Dallas Gurukula

We are asked to glorify our spiritual master with a few words for this Vyasa Pūja book. Actually anyone with only a little knowledge of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada or Krsna can understand the difficulty of such an endeavor. One cannot speak just a few words in praise of the spiritual master. Dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam; one should glorify the spiritual master three times daily. There are countless praises to be spoken.

The first thing Sanatana Goswami inquired of his spiritual master, Lord Caitanya, was atmatattva jijnasa. That means he wanted to know the meaning of spiritual life.

He wanted to know how to become free of material entanglement. In the material world, everyone is thinking "isvaro 'ham aham bhogi," I am God. Therefore, karmatmakam or punyakarya is the standard; fruitive work or pious activities.

However the sincere souls seek an answer to the real question of life, brahma-jijnasa. One must seek out the association of liberated souls and take shelter of a spiritual master (pranipatena). One must take initiation and try to understand spiritual life. Now everyone has the opportunity to surrender to Srila Prabhupada.

Of course one may not be entirely sure what this means. However, the Vedas explain it, so let us try to understand from the Vedic point of view. Prabhupada can be understood in this way; pra means great of fore. Krsna says He is prabhu, prabhavaḥ and pralayaḥ-the master, the creation and dissolution. Therefore we can understand that the syllable pra indicates the , because Krsna is called isvara-parama, and it is said, "sarva-loka-mahesvaram," meaning He is the foremost master. Prabhavaḥ means the Krsna is the very point of creation. He is called adi-purusa (janmady asya yataḥ). That means He is one without a beginning or anadir adiḥ. And again He is called pralayaḥ or the ultimate dissolution. He is nidhanam and asraya or the final resting place of everything. So, because Krsna is everything by definition (vasudevah sarvam iti), it is relevant to show what Prabhupada is in relation to Him.

Bhū means the living entity. Bhū means being and bhūta also means entity. Atmavat sarva-bhūtesu yaḥ pasyati sa panḍitaḥ means that one who sees every entity as soul is really learned. So yas tu sarvani bhūtany atmany eva nu pasyati, one may try to see all entities as part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. Therefore in that regard, it is to be understood that the spiritual master is not only a living entity or spirit soul, but a highly elevated prabhu or god. Because he is in direct contact with, and because he is loved by Krsna (priya eva tasysa), he is treated just like Krsna (saksad-dhari).

Lastly the word pada emphasizes that our spiritual master is situated at the feet of Lord Krsna always, and that there are many other highly qualified masters situated at the feet of Prabhupada. So in terms of verbal glorification we may simply try to define Prabhupada. As far as practical glorification is concerned, we are trying to teach the message of Prabhupada to the students of Gurukula, who are in turn glorifying him. Here are some of their glorifications:

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my humble obeisances. You are so kind to come to America to preach this Krsna consciousness. If you did not come then we would be going to hell. Only by the grace of your spiritual master did you come to America. You had the desire to preach so much that you have opened so many temples all over the world in just eight years time. You have delivered so many people from going to hell. Even tough you had to go through so many temples just to come and preach, still you preached Krsna consciousness. You were so determined to preach this knowledge of Krsna that you have made many devotees.

All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada! You are following your spiritual master Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati so nicely. Thank you for opening Gurukula and bringing children from all over the world. You are the bona fide spiritual master because you are preaching this Krsna consciousness. There are other spiritual masters, but you are the real spiritual master because you have come in disciplic succession of bona fide spiritual masters.

Your servant,

Ekendra dasa Brahmacari

Advanced class-Age 10

My dear Srila Prabhupada,

You are very kind to all the fallen souls. You are like the dazzling sun in the midst of all darkness. You have come to save us from birth, disease, old age and death. Also from sex, killing of cows, etc. Because of Lord Caitanya and you, there will be chanting of the Holy Name in every town and village. I hope to stay with you eternally. You are very, very dear to Krsna. Yet we are just dogs and cats. You are helping us from dog life to human life, then to devotee stage. I can't even hope to think of how merciful you are. You are so determined to preach this Krsna consciousness. I offer my respects to you so many times that only you and Krsna know. Also, I have no qualification to serve you.

My dear Prabhupada, you are so kind to bring this Gurukula for all the children, because all the children will be Krsna conscious, instead of dog conscious. Also, you are so kind to bring this Krsna consciousness to the U.S.A. and teach everyone how to be devotees under the direction of your spiritual master Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. You are called Om Visnu-pada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya astottara-sata Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Goswami Maharaja Prabhupada. To those who can hear you, you never stop speaking to them. So please give us your lotus feet, which are pure and enjoyable to see and worship.

Your unworthy servant,

Bhaktin Carol

Advanced class-Age 11

He guro tvam bhaktisiddhantat

"O Guru, you are from Bhaktisiddhanta"

O Guru, O Saviour! You are coming in disciplic succession from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami. You come to this western part of the world just to save the fallen souls. All of us need your mercy, because we are so fallen. If it were not for your mercy I would be on my way to hell. I am so fallen, I deserved to be kicked again and again. Gurudev! Krpa-bindu diya, kara ei dase trnapeksa ati hina. "Gurudeva! Give to this servant just one drop of mercy. I am lower than a blade of grass. (by Srila Bhaktivinoda)." You are like a bright sun, because you are a pure devotee of Lord Krsna, and because you have all knowledge of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, etc. I am very fallen, but still you have accepted me as your disciple. By your mercy I am able to go to Gurukula. O Guru! O representative of Bhaktisiddhanta! I offer my obeisances unto you again and again.

nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhū-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sūnyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

Your most fallen servant,

Stavya dasa brahmacari

Advanced Class-Age 12

Dearest Srila Prabhupada,

You have turned our eyes and ears around to associate with the most transcendental feet of Krsna. You are rapidly spreading the message of Lord Caitanya. You are the best example for us because we are so fallen. You have taken all of this trouble just to deliver us from this material world. Please let me serve your lotus feet. I am the most fallen, because I don't have any love for Krsna. You have taken the impurities out of our dirty minds and replaced them with Krsna consciousness. You are the most surrendered soul to Krsna. Let me offer my obeisances unto you again and again.

Your fallen servant,

Dvarakadhisa dasa brahmacari

Advanced Class-Age 11

My dear Srila Prabhupada,

The Deities are looking more and more beautiful every day. A lot of devotees are going out and preaching every day. You are a pure devotee of Krsna. You are very glorious. Everyone dances nicely in aratrika and sundara-aratrika. Dayananda is a very nice acarya. Srila Prabhupada, you are the representative of this temple. You are preaching the message of Lord Caitanya. You are shining with effulgence.

Your servant,

Candramukhi devi dasi

Intermediate class-age 6

From Subhadra to Prabhupada,

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Krsna's dearest swan because he is preaching Krsna consciousness all over the world, and saving the fallen souls from repeated birth and death. Krsna's dearest swan is Srila Prabhupada because he is pleasing Krsna.

Intermediate class-Age 6

I was born in the darkest ignorance and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him. You have so kindly come out of compassion. All glories to our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. You are so kind, you have spread the Hare Krsna Maha-mantra. You are Krsna's pure representative. You have been so kind that you have spread Lord Caitanya's movement. All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. You have given us the greatest knowledge.

Your servant,

Lila-smarana dasa

Intermediate class-Age 8

DALLAS GURUKULA

Niragadeva dasa brahmacari / Bhaktin Angela / Stavya dasa brahmacari / Bhaktin Carol / Dvarakadhisa dasa brahmacari / Bhaktin Christina / Ekendra dasa brahmacari / Bhaktin Diana / Bhakta Morgan / Bhaktin Lisa / Bhakta John / Bhaktin Stephanie / Bhakta Joe / Bhaktin Tonya / Bhakta Jesse / Bhakta Catton / Bhagavat-sastra dasa / Candra-kanti dasi / Deva-deva dasa / Candra-mukhi dasi / Deva-kanti dasa / Dhamayanti dasi / Dhananjaya dasa / Kama-gayatri dasi / Dhiroddhata dasa / Laksmi-rūpa dasi / Kesava dasa / Lalita dasi / Lila-smarana dasa / Lila-manjari dasi / Markendeya dasa / Prema-sukha dasi / Raghunatha dasa / Syama dasi / Sanatkumara dasa / Sukla dasi / Vakresvara dasa / Subhadra dasi / Vrndavana dasa / Tamala dasi / Eric Twigg / Viryavan Panḍita dasa / Ananya dasi / Samba dasa / Alolacandraka dasi / Puranarka dasa / Anahga dasi / Kirtana dasa / Caitanya dasi / Kalpataru dasa / Lasika dasi / Loka Pala dasa / Lalitangi dasi / Ananda dasa / Sammohini dasi / Yuvati dasi / Ananta Sesa dasa / Jagannatha Puri dasi / Siddha Baba dasa / Bhaktina dasi / Caitanya dasa / Bhakti dasi / Yasovara dasa / Sacimukhi dasi / Daruka Suta dasa / Anandini dasi / Visvareta dasa / Kunti dasi / Nandini dasi / Vraja dasi / Kenaresvari dasi / Laksmi dasi / Nagajit dasi

PRESCHOOL

Nagapatni devi dasi / Kamini devi dasi / Dharani devi dasi / Hara devi dasi / Gahga dasa / Narayanajvara dasa / Vaisnava dasa / Gopala Bhatta dasa / Sarahga dasa / Kham devi dasi / Satrighna dasa / Taruna dasa / Jagannatha dasa / Prabhupada dasa / Vilasini devi dasi

DALLAS GURUKULA

Dayananda dasa / Bhakte Rūpa dasa / Nandarani devi dasi / Jyotir dasa / Hiranyagarbha dasa / Arjit dasa / Saucarya devi dasi / Subandhu dasa / Giridhari dasa / Madhavendra Puri dasa / Vinoda Vani devi dasi / Nirnasa dasa / Rsabhadeva dasa / Maitreya dasa / Kum Kum devi dasi / Hal dasa / Manḍalesvara dasa / Bhakta Butch / Vimala devi dasi (Īsvara Puri) / Bhakta Gary / Dvarakanatha dasa / Hector / Krsna Priya devi dasi / Bhakta Mike / Carucandra dasa / Bhakta Mike / Sudarsani devi dasi / Ramagopala dasa / Rūpa-vilasa dasa / Baladeva dasa / Candrika devi dasi / Paratpara dasa / Īsvari devi dasi / Babrubhahan dasa / Vikramini devi dasi / Jnanagamya dasa / Kalindi devi dasi / Krsna Kumari devi dasi / Ksama devi dasi / Rajarsi dasa / Mahasini devi dasi / Vraja Raja dasa / Patri devi dasi / Aksobhya dasa / Jagathatri devi dasi / Raganatha dasa / Visalaksmi devi dasi / Bir Laksmana / Bhaktin Sherry / Bhaktin Debbie / Bhaktin Donna

Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/svp/vyasa-puja-homages/dallas-gurukula