Antardvipa dasa

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

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

namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of your divine lotus feet. All glories to your Divine Grace. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On this auspicious day of your appearance, I want to express my deepest gratitude. According to the verdict of the sastra, one is not considered fortunate based on possessions, designations, titles or education qualifications. The scriptures mention who are considered fortunate:

brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija

“According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krsna. By the mercy of both Krsna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.”  [Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 19.151]

Being the servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna is our original constitutional position. But because of our rebellious nature we have forgotten it. We therefore act as independent controllers and enjoyers opposing the all-blissful Supreme Lord and this has created our misfortune from time immemorial. Nevertheless, the all-merciful Supreme Lord, out of compassion for the jivas, sends continuously His very intimate and dear servant to save us from our fallen condition.

You have given me access to the greatest wealth in the form of knowledge and some inclination to devotional service. I simply pray that by your mercy I can remain a simple servant, birth after birth. I pray that You will give me the vision to see through the eyes of sastra and to have the ability to help others. It is by Your mercy that I can become qualified to progress. You are my only shelter. On this very auspicious day, I beg for your blessing and mercy so that I continue to cultivate the determination to attentively chant the holy names.

On this day, I pray to guru and Gauranga to keep me always under the shelter.

Your most fallen servant,
Antardvipa dasa