Sri Shrimad Gaur Govinda Swami Maharaj

Shri Shrimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj 

Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj, a descendant of Srila Shyamananda Prabhu, appeared in an Oriya Vaishnava family, well known for his devotional melodious kirtans to this day. His parents embellished him with the name 'Brajbandhu Manik'. From childhood he grew up in a spiritual and loving environment. Brajbandhu always worshiped his favorite family Thakur, Sri Sri Radha Gopal Jiu. Apart from this, he along with his maternal uncles used to perform Akhand Ashta-Pharar Kirtan in Gopal's temple and in various regional villages.

Since childhood, he was not at all interested in playing and jumping like other children. Instead, he spent his time studying the Gaudiya Vaishnava scriptures. During middle age, after renouncing all his family ties and receiving Gopal's permission and grace, he assumed the garb of a monk and assumed the name 'Gaura Gopalananda'. In search of a bona fide spiritual master who could give him sanyasa, Gaur Gopalananda traveled all over India and finally both his yearning and his search were fulfilled when he met ISKCON's founder Acharya Krishnakripamurti Shri Shrimad A. C. From Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Upon seeing him for the first time, Gour Gopalananda understood that Srila Prabhupada is the best devotee of the Lord and a devotee of the Lord and at once completely surrendered himself to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.

During this time Srila Prabhupada also offered him sannyas which was his heart's most ardent desire. After some time Srila Prabhupada said about Gaur Govinda Swami that: "Krishna Himself has sent him." Srila Gaur Govind Swami devoted his entire life to fulfilling the following orders received from his most adored Gurudev: To propagate Gaudiya Vaishnava Siddhanta throughout the world, which Srila Gaur Govind Swami Singh would have done and at the same time be a Guru He was famous among the devotees of ISKCON and other Gaudiya Vaishnava sects for explaining in detail such esoteric mystical elements as Tattva and Prema-tattva; Translating the texts composed by Srila Prabhupada into Oriya language and establishing a unique, wonderful and luxurious Krishna-Balarama temple in the heart of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha. As instructed by Srila Prabhupada, Sri Srimad Gaur Govind Swami Maharaj traveled all over the world vigorously preaching the message and teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and at the same time took disciples under his orders, carrying on the tradition of Srila Prabhupada. February 1996 Srila Gaur Govind Swami left his divine body at a holy place like Sridham Mayapur chanting the name of his soul and soul 'Prabhu Gopal' and describing the highest level of separation between the divine couple form . Never before his disappearance had such a powerful and great disappearance been seen from a spiritual point of view. Srila Gaur Govind Swami Maharaj's austerity-filled divine life and inhuman teachings inspire limitless devotees to this day to move forward faithfully in the life of devotion and encourage them to become devoted servants of their Guru and Srila Prabhupada.

For a detailed study of the glorious life and achievements of Shri Shrimad Gaur Govind Swami Maharaj, please visit the webpage.

Important links

Hos Devine Grace Srila Prabhupada

Sri Shrimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj
    
His Holiness Haldhar Swami Maharaj

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