A Pujari in His Gurudev's Bhajan Kutir

By
I observed how Guru Maharaj behaved with his guruvarga. I could see this particularly when Srila Sant Goswami Maharaj would visit him in Mayapur and also on with Srila Bhakti Sharan Trivikram Maharaj was in Kolkata math.

In 2004 when Srila Gurudev’s Vyasa puja was organized in Kolkata, Srila BS Trivikram Maharaj was present. Only one chair was put on top and they wanted Gurudev to sit there, but he would not. We saw that Gurudev did not sit there. He made Sripad Trivikram Maharaj sit on the chair and he just sat near his feet on the floor. He was not accepting the special seat or anything; he was not ready to accept any respect, even after being in such a highly exalted position. In front of his guruvarga, especially in front of his godbrothers, he would always identify and present himself just as an ordinary disciple of Most Revered Paramgurudev Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj. Paramgurudev recognized his position by saying, I have many disciples, but the one who lives up to my heart’s expectation is Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj. Still, Gurudev himself was always identifying and presenting himself as an insignificant disciple of Paramgurudev all the time.

In about 1999, I got diksha in Vrindavan math. When I went inside the bhajan kutir of Paramgurudev where Srila Gurudev recited diksha mantras. He told us we should give pranams to Paramgurudev. I tried to give pranam to Gurudev, but I could see on his face that he is hesitating and irritated about why we are doing this in front of Paramgurudev. Gurudev indicated  to offer pranams here, (motioning to Paramgurudev’s picture) saying, "He is your Gurudev." Gurudev was inspiring everyone to give pranam to Paramgurudev while appearing in Paramgurudev’s bhajan kutir simply as a pujari doing his service; that is all. When he recited the mantras, we could see his dedication and love for Paramgurudev, how special it was.

—Srila Bhakti Kinkar Damodar Maharaj

Excerpted and transcribed with slight edits from Zoom meeting for singing glories of Srila Gurudev on His 96th Appearance Festival (Zoom), 02 Apr 2020.



 






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"She Has Gone to Goloka-dhāma "

By
Image
Guru Mahārāja is not an ordinary person; he is sent by the Supreme Lord to rescue all of us. In the office, if we are working in one place, we may be deputed to another place to do some work. Similarly, Gurudeva has been deputed from Goloka-dhāma to help us. Guru Mahārāja has come here to fulfill the desire of Hari-Guru-Vaishnavas. In 1997, I received harināma in Gokula-Mahāvana along with my  dharmapatnī , my wife. Guru Mahārāja asked my wife, "If something bad has happened to you, how do you take this? As if Gurudeva is at fault, or as if other persons are at fault?” My wife replied, “Whatever happens, I think it is good for me, by your arrangement.” In 2013, my wife was detected with breast cancer, and later left this world. Some devotees came to the maṭha and gave the news to Gurudeva. Gurudeva replied, "She has gone to Goloka-dhāma." In the hospital, I remember when my wife was in the ICU, and the doctor came and told me, "Your wife is in the fina
Read more

He Accepts Every Circumstance With Utmost Humility

By
Image
I heard something very deep and nice from a devotee that I met in Switzerland. He told me about how he had been staying at a temple there while Guru Mahārāja was visiting.  He said that the maṭha-in-charge expressed his desire that Gurudeva speak about Bhāgavatam. But then an order came that he was not allowed to speak there. In the room where the Bhāgavatam reading was, there was a young boy,. He was maybe only three months in the maṭha and recently came out of a completely material life, eating meat, smoking, etc. Anyway, he was the only one who had permission to speak about Bhāgavatam. And what did Guru Mahārāja do? He entered the room, bowed down to this boy and he sat in front of this boy and listened to his Bhāgavatam reading. This is his humbleness. This is always the way; they teach by example, not by punishing or whatever. When this maṭha-in-charge saw this whole situation, he decided in one moment to leave this institution forever. Although he left that organization, he did
Read more

The Greatness of His Simplicity

By
Image
When Guru Mahārāja visited Ukraine his programs were in a public place such as a camp near the Black Sea, like a tourist camp. So he had his own room there and after harikathā or before harikathā devotees could visit him and speak with him. Generally, it was very free, everyone could come and ask some questions and he was very happy to answer them.  My personal experience was that when I met Guru Mahārāja in his room, he was very open. I was shocked because after association with ISKCON devotees for a long time it was very difficult to meet some Guru or talk with him. It was like an audience with some Prime Minister or President, very difficult to get. But still, when we first entered Guru Mahārāja’s room I was surprised that such a great person was at the same time very humble and he asked us, "How can I serve you?" It was very very sincere, in a very simple way.  He replied to all the questions that we asked and we just talked. It was like a conversation with a family membe
Read more