The hut where Srila Gaurakisora would stay, was so small inside, that there was only space enough for him. Srila Gaurakisora would enter his tiny bhajana kuthira, and lock himself in. Adjacent to the bhajana kuthira of Srila Gaurakisora was another grass hut which was in a dilapidated condition. Once a man named Sankara came there to live in that hut. He brought sheets of tin with him with which he constructed a fence. In this was he built a bhajana kuthira, imitating Srila Gaurakisora. One day Srila Gaurakisora asked him,"What do you do all day when you sit alone in your solitary hut? What do you think about? If you never spend your time in taking the association of devotees and inoffensively chanting the holy name of the Lord, then as you sit inside your room, you will only be able to see the fence outside. Is this what you see as you are sitting inside the room? Are you thinking of women? Or are you thinking of self-prestige and accumulating wealth? If you stay in this place, different types of havoc will come upon you."

Srila Gaurakisora, who was in direct contact with Supersoul within his heart, was able to expertly expose the cheating mentality of that person. Many people often came and informed Srila Gaurakisora that the imposter would collect miscellaneous articles and money in the name of the Lord's service from different persons who came to visit him and misappropriate them. He would also engage in illicit sex with different girls in Navadvipa. Finally, the imposter became very ill and one of his relatives came and dragged him back into the kingdom of illusion, maya. Srila Gaurakisora pointed out that a person who imitates the spiritual master, and the great devotees of the Lord will, as a result of their offenses, sink into the muck of worldly illusion. In this pastime, Srila Gaurakisora points out, how in the name of spirituality those who are opposed to proper religious principles, live within the stoolhole of material existence. In this connection he also disclosed that wherever the intimate associates of Srimati Radhika reside, the eternal service rendered in the gardens of Sri Radha-kunda is simultaneouusly being carried out. Srila Gaurakisora enacted this pastime for his personal followers.

In Touch With A Paid Scholar

There was one celibate student by the name of Ayatra who came to Srila Gaurakisora to perform devotional service. Srila Gaurakisora told him, "You should give up your offenses to the lotus feet of the Vaisnavas of the Lord, and in the association of pure devotees, always chant the holy name of the Lord." The brahmacari disliked Srila Gaurakisora's chastisement and later left for south India without informing anyone. He resided there and collected money by giving discourses on the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Ayatra, in the meantime, claimed himself to be a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. After returning from the south, Ayatra began to learn sanskrit grammar from one scholar who lived in Navadvipa. Ayatra brahmacari, considering himself a fool thought that if he learned sanskrit grammar he would become respected by all the devotees. He also began to think that since Srila Gaurakisora was illiterate he could become more advanced than him.

One day Ayatra approached Srila Gaurakisora who inquired, "Are you reading sanskrit grammar to obtain wealth, women, and prestige?" The brahmacari answered, "I had no such intention. I am simply studying sanskrit in order to understand the purport of Srimad Bhagavatam." Srila Gaurakisora responded, "You have observed how some people in south India earn their living by professionally reciting Srimad-Bhagavatam and you have become greedy to make your living in the same way. You should give up such undesirable association, and simply take to the chanting of Hare Krsna with devotees of the Lord." The brahmacari did not obey the instructions of Srila Gaurakisora. Some days later the brahmacari again came to Srila Gaurakisora and humbly asked him, "Please be merciful unto me." Srila Gaurakisora, remaining quiet for some time, finally requested him, "Don't try to fulfill that desire which is overwhelming your mind." At that moment no one present could understand exactly what his instruction meant. Ayatra also couldn't follow the obscure meaning of Srila Gaurakisora's statement. The brahmacari left and continued as before. After several days passed a few devotees approached Srila Gaurakisora and informed him that Ayatra brahmacari was having illicit sex with a widow. Srila Gaurakisora then told those who were sitting before him the following instructions: "One should never engage others into the field of his own sinful activities. If any of you ever want some material object to fulfill, kindly come visit me because that desire may return again." Srila Gaurakisora then explained that approaching another man's wife is very sinful and strictly prohibited. When such illicit activity and deceitfulness is enacted in the outward dress of a devotee it is more sinful and offensive. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, and Srila Gaurakisora's characters particularly exemplify the non-support of any form of deceitful activity.

The Devotee and The Hypocrite

Dipaka was a resident who lived near Srila Gaurakisora for some time. Because of his close relationship with Srila Gaurakisora the people naturally displayed a high devotional regard for him also. Dipaka had previously resided in Orissa. Once Dipaka's father came to Navadvipa. He used to carry a hand written copy of the Srimad-Bhagavatam with him wherever he went. This inspired the people in general to give him charity. Dipaka's father would offer large sums of money to Dipaka for Srila Gaurakisora to use in his service. Now and then, Dipaka would hide some money away and give it back to his father who was a pauper. Srila Gaurakisora, who was in contact with the Supersoul, knew this was going on. Eventually he stopped talking to Dipaka altogether. Previous to that Dipaka would boil and serve rice for Srila Gaurakisora. However, after this incident, Srila Gaurakisora would never accept anything that touched the hands of Dipaka. Instead, as before, Srila Gaurakisora would take some cracked rice, soak it in the water of the Ganges River, and accept that as his prasadam. This scared Dipaka and caused anxiety in the other devotees. Dipaka began to fast.

When Srila Gaurakisora heard that Dipaka was not eating he said, "If that person does not leave immediately, I will give up my life in the Ganges river." Then one day while walking along the bank of the Ganges, Srila Gaurakisora threw himself in. Many people gathered to draw him from the water. Srila Gaurakisora began to yell very loudly, "Leave me alone! Leave me alone! Because I have been unable to perform my worship of the Supreme Lord properly, I must give up this body." Many persons immediately grouped together and were able to rescue Srila Gaurakisora from the river and bring him up onto the bank. After Srila Gaurakisora had come to his external senses, he said,"Why did all of you bring me up from the waters of the Ganges? My servant, Dipaka, has given everything I have to his father." Then everyone consoled him, saying, "We will bring as much money as you need. We will immediately bring you four times as much money as Dipaka wasted." Srila Gaurakisora then said, "Wealth is not important to me. I only want to avoid living in the association of people like Dipaka, because in the association of deceitful persons, worship of the Supreme Lord becomes obstructed."

Many people had thought that Srila Gaurakisora had thrown himself into the Ganges because of attachment to money. Now they could understand that Srila Gaurakisora was not just any ordinary beggar looking for wealth. He would never tolerate rascaldom in the name of devotional service. Krsna has a monopoly over despotism. A deceitful natured person can only imitate the Lord and at best become a cheap imposter, baula. A Vaisnava is always straightforward and simple in all his activities.

The Enjoyment of Wealth

Once Srila Gaurakisora entrusted Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura with one hundred rupees. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, in order to keep the money safely, put it in the bank. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta then travelled to another place. Suddenly one day Srila Gaurakisora approached Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and asked him for his one hundred rupees. Bhaktivinoda Thakura then said, "My son has put that monet in the bank. As long as he is gone, it will be impossible to withdraw your money from the bank."

Although Bhaktivinoda Thakura told this to Srila Gaurakisora he could understand that it was essential to give Babaji Maharaja the necessary funds. At the first opportunity Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gave Srila Gaurakisora one hundred rupees from his own private savings. Srila Gaurakisora gave the money to a friend and sent him to Vrndavana. Srila Gaurakisora said, "Many persons come to me thinking that I am a Vaisnava, and therfore give money for my foodstuffs. But actually, I am not a Vaisnava. I have heard that there are real devotees in Vrndavan. So therefore, I am sending the money for their service."

Whenever Srila Gaurakisora would receive any donations from admirers who considered him to be a Vaisnava, he never used the money for his own sense gratification, but always gave it for the service of other exalted devotees. Srila Gaurakisora would say, "Any foodstuffs collected by begging is pure and can be utilized in bhajana to maintain ones sustenance. Any money accepted if utilized for non-devotional purposes will contaminate the mind and create different impediments on the path of devotional service."

Desire for Wealth

One day in Kuliya, Navadvipa, a Gosvami came with several other persons who were dressed as renounced Babaji vaisnavas. Approaching Srila Gaurakisora, he said, "Oh, Baba! For many days I was unable to have your association because I went to Pravasa." Srila Gaurakisora then said, "Why have you left Navadvipa? You found a nice house with a good bathroom . What is the need of you travelling to so many distant places and mixing freely with the public?" Then one of the Gosvami's companions explained, "He went to another province in order to deliver the people in general. If he doesn't travel and preach, then what will be the future of those places?"

Hearing this, Srila Gaurakisora became irritated and said, "If you want to actually do good for the people in general, then why are you so interested in accepting money from foreigners? Why are you interested in the heads of the Caucasions which appear printed on the currency notes. I have understood your inner desires. You are simply making plans to build yourself a nice brick house, so that you can live comfortably. If you actually want to serve the Supreme Lord in bhajana, you must give up the idea that you are the master, prabhu. When you can do that I will personally tell Nityananda Prabhu to build you fifty brick houses. But if you simply want a nice brick house as a place to enjoy your wife and sons, then Nityananda Prabhu will grant all these materialistic desires of yours and then discard the possibility of your ever obtaining pure love of Godhead. If you are really searching after false prestige and material acquisition, yet making a show of delivering the material universe, then let the material universe continue as it is because you will fall down and deceive the material world." Saying this, Srila Gaurakisora began to absorb himself in kirtana very loudly until late that afternoon. Srila Gaurakisora made it clearly evident that if someone becomes offensive toward the Lord's pure name or offensive in his service, he will instead obtain the results of mundane religiousity, economic development, and sense gratification. This is the epitome of misfortune for the living entity. Our spiritual master Sri Nityananda Prabhu cheats the deceitful, by fulfilling their material desires.

Gauranga Gauranga or Rupee Rupee

Once several visitors began to eulogize the son of one famous caste Gosvami because of his expertise in explaining the Srimad Bhagavatam. They told Srila Gaurakisora,"This lecturer always chants "Gaura! Gaura!", and exhibits many devotional moods in devotional service which attract many disciples." Srila Gaurakisora then revealed the nature of the householder Gosvamis' son to the people who had gathered there. "That Gosvamis' son who appears to be so expert does not know how to properly describe the scriptures of the Six Gosvamis of Vrndavana. He is expert in superficially explaining their literatures. Actually, he does not loudly scream "Gaura! Gaura!", but "Rupee! Rupee!" (Money! Money!). If one performs devotional service like this, simply crying very loudly for wealth, then his devotional attitude is meaningless. This is the reason why actual Vaisnava practices have become covered. This behavior reaps havoc in human society. This kind of activity will never benefit anyone."

Karma Bound

Once a young man, named Bala came to Srila Gaurakisora and told him that he wanted to worship the Supreme Lord. Upon hearing this, Srila Gaurakisora said, "If you want to perform real devotional service then you should give up the association of those Vaisnavas accepted by the ordinary people and the non-devotee section of society. Just live here in our association. We wear the discarded shoes of the Navadvipa residents, make our earthen pots with the holy dust of Navadvipa and clothe ourselves with discarded cloth collected from corpses. By following this lifestyle you should consider that when you mix with other pious people they will think you to be untouchable. So if you touch them, that will be offensive on your part." Hearing this, Bala agreed, "I will follow these instructions which you have given me."

But, after some time, Bala unconsciously became absorbed in listening to the sound of his own voice, when he was singing with Srila Gaurakisora. After singing in kirtana with Srila Gaurakisora he would take prasadam with the devotees there. In this way, Bala associated with the devotees. Once, after taking a pair of karatalas from the devotees, he started chanting his own kirtana every evening, so that Babaji Maharaja could hear him. One morning he went to take bath at the Ganges. While walking to the Ganges and playing the karatalas he started chanting prayers in glorification of the Vaisnavas.

Later on that day, after Bala had gone out to beg alms, Srila Gaurakisora called one local resident over and said, "This Bala, who stays here, secretly goes to his own house. There he is developing many misconceptions about devotional service. Then, upon returning, he tries to implement them here. Actually, in the name of bhajana, he is simply committing offenses." One person listening asked Srila Gaurakisora, "Who told you that he has been doing this?" Srila Gaurakisora answered, "By hearing the tune of his kirtana in glorification of the Vaisnavas I could understand his inner motivation. Therefore we cannot allow him to stay here any longer. A person who has contacted bad association, and chanted the glories of the Vaisnavas in such bad company, will never listen to anyone. They will only teach deceitfulness to others."

Shortly following this, Bala sudddenly left to go to Jagannatha Puri without telling Srila Gaurakisora. Srila Gaurakisora showed that he was unhappy that he had left. He said, "Bala has run away, because he has become lusty for nice foodstuffs. I could not save him. The living entity is independent, and must suffer according to the past results of his activites. He was sent here by Lord Krsna, but secretly he would take the association of others, and thus, he became entangled in this most dangerous situation. Now, he is accepting the traditional Vaisnava dress, and decorating himself with the name Vaisnava. In this way, defferent persons in the material world are bringing about unwanted practices in devotional service. They give the sacred babaji dress to everyone, turning them into mere frogs. Ordinary cunning persons recognize a Vaisnava these days if they find someone accepting obeisances from many people and by one who is lusty to eat the nicest foodstuffs. Great Vaisnavas are becoming known by these symptoms. The chanting of such deceitful devotees is like the croaking of a frog. The amount these frog like devotees croak decides to what degree the snake of sense gratification will devour them."

A few months later, Bala returned from Jagannatha Puri, after he had accepted the sacred dress of a babaji. He began to reside at a nearby homestead. Once a Mr. Banu, the owner of the place where Bala lived, came to Srila Gaurakisora and offered his obeisances. He said, "Your dearest disciple Bala, who has just come from Jagannatha Puri, is fortunate indeed. He rendered some service there to Haridasa Thakura, and is now performing his solitary bhajana with deep emotion." Srila Gaurakisora then said, "I don't understand. How can he be my disciple? I have never viewed anyone as my disciple in this world. I am unfit even to become a proper disciple. How is it possible for me to become the spiritual master of another? Just because someone is able to maintain frogs, is it possible for him to become a Vaisnava? The croaking of a frog can never be accepted as the Lord's holy Name or His worship. A frog's emotion is simply for worldly pleasure. But the frog cannot enjoy because he is ultimately swallowed by the materialistic snake of time. Is service to Srila Haridasa Thakura only lip deep? You are in the position of a great estate-holder. Why are you wasting your entire life? Forget all this nonsense and simply execute pure devotional service!"

The estate holder then said, "I have no desire to become a great estate-holder. I simply want to see that the devotees are nicely served, and that all their grass and bamboo huts are well-kept. The different places where they perform their solitary worship have all become overgrown with jungles. I simply go to those places and clean up the area." Hearing this Srila Gaurakisora became disturbed and would no longer carry on a conversation with the landholder. After the estate-holder left, Srila Gaurakisora said, "The trees in Navadvipa Dhama are all kalpa-vrksa, desire trees and this hypocritical rascal has cruelly cut them down. Now he has come and forced me to hear this. Shame! Shame! Just see! Just see! If anyone even cuts a dead tree in Navadvipa Dhama, I feel pain in my heart. The different trees and vines in Sri Navadvipa Dhama are our eternal friends and associates. They are a background part of the pastimes of Lord Gauranga. Even after one's friends and associates have died, is it possible for someone to come and cut their dead bodies to pieces? This cruel rascal will never be able to perform devotional service. He will simply enact the role of a Vaisnava, which will result only in his own inauspiciousness, and the inauspiciousness of others."

Atonement For Having Illicit Sex

Once, a man named Hiranya came to Srila Gaurakisora several times and prayed to live in the same area in which he lived. At that time, the owners of the homestead had granted Srila Gaurakisora the right to allow others to live in the adjacent small huts. No one could live there without his permission.

After taking permission from Srila Gaurakisora, Hiranya began living in a nearby straw hut. Srila Gaurakisora instructed Hiranya that those who want to worship the Supreme Lord should never associate with undesirable persons. He said, "Those cheaters who think they will secretly enjoy the company of materialists or show bottlists and at the same time act as a devotee will become victimized by more and more impediments in devotional service. Many cheaters have approached me in this frame of mind and I have witnessed their utter ruination. Always tolerate the unlimited inconveniences in devotional service. If you can always remain in proper association and be engaged in purely hearing and chanting, then your service to the holy name of the Lord will be protected."

After hearing this, Hiranya, would go and secretly associate with spiritual show bottlists. Knowing this, gradually, Srila Gaurakisora became annoyed. After some time, Hiranya became seriously ill. Seeing that Hiranya was in a very distressed condition, Srila Gaurakisora compassionately sent a nearby resident to attend to him. After two or three days it was observed that a young woman came there, and began to ask about Hiranya. Srila Gaurakisora, who was in direct contact with Supersoul, could understand the situation, and asked the gentleman he had sent to assist Hiranya, "Who is taking care of Hiranya?" The man replied, "I am attending to him." Srila Gaurakisora in a deep voice like thunder asked, "You mean no one else has come to assist him?" Then the gentleman answered, 'Actually, one lady occasionally comes, to offer him service." Then Srila Gaurakisora said to him, "The next time she comes to see him, give up Hiranya's association completely." Srila Gaurakisora then called for Hiranya to come, and said to him, "If you cannot give me fifteen rupees right now, then there is no possibility for you to remain here. Because if you die while you are here, the necessary arrangements to get rid of your body will cost fifteen rupees."

After this, Srila Gaurakisora began to speak to himself, "If you don't allow him to stay here, then that woman will gradually take him away to her own house. This is what she desires. In this way she can whimsically engage in his service." After Hiranya had suffered for a long time he finally became better and left for Vrndavana. Srila Gaurakisora, acting indifferent, showed no opposition to Hiranya's going to Vrndavana. Hiranya began to live in the beautiful place of Kusuma-Sarovara in Vrndavana, next to another babaji named Nadiya, who also knew Srila Gaurakisora. One day Hiranya approached his new companion Nadiya and said, "I have accepted the renounced order of a Vaisnava, and yet, I had illicit sex with another woman. What is the proper atonement I must undergo for this sinful activity?" Nadiya said, 'The best thing for you to do, is to give up your body. Suicide is the atonement Mahaprabhu has arranged for such offenses."

He then agreed, and so he collected a small amount of opium from Govardhana and brought it back to his hut where he consumed it. After eating the opium, he went to Nadiya, shaking and heavily perspiring and informed him he had taken opium to kill himself. For some time Hiranya's body squirmed back and forth on the ground until he died.

Shortly following this, Nadiya also became very ill. Then one so-called Gosvami arrived in Vrndavana, and treated Nadiya until he became well. After he recoverd, he returned to Navadvipa where he met with Srila Gaurakisora. When Srila Gaurakisora saw him, he said, "You cannot stay here. You must find another place of residence, because if you reside here you will meet your death. Besides, right now two dacoits named Jayasaci and Nitai aare living in this quarter. They think they are rendering service unto me so they go outside and preach that they are residing with me. However, I am never quite sure where they stay at night. Once wanting water, I called them in the dark of the night loudly again and again, yet I received no answer. The following morning I sent for them and asked where they had been the night before. Their only excuse was that had heard nothing." Not being favored by Srila Gaurakisora, Nadiya dasa left and went to take shelter at the house of one woman nearby. After some time, a man came and told Srila Gaurakisora about the situation in which Nadiya was living. He reported that Nadiya dasa was receiving the intimate service of several young women. Becoming angry, Srila Gaurakisora said, "Please don't mention these things to me." Previously Nadiya also had another babaji friend who lived in Kusuma-saravara that had been rejected by Srila Gaurakisora. Thieves came during the night and gorged out his eyes, later killing him by hacking his body into many pieces. That babaji was secretly keeping several stolen articles in his possession. Because of this, dacoits came there and cruelly murdered him.

The Offenses for Imitating a Vaisnava

We can understand from these different activities that describe the immortal character of Srila Gaurakisora, that persons who came to serve this mahabhagavat with a cheating mentality received in return terrible reactions for their sinful activities. A person who disregards the instructions of a pure devotee of the Lord, but associates instead with show bottelists and deceitful persons dressed as Vaisnavas and renunciates can never have the real benefit of life. Rather their actions result in a fearsome and terrible state of ruination. Those who engaged in any type of deceptive activity in the presence of Srila Gaurakisora, or who were attached to the sense objects or others engaged in illicit sex, became degraded due to their offenses. Offenses committed to the holy name and the Vaisnavas often devastates the practitioner.

Srila Gaurakisora and Manindra Candra

Once the renowned and aristocratic Sri Manindra Candra Nandi, who was a great landholder, invited Srila Gaurakisora and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura to join in an assembly of Vaisnavas at his palace in Kasim Bazaar.

He knew that Srila Gaurakisora and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta were highly elevated devotees of the Supreme Lord. Upon hearing the request of Mr. Nandi, Srila Gaurakisora tender heartedly said, "If you want my association, then you must put all of your wealth in the hands of the rent collecter and come and live with me. You should build a bhajana kutira here on the banks of the Ganges and we shall live together. There is no need for you to worry about what foodstuffs you will eat. I will daily collect whatever you need when I bed and feed you myself. Then, I will always be impelled to visit your place of solitary worship. But if I agree to accept your invitation and leave the transcendental abode of the Supreme Lord, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and come to your castle, which is as good as Lord Indra's, then after some time, I will begin to think that I should also amass a great amount of land. The result of all this will be that the desire for sense gratification will enter my heart and replace my worship to Lord Krsna. After amassing large amounts of land, I will become an object of your envy. If you want to become very dear to me, and really bestow your mercy upon me, like a Vaisnava friend, come here to the spiritual world of Visvambara, Lord Caitanya, and maintain yourself by the activity of begging so you can always perform solitary adoration to Lord Hari."   Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji - top
  

Previous  |  Index  |  Next