Back to the site Back to the site
7:20 — 7:45
Guru-puja
Right after the greeting of the Deities, devotees offer their respect to Srila Prabhupada — the founder of ISKCON, who in 1965 brought the bhakti tradition to the West single-handedly.
The pujari (priest) performs puja to the murti (form) of Srila Prabhupada, while all the devotees offer him flower petals and sing a prayer to the spiritual master.
What is sung
“Sri Guru-vandana”
By Narottama dasa Thakura
During guru-puja this bhajan is sung:
śrī-guru-caraṇa-padma, kevala-bhakati-sadma,
bando muñi sāvadhāna mate
jāhāra prasāde bhāi, e bhava toriyā jāi,
kṛṣṇa-prāpti hoy jāhā ha’te
guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya,
ār nā koriho mane āśā
śrī-guru-caraṇe rati, ei se uttama-gati,
je prasāde pūre sarva āśā
cakhu-dān dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei,
divya-jñān hṛde prokāśito
prema-bhakti jāhā hoite, avidyā vināśa jāte,
vede gāy jāhāra carito
śrī-guru karuṇā-sindhu, adhama janāra bandhu,
lokanāth lokera jīvana
hā hā prabhu koro doyā, deho more pada-chāyā,
ebe jaśa ghuṣuk tribhuvana
Translation
The lotus feet of my spiritual master are the abode of pure devotion; I bow before them with great care. By his mercy, brothers, we cross the ocean of birth and death and attain Krishna.
Take the words from his lotus mouth into your heart and desire nothing else. Attachment to his feet is the highest goal; by his mercy every aspiration is fulfilled.
He gave me sight and revealed divine knowledge in my heart — he is my master, life after life. From him love of God is born and ignorance is destroyed; the Vedas sing of his deeds.
The spiritual master is an ocean of mercy, the friend of the fallen, the master and very life of all. O master, be merciful, give me the shade of your feet; may your glory resound through the three worlds.