Not long ago we celebrated the appearance of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, but in these days devotees in various parts of the world celebrated the appearance of Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami, the great Vaishnava and disciple of the Srila pRbhupad. Instructions of his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, are Gour Govinda Maharaja's life and soul. Srila Prabhupada ordered him to translate his books in Oriya language, which Maharaja ardently executed throughout his life. He was also successful in establishing Bhuvaneswar Bhakti Vedanta Book Trust. Maharaja was also known for his long and deep Srimad Bhagavatham classes.
Great ceremony was held in Mayapur, Indija, where were Godbrothers, disciples and and followers celebrated dedication of Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami to mision of his spiritual master. The appearance of Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Svami we also celebrated in Hare Krsna center, NYP in Ljubljana. Vyasa puja was held on monday 29.8.2011 in presence of maharaja disciple HG Madhavanada Prabhu and his wif KriSna Kunda Devi Dasi. After the offerings and pushpanjali was followed bhoga offering, arati and feast prasadam. To listen to remembrances was a great inspiration to absorb ourselves in the service attitude.
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Mahraja was born in Jagna-pura near Jaganntaha-puri in Orissa as Braju Banhu Malik, 2. September 1929. His familly were Vaishnavas and their have been famous for kirtans. He like to serve to Gopal and he also like participated in kirtans which are performed his uncles. As a small child he was crying, like all other babies, they calm him down only like that, that they give him Srimad Bhagavatam in his hands. By the age of eight, Braja-bandhu had read the entire bhagavad-gita, Srimad-bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta and could also explain their meanings. After the death of his father in 1955, he became responsible for maintaining the family. And when he entered the grihasta ashrama, on the request of his widowed mother the burden increased. He met his wife, Srimati Vasanti Devi, for the first time during the marriage ceremony. Also during this time as a householder, when he adopted the profession of a school teacher, he would take every opportunity to speak to his students, about Krishna and the devotional principles. Thirty years later, some of his students were to become his disciples.
On April 8th, 1974, his deep love for Krishna called him to renounce worldly life. He was searching for that person who could help him develop an understanding of the maha-mantra. When he came in Vrindavana he saw a signboard with the words International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Founder-acharya A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Then he met a group of Western devotees who gave him a copy of back to Godhead magazine. When he read the contents describing the glory of divine love for Krishna, his heart became anxious to meet the founder of the movement, Srila Prabhupada. At last he was to meet his eternal spiritual master, whose association he had been awaiting for such a long time.
In 1975, at the opening of ISKCON´s Krishna-Balaram Temple in Vrindavana, Srila Prabhupada accepted him as a disciple, gave him the name Gaura Govinda and awarded him the sannyasa order. Then Srila Prabhupada sent him to preach in Orissa, and construct a temple on the newly donated property in Bhubaneswar.
In 1991, after sixteen years of determined endeavors, Srila Gaura Govinda Swami fulfilled the instruction of his spiritual master with the opening of a magnificent temple of Sri Sri Krishna-Balarama which now attracts thousands of people to Krishna consciousness.
On February 9th, 1996, the holy appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, two senior devotees requested an appointment to see Srila Gaura Govinda Swami. They had never spoken with him before, but they had become eager to hear from him after reading some of his books. As if by providential arrangement, they entered his room at 6.00 p.m. and submissively inquired, "Why did Caitanya Mahaprabhu stay in Jagannatha Puri?" He laughed with delight and began to explain the confidential significance of Mahaprabhu's pastimes. In anser to this question he lovingly described the pain of separation felt by Radha and Krishna when Krishna was away from Vrindavana. He had often narrated this moving pastime as recorded in Chapter Eight of this great work, "The Embankment of Separation". Enchanting all the devotees in his room with the nectarean topics of Krishna, he gradually unfolded the pastime to the point where Radha and Krishna were finally united after Their long separation. He described how Krishna became so ecstatic upon seeing Radharani that He manifested a form with big round eyes, known as Lord Jagannatha. With a choked voice he said, "Then the eyes of Krishna fell upon the eyes of Radharani. Eye-to-Eye union." Overwhelmed with love for Radha and Krishna, he apologized with folded hands, "Please excuse me, I cannot speak". In a barely audible voice he gave his final instruction: "Nama Koro! Nama Koro! (Chant the holy name)" All the devotees began to chant as their spiritual master lay back on his bed, breathing very slowly and deeply. A servant nearby placed a picture of Gopal Jiu [his childhood deity] in his hand. Then, gazing lovingly at the picture of his worshipable deity, Srila Gaura Govinda Swami called out, "Gopal!" and departed for the spiritual sky to be united with his beloved Lord.
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