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WORLD September 19, 1999 VNN4759 Comment on this story Gour Govinda Maharaj BY JAGAT PATI DASA AUSTRALIA, Sep 19 (VNN) — Dear Prabhus, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Tattva-vichar Publications Australia have just released a 392 page book titled: Krsnalingita Vigraha "One who is always embraced by Krsna" Volume One It is the first volume of the life story of His Divine Grace Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja. It is interesting reading indeed; trace his life back to when he was born, go even further back to the ancient roots of his ancient Vaisnava family. Gour Govinda Swami's family was from Midnapore in Bengal they date back 350 years in Orissa and even further back to Bengal. They are Vaisnavas from their beginning. See what type of family a Vaisnava takes his birth in, see how a sadhu takes to Krsna consciousness from his earliest days in - "this world of maya". See how a sadhu, even though living in this world is totally unattached to friendship, society, family and the rest. This book is a life of devotion to Krsna and the chanting of the holy name. Even though Gour Govinda Swami was not always in the foreground of the preaching mission, by reading this book we can see that actually he was at the front. As described in the sastra; "a Vaisnava may be very great, but he thinks himself lower than the lowest. That is his humility". What did Srila Prabhupada say about Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja, "...so many Indians come and go, he was the only one who asked me for shelter..." "...He is a devotee from his birth..." "...Krsna has sent him..." In Gour Govinda Maharaja's own words, "...the first thing that I could remember as a child are the songs of Narottama dasa Thakura sung by my uncles..." "...my father wore tilaka and chanted Hare Krsna, my uncles wore tilaka and chanted Hare Krsna and my grandfather wore tilaka and chanted Hare Krsna..." and " ...There is a temple there, Radha-Gopala... So when I was studying there at my maternal uncle's house, I was spending my days in that temple. That deity is my favourite deity. Whenever I meditate I see that deity always. The deity's name is Gopala Jiu. My family are all devotees, they do sankirtana nicely. So I had the opportunity to be brought up in that company, that association and atmosphere. Yes, from my very boyhood, Krsna consciousness was very deep rooted." Also read about Bauribandhu Giri, the famous grandfather of Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja. ... Bauribandhu Giri was a very ecstatic kirtaniya and arranged the seva for Radha-Gopala Jiu (the family deities for many hundreds of years) very nicely. If anyone in the village was suffering from a disease, they would approach Bauribandhu Giri for help. Bauribandhu would simply say the name of Gopala, touch the body of the person and that person would be cured... Also read about the amazing kirtaniyas, the family members of Gour Govinda Swami. In the history register at the Jagannatha Puri temple it is written that the family members of Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja - the Gadai-Giri Kirtanyas should come to the Jagannatha temple and do kirtana for Lord Jagannatha whenever possible. This entry was written in the register in the mid seventeenth century by the King of Puri. This invitation still holds to this day. His family members are considered Kirtana-Gurus in Orissa. This book is a must for anyone interested in the life of a Vaisnava saint and the Vaisnava dynasty he took birth in. For details or for a copy of this amazing book contact Tattva-vichar Publications: Correspondence: P.O. Box 614 Mundaring 6073 WA Australia. Phone: 61 : 8 : 92950296 Fax: 61 : 8 : 92950296 or 9295 6228 Thanking you. Your servant. Jagat Pati dasa. Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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