Utthana Ekadasi & SRILA GAURA KISHORA DASA BABAJI

[Guest guest]

Dear Devotees,

 

dandavat pranams.

 

Sorry if i couldn't send this yesterday but there was no internet facility

where i am staying now.

 

ys

 

tmkd

 

 

Utthana EkAdasii

(Haribodhini - Prabodhini - DevotthAni - Utthana EkAdasii)

from Brahma-vaivarta Puran

 

It has four names: Haribodhini - Prabodhini - DevotthAni - Utthana EkAdasii

and it is the second Ekadasi (Kartik Shukla, light fortnight) in the month

of Kartik.

 

Lord Brahma said to Narada Muni, "Dear son, O best of the sages, I shall

narrate to you the glories of Haribodhini Ekadasi, which eradicates all

kinds of sins and bestows great merit, and ultimately liberation, upon the

wise persons who surrender unto the Supreme Lord.

 

"O best of the brahmanas, the merits acquired by bathing in the Ganges

remain significant only as long as Haribodhini Ekadasi does not come. This

Ekadasi, which occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Kartika, is

much more purifying than a bath in the ocean, at a place of pilgrimage, or

in a lake. This sacred Ekadasi is more powerful in nullifying sin than one

thousand Asvamedha sacrifices and one hundred Rajasuya sacrifices."

 

Narada Muni inquired, "O father, please describe the relative merits of

fasting completely on Ekadasi, eating supper (without grains or beans), or

eating once at midday (without grains or beans)."

 

Lord Brahma replied, "If a person eats once at midday on Ekadasi, the sins

of his previous birth are erased, if he eats supper, the sins acquired

during his previous two births are removed, and if he fasts completely, the

sins accumulated during his pervious seven births are eradicated.

 

"O son, whatever is only rarely achieved within the three worlds is obtained

by him who strictly observes Haribodhini Ekadasi. A person whose sins equal

Mount Sumeru in volume sees them all reduced to nothing if he simply fasts

on Papaharini Ekadasi (another name for Haribodhini Ekadasi). The sins a

person has accumulated over a thousand previous births are burned to ashes

if he not only fasts but also remains awake throughout Ekadasi night, just

as a mountain of cotton can be burned to ashes if one lights a small fire in

it.

 

O Narada, a person who strictly observes this fast achieves the results I

have mentioned. Even if one does a small amount of pious activity on this

day, following the rules and regulations, one will earn merit to Mount

Sumeru in volume; however a person who does not follow the rules and

regulations given in the Scriptures may perform pious activity equal to

Mount Sumeru in volume, but he will not earn even a small amount of merit.

One who does not chant the Gayatri mantra three times a day, who disregards

fast days, who does not believe in God, who criticises the Vedic Scriptures,

who thinks the Vedas bring only ruination to one who follows their

injunctions, who enjoys another's wife, who is utterly foolish and wicked,

who does not appreciate any service that has been rendered to him, or who

cheats others - such a sinful person can never perform any religious

activity effectively. Be he a brahmana or a shudra, whoever tries to enjoy

another man's wife, particularly the wife of a twice-born person, is said to

be no better than a dog-eater.

 

"O best of the sages, any brahmana who enjoys sex with a widow or a brahmana

lady married to another man brings ruin to himself and his family. Any

brahmana who enjoys illicit sex will have no children in his next life, and

any past merit he may have earned is ruined. Indeed, if such a person

displays any arrogance toward a twice-born brahmana or a spiritual master,

he loses all his spiritual advancement immediately, as well as his wealth

and children.

 

"These three kinds of men ruin their acquired merits: he whose character is

immoral, he who has sex with the wife of a dog-eater, and he who appreciates

the association of rogues. Whoever associates with sinful people and visits

their homes without a spiritual purpose will go directly to the abode of

Lord Yamaraj, the superintendent of death. And if someone eats in such a

home, his acquired merit is destroyed, along with his fame, duration of

life, children, and happiness.

 

"Any sinful rascal who insults a saintly person soon loses his religiosity,

economic development, and sense gratification, and he at last burns in the

fire of hell. Anyone who likes to offend saintly persons, or who does not

interrupt someone who is insulting saintly persons, is considered no better

than an ass. Such a wicked man sees his dynasty destroyed before his very

eyes.

 

"A person whose character is unclean, who is a rogue or a swindler, or who

always finds fault with others does not achieve a higher destination after

death, even if he gives charity generously or performs other pious deed.

Therefore one should refrain from performing inauspicious acts and perform

only pious ones, by which one will acquire merit and avoid suffering.

"However, the sins of one who, after due consideration, decides to fast of

Haribodhini Ekadasi are erased from one hundred previous lives, and whoever

fasts and remains awake overnight on this Ekadasi achieves unlimited merit

and after death goes to the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu, and then thousand

of his ancestors, relatives, and descendants also reach that abode. Even if

one's forefathers were implicated in many sins and are suffering in hell,

they still attain beautifully ornamented spiritual bodies and happily go to

Vishnu's abode.

 

O Narada, even one who has committed the heinous sin of killing a brahmana

is freed of all stains on his character by faster on Haribodhini Ekadasi and

remaining awake that night. The merit that cannot by won by bathing in all

the places of pilgrimage, performing a horse sacrifice, or giving cows,

gold, or fertile land in charity can easily be achieved by fasting on this

holy day and remaining awake throughout the night.

 

"Anyone who observes Haribodhini Ekadasi is celebrated as highly qualified

and makes his dynasty famous. As Death is certain, so losing one's wealth is

also certain. Knowing this, O best of sages, one should observe a fast on

this day so dear to Hari - Sri Haribodhini Ekadasi.

 

"All places of pilgrimage in the three worlds at once come to reside in the

house of a person who fasts on this Ekadasi. Therefore, to please the Lord,

who holds a disc in His hand, one should give up all engagements, surrender,

and observe this Ekadasi fast. One who fasts on this Haribodhini day is

acknowledged as a wise man, a true yogi, an ascetic, and one whose senses

are truly under control. He alone enjoys this world properly, and he will

certainly achieve liberation. This Ekadasi is very dear to Lord Vishnu, and

thus it is the very essence of religiosity. Even one observance of it

bestows the topmost reward in all the three worlds.

 

"O Naradaji, whoever fasts on this Ekadasi will definitely not enter a womb

again, and thus faithful devotees of the Supreme Godhead give up all

varieties of religion and simply surrender to fasting on this Ekadasi. For

that great soul who honours this Ekadasi by fasting and remaining awake

throughout the night, the Supreme Lord, Sri Govinda, personally terminates

the sinful reactions that soul has acquired by the actions of his mind,

body, and words.

 

"O son, for anyone who bathes in a place of pilgrimage, gives charity,

chants the holy names of the Supreme Lord, undergoes austerities, and

performs sacrifices for God on Haribodhini Ekadasi, the merit thus earned

all becomes imperishable. A devotee who worships Lord Madhava on this day

with first-class paraphernalia becomes free from the great sins of a hundred

lifetimes. A person who observes this fast and worships Lord Vishnu properly

is freed from great danger.

 

"This Ekadasi fast pleases Lord Janardana so much that He takes the person

who observes it back to His abode, and while going there the devotee

illuminates then ten universal directions. Whoever desires beauty and

happiness should try to honour Haribodhini Ekadasi, especially if it falls

on Dvadasi. The sins of one's past hundred births - the sins committed

during childhood, youth and old age in al those lifetimes, whether those

sins are dry or wet - are nullified by the Supreme Lord Govinda if one fasts

on Haribodhini Ekadasi with devotion. Haribodhini Ekadasi is the best

Ekadasi. Nothing is unobtainable or rare in this world for one who fasts on

this day, for it gives food grains, great wealth, and high merit, as well as

eradication of all sin, the terrible obstacle to liberation. fasting on this

Ekadasi is a thousand times better than giving charity on the day of the

solar or lunar eclipse. Again I say to you, O Naradaji, whatever merit is

earned by one who bathes in a place of pilgrimage, performs sacrifices, and

studies the Vedas is only one then-millionth the merit earned by the person

who fasts but one on Haribodhini Ekadasi. Whatever merit one has acquired in

his life by some pious activities becomes completely fruitless if one does

not observe the Ekadasi fast and worship Lord Vishnu in the month of

Kartika. Therefore, you should always worship the Supreme Lord, Janardana,

and render service to Him. Thus you will attain the desired goal, the

highest perfection.

 

"On Haribodhini Ekadasi, a devotee of the Lord should not eat in another's

house or eat food cooked by a non devotee. If he does so, he achieves only

the merit of fasting on a full moon day. Philosophical discussion of

Scriptures in the month of Kartika pleases Sri Vishnu more than if one gives

elephants and horses in charity or performs a costly sacrifice. Whoever

chants or hears descriptions of Lord Vishnu's qualities and pastimes, even

if but a half or even a fourth of a verse, attains the wonderful merit

derived from giving away a hundred cows to a brahmana. O Narada, during the

month of Kartika one should give up all kinds or ordinary duties and devote

one's full time and energy especially while fasting, to discussing the

transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Lord. Such glorification of Sri Hari

on the day so dear to the Lord, Ekadasi, liberates a hundred previous

generations. One who spends his time enjoying such discussions, especially

in the month of Kartika, achieves the results of performing ten thousand

fire sacrifices and burns all his sins to ashes.

 

"He who hears the wonderful narrations concerning Lord Vishnu, particularly

during the month of Kartika, automatically earns the same merit as that

bestowed upon someone who donates a hundred cows in charity. O great sage, a

person who chants the glories of Lord Hari on Ekadasi achieves the merit

earned by donating seven islands."

 

Narada Muni asked his glorious father, "O universal sire, I best of all

demigods, please tell me how to observe this most sacred Ekadasi. What kind

of merit does it bestow upon the faithful?"

 

Lord Brahma replied, "O son, a person who wants to observe this Ekadasi

should rise early on Ekadasi morning, during the brahma-muhurta hour (an

hour and a half before sunrise until fifty minutes before sunrise). He

should then clean his teeth and bathe in a lake, river, pond, or well, or in

his own home, as the situation warrants. After worshipping Lord Sri Keshava,

he should listen carefully to the sacred descriptions of the Lord. He should

pray to the Lord thus: 'O Lord Keshava, I shall fast on this day, which is

so dear to You, and tomorrow I shall honour Your sacred prasadam. O

lotus-eyed Lord, O infallible one, You are my only shelter. Kindly protect

me.'

 

"Having spoken this solemn prayer before the Lord with great love and

devotion, one should fast cheerfully. O Narada, whoever remains awake all

night on this Ekadasi, singing beautiful songs glorifying the Lord, dancing

in ecstasy, playing delightful instrumental music for His transcendental

pleasure, and reciting the pastimes of Lord Krishna as records in bona-fide

Vedic literature - such a person will most assuredly reside far beyond the

three worlds, in the eternal, spiritual realm of God.

 

"On Haribodhini Ekadasi one should worship Sri Krishna with camphor, fruits,

and aromatic flowers, especially the yellow agaru flower. One should not

absorb oneself in making money on this important day. In other words, greed

should be exchanged for charity. This is the process for turning loss into

unlimited merit. One should offer many kinds of fruits to the Lord and bathe

Him with water from a conchshell. Each of these devotional practices, when

performed on Haribodhini Ekadasi, is ten million times more beneficial than

bathing in all the places of pilgrimage and giving all forms of charity.

 

"Even Lord Indra joins his palm and offers his obeisances to a devotee who

worships Lord Janardana with first-class agastya flowers of this day. The

supreme Lord Hari is very pleased when he is decorated with nice agastya

flowers. O Narada, I give liberation to one who devotedly worships Lord

Krishna on this Ekadasi in the month of Kartika with leaves of the bel tree.

And for one who worships Lord Janardana with fresh tulasi leaves and

fragrant flowers during this month, O son, I personally burn to ashes all

the sins he has committed for then thousand births.

 

"One who merely sees Tulasi Maharani, touches her, mediates on her, narrates

her history, offers obeisances to her, prays to her for her grace, plants

her, worships her, or waters her lives in the abode of Lord Hari eternally.

O Narada, one who serves Tulasi-devi in these nine ways achieves happiness

in the higher world for as many thousands of yugas as there are roots and

subroots growing from a mature tulasi plant. When a full grown tulasi plant

produces seeds, many plants grow from those seeds and spread their branches,

twigs, and flowers, and these flowers also produce numerous seeds. For as

many thousands of kalpas as there are seeds produced in this way, the

forefathers of one who serves tulasi in these nine ways will live in the

abode of Lord Hari.

 

"Those who worship Lord Keshava with kadamba flowers, which are very

pleasing to Him, get is mercy and do not see the abode of Yamaraj, death

personified. What is the use of worshipping someone else if all desires can

be fulfilled by pleasing Lord Hari? For example, a devotee who offers Him

bakula, ashoka, and patali flowers is freed from misery and distress for as

long as the sun and moon exist in this universe, and at last he achieves

liberation. O best of the brahmanas, an offering of kannera flowers to Lord

Jagannatha brings as much mercy upon the devotee as that earned by

worshipping Lord Keshava for four yugas. One who offers tulasi flowers

(manjaris) to Sri Krishna during the month of Kartika receives more merit

than can be obtained by donating ten million cows. Even a devotional

offering of newly grown sprouts of grass brings with it a hundred times the

benefit obtained by ordinary ritualistic worship of the Supreme Lord.

 

"One who worships Lord Vishnu with the leaves of the samika tree is freed

from the clutches of Yamaraja, the lord of death. One who worships Vishnu

during the rainy season with champaka or jasmine flowers never returns to

the planet earth again. One who worships the Lord with but a single kumbhi

flower achieves the boon of donating a pala of gold (two hundred grams). If

a devotee offers a single yellow flower of the ketaki, or wood-apple, tree

to Lord Vishnu, who rides on Garuda, he is freed from the sins of ten

million births. Furthermore, one who offers Lord Jagannatha flowers and also

a hundred leaves anointed with red and yellow sandalwood paste will

certainly come to reside in Svetadvipa, far beyond the coverings of this

material creation.

 

"O greatest of brahmanas, Sri Narada, after thus worshipping Lord Keshava,

the bestower of all material and spiritual happiness, on Haribodhini

Ekadasi, one should rise early the next day, bathe in a rive, chant japa of

Krishna's holy names, and render loving devotional service to the Lord at

home to the nest of one's ability. To break the fast, the devotee should

first offer some prasadam to brahmanas and only then, with their permission,

eat some grains. Thereafter, to please the Supreme Lord, the devotee should

worship his spiritual master, the purest of the Lord's devotees, and offer

him sumptuous food, nice cloth, gold, and cows, according to the devotee's

means. this will certainly please the Supreme Lord, the holder of the disc.

 

"Next the devotee should donate a cow to a brahmana, and if the devotee has

neglected some rules and regulation of spiritual life, he should confess

them before brahmana devotees of the Lord. Then the devotee should offer

them some dakshina (money). O king, those who have eaten supper on Ekadasi

should feed a brahmana the next day. That is very pleasing to the Supreme

Personality of Godhead.

 

"O son, if a man has fasted without asking the permission of his priest, or

if a woman has fasted without asking her husband's permission, he or she

should donate a bull to a brahmana. Honey and yoghurt are also proper gifts

for a brahmana. Someone who has fasted from ghee should donate milk, one who

has fasted from grains should donate rice, one who has slept on the floor

should donate a bedstead with a quilt, one who has eaten on a leaf plate

should donate a pot of ghee, one who as remained silent should donate a

bell, and one who has fasted from sesame should give gold in charity and

feed a brahmana couple with sumptuous food. A man who wants to prevent

baldness should donate a mirror to a brahmana, one who has second-hand shoes

should donate shoes, and one who has fasted from salt should donate some

sugar to a brahmana. During this month everyone should regularly offer a

ghee lamp to Lord Vishnu or to Srimati Tulasidevi in a temple.

 

"An Ekadasi fast is complete when one offers a qualified brahmana a gold or

copper pot filled with ghee and ghee wicks, along with eight waterpots

containing some gold and covered by cloths. One who cannot afford these

gifts should at least offer a brahmana some sweet words. One who does so

will surely attain the full benefit of fasting on Ekadasi.

 

"After offering his obeisances and begging permission, the devotee should

eat his meal. On this Ekadasi, Chaturmasya ends, so whatever one gave up

during Chaturmasya should now be donated to brahmanas. One who follows this

process of Chaturmasya receives unlimited merit, O king of kings, and goes

to the abode of Lord Vasudeva after death. O king, anyone who observes the

complete Chaturmasya without a break attains eternal happiness and does not

receive another birth. But if someone breaks the fast, he becomes either a

blind man or a leper.

 

"Thus I have narrated to you the complete process for observing Haribodhini

Ekadasi. Someone who reads or hears about this achieves the merit earned by

donating cows to a qualified brahmana."

 

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Karttika-sukla Ekadasi - also

known as Haribodhini Ekadasi or Devotthaani Ekadasi - from the Skanda

Purana.

 

>From Hari-Bhakti-Vilas:

 

PRABODHINIM UPOSYA EVA NA GARBHE VISATE NARAH SARVA DHARMAN PARITYAJYA

TASMAT KURVITA NARADA

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/289 from SKANDA PURANA spoken by Lord Brahma)

 

Oh Narada Muni, one who fasts on Prabodhini (when the Lord gets up) Ekadasi,

does not enter again into the womb of another mother. Therefore, a person

should give up all varieties of occupation and fast on this particular

Ekadasi day.

 

DUGDHABDHIH BHOGI SAYANE BHAGAVAN ANANTO YASMIN DINE SVAPITI CA ATHA

VIBHUDHYATE CA TASMINN ANANYA MANASAM UPAVASA BHAJAM KAMAM DADATY ABHIMATAM

GARUDANKA SAYI

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/293 from PADMA PURANA)

 

One who fasts with one pointed intelligence on the day when the Supreme Lord

Sri Hari, Who sleeps on a bed of the enemy of Garuda (snake) goes to take

rest in the Milk ocean on the bed of Ananta Sesa and also the day He gets

up, gets all of his desires fulfilled.

 

BHAKTIPRADA HAREH SATU NAMNA KSATA PRAVODHINI YASA VISNOH PARA MURTIR

AVYAKTA ANEKA RUPINI SA KSIPTA MANUSE LOKE DVADADI MUNI PUNGAVA

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/301 from VARAHA PURANA conversation between Yamaraja

and Narada Muni)

 

This Prabodhini Ekadasi is famous for rewarding devotion to Lord Sri Hari.

Oh best of the sages (Narada Muni), the personality of Ekadasi is present on

this earthly planet in an unmanifested form of Lord Hari.

 

Srila Sanatana Gosvami remarks in his Digdarsini-tika that one who exactly

observes the Ekadasi fast by observing this, he directly worships Lord Sri

Hari. This is the meaning of this verse. Therefore, Ekadasi is said to be

equal to Lord Sri Hari Himself.

 

CATUR DHA GRAHYA VAI CIRNAM CATUR MASYA VRATAM NARAH KARTIKE SUKLAPAKSE TU

DVADASYAM TAT SAMACARET

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/412 from MAHABHARATA)

 

A person who observed Caturmasya fast stated in four different ways should

end his fast on the Dvadasi day on the light fortnight of the month of

Karttika.(Ofcourse in ISKCON we do Caturmasya & Kartika-vrata from Purnima

to Purnima.)

 

EKADASYAM PARER DATTAM DIPAM PRAJVALYA MUSIKA MANUSYAM DURLABHAM PRAPYA

PARAM GATIM AVAPA SA

 

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/129 from SKANDA PURANA)

 

One rat (female mouse) had once burnt a ghee lamp which was offered by

someone else on Ekadasi day. By doing so, she achieved a rarely achievable

human form and at last attained the topmost destination.

 

Srila Sanatana Gosvami writes in his Digdarsini-tika, "In this verse it is

found that it is possible to attain the results of directly offering a lamp

on Ekadasi. This history of the mouse is very famous in the Padma Purana,

Kartika Mahatmya. (In a temple of Lord Visnu, there was a mouse living who

was eating the ghee from the extinguished ghee lamps which had been offered

by others to Him. One day when she felt hungry to eat ghee, she tried to eat

the ghee from a lamp which was not yet extinguished. While eating ghee from

the lamp, the cotton wick got stuck in her teeth. Since the ghee wick had a

flame, the mouse started jumping in front of the Lord's Deity form and thus

died due to fire. But Lord Sri Visnu accepted the jumping of that mouse with

a lit ghee wick in her mouth as His aratik. In the end He gave her

liberation, the topmost destination.)

 

Glories of Remaining Awake on the night of Prabodhini Ekadasi: (Padma

Purana, Kartika Mahatmya)

 

The sins accumulated in thousands of previous births burn like a mass of

cotton for someone who remains awake during Prabodhani-ekadasi. Even if

guilty of the most heinous sins, such as killing a brahmana, O sage a person

shakes away his sins by remaining awake in Visnu's honour throughout

Prabodhani-ekadasi. All his mental, vocal, and physical sins will be washed

away by Sri Govinda.(388-390)

 

Results that are difficult to obtain even with great yajnas, such as

Asvamedha, effortlessly accrue to those who remain awake during

Prabodhani-ekadasi.(391)

 

The Lord should be taken out on a grand Ratha-yatra festival on this day

after awakening Him from His sleep for the four months of Caturmasya i.e

from Sayani Ekadasi when the Lord had taken rest on the Milk Ocean. This

festival has been elaborately described in the Padma Purana.

 

======================================================================

 

SRILA GAURA KISHORA DASA BABAJI MAHARAJ

 

 

The next in the parampara, after and is an associate of Bhaktivinoda

Thakura - a great paramahamsa babaji by the name of Gaura Kisora dasa

Babaji Maharaja. Technically he was the disciple of Bhagavat dasa Babaji

Maharaja, who was a disciple of Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja.

In 1897 Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja came to Mayapur Navadwipa Dhama

from Sri Vrndavana Dhama, where he was accredited the exalted

title "Bhajananandi". Srila Bhaktivinoda (Kedarnath Datt), seeing the

transcendental behaviour of Babaji Maharaja, would use him as an example of

nirapeksa (indifference), as his level of renunciation was beyond belief.

 

This Vaisnava saint's life was an example of utter humility and poverty,

the true attributes of a Vaisnava. Gaurakisora never accepted any material

object from anyone. For his clothing he used the discarded loin cloths

from corpses left on the bank of the Ganges. For food, he would collect

rice by begging, soak it in river water, and garnish it with salt and

chilly. He never asked favors from anyone and lived a fully detached life,

devoid of all possessions.

 

Very little information is available about the past life of Gaurakisora

except that he was born in a Vaisya family in the village of Bagjana near

Tepakhola on the bank of the Padma. As a householder, Gaurakisora was known

by the name Vansidasa (different from Vamsi das babaji). At that time he

was engaged in some agricultural trade and from the income took care of his

wife and family honestly. After the death of his wife, Gaurakisora

renounced his home and went to Vrndavana, where he was initiated into

Vairagi Vesha by Bhagavata dasa babaji, one of the foremost disciples of

Jagannatha dasa babaji.

 

Srila Gaurakisora lived on madhukari, begging and slept beneath a tree.

He would lie prostrate, offering his humble obeisances to the residents of

Vraja, considering them as embodiments of Lord Krsna. He even offered his

obeisances to the flowers, trees, and land around him. He spent about

thirty years at Vraja mandala serving the deities there. Afterwards,

perhaps by the direction of the Supreme Lord, he left for Navadvipa.

 

During his stay at Navadvipa, Gaurakisora underwent various

transformations of spiritual moods. Sometimes he danced on the bank of the

Ganges chanting, "Gaura, Gaura", while at other times he would lie on the

ground in an unconscious state. He joyfully moved throughout the groves

located on the bank of the Ganges, considering them sites of the divine

sports of Sri Sri Radha Govinda. His only clothing was a strip of cloth

around his waist and often went totally naked. He chanted japa on beads or

sometimes knotted a cloth and used that as a substitute for japa beads.

Occasionally, he went to Godruma Dvipa to listen to Bhaktivinoda Thakura

recite "Srimad Bhagavatam.

 

Babaji Maharaja would often visit Bhaktivinoda. During his last days in

retirement, absorbed in Krsna katha, he would hear Srimad Bhagavatam at

Bhaktivinoda's house and they would discuss together. Though Babaji

Maharaja could neither read nor write he was regarded as vastly learned and

self-realized. His only possessions were the Tulasi beads around his neck

and the japa mala he kept in his hand. Sometimes he wore no Tulasi mala on

his neck and would chant on knotted cloth as beads - such was his

renunciation. Sometimes he would live under an old broken overturned boat,

and other times he would scatter fish bones around a place he occasionally

used as his bhajan kutir to make materialists think he was a fish-eater,

and thus they would not disturb him. But by his pure bhajan he purified the

three worlds.

 

He was the guru of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, the founder of

the Caitanya Mathas and Gaudiya Mathas.

 

In 1898 when Bhaktivinoda's son, who was now residing in Godrumadwipa in

Navadwipa Dhama, first came in contact with the person who was to be his

spiritual master, Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, the crest jewel of

avadhutas was wearing a tigerskin hat and carrying a basket with puja

paraphernalia inside. He offered the boy four or five pieces of rope for

chanting his rounds on, and a tilak stamp for marking the body with Hare

Krsna carved on it. Bhaktivinoda later told his son, "You must take

initiation from Babaji Maharaja, and don't return to this house if you

don't." Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji used to walk across a bridge at the same

time daily, so on one occasion Bhaktivinoda's son, Siddhanta Saraswati,

blocked his path and in all humility said, "If you don't give me initiation

then I will finish my life by throwing this useless body off this bridge."

Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja didn't want any disciples - he himself

had taken siksa from Bhaktivinoda, and this was Bhaktivinoda's dear son!

Siddhanta Saraswati told him how his father had instructed him to become

Babaji Maharaja's disciple or not return home, so in 1900 Babaji Maharaja

gave him the name Varsabhanavi-devi-dayita dasa. He then gave his new

initiate the tiger skin hat and basket that had been given to Gaura Kisora

by his spiritual master Bhagavat dasa Babaji, which he in turn had received

from Jagannatha dasa Babaji.

 

In 1908 Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja lost his external eye sight, so

he then stopped travelling and just chanted and performed worship of Krsna.

Being aloof from external consciousness, sometimes he would not dress his

body - instead he would sit in his bhajan kutir internally absorbed in

Krsna's pastimes and in a very deep voice be heard calling the names of the

gopis of Vrndavana.

 

Once Srila Varsabhanavi-devi-dayita dasa, Siddhanta Saraswati, offered to

take Babaji Maharaja to Calcutta to see an eye specialist, but he refused

saying, "Never! I will never go to the material world." His disciple

protested, "But in Calcutta I could serve you nicely. You wouldn't have to

undergo any inconvenience." But Babaji Maharaja was adamant declaring, "I

will never accept this service. Better I throw myself in the Saraswati

(Jalanghi) and drown."

 

Once Babaji Maharaja turned up at the Yoga Pitha (Lord Caitanya's

birthplace) at two in the morning. Amazed, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati

enquired how he got there in the pitch black of night. Babaji Maharaja

replied, "Someone brought me here.Who could have brought you such a

distance at this time?" enquired Bhaktisiddhanta. Finally his mind

concluded, "It must have been Krsna who personally brought you here or else

how did you cross the Ganges? How did you find your way across the dark

fields?" But Babaji Maharaja would not answer more than, "One person

brought me across the river, that's all."

 

One day Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja wrapped his body and two

feet with a cloth. Sitting covered like this he said, "Many persons, after

being informed by others, come here to collect the dust from my feet. I

tell them I am not a Vaisnava. If you go to the vicinity where there are

Vaisnavas with their feet pretentiously decorated and extended to touch,

you can have unlimited dust. How can I bless you? I don't have barfi or

sandesh or rasagulla, or even sweet words. How can I bless you? Nowadays

people are interested in spiritual masters who can give these things -

wealth, good wife, sweet words - these cheating things are now taken as

anakula (favourable)."

 

Every virtuous person looked forward to rendering service to Srila

Gaurakisora. However, he rarely allowed anyone the chance to serve him.

Once Manindracandra Nandi, the Maharaja of Kasimbazar, sent a distinguished

messenger to escort Gaurakisora to the former's palace. Gaurakisora,

however, did not accept the Maharaja's invitation saying that if he visited

the palace he may feel tempted by the wealth of the Maharaja which may

result in a strained relation between the two. Hence, Gaurakisora

suggested that instead of him visiting the palace, let the Maharaja free

himself completely from the shackles of wealth by donating everything he

owned to his relatives and then come to live with Gaurakisora in a

specially prepared shed where both of them could practice Haribhajan in

peace."

 

Srila Gaurakisora was very selective about accepting invitations for

food. He believed that partaking of food here and there could adversely

affect the spiritual life of a devotee. Once a devotee name Haren babu

partook of prasada offered at the festival held at Bhajan kutir at

Navadvipa. For this Gaurakisora stopped communicating with Haren for three

days. On the fourth day Gaurakisora explained that the prasada of the

above festival had been financed by a woman of questionable profession, a

pumscari (one who is moved by other men).

 

Once, on the eve of Sanatana Gosvami's disappearance day, Gaurakisora

decided to celebrate the occasion. The devotee attending him asked who

would provide them with the materials for the celebration. Srila

Gaurakisora replied: "Remember not to speak to anyone about it. We shall

miss a meal and continue around the clock chanting the holy name. This

could be the typical festival for those of us who have taken the vow of

poverty."

 

Narendra Kumar Sen, a resident of Agartala (Tripura), once approached

Gaurakisora to learn about Guru pranali or Siddha pranali. Gaurakisora

told him, "The Supreme Lord cannot be realized through worldly knowledge.

Only through the chanting of the holy name can the true nature of the Lord

be revealed. As the Lord is revealed from the letters comprising the Nama,

the devotee gradually begins to understand his own nature and becomes

acquainted with seva.

 

Once a physician told Gaurakisora that he intended to move to Navadvipa

and take up charitable practices. Gaurakisora advised the physician that

if he truly desired to live in Navadvipa then he should give up the plan

for a charitable practice because it would only encourage materially minded

people to save money. Those who sincerely practiced Hari bhajan should

never get distracted by the chains of welfare activities.

 

A young seeker wearing only a kaupina, once stayed with Gaurakisora for

some days. later he arranged, through the agency of an employee of a female

estate owner, to obtain five kathas of land as a donation from the woman.

When Gaurakisora heard about this he was extremely annoyed: "Navadvipadhama

is beyond this material world. How can a worldly land owner dare to hold

land here and even think he can donate five kathas out of it? A mere grain

of sand of the transcendental Navadvipa is more valuable than all the

precious gems in this world put together. Moreover, how advanced could

this young kaupina clad devotee be if he dares to collect so much land in

lieu of his bhajan merit?"

 

Once a devotee offered some sweets to Lord Gauranga and then took the

offering to Gaurakisora, urging him to partake of it. Gaurakisora told the

devotee, "Those who are non vegetarian, those who commit adultery, or offer

food to Lord Gauranga with a particular motive, their offerings never reach

Lord Gauranga and are never sanctified as prasada."

 

Srila Gaurakisora regularly begged for rice, after which he would cook the

rice, offer it, and partake of the prasada. He never touched any foodstuff

offered by someone else. Once during monsoon, Gaurakisora stayed in the

rest house at Phulia Navadvipa. Some prasada was left in a vessel for him

to respect later. Meanwhile a snake passed by the vessel and a woman there

happened to notice it. When Gaurakisora sat down to take prasada the woman

appeared there and informed him about the snake. Gaurakisora, however,

firmly stated that he would not touch the prasada until the woman left.

After the woman left, Gaurakisora said, "Look how maya works! Taking the

form of compassion, maya attempts to hit deep into her target slowly. Maya

can assume countless forms. She always prevents a mortal being from

practicing Haribhajan."

 

Giribabu and his wife once ardently requested Gaurakisora to stay in their

house at Navadvipa. Gaurakisora was moved by their sincere devotion and

finally agreed to oblige them on the condition that he would live only in

their toilet room where he would perform Hari bhajan. Giribabu tried to

persuade him to change his mind but Gaurakisora remained firm. Giribabu

reluctantly arranged to have the toilet thorougly cleaned and Gaurakisora

used it for Haribhajan. A realized soul can practice Haribhajan anywhere

in an unconcerned manner, and wherever he resides, that place becomes

Vaikuntha.

 

Srila Gaurakisora was a highly spiritually advanced soul. He never

allowed deceitful practices or any discussion which was not within the

purview of the holy books. One day when a devotee questioned Gaurakisora

about a well known reiciter of "Srimad Bhagavatam, who was in the habit of

chanting "Gaura, Gaura", Gaurakisora remarked, "He doesn't say "Gaura,

Gaura. Rather what he means to say is, "More More" (`Money, Money.')

Those who recite "Srimad Bhagavatam for payment are not entitled to chant

the name of theSupreme Lord."

 

Srila Gaurakisora never delivered discourses openly, yet his spotless

character drew everyone to him. Upon meeting Gaurakisora, even a staunch

materialist would become inclined take up Haribhajan.

 

On 22nd June, 1914 Bhaktivinoda Thakura passed from this world into his

samadhi, deep meditation, on Lord Krsna in Bhakti Bhavan, and then on

November 17th, 1915 Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, on the auspicious

Utthana Ekadasi, also left this world. His body was placed into a samadhi

tomb, but sixteen years later, due to flooding, the samadhi had to be

moved. There was a clamour of local babajis trying to claim the samadhi,

but the bold Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati (Varsabhanavi-devi-dayita dasa)

told everybody frankly, "I am the only disciple of Paramahamsa Babaji

Maharaja. Even though I have not accepted sannyasa, I am a celibate

brahmacari and by the grace of Babaji Maharaja I am not secretly addicted

to abominable habits or involved in fornication as some monkey-like people

are. If there is someone amongst the people here present who is a

renunciate of stainless character, then he can have Babaji Maharaja's

samadhi. We have no objection to that. He, who within the last year, or the

last six months, three months, one month or at least within the last three

days, has not had illicit connection with a woman will be able to touch

this spiritual blissful body. If anyone else touches it he will be

completely ruined." Hearing these words, the Inspector of police, who had

come to judge for a fair and honest decision said, "How will evidence be

had for this?" Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati replied, "I have faith in

their word." At this, one by one all the bogus babajis slipped away without

a word.