His Instructions for Us to Follow in the Steps of Śrila Bhaktivinod Ṭhākura

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In 2013 we went to Kolkata during Rāmanavamī and a huge festival was organized in a big pandal in front of the maṭha. As Gurujī was playing sickness pastimes then, devotees were doubtful whether Gurujī would attend the program at all. But Gurujī mercifully came down and gave the instructions to follow in the footsteps of Srila Śrila Bhaktivinod Ṭhākura. On Rāmanavamī tithi, Gurujī would be in a different mood and remember Param Gurudev and his talk on Uttāna Ekādaśī tithi. But this time, Gurujī gave great emphasis on following Śrila Bhaktivinod Ṭhākura and said our Param Gurudev would be very pleased by our efforts in the propagation of Śrila Bhaktivinod Ṭhākura's vani and following his instructions.

Later when Gurujī was slowly walking back to his kuṭira accompanied by his sevāks he was heard repeatedly saying to anyone and everyone he met on the way, (even while climbing stairs)  "Our Gurudev would be pleased when we follow Śrila Bhaktivinod Ṭhākur's kīrtans, gītis." When he found a devotee offering pranams to Param Gurudev's pādukas in front of Param Gurudev's bhajan-kuṭira and rising up, again, he told, "If you want Param Gurudev's grace, you should chant, sing Śrila Bhaktivinod Ṭhākur's kirtans, gītis, and follow him." We can assess from his conduct how much emphasis he had on this point.

—Śri Kṛṣṇananda Dās (Kuldeepjī)

spoken on 21.4.20, posted on YouTube, Gokul India 

translation from Hindi to English




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