Service Par Excellence

My dearest spiritual father,

Guru Maharaja, you served Lord Krishna par excellently while you were present in this mortal world. You eternally engaged your body, mind and words completely in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna. You were fully immersed in the mood of preaching, like the previous acharyas in our disciplic succession. Srila Prabhupada instructed you to build temples in Delhi, and you have pleased him by building nineteen temples in Delhi. Apart from this you have been instrumental in building temples in many parts of the world. You also pleased Srila Prabhupada by printing and distributing crores of his books. You organized hundreds of Ratha-yatras of Lord Jagannatha in different parts of the world.

Maharaja, you executed intense managerial responsibilities as a Governing Body Commisioner in ISKCON, Chairman of the ISKCON Bureau, and Chairman of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, India.

Your sadhana was first class – in terms of doing mangala arati in the altar in ISKCON temples wherever you visited and elaborate worship of your personal deities and salagrama-silas.

You left your body like a warrior on the battlefield.

Maharaja, you have left an indelible impression in the hearts of one and all in ISKCON by executing your Will which will be a benchmark for posterity in the ISKCON movement.

Guru Maharaja, you are an ocean of mercy.

kabe heno kripa, lobhiya e jana, kritartha hoibe, natha!
sakti-buddhi-hin, ami ati din, koro’ more atma-satha

Translation: O lord and master! When will this devotee, obtaining your mercy, become blessed? Devoid of all strength and intelligence, I am very low and fallen. Please make me your own servant.

(Extract from the song titled ‘Gurudeva” by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura”)