Srila Prabhupada Appearance Day

Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja 2025

Sunday, 17th August 2025

Location: NEW ISKCON Brisbane Temple, 6 Lee Road, Darra

"As we come to this Krishna consciousness understanding through this long parampara, similarly, in the Vyasa-puja ceremony, whatever respect, honour and presentation you give, that goes to Krishna through that parampara system, from down. As it is received through the parampara system, so similarly, your offerings also goes through this parampara system to the Supreme."
- Srila Prabhupada, Lecture, August 22 1973.

WHAT IS A VYASA PUJA?

The Spiritual Master is the representative of Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva is the original spiritual master because he compiled and disseminated the Vedic knowledge. Therefore, according to the Vedic system, on the birthday of the spiritual master the disciples conduct the ceremony called Vyasa Puja.

As part of the Vyasa Puja ceremony, the disciples and followers of Srila Prabhupada offer homage to him by writing about his glories. Hearing the glories of the bonafide spiritual master has the same effect as hearing the glories of Lord Krishna: the hearer becomes purified and awakens his dormant Krishna consciousness.

WHO IS SRILA PRABHUPADA?

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) is widely regarded as the foremost Vedic scholar, translator, and teacher of the modern era. He is especially respected as the world’s most prominent contemporary authority on bhakti-yoga, devotional service to the Supreme Person, Sri Krishna, as taught by the ancient Vedic writings of India. He is also the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

HOW DO I WRITE A HOMAGE TO SRILA PRABHUPADA?

If you have never written an offering you may feel uncertain on what to write, and feel like putting it off for later. Here are some tips on how to write a vyasa-puja offering for Srila Prabhupada.

Remember that the vyasa-puja offering is meant for glorifying the spiritual master.
Read the previous year’s vyasa-puja offerings made to Srila Prabhupada by senior devotees and others. This will give you some ideas of how to express yourself.
It is courtesy to start your offering with the guru’s pranama mantra, which for Srila Prabhupada is shown below.

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta swamin iti namine
namaste saraswati deve gaura-vani-pracharine
nirvishesha-shunyavadi pashchatya-desha-tarine

Opening: “Dear Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you on this auspicious day of your vyasapuja.”

Contents: Glorify the role that Srila Prabhupada has played in your life and express your gratitude to him. The spiritual master is interested in your spiritual growth, how you are meeting challenges, how you are carrying out his orders as well as how your life has changed since you came in contact with Krishna consciousness.

Ending the offering: It is nice to show your appreciation and desire to please by a nice phrase such as “your humble servant” or something similar.