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WORLD  Other Stories by this Author 100th Appearance Day Of Sri Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj BY SRILA BHAKTI BALLABH TIRTHA GOSWAMI MAHARAJA  INDIA, Nov 22 (VNN) — The Birth Centennial CelebrationsNov. 22, 2004 - 100th Appearance Day of His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad Ashtottrashat Sri Srimat Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj (Srila Gurudeva), who appeared in this world on November 18, 1904 A.D. (on Utthan-Ekadashi tithi) at Kanchanpara dham (now in Bangladesh). nama om visnupadaya rupanuga-priyaya ca srimate bhakti-dayita-madhava-gosvami-namine kdsnabhinna-prakasa-sri-murtaye dina-tarine ksama-gunavataraya gurave prabhave namah satirtha-priti-saddharma-guru-priti-pradarsine isodyana-prabhavasya prakasakaya te namah sri-ksetre prabhupadasya sthanoddhara-sukirtaye sarasvata-ganananda-samvardhanaya te namah sri-bhakti-dayitam namacarya-varyam jagad-gurum vande sri-madhavam deva-gosvami-pravaram prabhum Obeisances to Srila Bhakti-dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaj, the representative of Lord Vishnu and is dear to the followers of Rupa Goswami. Obeisances to you, Lord and guru, who are the personification of the quality of forgiveness, who [as guru] are the manifestation of Krishna meant to deliver the most fallen. Obeisances to you, whose religious principle is to act on your affection for your guru and your godbrothers, for which you revealed the spiritual power of the Lord's Garden (Ishodyan) in Mayapur. Obeisances to you, who increased the joy of those devoted to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur by recovering his birthplace in Puri, for which you are justly renowned. I worship my lord, Srila Bhakti-dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaj, teacher of the Holy Name and spiritual master to the universe. Srila Gurudev appeared in a high caste Brahmin family. His holy birthplace is situated at the bank of 'Padma' river, which is near to 'Premtoli' where Sri Narottam Thakur got Divine Love. His parents named him Shri Heramba Kumar Bandyopadhyaya but he was popularly known by his nickname Ganesh. He got by heart, the complete Gita, at the age of eleven years merely by hearing from his mother. Extraordinary saintly qualities were manifested in him from a very early age. He was adored by all and was a universally accepted leader in every sphere. He strictly observed ethical rules and under no circumstances would tell a lie. He showed little interest in worldly enjoyments. He always tried to alleviate the sufferings of others even at the cost of undergoing some difficulty himself. He was of most ideal character even during his stay at his house. Tall and strong, Srila Gurudeva excelled in sports and also participated in dramatic presentations. He even played a role in the independence movement of India. He was exemplary in his devotion to his parents. While pursuing higher education in Calcutta Srila Gurudeva began to feel great separation from the Supreme Lord. At that time he was invoking Sri Krishna calling out His names and crying in the middle of the night. He led very austere life. In this state of absorption in the Lord, one day he had a dream / trance in which Sri Narada Goswami gave him a mantra. However, he would not recall the mantra later. The loss of the mantra bewildered him and he set off for the Himalayas. He fasted there for days, all the time calling out anxiously to the Lord. At last, he received a divine order to seek out his spiritual master who would appear to him in the very place that he had come from. He then came down from the Himalayas and later met his spiritual master in Sri Mayapur, Nadia, West Bengal. Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur used to commend him saying, "His energy is volcanic energy." Srila Gurudeva's exemplary character, his warmth and affectionate behaviour, his tolerance and forgiveness were qualities, which attracted everyone. Srila Gurudeva was regarded as one of the most favourite entourage of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. He was generally sent by Srila Prabhupad as the advance party man to do groundwork for the preaching events. He actively helped in organising preaching festivals as well as Parikramas of Vraja and Navadwip Dham, establishing preaching centres and the Maths, spreading the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the cities and villages. He also established shrines of Mahaprabhu's Lotus feet (Pada-pithas) in many of the places the Lord had visited, restored other holy sites, published transcendental books and magazines in order to spread the message of pure devotion. 'Hyutkale Purushottamat' - Sri Krishna Bhakti will spread from Sri Purushottam Dham in Orissa - predicted Sri Vyasdev in Padma-Purana. This prophecy was fulfilled after the appearance of Srila Prabhupada in the house of Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode in Puri. Srila Gurudeva recovered this most munificent place of the appearance of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur after great effort for which he is justly renowned. 'A gigantic spiritual personality,' Srila Gurudeva pierced the fortress of impersonalist philosophy in Punjab, where he was first to introduce the Divine Love of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Tenth in the preceptorial line from Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Gurudeva founded Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math organisation. Srila Gurudeva, as per direct direction of his spiritual master, preached in the North-East India and established many preaching centres there. He wandered from village to village, travelling by foot and sometimes by oxcart, simply to bring the greatest good to every living being to turn them toward Krishna. He established Maths at Sridham Mayapur, Gauhati, Tezpur, Gwalpara, Calcutta, Puri, Chandigarh, Vrindaban, Hyderabad, etc. He also took over the service of the 500 years old temples of Lord Jagannath at Jasra, Chakdah and at Agartala, Tripura. He established Sri Chaitanya Vani Press in Calcutta. He preached extensively in different parts of India spreading the divine message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu irrespective of caste, colour or creed. Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj "The ultimate object of our desires is to become specks of dust at the lotus feet of the followers of Rupa Goswami." Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur "If we are sincere to render honest service to the Supreme Lord Sree Krishna and Sree Gurudev as well as the devotees, I am sure we shall get Divine help for our spiritual progress as well as for others." Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj "The main purpose of our endeavour to serve is to get attachment with the Served (Sri Krishna and His devotees). You are blessed, as you been selected by Most Revered Srila Gurudeva to become an instrument to this." Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj About the Author Other Stories by this AuthorContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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