Homages from ISKCON Centers

Çré Vyäsa-püjä 2012
In 1896 Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura foretold of your arrival,
And lo and behold, Çréla Prabhupäda, what you accomplished no one can rival.
Çréla Prabhupäda, you took your Guru Mahäräja’s instruction
And pursued it with focus and conviction.
With the fierceness of a lion
You spread the message of Lord Caitanya with abandon.
You put all your faith in Lord Kåñëa,
Carrying volumes of Çrémad-Bhägavatam on the Jaladuta.
Despite so many obstacles and so much hardship,
Nothing could deter you from helping people escape Mäyä’s grip.
Çréla Prabhupäda, your glories are limitless.
All that you have done for the world—matchless.
Around the world you went, fourteen times in twelve years,
Spreading Kåñëa consciousness and harinäma far and near,
Opening 108 temples and centers across the globe,
Amazing one and all who watched ISKCON’s wings unfold,
Writing and translating so many books in dozens of languages,
Giving everyone the formula to flee material bondage,
Sleeping less than four hours a day,
Your Vaiñëava mission and goals never far away,
Giving instructions and affection in over seven thousand letters,
Always signing each with “Your ever well-wisher,”
Creating the Back to Godhead magazine,
Answering where are we going, where have we been,
Lecturing and preaching everywhere so that we can learn,
Giving kind mercy and personal association at every turn.
By your purity ISKCON continues to grow strong,
The commitment of so many being lifelong.
Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté said, “Beat the printing-press mådaìga,”
And you resoundingly beat it across the world with love of Kåñëa and pure bhakti-yoga.
You planted the seed of devotion in every town and village,
Fulfilling Lord Caitanya’s mission with strength and courage.
You made serving Lord Kåñëa so very simple,
You yourself setting the perfect example.
“Center your lives around Kåñëa”—that was your command—
“Forget about all the sense gratification you have planned.”
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