Praṇamāmi Guru Tīrtha Padaṁ

Śrīla Gurudeva always liked to be very prepared and often planned his lectures ahead of time and requested the name of the institution we are going to. He and I went to some strange places in Phoenix (Arizona, USA.) We went wherever we could since not so many devotees lived there.  Once we went to some place called "Center for Expanding Consciousness." As he spoke on some verse of Bhagavad-gītā, one lady held up her hand while he was giving commentary.  He stopped and said, "Yes, you have a question?"  She replied, "Well, I have Bhagavad-gītā. I heard this verse many times, but it doesn't seem to me what you are telling me it means. What you are saying seems to have a different meaning." He just said, "I am so happy that you are reading Bhagavad-gītā," and smiled. She sat down. There was no conflict, no room for it at all. People have different interpretations, but there is no argument. He has no sense of conflict, free of animosity, condesce

When I first came to the maṭha , the love that I got from Śrīla Gurudeva, in the beginning, was unique because I was such a small child when I came here; I am not sure if anyone else had an experience like mine.   When I came to get harināma from Gurudeva, he asked, "What is your name? And I told him.  Then he asked, "What is your father's name? And, again,  I told his name.  Then he said, "Oh, you are the son of that devotee? Do you want to come to Delhi with me?"  Before Guru Mahārāja had finished giving me harināma , as he was extending the mālā to me, he was telling me to come to Delhi with him. I thought I will miss my home and so I felt like weeping. I thought in my mind, Guru Mahārāja, it is very difficult for me to stay away from my family, so I will stay in Agartala maṭha and serve from there, I will not go anywhere else.  The next morning Guru Mahārāja saw me. I paid obeisances to Guru Mahārāja, and then he asked me, "Is your stomach okay?&q

Earlier, we used to have the maṭha in a rented house at Rashbihari Avenue, Kolkata. Our Guru Mahārāja [Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Dayita Mādhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja] used to call Kṛṣṇa Ballabha's name always and as soon as he was called, he would leave aside every other activity, including eating, to respond to him. In this way, he would serve Guru Mahārāja . I still remember an incident that took place in front of my eyes. One day, Mahārāja needed to go to a government office at 11am. Pūjyapāda Keśava Prabhu and asked him where he was going. He replied, "As per the order of Guru Mahārāja, I am going to an office for some work."  "It is nearly 11 AM, time for the bhoga to be offered to Ṭhākurajī, You should take prasādam before leaving," they said. “How can I take prasādam before all of you take? Also, the time I need to be there in the office as per the order of Gurudeva is approaching," Kṛṣṇa Ballabha Brahmacārī said. Despite his argument, they insisted that he s

Once our Puri maṭha had won a court case. Paramā-gurudeva and Gurujī were in Guwahati. Paramā-gurudeva told Gurujī to go immediately to Jagannātha Puri. He bought the ticket and was ready to leave right away. He had a water bottle whose handle was broken. Gurujī took a rope made of coir, tied it to the bottle, and hung it on his shoulder. When Paramā-gurudeva saw this, he exclaimed, “You are traveling by air like this?”  He is such a renounced person that he never paid heed to the mundane world. Among all the qualities of Gurujī, his biggest quality is surrender towards Paramā-gurudeva. Our Gurujī was made Ācārya not only because he was educated, but because he is totally surrendered. Our Gurujī never repeated anything other than his Gurudeva’s words. He always said, “I heard from my Gurudeva like this” or “My Gurudeva said such and such words.” He is always singing his glories.  He said, “My Gurudeva has instructed me to only repeat the words of Guru, Vaiṣṇava, and Scriptures wherever

After I joined math, I got a letter from my father. I asked Guru Maharaj if I can reply. He said, "No. If you reply, you will go home. You will not be able to stay in Math." My heart was floundering. After a few days, I got another letter. My mind got disturbed. I went to Guru Maharaj. He said, "I told you already if you reply, you will not be able to stay here." Some days later, about 32 - 34 persons from my village came there to Hazra Road (Kolkata) in search of me. I was sent by Guru Maharaj to another place. I did not understand the reason at the time. They searched for me, there but did not find me. They made all the arrangements for my marriage. They wanted to take me and get married. Guruji asked one devotee to take me to the station. I was surprised why Guruji wanted me to go all of a sudden. If those persons had seen me, it would have been difficult for me. —Gurudeva's words translated by Prahlad Das (2010)                              

I used to play daily in the veranda. One day I hit a stone and fell down. I could not breathe properly. There were many old women and grandmothers sitting a little far away. I was signaling them, but nobody came. All of the sudden, my mother came there somehow. She came towards me, but suddenly took a turn in another direction because she did not see me. Later she saw me and came to me running. Then she rubbed me and I could breathe properly after that. I understood that even if mother is far from the child she knows about him. Those who were close by did not come to me. I have seen this practically. That relation (mother-child) is very different. She was some where else, but somehow she knew that her child is in trouble. She came running and none of those who were sitting there came. There is a gulf of difference. -- Our grandfather was our enemy (laughing). Whenever we used to play he used to come with a cane in his hand to beat us. One day all of my friends ran away but I could no

Sri Sri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah! Jaya Sri Sri Sita-Rama! 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 friend. What kind of person would not bow down to your lotus feet? My heart is full of love, gratitude a

Guru Mahārāja always said, "You are acting as a guru because you are sitting in front of me, and that is forcing me to think about Mahāprabhu and speak. That is what my Guru Mahārāja ordered, and you are facilitating that; this is gurukārya ." Gurukārya means the work of the guru which you are doing.  I also heard Guru Mahārāja say on Rāmanavamī day that His Guru Mahārāja said, " Śiṣyas also act as a guru because they are always observing the activities of their guru; sometimes their guru may forget ānhika , so the śiṣya will tell Gurudeva it's ānhika time." This was the first time I heard this kind of statement from someone on such a level. Basically for Gurudeva, humanity is not something that was purified, it was as natural as the ego. He was perfectly established in the highest principles but he never feels himself as Gurudeva. He always thinks of himself as a disciple of his Gurudeva. He has a lot of love towards his Gurudeva due to which he was perform

Gurudeva gave his full heart and mind to everything he did. He was very, very alert. I have seen so many times that whenever we used to do parikramā , Guru Mahārāja was dancing and singing and suddenly he stopped to offer daṇḍavat praṇām and said, "One vaiṣṇava is coming."  If even one tridaṇḍī svāmī was seen, even from afar, Guru Mahārāja was always seen bowing down. There was one Rāmanavamī Vyāsa-puja going on in Kolkata Library and Guru Mahārāja was sitting on the vyāsāsana while we were observing puja .  Suddenly, he got up from there and offered daṇḍavat praṇām because there was one senior godbrother, Dāmodara Mahārāja from Kṛṣṇanagar, that had just entered. Seeing this, he left his vyāsāsana and stopped the puja . Sant Gosvāmī Mahārāja always sat on a chair. Guru Mahārāja would never sit on a chair in front of him, he sat on the floor. Whenever I have seen one guru-varga entering Guru Mahārāja’s room, Guru Mahārāja always immediately got up.  —Rasabihārī Dāsa, Jam

When I was thirty years old, I started to feel a strong desire in my heart to meet a real sādhu . I wanted to meet a person who could answer all my questions. When this desire became very, very strong, everything started to happen like magic. Two months ago, after dīkṣā initiation from Gurudeva, I came back to Russia and I was so worried about how I will chant my dīkṣā mantras because I had a job and I couldn't understand how to chant properly and work at the same time. In the morning, I had to go to the office. All day I was there, and it was not possible to do ānhik midday. After working, the mind was so restless, it was very difficult to concentrate. I was so worried. Kārtika month was coming, and the year before during Kārtika, I was in India. I wanted this experience again to do yāma-kirtan and to meet with Gurudeva, but it was not possible. Of course, Gurudeva arranged everything. When I came back from India to the office, my boss told me that now the situation in the co

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

Dīkṣā was the only occasion when just you and Guru Mahārāja are there. He was giving the mantras and I was chanting. There were a few words that were repeated in many mantras. I was thinking, what is this word that is repeated in many mantras? While he was speaking, Guru Mahārāja stopped and said, "Do you want to know what is the meaning of this word?" That was the first time I realized that whatever is in your heart, Guru Mahārāja knows that exactly. After the dīkṣā ceremony, Guru Mahārāja came out and was watering tulasī. Because I was pregnant, I was standing at a distance; I didn't want to stay in the crowd. Guru Mahārāja smiled at me. Afterward, he came and spoke to me. I couldn't believe he came because I was standing away from others. He said, “Did you get dīkṣā today?” I said, “Yes.” “Did you get dīkṣā mantras?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “Who has given you dīkṣā mantras? I said, “I got them from you.” He said, “No, no, no,” and pointed at Paramā-gurudeva’s room.

When I was working, Guru Mahārāja would be concerned and ask, "How do you manage?" He used to speak in Bengali and show all his concerns. Now we are living near Guru Mahārāja. One day, a few months back, I was in a very low mood, thinking I am so far away from my parents and I need to see them. My daughter Shāmbhogi said, “Why are you worried? You are near Guru Mahārāja—that is the only blessing you need!”  I was amazed that my daughter said that. When I come, I feel that I am visiting my family home, all my god-brothers are here, so I am not missing them so much. -Kuntī Devi Dāsi, Kolkata

After the disappearance of Most Revered Bhakti Dayita Mādhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Tīrtha Mahārāja had tolerated immense suffering. Ignoring so many favorable and unfavorable circumstances, he kept on serving his Gurudeva. He is one of the bright stars of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Maṭha.  Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja is a shining example of how one should serve guru, how one should dedicate oneself to the services of the maṭha, and how one should serve Guru-Vaiṣṇava-Bhagavan amidst all difficulties, adversities, reproaches, and insults of the world. The tolerance he has exhibited is extremely rare to be seen in human beings.  After the disappearance of my Gurudeva, I often would go to the maṭha of my Sannyās-guru, Nityālīlā Praviṣṭa Om Viṣṇupada Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Kumuda Santa Gosvāmī Mahārāja. I have seen many times the way in which he offers his obeisances to Śrīla Santa Gosvāmī Mahārāja. He would sit on the floor in front of him and never on an elevated seat. We still have

The staunch faith that Mahārāja has in Śrī Guru is to a degree that is rarely seen. How one should follow the instruction of one's Gurudeva is seen fully in Śrīla Tīrtha Mahārāja. Once, a young man came to our Kolkata maṭha at Rasbihari Avenue and troubled Bhandari Prabhujī, a devotee who took care of the storehouse. He came after everyone took prasādam in the afternoon and demanded that he be served immediately. He mentioned his whereabouts in Kolkata and told about how his family gives a donation to the maṭha every month.  Prabhujī told him that the prasādam is over and he can come either that night or the next day. But he demanded that he must be served prasādam immediately and started abusing him. Bhandari Prabhu tried to make him understand, but he started debating.  Śrīla Tīrtha Mahārāja, who was secretary of our maṭha at that time, came out of his room when he heard the loud shouts and asked what was the matter. That man continued shouting and complaining. “You come

I was a child when I first came to Sree Caitanya Gauḍīya Maṭha in Kolkata to take darśana of the deities. It was evening time when Param-pūjyapāda Mādhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja was coming down with his tridanda to set out for Puri. Pūjyapāda Mahārāja asked his servants to inquire about our whereabouts and the purpose of our visit.  They gave our introduction to him. Pūjyapāda Mahārāja said “Baba, I am going to Puri now. You should take some prasādam .” Pūjyapāda Tirtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja, who was a brahmacārī that time, served us prasādam with his own hands. Though I was a child at that time, I still remember that incident even today. In 1996, I was present with Tirtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja for the circumambulation of Vraja-maṇḍala for nearly 35 days. What ecstatic kirtana he sung!  What an extraordinary dance he performed! How efficient he was! His diligence and his powerful dance were all spellbinding. He came to our Caitanya Āśrama in Behala several times. He would smilingly say to me, “Ya

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj was firmly committed to carry out the orders of his Gurudeva and serve him. He never wavered from this oath. I realized  this when I was offering service for the purpose of recovering the appearance place of Srila Prabhupada called Narayan Chata in 1973.  In order to follow the instructions of our Gurudev precisely to each and every single letter, he would tirelessly endeavor amidst hot sun, storm, and rain. One should learn how to serve Guru with complete dedication from him. He has followed this his entire life. We went to many places with him for preaching activities. Some of us were his companions in the first preaching tour after the disappearance of our Guru Maharaj in February 1979. I was also present then. I went to many places with him for preaching purposes.  I have not seen any parallel to him when it comes to singing kirtan with intense absorption and steadfastness. His Harikatha used to be in a simple, lucid, and s

Image from Gurudeva's Janmastan Temple, Gwalpara Dham Our grandmother was a devotee. She would offer water to Tulsi, worshiping her daily. In the evening, there was Hari-luta where all of us would stand and clap. Sugar candies were distributed after the ceremony.  All the children would gather and sing, 'Harir lute ... vahan....' and later water Tulsi. Chot-da would also attend, but he would be overcome with divine feelings, totally distinct from the others. We could not understand his mood at that time. -Smt. Gita Majumdar - Sister younger of Gurudeva by 12 years, became disciple in 1984.

In his letters, he would ask me to chant Harinam. I used to give excuses saying that I am very busy in the morning—I have to take bath, get ready for school, and study. When we were together in Barrackpore he would say, "Sit here. Close your eyes and chant the Lord's name." After closing my eyes, I would think of everything other than the Lord. I did not understand the significance then. So, he would make me chant every day and then say, "Take bath now, take food and get ready for school." Later he wrote letters asking me to chant Krishna's one hundred names - Jai Jai Govinda, Gopal, Gadadhar - everyday. When I wrote a letter expressing my incapability to chant every day due to many other engagements he would reply, "You are able to do all other things, it is good. But you are not able to chant Harinam, this is not good. You should chant the Lord's name first thing every day." —Smt. Gita Majumdar - Sister younger by 12 years. Becam

On the day he left our house – I remember even now – I was a little girl, standing on one side of a room in our house in Barrackpore. He had a bundle in his hand that I thought was maybe clothes. My father asked where he was going and in reply he said that he was going to a friend's house and that he would benefit greatly from him. None of us could understand that he was indicating the spiritual benefit. That is how he left the house. We did not know at that point that he left the house with no intention of returning. We thought that he went to his friend's house and would return soon. For many days he did not come. We searched for him everywhere, but in vain. We inquired from all our relatives and friends in Kolkata, but we could not find him. Then my father said that in Goalpara there is a clerk, Radhamohan, who is a devotee, and that Maharaj used to discuss with him frequently. We thought we could get to know about him from people in Goalpara. We came to know from Ra

Guru Maharaj was ten years old in 1934 when my eldest aunt got married. The new groom and bride came for a picnic to Goalpara. There were two sight-seeing places —the mountain and the riverside. All the children in the family joined the newly wedded couple for the pleasure trip and Guru Maharaj also went along.  All of them climbed the mountain, and as they reached the higher spots, they found many forest flowers. Everybody, including Guru Maharaj, picked the flowers. After some more distance, Guru Maharaj told us that he'll go back home. He gave some reason. One person from the group accompanied him up to a distance, and from there he went back home by himself.  When all of them returned home from the pleasure trip, they saw their house surrounded by many local persons. They waded through the crowd and entered the house wondering what had happened. Then they saw Maharaj sitting on the lap of our grandfather, his eyes filled with tears.  When they asked what happened,

Once we asked Guru Maharaj if he has done anything naughty in his boyhood.  Guru Maharaj told, 'When I was in Guwahati College, I used to go with the boys to an orchard and we plucked fruits and ate.  One day the keeper caught us and told, 'Eat how much ever you want, but don't take them away."  Guruji told, "That's the only naughty thing I have done." - Prem Chand Prabhu, UK Art in Gurudeva's Janmastan, Gwalpara that depicts scenes of his holy life. 

Our Goalpara house was a very big compound and there were many mango, guava, jackfruit and other trees inside. We were all young kids and would play there together. One such time our brother brought a nicely ripened guava. All of us stopped playing and shouted, "Chot-da, Chot-da, I want it. I want it."  He held the guava high in the air and told,  "I'll give this to the one who has the longest tongue." All of us opened our mouths and tried to extend our tongue, "eh... eh..." He saw everyone's tongues and gave the guava to my uncle's son whose tongue was very small. He told, "He has no greed. He deserves it."  Then I thought, "Oh! Why did I extend my tongue so much?" —S mt. Gita Majumdar  ( younger sister of Srila Gurudev who became a disciple in 1984)

All Glory to Sree Guru & Gauranga Sree Gopinath Gaudiya Math Regd. Under Act XXVI of 1961 (W.B.) Ishodyan, P.O. Sree Mayapur Dist. Nadia (West Bengal) Pin: 741313 India 9/6/1995 Object of my affection (Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha) Mahārāj, You are the son of my Godbrother Pūjyapād Mādhav Mahārāj, endowed with his affection, so I am also sending you affectionate greetings.  I felt extremely pleased upon learning of your preaching program. Śrīla Prabhupād is Śrīman Mahāprabhu's associate and Pūjyapād Mādhav Mahārāj is Śrīla Prabhupād's own person; the recipient of his extreme affection. Likewise, you are the manifestation of Pūjyapād Mādhav Mahārāj's affection. By the strength of the mercy of Śrī Śrī Guru & Gaurāṅga, even at this advanced age, you are making the impossible happen.   The direct evidence of Śrī Śrī Jagannāth Dev's extreme mercy upon Pūjyapād Mādhav Mahārāj is shining forth in Purī Dhām.  He constructed an elevated temple i

Śrīla Tīrtha Mahārāja is still present among us while playing a līlā (pastime). Although some say he is unwell, I disagree. Those who are afflicted by illness cannot remain peaceful and quiet. The disease itself will make them cry out, “Aah, ooh, eeh, aah,” and their faces lose their luster. This is not seen in Mahārāja.  Do you see how beautiful he is?  His radiance is blissful – mukhaṁ prasannaṁ vimalācha dṛṣṭiḥ (1) — a “pleased face, soft clear gaze." Whereas those who are afflicted cry out, "Aah! Eeh!", and their eyes reflect their suffering. 
 Though omnipotent, Bhagavān localizes Himself as the Deity in order to accept service in order to bestow auspiciousness upon his servitors. In the Deity form, Bhagavān says, “If you want to feed Me, then feed Me. If you don’t want to feed Me, then don’t. Whatever kinds or quality of food you feed Me, I will eat.”  
 He does not complain whether they offer Him food or not, whether they serve Him properly or not. Mahārāj ha