Lord Caitanya is nondifferent from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. One significant spiritual descendant of Lord Caitanya is Srila Bhakti Vilas Gabhastinemi Goswami Maharaj. More than 300 years ago, there was a family of landowners headed by Ramakrishna Sarkar who stayed at Bhurseet Brahman Para, present day Maju near Munshirhat, Howrah. Srila Gabhastinemi Goswami Maharaj was the son of Advaita Sarkar and the grandson of Ramakrishna Sarkar.
When he was born, he was given the name Girindranath Sarkar. Maharaj was a talented student who studied until class 10. Nowadays, most people have a conception that marriage life is not suitable for spiritual practice. In order to destroy that idea, Maharaj, at an early age, got married to Dhirabala Basurani from Dakshindi, Hooghly, West Bengal. Maharaj set an example of how to establish a householder devotee family. In order to maintain his family life, he used to work in an important government department. Simultaneously, he continued to worship his family Giridhari deity.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave the instruction to Raghunath Das Goswami – yatha yogya visaya bhunja anasakta haiya – give all respect to family duties and simultaneously, follow the spiritual practice. Also, Mahaprabhu explained to Raghunath Das Goswami – acirat Krishna toma karibena uddhara – soon, Krishna will deliver you from your material family. Maharaj’s life was teaching us such an example. In India, government jobs are very attractive for all people. Although he had a government job and a loyal wife, Girindranath was not bound in his family life.
Girindranath Sarkar established an ashram on his own land and he used to stay as a renounced person, there. During this period, one day, all of a sudden, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada came to Brahmana Para along with his preaching team. After Srila Prabhupada’s hari-katha, Girindranath Sarkar became impressed and took shelter of Srila Prabhupada. He got harinama initiation and diksha initiation along with his wife. He got the name Gaura Govinda Das Adhikari and his wife was named Dhanistha Devi. Srila Prabhupada soon installed a six-armed Gauranga Murti in Gaura Govinda Das Adhikari’s ashram and named the ashram, Sri Sri Prapannashram. After a few years, Srila Prabhupada observed Gaura Govinda Das Adhikari’s attractive service mood and gave him sannyasa at Bag Bazar Gaudiya Math; his name became Sri Bhakti Vilas Gabhastinemi Goswami Maharaj. Srila Gabhastinemi Goswami Maharaj’s sweet melodious kirtan and preaching strategy made him dear to Srila Prabhupada. I would like to mention a very attractive incident about Maharaj’s charisma in collecting funds for Prabhupada’s mission.
Once, Srila Prabhupada needed Rs. 500, urgently. In order to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desire, Srila Gabhastinemi Goswami Maharaj took one of his younger godbrothers, Radharaman Das Brahmachari (later known as Bhakti Kumud Santa Goswami Maharaj) and went out for collecting funds. They arrived at a Marwadi businessman’s home but the guard did not allow them to enter inside. Then, Maharaj went to the city, hired a car and went back to that house; this time, the guard allowed them to enter. When they entered, some family members greeted them and had them sit in their guest room.
Eventually, the master of the house came with an angry face and requested Maharaj to get out from his home. Maharaj said, “I will get out. No problem. But before I go out, I would like to tell you the glories of Lord Hari. I would like you to hear some glories of Lord Hari.” Immediately, Maharaj began to speak hari-katha to everyone. After Maharaj’s melodious and logical scriptural discourse, the Marwadi businessman became impressed and gave Maharaj a Rs. 500 donation. Eventually, all of the members of that Marwadi businessman’s family came to Bag Bazar Gaudiya Math to take shelter of Srila Prabhupada.
After Srila Prabhupada’s physical departure, Srila Gabhastinemi Goswami Maharaj, out of separation, was not feeling enthusiastic to preach anymore and decided to continue his life in solitary bhajan at Sri Sri Prapannashram. There, he established Sri Sri Radha Govinda deities and started to stay there, giving daily discourses, kirtan, and serving the deities. While Srila Gabhastinemi Goswami Maharaj stayed at Brahman Para, the temple atmosphere was really attractive for everyone.
At that time, in order to deliver the people coming there, Srila Gabhastinemi Goswami Maharaj decided to become an initiating guru and gave intiation. Unfortunately, on Tuesday, April 26, 1938 (13 Vaishakh 1345) in the morning at 7 o’clock, a ray of Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhakti Vilas Gabhastinemi Goswami Maharaj, physically left us. As soon as he physically departed, news spread and many of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples from various places came to offer their obeisance and attend the disappearance ceremony. He showed us an exemplary service attitude and left us with teachings on how to dedicate our lives for the service of guru, vaishnava and bhagavan.