Divine Life Sketch of Srila Gurudeva

Divine Life Sketch of Śrīla Gurudeva

His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja (Śrīla Gurudeva) is the dearly beloved disciple of Śrīla Bhakti Dayita Mādhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja, the equally beloved disciple of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupāda.

His Early Life

Śrīla Gurudeva appeared in 1924 in Assam, India, on Rāmanavamī, the most auspicious appearance day of Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa in His form as Rāmacandra. From his childhood, he had a natural attraction to and affinity for spirituality. Having been brought up in a pious environment, he developed a strong inclination to search for the ultimate goal of life and began to spend the majority of his time in meditation. 

Consequently, he developed indifference to the material world and became acutely aware of the non-eternal nature of the material world. He realized that one day his mother, father, brother, sister, and all others would be gone and everything would be finished. This manifestation of the path of self-realization led him to take up the study of Philosophy at Kolkata University. His fellow students at the university invariably noted his outstanding qualities of nobleness, truthfulness, benevolence, and non-enviousness. 

Taking Shelter of the Divine Master

While finishing his studies, Śrīla Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja (whose name then was Kāmākhyā Caraṇa Guharoy) came in contact with his spiritual master, Śrī Śrīmad Śrīla Bhakti Dayita Mādhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja and immediately became attracted by his transcendentally powerful personality. 

Śrīla Bhakti Dayita Mādhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja was one of the leading followers of the illustrious preceptor of the pure devotional bhakti school, His Divine Grace Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, a great proponent of devotional teachings in his own right. After completing his Masters Degree in Philosophy in 1947, Śrīla Tirtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja wholeheartedly and unreservedly dedicated his life to the service of his spiritual master.

Śrīla Gurudeva traveled extensively with Śrīla Mādhava Mahārāja on preaching tours. His service attitude was so exemplary that soon Śrīla Mādhava Mahārāja established him as the secretary of Sree Caitanya Gauḍīya Maṭha, a worldwide devotional institution with over twenty āśramas (monasteries) in India alone.

He was awarded sannyāsa (the order of renunciation) in 1961. Setting an example of unadulterated service to Śrī Guru, Śrīla Tirtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja served his spiritual master with every facet of mind, body, and spirit.

Eventually, seeing his disciple's degree of dedication and sincerity combined with an astute and practical mind, Śrīla Bhakti Dayita Mādhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja selected him as his worthy successor. After Śrīla Bhakti Dayita Mādhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja's disappearance in 1979, Śrīla Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja   was appointed as President-Acharya of Sree Caitanya Gauḍīya Maṭha. 

Śrīla Gurudeva has received the affectionate blessings of many of Śrīla  Bhaktisiddhānta's prominent followers, such as Śrīla Bhakti Raksaka Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Śrīla Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Śrīla Bhakti Hridaya Vana Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Śrīla Bhakti Akiñcana Kṛṣṇa Dasa Babaji Mahārāja, Śrīla Bhakti Kumuda Santa Gosvāmī Mahārāja, and many others.

An Ideal Ācārya 

For nearly 60 years, Śrīla Gurudeva engaged in the propagation of the all-embracing doctrine of transcendental Divine Love of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu to counter the present trend of violence and cruelty and to bring about the unity of hearts among all, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion. 

He constantly demonstrated compassion toward all living entities, true kindness, simplicity, innocence, complete detachment, absolute tolerance, intense spiritual blissfulness, an incomparable degree of humility, and unflinching faith in Śrī Guru combined with exclusive devotion and complete surrender to Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrīla Gurudeva is known for not deviating even one inch outside of the prescripts of the Holy Scriptures. His Divine Grace is a renowned authority on Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava philosophy and he is beloved by thousands of devotees throughout the world as the very embodiment of humility and spiritual affection.

Inspired by Śrī Guru's grace, he was always on the move and visited many cities, towns, and villages throughout the world to propagate the divine message of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad Bhagavatam. Without caring for his own personal comfort and undergoing many austerities, he selflessly endured strain on his body to maintain an extremely heavy preaching schedule to tirelessly serve the mission of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu.

Our Gurudeva personifies all desirable and rare attributes including humility, affection, purity of heart, and exclusive devotion. Because of these qualities and the mercy of his guru, His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja became President-Ācārya of the Śrī Caitanya Gauḍīya Maṭha and became the Founder-Ācārya of GOKUL (Global Organization of Kṛṣṇachaitanya's Universal Love). He also served as President of the World Vaiṣṇava Association (WVA) and is acknowledged by vaiṣṇavas around the world as one of the most exalted spiritual personalities of his generation.

His Worldwide Preaching

Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Mahārāja requested Śrīla Gurudeva to accompany him to the US just prior to his launching of the Hare Kṛṣṇa Movement in the West in 1965. As at that time he was engaged in the service of his spiritual master with many duties and responsibilities, Śrīla Gurudeva humbly declined.

Eventually, with the idea of traveling outside India to propagate the all-embracing gospel of transcendental divine love of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu, and due to the constant and persistent requests of devotees, Śrīla Gurudeva approached his beloved śikṣā-guru (instructing preceptor) Śrīla Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvāmī Mahārāja (among the foremost associates of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Saraswati Gosvāmī Prabhupāda) for guidance regarding travel to the West. 

At the behest of his beloved śikṣā-guru (instructing preceptor), His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvāmī Mahārāja, he then embarked upon preaching the message of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu throughout the world, beginning with America in 1997.

He continued to disseminate the chanting of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Holy Names, the remedy for the afflictions of the current age of quarrel, throughout the world. His preaching engagements took him to 25 countries including the UK, Holland, Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Russia, and throughout the length and breadth of the continental USA.

During his US tour in 1997, Śrīla Gurudev addressed the United Nations "World Conference On Religion and Peace” and the “World Peace Prayer Society" in New York City, offering them a succinct outline for world peace based upon the spiritual tenets of the ancient Vedas. All participating in these meetings were very much taken by Śrīla Gurudeva's sweet and humble personality and regarded him as a genuinely holy man. 

His preaching programs over the past years have also included many interesting dialogues with prominent Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and Baha'i theologians, in such diverse settings as universities, interfaith groups, churches, Hindu temples, and a wide variety of metaphysical and private educational centers. All were invariably won over by his gentle and affectionate nature, combined with his resolute faith in Guru-Vaiṣṇava-Bhagavan.

He also spoke on the sublime teachings of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu on many radio and television programs, including a thought-provoking interview on BBC radio in 2000, which was broadcast worldwide. 

In lieu of a request by the devotees worldwide, our Gurudeva gave his approval for the establishment of GOKUL (Global Organization of Kṛṣṇachaitanya's Universal Love), which he founded in 1997 with the goal of expanding his preaching mission.

A Fearless Preacher

Śrīla Gurudeva's knowledge of scripture was formidable. He substantiated everything he said with innumerable evidence from the voluminous corpus of Vedic literature. He always preached fearlessly and never compromised the conclusions of the scriptures for the sake of mundane practicality. He inspired numerous devotees during his devotional, powerful, informative, and heart-piercing lectures. He used every moment of every day to fulfill Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu's desire to preach the Holy Names of Kṛṣṇa in every town and village.

He is the perfect example of the famous and oft-quoted tṛṇād api sunīcena verse from Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu's Śikṣāstaka Prayers. Although very meek and humble in his personal dealings, in his classes he roared like a lion, smashing false pride and compassionately cutting all misconceptions from the hearts and minds of his disciples and followers.

His Teachings

Śrīla Gurudeva adroitly dispelled the doubts of those who come to him for shelter and spiritual guidance. He placed great stress on the chanting of the Holy Names without offense, encouraging and inspiring all to achieve the pure stage. He practices and preaches complete surrender, not partial or conditional, but complete one hundred percent surrender to the instructions of his spiritual master.

His Writings

Śrīla Gurudeva was always engaged in writing articles and books of a profoundly spiritual nature in several native languages of India as well as in English for the eternal benefit of the conditioned souls of the world. Although many of his writings were in Bengali, they continue to be translated into many other languages. 

As far as spiritual content is concerned, our Gurudeva left no stone unturned. It would not be exaggerating to say that all bona-fide spiritual questions are answered with each turn of the page. He is the very personification of completely non-deviated eternal truth exemplified through the accumulation of devotion, knowledge, and wisdom of many generations of self-realized souls.

His Entrance into Nitya-Lila

On the evening of April 20, 2017, our dear-most Śrīla Gurudeva departed from this world at Sree Caitanya Gauḍīya Maṭha in Kolkata while devotees were in the seventh day of nonstop saṅkīrtana-yagna. The timing of his entrance into nitya-lila corresponded with the conclusion of the seventh of the eternal pastimes of Śrī Śrī Radhakṛṣṇa (asta-kaliya yama).

In the years prior to this, he had completely withdrawn his senses from this world in a state of antaraṅgā (internal) bhajan. His sevākas and many devotees present for his darśana during this time witnessed ecstatic symptoms and bodily transformations similar to Mahāprabhu's experiences of extreme separation found in the Antya-līlā section of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. These included stiffening of the limbs, tears rolling down his cheeks, motionlessness, and crying out in a choked voice.

This extremely exalted state was seen to be poignantly connected with his own dear-most Gurudeva, Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Dayita Mādhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja. For many years previously, he would often be seen in his Gurudeva's bhajana-kutira daily, praying and crying out in a mood of extreme separation.

On the day following his departure, his transcendental body was placed lovingly on a huge cart (ratha) covered with flowers bound for Śrī Mayapur-dhāma. His welcome there was an unprecedented ecstatic festival. It was accented by an auspicious pushpa-vrishti: a sweet and gentle light rain from heaven accompanied by a pleasant breeze. Trees bowed down offering their respects to him. 

Shops closed and thousands came onto the street to offer flowers, to sweep the road, and to offer tears, prayers, and devotional songs. Every Gauḍīya Maṭha en route to Sree Chaitanya Gauḍīya Maṭha offered pujas. The sound of "Ha Gurudeva!", "Ha Gurudeva!" was being sung out in the mood of separation from all sides. 

His samadhi function was attended by devotees from all over the world. This pastime united ācāryas and sannyāsīs that normally would not be seen together in one place. His glories were lovingly sung by them the following day for several hours. Even after leaving, his divine grace and love harmonized the entire Gauḍīya family, irrespective of organizational boundaries.




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