Today is an auspicious day celebrated worldwide because Maryada Purushottam, the incarnation of etiquette, Shri Ram Chandra, appeared. Additionally, a great Gaudiya Acharya, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, also made his appearance, just like a perfect adjustment.
I observed Srila Maharaj always giving respect to everyone: towards his godbrother, his disciples, and all the Vaishnavas. Having stayed under his guidance for five years, I’ve seen that Srila Maharaj never showed any discrimination between me, his disciples, and his godbrother. Instead, he used to respect me as his godfather.
I would like to express that I feel indebted to Srila Maharaj because he has shown us how we should maintain our practice. He always encouraged us to follow in the footsteps of our previous teachers. Personally, I’ve seen Srila Maharaj always striving to follow his Gurudev’s instructions to the best of his ability.
In addition to preaching globally beyond Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, he also established a very nice society named GOKUL. The society secretary, one of his very affectionate disciples, Ras Bihari Prabhu from Jammu, ensured that it ran very nicely all over the world during his physical presence.
Srila Maharaj’s example is my inspiration to follow Vaishnava practices. Today, I am praying to the lotus feet of Srila Maharaj to please bestow your mercy upon me. Give me the potency to follow the footsteps of our previous teachers, to chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra with purity for the rest of my life, and to spread the message of Lord Chaitanya all over the world without any discrimination.
Lord Chaitanya’s mission is a non-sectarian, non-judgmental, and loving mission. Please give me the potency, and allow me to carry on the mission of Lord Chaitanya, to follow in your footsteps, and to follow the footsteps of my spiritual master, Srila Bhakti Pramod Puri Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj, and all the guru-varga.
B. B. Bodhayan
17/04/2024