February 13 is Iskcon Guru, preacher and philosopher Srimad Gour Gobinda Swami's 25th Holy Disappearance Day.
Gurudev was born on September 2, 1929 in the village of Jagannathpur in Jagatsinghpur district. His mother’s name is Pata Mahadei and father’s name is Iswar Chandra Manik. His childhood name was Brajabandhu. As morning shows the day, his talent was manifest from childhood. However, he abandoned family life and took Sanyas.
He left his house on April 10, 1974. He declared himself Gour Gopal instead of Brajabandhu. He started to travel from city to city all over India and inquired about his spiritual guru. At last he arrived at Brundaban. He visited so many temples, spiritual organisations at Brundaban. At last he meet 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 English book 'Back to Godheard' into Hindi language. Prabhupad was satisfied with his translation and his 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”. Only after 4 months, Prabhupad gave him Brahmin initiation and directed him to stay at Nayapalli Iskcon unit and construct a new temple there in the donated land of Chhabi Kanungo and continue his preaching programme there. Sri 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 was highly appreciable. He travelled to the United States of America, England, USSR, Canada, western countries, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia and so many other countries four times while travelling various 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 started a Gosala and farm project at Atala, Jagannathpur which is 14 km away from Iskcon, Bhubaneswar where he proposed to kept 108 cows. He started a Phasi plantation project at Dasapalla forest in the districtrt of 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, intelectuals of Iskcon participated. He also modernised the Allarnath temple at Brahmagiri of Puri district. There was a GBC conference at Mayapur, West Bengal, during the month of February 1996. On February 9,1996 at 6.45 pm Maharaj was repling to the questions of desciples when he breathed his last. It is my tribute to him on his holy 25th Disappearance Day.
(The writer is State PRO, Iskcon, Bhubaneswar, Mob: 9132090199 / 8847875959)