Vaishnavanghri Sevaka das: For Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON) this year 2015 is very important as it marks the beginning of golden jubilee celebrations, which started from Jaladuta yatra in August 2015. Now the disappearance centennial of Srila Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja on November 22, 2015 (Utthana Ekadasi) will make the celebration more auspicious and successful. Srila Babaji Maharaja disappeared from this material world on November 17, 1915, which makes the disappearance day in 2015 as the disappearance centennial festival.
There are unlimited pastimes of Srila Babaji Maharaja, which are all carefully recorded for the benefit of present and future generations as guidance in non-duplicious devotional service. He occupies the 30th position in our disciplic succession as the initiating spiritual master of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja. The disappearance pastimes of Srila Babaji Maharaja are so astonishing that even common men will be taken by surprise. At his disappearance time heads of many mathas wanted to own the dead body for constructing a Samadhi as the means of constant fund collection. But, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Maharaja, who was not a Sannyasi at that time, but a celibate brahmachari, vehemently opposed their attempts. He boldly declared saying, “ I am the only disciple of Srila Babaji Maharaja. Though I am not a Sannyasi like you all, but a strict Celibate brahmachari. Only the one who is pure in character with complete renunciation can give Samadhi to Srila Babaji Maharaja. One who within last one year, or the last six months, three months, one month or at least within the last three days had not any illicit sex with a woman only can touch the spiritual body of Srila Babaji Maharaja. If anyone touches it without meeting this criterion, he will be ruined”. A skeptical police officer expressed his doubt upon hearing these words by saying, “what evidence can be sought for this?” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati confidently said “I will have faith in their words”. At that moment for the police officer’s surprise everyone turned away one by one, not able to touch the divine body of Srila Babaji Maharaja. Such are the powerful pastimes of Srila Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja.
Srila Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja strongly propagated non-duplicitous haribhajana with complete renunciation. He had only one disciple, who had one moon like disciple among many stars that is Srila Prabhupada. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the festivals of our eternally liberated acharyas for a rapid progress in spiritual journey, which enables us to contribute something to Srila Prabhupada’s Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON). So let’s individually and collectively pray for the mercy of Srila Babaji Maharaja for triumph of ISKCON in all fronts all over the world in coming years.