Disappearance day of Srila BV Tirtha Goswami Maharaja

Guruve Shri Gaurchandraya sa parikar yugal kishoraye cha braj dhamaye purushottam shetraye Radhavanaya cha Namo namah

Sushthu vaishnav sewa sampradaya Guru Mahobhistha Sewa Sthahpanaaye Jagat Kalyanaya Sumangalaya Namami Tasme Sri Tirtha Maharajaye
Hare Krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare krishna
Hare ram hare ram ram ram hare hare

First of all, I offer my humble obeisances to my most worshipable spiritual masters: Om Vishnupad Paramhansa Swami Ashotarshat Sri Srimad Bhakti Vedanta Srila Vaman Goswami Maharaj, Om Vishnupad Paramhansa Swami Ashotarshat Sri Srimad Bhakti Vedanta Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaj, and unto the lotus feet of all the Guru Varga. Then I offer my unlimited pranamas unto the lotus feet of Srila Tirtha Maharaj, who is my Satirtha, my dear friend, and my senior God Brother.

Srila Tirtha Maharaj joined the Math in 1974 when he was around 15 years old. Before coming to the Math, he went to jail. He was given some money by his father, who used to run a grocery store, to get some grocery items. He arrived at the Howrah train station and, wanting to go to Nabadwip, he was trying to figure out the train details. A burglar saw him, as he looked very naive, and asked:
“Where do you want to go, son?”
Maharaj replied: “I want to go to Nabadwip.”
The burglar replied: “I am also going to Nabadwip,” and told Maharaj to come with him. There was a train at the platform, and both of them boarded it. Then the burglar asked him:
“Do you have some money?”

Due to Maharaj being naturally innocent, he said, “I have Rs 300,” which used to be a lot of money at that time. Then he gave that money, which was wrapped in a piece of cloth, to the burglar. The burglar took the money from Maharaj and cheated him by replacing the rupees with some pieces of paper and gave it back to Maharaj. The burglar said:
“You stay here, and I will come back soon.”
As expected, the burglar didn’t return, and the train departed. At Banaras railway station, the ticket inspector came to check tickets and asked Srila Tirtha Maharaj:
“Where is your ticket?”
Maharaj replied: “I don’t have a ticket, sir.”
The ticket inspector asked:
“From which station did you board?”
Maharaj replied: “From Howrah.”
The ticket inspector asked for the money for the ticket. As Maharaj didn’t have a ticket, and when he checked that piece of cloth, instead of money, it only had pieces of paper. Due to not having a valid ticket, the ticket inspector sent him to jail for 6 months. While Maharaj was in jail, the prison head was satisfied with his good behavior and let him out of prison in 4 months. As he didn’t have the money to go back, his body was stamped by the prison authority, which allowed him free travel for 72 hours. He came back to Howrah station and from there he then came to Nabadwip Math.

He stood at the entrance door of Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math. Sripad Yaduvar Prabhu, who was a disciple of Param Gurudev (Srila Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Goswami Maharaj), saw him standing at the door and asked Maharaj:
“Would you like to stay in the Matha?”
Maharaj replied: “Some time back two sadhus came to preach nearby his house.”
Sripad Yaduvar Prabhu asked:
“Do you know the names of those two sadhus?”
Maharaj replied: “Srila Vamana Maharaj and Srila Narayan Maharaj.”
Sripad Yaduvar Prabhu said: ”Srila Vamana Maharaj is out preaching, and Srila Narayan Maharaj is at the Matha. I will take you to meet him.”
Srila Tirtha Maharaj was then taken to Srila Gurudev (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj), who asked:
“Son, will you stay in the Matha?”
Srila Tirtha Maharaj replied: “Yes, I will.”

As he had been imprisoned for 4 months, his clothes became dirty. Srila Gurudev (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj) told Sripad Nandnandan Prabhu to take Srila Tirtha Maharaja to a barber, get his head shaved, and then take him to Sri Ganga Ji for bathing. Then Sripad Nandnandana Prabhu asked:
“What is your name?”
Maharaja replied: “My name is ‘Shashodhar’.”
Sripad Nandnandana Prabhu jokingly said: “The meaning of ‘Shashodhar’ is ‘Chandra’ (moon). After shaving your head, you look like an effulgent moon, just like your name.”

From this point, Srila Tirtha Maharaja’s Math life began, and by the mercy of Srila Gurudev (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj), he was brought to Mathura Matha. Many devotees at Mathura used to make fun of him as he was not able to remember and recite slokas properly. From this point, the mercy of Srila Gurudev (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj) was shown on him. During those days, there was no facility for running water from faucets (taps), and in order to perform the daily services of the Math, all of us would carry water pots from nearby places. We didn’t even have many books at that time, so we would write slokas on pieces of paper and learn those slokas while performing various services like bringing water pots on our heads and preparing bhoga.

Then, as time went on, seeing his expert recitation and deep understanding of Srimad Bhagavatam, Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Goswami Maharaja, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaja, Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Goswami Maharaja, and other Guru Varga, gave him the title “Bhagwat Bhushan.” Nowadays, in the name of Srimad Bhagavatam, there is a lot of entertainment going on. I am not criticizing anyone; however, it is a reality. The specialty of Srila Tirtha Maharaja’s recitation of Srimad Bhagavatam is that he would not speak to entertain anyone. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, from the 1st Canto to the 9th Canto, it speaks about Sambandha Tattva (relationship with Krsna). The 10th Canto speaks about Prayojana Tattva (desired goal), and the 11th and 12th Cantos speak about Abhidheya Tattva (process to obtain the goal).

If we don’t accept the Abhidheya Tattva (process to obtain the goal), then how can we attain Prayojana Tattva (desired goal)? It is not possible. Most of the speakers of Srimad Bhagavatam say very little about the 11th and 12th Cantos. They simply touch upon it; however, Srila Tirtha Maharaja would openly speak on the 11th and 12th Cantos in great detail and with clear explanation. This was his specialty.

For some time, the Sannyas ceremony was not performed in Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math. Srila Gurudev (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj) and Srila Guru Maharaj (Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Goswami Maharaj) discussed giving Sannyas initiation. At that time, they initiated 12 Sannyasis at the same time. Among those Sannyasis were Sripad Shubhananda Brahmachari, who became Srila Bhaktivedanta Tirtha Maharaja. My name was Sri Nabin Krsna Brahmachari, which then became Srila Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja, and Sripad Subal Sakha Brahmachari, who then became Srila Bhaktivedanta Vana Maharaja. In this way, 12 Sannyasis were initiated. After receiving Sannyas, preaching began. Before taking Sannyas, Maharaja would go to a place called 24 Paragana (24 areas of preaching), which were very far away and difficult to reach. I am thinking now, “Who would go to these places for preaching?”

Srila Bhaktivedanta Vana Maharaj ji also went to preach at these places along with Srila Tridandi Maharaja. After this, Srila Bhaktivedanta Tirtha Maharaja also started his preaching in these places with Srila Tridandi Maharaja.

In 2003, when Srila Gurudev’s glories spread in the West, some Vaishnavas of Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti could not tolerate Srila Gurudev’s glories being spread globally, and they tried to create some problems. Seeing this, Srila Gurudev (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj) left the building of Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math. In 2004, Srila Gurudev stayed at Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Math in Govardhan and performed Sri Navadwip Parikrama. As Sri Navadwip is non-different from Braj, and Sri Koladwip is non-different from Sri Giriraj Govardhan, Srila Gurudev (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj) performed the Parikrama by remembering all the pastime places of Sri Navadwip Mandal. As per the schedule of Sri Navadwip Parikrama, Srila Gurudev (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj) took us for darshan of various pastime places of Braj and made us hear the glories of those places.

Then in 2004, Srila Gurudeva’s gallbladder stone operation was performed at Batra Hospital in New Delhi, and after the operation, we came to Gurgaon and stayed at the house of Ajay Pilot Prabhu. Now we were to find land for Sri Navadwipa Parikrama. Srila Tirtha Maharaja and Sripad Premananda Prabhu came to Srila Gurudeva, requesting him to send me with them to search for land in Navadwipa. I said, “It’s not possible to leave the seva (service) of Srila Gurudeva (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj).”

Srila Gurudeva, during the ruling of the British, was a police officer and left his home. However, Srila Gurudeva (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj) would not step out of his room without me. He would not even take medicine or water from anyone else. He would always call out my name “Madhava Maharaja! Madhava Maharaja!” or my brahmachari name “Nabin! Nabin!” for anything he required. Srila Tirtha Maharaja and Sripad Premananda Prabhu persisted so much, upon which Srila Gurudeva asked me to go by flight, back and forth. Srila Tirtha Maharaja and Sripad Premananda Prabhu traveled via train. I went by flight, and all three of us looked at a piece of land. There was a piece of land available in Bardhmann District; however, Srila Gurudeva said he did not want to go to Bardhmann District and wanted a place only in Navadwipa. We searched for an ideal piece of land in terms of location and size as per Srila Gurudeva’s order; however, we could not find one at that time. Later on, after Srila Gurudeva (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj) went to the West for preaching, one day Sriman Nityananda Prabhu appeared in front of Srila Gurudeva and said:
“I am Dhaam Swaroop. I have chosen a land for you. You ask them to pray to me, and they will be able to find a place.”

At that time, I phoned Sripad Premananda Prabhu from Hawaii, USA, and narrated the entire incident. Sripad Tirtha Maharaja was out preaching at that time, and as per the instruction of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu, both performed his worship and glorification, and later on, land was selected for Navadwipa Parikrama.

Now in 2005, it was time for Navadwip Parikrama. Srila Gurudeva spoke to Srila Tirtha Maharaja and said:
“Listen! The Parikrama, preaching, and publication are my life, and neither one of these three—preaching, parikrama, and publication—should ever stop.”
Then Srila Gurudeva asked Tirtha Maharaja:
“Can you bring 200 devotees for parikrama?”
Maharaja replied:
“What to speak about 200 devotees, with your mercy I will bring 2000.”
Srila Gurudeva was very pleased and gave a pat on his back, and that year more than 2000 devotees came to attend the parikrama, and seeing that, Srila Gurudeva became very pleased. After Diksha, he was known as Sripad Shubhanand Prabhu. From Shashodhar to Shubhananda Brahmachari. What is the meaning of Shubhananda? Sri Guru knows everything and gives the appropriate name. Just like Bhakti has six leaves. The first two leaves are “kleshagni” (that which eradicates all miseries of life) and “shubhda” (that which inaugurates auspiciousness). What is the meaning of Shubhananda? Shubha means auspiciousness, and Ananda means bliss. So, wherever Shubhananda Prabhu will stay, that place will become auspicious and filled with bliss. We have all witnessed this. As you can see in all of his pictures, he is always smiling. His simplicity was his Vaishnavata. He is so simple that if he ever got into an “argument,” he would very quickly forget why he was angry, and the next minute he would be embracing that person, calling them “my dear friend.” Some people would take advantage of his simplicity and say certain things to create a difference between both of us. Later, when Sripad Tirtha Maharaja would reveal it to me, then we would laugh together at such attempts being made to create a difference between us. One of his best qualities was his enthusiasm, especially in construction. The responsibility for the construction of Sri Rupa Sanatan Gaudiya Math in Vrindavan was given to him. In the morning, he would take some prasad, go there to oversee the construction, and then come back in the evening. Sometimes Srila Gurudeva used to dictate letters to me, and I would write them. Srila Gurudeva would not be able to give Hari Katha. So, I would ask Srila Tirtha Maharaj:
“Prabhu! Srila Gurudeva cannot give Hari Katha, and I cannot either, so can you please give Hari Katha?”
Hearing this, very enthusiastically he would say:
“Yes! Yes! I can give Hari Katha, no problem.”

Though he would just come back from Vrindavan after spending the whole day overseeing the construction, still his enthusiasm to serve always remained high. Not only in construction and speaking Hari Katha, whether it was during Navadwipa Mandal Parikrama or Sri Braja Mandal Parikrama, he would take a “Danda” (stick) in one of his hands, and he would address the devotees on the mic, saying “Hello, Hello my dear friend, Chalo Chalo (let’s go),” and that’s how he would bring the entire parikrama together. Both of us together were engaged in completing the outstanding tasks of Srila Gurudeva, and slowly we were able to handle things. A dark period comes when an influential acharya leaves, and that dark period also came in our sanga. We were coping, and somehow things were going better; however, now Sripad Tirtha Maharaja has left me alone like an orphan, leaving all responsibilities upon me.

“Kripa kari Krsna more diya chila sanga swantantra krishner ichha kaila sanga bhanga”
By the causeless mercy of Krsna, he has given me the association of Sripad Tirtha Maharaj. It is Krsna’s desire, and now Srila Gurudeva, Guru Varga, and Krsna have separated me from him. Wherever he is, may he keep his mercy upon us and forgive us for any offenses made to him unknowingly.

Maharaja had a last desire which I would like to share with you. We would talk at least once a week, or sometimes more than once a week. Every time we would talk, he would not let me go before 30 minutes. I phoned him on the day of Ekadashi. First, I spoke to his servant, Sanjay, and then called him at 4:00 pm again. Srila Tirtha Maharaj asked me about the parikrama for this year. He and I both agreed that, considering the current circumstances of this pandemic, it is best not to have parikrama this year. I also said that:
“Even if one person gets sick, all the devotees would be required to quarantine.”
He also agreed to this. In order to protect the continuity of parikrama, I said:
“When you come back to Mathura, we will visit the pastime places along with the brahmacharis of the Matha. We will go to Vishram Ghat for sankalpa (vow). One day, we will perform Mathura parikrama, and one day to visit the pastime places in Mathura. Similarly, we will go to Vrindavan with the Mathavasis and go to the famous Sri Keshi Ghata, followed by parikrama and darshan of pastime places for two days. In the same manner, we will go to Govardhan, perform abhisheka at Mukharvinda, and then perform Parikrama.”
Maharaja replied, saying:
“This is the best way to continue.”

Then he asked me:
“Can I come back to Mathura?”
I replied:
“There is no need to ask me; you can come and go as you please. However, corona cases are on the rise now, so we need to be careful.”
He said that:
“Yes! Cases are rising even where I am (Kashinagar, Bengal).”
Then he asked:
“This year will there be a Jhulana festival?”
I replied that:
“Jhulan Yatra would happen within the Matha, like we did the Jagannath Yatra by carrying Lord Jagannath on our head and did parikrama within the Math. Not like every year where Lord Jagannatha would sit on a big cart, and we would go around Mathura. So, Parikrama would happen, Jhulan Yatra will take place. However, we would not be able to go to Srila Rupa Goswami’s samadhi.”
Maharaja asked:
“Why can we not go?”
I replied:
“Because of the lockdown. All the Saptadevalaya (7 main temples of Gaudiya Vaishnavas) are closed. Only Imlitala opens for Mangala Aarti and then gets closed. The rest of all the temples remain closed throughout. Even we would not be able to host Dharm Sabha (assembly) for Srila Rupa Goswami’s Tirohbhava, and no pandits (scholars) would also come.”
Maharaja replied:
“Then right now I will not come. However, I will come for Janmashtami, which is a yearly festival.”

He emphasized that he will definitely come for Janmashtami, and that was his last desire, to come to Mathura. As we continued to speak, I asked him:
“Your servant is saying that your heartbeat keeps increasing?”
Srila Tirtha Maharaj said:
“When my blood pressure gets low, then my heartbeat increases. My blood pressure gets as low as 55 (diastolic pressure).”
I replied that:
“This is not a good sign.”
As I have had firsthand experience with Srila Gurudeva taking care of his health, I immediately advised him to consult his doctor in Kolkata and take proper medication. Then we laughed together a bit before the end of the conversation. In the evening time, he became a bit unwell, and he was brought to Kolkata Matha. He took some fruits on that day as it was Ekadasi. He was admitted to the hospital next morning at 6:00 am, and later he took some prasad in the afternoon. Every hour I was in touch with Sripad Govinda Maharaja and with his servants. Then at 5:00 pm, I received the news that Sripad Tirtha Maharaj had just left the world.

I make an appeal to all devotees that, just like after the disappearance of Srila Gurudeva (Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaj), Sripad Tirtha Maharaja and I enthusiastically carried on the mission of Srila Gurudeva, like Parikrama, Preaching, and Publishing. I request all the devotees that you should not become disheartened. All of you would continue to receive the same affection and guidance from me. You should continue coming to Parikrama as always. Devotees from China, from Bengal, and other parts of the world should continue to come for Parikrama. We will continue to run parikrama as when Maharaja was here, and this would be the best way to fulfill the innermost desire of Sripad Tirtha Maharaja.

What more can I say except again offering prayers at his feet:
Sushthu Vaisnava Sewa Sampaadanaye Guru Manobhistha Sewa Sthaapanaaye Jagat Kalyanaya Sumangalaye Namami Tasme Sri Tirtha Maharajaaye