in conducting the Vyasa puja of 2018.

Gurudev, your 2017 Vyasa puja in Brisbane where I was fortunate to be present, is still fresh in our minds. It has been another glorious year of Krsna consciousness within Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON and many good things have happened globally. Particularly

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I would like to mention the inauguration of the new temple for Sri Sri Radha Govinda in Las Vegas with your holiness as chief guest alongside the GBC His Holiness Badrinarayan Goswami Maharaj and His Grace Vaisheshika Prabhu. Las Vegas devotees have cherished this and your presence gives them plenty of motivation and spirit. They are also hoping to build a large chariot for the next year’s rath yatra festival that will send waves of Krsna consciousness around the world. Guru Maharaj, with your wonderful blessings, I have pursued preaching within the temple and wider community with a view to bringing the Lord’s mercy to the forgetting souls and Srila Prabhupada’s favourite western community. We are always inspired by your determination to travel far and wide to unchartered territories like Papua New Guinee, the length and breadth of the driest continent Australia in summer and unforgiving winter, the length and breadth of North Amercia including United States and Canada, there is not a single Fijian devotee that does not know you, as you have helped them in their yatra and also serving your dear god brother His Holiness Tamal Krsna Maharaj by duty fully taking care of his disciples after his disappearance. I have always reminded people to take spiritual advantage of the travelling dhams which are none other than great Vaishnavas travelling from place to place from town to town, globally, such as wonderful renunciates as your holiness. It is also heartening to see your mercy in places such as Thailand, Burma, Mauritius, Botswana and South Africa as well as Germany, continental Europe and the British Isles be it for preaching one to one or to many or attending the various Ratha Yatras the most recent being Delhi in the sub continent too. One can say with all acumen, the sun never sets where His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami’s blessings prevail and that is the entire globe. Dear Guru Maharaj, with the size of Sydney being so large and the tyranny of distance becoming worse with the increase in traffic, it is envisaged that we would need at least five temples, one central and four satellites in the corners of the city. Your disciples and well wishers would seek your blessings that this may be possible to be achieved as with only your prayers, The Lord would help us achieve this. Even the one single temple in the North West needs your prayers and blessings to get a move. On this auspicious day of your Vyasa puja, please bless us all, Gurudev, that we may refine our bhakti, leaving behind all anarthas and progress towards achieving Him in this life. We remember your instructions and call His name at every juncture of remembrance, through thick and thin. Guru Maharaj, please also bless all your disciples and well wishers around the world, who for various reasons are unable to pen an offering to your holiness but

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have you in their hearts always as I get to see when I go around and they show to me the love they have for you. I promised to convey their thoughts to your holiness and may this be the opportunity for that.

May the supreme Lord continue to bless you to lead us all to Him and may Srila Prabhupada’s mission flourish.

With the deepest respects, Hare Krsna We remain to serve you as your disciples, Prasannatma das, Bhaava Bhavini devi dasi and Varun

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Priya Narma Sakha Das, Nitya Swarupa Dasi, Gaurangi, & Nityangi

All Glories to Srila Prabhupad Dear Guru Maharaj

Please accept our humble obeisance at your lotus feet. On this auspicious occasion of your 74th Vyasa Puja, we would like to thank Srila Prabhupad for spreading Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu mission to the entire world and for sending you as spiritual master in our insignificant life. Despite your bodily health issues, you travel and preach Krishna Consciousness to every part of the world following the footsteps of Srila Prabhupad. On this auspicious occasion, we pray to Sri Sri Gaur Nitai to give you immense spiritual energy, long life and perfect health so that you can turn many many fallen souls like us into soldier of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu army. This year is very special year in our life as you have showered your blessings by accepting fallen soul like me as your disciple. You are like an ocean of mercy, compassion, knowledge and bliss for us.

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

In my life the above lines hold a true meaning. I was a materialistic and ignorant man when I attended Sri Nathji Yatra in 2016 and you have opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto you. Nityaswarupa expresses her heart felt gratitude for your guidance in raising our children. You are so caring and merciful that even if you are too much occupied you take out time to guide us whenever we call you. Please forgive us for calling you at odd times. Please forgive us for all the offences that we may have committed at your lotus feet. Please bless us so that we can continue on the path of Bhakti and serve you and

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Srila Prabhupad. Please instruct us so that we can contribute in some insignificant way in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission.

Your insignificant servants Priya Narma Sakha Das, Nitya Swarupa Dasi, Gaurangi, & Nityangi China

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Purandhar, Sreelakshmi, Varshita, Deekshita

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya svämin iti nämine nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-sväminn iti nämine

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to your lotus feet. We are really fortunate to you have association from last two years. When we first met you in 2016, through the lectures of Sharanagati you started showing mercy on us. With you and Srila Prabhupada’s mercy we were able to start progressing in Krishna consciousness. You were more merciful when we met second time in 2017, You have given us the knowledge and explained how one should progress in Krishna consciousness through your amazing seminars on “Teachings of Queen Kunti”. Gurudev, out of your causeless mercy, you have given us your divine shelter. With your mercy we are able to progress in Krishna consciousness. You also advised

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us how to do attentive chanting and explained about deity worship. When Varshita expressed her desire for Sri Radha Krishna deities, you explained how merciful are Gaur-Nitai. You also spent your valuable time to select the deities for us. Gurudev, inspite of not being able to spend more time closer to you physically, we are blessed with seeing and hearing your vani through various mediums. Your lecture on Bhagavad Gita 9.27 yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam is playing important role in our progress. Your words “Krishna Demands” are registered in our mind. With the mercy of Srila Prabhupad and you we are able to complete two modules of Bhakti Sastri course with very good marks. On this auspicious occasion of your 74th Vyasapuja, we pray to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, that they give you long life and Good health. We also pray at your lotus feet for forgiveness for our offences & mistakes.

Aspiring to be your eternal servants, Purandhar, Sreelakshmi, Varshita, Deekshita Wellington, New Zealand

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Radhakanta Das, Madhuri Devi Dasi

Dear Gurudeva, nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Gurudeva.

On this auspicious occasion of your 74th Vyasapuja, I am greatly delighted to send you my words of prayers glorifying your magnanimous personality who has time and again given me protection, inspiration, enthusiasm and guidance in many folds of my devotional life. I first met you in 2006 at Sri Krishna Kaliya Temple, at that time I was still schooling. We travelled many places within Fiji and little did I know that my life was beginning to transform from those early associations with you. I had just begun to

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attend to ISKCON programs and associating with devotees and after meeting you, my search seeking spiritual refuge ended. Gurudeva, you accepted me without looking at my material qualifications or possession. Since then I had gone through many phases of life, some good and some bad but you stood by me, guiding me and giving me hope every time I felt there wasn’t any. You played a very important role in my grihastha life, guiding us and teaching us how to develop a balanced Krishna Conscious married life. Gurudeva, there are many things you have taught me, however what I deeply cherish and meditate about you in my heart is your humility and dedication towards His Divine Grace A. C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Your tireless service you have taken to help devotees especially those who look up to you as a guide, mentor and inspiration is boundless. You stand tall amongst servants of Srila Prabhupada who take his instructions so dear to their hearts that you have agreed to accept all inconveniences with greatest humility, be it your ill health, advancing age or challenges imposed by egoistic people. As I have grown from a small boy to a father of two kids, I have learnt many things from your exemplary behaviour, conduct and dealings with devotees. I hope that you will continue to let me be the recipient of the mercy of the dust of your feet and be able to serve Krishna as per your pleasure and instructions. Even if I fail, I am sure that you will one day make me successful. My only prayer is that please keep me engaged in the devotional service. Finally, I thank you on behalf of my family, especially my wife, Madhuri Devi Dasi and my son Sriyaan Chaitanya and daughter, Ishanvi Shivani for your blessing and boundless love. You have always showered your love as a father and well- wisher to all of us. We will be eternally grateful to you.

Your son, Radhakanta Das Madhuri Devi Dasi Sriyaan Chaitanya Chand Ishanvi Shivani Chand and Subhesni Dasi Navina Nirada Das

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Radhika Charan Padma Devi Dasi

Om ajnana-trimirandhasya jnananjan-salakaya chaksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

"I offer my respectful obeisance unto you my Spiritual Master who has opened my eyes, blinded by the darkness of ignorance with the torchlight of knowledge."

Dear Srila Gurudeva, All glories to you and all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Today I just wanted to share a small secret of my inspiration towards you, and this is how it goes. The very first time in 2004 during the intiation ceremony at the temple opening of Sri Sri Radha Golokabihari Temple when I was just around 8 years old a disciple of yours was named with a very unique name which was Archana Sidhi Devi Dasi. That very beautiful name caught my attention - this Maharaj gives good names not knowing what it meant at that time. Srila Prabhupada said, "You cannot learn to become a perfect human being without accepting guru. If you want to learn that transcendental science, you must approach guru." Gurudeva, I was not qualified enough to become close to Krishna

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but only by a drop of your mercy Gurudeva, you gave the most fallen conditioned soul the greatest treasure of life which is the Holy name of the Lord. Srila Prabhupada also mentions that, "Guru should be treated as good as God." The only difference is that God is Master-God and Guru is Servant-God. Only by Krishna and Spiritual Masters grace one can enter in to path of devotional service. Gurudeva if you had not appeared before me i shudder to think where in the modes of nature I was destined to sink. There is no question of my qualification it is only your great compassion that you accepted me as your disciple. I am fallen conditioned soul and always commit mistakes and offenses. Please guide me and save me. Always keep me sheltered under your guidance and at your divine lotus feet.

Happy Appearance Day to you Srila Gurudeva !

Your fallen daughter, Radhika Charan Padma Devi Dasi. (Fiji Islands)

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Raj and Kala

Our Dearest Gurumaharaj Happy Vyasa Puja to you. All glories to you on your most auspicious appearance day and all glories to Srila Prabhupada. On this glorious day of your Vyasa Puja we thank you again and again for accepting us as your disciples and allowing us to be part of Krishna’s Family. Maharaja, when we met you last year we expressed our concerns regarding initiation and that we required a bit more time.You were truly our father who heard your children with great patience and kindness. We are ready now and we sincerely await the day of our initiation when we will be blessed by you. Please direct us with

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your kind mercy so that we will achieve the goal of human life. Please bless us that we may be attracted to chanting the holy name of the Lord. We have heard many times that the secret of success in spiritual advancement is satisfaction of the self realised Spiritual Master. Without your satisfaction we cannot make progress. Please have mercy on us that we are proper recipients of your abundant mercy and engage us in your service in whichever way you see us fit. We both would also like to be a humble instrument in your service to Srila Prabhupada. Maharaj you live and breathe Srila Prabhupad’s mood and mission. You have held tightly to Srila Prabhupad’s instructions, books and mission staunchly. Your efforts to preach in every continent year after year for so many years shows the meaning of what it is to be fixed in the path of devotional service. Last but not least your health is very important for our tender spiritual life. We beg the mercy of Krishna to look after your health so that you can continue to make Krishna glorious throughout the world.

Your aspiring servants, Raj and Kala

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Rajiv Lochan Das, Mitravinda Devi Dasi, Deepika and Sri Divya

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine

Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept our most humble obeisance in the dust of your merciful lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to you. All glories to you on this most auspicious day of your Vyasapuja. Thank you Maharaj for your unlimited mercy on us for giving us an opportunity to serve the devotees on South India yatra 2017. We really enjoyed serving and associating with god family. It was amazing yatra with your presence and spiritual guidance. Also thank you for your kindly taking program in our office and showing your mercy on many people. We sincerely pray you to bless us to be more serious in serving Nityananda Goura Hari, you and other vaishnavas. As we don’t have any qualification, we realized that, we are able to serve them because of your kind blessings and mercy on us. Thank so you so much Maharaj for showering your unlimited mercy on us.

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Our mind is not pure enough, and we pray to your lotus feet to help us to remove all our material attachments. Please help us to become more humble and totally surrendered to you and Gauranga. We know that we have no qualification or capability in advancing our Krishna consciousness, but only we have hope and we are sure that we will succeed because of your kind mercy. On this occasion we thank all god brothers and sisters for their kind support. Please forgive our mental and physical offenses. We selfishly beg most of your mercy on this auspicious day of your divine appearance, Srila Vedavyasapriya Swamiji! Praying in the dust of your lotus feet for your mercy,

Yours humble servants, Rajiv Lochan Das, Mitravinda Devi Dasi, Deepika and Sri Divya. Hyderabad, India.

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Rajmani Ram Das

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj, Please Accept My Humble Obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. I wish you a very happy appearance day may Krishna provide you with many more healthy years ahead. After getting initiation I realised that, how can I stay on the path of bhakti. When I am suffering from any problem the only solution which I met is to follow the instructions of Guru. I am very grateful to you for everything and thus I pray that I can serve you in every possible way. I pray and beg for your blessings that following your instructions may become the sole purpose of my existence. Under your shelter I have realised that only Krishna 's shelter can relieve us from all sufferings of material world.

Hare Krishna Your insignificant servant, Rajmani Ram Das

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Rajvidya Das and Nalini Devi Dasi

Dear Srila Gurudev Please accept our humble obeisance. All Glories to Srila Prabhpada. All Glories to 74th Sri Vyasa Puja.

oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù

Recently I had the opprotunity to read HG Gurudas Prabhu's diary; what struck to me that Srila Prabhupda once revealed to him that, he (Srila Prabhupada) was once approached by Krishna and instructed him to come to this material world. Upon which Srila Prabhupada reacted that how can he go to this material world which is full of miseries. Krishna told him just do some preaching, write some books

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and come back. Srila Prabhupada, to honour Krishna's instruction, left the association of Krishna and came to this material world. Srila Prabhupada has given to us Krishna and more important is that he has given to us YOU Srila Gurudev. As it is stated that Radharani, Krishna and in this kaliyuga Sri Chaitanya Maharprabhu are most merciful. I do not have any realisation of this but I have the realisation of your mercy on us fallen souls. Srila Prabhupada sent you to us when we met you first time in 1998 in Durban after our brief meeting we completely forgot you, but you did not forget us, you came looking for us in 2000 to Brisbane. After the Bhagavatam Class when I asked if you remember us, you did not say anything and asked us to come to your room and you took out from your wallet the name card I gave you in Durban and asked me if I was the same person. This is your glory and mercy on fallen souls like us, you came to uplift us. We have no words to express the gratitude of your mercy uopn us. Though you never had any direct association with your Gurumaharaj, Srila Prabhupada but you are following his instructions seriously that even at this age you dont want to take any break from traveling and preaching. You are tolerating all bodily discomforts to uplift fallen souls like us. On the contarary we have failed many times in honouring your instructions and don’t want to come out of our comfort zone. When we see so many of God family members taking up your instructions seriously and executing them successfully we feel very much ashamed.

Srila Gurudev your travels are hectic, at this age you need assistance, kindly allow me to serve you for all your travels. This is our humble request at your lotus feet; give this unworthy servant some chance to serve you.

Our apologies and asking for your forgiveness for all our offences.

Your unqualified servants Rajvidya Das and Nalini Devi Dasi

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Rasmandala Devi Dasi

Please accept my humble obeisance at your lotus feet All glories to SrilaPrabhupada! Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj ji

On this very special day I want to thank you for accepting me, I lost my material father in 2012 but now I have you as my spiritual father. I am so fallen and you have always showered your love and mercy on me. This year is very special for me got my first initiation. After initiation I am feeling very responsible. My life does not belong to me now. I always long to taste the joy of happiness that all devotees remain in. Last year my wish got fulfilled during South India yatra all because your mercy Gurudev, I experienced that inner joy. I don’t have words to convey my gratitude. My son khushal remembers you lot he is always ready to meet you; he loves to come to Vrindavan.

Always grateful for your mercy and affection. Your energy keeps me going. Your servant, Rasmandala Devi Dasi

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Revati Nandan Das, Gita Gamya Devi Dasi

Hare Krishna Dear Srila Gurudev, Please accept our Humble Obeisances unto Your Merciful Lotus Feet, All Glories to SrilaPrabhupada. Dear Srila Gurudev, one more year has gone by, but your vigor, determination, sincerity and perseverance to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission is only increasing year on year in many ways, just one example: planning for new temples in Thailand and USA. All Glories to you for this. This year, we have entered Grihastaashram and this wouldn’t have happened without your kind mercy and involvement, we both are indebted to you forever for this. We beg unto your lotus feet to put us unto your service in whatever way possible. We are eternally grateful to you for accepting Gita Gamya Dasi as your spiritual daughter. Whenever we meet you personally, we learn a lot about your mood of serving Srila Prabhhupada like imparting perfect knowledge to as many souls as possible, clearing doubts about shastras and service, giving kind suggestions how we can remove hindrances in our daily lives to continue serving Guru and Gauranga. Each and every lecture of yours makes so much sense to us in clearing our personal doubts as if you have read our minds and knows exactly to convey that in the class. By your kind mercy, I am able to get useful realizations how to be more Krishna Conscious in my day to day life. Even at this age, you are travelling all around the world without caring for your personal health. We humbly beg Narasimha Dev Bhagavan to give you the right health to continue in your mission for many more years.

We humbly beg you to shower mercy and give us the right intelligence, only to serve your mission in the best possible way. Aspiring to be your better servants, Revati Nandan Das, Gita Gamya Devi Dasi, Bangalore, India.

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Rohini Devi Dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet on the most auspicious occasion of your vyasa-puja celebration. All glories to Jagad Guru, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Wish you a very happy vyasa-puja and pray to Srimati Radharani for many happy returns of this auspicious day. Guru-Maharaj, this year has been full of realization and new spiritual experiences by your blessings. Krishna provided me the opportunity to serve your lotus feet since you came to Fiji a number of times when compared to last year and before last. Though, my service was small and

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every time I made mistakes but Guru Maharaj, you, being the compassionate spiritual master always forgave me and showered your causeless mercy unto me. Guru Maharaj, being the spiritual master, you never fail to engage all the living entities in the most confidential service of the Lord, namely delivering all the conditional souls from the clutches of maya. I feel so very, very happy that I am your eternal servant. I know that I cannot be in any way useful for you; still I beg to please keep me always with you.

Your eternal servant, Rohini Devi Dasi Suva, Fiji

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Rohini Nandan das

My dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obesiences unto your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Glorifying you with just words in an offering is just like comparing a LED with sun but I know as Krsna says in Bhagwad Gita 9.26, ‘If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit a water, I will accept it.’ Same as you are

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representative of Krsna in this kaliyuga, to accept us and give the shelter of your lotus feet with the kind instructions to follow to reach our supreme goal of this birth. But by the oversmartness and misuse of our mind I offended unto your lotus feet many times but I saw you never mind my offenses and accepted me to get me away from the clutches of offenses and put me in the right track of spiritual life Gurudeva you are a power booster of my life whenever and however I felt my self lacking from devotional services and suddenly I talk to you or get your association weather it is direct or by lectures I got my answers and I feel that strength in me to improve myself. Your love and care can't be comparable in this world with anyone. I didn't see anyone that much loving and caring for me in this world. Gauranga Mahaprabhu is more conpasssionate than Krsna and Nityananad prabhu is more compassionate than Gauranga and you are most compassionate than anybody for me in this universe. I pray to Radha Shyamsunder for your happy healthy long life. Please keep this useless servant in the service of your lotus feet forever.

Your fallen servant, Rohini Nandan das

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Sadananda Devi Dasi & Unnatojjvala Rasa Das

Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept our respectful obeisance at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you.

First of all, many many wishes on the most auspicious day of your appearance. We don’t have any knowledge to find words for glorification of a pure devotee like you. You are the manifestation of the Supreme lord’s mercy “kripa-shakti-murti”. Guru Maharaja, your intelligence and compassion are famous throughout the world, following in the footsteps of your Spiritual master. You apply the same power of intelligence to Krishna’s service as He did. On this Holy appearance day we pray to Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar to bless you with long & healthy life, so that you may continue to assist your Guru Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada, in carrying out his mission of preaching all over the world. We have only hope that “suddha-bhakata-carana-renu, bhajana-anukula. bhakata-seva param-siddhi, prema-latikara mula..…” We offer our humble obeisance to you millions of times because we are very indebted to your divine gift of Kṛiṣhṇa Consciousness. We have only one prayer “Gurudev! Krpa-bindu diya, karo ei dase trinapekha ati hina……” If you examine us, you will find no qualities. We are so much fallen. Your mercy is all that we are made of. If you are not merciful unto us, we will not be able to maintain our Krishna Consciousness. Gurudev forgive us for all our mistakes and offences we have done. Begging to remain under the shelter of your lotus feet at all the times.

Aspiring to be your servant, Sadananda Devi Dasi & Unnatojjvala Rasa Das Muzaffarnagar(U.P.), India

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Sakshigopal Das and family

Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjan- salakaya Caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

titiksavah karunikah Suhrdah sarva-dehinam ajata-satravah santah sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah The symptoms of a sadhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies. He is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime. (SB 3.25.21) mukam karoti vachalam pangum langhayate girim

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yat-kripa tam aham vande shri-gurum dina-taranam “I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, the deliverer of the fallen souls. His mercy turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and enables the lame to cross mountains." Dhyana Moolam Guru Murti Puja Moolam Gurur Padam, Mantra Moolam Gurur Vakyam, Moksha Moolam Guru Kripa (Guru Gita - Skanda Purana Dialogue between Shiva and Uma (Shakti)) Translation: The Guru's form is the best to meditate upon; the Guru's feet are the best for worship; the Guru's word is the mantra; the Guru's Grace is the root of liberation.

Dear Gurumaharaja, Please accept our humble obeisance at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your 74th Vyasapuja.

Dear Gurudev, you've showered your unlimited mercy on this fallen family. From the day I've met until today how much you care for us only we known it Gurudeva. By your association in south India yatra last December my mother became a devotee and chanting 16 rounds daily without fail and recently on my visit to home she had put Kanthi mala. This is the most sucess of my human form of life Gurudev. Also, gurudev I can see that how you wants me to be a proper vaishnava and I've learned it from you how to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission with full dedication as well. Gurudev, I also want to thank you for initiating me as a Brahmana last week. When you were giving me the mantras I can feel it how seriously you want me to become a proper Vaishnava. You, yourself is an example for us gurudev. Whenever I face any difficulties both material and spiritual, you are always there for me to liberate me Gurudev. No words are enough to glorify your holiness and your service to Srila Prabhupada and HDG’s mission. Gurudev, I'll end my offering here by praying that your holiness be with us for more than our lives with good health.

Your fallen servants, Sakshigopal Das and family. Myanmar/Thailand.

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Sannivas das, Lavanga Devi dasi, Suprasada das, Vijitha Devi dasi, and Kannaya

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj, Dandavat pranam. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and onto you. nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine We offer our respectful obeisance to HH Vedavyasa Priya swami, who is very dear to Krishna.

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Dear Srila Gurudev, Please accept our humble obeisance at your lotus feet. All glories to your most auspicious appearance day.

We were so fallen souls, living in the darkness and ignorance enjoying this material life for sense gratification. On this very special day we would like to thank you from our heart for accepting us as your disciples. After we got initiation in Oct 2017, everything has changed, now we are doing everything for the pleasure of Krishna. We are enjoying doing service to Nitai Gauranga, which you named as Nitai Gaura Nataraj. We are slowly starting Krishna Bhogh Caravan for distributing prasadam. Please bless us and guide us to serve you Guru Maharaj.

Yours humble servants Sannivas das, Lavanga Devi dasi, Suprasada das, Vijitha Devi dasi, Kannaya (Suraj)

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Saranagati das

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj, All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga. Please accept my humble obeisance.

The way you shower your love has pulled me into Krsna consciousness Guru Maharaj. I will try to follow your advice sincerely and serve Krishna and Srila Prabhupad's mission. I still remember the first day we met and from then how my life has changed there after. Please forgive me for my mistakes “ha haprabhukorodoyā , deho more pada- chāyā “ Please be merciful unto me and give me the shade of your lotus feet Guru Maharaj. Thank you, Your’s obediently, Saranagati das Hyderabad

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Satyavati devi dasi

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. On this auspicious day of your Vyasapuja, I would like to thank you for your blessings and guidance which you have given to me. I did not know how fortunate I was to get shelter at your feet until I got a glimpse of Lord Brahma`s duration of life what to speak of his many lifetimes. Great souls like you could only be found with the kind blessings of Srila Prabhupada. When Srila Prabhupada placed his feet on the soil of America he prayed to the Lord to execute the duties of his spiritual master. He felt helpless to see the people captivated by the illusionary energy of Maya. He had firm faith in his spiritual master in spite of all his difficulties and Krishna empowered him to distribute His Holy Name throughout the world. Since many decades you are following the foot steps of your spiritual master and it is amazing to see how you have completely dedicated your life to the teachings of Srila Prabhupada although you are not in the best of health. You have a very heavy worldwide itinary which you execute on a daily basis and this is how you show your love for your spiritual master and he blesses you at every step you make. I have been enjoying sense gratification in different species of life since time immemorial and I lost the golden opportunity to receive the Lord. It was in this present lifetime you accepted me as your disciple. Now, I know how fortunate I am. My struggles in the material world are many. I stumble and fall constantly due to obstacles in my private and devotional life but you are forever in my heart giving me your divine guidance. It is due to you that I can perform my sadhana daily otherwise I would be lost. Forgive me for my offenses.

Your servant, Satyavati devi dasi

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Seva Manjari devi dasi and Shrini

nama om visnu-padaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale srimate vedavyasapriya swamin iti namine nama om visnu-padaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-swamin iti namine namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine jaya sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

Dearest Guru Maharaja,

Where do we begin to thank you for your spiritual guidance in this world full of misery? It is with your mercy that we are able to continuously try remember Sri Sri Krsna Balarama on a daily basis. My mother has given me the task of writing an offering on behalf of both of us for your Vyasapuja. I do not know even now where to start, what to write or even how to glorify you. I have no knowledge of the scriptures, I am so unqualified, and yet you are so merciful, you have accepted this useless soul as your disciple. In this day and age we are so lucky to have things like the internet and social media, in the sense that we are able to follow you around the world, listen to your lectures online at the click of a finger and hear you sing the Holy name. I’d like to say I take full advantage of this, but that would be a lie. Guru Maharaja, I am forever grateful for the guidance and love you have showered on me and my family. Without this we would still be lost in this ocean of misery. The words thank you is not enough to show our appreciation.

We pray to Gaura Nitai for your good health so that you are able to continue Srila Prabhupada’s mission of spreading the Holy name of the Lord all over the World. Your most fallen servants, Seva Manjari devi dasi and Shrini

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Shantanu Das, Sanchari Devi Dasi & Satcit ananda das

Hare krsna Dear Srila Gurudev Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to our Founder Acarya Srila Prabhupada, A very happy Krsna conscious appearance day Srila Gurudev. Srila Prabhupada always emphasises on the importance of taking shelter of a bonafide spiritual master and every time I hear or read his books and this phrase comes I feel very indebted to Srila Prabhupada that because of his causeless mercy we have your shelter. Thank you very much gurudev for always showing us how to serve everyone and how to always do only what has been taught by Srila Prabhupada. Nowadays due to internet there are so many things that we come across but you have always exemplified that if its not said or approved by Srila Prabhupada, we must never accept it and never compromise with the standards set by him. Thus we pray that we can also follow Srila Prabhupada with even a drop of conviction that you have so that we can please you. Thus with a grateful heart towards all that you have been teaching all of us around the globe we sincerely pray to Srila Prabhupada that for his pleasure you can spread more glories of Lord Chaitanya’s movement . We pray to Lord Narsimhadev that He can bestow good health and protect you in all circumstances.

Your humble servants, Shantanu Das, Sanchari Devi Dasi & Satcit ananda das Muzaffarnagar UP

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Sharatchandra Das

nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada & Srila Gurudev All Glories to Lord Nityananda & Lord Chaitaniya Dear Gurudev, Please accept my most humble obeisance unto your divine lotus feet. In this world, with the influence of Lord Krishna’s most fascinating and powerful illusory energy, our senses are bound to be attracted in many directions. In honest sense, where do we stand in front of such a powerful Shakti, which is bound to attract us and get us more entangled within this material world due to our desire to enjoy separately from the Lord. But, I am so fortunate to be in a situation where I have been immensely blessed with the mercy of having your guidance, wonderful opportunity to be able to get your association and a transcendental shelter where we always feel protected, which is your divine lotus feet. I would like to thank you again and again for bestowing upon us your utmost compassion by personally allowing us to assist you in your service to Srila Prabhupada in some way. I must say those are some of the moments where we deeply get to cherish your mood of submission to Srila Prabhupada. How in the world would we understand how best to serve Srila Prabhupada, if it had not been for you from whom we directly learn through so many exemplary and enthusiastic endeavors. To add on, I personally believe, to be able to serve the mission of Lord Chaitaniya in that capacity requires utmost determination, love and surrender. I am always deeply affected by this demeanor of yours. When would the day be there when we would understand a drop of the nectar you are experiencing? Being so deeply conditioned we profoundly rely on your mercy to awaken our desire to serve with devotion. A beloved personality you are, I wish to glorify you again and again. I would like to wish you a happy Vyasa Pooja Celebration. My prayers will always be to Lord Nrshimah Dev, that he always protects you, as you proceed on the path to enlighten fallen condition souls like me. Your servant Sharatchandra Das Fiji Islands

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Shatrughan Ramdas

My Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisance at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Gurudev.

I think of you every day and all the words you have spoken. I reflect of your sacrifices. I admire your resolve, passion and love for Srila Prabhupada’s Mission. I remember your gracefulness, I feel your compassion. I am humbled by your intelligence, I bask in your radiance. I savor your mercy I am such fallen and conditioned soul that I do not qualify to sing your glories. I thank Lord Shri Krishna and His Devine Grace Srila Prabhupada for delivering me unto your lotus feet. I pray that I always remain attached to the shelter of your lotus. Gurudev, I would like to offer the sloka from BG 4.34 at your lotus feet:

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tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.” Please forgive me for any offence I might have committed in my attempt to glorify your divine personality.

Your insignificant servant, Shatrughan Ramdas (UAE)

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Sitalsundari Devi Dasi, Shalagram Das

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale srimate vedavyaspriya swami iti namine nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine namas te saraswate deve gaura-vani-pracarine nirvishesha-shunyavadi-pashchatya-desha-tarine

Dearest Gurumaharaj, Please accept my humble obeisance unto your lotus feet. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! A very happy Vyasa puja to you Gurudeva. As each year passes, I realize the magnitude of mercy you have shown towards me. The greatest gift you have given me is that of Srila Prabhupada. You have so wonderfully taught me the importance and necessity of having Srila Prabhupada in my life, throughout the years, by your perfect example. I have begun to understand that Srila Prabhupada is the key element to any successful practice. My love and respect of Srila Prabhupad was awakened by you Guru maharaj. I am still very immature and am yet to fully comprehend and appreciate this gift of Srila Prabhupada, and as such I depend very much on your continuous guidance. You have so wonderfully coordinated my spiritual development over the years such that Krishna consciousness has become a most joyful and fulfilling venture. You have given me the association of all wonderful Vaishnavas by accepting me as your disciple. Gurumaharaj, I would never be able to do what you have done for your spiritual master but pray that by your mercy we (Shalagram and I) would be able to please you one day. Gurumaharaj, I continuously pray for your good health and wellbeing so we continue to have your wonderful association.

Aspiring to be worthy disciples Sitalsundari Devi Dasi Shalagram Das Suva, Fiji Islands

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Sri Radha Vallabha Dasa & Krishna priya Devi Dasi

Dear Srila Guru-Maharaj, On this day of your glorification let me express my sincere thanks for your indescribably great service to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, all previous acaryas,

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Lord Sri Chaytanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda, divine couple Sri Sri Radha and Krishna! We wish you a very happy vyasa-puja and pray to Srimati Radharani for Her blessings on this very auspicious day of your appearance. Other day I was reflecting all the major changes that took place in my life, 5 years ago I moved to Sri Dham Mayapur and engaged fulltime in service of Srila Prabhupada for building new temple and its certainly not easy doing this as I am facing many challenges on this path. This is different kind of experience for me and sometimes I get discouraged on this path dealing with others. I gain strength remembering you as you have been tirelessly serving the mission of Srila Prabhupada by constantly traveling and spreading the holy name. Your commitment to support TOVP financially by contributing your vyasapuja collections every year is very inspiring and shows your love and dedication to Srila Prabhupada and his most cherished dream of building TOVP. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, Jare Dekho Tare Kaho Krishna Updesh. This is the essence of your spiritual life. Whenever I talked with you, listen to you talking with others; you are always glorifying Srila Prabhupada, Lord Caitanya and Lord Sri Krishna. You are always encouraging everyone to chant Hare Krishna. You are always engaged in spreading the holy name of Lord. On this auspicious day please bless us that we develop same love and dedication to you the way you have for srila prabhupada.

Your servants, Sri Radha Vallabha Dasa & Krishna priya Devi Dasi

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Sriniketan Das

Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances on your auspicious appearance day. All glories to Srila Prabhupad!!!

I humbly express my gratitude to you for giving me Brahmin Diksha & I can see that this has given me the opportunity to participate in temple events such as Deity Abhishek. This is such a glorious & beautiful experience. Right now I'm studying Multimedia in Pune. I have an interest in Graphic Design as this is easy to do. So Srila Gurudeva please bless me so that I can successfully complete my course, return to Sri Mayapur Dham, utilize my skills in the service of KRSNA & take part in your Yatras.

Your insignificant servant, Sriniketan Das

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Steven Wolfe

Dear Guru Maharaj I am truly inspired to have your association. Thank you for being available to answer questions though email correspondence; and also daily quotes on the internet have been very helpful. We are slowly now organising a home program here in Hobart. This is due to your generous annual program in Hobart over the past two years. Thank you Guru Maharaj! Your association has inspired me to follow Srila Prabhupada as best I can. My sadhana has progressed steadily, and I have now completed the disciple course at the Melbourne temple. I am very interested to continue indefinitely, and gain loving devotional service to Guru and Krishna.

Happy in your service Steven Wolfe

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Stutipriya Das, Lalasamayi Devi Dasi & Mayuri Krishna

Hare Krsna, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. nama om vishnu-padaya Krishna-presthaya bhu-tale Srimate Vedavyasapriya Swami iti namine nama om vishnu-padaya Krishna-presthaya bhutale Srimate bhaktivedanta-swamin iti namine namaste sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracharine Nirvishesha-shunyavadi-pashchatya-desha-tarine

Dearest Srila Guru-Maharaj,

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We offer our most respectful and humble dandavat pranams at the dust of your lotus feet on your most auspicious day of your divine appearance . All glories to Jagad-Guru, Srila Prabhupada and all glories to your loving divine grace. We wish you a very happy vyasa-puja and pray to Srimati Radharani for many happy returns of this auspicious day. I will not able to attend personally this year and next year Vyas puja Gurudev due to Mayuri year 11 & year 12 school. Dear Guru-Maharaj, it’s been 10 years since Lord Krishna mercifully sent you as my master and saviour. Keeping you at the centre of my life, each day I can feel how your causeless mercy flows unconditionally in the upkeep of my devotional service. Though material world is full of struggling for any attempt we endeavour whether spiritual or material. But one thing we realize that struggle for material existence is full of misery and struggle for spiritual existences is full of bliss. Day by day even trying to keep up regular devotional service is greatest challenge for conditioned soul like us but HDG built the house for whole world can live. That association is the only assets for us continuing in our service & of course your causeless mercy. We are very fortunate to have you as our spiritual master, who is very loving and caring for the disciple as a father, as a spiritual master also as a mother too. When we visited to Vrindavan dham you taking care of us so lovingly and we still remember going Govardhan parikrama, Vrindavan parikrama with all our god family leading by our beloved Spiritual master explaining all the details of each of the places is transcendental experience which can not get anywhere in this material creation. Again Gurudev I have to miss this opportunity for next two year. Hopefully after 2019 if Lord willing we can continue to attend all these. Guru-Maharaj, you have made all arrangements not only for your disciples but for humanity at large through your many innovative ways of getting your association through your lectures, live internet broadcasts, travelling all the country where not many devotees want to go and preach, once you have showed me your schedule where you go and preach. It was amazing to see that within 3 months you took more than 50 flights. In every activity of yours, you never fail to strengthen our commitment and conviction to Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON. In a very exemplary way, you teach us the mood of becoming an eternal sisya by displaying your unconditional pure love for Srila Prabhupada. Please Guru-Maharaj, instill in our hearts a drop of that mood of svitorship for your Divine Grace as you have for Srila Prabhupada. I am sure that I will only be able to achieve this by rendering service to you with all my heart. Please Guru-Maharaj, instruct me, chastise me for my many offences and guide me to become a better servant of all the living entity. Just as Lord Krishna’s glories are unlimited, so are your divine glories. For a dull minded person I am, it would take many lifetimes for me to properly glorify you & understand you.

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On this auspicious day, I pray to remain a speck of dust at your lotus feet, O my beloved Guru-Maharaj. Wishing you the most wonderful vyasa-puja celebration again and again and hope that one day we will be in your personal association to celebrate this day and directly get the nectar of your association.

Always aspiring to become your sincere servant, Stutipriya Das Lalasamayi Devi Dasi Mayuri Krishna

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Sumukha Das & Sumyukta Devi Dasi

Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances again and again at your lotus feet.

namah om visnu-padaye krsna-presthaye bhu-tale srimate vedavyasa priyaswami iti namine

All glories to you and all glories to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

Dear Guru Maharaja. Me and my family keeping a big faith in your "Divine Lotus Feet", please bless your mercy on us. Without you, we are nowhere. You are the source of our spiritual light. Please bless your mercy on me and my family because I need your mercy more and more, because you are my spiritual father. Dear Guru Maharaja, thank you, for everything which you gave us in this short time. We wish you a very Happy Vyasapuja 2018 and we pray to Srinath Ji, Sri Sri Krishna Balram Ji, Sri Sri Radha Shyam Sundar Ji, Sri Sri Gaur Nitai Ji and Sri Sri Narshimha Dev to give you good health and strength to fulfill Srila Prabhupada's mission.

Your insignificant sarvents, Sumukha Das & Sumyukta Devi Dasi, Mukunda and Kanuroy Roorkee, India.

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Sutapa Das

Hare Krishna Gurumaharaj, Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Respected Gurudev,

On this most auspicious day of Your appearance, I feel immense pleasure and gratitude towards Krishna because by His grace we got your association and mercy. Your service to Srila Prabhupada and his movement is really inspiring and your conviction is our force. I am a small kid with no qualification of my own. Your mercy has empowered me to follow this process of devotional service. Whenever I feel weak, I see your mercy coming and making things easy for me. I pray to Lord Krishna to make me a puppet in your hands so that I can follow your instructions with great conviction and serve you in a way which pleases you the most.

Your son and servant, Sutapa Das Mangalore, India

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Ujjvala Rasajna devi dasi.

Dear Gurudev, Dandavat pranams to you. Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

You have been compassionate to give your time and care since you picked up this lost and struggling soul and gave Srila Prabhupada few years ago. What ever internal purification/ transformation that has happened if any and what ever services I was engaged in ever since, is simply Srila Prabhupada’s mercy flowing through your kind, faithful and transparent soul, Gurudev. You both have brought me till here; I only depend on your mercy for further journey in serving Krishna better. As you both further take me in the journey, it is getting quite clear that I have nothing to hold on, to sustain in this spiritual realm other than taking saranagati. It is only ‘Harirnama Eva kevalam’ and we are to do ‘Kirtaniya sada Hari’. But only with ‘trnad api sunicena, taror api sahisnuna, amanina manadena’ that I may be able to get some attraction for ‘Naama’ and do ‘Kirtaniya Sadahari! My only prayer to you and Srila Prabhupada is to kindly inspire me and engage me in humble service at all times in all capacities possible, to please the Lord. Kindly utilize me in spreading the grace and glory of the Lord. The Lord and Vaishnavas are unfathomably merciful. That is where my strong hope lies and can see that the prayer come true. ‘yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi’ Praying for your physical health and invigorating spiritual health.

Gratefully, Your servant, Ujjvala Rasajna devi dasi.

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Vaikunteswara Das & Jagat Ambika Devi Dasi

Dear Guru Maharaj,

All Glories to Srila Prabhpad & All glories to Srila Gurudev, Please accept our humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. Thank you once again for accepting these unqualified servants as your disciples. We really grateful to you for your instructions and guidance you had given to us from time to time. Every year when we start to prepare our homages, we are looking back to see whether we are living up the expectations of your instructions. As instructed by you time again, the progress in the spiritual path is very important and can be achieved only with “utsahat, niscahyat and dhairyat” We really get inspired by reading your “Daily quotes” The more we think that we are unqualified, we have to depend on our spiritual master. The more we depend on spiritual master, the more we become Krsna consciousness, the more we become krsna consciousness, the more we will be enthusiastic to serve our spiritual master. These mere words cannot express our gratitude for the efforts you are taking to spread the mission of Srila Prabhupada to elevate the fallen souls from these material clutches. We also pray to Sri Sri Radha Giridhari to bestow upon you the best of health. Submitted on to your lotus feet on the occasion of your Vyasa Puja celebrations on 23/08/2018

Your servants, Vaikunteswara Das & Jagat Ambika Devi Dasi Auckland, New Zealand

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Vaikuntheshwar Balaji Dasa & Padmavati Devi Dasi

nama om ̇ visṇ ụ -padā yā krṣ ṇ ạ -presṭ hạ yā bhu-̄ tale srí matē vedavyaspriyā -svamin̄ iti naminē I offer my respectful obeisances unto H.H. Vedavyaspriyā Swami Guru Maharaj, who is very dear to Lord Krṣ ṇ a,̣ having taken shelter at His lotus feet. nama om ̇ visṇ ụ -padā yā krṣ ṇ ạ -presṭ hạ yā bhu-̄ tale srí matē bhaktivedantā -svamin̄ iti naminē I offer my respectful obeisances unto H.D.G. A.C. Bhaktivedantā Swami Prabhupada,̄ who is very dear to Lord Krṣ ṇ ̣a, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

Hare Krṣ ṇ ạ Guru Maharaj, On this auspicious day of your appearance please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All Glories to Srilá Prabhupada. All Glories to Srí Śri Radhā ̄ Syạ msundar.̄ And All Glories to Nitai-Gaurang, our entrusted deities. Dear Guru Maharaj at one time we had talked about acquiring Gaura Nitai Deities of Rasajnya Mataji because they were not being served by her husband after her passing away. Following your instructions I had asked Greg, her husband if we can have the Deities but he had indicated that he wanted to keep them. Recently however, I received an e-mail from him indicating that he has gotten married and will be moving to San Antonio and moving into a smaller place therefore if we would be interested in having various items of Rasajnya Mataji related to devotional service. He had also sent the same e-mail to H.G. Govinda D.D. because she was a very close associate of Rasajnya Mataji. Govinda Mataji had replied to him that she would very much like to have the Gaura Nitai Deities and Srila Prabhupada Deity. I replied to him indicating our strong interest in having the Gaura Nitai Deities and the various paraphernalia for our preaching center to encourage our congregation to get more involved in devotional service. I am sure with your blessings and Lord Krishna’s Mercy we will acquire the Gaura Nitai Deities as well as Srila Prabhupada Deity and Nrisimha Deity. We will keep you posted on the outcome. Dear Guru Maharaj during your recent visit to Austin you saw how our store front preaching center was doing. Because with Lord Krishna’s Grace it had grown in congregation so well you suggested that we find a bigger place of our own like an old church. You also indicated where to look and how to go about finding a property of our own. You further indicated that the secret was in how intense our desire was to acquire a new place. We are trying real hard to accomplish that and I am sure Lord Krishna will show us success in due course of time because of your

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well wishes and blessings. At this existing store front we have held big festivals since its opening almost two years ago not to mention our continued success in holding regular Sunday feast program and children’s Sunday school. We also had some speakers come by and give inspiring talks and seminars. Your seminar on Harinam Chintamani was very well received and we look forward to more such inspiring seminars on your future visits. Guru Maharaj, on this auspicious day of Your appearance we pray to Lord Krṣ ṇ ̣a that He may grant You a long and healthy life so that You may continue to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

Hare Krishna Guru Maharaj.

Your lowly servants, Vaikuntheshwar Balaji Dasa And Padmavati Devi Dasi Of Austin Texas, U.S.A.

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Vamana Hari Das and Kaulini Devi Dasi.

Hare Krṣ ṇ ạ Gurumahārāj, On this auspicious day of Your holy appearance please accept our humble obeisances at Your lotus feet. All Glories to Srilá Prabhupāda. All Glories to Śri Śri Rādhā Ṣyāmsundar and all Glories to Śri Śri Rādhā Govinda. Gurumahārāj, this year as last year You continue Your preaching in Hyderabad and also conduct Yatra in south India for Your disciples. This has become a yearly routine in your service to Your Spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. Though You have been visiting Kerala India to take care of your health, You took advantage of Your stay there for preaching cultivating new devotees and even opening a preaching center in that area. You have been assisting the devotees to iron out the differences in understanding and practicing Krishna Conscious in their lives. You have always done this to impliment Srila Prabhupada's instruction about co operation amongst the devotees. Even when Your disciples are lagging behind in their services, instead of leaving them behind, You encourage them and try to put them back in the right path. Opening the temples in Las Vegas in USA and in Thailand are new services for this year. On this Holy appearance day of Yours (and every day) we pray the Lord to bless You with Long Healthy life, so that You may continue to assist Your Gurumahārāj, Śril Prabhupāda, in carrying out His mission of preaching all over the world and continue to guide us. Hare Krsna Gurumahārāj, Your lowly servants, Vāmana Hari Dās and Kaulini Devi Dāsi.

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Vasant, Rasika devi dasi, Sai

Nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale srimate vedavyasapriya swamin iti namine I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta swamin iti namine I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjan- salakaya Caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him. When will Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī Prabhupāda, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?

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Dear Gurumaharaja, Please accept our humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your vyasapuja. Gurumaharaja, I am totally indebted to you for giving me this new life. I feel your presence day in and day out through your words, vani. Gurumaharaja, I like to utilise my spare time by listening to Bhagavad Gita or Krishna Book or listening to lectures and am amazed to learn something new every time. I am trying to complete my chanting by mornings but invariably I am unable to do it. I am working on this at the moment. Gurumaharaj we are amazed to see you travelling and preaching the love of Godhead following the footsteps of Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada and we pray to Sri Sri Radha Giridhari to bless you a long healthy life. I truly desire to be of service to you Gurumaharaj, Your servants, Bhakt Vasant Rasika devi dasi Bhakt Sai

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Viraj Krishan das,Soumya devi dasi,Kapil dev das

Our dear Guru Maharaj ji, Please accept my humble obesiances unto your lotus feet. nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate vedavyäsapriya-svämin iti nämine Our guru maharaj is very very kind towards the people like me. I am one of the fallen souls but guru maharaj ji blessed me by accepting me as a disciple. By accepting me he gave me the chance to serve in Srila Prabhupada’s mission which is always eternal. Please keep me always under your guidance as a father. Child makes the mistake but father always forgive the child. One thing I want to say that our guru maharaj ji is very friendly he always treat us as a family member. I really pray to lord Krishna for your long life.

Please forgive me for my imperfect offerings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada ji. All glories to Srila Guru maharaj ji. Dasanudas, Viraj Krishan das, Soumya devi dasi, Kapil dev das

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Vraja Raj Dasa and Smarana Bhakti Devi Dasi, Soumya & Radha

Dearest Gurumaharaj, Please accept our humble obeisance. All glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to You on this auspicious day of Your Vyasapuja!

Maharaj, we are eternally indebted to you for giving us the shelter of your Lotus feet! We are trying our best to serve the beautiful deities that you have installed at our home. As a family, we are continuing to read at least a verse of Bhagavad Gita every day, Soumya and Radha are learning shlokas from the Bhagvad Gita. Maharaj,

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with your blessings Smarana Bhakti Devi Dasi has completed the Bhakti Vaibhava course at the temple. By your tireless preaching, you are spreading teachings of Lord Chaitnya Mahaprahu and expanding the mission of Srila Prabhahupa to remote corners of the world, not just countries like Australia and USA, but also tiny island nations like Mauritius. During my recent visit to Mauritius, I had a good fortune of meeting my God brothers and sisters who are very merciful and kind hearted like yourself. Clearly, they all gained these qualities along with pure bhakti to Sri Sri Radha Krishna through your association just like iron gains magnetic quality merely by its association. Through association of your dear disciples here, I hope to attract some of their qualities and learn to serve you humbly. With the hope assisting Lord Chaitnya Mahaprahu’s and Srila Prabhupada’s mission and following your footsteps, this year, I had a privilege of delivering lectures based on Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam in ISKCON Centres and other institutions in various countries/cities including Australia (Melbourne and Perth), Mauritius, Indonesia (Surabaya) and China (Beijing and Chengdu). Please bless me so that I can continue to do these services with a greater potency and purity. Developing ‘bhakti’ towards the supreme Lord is not possible without your mercy and guidance. We pray to you GuruMaharaj, to allow us to serve you with sincerity and make us your instruments in offering devotional service to the Supreme Lord.

Your servants forever, Vraja Raj Dasa and Smarana Bhakti Devi Dasi Your spiritual grandchildren: Soumya and Radha Melbourne, Australia

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Vrindvaneshvari Devi Dasi

Vandey Guru Pada Kamalam

चैतः शाश्वतःशान्तो व्योमातीतो निरंजिः । निꅍदुिाद कलातीतः तस्मै श्रीगुरवे िमः ॥

ज्ञािशक्तिसमा셂ढः तत्त्वमालानवभूनितः । भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदाता च तस्मै श्रीगुरवे िमः ॥

अिेकजसंप्राप्त कममिन्धनवदानििे । आत्मज्ञािप्रदािेि तस्मै श्रीगुरवे िमः ॥

My dear Spiritual Master Please accept my humble obeisance in your lotus feet! I am very fortunate to have been blessed so opulently by your kind self. Your unconditional mercy on me has helped me to realize my conditioning and the cause of my bondage. Your fatherly affection that you shower on me so mercifully makes me feel the protection and shelter I am in thus releasing myself from the fear of becoming abandoned. I am maintained and loved under this shade of your kindness and mercy. I have no qualifications or even the courage to ask if I can serve you in anyway. I am wandering in this wilderness serving the dictates of maya and attachments making myself more miserable and sinful. Dear spiritual father, I can only pray to you to keep me under the shelter of your lotus feet. Please make me a ‘kinkari’ and let me just develop the desire to serve you eternally.

Your humble servant, Vrindvaneshvari Devi Dasi

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Vrndavanacandra Das

Hare Krsna Dear Guru Mahārāja, nama om ̇ visṇ ụ -padā yā krṣ ṇ ạ -presṭ hạ yā bhu-̄ tale srí matē vedavyaspriyā -svamin̄ iti naminē All Glories to Srila Prabhupāda!

I am most fortunate for having received your spiritual care and continued guidance in Krsna consciousness despite my immaturity and struggles. Listening to Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Bhagavad Gita 1.32 - 35 he states that the sacred thread is the indication that "This man is now under the control of the spiritual master for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness." With this mood, I always pray to develop a resolution to be under your loving control so that I can advance in Krsna consciousness.

Your servant Vrndāvanacandrạ Das

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Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Yashasvini Devi Dasi

Hare Krishna dear Guru Maharaj, Dandvat Pranam, On this auspicious occasion of Vyasa Puja, I offer my humble obeisance unto your lotus feet. All glories to Sri Sri Radha Shyama sundara. All glories to Srila Prabhupada First of all many many wishes on this auspicious day of your divine appearance. I am very thankful to lord Krishna that he gives me an opportunity to glorify my gurumaharaj. I am not qualified to serve lord Krishna but because of your mercy gurumaharaj I got this opportunity. Thank you for giving me your personal association whenever and wherever I need you. Thank you to teach me. Thank you to treat me as your daughter. Kindly keep me in your shelter even though I have no qualification. I beg for your forgiveness. I pray to Lord Narsimhadeva to protect you and give you more and more strength all the time so that you can carry on your Guru Maharaj’s instructions in preaching of Krishna consciousness throughout the world.

Your humble servant Yashasvini Devi Dasi Muzaffarnagar

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Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Yashoda devi dasi and Neel mani

Hare Krishna, All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga. Happy Vyasa puja Guru dev. We pray for your health and spiritual life on this auspicious occasion. We also thank you very much for accepting us as your disciples and we are very fortunate to be under your guidance. Happy Vyasa puja once again Your servants, Yashoda devi dasi and Neel mani

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Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

Yasoda Dulal Das, Subhankari Devi Dasi

Please accept my humble obeisance at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Dear Gurudev, It is again an immense pleasure to be able to write to you on this Vyasa Puja. You have blessed me and my mother with your shelter and we hope to make you proud by assisting you in the mission of Srila Prabhupada. I feel I have grown in this movement and that has only been possible due to your guidance, care and protection. Thank you for being the light in the darkness; the even in the odds and the direction to my life. It has been 10 years under your shelter and I still feel I have a lot to learn, develop and progress in my spiritual life and it is only possible under your lotus feet. So, bless me, guide me and help me grow and prosper in this mission and be able to spread the words of Lord Gauranga! Gurudeva, on this Vyasa Puja, I pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to protect you so that you be in the best health and continue to serve Srila Prabhupada and also provide us your association. All those time I have spent with you has always inspired me to be serving with loving devotion and indeed being burned in the fire of devotion. This feeling is something I always cherish and look forward to and your association always inspires to me serve with a loving mind and heart. It is by remembering you I gain more energy and enthusiasm to keep rendering what ultimately is best for me, therefore you have always been the best well-wisher. Thank you so much for being there for me and my mother and I hope we can repay you in whatever little way we can by pleasing you. We wish you a very happy Vyasa Puja.

Your servants, Yasoda Dulal Das, Subhankari Devi Dasi Suva, Fiji Islands

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Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

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Śrī Vyāsa Pūjā 2018, Wellington

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