from bhakta Anton Yershov – Ukraine, Dnipro

Dear Gurudeva,

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I want to congratulate you on your appearance day when we celebrate your coming to this world with the essential mission of rescuing the fallen souls.

It is so amazing, that it was you who was coming every year to the city of Dnipro to celebrate your appearance day; it seems like the Lord sent you here especially for me and sometimes I came back on the right path only thanks to you. You were rescuing my heart from the clutches of maya and bringing me back to life with your kirtan. I was following this way and gradually getting used to it, step by step; each new realization evidenced that Krishna is the path of sat-cit-ananda, of an eternal soul full of knowledge of love for God that longs to serve the feet of the Lord.

As I was improving my Krishna Consciousness, I realized that only a humble position helps me to learn, attentive listening helps me to accept knowledge. Chanting with full dedication and intelligence helps me to get in contact with the Divine, and courage and determination in Krishna Consciousness helps me to realize the plan of Krishna. I am very grateful to you for every holy name that you have chanted! I am grateful to you for your enthusiasm in discovering new places of pilgrimage and bringing devotees there. I am thankful to you for your love for harinamas and constant participation in them; that inspires one to follow your example and this taste. This taste is unique; it is one of the fastest ways to learn to be a servant of the holy name. I am very grateful to you for your love for Nrsimhadeva and for your intimate association with Him. Your Nrsimha kirtans saved my life, protected and purified my heart. Oh, how grateful I am to you for your love and service to Srimati Radharani and for your sharing this taste with your disciples. All you do is a real bhakti-yoga. You are a bona fide disciple of your spiritual master, who follows all his instructions and reveals the association with him to everyone. It is a real devotion, the process of surrendering and renunciation.

Gurudeva, your soul has truly done all this. I do my best to stay in Krishna Consciousness and when I listen to your kirtans, I feel that Krishna speaks to me and guides me with your hand. Our whole life is a big yajna, the results of which we offer to Krishna with love and devotion. Though we tend to use various purifying mantras, rituals, acaman and to practice the purification of mind, only Hare Krishna mantra can provide us with an opportunity to study and observe the manifestation of the three aspects of the Lord in this world, to listen and serve Paramatma and to stay fully absorbed in the holy name, in its numerous energies of love and observe their beneficial effects on us.

Gurudeva, I am nothing but a soul that is always looking for God’s love and praying to Lord Krishna, begging Him to teach me to love. And the Lord answers: “By serving My devotees you will learn to love. Look at your Gurudeva, serve Him, show your respect to Him, open your heart and trust Him.” And I really trust you completely and want to help you in your mission. Oh Krishna, I beg You, allow me to listen to the numerous kirtans of my Spiritual Master Indradyumna Swami Maharaja again and again, and allow Gurudeva to come to my beloved city of the Dnipro on his appearance day.

Dear Gurudeva, please kindly allow me to serve you.

My humble obeisances to you Gurudeva! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Radhe Radhe!

Your servant,
bhakta Anton Yershov