Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja

His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja is presently one of the foremost spiritual leaders of the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates in the world today. He is the dearly beloved disciple of Śrīla Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja, who is in turn the equally beloved disciple of Śrīla Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Gosvāmī Prabhupāda.

His Divine Grace Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja appeared in 1924 in Assam, India, on Rāma-navami, the most auspicious appearance day of Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa in His form as Rāmacandra. Having been brought up in a pious environment, he developed a strong inclination to search for the ultimate goal of life, which led him to take up the study of philosophy at Calcutta University. While studying at the university, he came in contact with his spiritual master, His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Dayita Madhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja, and immediately became attracted by his transcendentally powerful personality. After completing his Masters Degree in Philosophy in 1947, Śrīla Tīrtha Mahārāja wholeheartedly and unreservedly dedicated his life to the service of his spiritual master.

His service attitude was so exemplary that soon Śrīla Madhava Mahārāja established him as the Secretary of the devotional institution known as ‘Sree Chaitanya Gauḍīya Maṭh’, which has over twenty āśramas (monasteries) in India alone. He was awarded sannyasa, the order of renunciation, in 1961. Eventually, Śrīla Madhava Mahārāja, seeing his disciple’s degree of dedication and sincerity combined with an astute and practical mind, selected him as his worthy successor. After the disappearance of his beloved spiritual master Śrīla Mādhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja in 1979, Śrīla Tīrtha Mahārāja was appointed as President-Ācārya of the Maṭh. He has received the fortunate blessings and great affection of many of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta’s prominent followers such as: Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara Deva Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Śrīla Bhakti Promode Purī Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Śrīla Bhakti Hṛdaya Vana Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Śrīla Bhakti Akiñcana Kṛṣṇa Dāsa Babaji Mahārāja, Śrīla Bhakti Kumud Śanta Gosvāmī Mahārāja and many others.

For the last five decades, Śrīla Tīrtha Mahārāja has been engaged in the propagation of the all-embracing doctrine of transcendental divine love of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, to counter the present trend of violence and cruelty and to bring about unity of hearts among all, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. ‘Example is better than precept’ is his way of preaching. He has always practiced what he preaches. Śrīla Tīrtha Mahārāja is known for never deviating even one inch outside the four corners of the prescripts of the holy scriptures. His Divine Grace is a renowned authority on Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava philosophy, and is beloved by thousands of devotees throughout the world as the very embodiment of humility and spiritual affection.

Now at the age of 80, inspired by the grace of his gurudeva, Śrīla Tīrtha Mahārāja is always on the move, going from towns to villages in India and also abroad, propagating the divine message of Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

At the behest of his beloved śikṣa-guru (instructing preceptor), His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Promode Purī Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Śrīla Tīrtha Mahārāja is preaching the message of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu throughout the world, having started with a tour of the United States in 1997.

His Divine Grace Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tīrtha Gosvāmī Mahārāja is the present President-Ācārya of Sree Chaitanya Gauḍiya Maṭh devotional institution and is also the Founder-Ācārya of GOKUL (Global Organisation of Kṛṣṇacaitanya’s Universal Love). He also serves as President of the World Vaiṣṇava Association (WVA).

His Divine Grace is always engaged in writing articles and books of a profoundly spiritual nature in several native languages as well as English, for the eternal benefit of the conditioned souls of the world. To date, his books in English include: Śuddha Bhakti, Sages of Ancient India, A Taste of Transcendence, Sri Chaitanya: His Life and Associates, The Holy Life of Śrīla B.D. Madhava Gosvāmī Mahārāja, Guru Tattva, Affectionately Yours, Hari Kathā and Vaiṣṇava Aparādha and the present book, Daśāvatāra.