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His Merciful Concern for the Jīvas

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I first met Śrīla Tīrtha Mahārāja during the Navadvīpa-parikramā in 1996, when I came to the dhāma for the first and only time in my life with a one-way ticket, secretly hoping in my heart to stay there forever. Unfortunately, that desire was not destined to be fulfilled. But by the mercy of Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrīla Mahārāja himself, I, along with the other Vaiṣṇavas who were present on the parikramā through Koladvīpa, was granted the chance to touch, for a few unforgettable moments, the Transcendental Abode of Bhagavān Gaura and to feel it within my heart. This happened when Śrīla Bhakti Vallabha Tīrtha Mahārāja began to sing “akrodha paramānanda nityānanda rāy” and then began chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahāmantra. Never in my life (as a fallen and insignificant soul) have I experienced such happiness. All the bhaktas at that time seemed to go mad in ecstasy. Outwardly, our bodies were in earthly Navadvīpa, but we — the jīvas — were in another realm altogether, where spiritual bliss w...
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101st Vyasa-puja Offering From Akinchana Das

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All Glories to Shri Sita-Rama! All Glories to Shri Guru and Gauranga! A humble offering to Most Beloved and Most Revered HDG Shrila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaja on his holy advent day celebration 2025. I had the most fortunate and undeserved opportunity to meet HDG Shrila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaja in 1980 at the Kolkata branch of Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math. It was my good luck that he happened to be staying there for two weeks, as he was usually engaged with preaching tours that took him all over India. I was introduced by a vanachari devotee, Sudama prabhu, who was residing at the math at that time. I had come to be at the temple at the behest of Sudama after a chance meeting with him on the streets of Kolkata. I can distinctly remember entering the room where Shrila Tirtha Maharaja had just finished honouring prasadam. A number of senior sannyasis were also there, which made me very nervous. However, this was soon dispelled by the charming smile and soothing vo...
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101st Vyasa-puja Offering From Advaya Jnan das

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Dear Shrila Guru Maharaj,  I pay my obeisances at Your Lotus Feet again and again. Today is the Navami of the waning moon of that very month in which You appear. It will happen when the Moon is on the 9th day of waxing. Feeling the urge to concentrate on this approaching event, I read Your hari-katha. While describing the Pastimes of Shri Krishna in Shrimad Bhagavatam, Shukadeva Gosvami says that one should never think of Krishna as an ordinary boy going on a picnic. In this case, one may imagine that anyone can also easily join Him. Do not forget that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, says Shukadeva Gosvami.  Why is He the Supreme Personality of Godhead? He is everywhere, All-pervading, Omnipotent, He is far, far beyond this world—transcendental. His Abode, His Friends are also transcendental.  Dear Srila Gurudeva, on the eve of your Vyasa Puja, I request you: Please forgive me for not really understanding that you are an extraordinary person, not of this world, ...
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101st Vyasa-puja Offering From Bhakta Jivan Das

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 Shri Shri Guru Gaurangau jayatah! All glories to Shrila Bhakti Pramod Puri Goswami! All glories to Shrila Bhakti Vallabha Tirtha Goswami! I offer innumerable humble obeisances at the lotus feet of the all-respected Shrila Tirtha Goswami Maharaja, who is a complete manifestation of Shri Guru tattva and a beloved associate of the Supreme Lord. May he forgive my numerous offenses committed out of ignorance or laziness. May he accept the sincere feeling of deep attraction that I have for him. He was very kind and gentle to us, Russian devotees, when we lived and traveled with him. He was strict and emphatic when he noticed inappropriate behavior of his followers or denounced Mayavada teachings. He showed unparalleled patience, explaining to us the subtleties of Vaishnava siddhanta and sad-acar.  In his dealings with senior Vaishnavas of our Guru-varga, we saw his respectfulness and meekness. He never complained of physical discomfort and humbly accepted the circumstances around h...
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101st Vyasa-puja Offering From Madan Gopal Das

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Hare Krishna!  On the occasion of Srila Gurudev's 101st Appearance Anniversary, I would like to say that by the grace of Gurudev, we can become simple-hearted, frank-hearted, we can become sincere, we can come to say from the heart and act from the heart in the service of Krishna, by Gurudev's grace. And though Gurudev is sometimes playing the pastime of illness, but that is only his lila. Actually, when we come to this sincerity by His grace, then Gurudev will reveal to us that He is not ordinary person, He is divine person, personal associate of Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, and it is by His grace that we can come to Golok, to the service of Radha-Krishna in Golok Vrindavan. It is by the grace of Gurudev. Hare Krishna. Jay Gurudev! —Madan Gopal Das, Slovenia
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101st Vyasa-puja Offering From Haripriya Dasi

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On June 19, 1999, on Deribasovskaya Street in Odesa, an encounter took place that changed my entire life! I met a procession of unusual people who were singing incomprehensible songs and looked very special. An irresistible force drew me toward them—I joined in, began to dance, sing incomprehensible words, and, most importantly, felt an overwhelming desire for everyone around to witness it. Deep in my heart, I was crying out to the world: "Look, I am with them!" When the Nagar Sankirtan came to an end and everyone bowed down, I saw HIM—my eternal Gurudev, who, by his causeless Mercy, comes into this world to save me and my spiritual brothers and sisters, with only one purpose—to grant us eternal well-being and guide us back to our True Home. From 2000 to 2004, by indescribable fortune and the Mercy of Gurudev, I was granted the opportunity to be near His Lotus Feet, following him on his travels across India, visiting our Maths and disciples who organized both grand and small ...
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101st Vyasa-puja Offering from Indulekha Dasi

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All Glory to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!  Hare Krishna! My humble obeisances to all devotees! I am deeply grateful to Srila Gurudev for accepting me as his disciple. When I first found out about Krishna Consciousness and Gurudev in 2013, I felt that this was my path, the very thing I had been searching for. At first, I had doubts—was he truly my spiritual master? I prayed for a sign. Then one night, Gurudev appeared to me in a dream and called me to follow him. It was difficult to take a leave from work, so I had to arrange a sick leave. In May 2014, I flew to Kolkata to receive Harinam. I knew that Gurudev was in the lila of illness and that I would not be able to speak with him personally, but that did not stop me. Arriving in India with a girl from another country, we both experienced a cultural shock. Reaching our Math with great difficulty, we spent a few days recovering. But having settled in a little, I realized that I had come home, I among my spiritual family. At first, I d...
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