Full History of Sir Keshav ji Gaudiya Math. 1954 to 2023.||KGM TV||
the English translation
Hare Krishna Now I will speak on the history of Keshav ji Gaudiya Math, Mathura.It was established by Srila Bhakti Pragyana Keshava Goswami Maharaja in the year 1954 on the day of Janamashtami. Although Srila Bhakti Pragyana Keshava Goswami Maharaja was offered land for free by Dirghavishnu temple (established by Sri Vajranabha, great grandson of Sri Krishna) authorities, he refused to accept this offer saying that he wanted very favourable neighbourhood. The neighbourhood near Dirghavishnu temple was not favourable to performance of loud kirtan, dancing etc by the devotees. It was apprehended that this might be objected by the people living around. Although the area of Sri Dirghavishnu temple was bigger than the area of present Sri Keshava ji Gaudiya Math yet Srila BP Keshava Goswami Maharaja preferred to buy the present location.Srila BV Muni Maharaja (Sri Sanatan Das Prabhu who took sanyaas alongwith Srila BV Swami Maharaja), a diksha disciple of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarawati Thakur Prabhupada donated all the money to purchase the land for present Keshava ji Gaudiya Math. So we are always indebted to him.
Srila Bhakti Pragyana Keshava ji Maharaja appointed Srila BV Narayana Goswami Maharaja as the math commandar. Why? because he was the only hindi speaking person. Srila Narayana Maharaja lamented on thought of leaving his Guru Maharaj but was later pacified by Srila Bhakti Pragyana Keshav Goswami Maharaj himself. Further, as he was a police officer earlier to his joining temple, he had better management skills. Srila Bhakti Pragyana Keshava Maharaja told him that the way he can preach in Mathura no one else can. Therefore, Srila Narayana Goswami Maharaj accepted this service and made a request at the holy feet of his Guru Maharaj that he will have to come to Mathura each year and stay there atleast for a month. Upon hearing this request from his dear disciple, Srila Bhakti Pragyan Keshava Maharaja became very happy considering this as a very nice opportunity to stay in Mathura, the city of Lord Krishna.
Srila Abhay Charan Prabhu and Srila Sanatan Prabhu accepted renounced order on the day of Vishvarup Mahotsava in 1959 from Srila Bhakti Pragyana Keshava Goswami Maharaj and the sanyas ceremony was held in Sri Keshava ji Gaudiya Math, Mathura.
Srila Abhay Charan Prabhu (Srila Bhakti Vedanta Swami maharaj had almost failed in his household and business life. He then gave up everything and came to Mathura. He was expert in medicine and thus knew some formulae. He used to make medicines and sell them to the local pharmacies. Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaja brought Him to Mathura Math by forcibly persuading him and requested him to take sanyas. He reminded Srila Bhakti Vedanta Swami Maharaj of his Guru's order to preach to the western world. Sri Swami maharaj disagreed and told that when Krsna bestows His mercy upon someone, He steals all wealth of that person and thus makes him a beggar.
Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaj replied by saying there was nothing left with him now. A householder person labours hard for his family especially children and wife. But Srila Swami Maharaj had already mentioned that his wife chose tea over him. This way, he was not left with any family, business and wealth. Srila Narayan Goswami Maharaj thus used to try to convince Srila Swami Maharaj to pursue sanayas.
When Srila Bhakti Pragyan Keshav Goswami Maharaj learnt about this, he also tried to convince Srila BV Swami Maharaja. Srila Sanatan Prabhu, realising Srila BV Swami Maharaj's dilemma, told him that he had already turned 90, so if Abhaycharan Prabhu takes sanyas, he will also follow him. WHY THE NAME KESHAVA JI GAUDIYA MATH? Because the presiding deity of Mathura is Sri Adi Keshavaji (this deity was installed by Sri Krishna's great grandson Sri Vajranabha Prabhu). Although param gurudev's name is also Srila Bhakti Pragyana Keshava, he never did this for his own name's sake. Yet some of his followers and even we people have this belief that by the name Keshava, we will receive mercy of both Srila Keshava Maharaj Ji and Sri Adi Keshava Thakur.
Srila Gurudev made Mathura Math his main center for preaching even after he started visiting the west. In Mathura, he used to invite all vraja vasis and used to send them Sri Govinda Dev Ji's prasad received from Jaipur. Although as time went by, he established many different maths that had better facilities yet Mathura Math remained his life and soul. He used to tell that he got perfection in his bhajan by being in Mathura. We must understand that Srila Gurudev is eternal associate of the divine couple and of Sriman Mahaprabhu yet he has taught us how to do bhajan sincerely by performing human like pastimes.
- Srila Bhakti Vedanta Madhava Maharaja
2 июн 2023
