Vyas Puja is a celebration to commemorate the appearance of Bonafide spiritual master. The original compiler of Vedic literatures in written form is Srila Vyasdeva, the literary incarnation of the Supreme Personality. He compiled Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and Mahabharat, especially for educating people in this age of Kali.
The spiritual master is a representative of Srila Vyasdeva and his appearance day is celebrated by the disciples as Vyas Puja or Vyas Jayanti. Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON and the Worldwide Hare Krishna Movement appeared on Nandotsav Day and His disciples observed the Vyas Puja ceremony annually on this day.
Vyas Puja celebration is very significant for all followers of Vedic principles as it is a form of offering respects to the Spiritual Master on His appearance day. A spiritual Master is described in the scriptures as the one who opens the darkened eyes with the torchlight of knowledge and enlightens the disciple about his original spiritual position.
He is the Bonafide representative of Srila Vyasdeva and is transparent via media to disseminate transcendental knowledge. His divine grace is essential for anyone who wants to progress in spiritual life. Offering Vyas Puja to celebrate His appearance invokes His compassion of blessings and elevates one in self-realization.
Srila Prabhupada is the 32nd Acharya in the chain of Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya, the disciplic succession of spiritual wisdom originating from Lord Brahma. Srila Prabhupada appeared on the next day of Sri Krishna Janmashtami, celebrated as Nandotsav in the year 1896. After his education and spiritual initiation, he gradually took sannyasa and wrote a commentary on Srimad Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam.
He went to the USA in 1965 on the order of His guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, and established ISKCON and more than 108 temples of Lord Krishna worldwide. His greatest contribution however is his books, highly respected by scholars for their authority, depth, and clarity. Disciples celebrate His appearance day as Vyas Puja with great respect and jubilant festivities.
Srila Prabhupada appeared on 1st September 1896 in Calcutta, India. He appeared as the son of Gour Mohan De, a cloth merchant, and Rajani, his mother. According to Bengali traditions the parents called for an astrologer to calculate the horoscope of the child and the astrologer made a unique remark which made everyone jubilant. He said, “The child will cross the ocean at eighty years of age and would vastly preach religion. He will open 108 temples of Lord Krishna across the globe.” Later on, also another palmist remarked that Srila Prabhupada would build a house where the whole world could live.
Srila Prabhupada was named Abhay in childhood and since he was born on the Nandotsav day he was also lovingly called ‘Nandu.’ His father was a pure devotee and would always invite sadhus to his home and would request them to bless the child to become a devotee of Srimati Radharani. He would visit and offer prayers for many long hours before the local Sri Radha-Govinda deity and organize the annual rath yatra with children which is currently expanded into the worldwide festival.
Srila Prabhupada met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Maharaj in 1922 and became his formally initiated disciple in 1932. He incorporated ISKCON in 1966 and wrote a commentary on Srimad Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Sri Caitanya Caritamrita. Srila Prabhupada is a remarkable contributor, he authored more than 70 books on Krishna consciousness translated into more than 80 languages.
Hare Krishna Mandir Jaipur celebrates the auspicious appearance of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada with gorgeous and variegated festivities. The day is also marked with the Nandotsav, the birth festival of Lord Krishna observed by Nanda Maharaj.
Vyas Puja festival features the abhishekam of Srila Prabhupada with pancamrita, pancagavya, fresh fruit juices, and flowers accompanied by Hare Krishna Kirtan and the dancing of devotees. There is a procession of Srila Prabhupada on palaki, he is offered bhoga and guru arti and disciples read Vyas Puja offerings for his pleasure. The festival culminates with the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s blessings in the form of delicious prasadam to all participants.
Vyas Puja festivities commence from late morning beginning with reading of Vyas Puja offerings from Vyas Puja book by disciples and offering Guru Puja to Srila Prabhupada. Afterward in the evening, the festival features gorgeous abhishekam of Srila Prabhupada, Kirtans, pastime narrations, and reading of Vyas Puja Offerings by senior disciples. After Abhishekam Guru Puja is offered and presadam is distributed to all participants.
Vyas puja offerings are the expression of a disciple’s realization of the mercy of a spiritual master humbly submitted unto his lotus feet on his divine appearance. The active principle in spiritual life is the pleasure of spiritual master.
A disciple is eternally indebted to the spiritual master for his divine grace and can never repay him, but the humble offering of devotion and heartfelt gratitude is always pleasing to the spiritual master.
The offerings are written to glorify the spiritual master for his compassion and divine grace. It is an important duty of a student to submit gratitude towards a spiritual master and on this auspicious occasion of Vyas Puja, one should write homage unto Srila Prabhupada.
The offering includes Srila Prabhupada’s guidance through his books and disciple in one’s Krishna conscious life, glorification of Srila Prabhupada with references from Srimad Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam and so on. One can also read previous Vyas Puja offerings of senior devotees for reference and support.
Srila Prabhupada institutionalized Krishna consciousness culture to give everyone the opportunity to learn the principles of devotional life by practicing in association with like-minded devotees.
His primary desire is that everyone must chant 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. He wants his students to practice simple living and high thinking and propagate the Krishna consciousness movement all over the world. He mentions in various letters to his disciples that engagement in Krishna’s service with mutual cooperation will bring success in every activity, and everyone must endeavor to become pure in this society of devotees.
Vyas Puja festival is a unique opportunity to please Srila Prabhupada by offering our humble services. Srila Prabhupada stresses at various places that one can please the spiritual master by following his orders of chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra and observing regulative principles and trying to preach Krishna consciousness to everyone.
On this auspicious occasion of Vyas Puja, generously contribute to propagating the Hare Krishna Movement and receive the divine grace of Srila Prabhupada in your life.
