Homages from ISKCON Centers
Homages from ISKCON Centers
Homages from ISKCON Centers
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Çré Vyäsa-püjä 2012<br />
tvaà naù sandarçito dhäträ dustaraà nistitérñatäm<br />
kalià sattva-haraà puàsäà karëa-dhära ivärëavam<br />
“We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you<br />
as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the<br />
good qualities of a human being.” (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.1.22)<br />
Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,<br />
I am writing this offering on behalf of your servants in Atlanta, New Pänihäöi-dhäma. Pänihäöi is the<br />
place of Lord Nityänanda’s chipped-rice festival. You named this temple during your historic visit in 1975.<br />
Even though you visited this temple only once, your Atlanta pastimes were so special that the GBC has<br />
designated New Pänihäöi-dhäma one of the official térthas of your lélä.<br />
Lord Nityänanda is very merciful to those who cannot take advantage of Lord Caitanya’s mercy. In<br />
your arrival lecture in Atlanta 1975 you stated, “Lord Kåñëa said, ‘First you surrender unto Me, and then<br />
I will give you love of Godhead.’ But these two Lords, Nityänanda and Caitanya, don’t demand anything.<br />
They say, ‘Just take this love of Godhead.’”<br />
Lord Caitanya gave the holy name away freely. Still, some unfortunate souls refused to take it. Lord<br />
Nityänanda falls at the feet of these fallen souls and begs them to chant the holy name. He even chases<br />
after them, begging them to take shelter of the mahä-mantra.<br />
This was your mood of service to the fallen souls in the Western countries. You sacrificed your peaceful<br />
life in Våndävana, endured great hardships crossing the ocean, tolerated living in poverty among the<br />
hippies—all in order to fall at our feet and beg us to take the invaluable jewel of Kåñëa consciousness.<br />
Not only did you beg us, but you petitioned Lord Kåñëa to accept our service and forgive our offenses.<br />
Without such mercy <strong>from</strong> a pure devotee, we would be left tossing in the waves of the ocean of mäyä.<br />
What can we offer in return for the sacrifice you made for us? We can only pray to remain your<br />
eternal servants, birth after birth.<br />
We pray that we can use the remainder of our lifetime expanding your mission to fulfill the order of<br />
Lord Caitanya. We see by your example that we must become compassionate toward those who are less<br />
fortunate than we are. We have to stop thinking about how we can be happy and focus more on bringing<br />
others into this blissful life of service to your lotus feet. Then we’ll automatically be happy,<br />
We, your servants at New Pänihäöi-dhäma, thank you for chasing after us and engaging us in this<br />
Kåñëa consciousness movement.<br />
Your servants at New Pänihäöi-dhäma, the <strong>ISKCON</strong> temple in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.<br />
(written by Çikhi Mähiti Däsa)<br />
Auckland<br />
Dear Çréla Prabhupäda,<br />
We offer you our most humble obeisances unto you again and again.<br />
Through your hard work and selfless austerities you achieved what no other äcärya achieved before<br />
you. This is a great honor for you.<br />
You are one of the most empowered and successful äcäryas of all times.<br />
You have been given the title Bhaktivedanta.<br />
Your teachings, delivered according to time, place, and circumstance, enter the hearts of the fallen,<br />
conditioned souls and change them.<br />
120<br />
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