CHANDIGARH:21.08.22- ( AJAY ) Srila Prabhupad’s Appearance Day is a very special day for all ISKCON devotees as they joyfully glorify their eternal saviour Srila Prabhupada on His appearance day.

Srila Prabhupada was sent by the Lord to fulfill Caitanya 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. Nandotsava means: 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 brahmanas. Vraja was alive with vibrations of Vedic hymns and beautiful decorations and everyone was experiencing unending happiness. Bursting with bliss, the Vrajavasis expressed their joy by throwing butter, yogurt and ghee all around.

One hundred twenty six years ago, on that most auspicious spiritual occasion on NAND UTSAV, (1st September 1896), 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. Srila Prabhupada lives forever through his books. This legacy will always provide the devotees with Lord Chaitanya katha and teach everyone to chant the Maha mantra.

The birthday of the spiritual master is celebrated by followers of Sri Chaitanya as Sri Vyasa Puja. The spiritual master is the representative of Srila Vyasadeva the literary incarnation of the Lord, thus he is worshipped with great care and attention by sincere disciples. The Hare Krishna centers around the world witnessed hundreds of devotees and Srila Prabhupada’s disciples participating in the celebrations.

Celebrations at ISKCON CHANDIGARH
The Morning festivities began with an enthusiastic group of devotees singing kirtanas glorifying His Divine Grace. This was followed by an elaborate Maha-Abhisheka with milk, curd, ghee, honey, fruit juices, tender coconut water and other auspicious items. A special arati was offered to the Founder Acharya of the Hare Krishna Movement.

It is customary in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition that the disciples describe their realizations in their spiritual life in writing and present it in the form of Homage to the spiritual master as a glorification of the spiritual master. This year 1008 offerings of homage were compiled in the form of a beautiful book and was presented to Srila Prabhupada. The compilation included offerings of homage by disciples across temples and preaching centers all over the world which are associated with ISKCON.

This year hundreds of devotees in ISKCON Chandigarh offered a whopping total of 1008 items personally prepared with love and affection for His Divine Grace.which was later distributed as prasadam to all present.