His Holiness Giridhari July 2004

The International Society for Consciousness (ISKCON)

“We are observing Vyasa-puja ceremony, the birth anniversary of our Maharaja. Why? We His Holiness cannot understand Krsna without… going through His most confidential servant. This is the meaning of this Vyasa-puja. You cannot surpass. If you Giridhari Swami think that you have become very learned and very advanced,... master and you understand Krsna, that is the bogus. That is the meaning of this Vyasa-puja ceremony. We should always pray, Vyasa Puja yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. Yasya prasadad, only by the grace... we can achieve the grace or mercy of Krsna. This is the meaning of July 2004 this Vyasa- puja, offering obeisances by parampara system.”

Lecture of Srila Prabhupada, Atlanta 1975

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The Meaning of Vyasa Puja The transcendental knowledge of the was first uttered by to , the creator of this The following is an extract from a speech given by His Divine particular universe. From Brahma, the knowledge Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in honor of his descended to , from Narada to Vyasadeva, spiritual master, His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati from Vyasadeva to Madhva, and in this process of Thakur. disciplic succession the transcendental knowledge was transmitted by one disciple to another till it reached Lord Gauranga, Sri Krsna Caitanya, who In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.17.27) it is said: posed as the disciple and successor of Sri . The present Acaryadeva is the tenth disciplic acaryam mam vijaniyan representative from Sri , the original navamanyeta karhicit representative of Lord Caitanya who preached this na martya-buddhyasuyeta transcendental in its fullness. The knowledge that sarva-devamayo guruh we receive from our Gurudeva is not different from that imparted by God Himself and the succession of the acaryas in the preceptorial line of Brahma. "One should understand the spiritual master to be We adore this auspicious day as Sri Vyasa-puja- as good as I am," said the Blessed Lord. “Nobody tithi, because the Acarya is the living should be jealous of the spiritual master or think representative of Vyasadeva, the divine compiler of of him as an ordinary man, because the spiritual the Vedas, the , the Bhagavad-gita, the master is the sum total of all demigods.” That is, and Srimad Bhagavatam. the acarya has been identified with God Himself. He has nothing to do with the affairs of this One who interprets the divine sound, or sabda- mundane world. He does not descend here to brahma, by his imperfect sense perception cannot meddle with the affairs of temporary necessities, be real spiritual guru, because, in the absence of but to deliver the fallen, conditioned souls---the proper disciplinary training under the bonafide souls, or entities, who have come here to the acarya, the interpreter is sure to differ from material world with a motive of enjoyment by the Vyasadeva (as the Mayavadis do). Srila Vyasadeva mind and the five organs of sense perception. He is the prime authority of Vedic revelation, and appears before us to reveal the light of the Vedas therefore such an irrelevant interpreter cannot be and to bestow upon us the blessings of full-fledged accepted as the guru, or acarya, howsoever freedom, after which we should hanker at every equipped he may be with all the acquirements of step of our life's journey. material knowledge. As it is said in the Padma Purana: -vihina ye te nisphala matah. “Unless you are initiated by a bonafide spiritual master in the disciplic succession, the that you might have received is without any effect.”

On the other hand, one who has received the transcendental knowledge by aural reception from the bonafide preceptor in the disciplic chain, and who has sincere regard for the real acarya, must be enlightened with the revealed knowledge to cognitive approach of the empiricists. As it is said in the Svetasvatara Upanisad (6.23):

yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah

“Only unto those great souls who simultaneously have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.”

Gentlemen, our knowledge is so poor, our senses are so imperfect, and our sources are so limited that it is not possible for us to have even the slightest knowledge of the absolute region without surrendering ourselves at the lotus feet of Sri Vyasadeva or his bona fide representative.

INTRODUCTION auspicious day he received Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is. It was a water-spotted, Our beloved, His Divine Grace Giridhari McMillan edition, almost hidden in the rows of Swami found himself at a very young age to be second-hand books. Thus he began to taste the especially inclined to religion and religious pleasures of chanting the holy name and following activities. Being the deeply spiritual person that he the principles. is today, he always tried to see a philosophical or religious aspect to everything; indeed at a very Relishing the transcendental knowledge of early stage in his life. He was always attracted to the Gita, His Divine Grace saw that many of the reading various types of books and getting different questions was asking to Lord Krishna were ideas pertaining to philosophy, religion and the exact same questions he was asking to many spirituality. He remained unsatisfied, being unable people and not getting any good answers. He was to see the practical application of those delighted to discover that this time, somebody, philosophical ideas. Lord Krishna, was giving very reasonable, satisfying answers to those many questions. In the course of his search, he encountered Reading the book from cover to cover, he was many religious communities, as well as came in inspired, so much so that when Srila Prabhupada contact with various persons, searching for the told things in his purport, he immediately and same things, trying to apply philosophies matter- automatically followed them. Very soon, he was of-fact. Striving to understand them, nothing really regularly chanting, and strictly following the four hit him as being the thing he was really looking for. regulative principles. He could see that the Hare His questions remained unanswered, and the Krishna Maha Mantra was very powerful, and he process of application, remained vague. found himself singing and chanting the Maha Mantra for many hours a day. His Divine Grace would very often and intensely pray to God, asking God to show him the Wanting to know more about Krishna answer, point the way. Shortly after that, in 1974, Consciousness, he noticed an invitation in the believing it to be Krishna’s arrangement, he book to correspond with the secretary, Svarupa somehow or other went to this second-hand dasa, who was at that time in Los Angeles. bookstore. Unwilling to give up, he began corresponding with Svarupa dasa, who patiently answered all his Always in search for the right book to answer questions and even sent him tapes. He also his questions, his efforts were always futile. But sent more of Prabhupada’s books and some of his that day at the second-hand bookstore was the lecture tapes. This really inspired him, as if Srila given. He stopped again and again, asking people if Prabhupada was directly speaking to him. they knew where the temple was.

At the time, His Divine Grace was residing in “Hare what?” they said. His Divine Grace the Midwest, hundreds of miles from the nearest was having a tough time and was just about ready temple. He always looked forward in great to give up and drive home. Then, out of frustration anticipation to receiving those letters from Svarupa and disappointment, he prayed to Lord Krishna for dasa. During that first year, he helped in many guidance. Those prayers were answered, and the ways to come in contact with Srila Prabhupada next person knew where the temple was. As it and his devotees. “I am greatly indebted to him,” turned out, he had passed it many times, but the His Divine Grace says. “I would ask very specific temple was far back from the road and there was questions and he would give me very good no sign. Looking back, “I think this was Krishna’s answers.” Soon, Svarupa prabhu sent His Divine test to see how determined I was…” says His Divine Grace a set of beads, and as soon as he got Grace. them, he began chanting 16 rounds daily, without fail. Heading up the long driveway, he was filled with anticipation and uncertainty. As he stepped After some time, His Divine Grace moved to out of the car, he heard the celestial sounds of Florida. It had been practically a year that he was kartalas ringing and mrdangas beating, with the continuously chanting sixteen rounds, following voices of many devotees sweetly chanting the holy the principles, reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, name. The fragrance of incense entered his listening to his lecture tapes, and training himself nostrils. It was an overwhelming experience, to cook and offer his food. He had not yet visited something definitely not of this world. Just as he any temple nor met one of the devotees. Svarupa reached the door, out came an effulgent monk with Prabhu then sent him a Back to Godhead a freshly shaven head. magazine with the complete list of temples. Noticing that ISKCON Gainesville was only about “Welcome,” he said with a broad smile. “My 60 miles from where he was living, he was elated. name is Bhakta Ron. Come in.”

Early one Sunday afternoon, His Divine “What a nice guy!” His Divine Grace thought. Grace eagerly drove to Gainesville. That was easy “He treats me just like a brother.” enough for him, but finding the temple was not. Driving for hours, he couldn’t find it at the address Bhakta Ron led him to the temple room where the kirtana was just finishing. He showed him how to offer obeisances to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada and Their Lordships Sri Sri Gaura-. As he looked at the beautiful forms of the Deities and saw the devotees chanting and dancing blissfully, he felt like a long- lost family member who had finally come home. Although he was seeing this for the first time in this lifetime, nothing seemed foreign or strange. The whole experience felt natural, as if he had done these things many times in the past.

A visit to a center in Tampa proved to be life- changing. At that time, he had a business and was earning good money. Although he had been donating to ISKCON temples regularly, His Divine Grace felt that there was much more he should do. The devotees convinced him and urged him to surrender on the spot and move into the temple. He was given a week to tie up loose ends, and exactly on the seventh day, he surrendered all his belongings and his life to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna.

His Divine Grace was an active part of the -Damodara party for several years, doing different engagements. He received his first and second initiation in the year 1976. His Holiness was also very active in preaching activities in the Gita Nagari project in Pennsylvania, as well as in leadership and managerial roles in different areas in the United States. Eventually in 1980, the time came to pursue the order to go to China, as an instruction of Srila Prabhupada.

Throughout, His Holiness Tamal Krishna His Divine Grace joined the GBC in 1994, as Srila Gurudeva and His Holiness Giridhari Swami several devotees as well as Srila Gurudeva felt that Srila Guru Maharaja had always been close. They it will increase his service in various ways. He had a mutual desire to go to China to fulfill Srila became GBC chairman in 2002. He also assisted Prabhupada’s instructions of preaching Krishna Srila Gurudeva in projects in Dallas, Texas, where Consciousness in that part of the world. Shortly Srila Gurudeva was assigned GBC. after Gurudeva left, Srila Guru Maharaja followed in 1981. Since then, His Divine Grace has always At present, His Divine Grace Giridhari been active in that part of the world, spreading the Swami is the zonal GBC for Hong Kong, Taiwan, sankirtan movement of Lord Caitanya, following Philippines, Korea, Singapore and China, and has the instructions of his spiritual master. more than 300 disciples in these areas and other parts of the world. Very active in preaching He became the temple president of Hong activities, He spends much of His time traveling to Kong in 1981, and shortly after, the regional different parts of China for Nama Hatta programs. secretary for that area. His Divine Grace took He also is directly involved in fund raising and in 1986 and was approved as initiating preaching projects, devotee training and guru by the GBC (ISKCON Governing Body management of the Hong Kong and Philippine Commission) the following year. yatras. His Divine Grace is also active in organizing festivals for this part of the world. He holds a “From the time I joined, I had always wanted vision of regularly gathering devotees for the to be qualified to take sannyasa and to travel and glorification of the Holy Names. preach and assist Srila Prabhupada in this way,” says His Divine Grace. He credits his association with brahmacaris and sannyasis during the Radha-Damodara party to be a great influence and inspiration to pursue sannyasa.

“I thought that the grhasta ashram would decrease my service and so I knew that it was not what I wanted. All the different types of work that I did prepared me for sannyasa. In this way, Krishna was very kind to me. Prabhupada was very kind to me…”

nama visnu-padaya krsna-

presthaya bhu-tale srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin

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. namas te sarasvate deve

gaura-vani-pracarine

nirvisesa –sunyavadi

His Divine Grace pascatya-desa-tarine A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Our respectful obeisances are unto You, O spiritual FOUNDER-ACARYA master, servant of Sarasvati Gosvami. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and International Society for Krishna Consciousness delivering the Western countries, which are filled with (ISKCON) impersonalism and voidism.

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

I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge.

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale srimate giridhari-svamin iti namine

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Giridhari Swami, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-

tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya

vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, I offer my respectful obeisances who appeared in the middle of the 17th century, unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, is a great spiritual master who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.

in the Krsna conscious chain of and disciples. He says, "One who, with great care

and attention,, loudly recites this beautiful prayer to the spiritual master during the Brahma-muhurta

obtains direct service to Krsna, the Lord of Vrndavana, at the time of his death."

Dearest Maharaja, These last years I haven't done much to satisfy Your expectations on me but still You have been Please accept my most humble obeisances. All always so patient. You kept encouraging me and glories to Srila Prabhupada! my wife, looking for new situations that could eventually satisfy our whimsical minds. Once again I was approached by Your disciples to write an offering for Your Vyasa Puja Book. I was We are still not fully settled in our new prabhu- delighted to be so invited because this gives me a datta-desha but You remain confident that things wonderful opportunity to glorify You in the will turn out nicely and remain without worries, presence of so many Vaisnavas. But, at the same always encouraging us, not trying to force any time I became quite anxious because I feel myself situation. Your full confidence in Krishna's plans so tiny and insignificant in the presence of such an for everyone always amazes me. exalted devotee like Yourself. I can only pray to imbibe some of Your devotion to What can an insignificant glow-worm do in front of Krishna, dear Maharaja, so that I may be able to the sun? offer a more tangible work for Your pleasure and the pleasure of our Divine parampara. Over the years of serving together in the China Mission I have had so many wonderful May Lord Krishna keep You in very good health for opportunities to partake of Your personal saintly many, many more years so that a lowly servant like association. No matter in what kind of troubles I myself can always feel sheltered. could be going through, I would always find solace in Your cooling presence. You looked always so Your insignificant but affectionate servant, peaceful although I know that oftentimes You had Krishna Baladeva dasa very difficult tasks ahead You. I believe that it is only because of Your genuine attraction and devotion to our dear Lord Krishna that You can exemplify such a peaceful demeanor. You have certainly accepted in Your heart that Krishna is the only master, the only controller and the only enjoyer of everything and moreover the only true well-wisher of everyone. Only by realizing these important facts can one attain ever-lasting peace.

Dear Srila Guru Maharaja, to manifest. Needless to say, all the 26 qualities are manifested in Your personality, but I would like to Kindly accept my most unworthy and humble focus and highlight on the primary quality which is prostrated obeisances at the dust of Your most surrender to Krishna. Divine Lotus Feet. All glories to You on Your most auspicious Vyasa Puja celebration! It is said that there are two symptoms we see if a person is surrendered to Krishna. One is, he Every year when I sit down to compose my homage chants Hare Krishna, and second, he associates for Your Vyasa Puja, I am at a loss of words on with devotees nicely. what to appropriately say or write. This is very true because Your glories, pastimes, personality and Let me focus first on chanting. Many years ago, a attributes are too numerous to put into writing and senior devotee told me to observe how Srila Guru concisely make it all fit in a few pages. Indeed, it Maharaja is chanting during His japa. He would take volumes of books to describe Your compared Your chanting to a calf drinking milk wonderful and ambrosial personality. Since Your from its mother. We can see that a newly born calf glories are ever-increasing, there is no end… which is very enthusiastic to drink its mother’s milk. means it is eternal and inexhaustible! And that is, Similarly, Srila Guru Maharaja is drinking the Holy as sastra tells us, the nature of a spiritual person, Name thru His ears and relishes so much the just like Yourself, Srila Guru Maharaja. nectar of the Holy Name! Later on, You personally Nonetheless, we will try our best to write instructed me how to chant attentively and to this something to the best of our ability. day, I try my best to follow those valuable instructions. Aside from the individual japa So where shall we start? Anything and everything chanting, You also showed immense attraction for connected to You is transformed and becomes the Holy Name thru and . You spiritual, just like iron or metal transformed into a would personally lead 3-hour long kirtans and fiery object by constant exposure to fire. Thus, sessions, and of course You would lift all whatever we choose to focus and mention, as long our spirits up and get us ecstatic. No wonder You as it is connected to You, they are all equally gave the name “Festival of the Holy Name” for this relishable. wonderful gathering we are now attending!

At any rate, what now comes to mind are the 26 Which of course now brings us the second qualities of a devotee. Among these qualities, symptom of surrender to Krishna: association with surrender to Krishna is the primary quality devotees! whereupon the other qualities bear fruit and begin This festival we are all fortunately attending is to pure devotee, may continue His preaching mission facilitate the association amongst devotees. By with no difficulties. each others’ association, we get inspired to serve and continue serving the Vaisnava community Thank You very much. May the glories of our here at ISKCON. We have seen in the past that You dearmost Guru Maharaja spread all over the three tirelessly organized gathering devotees. To mention worlds! a few: Padayatra (held for 6 consecutive years) and annual events such as Your Vyasa Puja Srila Guru Maharaja ki jai! celebration.

It is said in Vaisnava etiquette that chanting is like Your most lowly and rascal disciple, the watering and association the sunshine. Both Sridama das are essential for the growth of our creeper of devotion. Without it, we will soon dry up and wither. In the same way, You are the expert gardener, helping us nourish and mature in our Dear Srila Guru Maharaja, progress in Krishna Consciousness. Please accept my most humble obeisances. All Having said all this, I would like to seek Your glories to You on Your most auspicious mercy and blessings for this useless soul. Kindly Appearance Day. continue to inspire, enthuse and instruct us so in this way, we may be worthy disciples. I know, as For almost 20 years of Your mercy and blessing, I scriptures tell us, Kali yuga has a negative and ill am still around serving Your Divine Grace. effect on spiritual practices. But, with Your presence amongst us, You expertly cultivate us so One day I was alone chanting my rounds. I the unwanted weeds are cut, allowing our fragile remembered my Guru Maharaja. I was so tired and Bhakti creeper to grow unimpeded. my entire body was aching. Torrents of tears were coming down from my eyes. Deep in my heart I At this point I would like to humbly request all the prayed to You… “My Srila Guru Maharaja, … I am assembled Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis to pause for a old already. How long can I serve You?...” moment or two. In silence, let us offer our prayers to our dearmost Guru Maharaja. Let us implore I could not control myself, tears coming down more Lord Krishna to give strength and everything and more. After a few minutes, I asked myself, needed so that Srila Guru Maharaja, Krishna’s “Why am I crying? For what?” I remember during my darshan I told You, “I am Again, Happy Appearance Day. Srila Guru tired already, Guru Maharaja…” and You answered Maharaja ki jaya! me, “Madhumati, I am tired, too.”

That day I cried again and again. I realized that I Your insignificant servant, was lamenting for just a little service that I have Madhumati devi dasi compared to my Guru Maharaja’s, who has dedicated His whole life not only to the Philippine Yatra but to the whole world. But due to our ignorance we do not see how You have suffered for Dear Giridhari Maharaja, us. Instead we do nothing. My Srila Guru Maharaja, please forgive us for what we are doing. Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Now You are here again in this yatra showering Your unlimited mercy on Your Vyasa Puja. All the On this very auspicious day of Your Vyasa Puja devotees are busy doing different engagements and celebration, I feel very happy and blessed to be in I am included. My Srila Guru Maharaja, cooking Your saintly association and surrounded by so with limited vegetables is not easy. Even though I many of Your loving disciples and dear friends. I do have been serving You for a long time, I still do not not have the least qualification to properly glorify know how to please You. Every time I cook for You Your Divine personality, nevertheless I beg You to I beg Nitai Sundar – Gaura Nataraja to help me accept my modest attempt for our scriptures say cook nice prasadam just for You. After serving I that the glorification of the pure devotee is very run quickly to see if You finished all the food or pleasing to our Lord Krishna. not. When I look at Your empty plate, I cannot explain myself how happy I am, but if You eat In his purport to the 12:13-14, little, for the whole day I blame myself. How stupid Srila Prabhupada describes so wonderfully the I am. This is the only service I can offer to my Srila characteristics of a Vaisnava. He says, "A pure Guru Maharaja and still I cannot do it. devotee is never disturbed in any circumstances. Nor is he envious of anyone. Whenever a devotee is Please forgive me for all this. I am begging You, in distress or has fallen into difficulty, he thinks please bless this fallen soul so that I can remain that it is the Lord's mercy upon him. A devotee is engaged in Your loving devotional service. always calm, quiet and patient, despite many distressful conditions. He is also always kind to everyone, even to his enemy. A devotee does not attach much importance to the pains and trouble exemplary determination in following Srila pertaining to the body because he knows perfectly Prabhupada's teachings and for Your total well that he is not the material body. dedication to serve His great mission. You are indeed, by Your words and actions, a great source He does not identify with the body; therefore he is of inspiration in my devotional journey. I consider freed from the conception of false ego and is You as my spiritual uncle and dear well-wisher. equipoised in happiness and distress. He is tolerant, and he is satisfied with whatever comes On this auspicious occasion I take the opportunity by the grace of the Supreme Lord. He does not to beg You, dear Maharaja, to please bestow Your endeavor much to achieve something with great mercy upon this lost soul so that one day she will difficulty; therefore he is always joyful. He is a be able to render some tangible service for the completely perfect mystic because he is fixed in the pleasure of Sri Guru, Vaishnavas and Jivas. instructions received from the spiritual master, and because his senses are controlled, he is Your insignificant servant, determined. He is not swayed by false arguments, Svasti devi dasi because no one can lead him from the fixed determination of devotional service. He is fully conscious that Krishna is the eternal Lord, so no one can disturb him. All these qualifications enable him to fix his mind and intelligence entirely on the Supreme Lord. Such a standard of devotional service is undoubtedly very rare, but a devotee becomes situated in that stage by following the regulative principles of devotional service. Furthermore, the Lord says that such a devotee is very dear to Him, for the Lord is always pleased with all his activities in full Krishna consciousness."

Dear Maharaja, I believe that there is no need to emphasize how close these descriptions of a pure devotee of the Lord fit in Your saintly personality.

I wish to express my deep gratitude to You for Your

sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana srngara-tan-mandira-marjanadau yuktasya bhaktams ca niyunjato pi vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

My Dearmost Srila Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances at the dust of Your Divine Lotus Feet. My only sweet and loving shelter!!! All glories unto Your Divine Grace! All glories to Your Most Auspicious Appearance Day!!!

Allow me to begin my offering with a story entitled, “Snatched”. One evening, after reaching out to some conditioned souls to practice hatha and read Srila Prabhupada’s books, particularly the Higher Taste and Divine Nature at the World Trade Center, Pasay, Bhaktins Jane, Jamjam and myself rode on a jeepney to go home. Conditioned by the “texting habit” I took my cellphone out from the bag to respond to an unanswered missed call. The jeepney was running along Pasay Rotonda, Edsa, but suddenly the cellphone slipped through my hands. I was trying to hold of it gathering some strength, but that unexpected moment left my hands weak. I thought someone close to me made a bad joke. But I realize the cellphone was snatched by someone whom I do not know. It was for real. Bhaktins Jane and Jamjam were as shocked as I was.

Then I remember the price of the cellphone, that money I can still find by working hard. I remember what is more important, the contact numbers of Even more important than the price of the the IYI yoga students, that I may still retrieve. How cellphone and the contact numbers, I remember will I get those numbers again? I was bewildered… my health, my family, my relatives and friends. I felt my attachment to all of them. I do not like to feel that they are being snatched away from me. chanting of the Holy Names, HARE KRSNA, and to That would be more painful! associate properly with devotees.

My mind was lost in an ocean of question. What Material comfort is deceiving and it lulls me to the would I feel if I loose this or that…But I was even mode of ignorance. Even material pain is also more shocked to realize that even more painful deceiving and it lulls me to the illusion of sense perhaps for me, (even if I still do not have the taste gratification. But how many times will I believe for pure devotional service) is when the little that sense gratification will make me happy? I am services that I am doing now, the rare moments of begging that by Your unalloyed mercy, Your Divine Sadhu Sanga and the Chanting of the Holy Names Grace awakens me from this illusory existence. will be snatched away from me. YOUR MERCY is our only hope. Without Your mercy our lives are useless… Complacency in the modes of ignorance and passion have stolen from me real intelligence. I All glories unto Your Divine Grace. You are just thought I already know. But the more I think I like the residents of loka, who according know, I know less. to Lord Siva, “They have given up everything as worthless straw. Worshiping Their Lord in Familiarity breeds contempt as the saying goes. pure devotion, they have no respect for the Becoming familiar to the process of devotional desirable achievements of this world; they will not service may make one proud. That I know. That I even glance at those perfections. Those devotees am a devotee, that I am a member of ISKCON, a have abandoned every kind of false pride. And they part of a Vaisnava community. have attained the world beyond the material modes Most of the time, a conditioned soul like me take and devoid of all fear…they are satisfied simply to for granted the persons and things that I already worship Lord Hari with devotion. They travel freely have and create new interests in others. But when wherever they want, protecting and promoting the devotional opportunities are taken away from me cause of the Lord’s devotees and the Lord’s either in subtle or gross manner, maybe that is the devotional service.” time I will know its real value. But before this There is no doubt that You are the best recipient of happens let me have the chance to think and Lord Krsna’s mercy. By Your activities You have understand deeply the advice of great sadhus and embodied the qualities of the Vaikuntha vasis and gurus like Your Divine Grace. Your most important even sweeter than that is Your mood of the advice is that we keep our vows especially the Vrajavasis, of assisting the servants of the servants of the servants of the gopis in Your daily worship of SRI SRI GIRI -GOVARDHANA. You continue pushing the Sankirtan mission of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Chaitanya by organizing such festivals as this.

The FESTIVAL OF THE HOLY NAME is an _expression of Your great compassion to fallen souls like us and it is an event where Your Divine Grace reveals the glories of the Lord and His devotees. This indeed is the most important welfare work and there is no other.

On this most auspicious day of Your Appearance, I pray that the Supreme Controller Sri Krsna thru His agent Maya, will not snatch away from me and my family the opportunities of pure devotional service. Even if we may forget this prayer, please allow us to always remember it always by chanting HARE KRSNA…

Praying to be fixed at the dust of Your Lotus Feet…

Your servant of the Servants,

Ratnavali devi dasi with family

Mandali Bhadra das

Shrinivasa das (9 yrs. old)

Gandharvika devi dasi (5 yrs. old)

Vrajaraj das (2yrs. old) (and the little new jiva in my womb- 6 months old)

mahapraboh kirtana-nrtya-gita- vaditra-madyan-manaso rasena romanca-kampasru-taranga-bhajo vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. Dearmost Father, Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of Your Lotus Feet. All glories unto You. All glories to Your transcendental Vyasa Puja Day. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Their Lordships Sri Sri Nitai Sundar – Gaura Nataraja.

On this most auspicious occasion I would like to glorify You and give You thanks for everything, especially for bestowing Your causeless mercy and blessing. Although I am not qualified to be Your disciple, I am very thankful to be Your disciple. You are so kind and merciful, compassionate and sympathetic in Your association with devotees.

You are always ecstatic, and You are equal to everyone. Your interest is always in Krishna Consciousness, and You are always peaceful and surrendered to Lord Krishna.

Nama om visnu padaya krishna presthaya bhutale Srimati giridhari svamin iti namine

Guru Maharaja ki jaya!

Your servant of a servant, Mecika devi dasi

Dearest Guru Maharaja, I pray that I will someday be worthy of being Your servant. Please always be merciful and patient with Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to me... this I humbly beg. Srila Prabhupada. Your most fallen daughter, On this most auspicious day of Your Vyasa Puja, please allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude to Malika dd (Auckland, New Zealand) You. Your patience and understanding is unlimited. You have always been there to guide me not only in my spiritual life but all the aspects of my existence. You have been my inspiration and strength.

You lifted me up when I stumbled and fell. During those times when I was blinded with maya, You were there patiently trying to make me see clearly. You never gave up on me even during those moments when I was so illusioned that I was giving up on You. Now, more than ever, I could say that I am so fortunate for having You as my eternal spiritual father.

Though I haven't had Your physical association for quite a long time now, I am trying to survive through Your instructions. Whatever menial services I do for Sri-Sri Radha Giridhari, , Baladeva and Subhadra, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and all the Vaisnavas here in New Varshan, I am offering them to Your Lotus feet because through Your causeless mercy, my family and I are having this wonderful opportunity.

My dear Guru Maharaja, Dearest Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at Your Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of Divine Lotus Feet. All glories to Sri Sri Nitai Your Lotus Feet. All glories to Sri Sri Nitai Sundar Sundar Gaura Nataraja! All glories Srila – Gaura Nataraja! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Prabhupada! All glories unto You on Your most All glories unto You and to this most auspicious auspicious Appearance Day! day! Your Appearance Day!

Guru Maharaja, thank You so much for all the This is my first time to write a Vyasa Puja letter. I mercy and blessings You have showered upon me don’t know how to come up with one that is and my mata. By Your mercy, I am now on my acceptable so I had to read sets and sets of second year in college and despite the hardships previous letters of devotees from the compilations we are encountering, my mata is still strongly that they lent me. serving Their Lordships and You, our Guru Maharaja. I am so indebted to You for this mercy The more I read, the more I was at a loss of words. and that my mata and I are in the right path, I found myself unworthy and insignificant. As I which is Krishna Consciousnessness. read devotees’ letters, it overwhelmed me; the love that these letters contained. I wish I could write My only prayer on Your Vyasa Puja is that You will such wonderful, sincere letters. be merciful unto me so that I may be qualified enough to serve You. You are my inspiration, my As unworthy as I am, You have given me Your beloved father. Please forgive me for all my mercy and accepted me as one of Your daughters. offenses. Again, happy, happy Appearance day! When You answered my first few emails, and reading the heading with You acknowledging me as Srila Guru Maharaja ki jaya! Your daughter made me very grateful.

I would like to take this chance to say thank You. Your fallen servant, Thank You, Guru Maharaja, for giving mercy to Hari Priya devi dasi someone as unworthy as myself. I know I will only be giving You more headaches for I’m afraid I’ll turn out to be a hard-headed daughter.

Please, please always guide me and give me the blessings that I may continue with my practice of Krishna Consciousness. Bless me that I may ignorance. Thank You so much for enlightening us always be in the association of the devotees, and and giving us the best spiritual realization. I’m somehow in my insignificant ways, I could serve really thankful to You for lifting us up and giving them and in that way, serve You. us true knowledge about the absolute truth. Lord Sri Krishna had mercy on us because being I know I am only a half-step forward and there’s a introduced to ISKCON is the best gift ever from long, long way to go. Only by Your mercy and Him. guidance am I sure to have another step forward to being Krishna Conscious. Again, thank You, Guru Thank You so much to You, Guru Maharaja, and Maharaja! to Srila Prabhupada the founder of ISKCON and to all previous Acaryas and to all Vaisnava devotees of the Lord for inspiring us and giving us the Your most unworthy, aspiring servant, strength to advance in our spiritual life. I thank Bhaktin Charisse (Olongapo City) You for being merciful, and showing us the right direction.

Most of all thank You to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, until now He does My Dearest Guru Maharaja, not stop showing mercy to us.

Please accept my humble obeisances unto the dust I pray to Lord Sri Krishna that there’s a coming of Your Lotus Feet, All glories unto You! day that all condition souls in this material world Happy Appearance Day to You my Guru Maharaja! will be purified and qualified to go back home, I don’t know how to thank a saintly person who back to Godhead. What a glorious day that will be!! exerted so much effort to come here just to save a Once again, I thank You, forever and ever. poor, foolish person like me. I am an unworthy JAYA GURU MAHARAJA!!! soul but You have given me a chance to know Krishna and to serve His Lotus Feet, even if I am not qualified, and even if I’m a most offensive person. You are such a great and rare soul. I’m Your foolish, aspiring servant really sorry, please forgive all of my offenses. Bhakta Noe (Olongapo City)

I am very, very thankful to You, my Guru Maharaja, for rescuing us from the darkness of

catur- vidha-sri-bhagavat-prasada- svadv-anna-trptan hari-bhakta-sanghan krtvaiva trptim bhajatah sadaiva vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

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.

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale My beloved Srila Guru Maharaja, srimate giridhari-svamin iti namine On this most special event of Your Vyasa Puja, allow me to glorify Your Divine Grace. My kind, Dear Srila Guru Maharaja, merciful and loving father, I offer my obeisances at Your Divine Lotus Feet a thousand times. By Your Divine Grace’s mercy, this sinful soul has been allowed to associate with thousands of I am such an ignorant person. I wasted so much of devotees in India. By allowing me to associate with my time enjoying mundane activities. I am so You personally, even for a few days in Sri Dham bewildered. Please bless me so that my anxiety will Mayapur, You have given me so much strength to disappear. My devotion to You is very weak. So my go on, just as You derive Your strength from Srila only wish and prayer on Your most special day is Prabhupada. that my faith in You be strong enough to keep me in Your service. On this most wonderful day of Your Divine Grace's Appearance, though I have no great qualification Srila Guru Maharaja, in this miserable condition I and I have nothing of real value to offer You, please am in, You guided me, inspired me and gave me accept my simple prayer that I may never forget shelter. How can I repay You? I KNOW I CANNOT Your service. May compassion for the suffering BUT DEEP IN MY HEART I HAVE A GREAT souls develop in my heart. DESIRE TO SERVE YOUR DIVINE GRACE. I know that Lord Krsna has plans for me although I do not I pray that somehow, with all my disqualifications, know them yet. I beg You to please be merciful You will bless me that I may remain in Your service unto me that I may be strong and qualified enough and that Your name be engraved eternally in my to be Your servant. heart. Those who are envious, sinful and mean like me can all become clean by Your instructions. For all my offenses, please forgive me again and again. May I always serve Krsna and never exploit the Lord's energy for my sense gratification. All of Jai Srila Guru Maharaja! these prayers be for Your glory.

Your fallen servant, Your insignificant servant, Gandharvika devi dasi Jai Gopal Das tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet hard but maintaining it is more arduous. samit-panih srotiyam brahma-nistham Associating with the devotees and reading Srila Prabhupada’s books gave, and continues to shower “In order to learn the transcendental science, one me with strength to maintain my practice. I am must approach the bonafide spiritual master in infinitely indebted to You for this. Thus I shall try disciplic succession, who is fixed in the Absolute to be Your bottom-most servant. I will go on Truth.” (Mundaka Upanisad [1.2.12]) serving Your Divine Lotus Feet although a lot of things unceasingly infect my body and mind. tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya upadeksyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinah After reading the book “The Science of Self Realization” by His Divine Grace A.C. “Just approach the wise and bona fide spiritual Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, it made me master. Surrender unto him first and try to crave for a spiritual master. In this early age of my understand him by inquiries and service. Such a life I am yearning to qualify myself to be Your wise spiritual master will enlighten You with nethermost servant. But how can I ever please transcendental knowledge, for he has already You? How can I ever satisfy Your devotees? Your known the Absolute Truth.” (Sri Gita [4.34]) pleasure is my ultimate goal. nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale Thank You, Guru Maharaja, for appearing in this srimate giridhari-svamin iti namine dreadful material world and having to undergo so many difficulties just for the fallen souls like me to Dear Guru Maharaja, have the opportunity to taste the bliss of Krishna consciousness and go back home, back to Please accept my most humble obeisances in the Godhead. Thank You. dust of Your Divine Lotus Feet.

All Glories To Sri Sri Nitai Sundar - Gaura Your aspiring servant, Nataraja! All Glories To Srila Prabhupada! All Bhakta Dominic Reynoso Glories Unto You!

I am entirely fallen by nature. Your devotees pulled me up from drowning in the pool of ignorance and gave me the chance to chant the Holy Names. Following the four regulative principles at first was My Dearest Guru Maharaja, Thank You, Guru Maharaja, for giving us Your shelter and initiation and also giving me the Please accept my most humble obeisances on this opportunity to do some cooking for You. During most auspicious day of Your Divine Appearance in the visit to the Philippines, I was so grateful to this material world. have Your association everyday. I have become more and more attached to Your kind and gentle It is amazing how Lord Krishna can arrange a lot of manner. You have the most enchanting smile that things to happen within a short span of three fills my heart with transcendental bliss. I months. particularly love hearing Your bhajans which You have often sung with such sweet, transcendental A few months ago at the Perth temple, someone mellows. Guru Maharaja, You are as perfect as mentioned to me that his greatest problem is not Gurudeva and I love You both equally with all my being able to follow the four regulative principles. I heart. I pray that Lord Krishna will always take told him my greatest problem is finding a spiritual good care of my Guru Maharaja and protect Him master. Even though I have been corresponding from all kinds of danger and sickness. with Guru Maharaja for almost a year, our relationship was lacking the element of love and I Your unworthy daughter, had almost given up on writing for a long time. I Radhika Sundari devi dasi was not ready to surrender to Guru Maharaja because of my intense feeling for Gurudeva then. I felt hopeless in my spiritual life. I had often regarded Gurudeva as my heart and soul… where else on this earth can I find a spiritual master who is as perfect as my Gurudeva.

Through my prayer to Krishna and Gurudeva, something manifested and inspired me to write to Guru Maharaja again. When Guru Maharaja’s reply came, I was so touched and I wept just like the old days when I received Gurudeva’s mail. I knew at that moment, I had found my spiritual master.

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisance. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. All Glories unto You Srila Guru Maharaja on this auspicious day of Your Vyasa Puja.

It’s such a great experience meeting a Divine personality like You. I feel so much uplifted hearing Your lectures when the last time You visit Olongapo. Those Kirtan You did made my bodily hair stand on its end, such a pure devotion.

By Your causeless mercy, You guide Krishna devotees on the right track. That is why I’m begging for even a drop of Your mercy. Even though there are times I violate the fundamental principles and felt so much guilt about it, I feel sri-radhika-madhavayor apara- encouragement associating with the devotees whom taking instructions from You. Thanks for madhurya-lila-guna-rupa-namnam being the guide of many devotees here in Philippines and some other parts of this small prati-ksanasvadana-lolupasya world. Thanks for spreading the wonderful message of Srila Prabuhpada. So much respect vande guroh sri-caranaravindam unto You. The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant This humble letter is for You Guru Maharaja. All about the unlimited conjugal pastimes Glories unto You! of Radhika and Madhava, and Their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these Your aspiring servant, at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto Bhakta Rowee (Olongapo City) the lotus feet of such a spiritual master. Dear Guru Maharaja, difference in the way I am able to handle different situations. And that I will always treasure, Guru Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Maharaja. Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Sri Nitai Sundar and Gaura Nataraja. All glories to You. I am really looking forward to be of service to You, Guru Maharaja. Perhaps, in that way, I may be Being new to ISKCON and not being able to stay in able to somehow reciprocate all the attention and the temple for days, the only correspondence that I love that You have been imparting to us. had with You, Guru Maharaja is through emails.

It was not that frequent at first, not until we had Your humble servant, our first darshan with You, Guru Maharaja. You Bhaktin Lain have requested an email from me at least every month. Even if I have only communicated to You in that way Guru Maharaja, I have always felt the love and the attention that You have given to us. I My Beloved Guru Maharaja, have always seen Your replies in the context of a caring father always assuring her daughter of His This special day has finally come. Happy love and guidance, most especially in her spiritual Appearance Day. I am very thankful for the mercy journey. I can’t explain the feeling every time I You have given to me. Sometimes I commit read through Your mails, Guru Maharaja. The offenses like not seriously chanting the Hare happiness and the eagerness to read it is Krishna mantra, but I promise an additional round constantly there. of chanting. I am aspiring to be one of Your disciples someday. Through Your mercy, I will I can’t forget the very first advice that You gave me, study hard to fulfill my ambition. Thank You very Guru Maharaja, which was to “never compromise much. my principles to those who have none”. That I Haribol! Hare Krishna! Guru Maharaja ki jaya! would always remember Guru Maharaja, for it significantly added the confidence and strength in me which I need in my everyday dealings with non- devotees. Your aspiring servant,

Also, just being able to talk to You and confide the Bhaktin Jennie Rase decisions that we have to take also makes a 14 years old (Tanauan City, Batangas)

nikunja-yuno rati-keli-siddhyai ya yalibhir yuktir apeksaniya tatrati-daksyad ati-vallabhasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Radha and Krsna's conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrndavana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

My dear Guru Maharaja, To my beloved Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All Nama om visnu padaya krishna presthaya bhutale glories unto You and Srila Prabhupada. Srimate giridhari svamin iti namine

As a gurukuli my teacher Manjari devi dasi taught The most unforgettable event to celebrate has us how to glorify the spiritual master. You are the come, Your Vyasa Puja. We are so fortunate Guru greatest father of all. I beg You on Your most Maharaja to have Your association. Even though I special day to engage me in Your devotional am not qualified to associate and render devotional service. I am already 9 years old and I know how to service, I still pursue and do my duty as a servant. cook prasadam like cooking rice, oats and capati. Now I am trying to chant Krishna’s Holy Names Thank You for enlightening our hearts which are and engage myself learning Krishna’s songs, dance covered by material illusion. You help us a lot in and yoga for kids. our daily spiritual activities. Your boundless wisdom about Krishna takes away all the doubt in Guru Maharaja, I wish and pray that You shower the hearts of the devotees. Your mercy and blessing to me that I may be a good devotee of the Lord. All glories, all glories unto As my last words, I promise that I will I try to be You. constant in whatever devotional service I am doing.

I am gradually practicing to satisfy the heart of our Guru Maharaja ki jai! beloved Guru Maharaja. I will try to work on it, for

it is not perfect. You have a most compassionate

heart. Thank You very much. Your aspiring servant,

Bhaktin Laksmi Happy Appearance Day, Guru Maharaja!

Guru Maharaja ki jaya! Guru Maharaja ki jaya!

Your aspiring servant Bhaktin Janevy Cabalang 16 years old (Tanauan City, Batangas)

To my beloved Guru Maharaja,

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Giridhari Swami Maharaja who is very dear to Lord Krishna, having taken shelter of His Lotus Feet.

The most significant event in this world has come and that is Your Appearance Day. I am glad to offer You this simple message of mine.

I am very thankful that we have been given a chance to have You in our life. Without You, maybe we are still entangled in miserable life.

Guru Maharaja, You are the light of my darkness. Even though I commit mistakes, I will try to lessen them through the help of Your everlasting mercy.

Please bless me with Your kind mercy. I thank You with all my heart.

Happy Appearance Day! Guru Maharaja ki jaya!

Your disciple, Madhu Kanta devi dasi

saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bonafide representative of Sri Hari [Krsna].

My dearest father Guru Maharaja, offending Your Divine Grace. However, You have tolerated all of my rude offences and forgiven me Please accept my most humble obeisances to the again and again. You are always a perfect example dust of Your Divine Lotus Feet. All glories to You of a Vaisnava, always exhibiting the 26 qualities of on this most auspicious celebration of Your a pure devotee. Guru Maharaja, You are as Appearance in this world. tolerant as Lord Caitanya, You are Lord Krishna's most merciful representative. It is said that a moment's association with a great saintly person can completely change one's life. I Guru Maharaja, You are so compassionate! I have had this amazing experience last July. With one received uncountable love from Your Divine Grace, second of eye contact with a great saint, my life although You are so busy with management work has been completely changed by Your Divine and traveling. Your love for me is so thoughtful Grace. It is my greatest fortune to be allowed to and overwhelming, You are taking care of me on all participate in Your Sri Vyasa-Puja. I may receive sides, whether in my material problems, spiritual even more unbelievable mercy that I could be problems and even English problems! Guru initiated by Your Divine grace on this most Maharaja, You are as compassionate as Lord auspicious day. It is impossible to repay all the Caitanya. You are Lord Krishna's most merciful mercy You gave me even with many lifetimes of representative. service. If You allow, You can find this foolish servant serving beside You eternally... Guru Maharaja, You are so intelligent! I find myself a real fool in front of You. Your advice and Guru Maharaja, You are so generous! I have so guidance are so impeccable and practical. You often asked for Your merciful and powerful always remind me to take good care of my health, blessings, and You have never rejected any and You demonstrate it with Your example of requests from this greedy fool. You are always maintaining our material body well in order to offer giving, giving and giving Your enormously powerful better and longer service to devotees, Guru and blessings to me. You even pray for me to Krishna Krishna. Guru Maharaja, You are as intelligent as for His Supreme blessings. Guru Maharaja, You Lord Caitanya. You are Lord Krishna's most are as generous as Lord Caitanya. You are Lord merciful representative. Krishna's most merciful representative. There is no hope that I can glorify a drop of Your Guru Maharaja, You are so tolerant! I am such a goodness with my poor English. As per Your powerless fool and have always been carelessly guidance, I have begun studying English since this Monday. I pray I can please You more by hearing can take good care of You especially during Your Your words more clearly so that You will not need stay in the Philippines and Your Vyasa Puja. to repeat again and again to this fool.

Could I borrow Your words from Your prayer to From Your always-available servant, Srila Gurudeva of "Sri Vyasa-Puja book 2003"? "To Bhakta Brandon Low simply say "Thank You very much" is not enough. Nor is it enough to say "I love You"."

I pray this meets You in good health and long life, as it will be our greatest fortune. Dear Srila Guru Maharaja,

Happy Appearance Day, my dearest father Srila nama om visnu padaya krishna presthaya bhutale Guru Maharaja. srimate giridhari svamin iti namine

Happy Appearance Day Guru Maharaja! Your stupid daughter, Bhaktin Juanita (Hong Kong) Please accept my humble obeisances on Your Lotus feet! All glories to You, Guru Maharaja!

I find it very difficult to express what I want to say Dear Guru Maharaja, to You. I don’t know if I can last long at this movement because I find maya very difficult to Please accept my most humble obeisances unto resist. So I beg You Guru Maharaja to please Your Lotus Feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! engage me as Your servant so I can serve You All glories to Sri Sri Nitai Sundar - Gaura Nataraja! Guru Maharaja and Krishna for the rest of my miserable life. Once again I greet You a Happy Happy Appearance Day! I hope You can have the Appearance Day! best Vyasa Puja that Lord Krishna can give You. I am sorry that I cannot be in the Philippines to celebrate Your Vyasa Puja, but my family will Your aspiring servant, celebrate this most auspicious day in Australia Bhakta Ralph (Olongapo City) with other devotees. Hopefully Lord Sri Krishna

yasya prasada bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

My dear Guru Maharaja, spreading Krishna Consciousness especially in the Asian region of Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories Philippines. unto You and Srila Prabhupada. With a gentle, caring and loving nature, You have My teacher Manjari devi dasi taught me how to been able to attract so many followers into the glorify You on Your Appearance Day. I am small ISKCON movement. You have been able to but I know how to chant Krishna’s names. I like maintain the standards that have been set by Srila seeing You singing and dancing in front of the Prabhupada. Deities. Please bless me to be a good servant of Yours when I grow big. My prayer on Your I have the great fortune to meet You, Guru Appearance Day is that please be merciful to my Maharaja, and now being newly initiated through mata Gandharvika. Please engage her in the Your mercy, after having met You only twice. When service of Your Lotus Feet. I asked what qualifications I had to deserve such mercy and blessing, You answered, “One simple Thank You, Guru Maharaja. Again, Happy quality: sincerity!” Appearance Day. I am overwhelmed by such an answer from You, Guru Maharaja. It is so simple yet to deep. It only Your little servant, shows that You are so compassionate and merciful Krishna das to this fallen soul who has been wondering when that day will come… my initiation since the passing of Srila Gurudeva. You are not only grave and straightforward but also very protective of my My Dearest Guru Maharaja, devotion to Guru, Srila Prabhupada and the whole ISKCON movement. ISKCON was set up by Srila Please accept my most humble obeisances to the Prabhupada so we can be engaged in devotional dust of Your great Lotus Feet, on this most service to Lord Krishna everyday, through the auspicious day of Your Divine Appearance. You mercy of Guru. appeared into this mortal material world to help Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya to spread the There is definitely no other movement like ISKCON harinama sankirtan movement to every town and because it has everything that we cannot get from village. You have no doubt been tirelessly any other movement. It gives the best association, best festivals, and most importantly, it gives the My Beloved Guru complete knowledge of how one can go back home Maharaja, to our original place, back to Godhead. Om ajnana timirandhasya I bow down again and again to Your great Lotus jnananjana salakaya Feet, Guru Maharaja, for giving this fallen soul Caskur unmilitam yena such special mercy and blessing. I pray that I can tasmai sri guruve namah be engaged sa one of Your many people to serve Your mission and vision to expand and maintain Nama om visnu padaya this ISKCON movement in Your dedicated area. krishna presthaya bhutale Srimate giridhari svamin Gauranga!!! iti namine

Your insignificant servant of the servants, As a practitioner of devotional service, we always Vrajanandana das need constant prayer. Please bestow Your guidance and mercy, for we need them. You are avyahta- marga-vit. Nobody can progress without Your mercy. I am an ignorant always committing nonsense, and so I am asking Your favor. Please forgive me.

Thank You very much. Happy Appearance Day!

Your unfortunate servant, Akrura das

gurudev! krpa-bindu diya, koro'ei dase, trnapekha ati hina sakala sahane, bala diya koro', nija-mane sprha-hina

sakale sammana korite sakati deho' natha! jathajatha tabe to' gaibo, hari-nama-sukhe aparadha ha'be hata

My Dear Guru Maharaja, doing it out of Your tremendous love for the fallen souls. You want to build a spiritual home for all of Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to them. Fund raising is not an easy job at all. It Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and requires a lot of tolerance and patience. In this Sri Gauranga. material world, we beg alms from the karmis. But actually Your Divine Grace is giving them a chance Happy Happy Vyasa Puja! to go nearer to Krishna, and You are very brilliant in knowing how to use the fund. You won't allow Please, kindly allow me to glorify Your Divine Grace to waste even a penny in nonsense. on this most auspicious event in this material world. Secondly, my working office is growing very fast. I am now responsible of supervising and guiding the Actually, after so many years of communication juniors. Plus, I need to handle all kinds of thorn with Your Divine Grace, I cannot say that cases from my boss. It is a very demanding job. my material knowledge has improved a lot, Therefore I have stopped performing deity since writing a letter in English is still a difficult worship on Saturday afternoon offering for almost task for me. Yet, I am sure My Guru Marahaja can one year. I really can't leave during office hours. fully understand me in my broken English. Of course when I think of my tiny work pressure to Your Divine Grace, I am only trying very hard to Firstly, I am very shameful to say that I have a maintain my personal name and fame. But we see bank loan of almost US$3,100.00. I admit that I Your Divine Grace is always giving the spiritual have no intelligence in how to spend money. This guidance to all of the fallen souls. I can imagine is one of the reasons why it is very difficult to have that it is not easy to give others guidance. It sufficient fund to come join Your Vyasa requires a lot of technique and love. Not each and Celebration in the past few years. My every living entity has the same nature, not each husband got a full-time job only two months ago. and every living entity has the same Hopefully in the future my financial burden can be surrender attitude. Therefore I can conclude that lessened. only very advanced and liberated souls can do so. And You are undergoing all these troubles not Of course, my tiny financial burden is nothing in for Your own self, but for Your spiritual master and comparison to Your Divine Grace. I am only trying Krishna. to maintain my material family, but Your Divine Grace is continuously handling the fund-raising for Philippine and Hong Kong Yatras. You are only Recently I stopped going to temple for lunch, because I bring my own prasadam from home. The reasons are very foolish. One of them is saving cost. If my husband and I bring our own prasadam, every day can save US$5.00. And the most important reason is simply to enjoy my own favorite food. But whenever I think of my huge tendency in enjoying life, I realize that Your Divine Grace is undergoing so much austerity. Because I know many devotees may cook for You. Out of their love and devotion to their own spiritual master, they try to cook many delicious prasadam. However, I think every person has their own taste. It is not easy to take each and every food but ignoring one's own preference. Your Divine Grace is very broad-hearted, You wouldn't complaint. You just accept. Surely that is Your love reciprocation to Your beloved disciples. You want to encourage them to engage in serving their spiritual master and let them go nearer to the spiritual world.

Honestly speaking, I have too, too, too many bad qualities. Nevertheless, I can loudly proclaim that Your Divine Grace owns too, too, too many transcendental qualities, which are unlimited. We need to take many days to fully describe the glories of Your Divine Grace.

My Dear Father, You can easily notice that I am a very self-centered daughter. Please help me to go beyond this horrible character. Please accept me as Your dearest daughter by neglecting all of my disgusting behaviors. At the same time, I am trying to improve my self in coming to the temple, at least two times a week to kabe heno krpa, labhiya e jana, attend the morning class. I make garlands once a week. I give donation when festivals come. If there krtartha hoibe, natha! is anything I can do at this present stage within my limitation, I would let myself progress steadily. I sakti-buddhi-hina, ami ati dina, have to admit that I am in a very fallen grahamedis category. koro' more atma-satha

I hope one day my whole family can heritage the qualities that my Father has. jogyata-vicare, kichu nahi pai, Happy Vyasa Puja. All glories to Srila Guru Maharaja. tomara karuna - sara

karuna na hoile, kandiya kandiya,

Your useless servants, prana na rakhibo ara Jabali das Prema Manjari d.d. Madhuri d.d. Kunti d.d.

My Dear Guru Maharaja, SRILA GIRIDHARI SWAMI GURU MAHARAJA KI! JAI!

Please accept my most humble obeisances unto the dust of Your Lotus Feet, all glories unto You, all Your lowest soldier, glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories to this most auspicious day – Sri Vyasa Puja 2004. Svarupa Damodara Dasa yad yad acarati sresthas

tadtad evataro janah My dear Guru Maharaja, sayat pramanam kurute Please accept my humble obeisances unto the dust lokas tad anuvartate of Your Lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. "What ever a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standard he sets by It is stated in the Srimad Bhagavad-gita, “Just try exemplary acts, all the world pursue." to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render I remember this verse for one reason, to glorify service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart Your name to everyone for this verse describes knowledge unto You because he has seen the You. As a soldier fighting this battle of repeated truth.” birth and death, You command me in such a way that I will follow instantly because of Your purity The search for a spiritual master is not an easy and sincerity. You teach us by setting example and thing, but without finding a bonafide spiritual standards, just like a "Great General" on the master, how can we ever think of being able to battlefield. And I am a simple soldier that will fight know Lord Krishna? Without the perfect guidance till death come, just to satisfy "MY GREAT of a bonafide spiritual master we cannot even GENERAL" approach the Lotus Feet of the Lord, what more serve Him. Therefore I can say that I am very So on this auspicious day, I beg for mercy so that I fortunate to have You as my spiritual father. You can engage in the service of the Lord thru a pure have made me understand the values of life and devotee such as You. And may You always have the purpose of the human form of life. good health. Thank You Guru Maharaja for giving me the Ain’t it a grace to be Your friend opportunity to taste the bliss of Krsna Ain’t it a grace to be in Your holy presence Consciousness even though I do not deserve to be Where will I be without Your grace Your disciple. I have no qualifications at all. Probably a useless being without any conscience

This lowly servant of Yours prays, on this holiest Oh yes, there is the grace of Guru, day of all, that You please let me always be there is the grace of Krishna, there is the grace of engaged in the service of Krishna, at the dust of His pure devotees; Your Lotus Feet. You are my only shelter and I am but for the lack of one grace, man ruins himself. surviving only by Your unlimited mercy. May we all – Your disciples—be able to take full advantage of Although there is the breeze of Divine grace Your mercy and come to the highest platform of blowing, pure Krishna Consciousness. You cannot catch that breeze until You have the grace of Your own mind.

Your servant, Oh yes, not one, whether he be Christian or Hindu, Chandra Latika devi dasi says, “By my own struggles have I attained salvation.” Rather, all mahatmas and Vaisnavas admitted, “Through Divine grace alone could I have this Om ajñana timirandhasya illumination.” Jñanañjana salakaya Caksur unmilitam yena Ain’t it a grace to chant together with You, Tasmai sri-gurave namah my Divine master, In the company of pure devotees: HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA GRACE KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE HARE HARE RAMA Ain’t it a grace to be within Your protection RAMA RAMA HARE HARE Ain’t it a grace to be one of Your disciples Where will I be without Your grace Probably in the darkest region of nescience Bhakta-Rupa Dasa (Cagayan de Oro City)

Guru Maharaja's words are so sweet Like a song with a rhythmic beat.

He preach to spread Lord Krishna's name Like butter on bread; His strength help others Who are starting to shred.

He led me out from the path of darkness, Giving me my name, he brought me back to brightness

He held the torch of knowledge above my head, And frightened the darkness until it fled.

He opened for others the door of life, Closing behind the windows of strife.

Srila Guru Maharaja vyasa puja ki jaya!

My obeisances to You dear Guru Maharaja, I would like to say that we are missing You so much. I pray that I will see You again someday.

Your servant,

Nandini Age 10 (New Varshan Gurukula) Auckland, New Zealand Gurudeva, by the drop of Your mercy,

make this servant of Yours more humble

than a blade of grass.

Give me strength to bear all trials and troubles.

And free me from all desires and personal honor.

Gurudeva, invest with me the power

to properly honor all living beings.

Only then will I sing the Holy Name

with great ecstasy, and all my offenses cease.

Oh Lord and Master, when will this devotee be blessed by

obtaining Your mercy.

I am low fallen and devoid of all strength and intelligence.

Please make me Your beloved servant.

When I examine myself, I find nothing of value.

Your mercy is therefore essential to me.

If You are not merciful, I will constantly weep,

and I will not be able to maintain my life any longer. nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale world with Krishna conscious lyrics. This somehow srimate giridhari-swamin iti namine pacified my mind, considering both situations as important activities in Guru and Krishna’s service. I struggled to understand the essence of it all. Dear Srila Guru Maharaja, Days, months and years have passed since the first Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to time I have been to China. Traveling for years, You You! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to took me with You…You trained me to serve You, Giriraja-govardhana! All glories to Radhe-Syama! like a servant to a master, like a friend to a friend, like son to a father. I poorly failed many times and April 17 2003 each time, You picked me up, set me back on track and gave me more chances to serve. Each time I On board a bus to the border of Veitnam to renew made what I consider a major blunder, You always my visa. It’s my last day of stay in China…. This considered them insignificant, comparing it to made me a little introspective and perplexed at the those You had in Your service to Your Spiritual same time. It made me think, “Why am I here? Master. You have allowed me to be with You on Why am I doing this? Aren’t You supposed to be practically every level of Your personal, spiritual sitting in that little cubicle, studio room? and daily life. I’m always amazed at how You Recording, producing CDs? What’s important here? blessed me with Your unlimited, causeless mercy. China or the Mantra Records studio?” Krpa is so much involved here.

I was a bit confused of what to do. How should I In behalf of my family, I would like to thank You, look at this situation, I asked myself. I chanted Guru Maharaja, for everything. We are eternally quite a number of japa which made my mind indebted. clearer. In a while, with a clearer mind & a little intelligence, I started to scale the two situations and delved into the matter. I meditated on Srila Yours in the service of the Vaisnavas, Prabhupada’s instructions “Preaching is the Govinda das Essence.” Coming to China is a glorious and very important sense of duty to Srila Prabhupada’s movement. On the other hand, making music, recording, producing, etcetera, is preaching too. Most important is to make music for the outside My Dear Most Srila Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances at the dust of Your Divine Lotus Feet. Though this is my first opportunity to offer on Your Vyasa Puja, please allow me to attempt to glorify You on this most auspicious day of Your Appearance.

You are the embodiment of KRISHNA’S MERCY. Therefore, though I am not qualified to do so, still You made me one of the most fortunate souls. I am so grateful for this opportunity.

I am not very satisfied with the service I am rendering to You now. Still I know that this path of devotional service is my one and only hope in life. During my darshan, You witnessed how emotional I was regarding my present status but still You humbly accepted me. In fact, You left me instructions that are quite difficult for me to do, as of now. I want to grow and understand in KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS all these miseries. That is why I am hoping that You will grant me the wisdom to deal with the challenges of everyday. Give me the desire to study PRABHUPADA’S BOOKS and the will to somehow apply them in my daily activity. Please let me gain vision to rearrange things and strength to deal with the fatigue of doubts, fears, troubles, bad habits and obstacles that come along the way.

Your insignificant servant,

Bhaktin Jing-Jing

My Dear Srila Guru Maharaja, Sometimes I think that maybe my initiation was a mistake, a big mistake. I didn’t think that it was Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of such a big responsibility. When I got initiated Your Divine Lotus Feet. All glories to Your Divine everything changed and most of it are not favorable spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Sri to my spiritual life. Or do I really have one? Sri Nitai Sundar Gaura Nataraja. All glories, all Everything was quite the opposite when I was still glories unto You! a bhaktin. Back then, I was so enthusiastic with my Krishna Consciousness, always looking forward Guru Maharaja, its been a couple of years since I to see You and to have Your personal association had the last chance to attend this most auspicious and do any menial service without complaining. day of Your Vyasa Puja. I know I had missed a lot But after initiation, all of it vanished without a not just on not being able to attend this special trace. How I wish I’m not yet initiated, but because occasion but also on not having Your personal of Your unfathomable mercy, You gave it to me association. Back in Cebu, I was thinking, was it unconditionally. really my education that holds me from attending Your Vyasa Puja, or is it just me who's not worthy. Guru Maharaja, I don’t know where to start to I never had an answer nor a conclusion because I rectify for all of my misdoings. I made a vow in always justify myself that I have to do my duty as a front of You in the fire sacrifice to do my japa student and go to school because that was your properly, but shame on me for I wasn’t able to do instruction. Years passed and I finished school, it. I made a promise to tell You everything and to and Jai Sri Krishna! At last I’m finished! I'm done! I have constant communication, but You’re always thought that was it, that finally I had done my the last person to know what’s going on. I thought duty. But I was wrong, how idiotic of me to think of You will really kick me out of Your Lotus Feet, but such foolishness! I thought I’d be happy with it, after all I’ve done, you still kept me in Your sweet but I wasn’t. I felt so empty and confused trying to embrace and sheltered me. figure out what went wrong. Until the painful slap of truth came, that I'd committed tons of offenses Guru Maharaja, I want to say sorry, but You told to You. It brought my brain waves back on track me, saying sorry means not to commit the same and made me realize that I had never actually done mistake again. That's why I’m so ashamed to say anything to do my duty, as a disciple and as a so, for every time I say sorry, I only displease and daughter. This made me think and conclude that I disappoint You more. I know I’ve been so stupid am worthless soul, so unworthy to claim You as and such a hard head to crack, but You said I’m my guru. not stupid, just silly sometimes, but I still chose to Dear Guru Maharaja, be stupid because I have taken You for granted. Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of Guru Maharaja, on this auspicious day of Your Your Lotus Feet. All glories to You! Appearance, I humbly ask for Your forgiveness and to give me another chance. Please make me a This material world is compared to a vast ocean servant, please make me humble and meek, so and by being attached to Guru and Krishna, one is that I can do my duty and serve You according to freed. Our surrender is blocked by false pride and Your will. Thank You for still considering me as delusion, thinking the body to be the self. We are one of Your disciples and I love You so much. freed from this delusion by great devotees of the Lord who are more merciful than the Lord Himself, Always remain to be your daughter, for they undertake great risks by approaching the ignorant and engage them in Krishna’s service. Malati devi dasi

Guru Maharaja, You are to be glorified all around the three worlds because Your only concern is to

deliver the poor conditioned souls from suffering and give them Krishna bhakti. Because we are unqualified and do not have strong determination, sometimes doubts arise and we suffer. But when we follow Your perfect instructions, we realize that surrender to the spiritual master is the solution to all of our problems.

On this day of Your Vyasa Puja, I beg for Your mercy so that I can be able to follow Your instructions to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books and preach Krishna Consciousness. I am eternally indebted to You for saving me from the ocean of material misery. Never allow me to leave the shelter of Your Lotus Feet.

Your servant, Bringara das On the occasion of Your Vyasa-puja, I would like to nama om padaya thank You for Your mercy on this fallen soul. krishna presthaya bhutale When Bhakti-vidya Purna Swami was here in year srimate giridhari svamin iti namine 2000, he said in a class that there are two kinds of gurus: one is likened to a cat which takes her Dearest Srila Guru Maharaja, kittens gently between her teeth, and the other is likened to a monkey which just swings from tree to Please accept my most humble obeisances at Your tree with the baby monkeys holding on tightly. In Lotus Feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All our relationship, I have seen that You are both of glories to Sri Panca-tattva! All glories to His Divine these types. For being like the cat, I would like to Grace! All glories to Your Vyasa-puja! thank You for Your personal care and concern throughout the ups and the downs of my material Srila Prabhupada often speaks in the beginning life. For being like the monkey, I thank You just pages of the Bhagavatam of the devotees being the same, for letting me hold on. I only pray that “graced by the Lord”. Reflecting on this, if I am to You will not give up on me for You are my only be equipped with knowledge and detachment in chance to surpass material existence. order to make it in this world, these qualities have to be indeed graced by the One who can enter into And for all Your efforts in establishing the this material creation yet can remain outside as Philippine yatra, I pray that You will meet success. well. I am a very minute spark in this vast I hope that one day, Krishna will grace me to be creation, which is a big mesh composed of the able to assist You again. three modes ever successful in deluding every fallen soul. Definitely, I need assistance. Srila Guru Maharaja ki—jay!

The Supreme Lord has, since the start of creation, ISKCON guru vrinda ki—jay! given assistance in varied forms: He gave the Vedas, He incarnates, He spread His Holy Names, Gaura bhakta vrinda ki—jay! He resides as the Supersoul in everyone’s heart, and most importantly, He sends His pure devotees to help the jivas realize them all. Taking the role of a guru, the pure devotee helps one progressively Your fallen servant, march towards perfection. Thus, the spiritual Kandarpa sundari devi dasi master is the key to spiritual success.

My Dearest Father, Friend, my Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories unto You on Your most auspicious Appearance Day!

My dear Father, this daughter of Yours who stands before You, is nothing but ego and talk. She thinks she knows, she thinks she can do it, she thinks it is all her doing. What a useless fool! But, nevertheless, Your kind heart reached out to hers. Made of stone, her heart has been melted by Your immense mercy.

My beloved Guru Maharaja, I would not know where I will be today if it were not for You. I would for sure be nothing, had You not picked me up and From the many things You teach us, Guru so kindly given me the mercy to try and serve You. Maharaja, one thing strikes me, and that is that I will probably be in some place empty, some place You teach by example. You walk Your talk, and devoid of bhakti, without a trace of Krishna You practice what You preach. No personality is Consciousness. I can say this over and over greater than such. “Actions speak louder than without end: I am eternally indebted to You, in words, Laksmi Priya,” You always tell me. And every sense. I used to ask myself, “What has my indeed, these famous words that I’ve heard since Guru Maharaja seen in me, that He so kindly elementary, strike me only when they come from picked me up from this dreadful ocean of Your Lotus mouth, for I know that You are the ignorance?” I know the answer now. Yes, You have embodiment of it. You are the personification of seen something. You have seen my charcoal heart, ‘teaching by example.’ All glories unto You! the selfish, egoistic me. Truly, there is nothing in me of any worth, yet, because You are the The past year of attempting to serve You has been representative of Krishna and You have a pure and nothing but lessons. The truth is, this ambitious loving, merciful heart, You so unconditionally fool of Yours has done nothing but disservice, embraced me, and sheltered me. You know very offense one after another. However, because of well how much I need You. Without Your mercy Your presence, mud was turned to milk, and metal and guidance, my life is rendered useless. was turned to gold. You have taught me much,

Guru Maharaja. You have given me much, without asking for anything in return.

You have been and always will be my pillar, my confidante, my guiding light, my English teacher, my cheerful candle in the midst of looming dark, my only source of joy and inspiration, my salvation, my reason for being, my ever well- wisher. For all this and more, I thank You.

Guru Maharaja, You know perfectly well my selfish desires, my weaknesses, my innumerable faults. I am very shameless, for I know very well I am , useless, yet, I submit myself to You. What will You do with such a stupid rascal? I am a big waste of Your precious time and energy.

I beg You, Guru Maharaja, what little intelligence I have, have mercy that I may use in Your service. Smash the ego of this foolish disciple of Yours. Teach me more, and shine Your torch of knowledge upon my path. I humbly implore upon Your Lotus Feet, mold me, Guru Maharaja, mold me. By Your mercy, make me into whatever You please. Use me however you desire.

Your worthless daughter,

Laksmi Priya devi dasi

Acknowledgements:

Bharat das Govinda das Ratnavali devi dasi Radha Lila devi dasi Bhaktin Charisse

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ISKCON Communications, Philippines (02) 853-7852 / 63-0917–6970244 [email protected]