SRI SRI GURU-GAURANGA JAYATAH

It was only through his divine intervention that we are able to have the facilities here in Sri Govinda Dham as well as all of the improved amenities for the pilgrims visiting our many centres in India. Many devotees who can recall the early pioneering days in Sri Nabadwip Dham can remember the austere facilities and no doubt some will reminisce for the old days, when time stood still. However, due to the mercy of our Srila Guru Deva who is always thinking of both our spiritual and physical well-being, there has been a huge improvement in amenities in India as well as all of our centres world-wide. Prior to Srila Guru Deva embarking on his world-wide preaching mission, our centres around the world were no more than a post office box or more than likely a devotee's home. The world-wide assembly of devotees connected to our mother Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math was very small indeed. The growth of our Mission world-wide is now well documented and we now have permanent and secure premises like Sri Govinda Dham in some 25 countries world-wide and we have books published in over 20 languages, so the GOOD WORD can be read by all who seek.

Before the advent of the Westerners arriving in small numbers to Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Nabadwip, Srila Gurudeva was the secretary as well as personal attendant to our Param Guru Maharaj, Srila Sridhar Maharaj. Due to his frail health and advancing years, Srila Param Guru had limited his time to those outside his immediate circle. Yet many would come and one such frequent visitor was Srila A C Bhaktivedanta Swami, who was always affectionately received and came to be known as Swami Maharaj in our Math circles. When he came there was always a retinue from the west who were also interested in Swami Maharaj's pastimes and his overwhelming attention to our Param Guru Maharaj. Of course we are later to discover that both Srila Param Guru Maharaj and our Srila Guru Deva have had a long standing association with Srila Swami Maharaj.

After the departure of Srila Swami Maharaj many of his followers who heard from him about Srila Param Guru Sridhar Maharaj came to the Math at Nabadwip. Their growing numbers along with their increasing needs demanded special care and Srila Param Guru Maharaj was loathe to be concerned and burdened by their special needs, due to the extreme austere conditions prevailing at the Math at that time. These visitors now wanted to stay and take Hari-nam and some wanted to change their connections due to their own perceived anxieties. As their numbers grew, so did their insistence to receive Hari-nam. Srila Param Guru was most concerned for their need but felt in no position to be able to assist due to his frail health. In order to placate the situation and ensure that all the visitors who have tolerated so much austerities to come to India and await their rebirth, Srila Guru Deva secured their Hari-nam initiation through Srila Param Guru by agreeing to look after their welfare and needs. So by the grace and mercy of Srila Guru Deva all of the devotees received their Hari-nam during the time of Srila Param Guru's presence. Also as already documented, known and accepted, Srila Param Guru anointed his successor and our beloved master for an unchanging period of more than forty years and insisted he be Acharyya within his own lifetime and lived to see that glorious moment.

Actually the story of our beloved Srila Guru Deva goes deeper and further than this but would require much time to dictate. However as everyone has already now started to discover the glories of Srila Param Guru Maharaj, Srila Sridhar Maharaj, almost a decade after his departure, thousands are proclaiming the glories of our Srila Guru Deva and now even through the Internet. Once many years ago, Srila Param Guru Maharaj made this observation of Srila Guru Deva this way. He said, "I shall give you three reasons to follow Srila Govinda Maharaj, firstly, he fully knows and understands the Sastras, secondly, whatever I am, he is more than that and finally he is mystical." Having seen the Mission growing around the world and the thousands that come annually to India to meet with His Grace and spending much time intimately with Srila Guru Deva, I can confirm this without any hesitation. Also fortunately for us we have Sripad Bhakti nnanda Sagar Maharaj still with us to bear witness and shed more light on this because he was there from that first day the foreign visitors came. How he happened to be there and continues to be here today is another story but further confirms the embodiment of Vaisnsavism that is in our beloved and merciful Guru, Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj Ki Jai!!!

May we all be blessed and continue to be able to have the guidance, mercy, blessings and association of His Divine Grace. Let us take this occasion to not only proclaim his glories but also pray for his continuing well-being as he takes us into the next millennium. Let us also say a prayer for those who are yet unable to take the shelter of his holy lotus feet and ensure through our service duties we can assist in bringing them to His Divine Grace. Jai!!! Srila Guru Deva Ki Jai!!!!!!

Humbly,
Mohanananda Das