Vyasa Puja Offering to Srila Prabhupada, 2026

#VyasaPuja #Offering #srilaprabhupada nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe We should write a Vyäsa-püjä offering every day, or several a day. Our whole life should be a prayer of gratitude to Çréla Prabhupäda. That gratitude was felt keenly just after Çréla Prabhupäda’s departure from this world. The first Vyäsa-püjä ceremony after that departure was in several places celebrated mostly by tears. Unable to speak in glorification, devotees, one after another, simply sobbed. But one cannot cry forever; sometime we have to dry our faces and get on with the business of serving Çréla Prabhupäda in separation. And indeed, nowadays tears are less common. Offerings are often anecdotal, or analytical of Çréla Prabhupäda’s contributions and of affairs in ISKCON today. But those tears were healthy. May my heart never become so clinical that I never cry, never feel for Çréla Prabhupäda. Çréla Prabhupäda, we spend our days happily chanting harinäma, absorbed in the profound brilliance of the çästric teachings you kindly gave us, associating with high-minded people, taking the best food that even demigods aspire for, dedicated to the noblest mission, singing the kértanas of the äcäryas who by these poetic contributions invite us to their exalted platform of consciousness. This is all the more remarkable, considering who we are and where we are coming from. I was wandering aimlessly, endlessly, throughout the universe, in 8,400,000 species of life. By incredible good fortune, I happened to have a human body and be in the same place you were – planet earth – during your brief appearance in this universe. You found me, loitering in misery and picked me up. Notwithstanding that we still have to contend with the rascal mind, our life is rich in the truest sense. For us, there could be nothing better than this, other than the final goal we are yet to attain by your mercy: ultimate shelter at the lotus feet of Kåñëa, where the playing, singing, and dancing will continue forever in natural flow, with no more pushings of the mad mind. We pray to you: çré-guro paramänanda premänanda phala-prada vrajänanda pradänanda sevayäà mä niyojaya Çré Guru! O bestower of the fruits of supreme bliss and divine love, and giver of the joy of Vraja, please engage me in your joyful service. Çréla Prabhupäda, you are my eternal friend, always there to guide and correct me, overseeing my life, giving me encouragement and strength, never letting me fall away. I did not see you much but you have been with me all these years, since I first surrendered to you, never giving up on me, always pushing me on, giving assurance that you will always be with me. I know that I will never be alone, even at the death of this body, and on and on beyond that, always into eternity, even when this body is long forgotten. But before I go I have some things to do in your service. I have to preach, write books, do so many things. I need help. I’m thinking how to expand. You have kindly sent me some dedicated workers, and I am looking for more to expand my service more. You, Çréla Prabhupäda must be feeling the same way. Is it not your service to travel throughout the mundane universes, reclaiming fallen souls? Can I join you again as one of your helpers? Çréla Prabhupäda, if you are so kind to accept me, please do. I am ready. I will follow you birth after birth, wherever you go. I pray for the strength to keep the resolve to stick with you despite all difficulties and tests. We can do anything and everything just to earn a favorable glance from you, Çréla Prabhupäda, and even if you won’t glance at us favorably, at least glance at us unfavorably. Offered with innumerable obeisances at your lotus feet by one of the many aspiring servants gathered there, Bhakti Vikäsa Swami.