Extraordinary Activities in His Childhood

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Right from his childhood, Guru Mahārāj had an affinity for meditation. He would sit for long hours meditating on Lord Śiva whom he had a particular affinity. In Goalpara (Assam) there is a temple where Guru Mahārāj used to sit and meditate. Now that place is called Tīrtheśvara Mahādeva. 

Guru Mahārāj's name is Tīrtha and Tīrtheśvara is the Lord of our Gurudev. Also, tīrtha means pilgrim place, so it could be understood as the Lord of pilgrimage. Guru Mahārāj's name is Tīrtha and so it is named Tīrtheśvara Mahādeva.

Anywhere he would sit and meditate was Guru Mahārāj’s favorite place. His parents were very worried to see such a small child sitting and meditating. They thought, what is this? His parents feared what will happen to him. They would call his name, but he didn't respond.

One Summer when Guru Mahārāj was about five years old, his uncles and aunties came along with their children to Goalpara. Goalpara is a serene, scenic place with the Brahmaputra river flowing nearby with mountains and lots of trees. The whole family used to go on excursions and picnics. Once they were all climbing a mountain, and after some time, Guru Mahārāj told them that he was not feeling well; that he had a stomach ache and could not climb anymore. He told them that he wanted to go back, but his family tried to persuade him otherwise. They had such a nice picnic to enjoy and wanted him to stay. Still, he said he didn't feel well. They asked him if he could go alone and he said yes, he knew the way back.

So, Guru Mahārāj went back to his house where his Grandmother and Father were present, and went to his room to sit in meditation. A stomach ache or body ache was only an excuse. He was simply not interested in recreational activities, although he was still only a child at that time.

When his classmates told Prahlād Mahārāj to let them play, Prahlād told no, we will not play today. Come, I will tell you something. That was when Prahlād gave all the instructions to the demoniac boys. They were about the same age as Guru Mahārāj then.

After some time, Guru Mahārāj's grandmother called, saying, Eh Khoka, where are you, where are you? Guru Mahārāj was not at all attentive to her. She called several times, but he could not be disturbed. Then she told her son, (Guru Mahārāj’s father) See your son. He is sitting here and not moving, something has happened to him. Is his health ok? He came back from the picnic saying his health is not good. Please check whether everything is alright with him. Guru Mahārāj’s father then called him several times, yet he remained unresponsive.

Guru Mahārāj’s father shook him and Guru Mahārāj got disturbed and started crying. He said, you have disturbed me, you have disturbed me! Hearing his cries, everyone in the village assembled there. He was crying so loudly, they came to inquire about what had happened. In those days, everybody was concerned about others, particularly in the villages; this culture continues in India. When the family members came back from an excursion, they saw the crowd in front of their house and thought what happened? They went inside and saw Guru Mahārāj sitting and crying because he was disturbed from his meditation. This was the fixation of his mind.

There was another time when Guru Mahārāj went missing for three days. Everyone was searching everywhere, crying, Where is our son, where is our son? They did not find his whereabouts. And then they thought we have not checked on the top of the mountain yet, so let us check there also. And when they reached the top of the mountain, they saw Guru Mahārāj sitting in front of the deity of Lord Śiva and meditating. He had been there for three days! He had not eaten or drunk anything, nor slept. He was sitting alone in that jungle and meditating for three days and three nights. Finally, he was forcibly brought back to the house. Every time he was disturbed from his meditation, he would cry.

Guru Mahārāj’s name was Kāmākhyā Charaṇ. Even in his school and college days, his fellow schoolmates would say, Kāmākhyā Charaṇ is very different, not like any of us. He would only mind his own business. He was very perfect in his conduct. Every day he would wake up early and sit in meditation, do pranayama before going to school, and would tell us that it is also good for the body and the mind; it is good for everything.

When Gurudeva met Param Gurudev for the first time, he told him that he knew all relations are temporary and that one day we will have to leave everything. He said he understood that the things and the persons we think belong to us do not belong to us. But still, he said, I am not able to come out of it. This realization and longing were not ordinary for such a young person.

—Sri Bhakti Suhrid Paramadwaity Mahārāj

Spoken on Srila Gurudev's Avirbhav-tithi, Ramnavami, 2019
Recalled from interviews with Srila Gurudev's family members and friends in Goalpara-dham





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