Festivals, News

Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasapuja

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Mayapur Chandrodaya Temple
Bhaktivedanta National School

The morning after Janmastami all the devotees gathered for honoring Srila Prabhupada’s appearance in the Pancha-Tattva extension. Devotees worked tirelessly for many days to prepare the beautiful vyasasana for Srila Prabhupada. Many senior devotees were present to read their offerings, and HG Jananivas Prabhu presented Srila Prabhupada with the giant offerings book that was lovingly prepared for him. The program concluded with abhishek, guru-puja, and offering of prasadam to Srila Prabhupada. All the community devotees then came together to honor Srila Prabhuapda’s maha-prasadam in the Gada Kitchen.

Our Bhaktivedanta National School, which is under the direction of HH Bhakti Purushottama Maharaj, also had a very sweet gathering of children and parents to glorify Srila Prabhupada a few days prior. Many children read their offerings to Srila Prabhupada, or recited shlokas. The hall was also decorated very nicely by the children, including a replica of the of Srila Prabhupada in Tompkins Square Park. They concluded the festivities with a drama, followed by abhishek, pushpanjali, and Srila Prabhupada’s maha-prasadam distribution.

Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day is a very special day for all ISKCON devotees as they joyfully glorify their eternal savior Srila Prabhupada on His appearance day. Srila Prabhupada was sent by the Lord to fulfill Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s prediction, “Prtvithe ache yata nagaradi grama, sarvatra pracara haibe more nama”, In every town and village of the world, My name will be heard. Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura wrote in his Sajjona-tosani, “Soon there will be a time when the chanting of Krishna’s name will be heard in England, France, Russia, Germany and America.”

Srila Prabhupada appeared on Nanadotsava, which is Nanda Maharaja’s huge festival celebrating Krishna’s birth. Nanda Maharaja dressed in luxurious garments and distributed profuse charity to everyone in his kingdom. He gave away opulent cloth and ornaments and two million richly decorated cows to the Brahmans. Vraja was alive with vibrations of Vedic hymns and beautiful decorations and everyone was experiencing unending happiness. Bursting with bliss, the Vraja vasis expressed their joy by throwing butter, yogurt and ghee all around.

Over One hundred years ago, on that most auspicious spiritual occasion, Srila Prabhupada appeared to fulfill the mission of Lord Krishna. Srila Prabhupada grew up as a pure devotee of the Lord and distributed Krishna Consciousness everywhere. Srila Prabhupada made a perfect appearance, led a perfect life and had a perfect departure. Our Srila Prabhupada will live forever through his books, continuing to spread Krishna katha, and teach everyone to chant the Maha mantra.

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