Praṇamāmi Guru Tīrtha Padaṁ

One time the deities of Gokul Mahavan math were damaged by miscreants who were later caught.   Those people were waiting to be given punishment. Tridandi Swami Sadhu Maharaj was an eye-witness to the incident.    I observed all senior sadhus pressurizing Sadhu Maharaj to give witness in the court to make sure the miscreants were punished.   I myself was also favoring this stance strongly.    It was during that time that I saw Sadhu Maharaj’s saintly quality and his faith in Acharya Deva (Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj) and was very much surprised.   Sadhu Maharaj took his bag and went straight to Acharya Deva at Rajapura to take his advice.   When he met Srila Acharya Deva in Rajapura, coincidentally I was also present in Srila Maharaj’s room.    In reply to Sadhu Maharaj’s question about whether we have to proceed with the punishment, Srila Acharya Deva was referring to verses from Sri Chaitanya Charitamrta and he explained who we are to punish the Vrajvasis?   Vraj

One sunny day I took Guru Maharaj and his sevak team for a morning walk on the beach. Singapore beach is usually sunny. On that walk, there was some discussion about Raganuga-bhakti. There was another great Vaishnav there who was particularly speaking to Russian devotees while emphasizing that topic. It was Hrishikesh Maharaj, an American disciple, who introduced this topic with a question related to how all of us should go to Raganuga-bhakti. The discussion went on for a while and Guru Maharaj was very patient while listening. At the end of the conversation, I told him directly that I do not have a good background and I don't come from a favorable part of the world. I continued to explain that my Guru Maharaj, [Srila Bhaktivedanta] Swami Maharaj instructed me to do sadhana bhakti and I am not qualified to do Raganuga-bhakti because of my background. Guru Maharaj replied while simply folding his hands in pranam and said, "This Maharaj who is speaking is a great Vaishnava, I a

I remember I spoke with one lady who was Buddhist since her childhood but she had started going to ISKCON. She felt this was another practice for liberation, but more colorful. She became friends with devotees that invited her to that same program [previously mentioned.] She liked Gurudev’s Harikatha and recorded an interview with him for radio. She had many questions for Gurudev and he was replying. I don't know the details of the interview, but after it, she asked Gurudev for a blessing and Gurudev told me that she should take Harinam and she agreed. At that time, she told me that she was also attracted to Gurudev because he was checking the almanac for travel dates. This was because she was an astrologer so this was like a bonus for her to see that Gurudev was checking that. She agreed that yes, she would take Harinam. She told my mother (Srimati Tungavidya Devi Dasi), as they were friends, that Gurudev told her to take Harinam and she will take it the next day and she wanted my

All Glories to Sree Sree Guru and Gauranga! I consider myself fortunate beyond doubt that  I got to see and have the association of Gurudev very early in my life. I was in school when I first had his darshan at Gita Bhawan (Jammu), of course my elder brother Rasaviharidas being the catalyst. It soon became an annual affair as I used to attend his discourses, attend nagar sankirtan processions, and honor prasadam with my family and others when he used to visit us during the month of September every year. That time I did not have the guts to ask him questions but slowly as I grew up I started to ask some as he had plenty of time for all of us. When after marriage I came to Kolkata far away from my parents Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math Kolkata was my second home or 'mayeka' as we call it.  I took Diksha after marriage as my in-laws were very supportive. I remember after the birth of my daughter I asked Gurudev that I could not chant much due to 'her'. Gurudev smilin

Śrīla Bhakti Pramod Purī Goswāmī Mahārāj has said that our Gurudev is the embodiment of tṛnād api sunichena . He is an embodiment of this verse of Mahāprabhu. Once Śrīla Bhakti Pramod Purī Goswāmī said, Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Mahārāj is coming, so you should chant kīrtans. Some of his disciples said, there is some more time until he comes, we will start later. Purī Mahārāj did not say anything more to them but took the kāṁśā and went himself to the gate to start kīrtans. Though Gurudev was like his disciple, in that generation, Śrīla Purī Mahārāj went himself to welcome him. He told his disciples, you see him as Śrīla Tīrtha Mahārāj, but I see him as my own brother, Śrīla Bhakti Dayita Mādhav Mahārāj. Bhaktivedānta Sāgar Mahārāj of Haridwar told that your Gurudev is a nondifferent manifestation of your Param Gurudev. Therefore there is no doubt that if we want to fulfill the desires of our Param Gurudev, then if we simply follow the instructions of Gurudev and follow i

By the special mercy of our Most Revered Srila Gurudeva, we are getting this opportunity to listen to the holy biography of our Most Revered Srila Param Gurudev. He sees that we are very much in need of this, and to enable us to walk on the right path Srila Gurudeva gives us directions and instructions sometimes through the deities, sometimes through the Vaishnavas, and sometimes from mahatmas. Yesterday we remembered an instance of how Srila Param Gurudev gave darshan of the holy scriptures in the library to a visiting Minister.  I happened to remember some instances in regard to the holy scriptures which give us important lessons. Though we have not seen Param Gurudev, by seeing the photograph of him with the minister in the library, we can understand how much significance  Param Gurudev is giving to the holy scriptures and Vaishnava literature that was found neatly arranged in the glass cupboards. In Guru Maharaj's bhajan kutir we have also seen a rack next to his study tab

As per Prahlad Das Prabhu's request and to purify my mind remembering Guru, Vaishnav, and Bhagavan, I will try to remember about Srila Gurudev’s Austrian and Slovenian tours. Gurudev visited Austria and Slovenia four times in 1998, 1999, 2000, then in 2002. 2001 was the year of the September 11th attack in America, so as per the request of devotees from India, he returned to India earlier. In 1998, I did not meet Gurudev, but my mother met him and I heard about it from her and some other devotees, so I will start from there. There was no plan for Gurudev to come to Slovenia or Austria as per our limited vision, but it was Mahaprabhu’s plan. Bindu Madhav Prabhu was organizing Gurudev’s program in France but he canceled it just before Gurudev’s arrival there due to chaos surrounding a world championship in football there. Gurudev was already in Europe; I think he was in Germany and he had some gap of time when he came to know that there were some of Srila Paramadvaiti Maharaj'

After about 8 or 9 times in India, I was celebrating in Kartik with Srila Gurudev.  I was very lucky because for some reason his sevaks made arrangements for me to closely access him. He was always very sweet and made me comfortable around him. Every devotee attending Kartik whether from Russia, Europe, or anywhere said they had a similar feeling of personal closeness to him.  It's amazing that although he has so many disciples and associates,  he remembered everyone's name and where they are from. This is very amazing. Also, my personal feeling was that Gurudev always understands my mind and heart; I could tell Gurudev had the ability to see more than what we can see with our eyes. In 2011, I came to Kolkata and told Gurudev that we plan to move from the US to Poland for a while. Gurudev shook his head and said, "It's going to take time." Later on, we saw that it took more than 8 months. Gurudev had that vision for the future. Another time in Kolkata, I

Once during Harikatha, Srila Gurudev narrated his own experience from a long time ago.  H e was in Agra with the prachar party. He explained that sometimes they did kirtan in a park near Taj Mahal. Usually when in Agra, Guru Maharaj and the devotees were welcomed by Matura Prasad Agrawal. He was a wealthy gentleman who owned oil mills. He had a lot of faith in Guru Maharaj and extended an open invitation to visit his house for Harikatha and kirtan anytime.   On this particular occasion, Guru Maharaj went to Agra without informing Matura Prasad. When he reached his home, he saw four babajis doing kirtan. Without making his presence known, he left. He went back to the prachar party and told them to put their luggage on a horse cart and go to a dharmsala. In the midst of their moving, Matura Prasad Agrawal saw Guru Maharaj and the devotees from his balcony and came running to him, saying, “Swamiji where are you going? Please come to my house!” Guru Maharaj explained that he thou

Once Bindu Madhav Prabhu from France asked Srila Gurudev a question and he told me about it later because he said he was so glad that he asked because of the answer that he got. It is particularly pertinent to foreign devotees. The question was (I'm paraphrasing): "In the future, the Holy Name will be sung in every town and village. So for future devotees, it will be much easier to practice Krsna consciousness. There will be many temples and maths, devotees can have prasad easily and participate in kirtan. Isn't that unfair? Because for us now it is often very difficult. Many times we are all alone amongst materialistic people, we are struggling alone and sometimes can't even have prasad." Srila Gurumaharaj answered: "Don't worry. Mahaprabhu will take care of you." —Urmila Dasi

Srila Gurudev would travel to various places from Kolkata for preaching. During that time my service was to clean Srila Gurudev’s room once he left Kolkata Math and also when he would come back to Kolkata after completing his preaching tour. Additionally, when Srila Gurudev stayed in Kolkata, I would come to the math during weekends in the morning, and sometimes I would get the opportunity of cleaning Srila Gurudev’s room.  So One day I got the opportunity for that service. The sevak who asked me said, “You must do everything very quickly because Gurumaharaj can come out any time." In my mind, I was tremendously happy that while cleaning I will get the chance of touching his used things. I happily entered the room and started looking for the things which were on the bed of Srila Gurudev- his clothes, his towels, his blanket, his slippers on the floor, his pen and books on the desk, etc. For that moment it was like a treasure trove for me. I just started touching his used t

Once Gurudeva was going for some work to the court on Param Gurudeva's instructions but was held back by Keshav Prabhu [his guru varga]  who told him to have prasadam since the court matter may take a long time and he didn't want him to feel hunger. Param Gurudeva happened to come and saw him taking prasadam, and only said:  Oh, Krishna Ballabh.. you are still here? Srila Gurudeva immediately stood up leaving eating. His head was bowed down and he was seen to have tear-filled eyes.  Without giving any reason or explanations, he told: Gurudeva, I am leaving right now. He walked out quickly. For him, it was as though an earthquake had happened. Through this, Gurudeva is teaching how one has to balance between following Gurudeva and Guruvarga's instructions. Without surrender, any limb of devotion is not devotion, it is karma.  We pray we get such surrender as our Gurudeva has for Param Gurudeva. —Srila Bhakti Kushal Padmanabha Maharaj

There are infinite glories of Srila Gurudev. There a shlok: “sakshad haritvena samasta-shastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhihi" It means that Guruji is nondifferent from God. Guru is Ashray Vigrah, Lord is Vishay Vigrah. [Supreme Lord is the enjoyer principle, jivas are the enjoyed]. The scriptures give indications and describe the Supreme Lord's appearance. If we join those together, we can get some mental pictures of what the Lord looks like, even though the real vision of that is unavailable to material eyes. However, when we could see Gurudev, even our material eyes could be used for seeing his divine form. He is so merciful he even lets those with material vision see him. Gurudev is an actual vigrah of God. He rectifies us and helps us incorporate improvements. A long time ago I'd been on Punjab prachar and I got an opportunity to learn from Gurudev in Ludhiana, where I received his shiksha. Gurudev has so much forbearance— we cannot imagine! I saw it during Vais

In 2012 in Kolkata Math after Srila Gurudev watered Tulasi Devi and paid obeisance to Srila Param Gurudev, He was going towards His own bhajan kutir where He saw me standing. He asked me: How are you? Any difficulty? I replied: No, now not. Gurudev: Now not? Me: Yes, now not. Only sometimes. Gurudev: Sometimes? Me: Yes. Gurudev (with a strong voice and golden aura): Krishna is always gracing you! Otherwise, there would be some mistake in Him. (Then He waved with His lotus hand indicating that there is no mistake in Krishna who is All-Good). Then He entered into His bhajan kutir. Gurudev is fully established in the realization of tat te'nu kampam verse (SB 10.14.8) and out of His causeless mercy He wanted me to realize it also. —Madan Gopal Das, Slovenia

1997 may be remembered in history for a number of reasons, but in the minds and hearts of his devoted disciples, this was the year that most elevated and revered President-Acharya of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, toured the Western Hemisphere for the first time. His Divine Grace Bhakti Sundar Narasingh Maharaj, who had previously visited these unworthy authors at our home in Phoenix, Arizona, USA in the fall of 1995, informed us that Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj was preparing for his first trip outside of India in the near future. Unfortunately, there were some difficulties in obtaining the necessary visas and, as a result of such obstacles, Srila Gurudev’s departure from India was delayed. Eventually, to our surprise and delight, we received a letter in late April of 1997 from Rashbihari das (director of the tour and intimate disciple of His Divine Grace) stating that Srila Gurudev and his entourage would be arrivin

In 2017 we celebrated Ramnavami, Vyasa Puja in Kolkata when Guru Maharaj was present and now it is four years later. In 2024 his centennial 100th Appearance anniversary will be celebrated.  I just pray to him that I get a chance to glorify him again and again.  Whenever I got the opportunity to be with Gurudev as his servant on his tours all over India all over the world, I never had the aptitude to speak myself.  I am only interested in hearing from Gurudev.  That became my lifeline.   In February of 1998, we were in Honolulu, Hawaii (USA) and we were staying at the home of Mr. Kapur from India.  Guru Maharaj called me and he said tomorrow is the Appearance Vyasa Puja of Srila Prabhupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. He instructed me that I must speak tomorrow. I could not muster courage and I was in anxiety but somehow I did and after that, all my hesitation and shyness went away and I know by the causeless mercy of Guru Maharaj I got an opportunity to glorify Guru, Vaishnav, and

In 2002, Srila Gurudev would arrive to Slovenia by car from Italy directly for the hall program in capital city Ljubljana and after the program He would move to one village for his residence. The hall program was to start at 6 pm and Srila Gurudev would arrive at noon or so from Italy and we planned that Gurudev would be taking rest before the program in the small apartment in Ljubljana where Bosudha Dasi (His disciple) was staying at that time. Gurudev arrived at abour 2 or 3 pm from Italy and I took Him and Anantaram prabhu with car to this apartment. In the car Gurudev told me that it is not good for a Matha-vasi brahmacari to secretly intimately associate with lady devotee and they (Matha-vasis) should not marry without first taking permission from Guru. He was speaking about one of His disciples and He showed His omniscience that He knows everything about him. When we reached apartment, before entering Srila Gurudev humbly asked me whether He has to take off His shoes (in trinad

Once when Guru Maharaj was in Ludhiana at the new model town temple, he was alone in his room. I asked him in a very straightforward manner if we can chant while hearing Harikatha. He replied, "We didn't hear Parikshit Maharaj was doing Harinam while hearing from Sukhdev Goswami." It was understood then that we definitely are not recommended to do Harinam while hearing Harikatha. Additionally, we should remember that chanting Harinam during Harikatha is a disrespectful gesture towards a senior Vaishnava who is speaking Harikatha. I recall another occasion that one devotee approached Srila Gurudev and said: I have a lot of interest in doing Harinam and I try, but I don't get time. In his Harikatha that evening, Srila Gurudev responded to this by explaining that we take out time for all the body-related requirements irrespective of how busy we are. We have no trouble considering the needs of our body—lunch, snacks, dinner, supper, etc. Once our soul is out

I remember my first experience organizing and hosting a program for Gurudeva. I booked two rooms in a hotel— one small one for Gurudeva, and another big one to accommodate his entourage of five devotees. I later found that the big room was given for Gurudeva's stay while the others adjusted themselves in the small room. I was worrying if everything would be okay, but Vaishnavas are very easily pleased, even with very little. By Gurudeva's grace, everything went off well and only sweet memories linger on. Gurudeva and the preaching party had planned to come to Slovenia and stay for a week. All programs and accommodation in the hotel were arranged accordingly. But one night I heard someone calling, "Mataji! Mataji!" from the street in front of my house. I opened the window and saw an unknown Prabhuji who said they came to the program. I told him that the program would not start until the next day. But he told, "Oh Mataji.. Gurudeva wanted to come well in advan