Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj And Srila Narayan Maharaj

By Giridhari Das

Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj glorifies Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaj

Eager to know more about the auspicious meeting between Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj and Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaj in Jagannath Puri five years ago, disciples of nitya-lila-pravista Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj approached Sriman Subal Sakha Prabhu, who was personally present when these two acaryas met. The following account is based on the interview with Subal Sakha prabhu, who is a respected, senior member of the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti:

"In 1993 or 1994 Srila Narayan Maharaj stayed in the House of Singhania in Jagannath Puri. About 5.00 pm Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj arrived there with the intention to meet Srila Narayan Maharaj. As soon as Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj saw Srila Narayan Maharaj, he offered his full prostrated sastanga-dandavat pranams. Srila Narayan Maharaj humbly responded to this Vaisnava gesture, telling him that he is not qualified to receive so much respect from him: "You are staying in Jagannath Puri dham, so you are near and dear to Sri Jagannath. Please give me your blessings." Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj answered promptly answered: "No, you should bless me as you have come from Vraja, the topmost dhama." In this way they were exchanging affectionate words in a friendly and humorous mood. Finally Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj asked some important questions on:

1) dhama-tattva

2) Why did Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu reside in Jagannath Puri for 18 years, and especially 12 years in Gambhira?

3) What is the mood of Srimati Radharani when she sees Krsna in Kuruksetra ? Srila Narayan Maharaj then disclosed all the rasika purports of these questions. He especially quoted and explained two slokas from the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.82.48 and 10.82.39).

As Subal Sakha Prabhu was sitting in front of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj, he witnessed how Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj listened:

"He was listening with utmost concentration, not uttering a single word. His face complexion changed, taking on a beautiful reddish colour and tears were coming from his eyes." After Srila Narayan Maharaj completed his exposition, Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj only said this much: "When I come to Vrindavan, I MUST SEE YOU!"

He then confided Maharaj that he always wanted to speak more about these topics but the leaders of his institution were opposing him. Srila Narayan Maharaj encouraged him saying: "You are so fortunate to have such an exalted Guru in the line of Rupa Gosvami. If we don't speak about the pastimes of Bhagavan, what else shall we speak ?". When Subal Sakha prabhu accompanied Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj to his riksha, he asked for his blessings. Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj responded: "You are already so fortunate to have the association of such an elevated rasika-guru." Then with a very sweet smile on His face he waved his hands and departed.

Some of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja's disciples have witnessed how their spiritual master would fold his hands and bow his head with respect, as soon as he heard the name of Srila Narayan Maharaj. He once even announced. "Srila Narayan Maharaj is so many life-times more advanced than me !" Sriman Govinda Bhakta, a prominent disciple of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj, recalls. "Whenever I gave him a book of Srila Narayan Maharaj, he would immediately read it on the very same day, from cover to cover. Then on the next day he would give a lecture on that book."

Because of their intimate relationship, it was Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaj who installed the murti of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj in the Krishna-Balaram mandir in Bhubaneshvar.

By the arrangement of Sri Guru and Krishna the majority of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaj disciples have taken shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaj.

Ananta-koti-vaishnava-vrnda ki jaya!

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