His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaja
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)
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.
Good Job prabhuji.
ReplyDeleteVery Nice ... Jai Gurudev!!!
ReplyDelete