1979 Chicago Temple Offering

Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,

Your lotus feet are the greatest treasure within the three worlds. Completely aloof from the modes of material nature, you appeared in this world to establish the teachings of Vyāsadeva. From your childhood, Your Grace worshiped Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, organized Ratha-yātrā festivals, and held kīrtana. Never forgetting Kṛṣṇa for a moment, you stayed in India for sixty-nine years, and then under the instruction of Śrī Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Ṭhākura, you appeared in the West, like the early morning rising sun.

Just as Kṛṣṇa blessed this planet five thousand years ago with the imprints of His lotus feet, so you also placed your lotus feet on the land across the ocean that nonpreachers dare not cross. From Butler, Pennsylvania, to New York to Los Angeles and around the world, you benedicted all the unfortunate souls of Kali-yuga. Your mercy knows no bounds, as you magnanimously give shelter to anyone who comes your way. Delivering devotional service and love of God, you are a pure ambassador of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

O Śrīla Prabhupāda, your accomplishments are endless and unfathomable; how can we describe them? If one had thousands of mouths, then he could chant your glories for thousands of kalpas and never come to an end. If one had thousands of ears they would not be enough to hear your unique pastimes of delivering the fallen conditioned souls. We stand in awe of your greatness, and with all humility at our command, we pray to you, please hear us.

Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, if ever by our carelessness we commit some error in our service, please correct us and forgive our faults. If somehow we become offensive in our attitude please destroy the seeds of envy within our hearts. If by some chance we swerve from the path of bhakti, please set us straight and rectify our faults. And if somehow or other we forget Kṛṣṇa, please remind us of His lotus feet. Please give us the strength to push on the saṅkīrtana movement, and free us from all material desires so that we may work cooperatively for this goal. Please protect us from the poison of lusty thoughts, and when we leave this world, please assist us to remember Kṛṣṇa s holy name. And one more thing, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda, when we have finished our service in this world, please let us accompany you to some other place. Please let us be with you while you vanquish the atheists, and sit by you as you lead ecstatic kīrtana.

We are all your children, and we are helpless without you. We need your direction at every step. Whatever service we render is meant just to please you. Please protect us and give us the shelter of your lotus feet.

Śivarāma Swami / Tripurāri Svāmī / Gopījanavallabha Svāmī / Praghoṣa Dāsa Brahmacārī / Śukra Dāsa Brahmacārī / Prahlādānanda Dāsa Brahmacārī / Naikātmā Dāsa Brahmacārī / Pratapana Dāsa Brahmacārī / Subuddhi Rāya Dāsa Brahmacārī / Kāśirāma Dāsa Brahmacārī / Paśupati Dāsa Brahmacārī / Mahāmuni Dāsa Brahmacārī / Manusuta Dāsa Brahmacārī / Jaya Kṛṣṇa Dāsa Brahmacārī / Guruvāgni Dāsa Brahmacārī / Jīvapati Dāsa Brahmacārī / Jīva-pāvana Dāsa Brahmacārī / Sarvopama Dāsa Brahmacārī / Balirāja Dāsa Brahmacārī / Edhanīya-svabhāva Dāsa Brahmacārī / Mathurā-pati Dāsa Brahmacārī / Aindra Dāsa Brahmacārī / Sītā-Rāma Dāsa Brahmacārī / Bhakta Joe / Bhakta Joe / Bhakta Tim / Bhakta Ujama / Bhakta Mark Bhakta Melvin / Bhakta Bob / Rāsavihārī Dāsa adhikārī / Rāmakeli Dāsa adhikārī / Sikhi Mahiti Dāsa adhikārī / Dīnanātha Dāsa adhikārī / Śrī-nandanandana Dāsa adhikārī / Gaura-DevīDāsī / Miśrāṇi-Devī Dāsī / Vraja-maṇḍala-Devī Dāsī / Cintāmaṇi-Devī Dāsī / Ṣaḍbhuja-Devī Dāsī / Paśupati-Devī Dāsī / Kāraṇa-kāraṇa-Devī Dāsī / Lalitā-Devī Dāsī / Saṅga-Devī Dāsī / Bhaja Govinda-Devī Dāsī / Yaśomatī-Devī Dāsī / Bhaktin Iantha / Kāñcanabālā-Devī Dāsī / Bhaktin Candisha / Vrajalālana-Devī Dāsī / Bhaktin Dianne / Rādhā-Gokulānanda / Nakula / Sahadeva / Rādhā-priya / Śyāmasundara