Nityalilapravista Jagad-guru Om Vishnupad 108 Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur’s dear disciple, the founder and the Acharya of Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Gaudiya Math located at Rishada (PO: Rishada, Dist. Hugali), 45/1 Keshava Chandra Sena Road, Srila Bhakti Vikas Hrishikesh Maharaj has entered into Nityalila on 8th Hrishikesh (497 Sri Gaurabda), 14 Bhadra (1390), Wednesday, 31st August (1983) at the age of 72 at his Math while listening Sri Harinam Mahamantra being sang by his disciples. His Viraha-utsava was being organized on last 2 Asvina, Monday, 19th September at the Rishada Math. In the special assembly organized in the afternoon that day, Tridandiswami Srimad Bhakti Pramoda Puri Goswami Maharaj, Tridandiswami Srimad Bhakti Nilaya Giri Maharaj and a few disciples of Sripad Hrishikesh Maharaj sang the glories of Srila Maharaj. After the maha-abhishek, archan and bhoga-offering to Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Shyamsundar and Sri Radha Govinda, Mahaprasad was distributed to all the assembled devotees.

Pujyapad Hrishikesh Maharaj possessed all the sublime, good qualities and virtues of a Vaishnava. Nityalilapravista Tridandi Goswami Srimad Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaj, the founder Acharya of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math used to invite Srila Hrishikesh Maharaj at all his Maths to almost all the celebrations. Srila Maharaj used to speak nice Harikatha in both the languages, Hindi and Bangla. His voice was melodious. Everyone used to get attracted by his Harikatha and Kirtans. He wrote a few Kirtans also. His Kirtans had deep meaning in them. We feel intense grief because of losing the association of such a virtuous Vaishnava.

duḥkha-madhye kona duḥkha haya gurutara?
kṛṣṇa-bhakta-viraha vinā duḥkha nāhi dekhi para (Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 8.248)

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Of all kinds of distress, what is the most painful?”

Sri Ramananda Raya replied, “Apart from separation from the devotee of Krishna, I know of no unbearable unhappiness.”

Srila Maharaj’s entering into Nityalila on Krishna-janmastami, and that too on Wednesday which also marks the appearance day of Sri Krishna, is not any ordinary indication.

--Sri Chaitanya Vani, 23rd Year, Vol-10, December 1983, page 199