Praṇamāmi Guru Tīrtha Padaṁ

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 opportuni...

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...