The Departure of Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj
Our sampradaya’s prominent personality, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja, physically left all of us on the 4th of July 2020. I feel a lot of separation, remembering our association from the previous days.
I witnessed how Srila Charu Maharaja used to come to my spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Thakur, at Kolkata’s Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math and also at Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math, Mayapur with many spiritual queries. Srila Charu Maharaja’s service attitude to serve my Gurudeva was very beautiful. I have also seen Srila Charu Maharaja’s faith in others’ spiritual uncles like His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Goswami Maharaj and His Divine Grace Bhakti Alok Paramahamsa Goswami Maharaj.
As I remember, Srila Bhakti Charu Maharaja engaged his disciples, Sriman Chaitanya Das Prabhu and Malini Devi (Sriman Chaitanya Das Prabhu’s wife) to look after the education of my Gurudeva’s brother’s grandson, Vasudeva Prabhu. Srila Charu Maharaja also engaged Sriman Chaitanya Das and Malini Devi to give some monthly financial support for my Gurudeva’s Ananta Vasudeva temple located at Kalna.
In 1994 Srila Charu Maharaja’s disciple, doctor Subal Sakha Prabhu, from Anudul, Howrah (West Bengal) facilitated the health care of my Gurudeva. Thus, Srila Charu Maharaja taught his disciples to generously serve senior Vaisnavas without discrimination. As I feel, Srila Charu Maharaja and his disciples were always loyal to my Gurudeva.
When I was a brahmachari, I used to attend Srila Charu Maharaja’s classes in the Conch Building. At the time Srila Charu Maharaja used to give classes on Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur’s Jaiva Dharma on the rooftop. I found his classes very interesting and engaging. I have many fond memories with Maharaj.
Two months ago, I requested Srila Charu Maharaja to write a homage for my Gurudeva which would be included in my Gurudeva’s biography. Srila Charu Maharaja composed a very sweet and faithful offering which was very heart-touching for me.
Thinking of Srila Charu Maharaj’s sweetness I really feel separation from him. Right after he sent me his homage, he went to USA. I did not know that within such a short period of time we would get such heart-wrenching news of his departure.
I am praying to my worshipful Lord, Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Jiu, for engaging Srila Charu Maharaja in the service of his Gurudeva, His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada eternally. From the bottom of my heart, I pray at Srila Maharaja’s lotus feet- please forgive me for all of my offenses and bestow upon me your blessings to carry on the loving mission of Lord Chaitanya for the rest of my life under the shelter of my Gurudeva, HDG Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Thakur with purity.
Haribol.
HDG Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Goswami Maharaj
President, Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math
