Sunday, 17 August 2025 [ Mayapura, West Bengal, India Time]
Nandotsava and Śrīla Prabhupada Vyas-puja
Fasting Till Noon
Srila Prabhupada: “Vyāsa-pūjā means to observe the birthday of the spiritual master. That is called Vyāsa-pūjā. And so today, this Nandotsava day, fortunately, seventy-three years ago I was born on this date. So this date, Nandotsava, is also a very fortunate occasion, because after Kṛṣṇa’s birth, Mahārāja Nanda, the father of Kṛṣṇa, he celebrated a utsava, a ceremony, and this day is called Nandotsava.”(Sri Vyasa-puja — Hamburg, September 5, 1969)
Śrila Prabhupada: “Janmastami is to be performed on the 16th of August, and the next day is my Birthday. The feasting should be held on the 17th, so that you can finish two festivals in one—namely, Nandotsava and Vyasapuja (Spiritual Master’s Birthday).”
(Letter to Satsvarupa — Montreal 8 August, 1968)
“Prabhupāda: Hm. The name was kept Abhaya. Abhaya means “There is no fear of death of this child.” In my maternal uncle’s house, because I was born on the Nandotsava, they kept my name Nandadulal.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Nandadulal? Why were you called like that?
Prabhupāda: Because I was born in Nandotsava day.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Did they used to call you Nandadulal?
Prabhupāda: Hm. In my maternal uncle’s house I was called Nandadulal. Nandu
(Room Conversation — July 19, 1977, Vrndavana)
Śrila Prabhupāda: “The program executed by you on Janmastami and Nandotsava Days appears to be very nice and I am so glad that you remember my childhood name “Nandu” given by one of my uncles”
(Letter to Yamuna — Calcutta 16 September, 1970)
