His Ecstatic Reciprocation With Devotees in Kirtan

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I can never forget when Gurudev took five buses of devotees to Thakur Villa, a village about fifty kilometers away from Goalpara. One of our god-brothers there had invited Gurudev to his home. Our buses stopped at the outskirts of the village and we saw a large local kirtan group performing kirtans with mṛdaṅga while awaiting Gurudev's arrival. Their mahāmantra kirtan was so wonderful that when Guru Mahārāj heard it, he was overwhelmed and tears started rolling down from his eyes. Gurudev was so pleased hearing their kirtan that he asked them to continue. Thus the kirtan group went ahead followed by Gurudev and all the other sannyāsīs and devotees. All along the way, tears were rolling down from Gurudev's eyes non-stop. 

And when we went further, a group of Assamese women was waiting to welcome us. Some of them were waving hand fans of peacock feathers and palm leaves, some had flowers to offer, and some were waving incense sticks. A big group of women came in between the kirtan group and Guru Mahārāj and keeping some distance and facing towards Guru Mahārāj, they were walking backward on the path towards the village. I had never witnessed such a scene anywhere before and I was very moved. 

The kirtan party stopped when we reached the bottom of a hill. The devotee's house was on the top of the hill which was quite high and without stairs. Our god-brother, a householder devotee, (as I may recall a teacher by profession) had spread sarees, bedspreads, and any cloth he had from home up to the foot of the hill so that stones would not hurt Guru Mahārāj's dear feet as he climbed. It was quite a scene to see. 

Slowly, slowly Guru Mahārāj climbed as we followed him somehow to the top. I thought there must be a very big house there at the top of the hill, but there was a big plain courtyard and two humble huts. There was one separate hut neatly done with the smear of cow dung and that was their temple where they had the portraits of Gurudev, Param Gurudev, and Thakurji there along with pūjā paraphernalia. I just peeped into their huts and I saw the simple cot made of bamboo sticks and very few vessels made of cut bamboo. The external look makes one feel they are poor, lacking opulence, but they were rich in faith and devotion. 

They had made a nice raised platform for Gurudev to sit near the temple. And the whole courtyard was covered by banana leaves spread on top with bamboo for support on the sides. They had made a nice cool shaded place for Guru Mahārāj and devotees to sit for harikathā. Guru Mahārāj did yāma kirtans there and spoke Dhruva Charitra in a very engrossed mood.

I later heard from the maṭh sources that our god-brother who hosted Guru Mahārāj had given his full salary to the maṭh to arrange for the buses and for arranging prasād. He was thinking he may never again get such a golden opportunity to serve Gurudev and his god-brothers in the future. He thought that somehow he will make a living, and he will borrow money and pay it off leisurely in the coming months.

This incident of how Gurujī went to Thakur Villa and how that teacher and the people expressed their feelings for Gurudev, how Gurudev was pleased and felt blissful hearing those mahāmantra kirtans will remain fresh in my memory. Even to this day, occasionally that whole scene comes before my eyes.

—Śri Kṛṣṇananda Dās (Kuldeepjī)

Spoken in Hindi with English translation (excepted)

The original recording may be heard on the GOKUL youtube channel, 27.4.2020 








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