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Srila Turiya Das Mahasaya

Spiritual Master(s):
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Year Initiated: 1969
Age: 53

Current Residense:
Maui, Hawaii

Email: cvsmaui@aol.com

Author's Web Page:
http://www.harekrishnatemple.org

About the Author:
Gurudeva Srila Turiya Das Mahasaya met disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1969, and received harinam diksa from Srila Prabhupad in May of that year. As a pioneer of Srila Prabhupad's Hawaii yatra, Srila Turiya Das Mahasaya was the first devotee in the state to don the traditional brahmacari vesha and publicly distribute the transcendental literature of his spiritual master, also taking Krsna Consciousness to the outer islands of Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. He received brahminical initiation shortly thereafter, and later, on the request of his Guru for senior disciples to marry, Srila Prahupada specifically directed Srila Turiya Das Mahasaya to "be an ideal householder and one of our society's leaders." Then with the assistance of his wife, Shaktimati devi dasi, he proceeded to establish Deity worship standards at ISKCON temples world-wide for the next decade.

Although rendering every needed service --from book distributor, gurukula teacher, prison preacher to fundraiser-- Acharya Mahasaya is best known for his meticulous care of Lord Krsna's Arca Vigraha. "..You are well-qualified to worship the Deity at highest standard..please increase the Deity worship and teach others to become a very good pujari like you," were the instructions given to him by Srila Prabhupad, an order which he has faithfully executed, throughout four continents, to this day. Appointed as head pujari of Sri Sri Krsna-Balaram Mandir in Vrndaban, India, Srila Turiya Das Acarya served until the departure of Srila Prabupad from this world in 1977, at which he was present.

Inspired by the tireless preaching efforts of Srila Prabhupad --even into His last days, Acharya Mahasaya embarked on a mission to preach the glories of Bhagavat Dharma, receiving the inspiration, instruction and blessings of such Vaishnava luminaries as His Divine Grace B.R. Sridhara Dev Goswami Maharaj in Nabadwip and Srila Visvambara Goswami of Radha-Raman Mandir in Vrndaban. In 1984, on the appeal of several sincere students, and after deep meditation, Srila Turiya Das Acarya began formally accepting disciples in an effort to serve the Chaitanya Vaishnava sampradaya and to assist in the preservation of its glorious siddhanta.

Thus, the Chaitanya Vaishnava Sanga was manifest for the purposes of offering the public the philosophical and practical teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and providing the facility and support suitable for the application of those teachings. Firmly established on the dual track of Bhagavat- and Pancaratrik-viddhis, Srila Turiya Das Mahasaya's instructions emphasize the importance of systematic, regulated worship of the Lord through His Name, His Deity, His Dhama, His Bhagavat Purana and His Bhagavat Vaisnava through the processes expressly delineated by the six goswamis, which are krsnanusilanam, most pleasing to Krsna.

Srila Turiya Das Mahasaya teaches for most of the year at Sri Vrindavan Gardens, a 6-acre ashram in Maui, Hawaii, over which Their Lordships Sri Sri Nitai-Gauracandra, Sri Sri Radha-Kunjabihari and Sri Sri Gandharvika-Govardhandhari preside. In the early mornings, he allows his students and invited guests to watch the worship of Sri Govardhandhari, his govardhan-sila and ista-devata, Who he has daily taken care of since 1979. (On some occasions, he is known to stamp Govardhandhari's Lotus Foot-prints on the foreheads of the fortunate onlookers). His classes have included the complete works of Srila Prabhupad, Srila Guru Maharaj, and every available work of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura, as well as the sandarbhas, dramas and prayers of the Six Goswamis and their spiritual descendents. Additionally, he oversees the publication of the journal, Bhagavat Siddhanta, published biannually by CVS.

The Chaitanya Vaishnava Sanga of Srila Turiyad Das Mahasaya has also formed a board of trusties in 1995 to oversee and develop the ancient temple of Shyamananda Pandit at Chaklesvar in Govardhana. The Radha Shyamasundar Temple at Govardhan has been recently renovated, repairing some dilapidated walls and re-modeling the deity room with marble walls and floor. CVS has also built an asrama facility of five rooms with attached baths and a small house for Gurudev, thus providing better facility for Acharaya Mahasaya, his students and disciples as well as friends when on pilgimage or retreat. Prescribing a daily practice of sandhya purification and meditation as a precursor to approaching the Holy Name or the Deity, Srila Turiya Das Mahasaya personally guides each student to understand the goal within the eternal means of bhakti. He leads a yearly pilgrimage to Krsna's Holy Dhama in an effort to instill within his students an attatchment for the pristine glories of the Lord's lila grounds and the spiritual stalwarts who reside there, ever-encouraging the faithful in the ways of Vaishnava saranagati.

Srila Turiya Das Mahasaya shares the way of Bhagavat Dharma with those seeking fulfillment in spiritual life. "Compassion through the distribution of knowledge is the highest aspect of Vaishnava practice," he explains. In keeping with this truth, Acharya Mahasaya has spent the past 30 years sharing with others the liberating message of Bhagavat Dharma.