March 3, 2021 is Iskcon Guru Baishnaba Acharya, preacher and philosopher Sri Srimad Gour Gobinda Swami Maharaj’s 25th Holy Disappearance Day. The event is being observed today with much pomp in many Iskcon centers all over the world, including at Iskcon, Bhubaneswar.
Gurudev was born on September 2 1929 in the village of Jagannathpur in Jagatsinghpur. His mother’s name was Pata Mahadei and father’s name, Iswar Chandra Manik. His childhood name was Brajabandhu. As morning sows the day, his talent was known since his childhood. He was so talented that he analyzed the Gita, the Bhagabata and the Chaitanya Charitamruta in the age of eight and gave very nice lecture to the assembled villagers in the evening in his village temple. He continued his high school level study at his uncle’s house at Gadeigiri in the age of thirteen. His two uncles Jagannath Giri and Gopinath Giri took his care of his studies.
He started teachership for maintaining his families. Also he continued his study while continuing teaching. He passed with distinction in the degree of Bachelor during the year 1958 and post graduate degree in the year 1961. He married Basanti Debi, daughter of Kalyan Nandi of Patakura area of Kendrapada district, during the year 1953 and started his family life. He left family life at the age of 22 years and started Sanyas. He resigned from the service and left his house.
He took a deep darshan of his main deity of uncle’s house, Gopaljew and took his permission and left the house on April 10, 1974. He declared himself Gour Gopal instead of Brajabandhu. He travelled from city to city all over India and inquired about his spiritual master.
At last he arrived at Brundaban. He visited so many temples and spiritual organisations at Brundaban. At last he meet Founder Acharya of Iskcon Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad and accepted him as his guru. Prabhupad directed him to translate his book 'Back to Godhead' in Hindi language. Prabhupad was satisfied with his translation and his depth in Hindi language and literature. He directed him to proceed Hyderabad and translate his writings in 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”. Only after 4 months, 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.
The 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 fame as a Krishna consciousness preacher spread internationally. He travelled to 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 of followers and devotees.
He constructed the lotus temple in the premises of Iskcon, Bhubaneswar and installed the deity Radha Gopinath there.
He took up many miracle projects and started some amazing work during the year 1996. He started Gosala and farm project at Atala, Jagannathpur. He started a fassi tree project at Dasapalla forest in the districtrt of Nayagarh which is essentially meant for construction of chariot for Car festival at Lord Jagannath, Puri and he also started Dandabhanga project at Puri district.
He organised Hare Krishna Utsav for 3 days in the exhibition Ground, Bhubaneswar where international devotees, intellectuals of Iskcon participated. He also modernised the Allarnath temple at Brahmagiri of Puri district.
(The writer is State PRO, Iskcon, BBSR, Mob: 9132090199 / 8847875959)