Praṇamāmi Guru Tīrtha Padaṁ

Once in our Kolkata Math, a bramhachari did not behave respectfully towards a householder devotee during a festival program, and Srila Tirtha Goswami Maharaj was not pleased with that.  He said: Household devotees come to math for a few days leaving aside all their material duties. They come to associate with the sadhus. It is not appropriate to be disrespectful towards them. If we have an ego that I am a brahmachari, I am a sanyasi, and they are grihastas, then we will not get the grace of the Supreme Lord.  We should give up all types of false ego. Mahaprabhu has instructed: yei bhaje sei bada, abhakta—hina, chara krishna-bhajane nahi jati-kuladi-vicar Anyone who takes to devotional service is exalted, whereas a non-devotee is always condemned and abominable. Therefore in the discharge of devotional service to the Lord, there is no consideration of the status of one’s family.  (Chaitanya Charitamrita Antya-lila 4.67) Whoever performs bhajan is exalted; there is n...

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...

I had some health issues recently.  As soon as I came out of the emergency room, suddenly I became very, very alert and I remembered Gurudeva. I had a japa-mālā in my bag and I took it out and began chanting. Though that was an emergency, I did not feel any fear.   Gurudeva has said, without Vaiṣṇavas' mercy, their remembrance cannot come.  So when Gurudevaa's remembrance came, I felt that mercy was coming to me. I was able to sleep, I was not feeling any fear or anything.  When I woke up, I immediately started chanting.  Gurudeva was making me feel that he was with me at all times. -Viśākhā Dāsi, Bangalore

Devotees from all over India arrived at GNRC hospital in Guwahati after Gurudeva was admitted there. There were many who did not worry about their job or family responsibilities and just left their homes. We were very anxious and worried about Gurudeva's health. That tension was seen on the faces of devotees and his sevāk team. Gurudeva responded to each and every person who had come there. I had seen this while observing the line for Gurudeva's darśana in the maṭha previously, and I was reminded of that when I saw the line in GNRC hospital. While we were waiting, we heard that Gurudeva has come to external consciousness and was giving darśana. One devotee named Bunty had come from Bombay was so happy when he came out from having darśana. He said that Gurudeva's face was so bright. The darśana that he had was seen on his shining face and he was so happy. Jyoti Mātājī was the next to have darśana. When she came out, she was also so happy. I thought Bombay devotees have a dif...

The most important day of my life is when I got brahman-dīkṣā from Śrīla Gurudeva. All the devotees were getting a short time to talk with him. I lived nearby, so I was asked by the sevākas, "What will you say? You get the chance to speak with him every day." Yet, I thought this was my golden opportunity. When I finally went into the room, I just sat looking at Him. Guru Mahārāja first told me the methods of chanting the dīkṣā-mantras and I was so completely mesmerized by his beauty that it was impossible for me to move my eyes from his face.  When Śrīla Gurudeva started chanting the mantra, I was not repeating after him. He said, "You have to repeat after me—say!" Then, I started chanting after he did. Again my mind was diverted to his beautiful face, so I was just looking at him. He again chanted the second mantra and asked me to repeat it. He said, "Say!" Then Guru Mahārāja again chanted the mantras.  As I was busy looking at him, I asked him to please...