Multi-speaker homage delivered for Srila Prabhupada Vyasa-Puja emphasizing Srila Prabhupada's status as the founder-ācārya of ISKCON and the Sikṣā-guru for its followers. Speakers stress daily Guru-pūjā, following Prabhupada's instructions, and the special personal relationship devotees have with him. The transcript includes historical recollections (notably Prabhupada's one visit to Caracas, Venezuela in February 1975), descriptions of Mayapur-based initiatives to deepen attachment to Prabhupada (a student competition based on his abridged biography with about 200 enrolled students ages 12–19), and a call for devotees worldwide to run similar "Prabhupada experiences" programs.
Questions this video answers
February 1975 (one visit; one week).
About 200 students enrolled.
Ages 12–19.
Today we are observing Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja Prabhupada. He took his instructions of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur and spread this Ka conscious movement around the world. So as the founder Acharya of iskcon, he has a special relationship with every devotee of iskcon. Ultimately every devotee became a devotee because of the mercy of Ac Bhaktivedanta Swami.
Prabhupada and as such we observe daily.
Guru Gujarat as such we observe daily Guru Puja.
All our service.
And all our services we offer to Radha Madhav, to Pancha Tattva, etc. Through Srila Prabhupada and Guru Parampar.
In the year 1989 I wrote a Vyasapuja homage for R.L.A. prabhupada whose message is more urgent than ever, especially for devotees who are not direct disciples of our founder Acharya. To describe Rla Prabhupda's foundational relationship with all his followers, I quoted Srila Bhaktivinod Thakura's Harinam Chintamani. Here's my favorite part from that 1989 homage. In the Harinam Chintamani his Divine Grace Pathivinod Thakur has explained the position of a succession's Adi Guru or Founder Crya in relation to that succession. Although ISKCON is a branch of an older disciplic succession, since Rla Prabhupada is the Adi Guru or Founder crya of this specific branch and the empowered representative of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, it is appropriate for those devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahprabhu following Srila Prabhupada to offer him the respect, loyalty and devotion due and original guru of a succession. As explained below, the honor Srila Prabhupada's followers show him should be unique in comparison to that shown to other gurus of the disciplic succession. From Harinam Chintamani, chapter 6, verses 22 and 23, we learn the in the disciplic succession of Vaishnavas, the previous cryas are established respectfully as Siksha gurus for the Sampradaya. However, the founder Acharya or original guru of a disciplic succession is appropriately worshipped and respected as the topmost crown jewel of the spiritual masters. His perfect philosophical conclusions are to be followed by all in the Sampradaya. Any contrary instructions should not be accepted.
As such, we accept Srila Prabhupada as our founder Acharya. And thus he is the Siksha Guru of all the devotees. You can say that he is the foundational Siksha Guru.
And we also follow Allah's instructions.
So we also follow Srila Prabhupada's instructions. We read these books that he translated.
And read the knowledge of Soas and according to his instructions.
And we engaged in devotional service according to his instructions. So.
It'S very important that we recognize.
So it is very important that we recognize how Srila Prabhupada has has very intimate and personal relationship with each and every devotees. So every devotee of ISKCON should attend the regular daily Guru Puja of Srila.
Prabhupada should attend the various special programs.
Should attend the various special programs, the Srila Prabhupada Puja.
And only the Pizza Guru is important.
It is not that only our Diksha Guru is important.
Because we receive a mercy from the.
Guru Brahmpra because we receive the mercy from the Guru Parampar through Ac Bhaktiveda. Swami Prabhupada.
As most of you know, for many years I have also been preaching in South America where RLA Prabhupada paid only one visit to Caracas, Venezuela in February of 1975. For one week, RLA Prabhupada gave classes, met with guests and inspired a whole continent to become Ka conscious. I too was inspired when I heard Srila Prabhupada say something in his February 21 lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1, Chapter 1, Text 1. He was talking about how Srila Vyasadev was presenting the origin of creation as being alive. And then Srila Prabhupada gave a beautiful analogy. So here it is said that origin is life. Because when it is said.
Just like.
If I am taken as the origin of this Ka Consciousness movement, that means I know everything directly and indirectly of all this movement. If I do not know directly or indirectly everything of this movement, then I cannot be called the founder Acharya. And as soon as the Origin becomes a Knower his life.
Therefore we should recognize our special relationship.
Therefore we should recognize the special relationship with AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
He has given us the seed of devotion.
He has given us the seed of devotion which was handed down via the Guru Parampara.
In other words, as Krishna, the supreme Personality of Godad is the origin knower of all creation, so our founder Acharya, Srila Prabhupada is the Origin and knower of ISKCON and the life and soul of all generations of his followers.
Srila Prabhupada also adapted ISKCON for spreading Ka consciousness around the world.
And it's very important that we keep our relationship with Rahul Lord.
It's very important that we keep our relationship with Srila Prabhupada very strong and very active.
We accept that all the service we.
Accept that all the service that we are doing.
Is according to the instruction.
Which shall draw water according to the instructions of Srila Prabhupada.
Furthermore, whichever Siksha and Diksha Gurus enrich our common identity as followers of Rla Prabhupada, Prabhupada Nugas is also glorious. Deepening the cooperation we need to take Rla Prabhupada's and Lord Caitanya's mission of Krishna Consciousness to every town and village on earth.
Therefore, it is very important that each devotee sees how that their relationship with Srila Prabhupada foundation of as their foundational Siksha Guru. It's very important.
To be one of the biggest festival of.
And this is one of the biggest festival in the year.
So this is why we like to express how much we appreciate so we.
Have to we like to express how much we appreciate Prabhupada. What Prabhupada have done for us.
He went around the world so many times.
Of course he went around the world so many times, spread Krishna minds and spread Krishna consciousness.
But he also he came to Mayapur.
And he also came to Mayapur twice.
A year and stayed here.
Twice a year and stayed here.
So he wanted Mayapur. He arrived special temple.
So he wanted Mayapur to be a special temple. A spiritual world Headquarters ISKCON ISKCON Mayapur.
Has launched an initiative to deepen everyone's core identity and foundational relationship with Srila Prabhupada through what is called Prabhupada experiences. This year, students of all three schools of Mayapur, Sri Mayapur International School, Bhaktivedanta Academy and Bhaktivedanta National School participated in a competition after studying the introduction and first chapter of Srila Prabhupada's abridged biography. You're ever well wisher. With about 200 students who had enrolled from age 12 to 19. There are competitions planned in the near future for other members of the community. There are other events planned too to bring Srila Prabhupda's disciples to share their experiences with Srila Prabhupda Overall, the idea is to increase our absorption in the memories of Srila Prabhupada and carry out our life in Ka Consciousness with enthusiasm through the inspiration that such Prabhupada experiences bring and help others in the outside world also take up to Ka Consciousness by being inspired through Srila Prabhupada's life.
So we hope the devotees in Mayapur we'll take this as the special commitment.
To the most Ka Conscious Prabhupada to.
Be the most Ka Conscious Srila Prabhupada conscious in the whole world. We would like that at least for.
We hope that.
We hope that everybody in the world.
Would also be fully Krishna conscious.
Would also be fully Krishna conscious and Prabhupada conscious.
Rats off.
Every devotee has their special realization.
We want that devotees realizations and we.
Want the devotees realizations should be shared.
And that all is.
And the devotees in Ka Conscious movement will appreciate divine grace. AC Bhaktivedanta, Swami Prabhupada and all our.
Previous Acharyas in this way preserve Krishnaj.
And in this way we preserve the Ka Consciousness. Hare Krishna. Thank you very much.
I request all of my disciples and other members of the community to participate and help in this. I hope that disciples and other devotees in various parts of the world would take up such initiatives in their local centers.
