Praṇamāmi Guru Tīrtha Padaṁ

So many devotees came to attend the 2012 appearance anniversary of Gurudev.  First, we came to Kolkata and Guru Mahārāj was here.  We offered prostrated obeisances to him. Guru Mahārāj asked, “Why are you going today? I told, "My tickets are booked, I have to go back." So, then we took a taxi and went to the station.  After that, we heard an announcement  that the train is delayed by one day and we would have to go the next day.  We came back to the maṭh. Guru Mahārāj said, “You lost so much money, you had to go to the station and come back.  Shall I give you some money?” We told, "Guru Maharaj, “Everything is yours.” So many devotees came, and to each and every devotee, he told, "You take some money, you take some money."  He showed so much affection to each and everyone and knows everything before it even happens. -Sharmaji, Delhi

One time we went for preaching in Assam. There was one disciple of Prabhupada, Madhavananada Vrajavasi, along with Krishnaballabh Brahmachari, myself, Narottam Das, and another one younger than us named Kanai Bramhachari. 
 We were in Sarbhog for preaching and there was heavy rain for five days and no sun was seen at all, so we were unable to go out. Krishnaballabh Brahmachari (later Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj) used to cook for the devotees over there. Everybody used to like his cooking. That day he cooked something delicious with potatoes only. It was raining heavily, so we could not go outside to purchase vegetables. There were only potatoes in the math. 
 He was expert, because the qualities of Vaishnavas is they are expert in anything and everything— whatever is related to the service of Vaishnavs. So he was expert in so many different ways to serve the lotus feet of Vaishnavas. 
He was very grave in hearing Harikatha and speaking srauta vani and always engaged him

In 1986 when I was a college student, I went to our Agartala temple at noon. Guru Maharaj was there for Ratha Yatra festival and was available in His room. He was alone, chanting Hari Nam. When I entered His room without permission, I thought I may have disturbed Him, making an offense, but at the same time, I could not resist myself to have his darshan and see His calm, mild smile and feel his presence as a parent, guardian, well-wisher, and true friend—a real master of life. In my childhood age, I called Him "Baba," which means father. When He saw me, he accepted me immediately as a son with a smile, with love and affection. He started Harikatha and at the end told me, "No fish can survive without water, as Guru Maharaj cannot stay without Hari Kirtan." This is still alive in my memory. Since my childhood and until today I have realized my life depends on Srila Gurudev for support when I am in danger or any sorts of problems. —Gautam Bhowmik

  大古鲁颂 （1）一钵即生涯，（2）随缘度岁华。 （3）是山皆有寺，（4）何处不为家。 （5）执杖飞寰宇，（6）足香圣地花。 （7）荣耀遍三界，（8）恩慈洒天涯。 The glories of Srila Gurudeva: （1) One danda is His life. （2) He stays at ease under all circumstances; （3) If there is mountain, there must have temple, （4) Where is not His home? （5) Holding danda, He traveled around the world, （6) His lotus feet make the flowers in the holy dhama fragrant;    (7) His glories spread in the three worlds,    (8) His mercy spreads throughout the whole universe （9）青山不墨千秋画， （10）流水无弦万古琴。 （11）大爱希声红尘动， （12）隠迹无语寰宇惊。 (9) A green mountain is a beautiful picture without having been painted; (10) A flowing river is a musical instrument without a string; (11) Sri Guru’s universal divine love is so deep and nourishing that it moved the whole world   (12) His samadhi and disappearance surprised the whole universe without any word. —Shyamasundar Das, China translated by Radhika Dasi

Excerpted from a report dated July 19, 2010: Our Most Revered Srila Gurudev Om Vishnupad 108 Sri Srimad Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj attended the Annual Ratha Yatra Festival of Lord Baladev, Subhadra and Jagannath in Sri Kshetra Puri Dham for the first time in 5 years. While in Puri Dham, Srila Gurudev initiated 46 devotees in to Harinam and 12 devotees took diksha on the day of Rath Yatra. Later in the afternoon, he had seen devotees pulling the carts of Baladev, Subhadra and Jagannath with devotion. We observed tears rolling down His cheeks on a few occasions. The next day, His Divine Grace went to Gundicha Mandir to have darsan of the Deities on the carts. One Brahmin named Sri Ram Panda took Srila Gurudev close to the Rath and cleared the crowd in front of Sri Jagannath. Devotees shouted "Hari Bol, Jai Jagannath" after getting His Darsan. A day after that, Srila Gurudev went to the seashore to take darsan. He offered His respects to the ocean, sprinkled some wa