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Sri Bhisma Pancaka (first day)

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Bhishma Panchaka
This kind of 5 day fast is also prescribed for the last 5 days of Kartika
(Damodara) Month and it is known as "Bhisma Pancaka".  During that vrata
puja offerings to the Lord are also prescribed.  I am listing them below.
There are also mantras that go with these offerings.  However,  I didn't
find any specific mention about this for Purusottama month.  In the Padma
Purana it only stated that in addition to ekadasee one can observe a
"pancaratrika" fast until amavasya.  Here are offerings prescribed for
Bhisma Pancaka.
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Devotees may offer the following to the Deity form of the Lord:

On the first day, one must offer padma (lotus) flowers to the feet of the
Lord
On the second day, one must offer bilva (wood-apple) leaves of the thigh of
the Lord
On the third day, one must offer gandha (scents) to the navel of the Lord
On the fourth day, one must offer java flower to the shoulders of the Lord
On the fifth day, one must offer malati flower to the head (siro-desa) of
the Lord

Reference: Garuda Puraana (op cit.)


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Haribodhini - Prabodhini - Devotthani
Utthana Ekadasi
About this EkAdasi from Hari Bhakti Vilas - Dikdarshini tika


Haribodhini Ekadasi
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.

This story is from how they are found in the celebrated book, "Ekadasi: The
Day of Lord Hari" 1986. HH Krishna Balaram Swami. Bhaktivedanta Institute
Press.

(the above excerpt is used with permission)
The Ekadashi Book is now available in its entirety -free to download with
our blessing at http://www.krsna.org

Entire book acknowledged to Mahamandelswar Mahant Krsna Balaram Swami

Dr. Vijay K. Parmar
European Secretary
Bhagavat Dharma Samaj


Prabodhini Ekadasi in Kartik: (Sukla paksha) from Hari Bhakti Vilas -
Vaishnava Smriti.
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.

EVAM YA ACARET PARTHA SOBHANAM DHARMAM APNUYAT
AVASANE TU RAJENDRA VASUDEVA PURAM VRAJET

(HARI BHAKTI VILASA 16/433 from BHAVISYA UTTARA PURANA)

 Oh son of Prtha, Oh best of the kings, one who follows his vows properly as
it is stated here achieves the highest merit and at last goes to the abode
of Lord Sri Hari, the son of Vasudeva
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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.

Srila Gaura Kishor dasa babaji maharaj ki jaya