Amala-nama dasa

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my prostrated obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to you on this auspicious day where we celebrate your transcendental appearance on this earth.

I have no qualification to even attempt to glorify you. I am full of pride for my insignificant material accomplishments. I am envious and vain. I am strongly attached to temporary material comforts and I therefore continuously commit the offense – “To not have complete faith in the chanting of the holy name and to maintain material attachments, even after understanding so many instructions on this matter.” Overlooking all my shortcomings, you gave me shelter at your lotus feet. I then understood what causeless mercy looks like.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.9.17 purport, Srila Prabhupada writes: “Dhruva Maharaja knew that he had come to worship the Lord in devotional service with a motive—to get the kingdom of his father. Such an adulterated devotee can never see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. He therefore felt very grateful for the causeless mercy of the Lord. The Lord is so merciful that not only does He fulfill the desires of a devotee who is driven by ignorance and desires for material benefit, but He also gives such a devotee all protection, just as a cow gives milk to a newly born calf.”

Here, someone who is ‘driven by ignorance and desires for material benefit’ is still called a devotee because of the Lord’s mercy. For me and countless others, you are the embodiment of that causeless mercy.

In Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 16.65 purport, Srila Prabhupada writes: “In the case of Jagai and Madhai, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so angry that He would have immediately killed them, but Nityananda Prabhu was so kind that He not only saved them from death but elevated them to the transcendental position. Thus, what was not possible for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was carried out by Nityananda Prabhu.”

Lord Caitanya is known as the most munificent incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, Jagai and Madhai were so fallen that in this pastime, even that limitless munificence of Sri Caitanya did not extend to them and Lord Nityananda protected and delivered them. As Gurudeva, you are the incarnation of Nityananda Prabhu and you extend your mercy and shelter to jiva’s like me who are even more devoid of qualification than Jagai and Madhai.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.10.25, while narrating the story of the deliverance of the yamala-arjuna trees, Srila Prabhupada writes: “But in this case, because Narada Muni desired that Nalakuvara and Manigriva see Vasudeva face to face, the Supreme Personality of Godhead wanted to fulfill the words of His very dear devotee Narada Muni. If one seeks the favor of a devotee instead of directly asking favors from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is very easily successful.” Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.8 statement of His servant Prahlada Maharaja was substantial…” and by doing so, He also “… preserved the truth of Lord Brahma’s promise that Hiranyakasipu was not to be killed by any animal or any man.”

I have no chance of pleasing Krsna directly. My only hope for progress along the path of devotional service is by somehow or the other trying to please you. If you are pleased, Krsna is pleased. If you continue to bestow your causeless mercy upon me, then Krsna – independent as He is – will have no choice but to overlook my imperfections and give me shelter simply to honor your position as His pure devotee.

You have touched so many lives as you freely distributed krsna-prema for so many decades all over the world and continue to do so. On this very special day of your Vyasa-puja, our entire family prays to Lord Nrsimha to always protect you so countless more souls continue to benefit from your compassion.

All glories to your unlimited joyfully-undertaken austerities in devotional service! All glories to your tireless service to Srila Prabhupada!

Your aspiring servant,
Amala-nama das