ISKCON—Los Angeles

Prayers by the Inhabitants of New Dvaraka Upon the Arrival of Srila Prabhupada

Oh, dearmost Srila Prabhupada, beloved child of Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, we do fall on the ground at Your feet, offering all prostrations and respects unto You. For so long we have heard the glories of Your activities, and Your name has been heard from the lips of the whole world. Our work for You is a labor of love; and our pining in Your absence has stimulated this ecstasy, felt now, in Your presence.

By Your desire alone we have come together to hear the sadhus who can cut into pieces the network of illusory affection in the material world, to glorify the Lord Sri Krsna by recitation of the holy name, to remember always that we are naught but dust at Your lotus feet.

This gift you have brought us of hearing, chanting and remembering is proof of Your love for us. Who else has ever come here-to the play-yard of jackals and snakes-where men are animals and sin is the motto for material life? And yet You have strode in with danḍa and robes-chasing the darkness from every corner of our hearts with the power of the holy name-Hare Krsna.

Now we receive You into our midst with joy and unbounded affection. With our hearts we have bathed clean the streets of the city. We have garlanded all of the cows and decorated every door. With our mind's eye we have seen every path lined with palm branches and jeweled elephants. Within each home waits a feast prepared just for You.

You are the light and the life of our every moment. Knowledge of the Absolute has descended to us through You; thus You are the embodiment of all perfection. Hare Nama has arrived at our ears on account of Your mercy; thus You are the harbinger of all auspiciousness. Cleanliness, austerity, truthfulness and nonviolence are Your companions; thus You are the one source for our safety, purity, and eventual return to the kingdom of God.

We find that there is no fear, so long as we chant the holy name-for the name Himself spreads the glories of eternal life within our hearts. And there is no darkness, so long as we stand in the illumination of Your instructions, which guide us from the forest of illusion to the pastures of Vrndavana. We see no opposition to spreading this holy life, for You are the boldest king of all. You have come to fight the most ferocious battle against forgetfulness of His lotus feet. Your troops are dancing Vaisnavas, and Your weapon is the Absolute Truth.

There is no fear, for You are the spiritual master of the universe. You are the glasses by which our blinded eyes may see the footprints of the Lord Govinda's lotus feet. And You have promised that because we are fools, we need not attempt to study Vedanta: "You go on chanting this Krsna mantra, and it will make you all-perfect."

So we welcome You humbly to our city of New Dvaraka. We beg You to engage us in the service of His lotus feet. And if You are satisfied, then stay with us eternally, just to enliven us in the matter of going back to Home, Back to Godhead.

ISKCON-Los Angeles

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