Sundarananda dasa
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate romapada-svamin iti namine
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja, who is very dear to Lord Krsna, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.”
My dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Your Divine Grace!
I am indebted to you for the shelter you have provided me as well as for the arrangement of my mentors—Prema-tarangini Mataji and Sacikumar Prabhu—in my life.
Despite my dull nature, Your Holiness and my mentors have cared for me and our family while constantly inspiring me to continue in devotional service.
By your mercy and that of my mentor, Prema-tarangini Mataji, I am somehow getting inspired to read Srila Prabhupada’s books, especially the Srimad-Bhagavatam. I am grateful to my friends—Vamsidhari Prabhu and Rohininandana Prabhu—for their association in reading Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly over a long period of time.
Thank you, Guru Maharaja, for the teachings and realizations you share via your classes and by answering questions benefit me regularly. I really appreciate your eloquent speech in sharing clearly and concisely the message of the disciplic succession and practical application of the same.
This past year, I got opportunities to read with many local devotees in groups and share what I learnt from you and my mentors. Many are appreciating the wonderful understandings I have received over years from You and my mentors.
I am starting to appreciate the power of bhakti and Srimad-Bhagavatam in purifying people. I am also starting to appreciate the value and need of reading Srila Prabhupada’s books for the effective continuation of ISKCON for several generations in the future and for our own progress in spiritual life. Thank you, Guru Maharaja, for your innumerable contributions to ISKCON as an institution as well as to so many devotees individually in different parts of the world.
I appreciate your personal example of valuing time and not wasting even a moment. Your mood of service in every situation is amazing and instructive to me.
On this auspicious Vyasa-puja day, I pray for your continued association and also your blessings so I can continue in bhakti while humbly serving toward Srila Prabhupada’s mission to please You.
Your aspiring servant,
Sundarananda dasa