February 29, 2024 is ISKCON Guru, Baishnaba Acharya, preacher, philosopher, Sri Srimad Gour Gobinda Swami Maharaj's 29th Holy Disappearance Day. The day will be observed with much pomp and gaiety in the ISKCON centers all over the world, including in Bhubaneswar.
Gurudev was born on September 2, 1929 in Jagannathpur in Jagatsinghpur district. His mother’s name was Pata Mahadei and father’s name was Iswar Chandra Manik. His childhood name was Brajabandhu. He was very talented.
He analized the Gita, Bhagabata, Chaitanya Charitamruta at the age of eight and gave very nice lecture to the villagers in his village temple.
He started teachership for maintaning his family. Also he continued his study during his teachership career. He passed with distinction the Batchelor degree during the year 1958 and post graduate degree in the year 1961. He married Basanti Debi, daughter of Kalyan Nandi of Patakura area in the year 1953 and started his family life.
He left family life, teachership and started Sanyas life. He took permission from the presiding deity of his uncle’s house, Gopal Jew 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. At last, he arrived at Brundaban. He visited many temples and spiritual organisations at Brundaban. Finally, he met founder Acharya of ISKCON, Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad.
Srila Maharaj accepted him in his heart as his spiritual master or guru and obeyed his direction. Prabhupad directed him to translate his book 'Back to Godheard' in Hindi language. Prabhupad was satisfied with his translation and his depth in Hindi literature. He directed him to move to Hyderabad and translate his writings.
As per his direction Gurudev proceded to Mayapur. Prabhupad gave Harinam initiation and changed his name from Gour Gopal to “Gour Govinda”. He directed him to stay at Nayapalli and construct a new temple there in the land donated by one Chhabi Kanungo and continued his preaching programme there. Krishna Balaram Mandir was inaugurated at Vrindaban during the year 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 United States of America, England, USSR, Canada, many western countries, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia etc, besides important cities of India and created thousands and thousands of followers and devotees. He constructed the lotus temple in the premises of ISKCON, Bhubaneswar and installed the deity Radha Gopinath there and a new image to ISKCON, Bhubaneswar.
He took many miracle projects and started some amazing work during the year 1996. He started a Gosala and farm project at Atala, Jagannathpur which is 14km away from ISKCON,
Bhubaneswar. He proposed to keep 108 cows there. He started a fassi tree project at Dasapalla forest in Nayagarh which is essentially meant for construction of chariot for Car Fesitval at Lord Jagannath, Puri and he also started Dandabhanga
project at Puri district. He organised Hare Krishna Utsav for 3 days in the Exisibition
Ground, Bhubaneswar where international devotees and intelectuals of ISKCON
participated. He also modernised the Allarnath temple at Brahmagiri of Puri district.
The GBC conference was underway in Mayapur in West Bengal, Calcutta during the month of February 1996. Maharaj was replying to all questions one after another with due patience. He passed away there.
Hare Krishna
(The writer is State PRO, ISKCON, Bhubaneswar Mob-9132090199 /
8847875959)
