August 28 is ISKCON Guru, Baishnaba Acharya, preacher and philosopher, Sri Srimad Gour Gobinda Swami Maharaj’s 93th Holy Appearance Day and 38th Vyasa Puja Utsav. The day will be observed with religious fevour in many ISKCON centers all over the world, including at Bhubaneswar.
Gurudev was born on September 2, 1929 in Jagannathpur village in Jagatsinghpur. He was so talented that he analised Gita, Bhagabata, Chaitanya Charitamruta at the age of eight and gave very nice lectures to the assembled villagers in the evening in his village temple. He took to teaching for maintaining his family. Side by side, he continued his study. He passed with distinction in graduation in 1958 and with good score in post graduation in 1961. He married Basanti Debi, daughter of Kalyan Nandi of Patakura area in 1953 and started his family life. He declared himself Gour Gopal instead of Brajabandhu. He visited many temples and spiritual organisations at Brundaban and at last met founder Acharya of ISKCON, Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad.
Prabhupad accepted him as his disciple and directed him to translate his book in English “Back to God heard” in Hindi language. Satisfied with his translation skill, Prabhupad directed him to proceed to Hyderabad and translate his writings from English to Hindi. As per his direction Gurudev proceeded to Mayapur. Prabhupad gave Harinam initiation and changed his name from Gour Gopal to Gour Govinda. 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 programme there. 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 programmes in Krishna consciousness were extremely popular both in the country and abroad. He travelled to United States of
America, England, USSR, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia and many other countries for preaching and created thousands and thousands of followers and devotees.
He constructed lotus temple in the premises of ISKCON, Bhubaneswar and installed the deity Radha Gopinath there and gave a new image to
ISKCON, Bhubaneswar. He took many miracle projects and started some amazing works during the year 1996. He started a Gosala and a farm project at Atala, Jagannathpur, which is 14 km away from ISKCON, Bhubaneswar. He started a fassi plantation project at Dasapalla forest in the district of Nayagarh which is essentially meant for construction of chariot for the Car festival of Lord Jagannath, Puri. He also started Dandabhanga project at Puri district. He organized Hare Krishna Utsav for three days in the Exhibition Ground, Bhubaneswar where international devotees of ISKCON participated. He also modernised the Allarnath temple at Brahmagiri. He passed away while attending a conference at Mayapur, West Bengal, in February 1996.
(The writer is State PRO, ISKCON, Bhubaneswar; Mob: 9132090199)