Prayers at His Lotus Feet

                                             Prayers at His Lotus Feet

                                        Namah Om Vishnupaadaya sri gaura-priya murtaye
                                        Srimate Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Goswami namine //1//

I pay my respectful obeisances unto Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, who is the loving personified of Sri Gaura Sundar. He is completely enlightened by His bhajan-sampada ( wealth of Bhajan), whose ornaments are his bhajan and whose senses and speech are under his control.

                                    Maayaavaad vikhandanam guror-vaanyanu kirtanam
                                    Pascadesopadesakam prasanna vadanam sadaa //2//

I bow down unto lotus feet of one who condemns the false-scriptures of mayavad, on the basis of bhakti-siddhanta ( the philosophy of pure devotion). You are perfect and prompt in vaisnava-philosophy of pure devotion. You are ever blissful and preaching the great philosophy around the world including western countries.

                                 Suddhaa-bhakti pravaahakam suddhaa-bhakti bhagiratham,
                                 Bhakti-dayita madhava abhinna tanum namaamyaham //3//

Oh bhagirath of pure devotion (one who carries pure devotion)! You are the one who is spreading the Ganges of pure devotion all over the world, and non-different from Srila Bhakti Daiyta Madhava Goswami. You are His (Srila Bhakti Daiyta Madhava Goswami's) expansion. I pay my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet.

                                  Naam sankirtanaamrita rasaasvaada vidhaayakam,
                            Krishnaamnaaya kripaa murtim acaaryam tam namaamyaham //4//

Just by Hari-naam sankirtan, you generate and preach the taste of nectar of Lord Krishna's unlimited past-times, holy name, form, characteristics, lila-dham.You are deity-form (personification) of Lord Krishna's mercy and the philosophy of this disciplinic succession.. You teach and preach through your behaviour. I offer my respects unto you.

                              Gaur-naama pracaaraardram bhakta sevaanu aakaankshitam,
                                 Satirtha-priti sad-bhaava naumi tirtha mahaashayam //5//

I pay my Humble obeisances unto Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, whose soft heart has become full of nectar by continuously preaching the sweet nectarian name of Sri Gaur-hari. He - who serves all the vaisnava servants of Gauranga mahaprabhu humbly and glorifies them. Who is dear most to Srila Gurudeva (Srila Bhaktidaiyta Madhava Goswami) and to whom Srila Gurudeva is dear most, and one who is extra-ordinarily loyal and very loving to his god-brothers, I pay my respectful obeisances unto such Srila Bhakti Vallabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj.

His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaja

is presently one of the foremost spiritual leader of the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates in the world today. He is the dearly beloved disciple of Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaja and who is in turn the equally beloved disciple of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada.


  
Taking Shelter of the Divine Master

While studying at the university, he came in contact with his spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaj, and immediately became attracted by his transcendentally powerful personality. Srila Madhava Maharaja was one of the leading followers of the illustrious preceptor of the pure devotional bhakti school, His Divine Grace Prabhupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, and a great proponent of the devotional teachings in his own right After completing his Masters Degree in Philosophy in 1947, Srila Tirtha Maharaja wholeheartedly and unreservedly dedicated his life to the service of his spiritual master.

He travelled extensively with Srila Madhava Maharaja on preaching tours. His service attitude was so exemplary that soon Srila Madhava Maharaja established him as the secretary of the devotional institution known as Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Matha, which has over twenty ashramas (monasteries) in India alone. He was awarded sannyasa, the order of renunciation, in 1961. Setting an example of unadulterated service to Sri Guru, Srila Tirtha Maharaj served his spiritual master with every facet of mind, body and spirit.

Eventually, Srila Madhava Maharaja, 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 Srila Madhava Goswami Maharaja in 1979, Srila Tirtha Maharaja was appointed as President-Acharya of the Math. He has received the fortunate blessings and great affection of many of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's prominent followers, such as Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhar Deva Goswami Maharaja, Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaja, Srila Bhakti Hridaya Van Goswami Maharaja, Srila Bhakti Akinchana Krishna Dasa Babaji Maharaja, Srila Bhakti Kumud Sant Goswami Maharaja and many others.

               An Ideal Acharya (one who teaches by example)

For the last five decades, Srila Tirtha Maharaja has been engaged in the propagation of the all-embracing doctrine of transcendental Divine Love of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu 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---compassion toward all living entities, true kindness, simplicity, innocence, complete detachment, absolute tolerance, intense spiritual blissfulness, an incomparable degree of humility and unflinching faith in Sri Guru combined with exclusive devotion and complete surrender to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Tirtha Maharaja is known for not deviating even one inch outside of the four corners of the prescripts of the Holy Scriptures. His Divine Grace is a renowned authority on Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy and he is beloved by thousands of devotees throughout the world as the very embodiment of humility and spiritual affection.

Now at the age of 84, inspired by the grace of his Gurudeva, Srila Tirtha Maharaja is always on the move, going from towns to villages in India and also abroad, propagating the divine message of the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam. Without caring for his ownpersonal comfort and undergoing many austerities, he maintains an extremely heavy preaching schedule, tirelessly serving the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

It could in fact be said that Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaja is the very personification of all desirable and rare attributes such as: humility, affection, purity of heart and exclusive devotion. Because of these qualities and the mercy of his guru, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaja is the present President-Acharya of the Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math devotional institution and also the Founder-Acharya of GOKUL (Global Organisation of Krishnachaitanya's Universal Love). He also serves as president of the World Vaishnava Association (WVA) and is acknowledged by Vaishnavas around the world as one of the most exalted spiritual personalities of his generation.    

                                   His Worldwide Preaching

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja requested Srila Tirtha Maharaja to accompany him to the US just prior to his launching of the Hare Krishna Movement in the West in 1965. As he was, at that time engaged in the service of his spiritual master, Srila Madhava Maharaja, with many duties and responsibilities, Srila Tirtha Maharaja humbly declined.

Eventually, with the idea of Srila Tirtha Maharaja traveling outside India to propagate the all-embracing gospel of transcendental Divine Love of Sri Chaitanya Maharaprabhu, his Gurudeva Srila Madhava Maharaja ordered him to take lessons in the German language. It was several years after the disappearance of his most revered Gurudeva and due to constant and persistent requests of devotees, that Srila Tirtha Maharaja approached Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaja, who is one of the foremost associates of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, for guidance regarding travel to the west. At the behest of his beloved shiksha-guru(instructing preceptor), His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaja, he then embarked upon preaching the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu throughout the world, beginning with an America in 1997. Since that time, he has continued to disseminate the remedy for the afflictions of the current age quarrel, the chanting of the Holy Name, throughout the world. To date, his preaching engagements have taken him to 25 countries including England, Holland, Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Russia and throughout the length and breadth of the continental USA.

Srila Tirtha Maharaja, during his US tour in 1997, addressed the United Nations "World Conference On Religion and Peace and World Peace Prayer Society" in New York city, offering them a succinct outline for world peace based upon the spiritual tenets of the ancient Vedas. All participating in these meetings were very much taken by Maharaja's sweet and humble personality, and regarded him as a genuine holy man. His preaching programs over the past years have also included many interesting dialogues with prominent Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and Baha'i theologians, in such diverse settings as universities, interfaith groups, churches, Hindu temples and a wide variety of metaphysical and private educational centers. All are invariably won over by his gentle and affectionate nature, combined with his resolute faith in Guru-Vaishnava-Bhagavan. He has also spoken on the sublime teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on many radio and television programs, including a thought-provoking interview on BBC radio in 2000, which was broadcast worldwide. Srila Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Goswami Maharaja, in lieu of a request by the devotees worldwide, gave his approval for the establishment of GOKUL (Global Organisation of Krishna Chaitanya's Universal Love), which he founded in 1997 with the goal of expanding his preaching mission.

                                      A Fearless Preacher

Srila Tirtha Maharaja's knowledge of scripture is formidable. He substantiates everything he says with innumerable evidences from all over the Vedic literature. He always preaches fearlessly and never compromises the conclusions of the scriptures for the sake of mundane practicality. During his devotional, powerful, informative, heart piercing lectures, he inspires numerous devotees. He uses every moment of every day to fulfill Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's desire to preach the Holy Name of Krishna in every town and village. He is the perfect example of the famous and oft-quoted verse "trnad api sunichena" from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Shikshastaka Prayers. Although very meek and humble in his personal dealings, in his classes he roars like a lion, smashing false pride and cutting all misconceptions from the hearts and minds of his disciples and followers.

                                        His Teachings

Srila Tirtha Maharaja adroitly dispels the doubts of those who come to him for shelter and spiritual guidance. He places great stress on chanting of the Holy Name without offense, encouraging and inspiring all to achieve the pure stage. He practices and preaches complete surrender, not partial or conditional, but complete one hundred percent surrender to the instructions of his spiritual master, Sri Gurudeva.

                                    His Writings

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. Many of his writings are in the Bengali language but have been, and continue to be, translated into many other languages. As far as spiritual content is concerned, Srila Tirtha Maharaja leaves no stone unturned. It would not be exaggerating to say that all bona-fide spiritual questions are answered with each turn of the page. His is the accumulated devotion, knowledge and wisdom of many generations of self-realized souls extending back through time without deviation from truth due to self-interest.

Service To Visnu And Vaisnava

BY SRILA BHAKTI BALLABH TIRTHA GOSWAMI MAHARAJA

EDITORIAL, May 28 (VNN) — Ki Rupe Paiba Seva Mui Duracara - "How can a miscreant like me obtain devotional service?"

Wherever we go, our only duty is to serve Visnu and vaisnava. We do not have any other duty. Our life is only meant for serving Visnu and vaisnava. One should please the Supreme Lord by always hearing hari-katha, performing kirtana, or engaging in any other service. There is much more service to do after becoming liberated. Srila Guru Maharaj jokingly says that those who are afraid of doing service cannot come to the line of bhakti; especially the bhakti lineage of Gaudiya Vaisnavas.

They may do "soham-soham" in a jnani lineage and merge into Brahman. But in our line of pure devotion, one has to serve the devotees and the Supreme Lord now and after liberation also. By performing service one gets the object of service and love for Him. Sri Nanda Maharaj, Mother Yasoda, Radharani, and all other devotees are always engaged in the service of the Supreme Lord.

Bhagavata dharma or bhakti dharma is very easy and difficult also. One who follows the path of bhagavata dharma has no fear of falling down because the Supreme Lord Himself is his savior and sustainer. "na skhalet patet iha": Even while walking with one's eyes closed, one will not slip or fall. But one needs some courage to follow the path of bhagavata dharma. Here, whatever you speak using your tongue, whatever you think using your mind, and whatever you do using your senses should all be done in relationship to the Supreme Lord. "Narayana - iti samarpayet", everything should be offered to Narayana; everything should be done for Narayana. Bhagavata dharma demands full surrender. If we do not offer our mind, senses, and sense objects to the Supreme Knowable Truth, Saccidananda Sri Krsna, we will leave behind our highest good and go towards the non-eternal. We will then become more entangled in the temporary world. We should understand that I am of the Supreme Lord, I am of Krsna, I am His eternal servant but I have forgotten Him and I have left His service. I have come to this material world and I am now suffering from the threefold afflictions.

What should I do now? Having forgotten Him and abandoned His service, I am now suffering. So I should remember Him and render service to Him with complete surrender. Then my miseries will be over and I will get transcendental happiness. This is bhagavata dharma. In other words, you should surrender to Him who you belong to and remain for Him. This is your only happiness. You do not need dharma-artha-kama. You need krsna prema. Therefore, not only do pure devotees not ask the Supreme Lord for dharma-artha-kama of this world; they do not ask for even liberation. They only ask the Supreme Lord for devotion to Him and His service.

A mother naturally feeds her child, puts him to sleep, gives him a bath and even cleans his stool. She does not feel bad doing all these; she actually feels happiness, even though there is no pure affection here. Mother Yasoda has pure affection for Gopalaji. Mother Yasoda's Gopala does not become old like other children of the material world; neither does He die. This kind of love is pure transcendental happiness. When Brahmaji kidnapped the calves and cowherd boys, Krsna expanded Himself into cowherd boys and calves exactly the same in appearance and nature as the real calves and cowherd boys. While discussing the pastimes of Sri Krsna, Srila Gurudeva explained a few lines of a wonderful bhajana of Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura:

bisaye bhuliya andha hainu diba-nisi
gale phansa dite phire maya se pisaci

I have no devotion for either Visnu or vaisnava, I have become averse to them and have become blind by constantly meditating on the objects of the senses. Maya has placed a hangman's noose around my neck.

ihare kariya jaya chadana na jaya
sadhu-krpa bina ara nahika upaya

Nobody can win over maya's illusion without the mercy of sadhu and guru. By their mercy we can get emancipation from this world; we can win over maya and obtain the service of the Supreme Lord. But we are not associating with them. We have not developed any affection for them. So how shall we be rescued from this world?

ki-rupe paiba seva mui duracara
sri-guru-vaisnave rati na haila amara

How shall we get service to Visnu and vaisnava? I have no devotion for either Visnu or the vaisnavas. We are not seeing the vaisnavas as vaisnava; not seeing the guru as guru. We have the false feeling that "I am the only vaisnava; there is no other vaisnava in this world." How can I get any service like this? Service can only be given by sadguru and vaisnava. Sadguru and vaisnava are the mercy incarnation of the Supreme Lord. The Lord in the form of guru or vaisnava gives us the opportunity to serve. Without His mercy our spiritual progress is zero.

guru krsna-rupa hana sastrera pramane
guru-rupe krsna krpa karena bhakta-gane

You cannot separate the spiritual master from Krsna. It is said in Caitanya-Caritamrta, "Lord Krsna in the form of the spiritual master shows mercy to the living entities." Therefore one should pray to the vaisnavas:

adosada-rasi-prabhu patita-uddhara
ei-bara narottame karaha nistara

Narottama Thakuraji sang this kind of prayer for our benefit. "O vaisnava thakura, I am the greatest offender. Please do not see my faults. You are the rescuer of the fallen; kindly rescue this fallen soul also."

Therefore guru and vaisnava are everything for us. Only they can rescue us from the cycle of repeated births and deaths and award us devotional service to their worshipable Lord. Serving Visnu and vaisnava is our only dharma. Our life should only be meant for this. That is why wherever we go, we do only one thing: service to Visnu and vaisnavas.

For more articles on a variety of devotional topics by and about Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj and other Vaishnava authors, kindly visit the GOKUL website at http://www.gokul.org or http://www.sreecgmath.org.

Divine Sayings

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

The biggest point is - faith. With faith, man, woman, child all can get Bhagavan by calling out. Dhurva was having unflinching faith that Lord will definitely come. Due to faith he got the mercy of Supreme Lord Hari. By the loud calls, Lord's heart got melted. Dhurva was a child only. He did not know the sanskrit prayers. He only called for the Supreme Lord loudly. When Lord becomes pleased, unfavorable becomes favorable. Narada Muni himself came to meet Dhurva and told him the method of performing the austerities. After only 6 months of severe austerities, Dhruva saw the divine form of Supreme Lord Vishnu with conch, disc, club and lotus flower.

If you want darkness, Light will not come; and if Light comes, how can darkness remain? The two cannot exist simultaneously.

The eternal nature of the soul is causeless devotion to the Supreme Lord. No one can stop this.

Saranagati is unending. The Qualities of Krishna are unending and will descend according to the degree of saranagati, both endless and infinite.

Krishna is the nearest and the dearest. Whatever you are thinking in your mind Krishna sees first and only then can you see it. You can see nothing without His grace.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Golden Saying

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

The living beings in this world have got actual and real relation with Supreme Lord Sree Krishna. Relations in this world are apparent. Conditioned souls of this world are passing through numerous births and deaths being enveloped by the illusory energy of Supreme Lord. The fruits of the actions of conditioned souls, which have started, will have their end, and then nobody can remain in this world. Sree Krishna says in the Gita - "The wise do not mourn for the going and coming of the conditioned souls". The only way of doing eternal benefit to other conditioned souls is to worship Sree Krishna with pure devotion. If God is satisfied, all will be satisfied.


--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Strongest Spiritual Force on Earth

Sree Sree Guru Gaurangau Jayatah!

According to Lord Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Transcendental Divine Love is the strongest spiritual force on earth which can establish close relation of love and unity of hearts amongst all human beings and thereby establish real peace in the world. There is an outbreak of conflagration of group clashes throughout the world. Nowhere you will find peace. I am worried to read in newspapers the news of bomb explosions and disturbances. A section of people have become so violent and barbarous that they do not hesitate in committing heinous crimes in assassinating innocent persons to fulfill their political ends. All humanitarian considerations have been relinquished. They are now seeking justifications in committing such great sins. When there are different centers of interests, nobody can avoid clashing of individuals, groups, nations etc. As for example, if circles are drawn with different centers, circumferences will cross, but if there is one center of interest there may be smaller or bigger circles but there will be no crossing. According to Lord Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu there should be knowledge of the real self, real interest and one center of interest.

Supreme Lord Sree Krishna who is 'Achyuta' can only be the common center of interest from whom all the spirit souls have emanated. If we pour water at the root of the tree, whole tree is nourished with all its parts, in like manner, by serving Krishna we serve all. Non-Violence is to refrain from doing injury to others - it is negative, but love is to do positive good to others. If anybody has got pure love to any person, he cannot have the impetus to inflict injuries to any part of the object of his love. If we get love for Krishna, we cannot have the impetus to inflict injuries to any of His parts emanating from His marginal potency. All Jivas are interrelated through their relation to Sree Krishna. Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagavat Gita (18.62) "O Scion of Bharata, Surrender unto Him utterly. By His Grace you will attain Transcendental peace and Supreme and eternal abode." Complete unconditional surrender to the Lotus Feet of Supreme Lord Sree Krishna can only bestow on us eternal peace. The moment we shall submit to Sree Krishna unconditionally, our all ills and sufferings will go. 'Sharanagati ' is the best medicine for cure of all afflictions and the solution of all problems.

False egos create false interests and by that clashing of interests we see the forest fire in this world. Supreme Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has said, if individual spirit souls can have the knowledge that they are interrelated with love relation, this forest fire of clashing of interests will stop. So Sree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has said, Divine Love is the best and only solution of the disturbed situation of the world. That Divine Love (Prema-Bhakti) for the Supreme Lord can be cultivated by 'Nama-Sankirtan' -chanting of the Holy Name of Supreme Lord, viz. Krishna, Rama, Govinda, Madhava, etc. In the present age, 'Nama-Sankirtan' is the best medicine and effective way to achieve the summum bonum of human life as it can be performed under any sort of circumstances. Nama-Sankirtan is a universal religion under whose banner people of all sects and rank can unite. Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math institution is engaged in the propagation of the all-embracing doctrine of Transcendental Divine Love of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to counter the present trend of violence and cruelty and to bring unity of hearts amongst all irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

--- His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami

His Holiness Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj was born in 1924 in Assam, India, on Rama-navami, the most auspicious appearance day of Lord Ramachandra. Having been brought up in a pious environment, he developed a strong inclination to search for truth, which led him to take up the study of philosophy at Calcutta University. After completing his MA in philosophy in 1947, he came in contact with his spiritual master, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaj, and immediately became attracted by his divine and powerful personality. Srila Madhava Maharaj was one of the foremost followers of the illustrious preceptor of the pure devotional school of bhakti yoga, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakur. From that time onward, Srila Tirtha Maharaj completely dedicated his life to the service of his guru. Soon he became secretary of the devotional institution Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math, which has over twenty ashrams in India alone. As one of Madhava Maharaj’s first sannyasa disciples, he took the vow of renunciation in 1961.

After the disappearance of Srila Madhava Goswami Maharaj in 1979, Srila Tirtha Maharaj was appointed his successor as acharya of the Math. During his lifetime, he received the blessings and intimate association of many of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s prominent followers, such as Srila Bhakti Promode Pūri Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Hridoy Bon Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhar Maharaj, Akinchana Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj and many others. For the last five decades, Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj has been engaged in preaching the philosophy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to counter the modern trend toward violence and cruelty, and to bring about unity of hearts among all, irrespective of race, creed or religion.

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj had requested Srila Tirtha Maharaj to accompany him to the USA just prior to his launching of the Krishna consciousness movement in the west in 1965. As he was engaged in the service of his Gurudeva as secretary of Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math at that time, Srila Tirtha Maharaj humbly declined. Since 1997, however, at the request of Srila Bhakti Promode Pūri Maharaj, he has been traveling the globe several months a year, enlivening all who come in contact with his humble, sweet personality extraordinary kirtan and message of divine love. To date, his preaching travels outside India have taken him around the world, including UK, Holland, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hawaii and throughout the continental US. Everyone is attracted by his eloquent, insightful and, most of all, purely devotional discourses.

During his US tour in 1997 His Holiness Srila Tirtha Maharaj addressed the United Nations’ “World Peace Prayer Society,” and “World Conference on Religion and Peace” in New York City, offering them a succinct outline for world peace based upon the spiritual tenets of the ancient Vedas. His preaching programs over the past years have also included many interesting dialogues with prominent Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Hindu and Baha’i theologians, in such diverse settings as universities, interfaith groups, churches, Hindu temples and a wide variety of metaphysical and private educational centers. All are invariably won over by his gentle and affectionate nature, combined with his resolute faith in Guru, Vaishnava and Bhagavan. He has also spoken on the sublime teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu on many radio and television programs, including a thought provoking interview on BBC radio in 2000, which was broadcast worldwide.

In addition to his role as acharya of Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math, Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj serves as the acharya of GOKUL (Global Organization of Krishnachaitanya’s Universal Love), which he founded in 1997. He has also served as vice-president of the World Vaishnava Association (WVA). Working eighteen hours a day he is incessantly engaged in the service of humanity as a teacher of Vedic wisdom and the philosophy of bhakti yoga. He is presently engaged in writing articles and books in his native languages as well as in English. To date, his English publications include the books Šuddha Bhakti, Sages of Ancient India, A Taste of Transcendence and Sri Chaitanya: His Life and Associates.