Chapter 3
On
the
I s k co n L a n d
in
B h u b a n e s wa r
He took the responsibility to build a hut on this piece of land for Çréla Prabhupäda.
While living in the hut, one day Çréla Gour Govinda Swami was paid a visit by Anapurna Das, the wife of Vasudeva Das [Das being the Oriya surname]. On first meeting him she had desired to take initiation from him. With this desire, she went to the hut where he was residing. When she expressed her desire before Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, he explained to her, “I am not empowered to give initiation. You will be given initiation by my spiritual master, Çréla Prabhupäda when he comes here.” Anapurna Das: At the very first sight of Gour Govinda Swami, I developed the feeling that he was my very own master; something in me had developed this feeling. By looking at him, I could see that he was a great saintly person. We were all greatly affected by his association.
Prior to meeting Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, Anapurna had the desire to take initiation from a very pure sädhu, a pure devotee of Kåñëa. Because all of her sisters were initiated by different Vaiñëava sannyäsés, she had considered to take initiation from one Çré Baya-baba. He was one of the renounced saints of Orissa, but belonged to an apa-sampradäya. Many times, Baya-baba had told her, “Initiation is no joking matter, that I can pick up anyone from the road and give them initiation.” This did not encourage her at all, however in the association of Çréla Gour Govinda Swami, she was becoming very inspired. Once Çréla Gour Govinda Swami brought a big book, opened it and showed her a picture of Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa and
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