93rd Vyāsa-pūjā The Most Holy Appearance Day of
Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Goswāmī Mahārāja President-Āchārya of Śrī Chaitanya Gauḍīẏa Maṭh
Founder-Āchārya of GOKUL Global Organization of Krishnachaitanya’s Universal Love
April 5th, 2017 Śrī Chaitanya Gauḍīẏa Maṭh #35, Satish Mukherjee Road Calcutta — 26 Bengal, India http://www.sreecgmath.org Thanks to Mahālakṣmī Devī dāsi, Kṛṣṇā Devī dāsi, Shivani Reddy, and Rukmiṇī Devī dāsi (Ruchira) for their work on this booklet, and to all the devotees for their heartfelt offerings.
The holy advent celebration of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, the present acharya and Divine Personality of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math and the most beloved disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaj, is most auspicious. I am an insignificant devotee so I am unable to completely describe His actual glories, but the character and divine charisma of a great devotee such as His Divine Grace are not easy to hide, just as the rays of the sun banish the darkness of the early dawn. He is most humble, respecting all, recognizing the inherent divinity in even the lowly devotee, which I feel is the hallmark of his greatness. Many times I have witnessed this in the way he dealt with all devotees—never slighting them in spite of their defects. In essence, he represents the real meaning of the verse coined by Sriman Maharaphu which starts with trnad api sunichena taror eva sahisnuna. This is the real work of an acharya: that he acts in such a way as to enlighten the common masses about the real import of the scriptures. Actually, this is is the utmost benefit for mankind. In this way, he rekindles the faith of the ignorant and sets them in the right mood and path. Nowadays in this Iron Age, there is a lack of such elevated acharyas who are steadfast in following the path of the Mahajanas without any deviation. To recapitulate his unalloyed devotion to the path of the Predecessor Acharyas is his teaching and guidance to us fallen souls. I pray for his mercy and divine guidance. May all my obstacles to practicing devotional service be nullified. My prostrated obeisances to His Lotus Feet again and again. Sri Bhakti Saran Damodar Maharaj
My Dearest Beloved Gurudeva, Please accept my most humble obeisances at your lotus feet on this auspicious day of your holy appearance. I am so thankful that Your Grace has accepted a fool like me as your disciple. I am so fortunate to have you. You are the most loving and gentle father any child could ask for. Please bless me that I become humble and chant attentively, developing more care for Nama Prabhu and serve with the correct attitude always remembering my position as a servant. Servant at your Lotus Feet, Hitesh Duggal
My Dearest Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my most humble obeisances unto your divine most beautiful lotus feet. I am extremely fortunate that you accepted someone like me as your disciple. It is most amazing to hear and know that you are so deeply personal to each of us. After hearing about you from all the senior devotees, I wonder how I would have felt if I had some physical association with you. Just the thought of it makes me feel those would have been the magic moments which I could cherish lifelong. Nevertheless, just by looking at you and listening to the devotees speak about you, you have taught me so much. You really taught me the true meaning of “Separation is the highest realization.” Only a slightest sincere effort from our side is what you expect. I pray to your lotus feet to forgive my offenses and shortcomings and please, please, please let me feel your presence in my heart forever and ever. A servant at your lotus feet, Sakshi Dear Srila Gurudev, My humble obeisances unto your divine lotus feet. You are so merciful, it is beyond words. You are always guiding me perfectly. May I never forget you and remain your servant eternally. All Glory unto you. May you be pleased. Your Servant, Madan Gopal das All Glories to Sree Sree Guru and Gauranga! I consider myself fortunate beyond a doubt as I got to see and have the association of Gurudev very early in my life. I was in school when I first had his darshan at Gita Bhawan in Jammu. Of course my elder brother, Rasaviharidas was the catalyst. It soon became an annual affair as I used to attend his discourses, attend Nagar sankirtan processions, and taste prasadam with my family.
He used to visit us during the month of September every year. That time I did not have the guts to ask him questions, but slowly as I grew up, I started to ask some as he had plenty of time for all of us. After marriage, I came to Kolkata, far away from my parents. Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math in Kolkata was my second home or “mayeka” as we call it. I took Diksha after marriage as my in-laws were very supportive. I remember after the birth of my daughter, I told Gurudev that I could not chant much due to the baby taking my time. Gurudev smilingly said that there is nothing to worry about as I can chant Mahamantra orally any time without the japa mala. A few years later, my son was born and Gurudev gave him the name Tarun Krishna. As my husband used to be out at sea for a major time, Gurudev used to console me and show his concern every time I went to have his darshan. Gurudev’s mercy is undoubtedly beyond this universe. His infectious smile saying “Aa gaya!” (“Oh! you have come!”) melts our hearts. I hope to see you regularly as you are always motivating me. I pray that you bestow your infinite blessings on me and my family and help me prosper in the path to divine love. Your servant’s servant’s servant, Kavita Shastri (Kunti dasi) All Glories and our most humble and respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of Sri Guru Maharaj. We are very fortunate to have you in our hearts and serve your feet. Thanks to your teachings we have been able, during all this time, to understand the temporary world with all its sufferings. There are also some satisfactions, though, the most special one being to have known you and shared with you a few days when we stayed with you in Mayapur and in Kolkata. How we would like to be there with you again and receive the effulgence of your rays of light full of mercy and love! You are always in our hearts, our beloved Guruji. I write this also on behalf of Sacidevi because her health is seriously compromised, but I know in my heart that she has you in her mind and heart. We wish you, our beloved Guruji, a beautiful 93rd Vyasa Puja full of true love from all Vaishnavas and devotees across the world.
Please bless us, our beloved Guruji. Your servants always, Priya Rupa Devi dasi & Sacidevi dasi, Venezuela I recalled in the late nineteen nineties, I had some blessings from Srila Gurudev doing seva for him and his sevak team when he was in the preaching tours in Singapore. My main responsibility was to chauffeur them around all over Singapore for house and temple programs including going for walks and even picnicking. Once Srila Gurudev told me that there are 3 types of seva, namely: 1) Doing seva that is opposite to the instruction of the Guru. 2) Doing seva that is according to Guru’s instruction. 3) Doing seva pleasing to the Guru even without any given instruction. Of the above, #3 is the best. For the last 3 years or so, most of us are unable to communicate verbally with Srila Gurudev due to his current illness. He has not been responsive. Nevertheless, we can still feel very much his presence. It is my thinking that Srila Gurudev is now giving us this great opportunity to perform the best seva we can. I do believe He will surely be pleased if we continuously do Harinam sincerely, just as Sri NitaiGauranga have begged us to do. Jai Jai Gurudev. Yours sincerely, Vidyapati das Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Jayatah My most humble and respectful obeisances at Gurudeva’s Lotus feet. Dear Guruji, in 2012 when I heard from Vaishnavas about the dire necessity of taking shelter of a pure devotee, an intense desire arose in my mind that I should surrender to a bona fide spiritual master. With such desire, I went to Vrindavan and stayed there in one Gaudiya math. I started my search then, and it intensified with passing time.
I heard from one devotee that by the mercy of the Lord, we get shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, so with such hope I prayed in front of the Lord. Immeditely one devotee come toward me and said that I should take shelter of “Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirth Goswami Maharaj, he is a pure devotee of the Lord”. When I heard this from him my mind was overwhelmed with joy. After some time, by the mercy of Krishna, I got initiation from Guruji. Dear Gurudev, by your causeless mercy, this fallen soul came to you and it is my great fortune that I met you. I still can’t realize this fortune. I pray to your lotus feet to forgive my offenses and shower me with blessings so that I can spend my life serving Guru, Vaishnavas, and Sri Hari. Sri Guru Kripalesh Prarthi, Radhamohan Das Jalgoan, Maharashtra Jai Sri Guru Gaurang Jayatah First of all, I pay my prostrated obeisance unto the lotus feet of Srila Guru Maharaj. Graceful, humble, omniscient, simple, caring, obedient, charming, smiling, and any most positive attribute perfectly fit the personality of Srila Gurudev. He is omnipotent like the Lord. He is the embodiment of the teachings of the scriptures. As the saying goes, he walks his talk—that is a real acharya. Many times my mind has thought when I hear Harikatha delivered or kirtan sung by His Divine Grace, the above words are confirmed. He used to narrate the complex subject of the scriptures in such a simple way of which there was no comparison. This is only possible for someone who is extraordinary and not from this world. This fallen soul is so fortunate that Srila Gurudev has given me shelter at his lotus feet, although I do not posses any qualification. I pray at his lotus feet that he keep me always under his shelter and mercy so that I may be able to serve Sri Guru, Vaishnava, and Bhagavan. Vaishnav dasanudas, Purushottam das
My dear merciful Srila Gurudev, please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus Feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace! All glories to this most beautiful day of your appearance! om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya cakshur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah Srila Gurudev, it is beyond my capacity to express even a drop of your glories. By your causeless mercy, you accepted me in the family, giving me the shelter of Your lotus Feet. I am very happy because I have my real family with a supremely astonishing goal. You are the true path to the real life. You are the boundless ocean of nectar of divine love and the source of precious qualities. You give the most valuable Holy Name and destroy all worldly attachments. You open your merciful heart for everyone. Your Grace rescues us from material existence and gives us the opportunity to accept pure love. Your mercy knows no bounds. Once, several years ago, You gave Your Mercy on Russian schoolchildren. I was at work when the online darshan started. I very much wanted to see the darshan, and I gave a written assignment to the pupils for 5 minutes. I watched darshan without sound. Suddenly, I saw that the schoolchildren finished writing and I looked at the projector with surprised eyes and with bated breath. I looked at the projector, and the online darshan was being broadcasted. I had not realized what I was seeing was also being seen by them. So, in this way the school children in Russia got your Darshan for your causeless mercy. Jay Srila Gurudev! Dear Srila Gurudev, thank you for love, for inspiration, for life, for everything. Pleas• forgive me for my mistakes and give me your mercy. Without your mercy, there is no real life. Please accept my heartfelt obeisances to you. I pray only to be always able to be near your lotus feet and to serve your dear devotees. With love, your servant. Dhanistha Dasi, Russia Param aradhyatam Gurudev ko dandwat pranam. We are blessed that we have such a sudurlabh sadguru, which is very rare or almost impossible in this world now. It is our life’s supreme achievement that by the grace of Sri Sri Radha Shyam Sunder ji that we found pujay Guruji as our spiritual master. What else could we want in our life? We can sacrifice any utmost worldly ambition with this ultimate achievement of our life.
Oh! Param aradhyatam Gurudev, we are blessed, and we will be blessed always in this life or after. Jai jai Gurudev! With all love, respect, and affection, Nivedita & Pradeep Vaish Nama Om Visnu-padaya Sri Gaura-priya murtaye Srimate Bhakti Vallabh Tirtha Goswamin namine I don’t know by what strength I can come to you Endowed with all saintly qualities I believe in this world there is real sadhu Shining like the Sun You are removing the darkness from my heart Soothing like the moon You are nourishing all beautiful bhav More humble than a blade of grass You show all respect to others More tolerant than a tree You are enduring all my impudence Peaceful like a holy lake You are serving in the spiritual realm Gentle like the air You are entering into my life I may sometimes forget you I know you never forget me Thus I know all-good God exists Because I have seen His real devotee Please forgive me for all my offenses Dear Srila Gurudeva Let me always follow your teachings Kindly grant me your real service... Aspiring to be your humble servant, Srimati Radhika dasi from China
Dear Guru Maharaj, The day of your appearance is the most sunny day of my gray life, which is gray because I forgot the goal—to learn how to pray. I recall my long previous existence with claims to religiosity that were simply like groping movements made in darkness. Yes, I’m praying, but it is not a real prayer, because of the self-interest involved. I don’t know how to pray properly. Dear Guru Maharaj, please teach me, so I could deeply realize my full dependence from Your Grace. I am offering my obeisances to the dust from your lotus feet. AdvayaJnan Das, Voronezh, Russia Dear Gurudev! My big dandavat and pranam on this wonderful day. Thank you very much. You were in my life. you are in my life, and you will remain in my life. Thank you so much. You gave me Harinam and diksa, the link with the guru parampara, and I learned to do puja. Thank you for your great mercy and love for me. On this beautiful day I ask you to help me to do my bhajan more seriously and carefully, and always to remember your words. oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya jñānāñjana-śalākayā cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ Djambuvati D.d. My dear Gurudev, Please accept my Dandavat Pranams. As time passes, your glories are slowly revealed to me and I realize how unfortunate I am to have missed opportunities to associate with you. So please Gurudev, help me not miss the opportunity to follow your instructions. Please bless our new project in France by infusing it with your loving mood and by keeping on sending sadhus there to rescue us. Uddhava das France
Pūjyapāda Śrīla Gurudev Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Goswāmī Mahārāj, Please accept my koṭi daṇḍavat praṇām at your lotus feet. All glories to this most auspicious occasion of your Vyāsa-pūjā! Gurudev, on this day we celebrate and thank you for your unfathomable kindness in coming to and remaining in this shadowy worldly plane, solely for the rescue of the lowliest souls such as myself, despite our innumerable shortcomings. We pray that you please continue to soothe all our hearts with your pastimes of good health. Gurudev, once again I express my heartfelt gratitude for your causeless mercy in giving me shelter at your lotus feet, even though I was in no way qualified or deserving of this. Indeed, I was not even capable of comprehending the magnitude of your gift. That comprehension is increasing in me slowly but steadily, simply by your own grace. Gurudev, it is only by your own causeless grace that I am seeing day by day how all your speech and all your silence, all your actions and all your inactions, form a poem that is heavily laden with instruction. Each line that falls from your lotus lips has layers of meaning that continue to unfold over years and decades. I am particularly grateful for your invaluable personal instructions to me. Though I was unworthy even to understand, let alone carry out, your instructions, you have packaged them with your own potency, so that they progessively carry me forward on the path of devotional practice, and keep revealing themselves further at each waypoint. Through many persons you give me good guidance, taking care of my devotional well-being in every way. It is only a genius of your caliber that is capable of bringing about a revolution in such a stone-like heart as mine, and keeping me on the path towards transcendental divine love. Gurudev, that most sweet and high ideal, service of the Divine Couple, stands before me like a beautiful mountain peak. When I set out on this path long ago I was not even capable of understanding how far it was. It is only now that I have been traversing it for decades, that I’ve gotten glimpses of how distant I really am. When those reminders come to me, it is only knowing that you yourself have come from that transcendental realm and have undertaken out of your boundless kindness to lead me on this trek, that heartens me with courage to go on. Gurudev, I pray for your protection. I beg that you please forgive any offenses I have committed to you, knowingly or unknowingly, and keep me in your grace. Your unworthy lowly disciple, Rukmiṇī Devī dāsi Columbus, Ohio, USA
Offering to the lotus feet of my Srila Gurudev, Sri Srimad Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj, on the holy occasion of his Vyasa Puja festival: Please accept my koti dandavat pranam to your lotus feet, the shelter of which is so powerfully manifest now. Please forgive my myriad offenses and uselessness. Please never let me lose your shelter and bless me that in some lifetime I can serve you. Your most fallen disciple, Rupamanjari Devi dasi, California Srila gurudev is my eternal Master, Father, Paramaradhyatam-Most Worshipable Lord! The spiritual transcedental affection of Guru Maharajji is unparalleled. He is a personofication of causeless mercy manifested in the form of his everflowing Vatsalya-Bhav! My only hope in this darkness is Gurudev’s Transcendental Blessings which are always there without any seva on my end. On his 93rd Vyas-Puja I bow down to the holy dust of the Lotus Feet of Guru Maharajji! Rashbeharidas Secretary, Gokul I bow at his feet constantly ,and pray to Gurudev to hold my hand forever .There is not a single breath in my life that is not my Gurudev’s will . Hrishikesh Das, 8 years old, Mumbai