The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata

Sri Srimad Gour Govinda swami maharaja

_ Bhakta-bhagavata The Exalted Compiled by

Nimāi Paṇḍita dāsa

tattv a vic ara publi cat i ons

_ Bhakta-bhagavata The Exalted

This publication, The Exalted Bhakta-bhāgavata – a condensed version of his remarkable life – is a humble offering to our most beloved spiritual master Śrīla Gour Govinda Swami Mahārāja to commemorate twenty years (1997 – 2017) of publishing his divine words and glories by Tattva Vicāra Publications.

On 18 May 1997, the auspicious day of Mohinī Ekādaśī, which is today twenty years ago, Tattva Vicāra Publications released the first book with a compilation of lectures given by Śrīla Gour Govinda Swami, entitled Śuddha-nāma Bhajana. To date in excess of sixty publications have been released by Tattva Vicāra Publications in honour of our divine spiritual master.

We should all remember & cherish the fact that such a wonderful personality as Śrīla Gour Govinda Swami appeared in the mission of His Divine Grace Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda.

Tattva Vicāra Publications Mohinī Ekādaśī, May 7, 2017.

The exalted bhakta-bhĀgavata ISBN: 978-0-9943759-5-9 © 2017 Tattva Vicara Publications

except where otherwise noted, content on this book is licensed under the creative commons Attribution-No Derivatives 4.0 International license.

To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ Permissions beyond the scope of this license write to info@tvpbooks.com.

Painting on page vi © Anjana dasa. Used with permission.

Sri Srimad Gour Govinda swami maharaja

_ Bhakta-bhagavata The Exalted

Compiled by

Nimāi Paṇḍita dāsa

t at tv a v i c a r a p u b l i c a ti o ns tvpbooks.com - gourgovindaswami.com

Table of Contents

Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami - The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Foreword Invocation

ii iii Vinā Mahat-Pāda-Rajo-‘Bhiṣekam iii Who Is Very Dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa iii Externally as the Ācārya and Internally as the Supersoul v Exalted Personalities v Two Kinds of Bhāgavata vi Expert in Assisting the Gopīs vii Eye of Devotion Tinged with the Salve of Love vii The Exalted Bhakta-bhāgavata 1 ŚrĪ Gadai Giri 1 The Sound of a Flute Coming from the Jungle 1 Kīrtana & Study of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2 Deeply Devoted to Lord Jagannātha 2 It Is in Their Blood 3 The Giri Family 3 Śrī Gopāla Jīu 4 Divine Appearance 5 All Were Vaiṣṇavas 5 Astrology at Birth 6 Brajabandhu’s Family Deity 6 Brajabandhu’s Mother 7 First Remembrances 8 Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa 9 The Passing of Bauribandu Giri 9 Bauribandhu Giri’s Family Members 10 The Appearance Day of Śrīla Narottama-dāsa Thākura 11 Purity Is the Force 12 A Divine Call for Sannyāsa - 1969 12 Still Encumbered by Householder Life 13 Pavan Dhama - 1971 14 The Gītā-Yajña - 1973 14 Rāma-navamī 1974 15

The Search for the Self Realised Soul Vṛndāvana 1974

By Kṛṣṇa’s Arrangement Have You Taken Sannyāsa?

Prabhupāda had a Special Relationship with Him Hari-nāma Initiation 1974 Gāyatrī Initiation 1974 Bhubaneswar 1974 Sannyāsa 1975 The ISKCON Mission in Orissa The Three Sevās No Entrance to the Jagannātha Temple Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Sulkiness for Orissa Lord Śiva Invited My Guru Mahārāja Jagannātha Will Come to Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar 1977 Māyāpura 1978 - 1979 The Advanced Stage of Ecstatic Love of Godhead Śrīla Kṛṣṇa Dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja Śrī Nārāyaṇa Rāmānuja Dāsa The South Indian Brāhmaṇa Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Prophesies Come True Ratha-yātrā 1991 The Ācārya of Śrī Raṅgam Pāda-yātrā in Orissa - 1992 Preaching Around the World The Mission Storehouse of Knowledge Preaching Prema-Tattva Ārādhyo Bhagavān Vrajeśa-Tanayas He Was Increasing the Understanding of All Tattvas Up To Ninety Years On this Planet Twenty Four Years Too Early Suggested Reading on this Subject Matter Other Titles

16 17 17 18 19 19 20 20 20 22 22 23 24 24 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 39 39 40 40 41 41

vinā mahat-pāda-rajo-‘bhiṣekam “Unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realise the Absolute Truth.”

— Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.12.12

His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya 108

Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Prabhupäda

His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya 108

Çré Çrémad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda

His Divine Grace Oà Viñëupäda Paramahaàsa Parivräjakäcärya 108

Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja

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ho is the source of all sorts of loving services to Kṛṣṇa? That is Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Rādhā vina āra kaha naya. Kṛṣṇa only belongs to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. He does not belong to anyone else, He completely belongs to Her. She is the source of all kinds of loving services to Kṛṣṇa. She is the original guru-tattva, only Rādhārāṇī can give you the opportunity to serve Kṛṣṇa. Without Rādhārāṇī’s mercy there is no opportunity to serve Kṛṣṇa.”

— Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swami August 18, 1993, Bhubaneswar

Foreword 7 The information in this booklet is taken mainly from the publication Kåñëäliìgita-vigraha, “One who is Always Embraced

by Kåñëa” Volume One, which is the authorised biography of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja. This Volume (which is four hundred pages from cover to cover) was published in 1999 on the occasion of his divine appearance and is available at www.tvpbooks.com. Information also has been taken from the publication In the Association of Pure Devotees, also published by Tattva Vicära Publications and is available at www.issuu.com/ tvpbooks.

The second edition of Kåñëäliìgita-vigraha, “One who is Always Embraced by Kåñëa” with additional information will be published soon in two parts, covering almost seven hundred pages and is now titled: Always Embraced by Kåñëa. Part one of this volume is titled: A Foreign Element in this Material World, and part two is titled: Have You Taken Sannyäsa?

This publication, The Exalted Bhakta-bhägavata, is a preview into the remarkable life of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja as described in Always Embraced by Kåñëa.

Your lowly servants,

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The editors @ tvpbooks.c ii

Invocation Vinā Mahat-Pāda-Rajo-‘Bhiṣekam “Unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot realise the Absolute Truth.”

Who Is Very Dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate-gour govinda-svämin iti nämine “I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Gour Govinda Swami, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.” nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktivedänta-svämin iti nämine namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe “I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé. You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanyadeva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.” nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale çrémate bhaktisiddhänta-sarasvatéti nämine

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Invocation “I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté, who is very dear to Lord Kåñëa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.” çré-värñabhänavé-devé-dayitäya kåpäbdhaye kåñëa-sambandha-vijïäna-däyine prabhave namaù “I offer my respectful obeisances to Çré Värñabhänavédevé-dayita däsa [another name of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté], who is favoured by Çrématé Rädhäräëé and who is the ocean of transcendental mercy and the deliverer of the science of Kåñëa.” mädhuryojjvala-premäòhya-çré-rüpänuga-bhaktida çré-gaura-karuëä-çakti-vigrahäya namo ’stu te “I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, the personified energy of Çré Caitanya’s mercy, who delivers devotional service which is enriched with conjugal love of Rädhä and Kåñëa, coming exactly in the line of revelation of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.” namas te gaura-väëé-çré-mürtaye déna-täriëe rüpänuga-viruddhäpasiddhänta-dhvänta-häriëe “I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, who are the personified teachings of Lord Caitanya. You are the deliverer of the fallen souls. You do not tolerate any statement which is against the teachings of devotional service enunciated by Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé.” rahügaëaitat tapasä na yäti na cejyayä nirvapaëäd gåhäd vä na cchandasä naiva jalägni-süryair vinä mahat-päda-rajo ‘bhiñekam

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Invocation “My dear King Rahügaëa, unless one has the opportunity to smear his entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of the great devotees, one cannot realise the Absolute Truth.

One cannot realise the Absolute Truth simply by observing celibacy [brahmacarya], strictly following the rules and regulations of householder life, leaving home as a vänaprastha, accepting sannyäsa, or undergoing severe penances in winter by keeping oneself submerged in water or surrounding oneself in summer by fire and the scorching heat of the sun.

There are many other processes to understand the Absolute Truth, but the Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has attained the mercy of the great devotee.” (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 5.12.12)

Externally as the Ācārya and Internally as the Supersoul naivopanty apacitià kavayas taveça brahmäyuñäpi kåtam åddha-mudaù smarantaù yo ‘ntar bahis tanu-bhåtäm añbhaà vidhunvann äcärya-caitya-vapuñä sva-gatià vyanakti “O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmä, for You appear in two features, externally as the äcärya and internally as the Supersoul—to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.” (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 11.29.6)

Exalted Personalities tava kathämåtaà tapta-jévanaà kavibhir éòitaà kalmañapaham çravaëa maìgalaà çrémad-ätataà bhuvi gåëanti te bhüridä janäù

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Invocation “My Lord, the nectar of Your words and the description of Your activities are the life and soul of those who are always aggrieved in this material world. Those narrations are transmitted by exalted personalities and they eradicate all sinful reaction. Whoever hears these narrations attains all good fortune. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Those who spread the message of Godhead are certainly the most munificent welfare workers.” (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 10.31.9)

Two Kinds of Bhāgavata dui sthäne bhägavata näma çuni mätra grantha-bhägavata, ära kåñëa-kåpä-pätra “The name bhägavata applies to two things: the book Bhägavata, and the agent of Kåñëa’s mercy, the devotee bhägavata.” (Caitanya-bhägavata, Antya-khaëòa 3.532) eka bhägavata baòa bhägavata-çästra ära bhägavata bhakta bhakti-rasa-pätra “One of the bhägavatas is the great scripture, Çrémad-Bhägavatam. The other is the pure devotee bhägavatam, who is absorbed in bhakti-rasa.” (Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi-lélä 1.99) dui bhägavata dvärä diyä bhakti-rasa täohära hådaye täore preme haya vaça “Through the actions of these two bhägavatas the Lord instills the mellows of bhakti-rasa into the heart of a living being and thus the Lord, in the heart of His devotee, comes under the control of His devotee’s love.”

(Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi-lélä 1.100)

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Invocation Expert in Assisting the Gopīs nikuïja-yüno rati-keli-siddhyai yä yälibhir yuktir apekñaëéyä taträti-däkñyäd ati-vallabhasya vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam “The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopés, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Rädhä and Kåñëa’s conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Våndävana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.” (Çré Çré Gurv-añöaka Verse 6)

Eye of Devotion Tinged with the Salve of Love premäïjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaù sadaiva hådayeñu vilokayanti yaà çyämasundaram acintya-guëa-svarüpaà govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi “I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Çyämasundara, Kåñëa Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.” (Çré Brahma-saàhitä Verse 38)

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Sri Sri Radha-Govinda

Sri Srimad Gour Govinda swami maharaja

_ Bhakta-bhagavata The Exalted

A brief encounter into his remarkable life

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ŚrĪ Gadai Giri The village of Gadäi-Giri, situated amidst the tranquil solitude of rural Orissa, surrounded by lotus-filled ponds and green paddy fields, has a most interesting history.

Around three hundred years ago a great devotee of Mahäprabhu named Gadai Giri arrived in the Jagatsinghpur District of east central Orissa, having originated from Midnapur, which is now part of West Bengal. He was a merchant in brass utensils and had come to this locality to sell his wares.

The Sound of a Flute Coming from the Jungle Once, while Çré Gadai Giri was working in this area, he suddenly heard the auspicious sound of a flute coming from within the jungle, along with the tinkle of ankle bells and the blowing of a conch. These sounds were intermingled with the calls of various birds. Çré Gadai Giri later revealed this incident to a local sädhu, whom he had befriended. The sädhu advised

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja him to make his home in that very spot, telling him that Lord Çré Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must be present there, and that wherever Kåñëa resides, then the Goddess Lakñmé also resides there. He told him that all of his needs would be met if he were to simply remain there in adoration of the Supreme Lord.

Kīrtana & Study of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam The local zamindar1, who had become very favourably disposed towards Çré Gadai Giri by virtue of his sweet nature and good behaviour, allowed him to stay in the locality. Çré Gadai Giri gave up his business, made a clearing in the jungle and there he built a thatched hut and constructed a small temple for Dadhi Baman [Lord Jagannätha]. He engaged himself full time in the glorification of the Supreme Lord through kértana and through the study of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam.2

Deeply Devoted to Lord Jagannātha From then on, Gadai Giri remained there with his family, and gradually, over time, more people moved into the area and a small village was gradually formed. The year was 1695.

Gopal Giri, the son of Gadai Giri, who was deeply devoted to Lord Jagannätha, had learned kértana from the devotees of 1. The Squire or principle local landowner.

2. Çrémad-Bhägavatam is a scripture held in very high regard by the Gauòéya Vaiñëavas: “Çrémad-Bhägavatam is the spotless Puräëa. It is most dear to the Vaiñëavas because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the paramahaàsas. This Bhägavatam reveals the means for becoming free from all material work, together with the processes of transcendental knowledge, renunciation and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to understand Çrémad-Bhägavatam, who properly hears and chants it with devotion, becomes completely liberated.” (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 12.13.18)

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The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Mahäprabhu’s home district of Nadia, Bengal. Many years later, he named the village that his father had founded, the “GadäiGiri village”.

Since the seventeenth century, the Giri dynasty has been famous throughout the whole of Orissa for their sincere, deep devotion to the Lord and for their wondrous kértana.

It Is in Their Blood This small village of Gadäi-Giri, which is in the middle of nowhere in Orissa, has been flooded with the sound of kértana for more than three centuries. Great devotees have taken birth in the Giri dynasty only to satisfy the desire of the Supreme Lord which is to hear the sweet kértana from the Gadäi-Giri kértanéyas.3 This Gadäi-Giri kértana cannot be learned like a dramatic or musical performance; it is born into the Giri family.

It is in their blood, which can be seen by their great devotion to the Lord and heard in their wondrous kértana.

The Giri Family Since the time of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, all of the villages of Orissa have had a kértana party, but none are as famous as the kértana party from Gadäi-Giri. The Giri family, till this day, produces the most talented of singers and mådaìga players (drummers). When harmoniums were introduced into India by the British they used them to accompany their sweet singing.

3. Author’s comment: For more information on this subject please read Kåñëäliìgita-vigraha “One who is Always Embraced by Kåñëa” Volume one, the biography of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja, chapters one and two.

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja Śrī Gopāla Jīu Çré Gopäla Jéu is very famous in Orissa. In the small temple that was constructed by his father, Çré Gopal Giri and his family maintained the worship of the Deity of Lord Jagannätha (without Lord Baladeva and Subhadrä-devé). It was in answer to Çré Gopal Giri’s wish to worship Kåñëa in his village that the Deity of Gopäla Jéu came, with a wandering bäbäjé, from Våndävana. Gopäla Jéu was installed along with the Deity of Çrématé Rädhäräëé in the original temple in the Gadäi-Giri village.

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The original temple in the Gadai-Giri village

The family Deities Sri Sri Radha Gopala Jiu 4

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The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Çrématé Pata Devi, a descendant from the Gadäi-Giri family, married Isvara Manik. They named their first-born son Brajabandhu Manik, who later on in life became known as the renowned, Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja.4

Divine Appearance Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja appeared in this world on 2 September 1929 in the village of Jagannathpur, (corresponding to the appearance day of Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, although the year was, obviously, different 2 September 1838) in the Indian state of Orissa [present day Odisha]. Both the paternal and maternal sides of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami’s family have been Vaiñëavas for many, many centuries.

All Were Vaiṣṇavas Both his parents’ families had great faith in the Bhagavadgétä, the Çrémad-Bhägavatam and all ancient Vaiñëava literature, such as the Rämäyaëa and the Mahäbhärata. His mother could explain the esoteric meanings of these scriptures. His father was a serious student and proponent of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam, which is held most dear to the Gauòéya Vaiñëavas. He was a great advocate of the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

The Giri family has a special invitation from the King of Puré to sing in the Puré Temple for Lord Jagannätha; and this invitation dates back to the eighteenth century. Wherever they perform kértana, people do aräti to them. They are kértana4. Author’s note: For more information about Çré Gopäla Jéu, please see Kåñëäliìgita-vigraha “One who is Always Embraced by Kåñëa” Volume one, the authorised biography of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja, chapters one & two.

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja gurus. That invitation still holds to this day and is written in the Mädala-päìji, history book, of the Temple of Lord Jagannätha.

Astrology at Birth

[ Brajabandhu’s Family Deity

From his birth, Brajabandhu’s home life revolved around the service of the Supreme Lord, with both his parents and all of their relatives constantly engaged in service to the family deities.

Brajabandhu’s family deity was the famous Çré Gopäl Jéu.

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Once a famous astrologer-mystic named Nityananda Khadiratna travelled from Dhenkanal in Orissa and stayed two days in Gadäi Giri. At that time Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was a small child and with his mother, Pata Devi, was staying at his uncle’s house in Gadäi-Giri. Desiring to know more about her son’s future Srimati Pata Devi took her son to the astrologer.

The astrologer-mystic prophesied, “This boy is very intelligent and is filled with devotion. He will marry, and he will earn his livelihood in government service. In his middle age he will renounce family life and become a sädhu. He will acquire higher knowledge and gain an important place on the map of sädhus. He will build temples, and make Gopäla’s [Çré Çré Rädhä-Gopäla Jéu the family Deities] place bright.”

Lastly the astrologer-mystic said, “Kåñëa (God) Himself has sent this child from His eternal abode (nitya-dhäma) to the material world for preaching His eternal message and for the deliverance of the fallen conditioned souls (jévera nistära).” Of course, as history now reveals, the astrologers prophecies did indeed all came to pass.

The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Brajabandhu’s family deity, the famous Sri Gopal Jiu

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“Jaya Jagannatha!”

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Lord Jagannatha in Gad

Brajabandhu’s Mother

ai Giri

Each morning, Çrématé Pata Devi would worship Lord Jagannätha and recite from the Puräëas and Bhagavad-gétä.

Every evening she chanted Hare Kåñëa and performed tulaséparikramä with her husband and her son Brajabandhu. After parikramä, she would recite from the Çrémad-Bhägavatam. Pata Devi was always quiet and absorbed in serving her husband and children and every Saturday she would fast as an offering for their wellbeing. She was so compassionate that any beggar or sädhu who came to her house never went away empty handed.

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja First Remembrances Çréla Gour Govinda Swami said that the first memories of his childhood were of hearing the songs of Narottama-däsa Thäkura sung by his uncles. His uncles who were the afore mentioned famous devotional singers, mystics and great devotees of

“Hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna ha re hare, hare rama hare ra„ ma rama rama hare hare

kirtaniyas in Gadai-Giri Damodara Giri (kirtaniya extraordinaire) Lord Kåñëa. From a young age Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was immersed in the teachings of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam, the Rämäyaëa, the Mahäbhärata, the Çré Caitanya-caritämåta and Çrémad Bhagavad-gétä, as was taught to him by his grandfather, father, and uncles. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami’s life was by no means ordinary.

He remembered that his father, grandfather and uncles all kept a çikhä, wore kaëöhi-mälä, chanted the mahä-mantra and wore Vaiñëava tilaka.

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The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa His grandfather, Bauribandhu Giri, who was a well-known kértanéya and a great devotee, taught him how to chant Hare Kåñëa, from the time he first began to speak.

As a child Çréla Gour Govinda Mahäräja would go to sleep with the Çrémad-Bhägavatam clasped to his chest, and at a very early age had memorised many of the verses of the ÇrémadBhägavatam. From the age of 6, he earnestly studied the ÇrémadBhägavatam with his father.

The Passing of Bauribandu Giri Bauribandhu Giri, the Grandfather of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, had many attributes, one was, that if anyone in the village was ill he would touch them and then recite the name of Gopäla in their ear. Then immediately that person would be cured.

Whilst Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was staying at Gadäi-Giri the famous village of his ancestors, his grandfather Bauribandhu passed away. This was no ordinary occurrence. It was one day prior to Mägha–saptamé, (which is also known as Advaitasaptamé), and is a very auspicious day. It is the appearance day of Çré Advaita Äcärya, the avatära of Mahä-viñëu who was a close associate of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. It was on that day Bauribandhu Giri declared, “Tomorrow is Mägha–saptamé.

I must leave my body tomorrow and leave this world.” He requested that all his friends, relatives and the local villagers to come, see him and perform kértana, näma-saìkértana. Their chanting continued all night long.

The next day [Mägha–saptamé], on Saturday 28 January 1939, Bauribandhu Giri was placed under the open sky so as he

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja could see the sun. All of his family members were assembled.

His eldest son Gopinatha Giri said, “Today is an auspicious day, and therefore many pilgrims will take bath in Konark whereafter they will go to Puré to have darçana of Lord Jagannätha. The pilgrims are on their way to Puré now.” Bauribandhu Giri asked his son, “Is the road clear to Puré?” Gopénätha Giri looked to the sky and replied, “Yes, the pilgrims have left Konark and are now in Puré.” Upon hearing this, Bauribandhu Giri replied, “Then I will leave my body now, I will go to Jagannätha now.” It was at that time; and during a mighty kértana that the great saint Bauribandhu Giri gave up his body and entered into the Lord’s pastimes.

As a boy of only ten years, Çréla Gour Govinda Swami witnessed the extraordinary way in which his grandfather left this world. He saw that his grandfather, Bauribandhu Giri, was actually able to choose the day and time that he departed from this mortal world.5

Bauribandhu Giri’s Family Members Bauribandhu Giri left behind him three sons; Gopénätha Giri, Jagannätha Giri, and Dinabandhu Giri. He also left two daughters, Pata Devi and Hade Devi. As the eldest son, Gopénätha Giri was entrusted with the service of the famous deities, Çré Çré Rädhä-Gopäla Jiu and Their Temple. Two of Bauribandhu Giri’s sons, Gopénätha and Jagannätha Giri, were expert kértanéyas who always sang bhajans for Gopäla. These two extra-ordinary kértanéyas were the uncles of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami. They left this world in a similar way to their father.

5. Author’s note: For more information about the great Bauribandhu Giri, please see Kåñëäliìgita-vigraha “One who is Always Embraced by Kåñëa” Volume one, the authorised biography of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja, chapter six.

10

The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata

Damodara Giri

(the great kirtaniya)

A

B

A

(in the village Gadai Giri.)

Ghanasyama Giri & Dinabandhu Giri The Appearance Day of Śrīla Narottama-dāsa Thākura Gopénätha Giri’s son Ghanaçyäma Giri recalls, “In 1967, at the age of 72, my father Gopénätha Giri called his [our] family and friends and told us, ‘I will leave this world on the upcoming agni-utsava day.’ [This day corresponded to the appearance day of Çréla Narottama-däsa Thäkura, which was Friday 24 February 1967]. We stayed with him until he left his body that day during harinäm-saìkértana.”

“Eighteen years later, at the age of 85 my uncle Jagannätha Giri left this world on the same day of agni-utsava [Tuesday 5 February 1985] in the month of Mägha. Most of our ancestors have left this world during the month of Mägha.”

Govinda Giri [1845 – 1933], the great grandfather of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, had also passed from this world on the agni-utsava in the month of Mägha.

11

Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja Purity Is the Force As Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda famously stated, “Purity is the Force”. Throughout his entire life Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja was a pure vegetarian. He did not consume meat, fish, eggs, poultry or even garlic and onions. He never took any kind of intoxication, never gambled (including lottery or stock market) and he never indulged in illicit sex, either inside or outside of marriage. He did not listen to the radio, never went to the cinema nor watched television.6 He never in his life entered a bar or hotel for the purposes of drinking alcohol. He never read mundane literature. From his early childhood, Çréla Gour Govinda Mahäräja chanted the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra, read the Çrémad-Bhägavatam regularly from the tender age of six. He would regularly read and study the Çré Caitanya-caritämåta from the age of twelve. From the age of seventeen, Gour Govinda Swami began a serious study of the four Vedas, the eighteen Puräëas and the one hundred and eight Upaniñads. This kept him up late at night, however he would still rise between 3.00 am and 4.00 am. He maintained a rigorous program of sädhana and would not sleep more than two to three hours a night.

A Divine Call for Sannyāsa - 1969 Fakir Caran Kanungo, the very close friend of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, recalls: One day he [Çréla Gour Govinda 6. Author’s note: In a lecture given by Çréla Gour Govinda Swami he said with regards to movies and television, “...What sort of saàsära it is? This is only a TV show, only a cinema show, only shadows, and you have developed a relationship with shadows, you have developed attachment to shadows, to unreal, temporary things. The consequence of which is unlimited misery and you are wasting your valuable time in this human birth...” (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 8.24.4-5 Bhubaneswar, 24 March, 1993)

12

The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Swami] revealed the dream he had a few nights before. He said, “I was flying in the sky without any vehicle and collecting scented flowers in the garden.

“In my dream someone whispered in my ear, ‘you must accept the sannyäsa order of life, you must accept the sannyäsa order of life, you must accept the sannyäsa order of life.’ I am feeling some unseen power guiding me towards the path of renunciation. Therefore I should not delay for that, I must leave this so called family life and I must accept the renounced order of life. This dream is the divine call for sannyäsa.

I feel someone telling me, ‘leave your house and come quickly, do not fear!’”

Fakir Caran Kanungo the glories of Gadai Giri and wrote a book in Oriya on who

i.

Srila Gour Govinda Swam

Still Encumbered by Householder Life Before his beloved Deity, Gopäl Jéu, he entrusted his seven children – four sons and three daughters – to his brother, Krpasindhu Manik. He said, “These are all your children. This is your family. Please take charge of them.” He then expressed his desire to give up his gåhasta-äçrama and take sannyäsa in order to teach kåñëa-bhakti. However his brother was reluctant to accept the responsibility, thus Brajabandhu was still encumbered by householder life.

13

Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja Pavan Dhama - 1971 Fakir Caran Kanungo recalls: In February 1971, myself and Brajabandhu [Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja] went to the Himalayas [Haridvära and Håñikeça]. We visited different places. At Pavan Dhama we had a meeting with a sädhu who foretold the future of Brajabandhu. I became struck with wonder because what he said line-by-line became true and I saw that it happened in front of my face.

That sädhu said, “In 1974 you must leave your home and your most cherished desire will be fulfilled. There will be a most important change in your consciousness. You will utilise all of your power and ability for the use of God’s (the Supreme Lord’s) service. Devotees will feel greatly fortunate by reading your life story7 and they will come to your feet for help and advice. At times of distress and danger your love and purification will be the only solace for hundreds of souls and you will be famous among the great saintly persons. You will be best among the devotees. You will become an äcärya, a great åñi and you will show the path of perfection to many.8 In the end you will return to Goloka Våndävana, your eternal home.

The Gītā-Yajña - 1973 During his last year as a gåhasta, Brajabandhu (Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja) was invited to a Rädhä-Kåñëa Temple, 7. Author’s note: Please see Kåñëäliìgita-vigraha - One who is Always Embraced by Kåñëa; Volume one. The authorised life history of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja published by Tattva-vicära Publications www.tvpbooks.com.

8. Author’s note: This is very similar to what the astrologer/mystic, Nityananda Khadiratna, had said when Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja was a young child in his mother’s arms. Quoted on page six of this booklet.

14

The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Poio Math, and asked to speak on the Gétä. He lectured for three days. In the morning, he would speak from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and in the afternoon he would start speaking at 3:00 p.m. and go on to 9:00 p.m. Sukadeva Mallik would give him dobs9, green coconuts, because his throat would become dry from speaking for so long. He would drink the coconut water and then speak for six hours. All who attended this Gétä-yajïa were amazed to hear a schoolteacher – virtually an unknown – speak so eloquently on the Bhagavad-gétä.10

Rāma-navamī 1974 Çréla Gour Govinda Swami married at the age of twenty-one and his wife was sixteen; together they raised a family of seven children. All the while he maintained teaching posts at High Schools throughout Orissa.

In 1974, [at the age of 44], on Räma-navamé, the Divine Appearance Day of Lord Rämacandra, Brajabandhu Manik, the school master from Kujang High School, after 23 years of household life and while maintaining a senior teaching post, resigned and left home for good and became a wandering mendicant. He began travelling throughout India in search of a bona fide sädhu guru who would give him sannyäsa, in order for him to take to the preaching mission of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. This was a desire he had cherished from when he was a young boy.

9. Dobs (green coconuts): prior to the coconut going totally hard and the outer skin going totally brown, the juice inside the nut is very sweet. In Bengal and Orissa this is a very refreshing and nourishing drink.

10. Author’s note: Brajabandhu (Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja) was now forty-two years of age, and had studied the scriptures, very seriously, since he was six years old. This had been done under the tutelage of such great Vaiñëava stalwarts as his father, uncles and grandfather.

15

Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja The Search for the Self Realised Soul The route he followed was similar to that taken by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu when He was on this very planet some 530 years ago travelling on pilgrimage to many of the sacred sites of India.

Brajabandhu ended up in the Himalayan region, (Haridvära and Håñikeça), where he would preach to the local sädhus.

However, they were impersonalists and did not want to hear what he had to say. These sädhus did not like to hear that the process for this age was the chanting of the holy name rather than impersonal meditation. He would then leave that äçrama and go to another, then another, and the same thing would happen wherever he went. He would be thrown out for his personalist ideas or in other words, Vaiñëava understanding.

Brajabandhu’s (or as he now called himself Gour Gopälananda däsa)11 understanding was based on years of study of the scriptures, was that all the yogés, sädhus, and all those living in that Himalayan region who were acting as renunciates, should chant the holy name: hare kåñëa hare kåñëa kåñëa kåñëa hare hare, hare räma hare räma räma räma hare hare.

He travelled to many places such as Väräëasi and had some discussions there, though they were not very satisfying to him.

In Lord Rämacandra’s birthplace Ayodhyä, where they speak of Lord Räma, and among them Tulasé däsa’s Rämäyaëa is most famous. However, very few people knew Çrémad-Bhägavatam, and no one knew Çré Caitanya-caritämåta, therefore Gour 11. Author’s note: Brajabandhu called himself Gour (Gaura) after Gauräìga Mahäprabhu and Gopäla after the famous deity from the Gadäi Giri village in Orissa, Çré Gopäla Jéu.

16

The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Gopälananda däsa did not feel content. He had met so many sädhus, yogés, sannyäsés and gurus, and visited so many temples and äçramas, however his inner desires were still not fulfilled.

In his own words, “I was not really satisfied until I reached Våndävana.”

Vṛndāvana 1974

Gour Gopälananda däsa was in search of Çré Kåñëa, Çrémän Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Çrémad-Bhägavatam, and had decided for himself that where he found these three combined he would stay and surrender. After travelling all over India and meeting many sädhus without success, he decided to go to Våndävana, the land of Kåñëa, in the hope that his desires would be fulfilled there.

By Kṛṣṇa’s Arrangement

By Kåñëa’s divine arrangement Gour Gopälananda däsa (Çréla Gour Govinda Swami) found what he was looking for in the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda (1896-1977), the Founder-Äcärya of the International Society for Kåñëa Consciousness (ISKCON).

When he came upon the ISKCON land in Våndävana, Çréla Prabhupäda’s Western disciples warmly welcomed him and handed him a copy of the Back to Godhead magazine. Gour Gopalananda däsa was intrigued. Merely by seeing the picture of Çréla Prabhupäda in the magazine, Gour Gopälananda däsa recognised that he was a self-realised soul and understood, “This is my spiritual master.”

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja Have You Taken Sannyāsa?

During their first meeting (15.09.1974, at midday) Çréla Prabhupäda asked Gour Gopälananda däsa, “Have you taken sannyäsa?” to which Gour Gopälananda däsa replied that he had not. Çréla Prabhupäda immediately replied, “Then I will give you sannyäsa.” Gour Gopälananda däsa thought to himself, “That is the symptom of a pure devotee, a bona fide representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the caitya-guru in the heart. He knows my heart.” Gour Gopälananda däsa related, “I was instantly attracted to him and accepted him as my guru. I understood this to be the prompting of the Supersoul.”

Have You Taken Sannyasa?

Founder Acarya

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 18

The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Prabhupāda had a Special Relationship with Him Guëärëava Prabhu, who was, at that time, a young disciple of Srila Prabhupada and one of the first managers/builders of the Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Temple remembers the meeting of Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda and Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, below are some of his recollections: “...Srila Prabhupäda took a lot of care; he really took him [Gour Govinda Swami] close. They would spend a lot of time together...” “ So Prabhupäda took him right under his wing...” “...He [Gour Govinda Swami] kept to himself, he did not socialise; he was with his thoughts, he was with Kåñëa, he was thinking, he was very happy to meet Prabhupäda, he saw Prabhupäda as the real thing...” “...But Guru Mahäräja, your Guru Mahäräja was not a foot soldier; you see, he was special; he had a special connection with Prabhupäda...” “... See what I mean, it just expands on, it reconfirms what I’ve been saying that Prabhupäda had a special relationship with him...”

Hari-nāma Initiation 1974 Gour Gopälananda däsa received hari-näma initiation and was given the name Gour Govinda däsa in Mäyäpura, West Bengal, by Çréla Prabhupäda. After initiation, Çréla Prabhupäda told him “Gour Govind,12 you will take me to Orissa…”

12. Author’s note: Çréla Prabhupäda would affectionately call his new disciple Gour Govind.

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja Gāyatrī Initiation 1974 About a month after hari-näma initiation, in Bombay, Çréla Prabhupäda granted him dékñä initation into the gäyatré mantras. Bombay is now Mumbai, which is in the Indian state of Maharastra.

Bhubaneswar 1974 Someone had donated land to ISKCON in Bhubaneswar, just on the outskirts of the city. Gour Govinda däsa went there with another brahmacäré, on the request of Çréla Prabhupäda, to build a temple. However, he had to return because the other brahmacäré, who was senior to Gour Govinda däsa, felt it was too dangerous to stay there alone. It was such a deserted and such an out-of-the-way place that no one would venture there, not even the rickshaw-drivers. The only persons that did frequent that area were dacoits (bandits and thugs); they would hi-jack vehicles on the highway that were passing in front of the donated plot of land.

During that time, on the donated land and surrounding areas, there were still bears, elephants and tigers roaming wild, as well as many snakes and scorpions. The locals would not even venture there. Thus Gour Govinda däsa reluctantly left the newly acquired land and went back to see Çréla Prabhupäda.

Sannyāsa 1975 It was one year after leaving family life, in search of a bona fide guru of whom to take shelter, travelling the length and breadth of India, that in 1975, on the occasion of Räma-navami,

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The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata

] Sannyasi Thakura

red desire

His cherish aya!! j i K ! d e ll fulfi

Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja

during the opening of the Çré Çré Kåñëa Balaräma temple in Våndävana, that Çréla Prabhupäda awarded Gour Govinda däsa sannyäsa.13 Thereby Çréla Prabhupäda fulfilled the desire that his new disciple had cherished his whole life, to take sannyäsa and preach the mission of Çréman Caitanya Mahäprabhu.

When Çréla Prabhupäda gave sannyäsa to Gour Govinda däsa he said to him, “You have understood.” Srila Prabhupäda at different times said of his disciple Gour Govinda Swami, “...

Kåñëa has sent him...”, “...Gour Govinda Swami is a devotee from birth...”, and that, “...O, Gour Govinda Swami, he is so sincere...”

13. For more information on this topic please read the book Våndävana 1975.

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja The ISKCON Mission in Orissa Shortly after his sannyäsa initiation, Çréla Gour Govinda Swami went back to that very isolated place in Bhubaneswar, alone, and began the ISKCON mission in Orissa, with no men, no money and no books on a vacant piece of jungle. Çréla Prabhupäda said to Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, “A Vaiñëava cooks his own meals and washes his own clothes. A Vaiñëava is never alone, Kåñëa is always with him.”

However, Çréla Gour Govinda Mahäräja thought, “Yes, Çréla Prabhupäda is a Vaiñëava, but I am not!” Çréla Gour Govinda Mahäräja stayed under extremely austere conditions on that land in Bhubaneswar that was donated to Çréla Prabhupäda’s ISKCON. There was no running water, no electricity, no plumbing hence no toilets, no phone, no dwelling - no nothing. Taking bath was from a pump in a field, which was quite some distance away. To read, in the early morning and evenings, he would burn an old oil lamp.

The Three Sevās Çréla Prabhupäda entrusted Çréla Gour Govinda Swami with three important services: 1. To preach in Orissa and build a temple similar to the temple in Jagannätha Puré.

2. To translate Çréla Prabhupäda’s English books into Oriya.

3. To take disciples and train them.14 14. Author’s note: Many private meetings took place between Çréla Prabhupäda and Çréla Gour Govinda Swami whilst Çréla Prabhupada visited the Bhubaneswar land.

Many noted that there was no tape recorder on and no one was privy to these meet-

22

A

Cont.

The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata No Entrance to the Jagannātha Temple Çréla Prabhupäda had accepted many Western disciples and taught them the glories of Puruñottama-kñetra, Jagannätha Purédhäma where Çréman Gauräìga Mahäprabhu had performed His pastimes. However when his Western disciples went to visit Jagannätha Puré they were refused entrance to the famous Jagannätha Temple. Until the present time, foreign devotees of Lord Jagannatha are still not allowed inside the ancient temple (of the Lord of the Universe).

[

B

Jagannatha Temple in Jagannatha Puri

A

Lord Jagannatha The Lord of the Universe

ings except for Çréla Prabhupäda and Çréla Gour Govinda Swami. What was discussed was only between these two great personalities. The first two instructions were given prior to the visit of Çréla Prabhupäda to the Bhubaneswar land, however the third instruction was given at the time of these private meetings.

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Sulkiness for Orissa When Çréla Prabhupäda learnt of this discrimination against his disciples he became very sad. He was preaching the glories of Çré Kñetra, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Lord Jagannätha throughout the world, but the administration and päëòäs of the temple would not allow his disciples entry for Jagannätha’s darçana. This gave Çréla Prabhupäda such a great shock that he developed deep sulkiness [abhimäna] and thereafter decided that he would not travel to Orissa again; especially to Jagannätha Puré, the dhäma that is very dear to Çrémän Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Therefore how could Çréla Prabhupäda, a gaurapriya-jana, a very dear devotee of Mahäprabhu, who had cent percent received the mercy of Mahäprabhu, fulfill the Lord’s prophesy of His message being spread throughout the world?

“O Bhaktivedanta Swami, please come! Please come!”

Lord Siva

b

Lord Śiva Invited My Guru Mahārāja

Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: I was saying, how in Mäyäpura, Lord Çiva invited my Guru Mahäräja, ‘Please come, please come to this kñetra [Bhubaneswar].’ My Guru Mahäräja had developed

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The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata some sort of sulkiness, so he was not intending to come here.

Lord Çiva, who is a great Vaiñëava has stated: païca-bhautika-dehä ye martyaloka-niväsinaù bhagavad-bhakti-rasikä namasyä mädåçäà sadä “People like myself should also always bow down to offer respect to they who, although they live in the earthly planets, and although they possess material bodies made of the five elements, are expert at always tasting the nectar mellows of pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (Çré Båhad Bhägavatämåtam 1.3.54)

So Lord Çiva has said that a sädhu who has taken birth in this material world, in the body consisting of five gross elements, is a very great devotee of the Lord. He is worshipped even by me. I pay my respects to him. Çiva says, “He is most dear; I am not as dear as he is dear to Him.” So when my Guru Mahäräja developed some sulkiness, he would not come here. Lord Çiva repeatedly requested, ‘Please, O Bhaktivedanta Swami, please come! Please come!’ At last he accepted Lord Çiva’s request.15 So he came here to this Çivakñetra, which is the entrance to the Purusottama Kñetra. Thus Bhaktivedanta Swami came to this place. He stayed at the entrance, and thought of building this Kåñëa-Balaräma Temple at the entrance of the kñetra.16 15. Author’s note: Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja was personally present when Lord Çiva came to see Çréla Prabhupäda to invite him to Bhubaneswar and to Çré Jagannätha Puré Dhäma.

16. Author’s note: Lord Çiva Invited my Guru Mahäräja is from an Evening Darçana with Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja Originally published in the Kåñëa-Balaräma Temple Newsletter Issue number 6, 1992.

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja Jagannātha Will Come to Bhubaneswar After Çréla Gour Govinda Swami’s hari-näma initiation in Mayapur (1974), Çréla Prabhupäda had said to him, “Gour Govind, You will take me to Orissa”. Thus Çréla Prabhupäda gave him that responsibility. Çréla Prabhupäda then said, “I will build a temple in Bhubaneswar like Jagannätha’s Temple in Puré, because my Western disciples are not allowed to enter that temple. Lord Jagannätha will come and stay in Bhubaneswar, then my disciples can go there and have His darçana.”

Bhubaneswar 1977 Çréla Prabhupäda came to Bhubaneswar in early 1977.

Although arrangements were made for him to stay comfortably in the State Government Guesthouse, he refused, saying, “I will only stay on the land where my disciple Gour Govind has built a mud hut for me.”

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

A

Bhubaneswar - “the out-of-the-way place”

Srila Gour Govinda Swami

26

The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata During this time, many of Çréla Prabhupäda’s senior disciples wanted to abandon the Bhubaneswar project because it was in an isolated and out of the way place, and establish a larger project in Jagannätha Puré, however, Çréla Prabhupäda prophesied that the Bhubaneswar temple would be as famous as the Jagannätha Temple in Puré and that it would become the centre of the city. Çréla Prabhupäda stayed in Bhubaneswar for seventeen days and waited for the auspicious occasion of Lord Nityänanda’s appearance day to lay the foundation stone. Thus the Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir in Bhubaneswar was Çréla Prabhupäda’s last founded project.

Māyāpura 1978 - 1979 In Çrédhäm Mäyäpura at the end of 1978 to the beginning part of 1979 Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was seen to be displaying bodily symptoms that no ordinary person could display. Many devotees and onlookers were bewildered by what they saw and concluded that Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was ill. However when health practitioners were consulted they could not diagnose his symptoms with any known medical condition. Even when exorcists were consulted they found no ghosts were attaching themselves to Çréla Gour Govinda Swami.

Though he had lost half his body weight, he was not ill in the ordinary sense. Therefore what was Çréla Gour Govinda Swami’s condition? What actually was it?

1

The Advanced Stage of Ecstatic Love of Godhead Çréla Gour Govinda Swami’s body began to change colour from red, pink, green, white, yellow and so on. Out of

27

Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja concern, devotees decided to take Çréla Gour Govinda Swami to the astrologer who had made all the predictions about Çréla Prabhupäda. The astrologer examined him and he explained to them that Çréla Gour Govinda Mahäräja was experiencing bhäva—the advanced stage of ecstatic love of Godhead.

Niskincana Paramahamsa S

Srila Krsna Dasa Babaji Maharaja

Śrīla Kṛṣṇa Dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja There was another person who could conclude what the condition of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was and that was Çréla Prabhupäda’s exalted Godbrother Çréla Kåñëa däsa Bäbäjé Mahäräja (whom Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda gave the titles of niñkiïcana - having no material attachments and paramahaàsa - a swan-like pure devotee). He alluded to the exalted character of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, and said, “He is a mahä-bhägavata,” and paid his obeisances to him.

Śrī Nārāyaṇa Rāmānuja Dāsa The devotees then took Çréla Gour Govinda Swami to a brähmaëa, Çré Näräyaëa Rämänuja däsa, from the Çré-

28

The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata sampradäya, an äyurvedic doctor and mystic, who concurred with Çréla Kåñëa däsa Bäbäjé Mahäräja’s observation, that Çréla Gour Govinda Mahäräja was not suffering from any material illness, but that Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was certainly displaying the symptoms of a highly advanced devotee, a mahäbhägavata.17

The South Indian Brāhmaṇa In 1980 a South Indian brähmaëa, Çré Badri Näräyaëa Rämänuja däsa, visited the Çré Çré Kåñëa Balaräma temple construction site.

He noticed a bright effulgent sannyäsé on the porch of the hut, chanting on beads. That sannyäsé was none other than Çréla Gour Govinda Swami. The brähmaëa from Çré Raìgam said of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, “I could see immediately that he was a mahä-bhägavata.” (Çré Badri Näräyaëa Rämänuja däsa is trained in the four Vedas, the Upaniñads and the Puräëas. He is an astrologer and a palmist. He can also read the “geometry” of the body – Sämudrika-çästra.)18

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Prophesies Come True In January 1991, after sixteen years of determined and dedicated endeavour, Çréla Gour Govinda Swami fulfilled the instruction of his most beloved spiritual master, when the magnificent Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir was opened. Lord Jagannätha came of His own accord and as Çréla Prabhupäda had also foretold, the Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandir is now 17. For more information on this topic please read the book Mäyäpura 1979.

18. For more information on this topic please read the booklet The Äcärya, the Brähmaëa and the çilpé, Chapter Two.

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja the centre of the city attracting thousands of people to Kåñëa consciousness.

The opening ceremony of the

Krsna-Balarama Mandir Lord Jagannatha came of His own accord!

The beautiful rama Mandir la a B a n rs K ri S Sri in Bhubaneswar Srila Prabhupada's 108th and last founded project Ratha-yātrā 1991 In 1991 Çréla Gour Govinda Swami inaugurated the Rathayäträ festival in Bhubaneswar to coincide with the Rathayäträ of Jagannätha Puré.19 This proved to be a major event in Bhubaneswar and the surrounding areas and many locals came in the tens of thousands to see the Bhubaneswar ISKCON Ratha-yätra.20 Çréla Gour Govinda Swami also introduced the Candana-yäträ festival in Bhubaneswar.

19. After acquiring nearby land in 2004, a large Gundica Temple for Lord Jagannätha, in Bhubaneswar, was under construction and was nearing completion by the efforts of followers and disciples of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami.

20. Author’s note: The Bhubaneswar Ratha-yäträ is now the second largest Rathayäträ in Orissa, second only to the Ratha-yäträ in Jagannätha Puré.

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The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata The Ācārya of Śrī Raṅgam The Äcärya [the head of the Çré Vaiñëavas] of Çré Raìgam, Çré Lakñman Rämänuj Jeeyar (1930 – 2012), came in 1991, with his disciple, Çré Badri Näräyaëa Rämänuja däsa (the astrologer, Sanskrit scholar and mystic), to visit Çréla Gour Govinda Swami and to verify if he was indeed a mahä-bhagavata. Çréla Äcäryadeva verified that Çréla Gour Govinda Swami did indeed have the auspicious markings on his body of a mahäThe acarya of Sri Rangam bhagavata. He also explained that the birthmarks on the body of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami represent different avatäras (incarnations) of the Lord, such as Varäha, Matsya, Kürma.

Then he went on to say, “He is a çaktyäveça-avatära, a spiritually effulgent personality… a mahä-bhagavata of the highest order.”

He also said, “a sannyäsé has only three things that are white: his teeth, his brähmaëa thread and his heart (meaning that the heart is pure).21 Çréla Gour Govinda Swami asked the Äcärya to send him all the collected information on sannyäsa by Çré Ramanuja Äcärya, in order to compile it and give it to his sannyäsé godbrothers.

21. Author’s note: This means in the heart there is no käma (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (illusion), mada (madness/pride) and mätsarya (envy).

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja Whenever he could, the Äcärya came to Bhubaneswar to have the association of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami.22

Pāda-yātrā in Orissa - 1992 The first bullock cart päda-yäträ in Orissa took place in 1992, and was inspired by Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja.

Starting from the ISKCON Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma Temple in Bhubaneshwar with Oriya and Western devotees attending. The päda-yäträ has taken place every year since then during Kärtika in different districts of Orissa. The three-week walk always begins on the disappearance day of Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja desired it this way, as a humble offering to his beloved spiritual master.

1992 The first bullock cart pada-yatra in Orissa

From 1992 to 1995 Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja would speak on subject matters such as; Näma-tattva, Bhagavad-gétä and Çrémad-Bhägavatam, followed by a question and answer session from the audience.

22. For more information on this topic please read the booklet The Äcärya, the Brähmaëa and the Shilpi, Chapter Three.

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The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Orissan and Western pada-yatris 1992

“Haribol!”

Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja was very enthusiastic about the päda-yäträ preaching and personally travelled with the päda-yätrés every year until he left this mortal world in 1996.

As a tribute to Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja the Orissa päda-yäträ still takes place every year.

Preaching Around the World Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja spent many years travelling the world, preaching throughout Europe, America, Canada, Africa, Mauritius, Australia, parts of South East Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Bali) and the subcontinent of India, especially in the state of Orissa. It was in Orissa, that he constructed the glorious temples of Çré Çré Kåñëa-Balaräma and Çré Çré Rädhä-Gopénätha in Bhubaneswar; and in Gadai Giri he constructed the Çré Çré Rädhä-Gopäla Jéu temple. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami also initiated numerous other projects, many of which are now being completed by his disciples and followers.

With his dynamic presentation of the philosophy of Kåñëa consciousness, Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja would leave audiences spellbound. He would speak up to four hours

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja at a time on one subject and sometimes lecture on one verse of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam and purport of Çréla Prabhupäda for seven continuous mornings and evenings. Prior to speaking on a particular verse of Çrémad-Bhägavatam he would sing verses glorifying the Çrémad-Bhägavatam. Also when travelling abroad, preceding his main discourse on the Çrémad-Bhägavatam, he would speak for fifteen to twenty minutes, glorifying ÇrémadBhägavatam, emphasising the depth of Çrémad-Bhägavatam and that in each word, even in every letter of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam there are many meanings.

6

Preaching around the world

There was no question that he could not answer, and it became apparent that hearing from Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja on a regular basis would melt even the hardest of hearts.

The Mission The mission of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was to enhance, grace and compliment the mission of his own Guru Mahäräja, ISKCON’s Founder Äcärya His Divine Grace Çréla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, on three platforms. Çréla Gour Govinda Mahäräja had stated many times, “There are three things that are very important to me. The first

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The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata point is that I want to preach to the preachers. It causes me so much pain to see the devotees falling down and going away. The second point is that I want to show how everything is in Çréla Prabhupäda’s books. Those persons who are saying that Çréla Prabhupäda only gave ABC, cause me so much pain in my heart.

Thus I want to make them silent. The third point is that I want to show how all the tattvas, higher teachings, are in ISKCON, so there is no need to go outside.”

ch “...It causes me so mu lling pain to see the devotees fa .” down and going away..

Srila Gour Govinda Swami

Storehouse of Knowledge

One of the main focal points of His Divine Grace’s preaching was in revealing the intimate connection between Puré and Bhubaneswar (Ekämra-känana) Dhämas, the glories of Lord Jagannätha, and the esoteric reason why Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu stayed in Puré. When Çréla Gour Govinda Swami presented the Gauòéya Vaiñëava siddhänta he would convey very subtle truths of the Lord’s pastimes in Jagannätha Puré.

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja Preaching Prema-Tattva Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was preaching prema-tattva throughout ISKCON. The basis of all his presentations were the purports of his divine spiritual master Çréla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, and he wove in between them the commentaries and words of the previous äcäryas. Below is an abbreviated list of the topics that he illuminated:

1. That çré-guru is rädhä-priyä däsé or rädhä-priya-sakhé, an intimate maidservant of Çrématé Rädhäräëé.

2. The identity of the spiritual master as sevaka-bhagavän, the servitor Personality of Godhead.

3. Kåñëa is called sevya-bhagavän, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is to be served and worshipped.

4. Prasaìga-rüpä-sevä, hearing from guru directly, that means you are with guru and hearing.

5. Paricaryä-rüpä-sevä, taking care of the guru: that means

taking care of the guru’s body and the guru’s requirements.

6. The Supreme Lord Çré Kåñëa is préti-viñaya – the object of love.

7.

All the gopés headed by Çrématé Rädhäräëé are préti-äçraya – the abode of love.

8. Çré Kåñëa, who is in the mood of viñaya wanted to experience the mood of äçraya, therefore he came as Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu with the complexion (tapta-käïcana-gauräìgi/tapta-käïcana-gauräìga) and mood (rädhä-bhäva) of Çrématé Rädhäräëé.

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The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Srimati Radharani is priti-asraya

4

Sri Krsna is priti-visaya - the object of Love

- the abode of Love

5

7 2 T and affection

Priti-dharma the religion of 1

for one and all

9. The mood and process of Çrémän Mahäprabhu is préti-dharma – love and affection for one and all.

10. Çrématé Rädhikä is äçrayä-tattva.

11. Vrajendra-nandana Kåñëa, the son of Mahäräja Nanda, is viñaya-tattva.

12. He explained that Çrémän Gauräìga Mahäprabhu is prema-puruñottama, the father of prema.

13. He also explained that Lord Rämacandra is maryädä-puruñottama, a strict follower of Vedic culture; He accepts only one wife.

14. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Çré Kåñëa, is known as lélä-puruñottama, He enjoys wonderful pastimes with His dear devotees.

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T

Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja

15. The Çrémad-Bhägavatam (çrémad-bhägavataà pramäëam-

amalaà) is the flawless (nirmala) and most authoritative scripture (çabda-pramäëa).

16. The highest goal is prema – love of God (premä pumartho

mahän), which can only be obtained by the personal association of a premé-bhakta, preméka-bhakta; one who has love of God (prema).

17. Then in a class given on 10 June 1994 in Encinitas, Cali-

fornia, USA he said: “...When prema becomes more condensed it develops into sneha. When sneha is condensed it becomes mäna. When mäna becomes condensed it becomes praëaya. Praëaya in a more condensed form becomes räga. When räga becomes more condensed it develops into anuräga. When anuräga is more condensed it becomes bhäva, and when bhäva becomes still more condensed then it ultimately becomes mahäbhäva. This mahäbhäva is the eighth and final stage of the development of transcendental love...”

18. Also in a class given on August 18, 1993 in Bhubaneswar,

he stated: “...He is guru who is day and night, twenty-four hours engaged in the loving service of Kåñëa. Who is the source of all sorts of loving services to Kåñëa? That is Çrématé Rädhäräëé. Rädhä vina ära kaha naya. Kåñëa only belongs to Çrématé Rädhäräëé. He does not belong to anyone else, He completely belongs to Her. She is the source of all kinds of loving services to Kåñëa. She is the original guru-tattva, only Rädhäräëé can give you the opportunity to serve Kåñëa. Without Rädhäräëé’s mercy there is no opportunity to serve Kåñëa.

Kåñëa is completely under Rädhä, He does not belong to anyone else other than Rädhäräëé. Without Rädhäräëé no one is guru...”

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The Exalted Bhakta-bhagavata Ārādhyo Bhagavān Vrajeśa-Tanayas The object of worship is the Lord in His form as the son of the King of Vraja - Çré Kåñëa

In truth the teachings of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami could be summarised in this one verse, which is considered the sum and substance of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s teachings: ärädhyo bhagavän vrajeça-tanayas tad-dhäma våndävanam ramyä käcid upäsana vraja-vadhü-vargeëä yä kalpitä çrémad-bhägavataà pramäëam amalaà premän pumartho mahän çré-caitanya-mahäprabhor matam idaà taträdaro naù paraù “The highest object of worship (ärädhya) is the Lord in His form as the son of the King of Vraja (Çré Kåñëa or Vrajendra-nandana Kåñëa). Våndävana Dhäma is the topmost worshippable abode and the cowherd girls who live there with Him, chief amongst whom is Rädhikä, are His perfect worshippers, (säàrädhikäs). The most enchanting method of worshipping the Supreme Lord is that performed by the gopés. The most authoritative source of divine revelation is the Çrémad-Bhägavatam. Love for Kåñëa or prema is the fifth and ultimate goal of human life.”23

These are the principles of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s opinion and the Gauòéya Vaiñëavas thus consider this doctrine to be supreme.

He Was Increasing the Understanding of All Tattvas Thus, within ISKCON he was increasing the understanding of all tattvas, embellishing upon the purports of his spiritual 23. This verse is from the Caitanya-manjusa by Çrénätha Cakravarté, a great Vaiñëava follower of Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s school of thought.

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Srila Gour Govinda swami maharaja master and expanding the limit of the siddhänta. He included all the works of our predecessor äcäryas, encompassing all the tattvas, and finally leading up to the point of prema. To accomplish such a task he spoke for up to five hours a day at one time on the Çrémad-Bhägavatam (çrémad-bhägavataà pramäëam amalaà).

Up To Ninety Years On this Planet In Çrédhäm Mäyäpura, on the 9th February 1996, the holy appearance day of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura Prabhupäda, two aspiring Vaiñëavés came to see Çréla Gour Govinda Swami and enquired from him about the significance of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s stay in Puré. While deeply absorbed in narrating the intimate pastimes of the Lord, His Divine Grace, of his own volition left this world. Several astrologers had concurred that Çréla Gour Govinda Mahäräja would live up to ninety years on this planet. He also had said, in Melbourne ISKCON temple in 1990 that the beginning of his western preaching mission had begun with the tour of Australia and South East Asia that same year.

Twenty Four Years Too Early Therefore it is believed he prematurely left this planet of his own volition in much the same way many of his great ancestors had. Others say that he left this world disgusted. Needless to say the great bhakta-bhägavata, Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja left this world at the age of sixty six, twenty four years too early...

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Other titles Suggested Reading on this Subject Matter Kåñëäliìgita-vigraha Vol. 1 “One who is Always Embraced by Kåñëa” The biography of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja Gour Govinda Swami – Who Was He? Just Try to Learn the Truth Våndävana 1975 Mäyäpura 1979 In the Association of Pure Devotees The Äcärya, the Brähmaëa and the çilpé

Other Titles

by and for Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja Amåtera-Taraìgiëé — “The Flow of Nectar” Bhakti-Naipuëya — “The Last Limit of Bhakti” Encountering the Kåñëäliìgita-Vigraha Gopäl-Jiu — “The Beloved Deity of Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Mahäräja” Çré Guru Makes Kåñëa Appear in your Heart Kåñëa Prema Bhakti Mathurä meets Våndävana My Revered Spiritual Master Paripraçnena — “The Process of Inquiry” Sädhu-saìga the Birth Place of Bhakti Çré Guru Päda Padma — “The Lotus Feet of our Spiritual Master” Çré Guru-Vandanä — “The worship of Çré Guru” Çré Nityänanda Prema-Rasärëava — “The ocean of Loving Mellows of Lord Nityänanda” Çuddha-näma Bhajana — “Chanting the Pure Name” The Embankment of Separation Tåëäd Api Sunécena — “Lower than the Straw in the Street” Vedic Dharma and the Gåhastha-äçrama Vol. 1 Vedic Dharma and the Varëäçrama System Vol. 2 Nama-Tattva — The Ten Offences

Booklets

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Other titles Bhagavat-Darçana Giriräja Govardhana Hari-Däsa-Varya — “The Chief Devotee of Lord Hari” Guru-Tattva Kåñëa Kåpa Çré Mürti — “The Embodiment of Kåñëa’s Mercy” Lord Balaräma — “The Original Bhakta-Avatära” Nåsiàha-Caturdaçé — “The Appearance Day of Lord Nåsiàhadeva” Paramahaàsa-Saìgéta — “Çréla Vyasadeva’s Last Contibution” Çré Kåñëa Janmäñöamé The Confidential Meaning of Ratha-Yäträ The History of Lord Jagannätha’s Snäna-Yäträ The Meaning of Vyäsa-Püjä The Nature of a Mahatma Rädhä-Prema Makes Kåñëa Mad Çré Guru Caraëa Padma — “The Lotus Feet of Çré Guru” The Greed of the Lord The Meaning of Vyäsa-Pujä The Nature of a Mahatma Rädhä-Prema Makes Kåñëa Mad Çré Guru Caraëa Padma — “The Lotus Feet of Çré Guru” Taking Care of Bhakti-Latä Bound by Love The Beauty of a Premé-Bhakta Rädhäräëé’s Beauty Icchä-Måtyu — “Simply by His Will a Pure Devotee Leaves” The Asset of the Gauòéya-Guru-Varga The Heart of a Vaiñëava The Garland of Prema-Näma Çréla Prabhupäda’s Society without Envy Guru-sevä is Everything

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T

he Deity of Çré Gopäla Jéu is very famous in Orissa. In the small temple that was constructed by his father, Çré Gopal Giri and his family maintained the worship of the Deity of Lord Jagannätha. It was in answer to Çré Gopal Giri’s wish to worship Kåñëa in his village that the Deity of Gopäla Jéu came, with a wandering bäbäjé, from Våndävana. Gopäla Jéu was installed along with the Deity of Çrématé Rädhäräëé in the original temple in the Gadäi-Giri village.

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