Iskcon Guru, preacher and philosopher Baishnaba Acharya was born on September 2, 1929 in Jagannathpur village near Bhubaneswar. So the 87th Holy Appearance Day of the Guru fell on September 2 last.
The Acharya started his career as a teacher for maintaining his family. Also, he continued his study during the time. He passed with distinction in BA in 1958 and post graduate degree in the year 1961.
He married Basant Deb, daughter of Kalyan Nandi of Patakura area of Kendrapada district during 1953. He renounced his family life and started life of a Sanyasi.
Before that he resigned from Government service and left his house. He took a darshan of the family’s presiding deity in his uncle’s house, Gopal Jew and took his permission and left the 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 many temples and spiritual organisations at Brundaban. At last, he met founder of Iscon AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad. In his first darshan, Prabhupad asked Gour Gopal whether he had taken SanyasIJ As he replied no, Prabhupad promised to give him Sanyas. Gour Gopal accepted him in his heart as his spiritual master and obeyed his direction. Prabhupad directed him to translate book ‘Back to Gerard’ in Hindi language. Prabhupad was satisfied with his translation skill and his depth in Hindi literature. He directed him to go to Hyderabad and translate his writings in English to Hindi.
As per his direction, Gurudev proceeded to Mayapur. Prabhupad gave him 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 Bhubaneswar and construct a new temple there. The land was donated by one Chhabi Kanungo. Gour Govind obliged and continued his preaching programme there.
His preaching programme in Krishna consciousness was appreciated internationally. He travelled to the United States, England, the USSR,
Canada, South Africa, Australia, Indonesia and many other countries and created thousands and thousands of followers and devotees. He constructed lotus temple in the premises of Iskcon at Bhubanesw and installed the deity Radha Gopinath there.
He started a Go sala and farm project at Atala, Jagannathpur which is 14 km away from Bhubaneswar. He proposed to keep 108 cows. He started a fassi project at Dasapalla forest which is essentially meant for construction of chariot for the Car festival. He also started Dandabhanga project at Puri district. He organised Hare Krishna Utsav for three days in the Exhibition Ground, Bhubaneswar where international devotees, and intellectuals participated. He also modernised the Allarnath temple at Brahmagiri of Puri district.