From bhakta Nishant Pandey – India, Bangalore

Om ajñāna timirāndhasya jñānānjana salākaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale srimate indradyumna-swamin iti namine
namah prabhupada-priya dasaya jagannatha-yatrananda murtaye bhakta-sukhaya krishnot-kirtanena narasimhena rakshitaya namah

Hare Krishna,
Please accept my humble prostrated obeisance at the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On this occasion of Vyasa Puja I can reflect upon your magnanimous merciful nature with my whole heart. And I take the opportunity to glorify you, even though I am unqualified to do that.
First of all, please accept my sincere gratitude, Guru Maharaja, for taking me under your divine shelter as a loving and caring father. Even though it can seem that I am far from you, I still feel much connected to you, Guru Maharaja, through your classes and kirtans.
Moreover, nowadays with the regular online session, I can have your divine association and guidance frequently. I can feel your causeless mercy flowing and making it possible for me to continue my devotional service with firm faith. What would have been my position without your causeless mercy?

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi
dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

“By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krishna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.” [Sri Gurvastakam, verse 8].
Compared to previous, my taste for the holy name has increased and I am more fixed in devotional services in more systematic way. After successfully completing disciple course by your mercy, I am currently into Bhakti Vriksa program. All this is only due to your blessings and mercy that you have been giving all of us during our daily japa session. Many devotees lament that they don’t get the association of their guru enough. But we are so fortunate that we are getting your association regularly.
Some days you are not feeling well but still you come online and keep inspiring us to be a better devotee. You are so much caring and affectionate towards us, that during this pandemic situation you were happy to have the online sessions with us. These talks are so nectarean and full of instructions, that they help us to stay fixed in the service to Their Lordships.
Guru Maharaja, by every activity of yours you keep strengthening my commitment and conviction to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON. With all your activities centered around Srila Prabhupada and your unconditional love for him, you have set an example for me to learn how to become a good disciple. And, most importantly, you keep travelling to preach the holy name and inspire others with your blissful kirtan and nectarean classes.
I was fortunate enough to attend the kirtan fest in Rishikesh. You made sure all arrangements for prasadam and accommodation were done nicely. And I would never forget that night after long day preparing and participating in long ecstatic kirtans when you were distributing the Maha prasadam to all the guests with so much love. You must have been tired but the smile on your face was so refreshing and blissful. For our pleasure, Guru Maharaja, you sacrifice so much that we are not able to repay for all of that.
Guru Maharaja, you continuously emphasize serving the Vaisnavas, scrutinized reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, and good chanting of 16 rounds daily. Even though these instructions sound simple, in fact they are the power pack and strong foundation for our devotional service. Guru Maharaja, on this auspicious day I would like to take the opportunity to beg for your mercy and a chance to purify myself by meditating on your divine personality so that I can continue with great conviction and firm faith follow your instructions, develop attachment for Srila Prabhupada and devotional service.
I wish you a very happy Vyasa Puja, Guru Maharaja, and pray to Gaura Nitai, Radha Madhava, and Nrisimhadeva for your good health so that you keep showering your blessings upon all of us and continue to serve Srila Prabhupada.
Your insignificant servant of the servants, bhakta Nishant Pandey