Dear Guru Maharaj and our Shiksha Guru,

Please accept my humble obeisances unto you,

I offer my warmest wishes on the auspicious occasion of your 69th Appearance

Day.

We are very much fortunate to glorify our Spiritual Master—a privilege denied
even to the demigods. Such glorification of a pure devotee can only be
performed in the rare human form of life. As the ‘’Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam- (3.7.20)
declares: ‘The devotees of the Lord are more worshipable than the Lord Himself,’
“Hence, receiving this chance to glorify the Guru is an extraordinary blessing and
rare mercy for us of Lord Shri Krishna.

Today is a very auspicious day for every disciple because our entire spiritual life
depends upon the mercy of Śrī Gurudev. "The glory of a spiritual master cannot
be expressed by words, nor can it be fully glorified by our incomplete senses.
The Guru, being a pure devotee of Lord Shri Krishna, is far beyond the
comprehension of conditioned souls like us. Whatever little offering we attempt
to make is only by his causeless mercy. Just as a tiny lamp cannot illuminate the
brilliance of the sun, similarly, our words can never describe the infinite qualities
of a pure devotee. “Yet our greatest fortune—and eternal service—is to glorify
him, for such activity purifies the heart.

The greatness of God can never be realized without first we will not understand
the greatness of Guru. As the śāstra declares, ‘’ācāryavān puruṣo veda’’- only
one who has surrendered to the spiritual master can truly understand the
Supreme. Neither superficial vision nor dry mental speculation can ever grant
this realization.

“We are so blessed to be guided by a genuine follower of Śrīla Prabhupāda, for in

this age of Kali—clouded by darkness and ignorance - it is very difficult to find an
authentic representative of Lord Shri Krishna.” But still, we don’t take this
opportunity seriously.

His divine appearance gives life not only to us but to millions of fallen souls. To
become truly well-versed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one must act firmly, obey all
the orders of Kṛṣṇa’s representative, and accept the instruction of the bona fide
spiritual master as the very mission of one’s life. “We are fallen souls. Kindly
bestow your mercy upon us so that we may follow your instructions with
sincerity, for Kṛṣṇa is pleased only when we will accept your orders as firm and
unshakable.” The instructions of the spiritual master must be engraved upon our
hearts like a line carved in stone—not like words written upon the sand by the
sea.

“Nobody can become pure—whether by bathing in the sacred Gaṅgā, visiting

holy temples, performing thousands of yajñas and rituals, or even mastering all
the Vedas or scriptures—for none of these can free one from the cycle of birth
and death.” Only by surrendering at the lotus feet of the bona fide spiritual
master and by humbly serving and obeying his instructions does the heart
become sanctified and the path to Lord Śrī Krishna revealed.

Our Shiksha Guru is the embodiment of divine mercy and he never hesitates to
extend his kindness to uplift his disciples. He accepts us as we are—fallen, weak,
and unqualified—yet out of his causeless mercy, he patiently guides us on the
path of Krishna consciousness in every moment.

Shrila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur instructs us, in his famous prayers for the
spiritual master:

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo

yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto 'pi
dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

By satisfaction of the spiritual master, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

becomes satisfied. And by not satisfying the spiritual master, there is no chance
of being promoted to the plane of Krsna consciousness. I should, therefore,
meditate and pray for his mercy three times a day and offer my respectful
obeisances unto him, my spiritual master.

Guruji firmly believes that every word spoken by Srila Prabhupada is superior to
all the Vedas and not bound by scriptures, just as Lord Krishna Himself is beyond
all scriptures. A disciple can never be freed from the debt to his Gurudeva.
Therefore, I am trying to become sincere and follow your instructions and offer a
little bit of gratitude, as you have guided and supported me in so many ways
since the very beginning of my spiritual journey. “Guru-tattva is one, all pure
devotees of the Lord reflect the same divine qualities.

Shrila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati insisted on the necessity of a living guru or

saintly person. This living guru delivers teachings in a bold, inspiring way, which
dispels weakness and instills courage in the heart of the disciple. Glorifying such
a master is not a duty—it is the highest fortune of our life. By offering even
broken words of praise, we become purified, and the soul is awakened to its
eternal purpose.

There is no other way to progress in spiritual life other than by execution of

devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master. One becomes free
from all material attachment, attains steadiness in self-realization, and acquires
a divine taste for hearing about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Kṛṣṇa.

“Before coming into the bhakti, our lives were empty and going without any
purpose. But by Guru Ji’s causeless mercy, we received the light of
Transcendental knowledge, the hope of true life, and the shelter of Krishna’s
lotus feet through the grace of Śrīla Prabhupāda. As the Bhagavad-gītā declares ,
’To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining
lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance (BG 10.11).” Because God
manifests in the form of the Guru and bestows knowledge.

Your mercy is not limited to words of instruction alone”; it shows practically

through your tireless care, your constant prayers and actions for the spiritual
welfare of all human beings, and your heartfelt desire to see each disciple grow
in devotion. When we falter in devotion, with fatherly affection, you help us,
encourage us, and lovingly guide us back onto the path of spirituality.
Since the Vedas are difficult to grasp and beyond the reach of ordinary men.
“Though we are unqualified to grasp philosophy and unable to realize the
Absolute Truth, by the mercy of you, even the most profound teachings of the
Bhagavad-Gita, as presented by Prabhupāda ji, become crystal clear—awakening
our dormant devotion and igniting our hearts with the fire of Krishna bhakti.

It is mentioned In the Bhagavatam, ‘’Sarva-devāmayo Guruḥ’’

In the Śrīmad Bhagavatam (11.17.27) also it is said:

“One should understand the spiritual master to be as good as I am,” said the
Blessed Lord. “Nobody should be jealous of the spiritual master or think of him as
an ordinary man, because the ‘’Spiritual master is the representative of all gods
and demigods."” That is, the Acharya has been identified with God Himself. He
has nothing to do with the affairs of this mundane world.

We entered this temporary world empty-handed, struggling helplessly amidst

countless challenges. Then, the light of hope appeared in the form of you, our
Guru, transformed everything. At that moment, it feels like a dream—receiving
something so priceless and divine is always an amazing surprise. Your grace
elevates us above the materially entangled crowd.” “When you speak, it strikes
like thunder—destroying the darkness of illusion and igniting the eternal flame of
Krishna-bhakti within everyone’s heart.

Guru is not only the guardian of fallen souls but also the caretaker of every
resource used in Krishna’s service. Whether a mobile, laptop, or any other
instruments, he sees each as Krishna’s property. Through his vision, nothing
remains merely material in the service of the Lord—everything becomes
transcendental.

You always tell us, ‘Become a disciple like the moon, not the stars. A star may
one day fall, but the moon endures, spreading its cooling light.’ This is what Śrīla
Prabhupāda wanted from us—to shine steadily with unwavering devotion.

We must faithfully follow our Guru’s instructions, for they are the direct path to
Krishna’s pleasure. Every teaching—whether on service, cleanliness, or caring for
āśrama resources—is sacred. So “obeying these instructions opens the gateway
to eternal service at Krishna’s lotus feet.

In the path of Krishna-bhakti, Guru ji always stands as a true and dynamic

follower of AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Thakur Srila Prabhupāda. With firm faith and
wholehearted surrender, he carries forward Prabhupāda’s divine mission,
embodying every instruction as his very life. His humility reflects his depth, and
his service proves the living current of the disciplic succession. In him, Srila
Prabhupāda’s teachings look like thunderbolt power—fearless in presentation,
yet overflowing with compassion and integrity.

“You are protecting us from every direction against the influence of Māyā,
because this world is a field of illusion. As a neophyte on the path of devotion, we
cannot progress or survive without your constant protection and guidance at
every moment of life.

In the last, O Gurudeva, I am fallen, weak, and unworthy—but by your mercy all
shortcomings can be overcome. Today, I pray for only one thing—not liberation,
not fame, not comfort—but eternal servitude to you and ““I pray for your mercy,
that I may remain eternally at your lotus feet as your devoted servant, now and
forever…