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Gour Govinda SwamiHindu Vaishnava religious leader, preacher and writer.
Date of Birth: 02.09.1929
Country:  India |
Content:
- Birth and Early Life
- Family Background and Spiritual Lineage
- Religious Devotion and Education
- Family Life and Responsibility
- Spiritual Quest and Wanderings
- Renunciation and Pilgrimage
- Meeting Srila Prabhupada
Birth and Early Life
Brajabandhu Giri was born on September 2, 1929, in Jagannatha-pura, a village near the holy place Puri in the Indian state of Orissa, into a devout Vaishnava family. His childhood was spent in Gadai-giri village, where he lovingly served Krishna from a tender age.
Family Background and Spiritual Lineage
Brajabandhu's grandfather, a saintly figure, instructed him in chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Along with his uncles, he often toured villages, singing the maha-mantra and songs of Narottama dasa Thakura. Since the time of Shyamananda Prabhu, the descendants of the Giri lineage had been renowned in Orissa as the most expert kirtan performers.
Religious Devotion and Education
From the age of six, Brajabandhu worshipped the deity of Gopala. By eight, he had mastered the "Bhagavad-gita," "Bhagavata Purana," and "Chaitanya-charitamrita." Friends and relatives described him as a calm and contemplative child, uninterested in games or entertainment.
Family Life and Responsibility
After his father's passing in 1955, Brajabandhu, being the eldest son, assumed the responsibility of supporting his family. At his widowed mother's request, he married and became a grihastha. He first saw his wife, Shrimati Vishanti Devi, on their wedding day. Financial constraints prevented Brajabandhu from attending university, but he dedicated his evenings to self-study and eventually earned a bachelor's degree in humanities.
Spiritual Quest and Wanderings
Despite his busy schedule, Brajabandhu continued his loving devotional service to his deity, Gopala. He would wake up at 4:30 AM, chant the Hare Krishna mantra, worship Tulasi, and read the "Bhagavad-gita" with his family.
During school breaks, Brajabandhu and his wife embarked on pilgrimages to the Himalayas. They visited holy places, and Brajabandhu often engaged in spirited debates with Mayavadi philosophers they encountered along the way.
Renunciation and Pilgrimage
In April 1974, Brajabandhu renounced his worldly life, leaving his home and family to dedicate himself to spiritual advancement. With a begging bowl and a copy of the "Bhagavad-gita" in his hands, Goor Gopaalananda Das (as he now called himself) traveled throughout India, visiting many holy places along the banks of the Ganges. He was searching for a spiritual master who could guide him into the deeper understanding of the maha-mantra.
After a year of wandering, he set out on foot for Vrindavan, hoping that his desire for a spiritual master would be fulfilled in the holy abode of Krishna.
Meeting Srila Prabhupada
Two weeks after arriving in Vrindavan, Goor Gopaalananda saw a large sign in the street: "International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada." He soon met Western Krishna devotees who gave him a copy of the "Back to Godhead" magazine.
Reading the magazine, which glorified Krishna, Goor Gopaalananda felt an overwhelming desire to meet its editor, the founder of the Krishna Consciousness Movement, Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He had finally found the spiritual master he had been longing to meet.
When Goor Gopaalananda entered Prabhupada's room and introduced himself, Prabhupada's first question was: "Have you taken sannyasa?" "No," Goor Gopaalananda replied. "Then I will give it to you!" Goor Gopaalananda realized that Prabhupada knew what was in his heart. He soon received initiation from Prabhupada and was initiated into sannyasa by him in 1975 at the opening ceremony of the Krishna-Balarama Temple.
