Upananda dasa
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate romapada-svamin iti namine
Dear merciful and glorious Guru Maharaja,
My humble and respectful obeisances unto You, who is an embodiment of sacrifice, determination, demonstrating gratitude to your beloved Spiritual master, love for Srimad-Bhagavatam and compassion for especially us – Your disciples. For the longest while You have been ceaselessly preaching and spreading the mercy that Srila Prabhupada has brought to these shores.
The past couple of years have been very turbulent for me—struggling with acute anxieties and ill health. These setbacks forced me to seek answers from Your teachings and the scriptures and also to seek more of Your blessings and ultimately Lord Sri Krsna’s blessings and shelter. I am happy to say that by Your mercy and Lord Sri Krsna’s mercy I am on the mend and can now focus more on the Lord’s devotional service.
I am now realizing more and more how fortunate I am to have received your merciful shelter.
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in Sri Gurvastakam says the following:
samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam
“The spiritual master can deliver his disciples from the blazing fire of this material existence” [Sri Gurvastakam Verse 1]
saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih.
“The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities.” [Sri Gurvastakam Verse 7]
Lord Krsna says clearly in Srimad-Bhagavatam the position of Guruji.
acaryam mam vijaniyan
navamanyeta karhicit
na martya-buddhyasuyeta
sarva-deva-mayo guru
“One should know the acarya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.”[Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.17.27]
yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado
yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto ‘pi
“By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement.” [Sri Gurvastakam Verse 8]
I have learnt to see setbacks as reactions for my own past karma and simultaneously as special mercy of the Lord. I now understand that they are meant for increasing my surrender and dependence upon Guruji and Lord Sri Krsna. Guru Maharaja, You often say “Krsna is merciful” irrespective of what reversal comes our way.
By Your mercy and that of Srila Prabhupada I am also understanding and realizing that Lord Sri Krsna will protect us proportionately to the extent that we surrender onto Him, as Lord Sri Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita 4.11 “ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham. “As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly.”
Dear Guru Maharaja, on this auspicious day of your appearance observance, with heartfelt humility, I pray that you bless me with more taste, attraction, enthusiasm and ability to execute more devotional services that will be pleasing to You and to Lord Sri Krsna.
Your aspiring servant,
Upananda dasa