On the Disappearance of Srila Bhakti Gaurava Vaikhanas Gosvami Maharaja (from Sri Chaitanya Vani)

This is a translation of the article is on the life and glories of Srila Bhakti Gaurava Vaikhanas Goswami Maharaj published in Sree Chaitanya Vani magazine which also includes the report of Viraha Mahotsav held at Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, Ishodyan, Mayapur on 1st March 1966 under the guidance of our Param Gurudeva Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj.

Glories of Bhakti Gaurava Vaikhanas Goswami Maharaj

In the year 1933, at the age of 56, Srila Bhakti Gaurava Vaikhanas Goswami Maharaj saw Srila Prabhupad’s portrait and just seeing his portrait, he understood that he is my Guru and surrendered to him at that moment itself. Can anyone recognize his Guru just by seeing his portrait? He went to Mayapur and got harinam and diksha that very year and was given the name Ujjvaleswar Das. Just after one year of that, in 1934, he was given sanyas by Srila Prabhupad and became Parampujyapad Parivrajakacharya Srila Bhakti Gaurava Vaikhanas Goswami Maharaj.

On The Disappearance Of Srila Bhakti Gaurav Vaikhanas Goswami Maharaj

While remembering Srila Bhakti Gaurav Vaikhanas Goswami Maharaj, Srila Gurudev spoke about how Srila Prabhupad attracted him and brought him to Mayapur to take his shelter. Gurudve gives an important teaching here that how Guru knows through his inner connection where all his disciples are and how to bring them to his shelter. In this regard, Gurudev remembers how Sriman Mahaprabhu graced Gopal Bhatta Goswami though he was staying far from Jagannath Puri Dham. Gurudev explains about the inner connection further by giving an example of how a mother has such a connection with her child and she comes to know, without any information, if her child is in any difficulty. Gurudev narrates his childhood incident in which he was in some difficulty and his mother immediately came to him without even getting any message externally. Gurudev also narrates two incidents in which Srila Paramgurdev affectionately corrected him. One is about wrapping up his tridaṇḍa. The other incident is when he was asked to read Srimad Bhagavatam and his Guruvarga Srila Trivikram Goswami Maharaj, even though requested by him sat on a lower āsana than him. This Harikatha especially has many important teachings and glories of Srila Paramgurudev also.