Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you!
We had a wonderful celebration of your Vyasapuja here in Kalachandji dham. It was also the calendar appearance day of HH Bhakti Vikas Swami Maharaja, my mother's spiritual master. It was a day of double mercy :)
The celebrations started the previous day, where all of the disciples here sponsored the Sunday feast in honor of your Vyasapuja. In the morning, Divya Sri made garlands for the guru parampara on the altar. We played a class you gave in the morning Bhagavatam class. It is one of my favorite classes that you had given in Vrindavan on 27-Feb-2014 (https://youtu.be/PPNCpTZKs4A). We joined the online program from Peru in the afternoon. In the evening, Nanda Braja Prabhu and his family, Jason Prabhu, Mishra Bhagavan Prabhu, Nilacala Candra Prabhu (online) and us had a small program at home where we had kirtan, bhajans, our offerings to you and the parampara, pushpanjali, guru puja and a feast. Divya Sri made Burritos, Mexican rice, chili and Honey cake. Misra Bhagavan Prabhu and Jason Prabhu made the Vishnujana Swami drink. Mishra Bhagavan Prabhu told us some wonderful stories of his association with you in Berkeley. The entire program was very nourishing to us and we hope it was pleasing to you.
Below is the offering that I had written this year.
Vyasapuja Offering 2022
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you!
In Caitanya Caritamrta, it says,
brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja
Among the millions of living entities wandering through this entire universe, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krishna.
Gurudeva, we are indeed very fortunate to get an opportunity to associate with you. We don’t, by any stretch of imagination, deserve this mercy. But thankfully, the nature of mercy is causeless. In the Caitanya Caritamrta, 26 prominent qualities of a pure devotee are listed. You possess all those qualities and more. We would like to mention a few of those.
Devotees are always Merciful
You have showered your causeless mercy on me and my family by giving us shelter at your lotus feet. When we came to meet you in Houston in September this year, you profusely gave us your time and allowed us to serve you. You allowed me to be part of your life’s work, your afterwords to Srila Prabhupada’s NoI, Tava Pace Pace. It was such an extraordinary experience to see up close the realizations that you have gathered over the years mediating on each word of Srila Prabhupada’s purport. It is a perfect example of how to hear and take the spiritual master’s words to heart. It is also a demonstration of one of the loving exchanges mentioned in Upadesamrta - guhyam ākhyāti - opening one’s mind to the devotees. You were so generous to open the store house of years of realizations to all the devotees.
Devotees are Compassionate
It is only your constant association and compassion that is carrying us in this most difficult time of our life. I remember you calling us from Peru one morning. You were so caring and compassionate that we could perceive from your voice that you could understand what she was going through. That call was exactly at the right time and a turning point in our recovery. Your unlimited compassion has kept us in the path of devotional service and has given us strength to continue. In spite of your very busy schedule in Peru, you were always in touch with us every day giving us hope and strength.
In Harinama Cintamani, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur says that the 26 qualities are tatastha-lakshana or marginal characteristics of a sadhu. He says that of all the qualities, one is the primary characteristic (svarupa-laksana) - A sadhu is one who has taken shelter of Krishna or the holy name of Krishna. You have taken complete shelter of Krishna and His holy names. You are constantly dependent on the Holy names to guide you. After you had given second initiation to Divya, you became very sick. You had planned to go to Peru for 6 months and it was now at risk.
We were also not able to work on TPP because of the illness. You called me in the evening and asked me if I would be able to stay for another day so that we can complete our work on TPP. When I said, I could, you stopped me and asked if Divya would be alright with it. You said Divya’s health was the priority! You were not even concerned with your health and was thinking about Divya. You ended the phone call by saying that in whatever condition we may be in we should go on chanting the Holy names - Kirtaniya sadha Hari and They will guide us. Your unflinching conviction in the Holy names is such an inspiration to me.
We sing every day in the morning
śrī-guru-caraṇe rati, ei se uttama-gati,
je prasāde pūre sarva āśā
Attachment to the lotus feet of the spiritual master is the perfection that fulfills all desires.
My only desire is that I can always be attached to your lotus feet and have you as my lord and master life after life.
On this most auspicious occasion, I seek your blessings so that I may never be a burden on you and never displease you.
Your very fortunate servant
Srinatha Krsna dasa
HpS/ASA - We see Srila Prabhupada using us, this bad tool, to communicate with you. i think we are maybe doing a little, but mostly you should see the causeless mercy of our Acharya working when you see any goodness in us.
so happy to get your association all the time.
best luck in your sankirtan, business life.
