Praṇamāmi Guru Tīrtha Padaṁ

Those who know Srila Gurudev also know that no one can ever say there has been any deficiency in his service to the Vaishnavas.   He gives due respects to every Vaishnav.   He is seen engrossed day and night in the service of his Guru Maharaj.   Any work that is in progress, he attributes it to his Guruji’s mercy.   Any activity he performs he does is remembering his Guruji and praying for his mercy.   When I got Harinam and Diksha from Srila Gurudev Maharaj he said, “Your guruji is Param Pujyapad Om Vishnupad 108 Sri Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaj.   I am only carrying out his orders, I have no qualification to become a guru.   Madhava Maharaj is only your guru.   Such devotion to guru is rather rare to find.   Once I lost my Japamala when the bag in which it was kept got stolen and I wrote a letter to Gurudev.   Then he wrote a letter advising to be very careful about Japa mala and also said he would give a new Jap...

There is no need for any explanation in regard to Srila Guru Maharaj’s engrossment in devotion to Sri Nandanandana Krishna, everyone who has met Guru Maharaj has seen it.   No one can say ‘though, even though’ in regard to his exclusive one-pointed devotion.   His firm faith and love in Bhagavan’s Name, Form and Deity form is unparalleled which I have never seen anywhere in my short life.   I got an opportunity many times to participate in Srila Gurudev’s annual gatherings at Rajpura.   Srila Gurudev’s morning program was at Sri Satyanarayan temple.   When Guruji reached there he found that carpets were not spread in some places on the floor and so noticed that the names of donors were engraved on some stones.   He then told that among them many names were of the Supreme Lord and how could one walk on them?   He said that the names should not have been engraved on the floor.    Those stones should have been fixed on the wall.   Bu...

I heard Pujyapad Tridandi Swami Sri Srimad Bhakti Rakshak Narayana Maharaj say that when our Srila Guru Maharaj gives Jayadwani after mangal arati and sandhya arati, his  great concentration and absorption of mind and body  clearly indicate that he is having their personal audience. With that feeling, he gives Jai to all of them personally. Pujyapad Bhakti Rakshak Narayana Maharaj had also mentioned that at the beginning of Nagar Sankirtan when he sings the kirtan Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu daya karo more … followed by Jaya dau Jaya dau loudly with both his hands up, that Srila Param Gurudeva, Srila Prabhupad, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sriman Mahaprabhu and all His associates all manifest there and shower their grace upon him.    That time the persons present there listening to this kirtan sung by Srila Gurudeva in sweet voice and seeing his beautiful form in that great devotional mood, feel their hearts melt and fill with such bliss as though Goloka Vri...

About 6-7 years ago, Ashwaniji and I went to math by Rajadhani to Calcutta and reached at about 11 AM. That day, Guru Maharaj was quite busy.   His sevak told that he became free just 2 minutes before completing his writing work which was very huge.   He also told us he'd be going out to complete some important work then.    In spite of all this, after enquiring about our well-being, he took out a five rupee note from his bag and asked Madhu Prabhu to get some rasagullas for us, telling that we have come from far.   Madhu Prabhu brought 4 rasagullas. Guru Maharaj himself gave both of us rasagulla prasad and asked us to sit there and eat.   Later, Guru Maharaj said to make aloo parathas (potato pancakes) with ghee for us.    He also asked to get curd along with that.    Then he himself came down from the 3 rd floor and asked to spread leaf plates for us saying that it was quite late for their breakfast.   I understand su...

Srila Gurudeva gave me some deep lessons, unexpectedly using samosas as a medium. The first time he handed me one, it was during evening darshan time in his bhajan kutir in Kolkata. He asked, “Do you know what is it?” I answered, “It’s a samosa.” I thought he asked me that because I’m a foreigner and I wouldn't know what it is. So, I simply reported the name of it to him. The next time he was distributing samosas, he asked me another question: “Do you know how to make it?” I looked at his most adorable face and tried to figure out why he was asking me this. I blurted out, “No, Gurudev, I have never cooked them, but do you want me to learn? I can learn.” He didn't respond to me. When I went home, I looked at Youtube to see how to make samosas. I thought he wanted me to learn so I could use it for service somehow. After another week or two went by, there was yet another samosa waiting for me in his sweet hand. He looked in my eyes this time when he spoke to me. It seemed he ...

Is Gurudeva's darshan possible on internet? Gurudeva also used to tell no to photos. By only seeing a photo of the body, will it serve any purpose? Puri Goswami Maharaj said: what is the use of tape recording? Tape record here (pointing to the heart.) There cannot be any attachments to those who had darshan of Guru, Vaishnav, and Bhagavan. Guru is the mercy embodiment of Bhagavan, so to have the darshan of Guru we need internal eyes, eyes with which we can have darshan of Bhagavan. Gurudeva's katha itself is Gurudeva. Inside katha, he is there! Bhagavan's katha itself is Bhagavan, so Gurudeva says, give your ears and hear katha, through ears you have darshan, not by eyes. Sri Rupa Goswami said: a tah Sri Krishna namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaiah ... We have heard Sakshi Gopal's story... do we see Him so? Is Gurudeva's photo and Internet darshan not the same? What is not an object of material senses, can you see with your material eyes? Without his darshan, do ...

Sri Sri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah! Jaya Sri Sri Sita-Rama! Offerings to His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaja (from Brahmidevi dasi and Akincana dasa) Your Holiness Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet, on the auspicious occasion of your appearance. It is with feelings of extreme affection and humility that I offer you my gratitude and eternal devotion, and, despite my lack of qualification, I want to express the happiness caused by the great mercy you have bestowed upon this fallen soul. How fortunate I feel that you have shown such compassion toward me. Your letters of instruction and encouragement are everything in the world to me. I live by your kind and valuable instructions; they are my life and soul. I read through your letters in your book, ‘Affectionately Yours’ and am able to find all the guidance necessary for a struggling living entity. You are the sadguru, rare in this world and the only true frie...