A Transcendental Beggar

A lwAys E mbr A c E d by K åñë A

The Açviné-kumäras said, “We gave some of the cake to your guru in the same circumstances in the past and your guru ate it.” Upamanyu said, “That may very well be, but I cannot imitate my guru. He is not an ordinary human being” “How can I imitate him? He may eat, but I cannot eat anything unless my guru tells me to. Sorry, I will not eat! I will rather remain blind, and stay here, but I will not eat!” His guru and the Açviné-kumäras became greatly pleased with him. He had passed the test. It was a very severe test. He had to pass the test; otherwise, how would he receive the mercy of his guru?

It is not that easy, that you can just ask; “Gurudeva, kåpä koro, kåpä koro, please shower your mercy upon me. I am very fallen but you are very merciful. You are an ocean of mercy.” Then you obtain the mercy. It is not that simple; the guru’s mercy is not cheap. Is it that easy to obtain the mercy of your guru? That only by flattering your guru to shower his mercy upon you, you will receive it? No! You must pass a test!

Upamanyu’s guru and the Açviné-kumäras showered their blessings and mercy upon him. His eyesight returned and all Vedic knowledge was revealed to him. He developed transcendental vision and had no more material desires. He immediately transcended to the Brahman platform. In addition, every one of his teeth turned golden. 10

Fully Engaged in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Service

The donated property was a dense thick jungle full of poisonous snakes, scorpions, insects, ghosts and dacoits (thieves and bandits). Çréla Gurudeva stayed there alone. Years later he would tell devotees that there were many ghosts on the property and how, by his chanting Hare Kåñëa, all the ghosts fled. From the very first day he arrived in Bhubaneswar, he chanted one chapter of Bhagavad-gétä a day, and on Ekädaçé

C hapter 3 O n the I sk CO n L and I n B hu B aneswar

he would fast and chant all 18 chapters of the Gétä. This was besides translating Çréla Prabhupäda’s books from English to Oriya, and Çréla Prabhupäda wanted that he write himself as well.

Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: I came alone. Prabhupäda did not give me any men or money. He had told me, “My Guru Mahäräja sent me to the West. I was a complete stranger there. No friends, nothing! I went with only forty rupees and started my business for Kåñëa and now it is worth more than forty crores of rupees! Orissa is your place, why do you need money and men? Go! Go!” I thought, “Alright, my Guru Mahäräja has said so”. But I was always thinking day and night, “How can I do it?”

Bhüpati däsa: Prior to 1980 this area was a jungle; it was totally wild. Building in that area of Bhubaneswar began in a large way around 1985, 1986 to 1987. It was not just forest but jungle when Çréla Gour Govinda Swami came in 1975, it was a very dangerous place - cobras, scorpions, tigers and elephants roamed here freely. No one would come here. Who would want to?

Çréla Gurudeva was given the responsibility to stay in this dense jungle and develop the land, which was in itself a very severe test. However, as you will see as you read on, he did it and never wavered from his sevä and bhajan, ever. He passed a very severe test!

The Second Trip Back to Bhubaneswar

Devotee: You built this hut by yourself, Gurudeva? Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. First, I built this. Devotee: You did by hand, everything? Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Yes.

(From a darçana with Çréla Gour Govinda Swami)