February 5, 2018 is the 23rd Holy Disappearance Day of Iskcon Guru, preacher, philosopher Sri Srimad Gour Gobinda Swami. The holy day is observed in the ISKCON centres all over the world and centrally at Iskcon, Bhubaneswar.
Gurudev was born on September 2. 1929 at Jagannathpur in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district to Pata Mahadei and Iswar Ch Manik. His childhood name was Brajabandhu. As morning shows the day, his quality was shown from the childhood. What he heard once, he remembered forever. He was so talented that he analysed Gita, Bhagabata, Chaitanya Charitamruta in the age of eight and gave nice lectures to the assembled villagers in the evening at his village temple. He had his high school study staying in his uncle’s house at Gadeigiri at the age of 13. He started working as a teacher to maintain his family and also continued his study during his teacher carrier. He passed with distinction in the degree of Bachelor in 1958 and postgraduate degree in 1961. He married Basanti Debi, daughter of Kalyan Nandi of Patkura in Kendrapada district in 1953.
He then left family life and started Sanyas life. He resigned from government service and left his house. He took a deep darshan of his main deity of uncle’s house, Gopal Jew, and took his permission and left the house on April 10, 1974. He declared himself Gour Gopal instead of Brajabandhu. He started travelling from city to city all over India and inquired about his spiritual guru. Then, he arrived at Brundaban and visited temples, spiritual organisations at Brundaban. At last, he met Iskcon founder Acharya Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad. First, Prabhupad asked him, “Gour Gopal, have you taken Sanyas?” He replied no. Prabhupad said, “I will give you Sanyas.” He accepted him as his spiritual guru and obeyed his direction. Prabhupad directed him to translate back to Godhead in Hindi language. Prabhupad was satisfied with his translation and depth in Hindi literature. As per his direction, Gurudev proceeded to Mayapur. Prabhupad gave Harinam initiation and changed his name from Gour Gopal to “Gour Govinda”.
After four months, Prabhupad gave him Brahmin initiation and directed him to stay at Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar and construct a new temple there in the donated land of Chhabi Kanungo and continue his preaching there. A Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir was inaugurated at Vrindaban in 1975. On the same tithi, Prabhupad declared him Gour Govinda Swami instead of Gour Govinda Das by giving him Sannyas initiation.
His preaching programme in Krishna Consciousness spread internationally. He travelled to the USA, England, USSR, Canada, Western countries, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia and so many other countries and created thousands and thousands of followers and devotees. He constructed a lotus temple in the premises of Iskcon, Bhubaneswar and installed the deity Radha Gopinath there. The people of the city adore this temple. The Iskcon organisation got this respect and prestige due to noble efforts of Guru Maharaj. He took so many miracle projects and started some amazing works in 1996. He started Gosala and Farm project at Atala, Jagannathpur, which is 14 km from Iskcon, Bhubaneswar, and kept 108 cows. He started a fassi project at Dasapalla forest in Nayagarh district which is essentially meant for construction of chariots for the Car Festival in Puri.
The question-and-answer programme of Maharaj was a most attractive one. Questions were asked to Maharaj about activities of Iskcon and Maharaj boldly replied to all these questions one after another. He also modernised the Allarnath Temple at Brahmagiri.
Maharaj replied to all questions one after another with due patience. While replying them on an occasion at Goloka Brundaban, he spoke in slow and low voice before his Mahaprayan. “I am unable to speak more, Samaste Nama kara,” he said. He entered to his Aprakata Lila and Mahaprayan with his last words “Gopal, Gopal”. His last Lila is amazing to describe; it is not seen among other Sadhus and Sanyasis.
(The writer is State PRO, Iskcon, Bhubaneswar; Mob: 9132090199)