BIOGRAPHY
His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj appeared in 1924 in Assam, India on Sri Rama-Navmi, the most auspicious appearance day of Supreme Lord Sri Ramchandra. Having been brought up in a pious environment, He developed a strong inclination to search for truth, which led Him to take up the study of philosophy at Calcutta University. After completing His MA in Philosophy in 1947, He came in contact with His spiritual master His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaj, and immediately became attaracted by His divine and powerful personality. Srila Madhav Maharaj is one of the foremost followers of the illustrious preceptor of the pure devotional school of bhakti yoga, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakura Prabhupada. From that time onward, Srila Tirtha Maharaj completely dedicated His life to the service of His Guru. Soon He became secretary of the devotional institution Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, which has over twenty ashrams in India alone. As one of Srila Madhav Maharaj’s first sannyasi disciples, He took the vow of renunciation in 1961. After the disappearance of Srila Madhav Maharaj in 1979, Srila Tirtha Maharaj was appointed His successor as Acharya of the Math. During His lifetime, He received blessings and intimate association of many of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami’s prominent followers, such as Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Hridoy Bon Goswami Maharaj, Srila Akincana Krishna Das Babaji Maharaj and many others. For the last six decades, Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj has been engaged in preaching the philosophy of Supreme Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to counter the modern trend towards violence and cruelty, and to bring about unity of hearts among all, irrespective of race, creed or religion. Since 1997, Srila Tirtha Maharaj has been travelling the globe several months a year, enlivening all who came in contact with His humble, sweet personality, extraordinary Kirtan and message of transcendental divine love. To date, His preaching travels outside India have taken Him around the world, including the UK, Holland, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Russia, the Ukraine, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hawaii and throughout the continental US. Everyone is attracted by His eloquent, insightful and, most of all, purely devotional discourses. During His US tours in 1997, Srila Tirtha Maharaj addressed the United Nations’ “World Peace Prayer Society,” and “World Conference on Religion and Peace” in New York City, offering them a succinct outline for world peace based upon the spiritual tenets of the ancient Vedas. His preaching programs over the past years have also included many interesting dialogues with prominent Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Hindu and Baha’i theologians, in such diverse settings as universities, interfaith groups, churches, Hindu temples and a wide variety of metaphysical and private educational centers. All are invariably won over by His gentle and affectionate nature, combined with His resolute faith in Guru-Vaishnava- Bhagavan. He has also spoken on the sublime teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on many radio and television programs, including a thought provoking interview on BBC radio in 2000, which was broadcast worldwide. In addition, to His role as Acharya of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj serves as Acharya of GOKUL (Global Organization of KrishnaChaitanya’s Universal Love), which He founded in 1997. He is also a serving President of World Vaishnav Association (WVA). Working eighteen hours a day, He is incessantly engaged in the service of humanity as a teacher of Vedic wisdom and the philosophy of bhakti yoga. He is presently engaged in writing articles and books in His native languages as well as in English. To date, His English publications include the books, Shuddha Bhakti, Sages of Anceint India, A Taste of Trascendence, Sri Chaitanya : His life and Associates, and so on.
