Vyasa Puja of Lokanath Swami Maharaj

ei ami deha samarpilama tomare

krsnapadapadmera amrtarasa pana

amare karao tumi ñ ei cahi dana

Sri Caitanya-bhagavata

O Gurudeva, I have surrendered My body and everything that is Mine at your lotus feet. I shall follow your every instruction. My only wish is to receive your merciful benediction by which you kindly make Me drink the transcendental nectar of Sri Krsna's lotus feet.

By merely placing a garland on the neck of Sri Guru or offering at his feet a few flowers and fruits, some money, sweets, or cloth does not mean that real worship of theguruhas been performed. The real Vyasa-puja is to surrender oneself completely at the lotus feet of Srila Gurudeva and to fulfil his instruction of self realization. Realguru-pujacannot be performed until the mood of selfless surrender at the lotus feet of Sri Guru appears in one's heart. Devotees around the world will be celebrating the 68th Vyasa Puja of Lokanath Swami Maharaj. The celebrations are being held over 3 days starting from today at Sri Pandarpur Dham, in India. The Vyasa Puja co-incides with the Dindi festival where some 25000 pilgrims attend.

Born in 1949, in the village of Aravade in Maharashtra India, HH Lokanath Swami (born Raghunath Patil) always had an ambition to dedicate his life to serving people, his country and humanity. It was in Vrndavan on Gopasatami 1972 that he became an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada. He received the sannyasa order from His Divine Grace in December 1975, at the age of 26 years. Lokanath Dasa officially became Lokanath Swami.

One of the most important instructions he received from Srila Prabhupada was to preach Lord Caitanya's message by organising Padayatra (a walking festival) worldwide in order to realise Caitanya Mahaprabhu's declaration - "the holy name of Krsna will be preached in every town and village on this earth." The first leg of the journey was from Vrndavana to Mayapur.

In the course of his Padayatra service, His Holiness travelled on foot to many of the major tirthas and sacred sites of India.

Lokanath Swami has worked on establishing many temples in India and around the world.

He is well known for his inspiring lectures, kirtanas and the unique World Holy Name Project, which is an initiative to increase the events, and activities that people can participate in to spread the holy name on this planet bringing love and peace to one and all.

Lokanath Swami Maharaj is also the author of many books ranging from the lessons learnt from his personal conversations with his spiritual master (My Prabhupada, In Conversation With Srila Prabhupada) to taking his readers on a visual and spiritual pilgrimage though Vrndavana (Vraja-mandala Darsana). He is one of the initiating Gurus in ISKCON, and has initiated disciples in South Africa and all over the world.