Jaya Sri Damodar Gaudiya Matha
Founder Acharya
Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja
(Near Chakatirtha Temple)
C.T. Road, Puri - 72002, Orissa, India
Phone - (06752) 229695/97, Fax - (06752) 227317
DamodarGaudiyaMath.com
Email:
Jaya Sri Damodar Gaudiya Matha's Thakurjis
Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadraji
and the Matha's Devotees distributing transcendental literature
Absorbed in the moods of Mahãprabhu while residing in the abode of separation (Srī Jagannãtha Purī-dhãma)
On the 30th of November Śrīla Gurudeva arrived at Jayaśrī- Dāmodara Gauḍīya Maṭha, which is located at Cakra- tīrtha in Śrī Jagannātha Purī-dhāma. He was greeted by the devotees there who welcomed him with much affection and proper ceremony. As before, his attendants continued serving him around the clock. From time to time, they would chant kīrtana or read from śāstra to him in his bhajana-kutīra. Whenever Śrīla Gurudeva saw any of them sitting idle, he would say, "Do not be idle. Speak hari- kathā to the other devotees. Speaking hari-kathā is a limb of bhakti."
One day, while looking across the wide beach toward the ocean, Śrīla Gurudeva said softly, "Previously, whenever I would come to Śrī Jagannātha Purī-dhāma, I would
meditate on Śrīman Mahāprabhu's bathing in the ocean along with His associates. I would also meditate on the words of Śrīman Mahāprabhu at the time of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura's disappearance from this world, after He had bathed him in the ocean. Śrīman Mahāprabhu said that now this ocean is a mahā-tīrtha (supreme holy place) because it has become the caraṇāmṛta (foot-bathing water) of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura. So, I would bathe in the ocean nearly every day. Now, also, I want to take bath with this ocean water. Can you bring some water from the ocean for me to bathe?" From that day onward, Śrīla Gurudeva was bathed every day with water carried from the ocean.
Each morning and evening, he would walk in the corridor of the temple guest house, assisted by his servants who supported him on either side, and he would sit on his balcony to have darśana of that most holy of oceans. Simultaneously, he would give darśana to the devotees standing on the ground below. One day, as Śrīla Gurudeva gazed at the ocean, he said, "This place is the very spot to which Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu floated when He was immersed in mahābhāva and His body assumed a form like that of a turtle." Most of the time, however, Śrīla Gurudeva sat quietly. His deep absorption was most apparent.
Another time, when he was looking at the ocean, he asked his servant if he could count the ocean waves. "No." the servant answered, "the ocean waves are unending." "My heart is like that," Śrīla Gurudeva told him. "It is flowing with uncountable waves of moods for the service of Śrīman Mahāprabhu and Śrī Śrī Rādhā Kṛṣṇa, and also with waves of affection for my disciples and followers."
One thing was especially noticeable in Śrī Jagannātha Purī-dhāma. If someone offered obeisances to Śrīla Gurudeva, even from as far away as the shore of the ocean, Śrīla Gurudeva would invariably raise his hand to bless them. Furthermore, until the conclusion of his manifest pastimes, he would fold his hands and offer respects to any kind of prasāda that was brought to him. Only then would he honour it. At times, Śrīla Gurudeva was so deeply immersed in internal consciousness that his servants had to endeavour for 30–45 minutes to get him to accept just one spoonful of food. This occurrence had repeated itself in Delhi, Govardhana and then also, Śrī Jagannātha Purī.
