Himanshu Priyadarshi

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Hare Krsna! Please accept my most humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Let me place on record my profound sense of gratitude to my senior Vaisnavas who gave me this opportunity to write this Vyasa-puja offering.

Being a toddler, as I started contemplating, immediately the prayers unto the lotus feet of the spiritual master composed by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura inspired me to draw parallels from the monsoon clouds (Guru- astakam-1). By the grace of Their Lordships Sri Sri Lalita Visakha Radha Govindadevaji, the beloved worship-able Deity of Jaipur, Jaipur is experiencing much needed rainfall this year, thanks to the sankirtana movement of ISKCON, profusely propagating the glories of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai (Bhagavad-gita As It Is- purport 3.14). It was much needed in all aspects – for the externally tangible vitalities like vegetation and greenery as well as the subterranean water table. Similarly in my own life, I have experienced that the mercy of spiritual master is so important for our external vitalities as well as internal spiritual growth as a sincere follower of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings.

When it comes to upholding the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, we are all so blessed to have you as our spiritual master in our lives as you always emphasize the need to study and internalize the teachings of Srila Prabhupada by a systematic study with devotional acumen and rigor. In all your lectures, presentations as well as query resolutions, we have all observed a consistent theme of maintaining Srila Prabhupada at the center. In fact, it was only after listening to your classes, I realized that Srila Prabhupada has given us everything and from your association, any innocent soul can easily understand the purport of the term ISKCON Founder-acarya Srila Prabhupada.

Since I have got this opportunity to present this offering, I will not refrain from begging at your lotus feet that I may be granted the association of those who have genuinely internalized your teachings, and in their association, I may devotionally follow your teachings and truly become subservient to you by becoming a menial servant of Srila Prabhupada’s mission. When I look at what I am, I know perfectly well that being a recipient of your mercy is not dependent on something I deserve. My admission into the shelter of your tutelage with your acceptance is solidly tangible proof of the descending mercy of Their Lordships Sri Sri Vasudhamata Jahnavamata Nityananda Prabhu.

ISKCON devotees are contributing so much for the welfare of this world, because of their genuine service attitude towards their spiritual masters and for pleasing Srila Prabhupada. I have been trying to get rid of the undesirables but have miserably failed. I am hopeful that by having the firm determination to always surrender and pray unto your lotus feet, I will also become qualified to render some meaningful service unto your mission of serving Srila Prabhupada.

Your aspiring servant,
Himanshu Priyadarshi