St. Louis

Our dearly beloved father, Srila Prabhupada,

On this auspicious day we offer our respectful obeisances unto you, Your Divine Grace. By the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna, you have come as Jagat-guru, spiritual master of the universe, and by that same supreme will you have appeared in the western world to dispel the influence of voidism and impersonalism. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you again and again.

You are delivering us from the illusion of birth, death, disease and old age. Yet had you not come, who would have, who would have told us about the message of Krsna, the path back to Godhead, the way back to home? Who would guide us, who would show us the way or teach us how to escape this world of death? You are the personified mercy of Krsna, come to save us from the dark well of ignorance. You are delivering us to the transcendental abode of Lord Govinda, which is made of touchstone and filled with desire trees. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you again and again.

Your Divine Grace is only one of a kind. You are propagating the glorious Sri Krsna sahkirtana Movement of Sri Panca-tattva. You have said yourself that you are single-handedly carrying out the message of Lord Caitanya. For yourself you need nothing, but in compassion for others you remain in the material world to give anyone who will come forward a chance to receive your mercy. You are the eternal master. We owe our life breath to you. We offer our respectful obeisances to you again and again.

Of what use is this life without your association? All the money in the world cannot help us. No amount of material success can help us. Indeed, there is no success without you. Without your grace, everything is a futile endeavor. Empty. Hollow. Your plan alone can bring happiness to the planet. Only the foolish turn away and do not recognize your prowess or surrender to your mission. Some may talk of liberation, but there is no transcended life outside your order. Your instruction is the only lifeline for the planet, what to speak of your lowly disciples. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you again and again.

Oh Namacarya you have given us the holy name, the chanting of His glories. Wherever there is chanting of the holy name of Krsna, there is Krsna himself. So you have brought Krsna Himself and without your mercy no one can approach Him. Krsna says that "those who say they are My devotees are not really My devotees, but those who say they are the devotees of My devotees, they are actually My devotees." Therefore, you are our only link with Krsna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you again and again.

Our dear father Srila Prabhupada, we are weak and devoid of intelligence. Our only hope and joy is your association. We humbly appeal to your compassionate nature, that you may continue to raise us towards pure devotion, so we can help you to carry on this movement. Your careful guidance is our only strength, your mercy is all that we are made of. Without your protection we would all remain amongst the society of hogs, dogs, camels and asses. Now you have given us the light of sastra, which is the weapon against darkness and death. Armed with your most precious gifts, your books, we can stand against the warriors of illusion, taking shelter of your blessings. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you again and again.