om agyana-timirandhasya jyananjaya-shalakaya
chaksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
namah om vishnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhakti Vedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa –shunyavadi-pasatya-desa-tarine
Your Divine Grace Srila Parbhupada, the king of all the Vaisnavas, lord and master of all the devotees, often expressed that, “I want to make Manipur, land of Babhruvahana, the son of Arjuna, the first scientific Vaisnava state of ISKCON.” Everyone in Manipur was ready to receive your divine lotus feet ever since the name of ISKCON becomes known. Most Vaisnavas in Manipur have expressed that it is their greatest misfortune that your planned visit to Manipur did not occur. However, because of your desire, Srila Prabhupada, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna, made everything happen.
ISKCON Manipur was opened on December 25, 1977, according to the directions that Your Divine Grace mercifully gave us just before your departure from this physical world. We simply acted as your mailmen and delivered whatever Your Divine Grace lovingly instructed us to. The coming of ISKCON to Manipur was received with great expectation by the true Vaisnavas, and the first Hare krsna festival of Manipur was held on April 7, 8, and 9. Many scholars and leaders in Manipur participated in this festival with enthusiasm. Our ISKCON arati is becoming the talk of the town in Manipur. Everyday at least 150 people are coming for the evening Bhagavad-gita class, and they greatly appreciate our ISKCON activities. The first international Bhagavata–dharma Discourse in the history of Manipur was held on April 21. Devotees from the U.S.A., Brazil and Italy participated in this historic event. All the inhabitants of Manipur where simply amazed to see our Western god-brothers becoming purified Vaisnavas. This is the priceless gift of Your Divine Grace.
So, everything is beginning to happen in Manipur as Your Divine Grace envisioned. We beg to eternally guided by your divine instruction. All glories to you, Srila Prabhupada!
Your eternal servants,
Lokanath Swami
