Praṇamāmi Guru Tīrtha Padaṁ

It is worth noting that in the 1960's, when His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj was still known as Sri Krsna Ballabh Brahmacari, He met His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktvedanta Svami Prabhupada at the Damodar Mandir in Vrindavana. At that time, Srila Prabhupada delineated His plan to go and preach in the West, and asked Sri Krsna Ballabh Brahmacari to accompany Him. Sri Krsna Ballabh Brahmacari explained, with great humility and deference, that He could not do so, as He had the instructions of His own Guru Maharaj to follow, along with many responsibilities deputed to Him within His own Math. In 1997, Srila Gurudeva's siksa guru, His Divine Grace Om Visnupada Paramhamsa 108 Sri Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvami Maharaj, gave Him the order to go to the West, as He Himself could not make the journey. He was advised to continue preaching to the western world the message of Divine Love of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as put into motion by His predecessor, A. C. Bhakt...

In the Vedic scriptures, it is said that Srila Gurudev is the dearmost of the Supreme Lord; nondifferent from the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord has appeared in this world as Guru. The Supreme Lord says that one must take shelter of the lotus feet of Guru. One cannot surrender to the Supreme Lord directly. The simple meaning of Guru is mother. The mother is the best teacher of the child. The only way to know about the father is through the mother. We have to trust our mother. In the same way, we have to understand guru-tattva. There are multiple names of God. Which name to call out? The mother will teach that you have to pay pranams to father, and father is pleased. Similarly, Gurudev will teach how to pray to the Lord. We cannot get the grace of Guru only by memorizing the scriptures. Often times people go to Gurudev and ask for his mercy. This is not how mercy is given, just by asking and not following. Once we had gone to Krishnanagar ten years ago. Gurudev had been advised by doct...

Wherever Srila Guru Maharaj may be, he has great affection for every disciple and to give the proof of this I reproduce some portions of his letters received from abroad. a) I want to know your present health condition after taking Homoeopathic medicine as per doctor’s prescription of Calcutta along with Allopathic medicine. b)   I am anxious to get the news of your well-being by return post or phone. On Feb 28, 1997, I had some heart problem and the doctor advised me to take rest.   For Mayapur parikrama in March 1997, we had our reservations of tickets done in advance but seeing my difficulty my brother and relatives did not wish that I undertake the journey.   When I objected they told me to ask Guru Maharaj and act according to his advice.   I spoke to Guru Maharaj over the telephone and he said “It is good if you come.   Travel comfortably and parikrama can be performed by rickshaw.   If that is also not possible, just staying in ...

In 2002, I was associating with a devotee told me that diksa was absolutely essential in purifying myself to chant suddha nama, so I requested it from Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja later that year.  Srila Gurudeva looked right at me and told me, “You won’t be able to do. The harinama which I already gave you is all you need.”  At the time, I thought he was testing me, but in retrospect, I can see he meant it. Still, I foolishly insisted for two weeks until he finally gave. A while later, following Srila Gurudeva through the courtyard of the math, I audaciously asked, “Could you please speak something about the difference between sanga-siddha bhakti, sanga-siddha bhakti and svarupa-siddha bhakti?”  Then Srila Gurudeva said, I can tell that you have been associating in another sanga. You may continue, but you should only discuss diksa mantras with me or one of my disciples. In 2003 or 2004, I was sitting in the middle of perhaps 100 people, when the ...

Sadhu is deena-vatsala. In Srimad Bhagavatam, Nimi Maharaj Navayogendra Samvad, it is said: just half a moment's association with a sadhu has the power to cut off and free an enslaved jiva from worldly life and tribunals. Such power is there in a sadhu's words whose conduct is one with his words and with the scriptures (virayavati katha). Our Param Gurudev's disciple who is a house-holder hosted Paramgurudev and his group for 3 days at his place in Icchapur for katha before they proceeded on Navadvip Parikrama. Gurudev went to look after arrangements in advance and later stayed for few more days for some work after the program. Then the householder devotee told our Gurudev, if you do not mind, if you do not feel unhappy, I want to say something to you. Gurudev said, you have served so much. Speak your heart, I will not feel bad. Then he said, your harikatha is just like our Gurudev’s, but the attraction and the power, the weight that is in Gurudev's katha is n...

tat te anukampam susamikshamana : most noble, peaceful— even those who act like enemies to him,  to them he is very friendly. Under any circumstance, Srila Gurudeva is always seen peaceful and smiling, which is an exemplary character of a pure devotee as explained in the verse,  tat te anukampam susamikshamana (Brahma Stava 10.14.8) Once there was a delay of 5-6 hours when Gurudeva and the prachar party reached Bhatinda from New Delhi, reaching around 1 o'clock in the middle of the night instead of the scheduled time 6 in the evening. Many of the devotees who arrived with Gurudeva were so tired that when they got rooms, they simply retired without even waiting to have prasadam. But when Gurudeva was to be offered food, Gurudeva's sevak found to his surprise that all the edibles prepared by devotees with love were all Punjabi foods— fried things like puris and spicy curries, and not a single item other than plain rice suitable for Gurudeva's offering. There was no ...

Srila Gurudeva leads an ecstatic kirtan on Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaja's tirobhav tithi, 1999 at the Vrinda Kunja mandir, Vrindavan: