Sri Vyasa Puja 2014 - The Most Blessed event of Appearance of our beloved Spiritual Master Srila Prabhupada 18th August 2014
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SRI-VYASA-PUJA-2014
THE MOST BLESSED EVENT
118th APPEARANCE DAY OF OUR BELOVED SPIRITUAL MASTER
HIS DIVINE GRACE
A.C BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI SRILA PRABHUPADA
The appearance day of Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya of ISKCON is celebrated as Vyasa-Puja in entire ISKCON world. Srila Prabhupada was born in 1896 on the day of Nandotsava (the next day of Janmashtami) 18th August 2014.
Why is it called Vyasa Puja ?
The Vedas originate from the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. Lord Sri Krishna imparted the Vedic knowledge to Lord Brahma, the creator of this universe. Brahma instructed his son Narada, who in turn gave this knowledge to Vyasadeva.
Vyasadeva compiled the Vedic knowledge and also composed the eighteen puranas. Under the instructions of his spiritual master Narada, He also authored Srimad Bhagavatam, which is called the spotless Purana. He distributed this knowledge through out this world through his disciples.
A bona fide spiritual master coming in this line of succession descending from Vyasadeva is considered a representative of Vyasa deva.
Srila Prabhupada states about Vyasa Puja :
The knowledge that we receive from our Gurudeva is not different from that imparted by God Himself and the succession of the acaryas in the preceptorial line of Brahma. We adore this auspicious day as Sri Vyasa-Puja-Tithi, because the Acarya is the living representative of Vyasadeva, the divine compiler of the Vedas, the Puranas, the Bhagavad-gita, the Mahabharata, and the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
SSR Chapter 2 : The Absolute necessity of Spiritual Master
So Narada Muni is the original spiritual master of Vyasadeva, and from Vyasadeva our disciplic succession is coming. Therefore guru is representative of Vyasadeva. On his birthday the ceremony is offered as Vyasa-puja.
SP Lecture on SB 1.5.24 at Vrindavan, August 5, 1975
So that is the position of guru. Guru is respected as good as God. Why? Only for this qualification, that he does not speak anything nonsense. He speaks only what he has heard from the acarya. Acaryavan puruso veda. Acaryopasanam. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said acaryopasanam. So Vyasadeva is our acarya, therefore we offer vyasa-puja. On the birthday of guru we offer vyasa-puja. Actually, it is not directly Vyasa, but because the bona fide guru represents Vyasadeva, his puja is also vyasa-puja. Mad-bhakta-puja abhyadhika. To worship Vyasadeva, worship the bona fide spiritual master and worship the Lord, they are the same.
SP Lecture SB 1.7.5 Vrindavan September 4, 1976
So there are so many debts. First to the demigods, then to the rishis, saintly persons. Because we get knowledge, Vedic knowledge from the rishi, we must be debtor. Guru-rin. Debtor to the spiritual master, to the sages, to the saintly persons, because we are getting knowledge from them. Therefore the Vyasa-puja is there. Once in a year the disciples are worshiping the spiritual master and trying to repay what he has received from the spiritual master.
SP Lecture SB 1.16.21 Los Angeles July 11, 1974
So this Vyasa-Puja means one day in a year, on the birthday of the spiritual master, because he is representative of Vyasa, he is delivering the same knowledge which has come down by disciplic succession without any change, he is offered the respect. This is called Vyasa-puja. And the spiritual master receives all honor, all contribution, on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not for his person.
Festival Lecture New Vrindavan September 2, 1972
Vyasa Puja Celebrations:
For the devotees of ISKCON this is the most important festival of the year. Devotees fast till noon.
Various items are cooked for offering to the spiritual master, who in turn offers it to Krishna.
Devotees read homage offerings written by them to glorify Srila Prabhupada.
A grand abhishekam is performed .
And Maha prasadam is distributed to all devotees.
WE WELCOME EVERYONE ON THIS DAY TO RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS OF SRILA PRABHUPADA.
We request you all to submit your Homage offerings to Srila Prabhupada which will be entered in Sri Vyasa-Puja 2014 book and offered to Srila Prabhupada on the Vyasa Puja Day.
The offerings can be written as per the guidelines attached alongwith this mail and submitted on or before 30th July 2014 to ak...@hkm-group.org or by hand to Bhakta Prashant at our Gurgaon centre.