By Giriraj Swami
Today is the disappearance day of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, a great devotee--maha-bhagavata. He was a disciple of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and was very renounced. Earlier, he had lived for many years in Vrndavana, roaming the twelve forests, chanting the holy names of Krsna, eating by begging alms, and sleeping under the trees. Later, after Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura discovered Lord Caitanya’s birthplace in Mayapur, Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, the siksa-guru of Bhaktivinoda Thakura and parama-guru of Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, instructed Gaurakisora to move to Navadvipa-dhama. There Gaurakisora resided on the banks of the Ganges and practiced devotional service with intense devotion and renunciation. Because materialistic men would come and disturb him with their desires for mundane blessings (asirvada), the babaji began to stay by a municipal lavatory, where the filth and obnoxious smells would discourage unwanted visitors.