Glorification session in Evening of Srila Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj | Vrindavan

Prasad, all Srila Prabhupada's disciples, GBCs, VEV members, uh, we'd like to give you the schedule for today.

Prasad Raaval.

The program will be simultaneously translated in Hindi because here it's in English at the Krishna Balaram Hall in Gosala. So if you are not understanding little English, And more Hindi. You may proceed towards the Gosala, Krishna Balaram Hall. Russian translation also can be done on this side. Ambarish Maharaj or Aniruddha Prabhu from Russia can translate on this side where we used to do our Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam English class every day. The entry for the devotees will be, or for the public and devotees, the gate near Gaur Nitai's altar. Then they'll be exiting towards Radhe Shyamasundar's gate, near the gate, the altar, and then they'll proceed towards that way. The prasadam for the senior devotees, Srila Prabhupada's disciples, GBCs and TPs, temple presidents, will be On the first floor of Govinda's restaurant. Prasadam starts whenever you get hungry. Over there in Govinda's for the senior devotees. No, the feast, we will announce to you when is the feast, but hopefully we'll have prasadam available as soon as possible. So we will be the emcee, and from time to time we may ask Srutekirti Prabhu to also alternate. He will, he will be the emcee, and the way I will be calling the names I'll let you know later. Yes, we will try to accommodate all of you as much as possible, but this is not in the order of hierarchy. Hare Krishna. Memorial means trying to say something that's been accomplished. And those who are very, very close, that's how we're gonna do it. So please stay with us. Now we're gonna chant Jai Anilo Premadana to start. To set the mood, and we'll continue on afterwards. So the memorial will be at least till 12 noon, because we have many guests here also coming from different parts of India and different parts of the world, like US, Canada, Russia, UAE, and so on. Hare Krishna. Oh, Premadana, Karuna Prachu. Eno Prabhu, Kota, Gela, Acharya, Taku. Kaamora, Swaruprupa, Kaasanatha.

'Please ask this guy how much it costs, how much he is going to sell this baby, and we can pay the money. Please take, release that pig baby.' I went to guy, I said, 'Please, my Guru Maharaj said please don't do that.' He said, "No, this is my danda. If you give me the money, I can leave the pig and go away." I have ₹200. I gave him ₹200. And he gave me the pig in my hand. I was brahmachari. Small baby is in my hand. Maharaj is walking. I was walking with the pig behind him. And Maharaj start laughing. He says, "You are brahmachari holding the pig." I said, "Maharaj, you told me." If I leave the pig, go away, he is going to catch again and he is going to take it again to cut. And he said, okay, carry that pig. We went up to Yamanaji Kesighat and he said, okay, now you release that. We did our duty, now it's all to Krishna. Many stories, like this morning Prasannath Mahaprabhu was saying, Maharaj used to love chhole and bhature. And I remember that we used to go to Punjab early '94, '95, '96. And when we crossing Haryana, there was Ambala, Kent. There was one shop, Vita Milk Shop. And whenever we went to Punjab side by car, Maharaj stopped over there and he used to like very much 'Kesar milk.' And I used to bring 3-4 bottles. He said, 'No, no, bring one bottle.' And after drinking one bottle, he said, 'Okay, just bring another one also.' So I go there and bring another bottle for him. Actually, he taught me everything. I came, I was very young. For the books distribution, myself and Maharaj, we went to Connaught Place. And Maharaj came out from the car in '93-'94 and he went with me out. We went inside the Connaught Place and he was distributing Bhagavad Gita. He said, you can ask person if they have a Gita in their house. Step by step he taught me how to distribute Bhagavad Gita. And Maharaj's school friend used to own a shop, dry food shop. And whenever we visit him, he used to give lot of cashews to Maharaj. Maharaj used to love cashews. And Maharaj used to sit in front seat and I was behind him. And he say, okay, please open all the cashews and gave me one by one. Though he don't want any kind of bugs inside, he say, I don't want to do any kind of jeev hathya, just open the cashew. I was used to give him. I remember also one more story. I was in brahmachari kushyatra. We went from Panjabiwag to Kushyatra to celebrate Bhagavad Gita marathon. Maharaj was there and as soon as he saw me, he said, what are you doing here? I said, Maharaj, we came for Gita janti. He said, no, no, no, no, this is Marathon time, you should go back right away. He sent me back right away. And because of his mercy, he told me, okay, man, you came from the business family. Devotees are distributing one by one book. You go to big industries, all the big businessmen. He told me the trick. He said, you go, they usually gave every year all the employees ₹100 or one sweet box for their employees. You go there, tell them this year they can half kilometerize, that's ₹50, and one Bhagavad Gita is ₹50. So they can give this year gift to their employees, one box, half box for sweet and one Bhagavad Gita. I went to many industries. There's one guy, he told me, okay, I order, I have 500 employees, gave me 500 Gita. Another one, I went, he said 250 Gitas. I distribute 8,000 Gitas. And when Maharaj found out that, he was very, very happy. He said, oh wow, you went to all the industries. And this is nothing, is, is not my qualification because Maharaj told me to do that. I did that same thing. I went to people and Somehow 8,000 or 9,000 Gita was distributed in 20 days. Many stories. Maharaj used to love my children. He used to come to Milwaukee in America. He used to come and stay in our house. He used to come and say, 'Oh, param!' 'You have house in very good area. I want to take rest for 3-4 days because I am working very hard. I was going here and there. When I come to your house, I am going to take rest.' Maharaj arrived 10 o'clock. 11 o'clock he told me, 'Please take me to somebody's house for preaching.' I said, 'Maharaj, you came here to take some rest.' 'No, no, no, no, no. I can't take rest. Please take me to somebody's house for preaching.' Program, kirtan, lunch, dinner. So every day he used to stay 3-4 days in my house, but his schedule was morning program, after morning program he want to go to breakfast to somebody house, lunch for somebody house, 4 o'clock to somebody house, and evening program also. 4 programs every day he used to do that. And we used to love Maharaj. We came here for rest. He said, no, no, this is my rest.

Just—

and he used to love Detroit. Nithya Krishnashwar Prabhu just said he was perfect example. Nāmi ruci jīvodaya vaiṣṇava seva. Ei charit dharam nahi suna sanātan. He had so much compassion about his devotees. Our Milwaukee, it was nowhere. It is not a big city. But he used to come to Milwaukee. He used to drive from sometime from Detroit. Nityakṣora Prabhu used to bring him. Some other devotee used to bring him to Milwaukee. And he was just, his koda's mercy, he was coming, staying with us, giving his association and teaching us. Every time he come. Just few days back, I went to see him. First time in my life. He told me, "How is your spiritual life?" I said, Maharaj, I am chanting 16 rounds, coming to the programs. He said, keep doing that. I am very happy with you. Whenever he see my wife and my children, you know, he was, he always tell me, okay. There is so many stories about Maharaj. His Holiness Gopal Krishna Maharaj ki—

This is an offering from His Holiness Bir Krishna Maharaj. When I heard that Srila Gopal Krishna Gosvami Maharaj had left this world, It was as if a piece of my heart had been torn out. He has always been a source of inspiration for me as well as a perfect example of a real Vaishnava. In addition, he demonstrated absolute devotion to the instructions and mission of Śrīla Prabhupāda, which was been my inspiration. In spite of health challenges, he continued to serve, opening up innumerable temples and inspiring countless jīvā souls to reconnect with the divine couple. As instructed by His Divine Grace Śrīla Prabhupāda, he pushed book distribution to astronomical heights by inspiring and instructing others. His personal sadhana was exemplary. Whenever we were present at a temple where he was visiting, We could expect to see him on the altar for Mangalarati worshipping their Lordships. He also maintained his personal deity worship. His kindness to all and service to all the Vaishnavas was amazing. Whenever he was informed that someone was visiting one of the areas that he was responsible for, he personally made all arrangements for them. Vaishnava Seva was extremely important for him. During my association with him, I never once saw him criticize any Vaishnava. He was an ocean of compassion to all of Śrīla Prabhupāda's followers. I could go on unlimitedly glorifying him. All of us will miss him. Living in this world without great Vaiṣṇavas like Śrīla Gopalakṛṣṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja is extremely painful. All glories to Srila Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, Bir Krishna Das Goswami. Hare Krishna!

Hare Krishna. My name is Balimardhan Das. I am from California, Silicon Valley, USA. So I'll just read one of my offerings earlier to remember Guru Maharaj. So dear Guru Mahārāja, please accept our humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda. All glories to your service to Śrīla Prabhupāda and ISKCON. First of all, this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, we will not be able to greet and meet Mahārāja in person at Bay Area, California. When I met Guru Mahārāja this year at Māyāpur after the ILS event, Maharaj was surprised to know that I am in Mayapur and I had traveled from USA during the coronavirus issue. I used to go for morning walk with Guru Maharaj almost every day except the day on Ekadasi where I went to take bath at the Holy Ganga. I was very much impressed with Guru Maharaj's intelligent ways to utilize his time on sadhana, GBC or ISKCON management, teaching his disciples and deity worship and so on. It is so wonderful to see you, Guru Maharaj, on the Panchatatva altar and at the Nrsimha altar in the Mangalarati. All of us are missing this opportunity to meet you in person. Guru Maharaj, this year at least with the help of Jagannath Prabhupada, we are able to manage the Zoom session. It was so nice to see even technology and you said that I am coming to your house in person by Zoom. I felt the same way, virtual reality, but your presence is felt so intense in my heart. As per Srimad Bhagavatam 8.5.45, Satyam nadarshyatmanam asmat karana gocharam prapannanam didruksanam susmitam te mukhanghojam. 'Oh Supreme Personality of Godhead, we are surrendered unto You, yet we wish to see You. Please make Your original form and smiling lotus face visible to our eyes and appreciate through our other senses.' So this particular verse reflects in my memory. I became a devotee in '97 in ISKCON Delhi, East of Kailash Temple. How many of you from East of Kailash? A lot. So that time in '97, the Govinda restaurant, you see, where Radha Parasarathi used to be there, this Govinda restaurant. So Guru Maharaj is very merciful. Even though I was chanting 4 rounds at the time in '98 and I was not even initiated disciple, but I was attending the vyāspujā since that time and somehow or other by devotee's mercy I was able to bath Maharaj's lotus feet before being initiated. Nowadays people, those who are initiated also not able to get access to Guru Maharaj. So one time I was going for a morning walk in 2012, sorry, 2008, and then I got initiated in Seattle. I first met Guru Maharaj in New Delhi Temple, East of Kailash, and I chanted my first round in Radhaswamy Sundar. Here in Vrindavan Dham. And then I took brahmin. So I wanted to take the brahmin and Janardana Maharaj told me, Balimardhan, you have a deity at your home and why are you not taking brahmin initiation and you have to do temple deity worship. Then Maharaj said, we have, you know, 108 divya desham. You know about 108 divya desham? Yes. So which is Prabhupada installed the 108 temples. So Maharaj said, okay, you are going to take the Brahmin in ISKCON Los Angeles. So I said, you are making a big, big loop in your life, which is every great incident is happening in the Prabhupada's Dibya Desam, which is in Seattle. And then Guru Maharaj is blessed to be getting the second initiation in Brahmin. 2012, in Washington, D.C., Maharaj used to come to New York and then he drives to DC, but I think that year he just flew to the DC and there was some, uh, his green card problem. The immigration officer, he wrote something and that year he came to Bay Area and Maharaj was very tense and he told me also, he was staying in my home and Guru Maharaj said, well, you know, he has written down something, what will happen to my, you know, status because I was taking it casually. What will happen to Guru Maharaj? He is transcendental. But Maharaj was really looking into the deeper side of the picture. Then again Maharaj said in the— after the program, you know, he has something is bothering him. Then yeah, what will happen? Because he was really intense. So I could not understand what is the reason. I said Maharaj will apply for the tourist visa. Which will take 10 years. But Maharaj was really concerned about what he wanted to do. Then I thought that he really needed some help. So at that time, Kiran Bedi— must be knowing, those who are from Delhi— so her cousin sister, she was a lawyer in Bay Area. Somehow I have a friend who has a contact, so I contacted her to get some immigration help. Then I contacted her Maharaj spoke to her for, he spent almost 30 minutes and when she gave assurance then Maharaj felt little confident. Then I realized a devotee should not take just casual when a guru needs some expert help. Just like, you know, Krishna will take care or something rather than I realized myself that yes, if Maharaj needed help in medical. Maharaj needed help in legal. So we need to bring similar expertise in order to serve Guru Maharaj. And the other part of the things, during the corona, I was looking into that Maharaj did not come to USA for 2 years, 2020 and '21. So I was remembering, in case of Maharaj legal issue happened, just imagine how many of us will be impacted by Maharaj not coming into the system. And there another example I was giving is the difference between Bapu and Bani, where Guru Maharaj one time in Bay Area, mostly the devotees come, Maharaj will give them instructions, so what I do, so sometimes, and few devotees he will refer, no, just talk to Balimardhan. So 3 or 4, So 2-3 years I have seen some patterns. So one time actually I did not understand, so I asked actually Guru Maharaj. So this is a very profound realization in my life about the Bapu and Bani. And Maharaj mentioned there are some people who will carry over by the instructions, by reading the Gita, they will understand the message. Just like when Prabhupada flew from Juhu, Mumbai to Vrindavan for some expert help he needed. And Prabhupada asked, I won't give you the solution. The solutions I have given in the Bhagavad-gītā. Read Bhagavad-gītā. So Maharaj read Bhagavad-gītā chapter from page to page in 3 days here in Vrindavan. And then he came again to Prabhupada and he said, did you get it? Then Maharaj said, "Yes, I know all these information in Bhagavad Gita." So what Maharaj, coming back to here, he said, because I could not understand, that there are people who are, who needed Bāpu's association. Even the guru is there, even the guru is not there, the manifested versions of the guru which is either a sannyāsis or a senior disciple, they must tell them what to be done. No matter it is there in the Patrigana, no matter it is there in the book, Nectar of Instruction and Devotions, still they needed to confirm, somebody has to tell it, otherwise they cannot perform. There are some devotees already there, they can understand by going through this message from this astra. So the Babu and Swami, it is equally important. So Maharaj has already given so many system like senior disciples of his, The gurus and sadhus and sannyasis and brahmacharis, those who are there, we should take advantage of taking their association as appropriately when Guru Maharaj's absence. That will be pleasing to him. So I won't take much time. Many of us, you are going to share. This is few of my realizations with Guru Maharaj. Whenever he comes, he has given transcendental message. And last but not the least, Maharaj said he was staying in USA. 'What is your preaching plan in India?' 2006 when he said, 'Maharaj, my preaching, I don't know what I am going to do, but I have some family properties back in Odisha. I will try my best to build a temple for you.' So by this help of Guru Maharaj, then I consulted with Jayapataka Maharaj because it is Odisha, it is GBC. By this both mercy from the Guru and his Godbrother It was successful and it's part of ISKCON. Thank you very much. Hijo Linés Gopal Krishna Gosvām Mahārāja ki Śrīla Prabhupāda ki samastha bhakta brindaki. Gauraprema Nande.

This is the offering from His Holiness Bhakti Prasad Pāribraja Mahārāja. Respected Maharaj, please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda, all glories to Your Holiness. On this solemn occasion of Your disappearance day, our hearts are filled with both joy and sorrow. While we celebrate Your life, on unwavering dedication to the path of bhakti, we also mourn the physical absence of your divine presence among us. As dedicated followers of Śrīla Prabhupāda, we recognize you as one of the main pillars of ISKCON. Tirelessly working to uphold his teachings and expand his mission. Your numerous contributions, from the construction of many magnificent temples to the widespread distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books, have enriched the lives of countless souls. Your exemplary sadhana, bhakti, serves as an inspiration to all of us. Your presence on the altar during Mangalarati every single day symbolizes your deep devotion and commitment to the service of the Lord. Through your steadfast practice, you embodied the essence of spiritual discipline. In your tenure, you kept the institution united, fostering harmony among devotees. Your guidance and mentorship have cultivated numerous leaders within our society. Ensuring the continuity and growth of ISKCON's mission, your humility and reverence towards all devotees coupled with your vigilance against Vaishnava aparadha exemplified the true spirit of a devotee. You remained 100% Prabhupada's man, expecting nothing less from us, urging us to follow in your footsteps with unwavering devotion. Though you have departed from this earthly realm, Your legacy continues to inspire us. We pledge to honor your memory by following your instructions and emulating your noble qualities. In closing, we humbly ask for your forgiveness for any offenses, whether known or unknown. Committed at your lotus feet, may your divine presence continue to guide us on our spiritual journey until we are reunited in the eternal embrace of the Supreme Lord. Your eternal servant, Bhaktiprachar Paribrajak Swami. Swami. Hare Krishna.

Namo Om Vishnu Padaye Krishna Prasthaye Butheley. Shrimad Gopalakrishna Gosvāminithanāmine. Prabhupāda Si Sahityamya Prakāsha Viti Rīcha. Prachāram Kurutvān Sādhau Bhāgavata Padāyete Nama. Vānsa Kalpataru Vyāśyā Kruṣṇa Preṣṭhaye Bhūteley. Hare Krishna! My name is Shyamananda Krishnadas. Basically live in Australia. Guru Maharaj has appointed me as the zonal supervisor for Pakistan. So today It's a very difficult day for any disciple because the vacuum which has been created by Guru Maharaj, we cannot basically refill it. If it has to be refilled, It has to be refilled only by his divine grace. So today his grace Satyanarayana Prabhu was mentioning about how Guru Mahārāja likes preaching in Muslim countries. Yes. So practically, as Prabhu was mentioning, Guru Mahārāja becomes like a child when he hears some progress about what's happening in Pakistan, for example, because that pleases Prabhupāda. That pleases Prabhupada. Whatever pleases Srila Prabhupada, Guru Maharaj imbibes that mood and tries his best through his purity to make sure that he does everything to please Srila Prabhupada. So what happens in Pakistan, generally we don't publicize. Nor you hear much about these in the mainstream. But today is an opportunity for me to glorify Guru Maharaj because how pure Guru Maharaj is that something which is not heard of can be accomplished by an insignificant person by his mercy. So once Guru Maharaj, when I was going there, Guru Maharaj mentioned that, 'How are you going?' I said, 'By your blessings, anything is possible, Guru Maharaj.' He said, 'That is true, but we have to apply our intelligence.' So then I started making different, different ways, sometimes as a visitor, sometimes as a visiting professor. So Guru Maharaaj's love for his disciples and caring The preaching work which basically pleases Srila Prabhupada is incomparable. So once before I went to Prahlad-desh, I sought blessings from Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj is a very mystic. People may think I am a bit sentimental, but the fact that I am saying is true. He is a very mystic personality. Whenever he says something, that will happen, because a pure devotee can see both past, present, and future. So, Gurumara said, 'This time everything will be very nice,' and he smiled. So yes, I heard it and then I went. So that time Guru Maharaj, he has blessings on the whole yatra. First time that an Islamic country has sponsored printing Bhagavad Gita as it is. 10,000 copies of Bhagavad Gita were printed by the money from the exchequer of the government. It is not possible even in India. You cannot basically take government money to print a religious book. And then that's why when we printed Bhagavad Gita there, the first page will be a thanking message to the government of Pakistan. For helping us printing the Bhagavad Gita. When we received the first cheque, I just sent this scanned copy of that to Guru Maharaj. He was so happy. Just like what Satchanarayan Prabhu was telling, he was showing to everyone. Whenever I visit Guru Maharaj, I feel bit ashamed. Just like how father introduces the child, he used to introduce that he is so-and-so, so-and-so. I feel very ashamed. But one thing is sure that mukham karoti vaachalam pangum langayete girum yathkru patam ham bandhe Sri Gurum dinataranam. This is Guru Maharaj's purity because purity is known by the intention of the service that we do and whatever Shri Guru Maharaj does, that is only to please Srila Prabhupada. By his mercy, the three temples are under construction. And one temple is due for inauguration, Ram Naumi, next year. And we have temple construction going on in Balochistan. We have two temples in Sindh province. And we also have a center in Karachi. And we are having so many difficulties regarding BBTs. So Guru Maharaj, being a BBT trustee, he has given so much flexibility because the situation over there is so different. From the other parts of the world. We have to translate, we have to proofread, we have to do everything, and we have to distribute. So Guru Mahārāja said, whenever we do any service, we just have to keep a very low profile. And when we prepared a newsletter for ISKCON, Guru Mahārāja denied that. No third party should know what's happening there. So, but Today, of course, Guru Maharaj will be very happy to hear, and when the other disciples know this, they will start glorifying what is the towering personality that Guru Maharaj is and how many wonders can happen by his purity. So he is a very, what can I say, it's very difficult for me to glorify on occasion of his disappearance. But one thing I can tell you that his mercy, his intention to please Srila Prabhupada and his loving nature keep us always engaged in devotional service taking various risks. Also recounting what Nityakrishna Prabhu said, about allergy to the apple. My daughter has an allergy to milk and milk products called lactose intolerance. So she can't drink milk and those things. When she was 6 months old, we attended Gurumaharaj's Vyasa Puja and we had charanamrutha of Gurumaharaj and we were ready to go to hospital because it's a very serious thing, those allergies. And nothing happened. And that evening we went to Guru Maharaj and mentioned, my wife mentioned, Guru Maharaj, my daughter's allergy has gone by drinking your charanamrata. It's very mystic, Guru Maharaj. So Guru Maharaj said, so whatever magic we do, it is basically telecasting of what Prabhupada does. So it's all due to Srila Prabhupada's mercy. So this is an occasion that we learn how to fulfill the order of spiritual master, and when he is pleased, Krishna is obviously pleased. So thank you so much for giving me an opportunity to glorify some of the transcendental qualities of His Holiness Srila Gopalakrishna Gosvami Guru Maharaj. Srila Gopalakrishna Gosvami Guru Maharaj ki. Hare Krishna!

Hare Krishna!

So, in Srimad Bhagavatam, 11th Canto, it is said that, 'Durlabho manusho deho dehinam shanabhungura tatrapi durlabham manye vaikuntha priyadarshanam.' This human body is extremely rare to achieve, but more rare than this is to achieve the association, the darshan of a pure devotee of the Lord. I don't know what great fortune all of us have that such a pure devotee walked amongst us. He exhibited his Sublime transcendental pure qualities for decades together. He sculpted a number of lives in front of us. He did miracles. He overshowed encompassing compassion, impossible humility, anything which could not be thought by a material mind, he actually exhibited and manifested in front of us. We have been hearing these qualities since morning. Decades will be not enough to define and understand these qualities completely. Number of devotees have So many realizations of these transcendental qualities. My name is Kadamba Krishna Das. I come from Pune, and Pune stood first for last 2 years book distribution marathon, 2021 and '22. '23 we split the temple scores, so that got affected, but there's a very mystical thing behind all this entire episode. I think around 2016 or 17, I don't know whether Sarlaksan Prabhu is there or not, but Sarlaksan Prabhu, who leads our book distribution marathon in Pune, disciple of Guru Maharaj, was extremely ill. He was sick, admitted to the ICU. He was affected by rickets. It was life-threatening. Doctors had already said that he has 5% chances. He was almost in coma and on ventilator. The management was discussing that tomorrow is Ekadashi and That is the best day that we can let Sarala Lakshman Prabhu go. And this was informed to Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj called and asked one of our VPs to take the phone inside. The phone went inside on speaker. Sarala Lakshman Prabhu was in coma. Guru Maharaj says, Sarala Lakshman, come back. You have a lot of service to do. Sarlaksman Prabhu got recovered in next 3 months. From 2017 to 2021, from position 5, gradually we came to position 1. I still remember in 2020 when the Every year Guru Maharaj comes to Pune for— in fact, he goes to many of his zones before book distribution marathon starts. He inaugurates and then he distributes the prizes. That year was— the preceding year we were second and Guru Maharaj wanted us to become the first. So fortunately I happened to be the MC on the stage that time.. And I mentioned one sentence over there which still fascinates me. I don't know how I spoke that, that it's a tough competition with a strong team like Delhi, but the best part is both teams have one captain, and he was Guru Maharaj. And to everybody's amusement, Pune from nowhere stood first for next following couple of years and still the legacy continues. Of course, lot of efforts by our book distribution department. Himself, His Grace Aishwarya Prabhu inspires every devotee in Pune to take up this. All the other engagements are put on hold. But the inspiration actually comes from this Divine transcendental pure devotee who actually walked with the vāpu. Balimadhan Prabhu mentioned about vāpu and vāni. The shastras, they establish that vāni is important. But what a vāpu of a pure devotee can do, we have just experienced which Maybe could be once in a lifetime of Brahma opportunity. It's a very extremely difficult to understand. Once I still remember, it was 2009 when the Araudai Temple got inaugurated, Lokanath Maharaj's, is known as Lokanath Maharaj's birthplace, Araudai. The temple inauguration was scheduled on Nithyananda Trayodashi, 2009. And, uh, Araudé doesn't have an accessible airport. It's near Sangli in Maharashtra. So Guru Maharaj was supposed to travel by train from Mumbai, and we were supposed to pick him at 5:30 in the morning. The entire day he was supposed to do this festival and then travel back the night of the same day. And he was put up in a government guest house. A nice accommodation. He was put up there. We picked him up. We went there. It was Nithyanand Trayodashi and he really wanted to do something for his deities. Though it was a festival and Arode was a kind of a countryside village place where not much facilities were available, no paraphernalia to perform dithi abhishek or anything that kind of thing and He asked us to arrange something for Abhishek. So we went out, we arranged all the panchamrut ingredients— milk, curd— and we thought there should be some fruit juice. So we arranged a few packs of fruit tea for Abhishek, and Guru Maharaj happily bathed his deity with the fruit tea drink as a fruit juice for his deities. Just 4 or 5, 4 of us were there and we celebrated a grand festival with 4 of us. Kirtan, abhishek, bhoga, small small donas of bhoga, dry fruits and fruits and all. A festival was celebrated. Now there was a time when Maharaj wanted to go for the deity installation abhishek, but he didn't want him to leave his deities alone in the room in an unknown place. He never likes to do that. He always wanted somebody to attend his deities. Now Guru Maharaj asks me, because there was nobody else, so he asked me, 'Kadambar, would you stay back with my deities? I don't want to leave them alone.' And I happily agreed, 'Yes, Guru Maharaj, I would definitely do that.' And then he says, 'I hope you won't curse me.' I mean, he is a spiritual master. He has all the right to order his disciple. And just with the fact that I won't be able to attend the festival because of this service, he felt that I could curse him. Of course, no disciple would do that, but the level of unmatched humility that Guru Maharaj displayed numerous times, and many of us have this experience and realization, cannot be repeated and replicated on this earth. And if that happens, that could be wonderful opportunity for us to associate with such a pure soul. But this is the level— many of them explained, many exalted devotees explained about Maharaj's capacity to build the temples. But we personally see and feel that— Shishiradha Shyamsundar ki jai, Thaigaur Chandra Krishna Balarama ki jai— personally see that building temples is just not land and funds and materials and planning and design. It's about maintaining the devotees, the inspiration, the mood, and it really takes a lot of humility and compassion for a leader to get it manifested. These qualities will be unmatched. For us only to contemplate and meditate on them. And pray at his lotus feet that your Vapu has taught us a lot of things which may be, we may not be able to interpret with your Varni, but conjoined with the experiences we had with your Vapu, we may be able to meditate and contemplate so that If these qualities, even a speck of them, can be reflected in our character, we can actually make this whole world spiritually surcharged, spiritually enlivened. The contribution of His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj was enormous. It was Many of them consoled we, his disciples, that he was more than a spiritual master, like a father to his disciples, but actually he was like a father to the entire ISKCON community. And today, on this auspicious occasion of his entering the Nitya Lila, may he bless the entire community with inspiration, and blessings so that we can follow his footsteps. Hare Krishna.

Hare Krishna. Namo'om Vishnu padaaya Krishna prashtaya bhutale. Sri Matai Gopalakrishna Gosvami iti nama'ni. Prabhupada sasahitam yah prakashas eviti rahajapacharan kirtivan sadhu bhagavata padaaya tena maha. There are a lot of glories that even this entire day is very small for our dear Guruji. Guru Maharaj if we get started, and it is happening in practical reality. From the morning it's going on, and so happy to see all dear devotees from all over the world traveling for this. No matter how much glories we praise, there is always less for our dear Guru Maharaj. And one thing we observed especially in Vrindavan, that There always used to be feast prasadam, but there never used to be the glorification program. So because Guru Maharaj never wanted it, he never wanted to glorify himself. He always wanted Prabhupada to be in the first. I am no one, kind of like that. So extremely, extremely humble. That's a beautiful learning from our dear Guru Maharaj. I just got this opportunity. I have written a 2 minutes something for our dear Guru Maharaj. I will just read it out and then we'll share something which all of you devotees will be very much interested in too. So I'm first reading the offerings for dear Guru Maharaj. Today we are gathered with our heavy hearts to remember and honor our most beloved spiritual master, who has now returned to the loving embrace of Sri Krishna. Though his departure leaves us grieving, we find solace in knowing that he fulfilled his life's mission with unwavering devotion. Dear Guru Mahārāja was a living embodiment of Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings, tirelessly working to spread Krishna Consciousness movement around the world. He deeply understood that spiritual life is about nurturing genuine love for Sri Krishna and his devotees too. With humility and compassion, he showed us how to follow this path of practical example and presented the teachings of his Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Guru Maharaj was not only dedicated to teaching the principles of bhakti Yoga, but he was also committed to living them. His visits to different temples and communities were always marked by his warm interaction and personal concern for the welfare of each and every devotee. Whether we were newly initiated or seasoned disciples, he embraced us all with equal and loving affection. He reminded us that we are all We are all servants of Sri Krishna, serving through our dear Prabhupada's guidance and his guidance, and our true fulfillment comes from engaging in this extremely dear loving devotional service only. With great determination, he established, expanded numerous temples, especially in Delhi and all over India, and those all served in our dear Srila Prabhupada's mission. This entire Hare Krishna movement extremely the topmost thing. Guru Maharaj, though you have left us in this world, your teachings and love remain. Your compassionate spiritual teachings lives with us in our heart, and your guidance always makes our path perfect. We seek always for your blessings to be in the path of bhakti. We will miss your presence dearly, but we are blessed by your legacy and your unwavering commitment to ISKCON and the teachings of Srila Prabhupada. May we honor you by chanting sincerely, serving selflessly, expanding Krishna Consciousness movement on big scale, which is a humble request for each and every dear devotee, as per your guidance, with as much love and dedication as you You guide. Thank you, dear Guru Maharaj, for guiding us and inspiring us to stay firm in our devotion. You are forever with us together as we continue on the journey together. Hare Krishna. So yesterday evening I was sitting with— in the devotee kitchen, in the gauśala, with Dwarkanath Prabhu and Pradyum Priya Prabhu. So there was a lot of pastimes going on discussing about our dear Guru Maharaj. Beautiful things came out, and we remember that how much active our dear Guru Maharaj was for basically making us connect with each other by means of the trips and the yatra that he used to organize. Even in such a health situation, He tried his best to get us come closer to each other. If we think about the Rameshwaram Yatra, the entire like trains were like booked, the entire flowing was there. Even the same happened with the Jagannath Puri Yatra, the Urubi one, and the recent one where Gurumahaj's health was terrifically bad, but in spite of that, he He mentioned to organize the Haridwar Yatra. So that indicates like how much he cared for us, na? And he came for the lectures. So why not we can continue all this? Our dear Maharajahs are there and Guru Maharaj wanted us to come together to be on a trip where we can come closer and make our movement grow, discuss about, get Krishna conscious. More even. And there we can also remember our dear Guru Maharaj's learnings. So I would like to very humbly request each and every devotee, will you all guys be the part if the devotees organizes the trip just like Guru Maharaj used to organize? Because all of our Maharaj are still young, I think So yeah, so I believe it will please our dear Guru Maharaj, and that was Guru Maharaj's desire because every year he always used to find out like, "Oh no, we want to visit, we want our disciple devotees here." And it was used to be the best times with him, staying with the devotees, with the Guru Maharaj, the entire session, the entire day Krishna conscious and so on. So with this, I will just pay my obeisances to all their devotees and dear Guru Maharaj and seek for all their blessings. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Ram, Hare Ram, Ram Ram, Hare Hare. Thank you, dear devotees.

His Holiness Gopal Krishna Gosvāmī Mahārāja ki. So first I would like to offer my humble obeisances to each and every one of you exalted Vaishnavas who have come from so far away. It was just a couple of nights ago when we received the news that Maharaj is not well. We were on our North India kīrtan tour, and my husband, His Grace Paramprabhu, and I looked at each other, and we thought— actually, I yelled loudly, I had a loud Oh no, because I was about 7 years old in America, and in the late '70s and the early '80s, there were very few devotees from India. In America, it was all American devotees, Western devotees. But Gopal Krishna Maharaj was the most prominent spiritual master of not just India or Africa or Canada or Russia or America. I was a little girl, very shy. I would sit in the front of his class, and during his class he saw us every year when he would visit Washington, D.C., or Los Angeles, or Detroit, Michigan, and he would stop his class, and he would look at me, and he would say, "How many rounds are you chanting?" Now, I knew that he would ask me that question. So before he would come, all of the children, we would start to chant our rounds very seriously. And we would memorize, because we were 7 or 8 years old, we would memorize a number to tell him. My number was, because I was 8 years old, My number was 8. And so he looked at me and he said, "Next year you will be 9, so you should chant 9 rounds on your birthday." And then the years passed. He didn't want us to live in Vrindavan. He wanted us to stay in America, but we said we only want to live in Vrindavan. So he would see us doing our kirtan, and one kirtan was a grand event like he has in all of his temples. That year they had invited us for kirtan in the new temple in Lucknow. ISKCON had a new temple opening and they invited us, and Gopal Krishna Maharaj had spoken to us. He confirmed, you will go for kirtan? Yes, Guru Maharaj, we will go. Yes, we will be there. And so we had a grand stage, 20,000, 30,000, 40,000. Now remember, I never could speak in front of even 5 people, but he had told me, I want you to preach and do kirtan. So I would stand on the stage and try to sing Hare Krishna. That day, our kirtan began. Many famous celebrities of India had come. He went in his room because he was not feeling well. As soon as we got on stage, I said to the audience, as I will request all of you, dono haatho takar ke sabhi boliye, Hare Krishna! Guru Maharaj was not feeling well. It was his time to rest, but he came out of his room, which I could see from the stage. It was a new property, a new land, so his room was across. And he looked outside and he raised his hands and he said, he said, He said, "I will watch this entire kirtan." And as soon as we finished singing, we got a message. He said he wants to meet us. So I went quickly, ran to see him. And he said, just like any father, he said, So many celebrities have come, but today you have my blessings. That time there was Hema Malini and many other famous people. He said, I want you to be Krishna's celebrity, and I want you to go to every town and village and give the holy names of Krishna. So as soon as I had my children, he found out. When my son was born, he called my husband and he said, "I'm coming to your house because your son is my grandson." And he gave him his name, Krishnabalaram Das. And then when my daughter was born, again he called. He said, I am coming to your house to hold my granddaughter. And he came to our house. My daughter was 6 days old. And he held her and he said, her name is Jairad, and she's here with me today. So Guru Maharaj was so kind and so merciful, and as all of us cannot even imagine that this day would come, I have a small song that I'm going to request you to sing with me. Please repeat after me. Shri La Guru Dev, everyone.

Everyone.

Shila Guru Dev, you've gone and left me here alone. You are my shelter. Everyone. I must serve you. There's no reason to go on. You have saved me from— —this material world. I am your eternal servant. We are lost without you, Guru Maharaj. As I look around the room at the exalted Vaishnavas who have given their lives, all of our aunties, all of our uncles But we have one hope. The morning that he passed and went back to Śrīla Prabhupāda, we arrived from our Punjab tour into Vrindavan. And I opened the front door. And both of my children, they looked at me. And I looked at them. And they said, "Mommy, he's gone." gone. And I held my son and my daughter. And so many Vaishnavas have lost their spiritual master. So many Vaishnavas have said he was like a spiritual father. No. He was our only father. And my children have lost our only father. So today I pray to Guru Maharaj, please come one more time. Because he would call whenever he came to Vrindavan. He promised me, he said, I will come to your house and our entire Vrindavan family would come home. And we would worship his lotus feet. He allowed us. So I will wait for him to come, and please pray with me one last time so all of us can continue our service fearlessly. Can you play and chant one last time with me, please? Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Krishna Goswami Maharaj ki jai. Sri Prabhupada ji.

Om Gyana Teemiran Das Shyagyananjanasulakhya, Chakshu Ul Mitamina Tasmay Shri Guruve Namah. Namo Om Vishnu Padaye Krishna Pashtaye Bhutale. Sri Matai Gopal Krishna Goswami Te Namane. Prabhu Padasa Sahityam Ye Prakashche Vitiryaja. Pracharam Ketuvan Sadhu Bhagavat Padaye Te Namah. Namo Om Vishnu Padaye Krishna Pashtaye Bhutale. Sri Matai Bhaktivedanta Swami Itinamane. Namaste Saraswati Devi Guru Ani Pracharne. Nirvishesha Sunyavadi Paashchatri Deshtane. Mancha Kalpatru Vishyakirpaasindu Bhayuvcha. Patitanam Pavne Vihoveshne Vepo Namam. Sri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu Nityananda. Sri Advaita Gadaadharishvara. Chandigarh ke president hai aur pehle hi mulaakat mein, pehle hi dinon mein mujhe kumbh na chahiya, America Centre lagaya, khil khalaaya mujhe mangalati ke baad aur main bhagwan Radha Madhav ka hogaya. Oh, very good. Joining Seva Laya appointment. that time in Punjab, Haryana. Hmm? I will, I will, I will must come, I will come. Sākṣikopaḥ, you are a good devotee. Now I want to see you in dhāramakṣetra, kruṣetra. Śrīla Prabhupāda's dear project is waiting for you. Maharaj, I will serve you whole life, but you make anyone president there, I will assist him fully, but I don't want to become president. I refused. And then Maharaj, always whenever you to to meet him. You to force me to shift Chandigarh to Kushetra to start his own project there. I always request, you made anyone president, I will help you, but I'm not going to become president now. Then I went to Bombay. 1991, 1991, I went to Bombay. After Vyāspujya, Maharaj called me in his room and ordered me, 'Sākshi Upāl, I don't want to listen now any excuse from you. You have to follow my order. Just 'Go to Kṣṭhra. I start ISKCON project there.' Me chupra. I went to Bhīmāparvata. Bhīmāparvata, 'Prabhu, please help me. Mahārāja is forcing me to go Kṣṭhra, but I don't want to go. My family, my...' Residing in Panchkula, my boy started studying in government school in Kursutra. So it's very difficult for me. You please help me. Then on request, Bhīmāprabhu went to Mahārāja, Guru Mahārāja. He is not ready to go. Why are you forcing him? The— in the morning, next day in the morning, when I went to Maharaj's room to take permission to leave Bombay for Chandigarh, Suman barked at me, "You think me I'm fool? You think I'm a fool?" Maharaj. Devotee, after 3 months.