Nandini Tulasi dasa

Dear Romapada Swami,

Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

By the mercy of their Lordships, today I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to glorify you, my Gurudev. There is one verse which is dear to me that I wish to elaborate on:

nama-srestham manum api saci-putram atra svarupam
sri-rupam tasyagrajam uru-purim mathurim gosthavatim
radha-kundam girivaram aho radhika-madhavasam
prapto yasya prathita-krpaya sri-gurum tam nato ’smi

[Sri Mukta-carita verse 4 by Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami]

I offer my obeisances unto you, my divine spiritual master, by whose causeless mercy I have been given the gift of the holy name, the top most gem. Because of your shining example, classes, and retreats such as the Festival of the holy name, I have been given the opportunity to go deeper into my relationship with the holy name, and begin to get a glimpse of how the holy name truly is kevalam. By your mercy I have come in contact with the divine son of Mother Saci, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. who with the help of many very dear associates headed by Srila Svarupa Damodara, has painted with His tears the path of loving service to the divine young couple. Without you, I have spent many millions of lifetimes looking here and there, but you have pointed me in the direction of the wonderful Sacinandana.

By your mercy I have been given the opportunity to associate with Srila Rupa Gosvami and His elder brother Srila Sanatana Gosvami who are experts at increasing the limitless ocean of transcendental love. Without your constant flow of daily lectures, and regular seminars where you explain and elaborate on their books with such clarity and realization, how could I ever hope to understand their teachings? Above all, by your example following in their footsteps you give me the strength and aspiration that despite my heavy feet I may also try to follow in their footsteps. Through your yatras and katha, you have opened the door to the topmost place, our eternal home of Sri Mathura-mandala, where upon thinking one cannot help but remember Sri Sri Radha Giridhari. How else would I have access to such a realm without you?

By your mercy I have been given the hope and aspiration that I may one day be welcomed to serve on the sweetest of all mountains at the sweetest of all places, Sri Radha-kunda, where Sri Sri Radha Madhava enjoy festivals of sweetness.

These things are my real wealth, and I have been gifted them only by your mercy, dear Gurudev. Without whom I would have continued to wander blindly here and there.

Tomara karuna-sara, Your mercy is all that I am made of. I offer my obeisances at your lotus feet. Please bless me so that I may never take these wonderful gifts for granted, and that I may constantly remember them.

Your eternal servant,
Nandini Tulasi dasa