š ÅrÄ« ÅrÄ«mad Bhaktikevala Auįøulomi MahÄrÄja’s 130th Appearance Day š¼
December 12, Friday, 2025 š
ÅrÄ« ÅrÄ«mad Bhaktikevala Auįøulomi MahÄrÄja is the beloved junior recipient of the mercy of Oį¹ Viį¹£į¹upÄda 108 ÅrÄ« ÅrÄ«mad Bhakti SiddhÄnta SarasvatÄ« GosvÄmÄ« PrabhupÄda, the establisher of ÅrÄ« ÅrÄ«man MahÄprabhu’s cherished desire and the prime follower of Swarupa-Rupanuga (those who follow the svarÅ«pa and rÅ«pa aspects of service), who has entered Nitya-lÄ«lÄ (the eternal pastimes).
ÅrÄ«mad Bhaktikevala Auįøulomi MahÄrÄja was one of the preaching sannyÄsÄ«s among the monks and brahmacÄrÄ«s with whom ÅrÄ«mad Bhakti SiddhÄnta SarasvatÄ« GosvÄmÄ« PrabhupÄda initiated his worldwide campaign to propagate MahÄprabhu’s message.
ÅrÄ«la Guru MahÄrÄja was calm, steady, and silent from his childhood. He was adorned with virtues like poetic talent and strength (sabalatÄ). At the age of eighteen, he received ÅrÄ« HarinÄma (the Holy Name) from ÅrÄ«la PrabhupÄda. At this time, Guru MahÄrÄja was also fortunate enough to receive the sight of ÅrÄ«la Bhaktivinoda į¹¬hÄkura’s lotus feet. ÅrÄ«la Bhaktivinoda į¹¬hÄkura gave him many merciful blessings and affectionately instructed him to study the ÅrÄ«mad BhÄgavata scripture.
In 1919 AD, he successfully passed his B.A. degree examination from Calcutta University and studied Philosophy in KÄÅÄ« (Varanasi) for some time. His father was ÅrÄ«yukta Åarat Chandra Guhathakurata, and his mother was ÅrÄ«yukta Bhuvana Mohini. Both were devoted to their own religious practice (svadharma-niį¹£į¹ha), regularly engaged in tulasÄ« worship and the service of the Lord. They resided in BanarÄ« PÄrÄ, Barisal. ÅrÄ« Guru MahÄrÄja appeared on Kį¹į¹£į¹a Aį¹£į¹amÄ« (the eighth day of the dark fortnight) in the month of AgrahÄyan (November/December) in 1895 AD (Bengali year 1302). His childhood name was ÅrÄ« Pramoda BihÄrÄ«. After completing college, he worked as a teacher for some time. During this period, he also joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Swadeshi movement for a while.
Subsequently, realizing the transient nature (kį¹£aį¹a bhaį¹ guratÄ) of everything, he surrendered wholeheartedly to the lotus feet of ÅrÄ«la Bhakti SiddhÄnta SarasvatÄ« PrabhupÄda. During the rites of mantra dÄ«kį¹£Ä (initiation), ÅrÄ«la PrabhupÄda gave him the name *ÅrÄ« Patita PÄvana DÄs BrahmacÄrÄ«. In his *brahmacÄrÄ« life, he performed all kinds of services for the Maį¹ha, including the worship of the Deities (ÅrÄ« Vigraha archanÄdi). Subsequently, in *1933 AD, ÅrÄ«la PrabhupÄda granted him *Tridaį¹įøa SannyÄsa in *ÅrÄ« MathurÄ DhÄma. The name given during *sannyÄsa was *ÅrÄ«mad Bhaktikevala Auįøulomi MahÄrÄja. After that, he traveled as a *ParivrÄjaka (wandering mendicant), preaching the message of Gaura all over India.
On *January 1, 1937 AD, ÅrÄ« ÅrÄ«mad Bhakti SiddhÄnta SarasvatÄ« GosvÄmÄ« PrabhupÄda, the founder of the GauįøÄ«ya Maį¹ha Mission, entered *aprakaį¹a-lÄ«lÄ (unmanifest pastimes). After his disappearance, ÅrÄ« ÅrÄ«mad Bhakti PrasÄd PurÄ« GosvÄmÄ« MahÄrÄja became the ÄcÄrya (spiritual master and head) of the GauįøÄ«ya Maį¹ha Mission.
In *March 1940 AD, ÅrÄ«la Bhakti PrasÄd PurÄ« GosvÄmÄ« į¹¬hÄkura entrusted ÅrÄ«mad Bhaktikevala Auįøulomi MahÄrÄja with the serious and responsible task of organizing the *ÅrÄ« NavadvÄ«pa DhÄma ParikramÄ (circumambulation). For seven consecutive years, ÅrÄ«la Bhaktikevala Auįøulomi MahÄrÄja led the management of the NavadvÄ«pa DhÄma ParikramÄ. Not only did he lead the DhÄma ParikramÄ, but he also served as the Principal (Adhyakį¹£a)* of the entire NavadvÄ«pa Maį¹įøala and ÅrÄ« Caitanya Maį¹ha. In *1943 AD, he was elected as a member of the Governing Council (ParicaryÄ Pariį¹£ad) of the GauįøÄ«ya Mission.
He was not content with only dedicating himself to the service of the ÅrÄ« DhÄmaāa deep enthusiasm for preaching, authoring, and publishing devotional books (bhakti grantha) was evident in him. He translated the book ÅrÄ« Caitanya Åikį¹£Ämį¹ta into English. At this time, ÅrÄ«mad Bhakti PrasÄd PurÄ« GosvÄmÄ« began explaining the ÅrÄ« Bhaktisandarbha in ÅrÄ« DhÄma MÄyÄpur. He paid special attention to hearing this. During several years of Ujjvala Vrata (a religious vow), he extensively performed HarikathÄ KÄ«rtana (glorification of the Lord) in Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Narayanganj in East Bengal (now Bangladesh). Devoted people gathered from far distances to listen to his nectarous speech. In *October 1953 AD, during the *Ujjvala Vrata on the day of ÅÄradÄ«ya PÅ«rį¹imÄ (Autumn Full Moon), ÅrÄ«la Guru MahÄrÄja (Bhaktikevala Auįøulomi MahÄrÄja) completed his bath in the cool waters of Prema YamunÄ and, inspired by his Guruvarga (line of spiritual masters), was decorated with the attire of a Paramahaį¹sa (a high-ranking renunciant).
In *January 1954 AD, during the Kumbha MelÄ in PrayÄga (Prayagraj), a huge *Nagar Saį¹ kÄ«rtana (congregational chanting procession) was organized under ÅrÄ« Guru MahÄrÄja’s leadership at the ÅrÄ« RÅ«pa GauįøÄ«ya Maį¹ha. For several days, he gave immense joy to everyone’s heart by explaining the ÅrÄ« Bhaktisandarbha in the Maį¹ha’s dramatic hall (NÄį¹ya Mandira).
In *December 1953 AD, ÅrÄ«mad Bhakti PradÄ«pa TÄ«rtha GosvÄmÄ« MahÄrÄja, the President of the GauįøÄ«ya Mission, entered *aprakaį¹a (unmanifest pastimes) in ÅrÄ« Puruį¹£ottama DhÄma (Puri). Subsequently, on *February 16, 1954 AD, ÅrÄ«mad Bhaktikevala Auįøulomi MahÄrÄja was elected as the *President and ÄcÄrya of the GauįøÄ«ya Maį¹ha and Mission.
At this time, the then Services Secretary (SevÄ Saciva), ÅrÄ«la SundarÄnanda VidyÄvinoda, resigned, and the most worshipable ÅrÄ«mad Bhakti ÅrÄ«rÅ«pa BhÄgavata MahÄrÄja took the position of Services Secretary, and ÅrÄ«pÄda Bhavabandhacchid DÄs Bhaktisaurabh became the other Services Secretary. After being installed as the President and ÄcÄrya, ÅrÄ«la Guru MahÄrÄja visited the Maį¹has in various parts of India and provided various instructions, guidance, and nÄma mantra dÄ«kį¹£Ä (initiation into the Holy Name) to the devotees.
Hare Krishna
